Who’s the new starter

#76
#76
JoAllan said:
No one is expecting him to be the new starter; however like it or not......ready or not......he will be providing “relief.”

Tennessee currently has a starting 5 and 3 backups.....and then a few walk on’s......that is all on the entire “eligible” roster.

That means (if the new starter is Gaines or Johnson) Tennessee will have one back up for the guards (1-3) and 1 back up for the “bigs” (4&5), and Pember who WILL provide “relief” for the 3-5.........he already has been, just now it will be more.......again, ready or not.
Click to expand...
Barnes has made the tournament with 7 scholarship players. But he started the season that way and didn't have to retool mid season. If he makes the tourney now he should be named NCOY.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sport3500, MinisterofDef#92 and JoAllan
#77
#77
I'd really like to see Gaines get plugged into the 3 as the starter. I think his ceiling is high and he's long enough to keep good spacing on the perimeter with his defense. He's wirey but has already been a better consistent scorer than JJ has in three years. I'd love for JJ to finally get it though, he's extremely athletic but through 90+ games he's only showed little flash of consistencies that he can play to his potential.

All in all this sucks. I feel for lamonte, that dude has been a baller for years for us and battled through shoulder injuries through a majority of the last couple of years. He's got to do what's right for his body as there is life beyond basketball but it still sucks. I hope he has a successful surgery and the vols figure out something on the hardwood to help this team get to March.

Next year will be special. Go vols!
 
#78
#78
robow said:
I think that most of us know that we are not going to win the SEC title, either regular season or SEC tournament, or the NCAA tournament; so my questions is why would we want to risk playing Vescovi, and ruin his confidence. I think we need to redshirt him, and give him time to get comfortable with his team mates. That's my two cents, and I want my change back, please.
Click to expand...

Truthfully he probably wouldn’t be ready (at all) for a while anyway. Therefore I would assume if Tennessee didn’t “have” to have him playing, they probably wouldn’t.........however when you gots 3 backups total.......I’d say they will “have” to have him playing at some point.

If two players get 2 fouls in the first half of a game........they will need someone. If ANYONE gets sick, or injured (even short term), or simply “gimpy” for a bit......or anyone fouls out........Tennessee will need anyone they can get their hands on.

Also Tennessee currently has “zero” point guards......and we don’t know yet how James is going to handle it (although I’m sure he will at the very least be serviceable).......I bet Tennessee would love for the new Freshman to sit, learn and grow........however I’m almost certain.......he will play this year.
 
#79
#79
calban said:
Barnes has made the tournament with 7 scholarship players. But he started the season that way and didn't have to retool mid season. If he makes the tourney now he should be named NCOY.
Click to expand...

Agree about the later.

Starting with 7 or even 8 would suck, but having it be your “only” point guard 1/3rd of the way in the season makes it real tough.
 
#80
#80
JoAllan said:
So you you guys think?

Johnson
Olivier
Gaines
Pember
Click to expand...
We probably need it to be Oliver. Seems Barnes most impressed by him. Gaines been playing well as well as Pember seems to “have it” but stamina not there. Logic says Johnson but he’s kinda disappeared?
 
#82
#82
orangemadam said:
Whatever the rotation becomes, we can take the positive look. The SEC schedule is lighter on the front end, hopefully giving a little time for development.
Click to expand...
Agree. Ultimately it may not be one player. Everyone going to have to step up. I suppose there could be more clarity now for the team now. If turner shoulder prevented him from being effective, yet everyone kinda depending on him to knock down the shots, the rest of the team has to pick up the slack now. We can still have a decent season if everyone does their part.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tbones0711
#85
#85
njvols said:
We probably need it to be Oliver. Seems Barnes most impressed by him. Gaines been playing well as well as Pember seems to “have it” but stamina not there. Logic says Johnson but he’s kinda disappeared?
Click to expand...

I agree on the “need” aspect.

However if that happens, you now move Pons (who has been working at the 4) and you leave just Pember as the sub at the 4&5.

“If” Gaines or Johnson becomes the starter (I’m with you on Johnson....but “if”) then that still leaves you with a dedicated “sub” for the guards, a dedicated “sub” down low, and Pember who could sub the 3-5.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Oliver, Gaines and Johnson all get a shot.....we will soon see.
 
