The Official #6 [2] Tennessee vs. #2 [1] Houston Game Thread, 2:20 PM ET, CBS

[Delmar]

Bad time to throw up a clunker. Bad combination to shoot 25% with 1 for 15 3’s and give up 9 offensive rebounds against that team. Getting out hustled badly. Also credit Houston’s defense for most of the poor shooting although Lanier has missed a ton of shots he normally makes. Houston is superb at taking away drives into the lane.

Our guys all looked extremely nervous to start the game and haven’t recovered. Strange for a bunch of seniors. This one is pretty much over. Overall great season though. Never gonna gripe about an Elite 8 appearance.

 

[UTK]

Defense is keeping us out of the lane

Yup but that’s not anything special. Any defense worth their salt can do that. It’s just usually teams will make you pay by actually hitting a few open 3s

 

[GAVol]

Yeah, because we don't have guys who can beat their D. It's the big weakness with our team. We don't have an offensive player to ride when the game slows down and the D gets elite.

More truth here. No big guy to dump it into and nobody that really can get downhill and create their own shot other than occasionally Gainey.

 

[C-south]

Z has to worry about making the right passes. That simple. Chaz just needs to hit shots. It’s why he’s here and knows that.

When he plays against better players he presses and only hurts us more. Sometimes you have to accept you’re 5 foot nothing and there’s better players on the court and find other waits to contribute without forcing stupid s***.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Got to get it to 10 with 10 min. Otherwise, it's over. Great, fun season regardless

 

[A-RodWiLks]

You know what,

When Rick loses a game, he really loses a game.

Ppl blaming the players for missing shots...their center went out early and Barnes did nothing to feed the post. Instead, we jack up terrible shots from distance

 

[onthehill71]

I mean Lanier with a historically bad half shooting

Unless he goes crazy in the second half, this game will cost him a lot of money in the NBA draft.

 

[Other_Guy]

At least the fear of Lanier not showing up and VN souring on him a little is not an issue cuz EVERYONE sucks lol

 

[rocketskates]

I’m aware of the odds, that’s why I said I’d feel a lot better if we were down 10. This is a long uphill battle for any chance.

Had the chance to get it there in the last 5 minutes of the first half. Houston went cold, unfortunately we were even worse.

 

[vavolfan6]

Why should the fans show more effort than the team?

This our program's 3rd Elite 8 in history. Barnes is nearing the end of the career. There may be another 15 years until we get another opportunity to be a game away from the Final 4. Do it out of thankfulness to Barnes and the Seniors. They provided many great moments for us fans. The least the fans can do is have their back in a game where they are getting embarassed and the odds are stacked against them.

 

[DocVol]

The spoiled, entitled mindset of some. We forsake the team because they didn't have it today? That's crazy. This was a great year, and they deserve more than a tantrum.

Yes. They abandoned us who spend money and time in travel and tickets. I have no problem walking out on a historically ABYSMAL “performance” like this. Unclutch your pearls and don’t flatter yourself.

 

[Spawn]

Super **** show.

 

[johnboyhunter]

How F'ing embrassing with 15 points in the first half. Shades of days of Devoe. SMH

Devoe didn’t make Elite8

 

[VOLinAL]

We have to rebound better. Half their lead is due to our inability to rebound.

 

[Allvols98]

Houston came out red hot. Every bounce their way. We came out extremely tight. We needed a dominant big man or one guy who could go get buckets.

I'd like to see us having more guys cut to the basket, not as much standing around.

 

[Go47]

To be optimistic:

1. Get it under 10 by the 12:00 minute mark.

2. Get it under 8 by 8:00 minute mark.

3. Hope to make a run at the end . . . And Houston goes cold / misses free throws.

 

[rocketskates]

Rick this, Rick that....Coach ain't shooting 21%

Agreed. It’s not the coaching. The looks are there, we just can’t hit crap. Not even free throws.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

Yes Houston is a 1 seed for a reason, but there is zero reason for our guys to be performing this poorly. It has to be mental.

 

[vols 30]

Got to get it to 10 with 10 min. Otherwise, it's over. Great, fun season regardless

It was. It just stings right now. Feels like we are destined to never get a final 4

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

You know what,

Ppl blaming the players for missing shots...their center went out early and Barnes did nothing to feed the post. Instead, we jack up terrible shots from distance

We don't have a real post to exploit that.

 

[volfan102455]

Yeah, because we don't have guys who can beat their D. It's the big weakness with our team. We don't have an offensive player to ride when the game slows down and the D gets elite.

Seriously - tell me what Houston's D really did in that half! We make even half of those missed threes, which we normally do, and this is a very different game.

Because we were not making those - they just had to stand there and let us shoot.

 

[Vol2B]

More truth here. No big guy to dump it into and nobody that really can get downhill and create their own shot other than occasionally Gainey.

This has been my exact sentiment all season. There’s a big in the portal looks like a damn tank. Barnes needs to get him here now!

 

[m_scott]

If UNC could consistently crawl from many games with a 20 point plus deficit surely TN can based on their personnel.

 

[UTK]

When he plays against better players he presses and only hurts us more. Sometimes you have to accept you’re 5 foot nothing and there’s better players on the court and find other waits to contribute without forcing stupid s***.

Z is awesome but he’s not gonna get in the lane on this team. Make passes or hit open 3s. That’s all he can do and needs to be reminded of that. He can still play with that chip on his shoulder without forcing dumb stuff

 

[KTrain]

Shades of @ Florida January 7th, 73-43 this team has a few games where they go frigid cold.