The One Thing I dont like about Ramar....

[blaker024]

Is that sometimes he drives it into the lane and either misses a layup or throws it off the backboard and someone else either has to get the rebound or tip it back in. Do you guys know what I mean? IT just seems like he does this too much.

 

[JAllen18MVP]

He does play a bit out of control at times, but he's playing really, really good for a freshman, so I can live with a few missed layups.

 

[Freak]

Yeah, if I was the coach and he missed a shot I'd bench him.

Seriously though, I think his percentage is pretty high on those shots. He's made some key buckets for us that way.

 

[sickemsmokey10]

I like him because he doesn't give up and wants the ball in his hands in crunch time....he might not always produce at the end of the game like you want him to, but he's a freshman and he's learned a lot in last few weeks I think.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I like him because he doesn't give up and wants the ball in his hands in crunch time....he might not always produce at the end of the game like you want him to, but he's a freshman and he's learned a lot in last few weeks I think.

I can appreciate that he wants the ball, BUT I can't imagine that the UT staff wanted him with the ball once it crossed half court at the very end. Moreover, we could not have wanted him with the ball two possessions prior when he was fouled (he's a 66% FT shooter).

I think he will be a difference maker in the end, but we don't want him with the ball at the end of games at this point in time.

 

[utvolpj]

Since PG was probably our biggest need this season he is playing well. Replacing CJ was not an easy thing for a freshman to do and we were not going to get very far with Howell running the point. He has a steep learning curve and seems to be coming along nicely.

The thing I don't like is his ugly shooting motion. No one ever teach him BEEF?

 

[sickemsmokey10]

I can appreciate that he wants the ball, BUT I can't imagine that the UT staff wanted him with the ball once it crossed half court at the very end. Moreover, we could not have wanted him with the ball two possessions prior when he was fouled (he's a 66% FT shooter).

I think he will be a difference maker in the end, but we don't want him with the ball at the end of games at this point in time.

if Bruce didn't want the ball to be in his hands, I think he would have taken a timeout

 

[BigPapaVol]

if Bruce didn't want the ball to be in his hands, I think he would have taken a timeout

Tell me you were not screaming at the TV for him to get the ball to Lofton on either of the trips I referenced.

Many coaches, a la CBP, don't believe in calling timeout in that type of situation, because it lets the opponent set their defense and gameplan for the obvious shooter. I happen to agree with him. However, if we can't see fit to get the ball in the hands of our best player and most proven clutch shooter without a TO, then we should call the TO and preach.

 

[TennNC]

Is that sometimes he drives it into the lane and either misses a layup or throws it off the backboard and someone else either has to get the rebound or tip it back in. Do you guys know what I mean? IT just seems like he does this too much.

I know what you mean, and I think he's finishing more drives and will continue to do so. But my problem with this is less about Ramar taking it to the hole, and more about the 2 guard at the time not playing back to be ready for the opponent's fast break. Ramar's ability to drive is huge, b/c it pulls defenders away and opens up shots and easier tip-ins for other players.

But it also takes him out of any transition defense, and the 2 or 3 player on the court needs to be prepared to help out when that happens.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Please don't assume I'm bashing RSmith. I think his ability to break down defenses will be huge for this team and I have seen remarkable improvement in his PG play. I just don't think he's the first option in late game situations because he's not a great shooter and struggles at the FT line.

 

[TennNC]

Tell me you were not screaming at the TV for him to get the ball to Lofton on either of the trips I referenced.

Many coaches, a la CBP, don't believe in calling timeout in that type of situation, because it lets the opponent set their defense and gameplan for the obvious shooter. I happen to agree with him. However, if we can't see fit to get the ball in the hands of our best player and most proven clutch shooter without a TO, then we should call the TO and preach.

I can't remember for sure, but I think Lofton was sort of waiting at the 3-pt line when Ramar dribbled upcourt, and I think he glanced over at the bench to see if we were going to call a TO. I think he was pretty much out of the play by the time Ramar had driven the lane.

Ramar does a really good job looking for other shooters, Lofton in particular. He might have panicked a bit at the end, but I can't pin it on him.

 

[TennNC]

Please don't assume I'm bashing RSmith. I think his ability to break down defenses will be huge for this team and I have seen remarkable improvement in his PG play. I just don't think he's the first option in late game situations because he's not a great shooter and struggles at the FT line.

I hear ya. And I think Howell will help out a lot when he's back. He has proven he can hit clutch FTs, and we need someone other than Lofton who can dribble and be able to hit FTs at the end of games.

Ramar's shooting will improve too over time.

BTW, was Howell's injury to his RH or LH?

 

[BigPapaVol]

I can't remember for sure, but I think Lofton was sort of waiting at the 3-pt line when Ramar dribbled upcourt, and I think he glanced over at the bench to see if we were going to call a TO. I think he was pretty much out of the play by the time Ramar had driven the lane.

Ramar does a really good job looking for other shooters, Lofton in particular. He might have panicked a bit at the end, but I can't pin it on him.

I'm in no way pinning the game on RSmith. We were in the game because of his play, not in spite of it. He did, in my mind, take a bad shot at the end, but that's not why we lost the game. Our FT shooting was atrocious at the end. Front end of 1-and-1's are crucial and we blew every one of them. The NCAA's 10 foul rule is a blessing for us, we just need to get their before the last couple of minutes.