#87
#87
JoAllan said:
No one is expecting him to be the new starter; however like it or not......ready or not......he will be providing “relief.”

Tennessee currently has a starting 5 and 3 backups.....and then a few walk on’s......that is all on the entire “eligible” roster.

That means (if the new starter is Gaines or Johnson) Tennessee will have one back up for the guards (1-3) and 1 back up for the “bigs” (4&5), and Pember who WILL provide “relief” for the 3-5.........he already has been, just now it will be more.......again, ready or not.
Click to expand...
I know, this is scary
 
#90
#90
The reality is Jacob Fleschman may be getting some rotational minutes. He can actually shoot 3s at least, but remains to be seen if he can guard at this level.

As for the starter, I think it's Johnson or Gaines. Johnson needs to actually start contributing, because right now, Gaines just gives you more on offense and defense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sport3500
#91
#91
I wish just once when Fulk gets the ball up top.......and wide open he would just jack one up.......good bad or UGLY. Heck I don’t know if I have ever seen him shoot a 3.......since he refuses to shoot even a wide open one that says a lot.......but I would still love to see it happen.....just once.
 
#92
#92
1985Vols said:
Going to be difficult to win more than 16 games
Click to expand...
Maybe, but the sec is the worst it has been in a very long time, even in the dark days of 5 years ago. The alleged good teams are all significantly under performing, Auburn is undefeated, but should have at least 3 losses. Florida and LSU have 4 each despite having fairly easy schedules. I'm not convinced on Arkansas, Mississippi state, or ole miss. None of them have beat a ranked team. We should at least go close to .500 in the sec.

We have 20 games left, I think we can go 10-10 (or maybe 11-9) in those 20 games, that puts us at 18 or 19 wins, and 13 or 12 losses. Firmly on the bubble, so we'd need to win at least 1 sec tournament game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PulaskiVolFan and tbones0711
#93
#93
JoAllan said:
I wish just once when Fulk gets the ball up top.......and wide open he would just jack one up.......good bad or UGLY. Heck I don’t know if I have ever seen him shoot a 3.......since he refuses to shoot even a wide open one that says a lot.......but I would still love to see it happen.....just once.
Click to expand...
You don't think we have enough guys throwing up bricks from the perimeter already?
 
#94
#94
JoAllan said:
I wish just once when Fulk gets the ball up top.......and wide open he would just jack one up.......good bad or UGLY. Heck I don’t know if I have ever seen him shoot a 3.......since he refuses to shoot even a wide open one that says a lot.......but I would still love to see it happen.....just once.
Click to expand...

He shot 3's some in HS. Different distance than now but i'd like to see it as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JoAllan
#95
#95
JoAllan said:
I don’t have a clue if they were expecting him to play or not.....or if they wanted him to or not........but I bet he plays now.

Although I think it takes a while before he plays meaningful minutes.


(Also I don’t bet for realz, but just pretend bet)
Click to expand...
I feel the same. I'm not 100% certain of the time frame but I think CRB made the statement about Vescovi unlikely playing prior to LT's decision to undergo surgery. I feel CRB has little choice about it now. We're definitely thin but still have some good talent but the biggest problem is, Barnes utilizes "a system" and what's already occurring, learning the system, is going to hinder the team. Everyone is gonna have to step up their game and fast-trac Vescovi. LT's surgery will be reflected in the loss column.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JoAllan
#97
#97
JoAllan said:
I wish just once when Fulk gets the ball up top.......and wide open he would just jack one up.......good bad or UGLY. Heck I don’t know if I have ever seen him shoot a 3.......since he refuses to shoot even a wide open one that says a lot.......but I would still love to see it happen.....just once.
Click to expand...
That use to infuriate me when Kyle would pass up an open shoot at the top of the key. I knew he could shoot them and even if he squared up and let one fly, it would at least give the defense some thought about packing it in down low.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JoAllan and Zues1
#100
#100
JoAllan said:
Agree with Pember

I wouldn’t look for Vescovi to get much time very soon at all (unless there are some blowouts). He will have to learn the system (as this is very much a system team) and learn defense.
Click to expand...
Um we don’t have that luxury. Ballers ball. If this kid has it, we will find out right away
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top