The Official #8 Tennessee vs. #4 Florida Game Thread, 1:00 PM ET, ESPN

[508mikey]

I don’t know the name of the Florida center, but the Florida inside players got away with pushing and moving screens in both the Alabama and Tennessee games. The refs are absolutely horrible. Not worth watching.

Didn't he come back mid season from a broken leg ?

 

[MoCo_Vol]

NATE THE GREATEST!!!

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I have, suit yourself, guess I’ll have a drink for both of us, fragile ego snob, geez

No, had to wait. Had some young kids hanging around for the game. About to crack open a bottle of red. Probably be into a second one in a couple of hours

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Nobody gives AF now

Oh, I know.

 

[99gator]

I will just say that I think this game will benefit both teams heading into the NCAA tournament.

I also think, as some commentators have said, that going to the tournament and facing teams outside the league will be a big deal as well.

 

[Chattahooligan]

No, had to wait. Had some young kids hanging around for the game. About to crack open a bottle of red. Probably be into a second one in a couple of hours

Right behind you, cheers

 

[Vol4lif3]

I’m excited for March madness

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

I said it a few times throughout the year. Igor is the difference in us being a good team and a team that could win it all. In a game like today where you are playing one of, if not the best team in the country you have to have a big that can at least be a threat to score. Okpara is what he is. A solid defender and only gonna get points on lobs and put backs. Igor had 4 points and 1 rebound today. He has to do more if we want to make a run.

 

[Sudden Impact]

If I knew that Doug Shows was reffing this game today I would have told you FL wins. I didn't think he would because he Reffed yesterday the FL game, I think. What's more, yesterday the one ref tried to give the game to Auburn.

 

[VolGee4]

I have watched Barnes games over the last 10 years. He has a poor record of choosing his bigs.

Losing Estrella really hurt. Kyle Alexander, Grant Williams, John Fulkerson, Jonas Aidoo were all huge contributors. At least 3 were all conference players, and Grant was POY. 3 were 3 star recruits.

Awaka and ON were solid contributors.

It’s really been more depth from time to time, but the game is going away from a pure low post player. They liked Milicic as a stretch 4, and I expect them to go after another this offseason.

 

[BowlBrother85]

It's a disappointment but not a disaster. If Lunardi is to be believed, this didn't cost us anything. If we play Florida a 4th time, it will be in the Final Four, and I really do like our chances against just about anyone else on a neutral court right now. We weren't terrible today. Florida is a tough matchup.

Now, let's focus on that selection show. Go Vols!

 

[Vfl2407]

I will just say that I think this game will benefit both teams heading into the NCAA tournament.

I also think, as some commentators have said, that going to the tournament and facing teams outside the league will be a big deal as well.

From my standpoint, these are the expected one and two seed teams that are playing the best basketball at this time (in order):
1 Florida
1 Duke (even without Flagg)
1 Houston
2 St.Johns
2 Tennessee
1 Auburn
2 Michigan State
2 Alabama

 

[The Tall Gguy]

It's a disappointment but not a disaster. If Lunardi is to be believed, this didn't cost us anything. If we play Florida a 4th time, it will be in the Final Four, and I really do like our chances against just about anyone else on a neutral court right now. We weren't terrible today. Florida is a tough matchup.

Now, let's focus on that selection show. Go Vols!

If Lunardi is correct, we hit the jackpot in our bracket...it is almost too good to be true. We will see.

 

[JMSqb11]

Maybe the top 2 seed will pay dividends come bracket time. Won't have to play Bama, Michigan State, or St Johns as they will likely be the other 2 seeds until a possible Final Four matchup. Proud of UT fight today. ZZ and Gainey wanted it BAD. And ZZ now has 714 assists. Just needs 2 next game to become the all time leader. Ready to see all the matchups and see if UT gets hosed again with our bracket.

I personally hope we land in Duke’s bracket. They are not capable of playing the type of ball that was played today or yesterday.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Didn't he come back mid season from a broken leg ?

Yes. Condon.

 

[Mightyvol]

Not a good look no matter the circumstances. This board would be in a rage if another star player for another team did that

As a player you want consistency and calls both ways. Z knows that POS Joe Lindsey and Shows weren’t calling the game fairly and he made a good decision not to allow his emotions to cause an issue after the game. This is professional basketball, with junior high officiating.

 

[OrangeInKy]

If Lunardi is correct, we hit the jackpot in our bracket...it is almost too good to be true. We will see.

His record doesn't inspire me

 

[SugarVols]

I will just say that I think this game will benefit both teams heading into the NCAA tournament.

I also think, as some commentators have said, that going to the tournament and facing teams outside the league will be a big deal as well.

99 for a gator you’re not too bad a fella . Congrats you got one helluva team this yr hope for a rematch in San Antonio!

 

[wmcovol]

Fla has 4 legit big guys and 4 legit scorers. That’s tough for anyone to beat.

 

[Volizona]

Fla is good enough to win it all

This is not negotiable and will NOT happen. That trash school and their trash coach needs to go down. Would even pull for Auburn, KY, Bama over them.

 

[Bryan1]

It is Doug Shows show. He must hate Barnes and Tennessee.

I wold like to know what our record is with him and his crew are on the floor. I knew we were screwed when I saw that was him and his crew calling the game.

 

[hound dog hillbil]

Tn,got a chance still to go long way or all the way,proud of those young men,GO VOLS

 

[vol_smoothie]

I'm an old-school guy and love the defense, toughness and teamwork that Tennessee basketball success is based on, but until Coach Barnes recruits more scoring, we won't win the really big games or get to a final four.

 

[vol_smoothie]

Some on here obviously don't remember the time when a team HAD to WIN the conference championship to even get in - back when there were just 16 or 32 teams.

Winning the regular season didn't matter as much then.

You must not remember when the ACC was the only conference with a year-end tournament to decide their NCAA entry.
Back then, only the SEC regular season champion went to the tournament. It meant everything.
Vols won the conference in 1967 and lost in the first round of 16 to eventual NCAA finalist Dayton on their home floor 53-52.
By the time the SEC revived their conference tournament in 1979 (Tennessee won), more teams were invited.

 

[BreatheUT]

We're down 11. Feels like we're down 30

We just seemed in desperation mode trying to keep it close but kept being mistake prone.