Will Barnes Surprise Us?

#77
#77
Thunder Good-Oil said:
Since true centers are no longer the norm, we might be in decent shape in the paint if Fulk is stronger, Kent stays healthy, O(R)N is ready to contribute, Pons can fill in as a 4, and maybe even Pember and/or Jancek are good for a few minutes to rest the regulars. Sure would make a difference if Plavsic gets a green light.
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The longer the Plavsic deal goes, the more nervous I get.
 
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#78
#78
Florida made it at 19-15 last season, 9-9 in the SEC. They won 2 of 3 vs LSU and didn't beat any other ranked teams. In year 5, even with some rebuilding to do, we should be able to go .500 in the SEC. That should get us to the NCAAT. Fortunately Rick has decided to recruit like he did at Texas, and that's taking some pressure off of him as far as expectations this season. NCAA appearance should still be the minimum expectation for this year.
 
#79
#79
ksgovols said:
Meh. CRB has earned a reload year. Losing 4 big time contributors is a pretty steep hill to climb. GBO!
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I sort of agree. Like if they’re not a top 25 team for most of the year I’m not going to complain but if we don’t make the tourney I will be very unhappy.
 
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#81
#81
zjcvols said:
The biggest question is honestly the center play. We know Fulky has good moments but he isn’t exactly strong. Uros has not played college basketball yet. Kent the same. Can Fulky stay out of foul trouble and play 25 mpg? Can Uros provide good minutes? Can Kent play defense? And hell we don’t even know Uros is eligible. It’s the biggest question.
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I think you will see a lot of small lineups. Four out one in stuff. Pons will mostly be a 4 guy this year.
 
#82
#82
Stoked said:
I was about to say I'd like to see us go small with a lineup of James/Turner/Bowden/Pons/ON throughout stretches and really put the press on teams and speed up the pace.
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I love this line up. I think Pons could play the 4 and the 5. He is only 2 or 3 inches shorter than the typical college center and his leaping ability neutralizes that.
 
#83
#83
Thunder Good-Oil said:
That lineup could hang a hundred on a few of the November/December opponents. Probably wouldn't cut it in the conference schedule for more than a minute or two.
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More and more teams in major conferences are using these type lineups and having success. Ole Miss comes to mind from last year.
 
#84
#84
ColinS said:
More and more teams in major conferences are using these type lineups and having success. Ole Miss comes to mind from last year.
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Might could work. Would need Pons and O(R)N being very good at boxing out their matchup and Turner grabbing lots of loose ball rebounds. But in the SEC the bigs are also highly athletic, which neutralizes a small, quick lineup. Seems like a small lineup in this conference would require that there are also multiple excellent outside shooters and at least one excellent penetrator that draws fouls and knocks down a high percentage of FTs. Turner-Bowden-James might fit the bill. IMO, Turner is more of a shooter than a penetrator that finishes. I hope that James can do both. Bowden isn't necessarily above average at attacking the rim except when he gets open behind the defense while a good passer has the ball. Bowden's strength on (half court) offense is more catch and shoot and catch and dunk. I hope he's developed more consistency off the dribble. Turner can get to the rim, but hasn't finished with enough frequency. Again, hopefully James is the total package.
 
#86
#86
walkenvol said:
I thought LT became very effective driving to the basket towards the end of last season.
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I think Turner was effective going to the basket when Williams and Admiral rolled out. You effectively gave him one guy to beat. If we don’t have a couple of bigs with a shot you have to respect, it will be a more difficult move for him. Those guys were great at drawing a big to the arc which opened up things for a Turner or Bone drive or a feed to Bowden.

We’ll see where things go with this team. There is definitely going to be talent on the floor, and a decent number of guys who have experience in big games and more importantly winning/coming from behind in big games. I don’t see these guys winning less than 18 and they could shock most of us and win 25. With a schedule that likely has us playing at least half the 1/2 seeds....we’re in as an 8 or so even with 18.

Barnes needs to make the tourney. He was hired and given a raise because of his history of always having at least “good” teams. Give UT a few more years of good with occasionally elite teams, and we are well setup to hire a replacement when he retires.

We just lost 4 starters to the NBA...where we end up this year is anyone’s guess. I am definitely ready to get this season started. Pruitt has an outside chance to get football in a bowl, and with what looks to be another fun basketball season, should be a nice winter/spring as a Vol fan.
 
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