 

[tidwell]

He's got a lot better at finishing those drives as the season has went along. Looks a lot more under control than those first few games which ultimately cost him his starting spot.

 

[blaker024]

I also didnt like how he tore down the court with 11 seconds left, I mean we had 11 seconds, that's time to set up the offense and atleast get the last shot off a screen, instead we throw the ball at the rim with about 6 or 7 seconds left and cant tip it in.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Ramar is an integral part of a new chemistry that this team has begun to show.
-Lofton is the unquestioned leader. It's his game, his team.
-Crews has become the, how to put it... "out loud" leader, he's demonstrative and the others feed off of it.
-Jajuan brings the scoring flash, and defensive speed.
-Dane embodies the Pearl spirit,all out always, even with the little things.Bradshaw's the soul of this deal.
-Ramar is proving more and more every time he steps on the court that he knows how to make the whole thing move. He just gets it. It's like he was born running Pearl's style of ball. You don't put the clamps on that kind of talent, you just watch it mature and take your lumps along the way.

The core of this team is a thing to behold. We are lucky, we get to watch them become what they will be this time next year. Phenomenal.

 

[vol bandit]

In high school Ramar probably was the go to guy,thats why a time out should have been used to remind this young freshman that maybe theres another go to guy on this team. In saying this I do think Ramar is going to be a great and fun player to watch.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

On Ramar and his play thus far...

tfpOnline

The past two games — both UT losses — have been the best of Smith’s brief UT career. He followed a career-high 17 points at Vanderbilt on Wednesday with 14 points, a team-high nine rebounds and one turnover against Ohio State and Conley, whose five turnovers balanced a 16-point afternoon.

"In our estimation, Ramar Smith was the best point guard on the floor today," Vols assistant coach Tony Jones said. "Ramar Smith made a difference."

Consider also that Conley, who placed two spots higher than Smith in the Rivals national rankings last year, came to the Buckeyes as a legitimate point guard. Smith, a prep shooting guard, has had to grasp the position on the fly this season.

His learning curve grew steeper when starting point guard Jordan Howell broke his shooting hand in practice last month and reserve Marques Johnson transferred to N.C. State.

Yet Smith has flourished as the Vols’ lone option at the vital position. Teammates rave about his natural ability. Coaches love that he isn’t careless with the basketball, in spite of Tennessee’s fast-break style and pace.

With UT coach Bruce Pearl’s encouragement, Smith has quietly gone from a pass-first mentality to looking to score more often. An assist-to-turnover ratio of 52 to 41 is solid for a rookie. But as the past two contests have seen guard JaJuan Smith struggle, Smith is now poised to be the offense’s top scoring threat behind star shooting guard Chris Lofton.

"Our players have a tremendous amount of respect for Ramar," Pearl said. "Our players know that Ramar is one of our best players. He’s just now, obviously, playing like it."

Smith was named Southeastern Conference freshman of the week for a 13-point, 7-assist effort in a league-opening victory over Mississippi State. He played well against the Buckeyes, up until the final minute. He missed the first foul shot of a one-and-one that could have put the Vols up by three points with 26.5 seconds left.

Then after OSU swiped a two-point lead with 11.2 to go on a Ron Lewis 3-pointer, Smith took off the other direction, forcing a quick miss in the lane that could have sent the game to overtime. UT had timeouts, but Pearl did not call one because he liked Smith’s chances to race up the floor and score in the Buckeyes’ defensive confusion, which he almost did.

Ramar Smith gets it.

 

[Freak]

It was funny that I didn't hear the announcer talk about Conley all that much. Did I just tune them out or did they talk about Ramar more?

 

[orange+white=heaven]

It was funny that I didn't hear the announcer talk about Conley all that much. Did I just tune them out or did they talk about Ramar more?

I couldn't honestly tell you what they discussed, as all I (and my whole neighborhood) could hear was Gus Johnson screaming into his microphone. Guy makes me bonkers.

 

[VolinArizona]

I also didnt like how he tore down the court with 11 seconds left, I mean we had 11 seconds, that's time to set up the offense and atleast get the last shot off a screen, instead we throw the ball at the rim with about 6 or 7 seconds left and cant tip it in.

He's a freshman. You learn things like this with experience, which he has 17 games worth. You'll continue to see growth from him.

 

[blaker024]

I guess better OSU than Tennessee Tech or something.

 

[BigPapaVol]

He's a freshman. You learn things like this with experience, which he has 17 games worth. You'll continue to see growth from him.

But he has been playing ball his entire life and there should be no debate at this point with this team where the ball needs to be in a situation like that.

 

[VolinArizona]

But he has been playing ball his entire life and there should be no debate at this point with this team where the ball needs to be in a situation like that.

I don't remember the outlook on the floor at the time, but Lofton could have been covered. I like Ramar's thought, to be honest. He just rushed a bit.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I don't remember the outlook on the floor at the time, but Lofton could have been covered. I like Ramar's thought, to be honest. He just rushed a bit.

His instinct / thought in that situation is exactly what coaching / experience should help change. I like the aggressiveness and confidence, but that's not where we need the ball at this point in his career. I think CP lets him know that, but not in a condescending manner. I with you, but a great opportunity to make the coaching point to a newly converted PG.