Vols should be in finals

[Volnut]

On Doug Matthews' Big Orange Sunday this morning, Billy "the Legend" Justice said January Tennessee would be in the final.

 

[1972 Grad]

Yeah but how much more did we score than Virginia?

We obviously play more up tempo, but my point is that Virginia is first and foremost a defensive team. They would take probably 15 off our average. They have against most other teams. Virginia is number one in fewest points per game allowed in the country this year. Texas Tech is third. Tennessee allowed 4 points per game too much to get in the top 50. We were 20th in points scored per game.

 

[ETV]

After watching way too much basketball, I think Tennessee is better than each member of the final four. Tennessee is better than Michigan State, Auburn, Texas Tech and Virginia. Especially Virginia.

But we're not.

 

[GulfCoasterVol]

and Sofia Vergara "should" have returned my calls !!!

 

[volfannbama]

After watching way too much basketball, I think Tennessee is better than each member of the final four. Tennessee is better than Michigan State, Auburn, Texas Tech and Virginia. Especially Virginia.

Auburn beat us twice so.....

 

[kbear01]

Virginia plays far, far better defense than Tennessee. The common opponents for Virginia and Tennessee this year were Purdue, Auburn, Louisville, Wake Forest, South Carolina, and Georgia Tech. Tennessee gave up an average of 76 points per game to them, and Virginia gave up 57.9 to the same teams. We allowed 18.1 more ppg to the same teams.

Virginia doesn't worry much about offensive rebounding, preferring to get back on defense. They don't give up a lot of cheap breakaway baskets like we do. They also block a lot of shots and turn teams over. In short, good pitching stops good hitting.

1) Purdue : we gave up 24 more points
2) Auburn: we gave up 22 more points
3) Louisville: we gave up 21 more points
4) Wake Forest: we gave up 21 more points
5) South Carolina: we gave up 19.5 more points
6) Georgia Tech: we gave up 2 more points

See a trend?

I think we are better defensively, than all of those common opponents, other than SC. Plus, we are a multi-dimensional team. In other words, we are comfortable at any pace, and Bone is wise enough to push the ball, when it is there. We do not turn it over as much as an Auburn. Plus, GW and Admiral are match-up problems for most teams. I think we'd beat UVA 7-10 games. Their way, or ours.

 

[1972 Grad]

I think we are better defensively, than all of those common opponents, other than SC. Plus, we are a multi-dimensional team. In other words, we are comfortable at any pace, and Bone is wise enough to push the ball, when it is there. We do not turn it over as much as an Auburn. Plus, GW and Admiral are match-up problems for most teams. I think we'd beat UVA 7-10 games. Their way, or ours.

We disagree.

 

[sccshortstop]

I said all year that Auburn was my most concern and I wanted to be in Virginias bracket. I still think we are better than them!

 

[1972 Grad]

I said all year that Auburn was my most concern and I wanted to be in Virginias bracket. I still think we are better than them!

All Virginia has done is to beat everybody but Fla. State and Duke, and become the #2 overall seed. Somebody must have thought they were better than us. Bottom line : they win, especially at crunch time.

 

[sccshortstop]

All Virginia has done is to beat everybody but Fla. State and Duke, and become the #2 overall seed. Somebody must have thought they were better than us. Bottom line : they win, especially at crunch time.

Yep they do and I said I thought we were better.

 

[1972 Grad]

Yep they do and I said I thought we were better.

At times, maybe we are, but we lay far too many eggs. Like allowing 19 points to Purdue in 5 minutes of overtime with the game on the line. Like allowing 18 to Kansas in 5 minutes of overtime with the game on the line. That is like allowing 152 and 144 points in a 40 minute game.
Like getting blown out by Kentucky and Auburn. Like being very fortunate to slip by a bad Vanderbilt team. Virginia hasn't done any of that. I would bet on them with the game on the line against us.

 

[sccshortstop]

At times, maybe we are, but we lay far too many eggs. Like allowing 19 points to Purdue in 5 minutes of overtime with the game on the line. Like allowing 18 to Kansas in 5 minutes of overtime with the game on the line. Like getting blown out by Kentucky and Auburn. Like being very fortunate to slip by a bad Vanderbilt team. Virginia hasn't done any of that. I would bet on them with the game on the line against us.

Not debating anything you said but just stating and opinion like you are!!

 

[1972 Grad]

Not debating anything you said but just stating and opinion like you are!!

You have a right to it. We just disagree. I watched both teams play in Louisville, and was impressed with Virginia's ability to close a game out. I realize they could very well lose this one, but it won't change my opinion. They have escaped more than one loss.

 

[sccshortstop]

You have a right to it. We just disagree. I watched both teams play in Louisville, and was impressed with Virginia's ability to close a game out. I realize they could very well lose this one, but it won't change my opinion. They have escaped more than one loss.

Agree and hope they do win!

 

[b-ball fan]

Kinda like the feeling many have about the teams during the Ernie and Bernie era. Best UT team of my lifetime and they crapped the bed in the post season. Been there. Seen that.

Anyone that knows anything about basketball doesn't feel that way about the pair of NCAA appearances from Ernie & Bernie. First of all, there is a huge difference between the opening round of a 68 team tournament, and a 32 team tournament.
More importantly, they went into the 1976 tournament without Bernard King. How would we have fared this year losing Grant Williams for the opening game, or for the roound of 32 game? Ernie did his part by pouring in 36 points. In 1977, they lost to Syracuse in OT.

 

[1972 Grad]

Agree and hope they do win!

Go Hoos!!