Looking ahead to Tennessee

[gauchoheel]

Tenn looks good with wins over Purdue, GT, and State already. Should be a tough game on the road but we've been killing it lately, so I like our chances.

I think the Vols are a good matchup for us because they've only got one guy over 6'5" in their top seven rotation players by minutes, and he only plays 20 minutes per game. Grant Williams is a wide body athlete and probably their best player, but he doesn't seem like a terrible matchup for Luke/Theo. They've also been crushing teams with 3's, shooting 42.6% as a team so far. I hope we help a bit less and let them try to beat us to the basket, where they're not as good (shooting .472 from two, 291st in D1).

They've got a good defense, the 2nd best we've played behind MSU and 18th in Kenpom. Should be a good test for our offense, and I'm hoping we can beat them with a combination of rebounding, pace, and some good defense of our own. I think we'll need to take care of the ball better than we have for the past few games.

 

[gunslingerdick]

I will be super impressed if we can get out of Knoxville with a win. The Vols are a very good team this year.

 

[Tigertown_a_Rick]

I will be super impressed if we can get out of Knoxville with a win. The Vols are a very good team this year.

They played us very tough in Chapel Hill last year, so it goes without saying that this is going to be a tough road matchup for the Tar Heels this year in Knoxville...Hopefully, we can defend the 3 better than we did last year, and can make more than our share this year?...

 

[alabamaheel]

If memory serves me correct, Berry didn't play the Vols last year. He will be chomping at the bit to get this done!

 

[Steat]

A road win here looks good on the resume and keeps the Heels in the Top 6 in the country. Get this road win at Tennessee and the Heels have a good chance of being 13-1 going into the Florida State road game on January 3. I think the Heels must be 13-1 to have a good chance at a #1 seed.

Three tough road games early in the season.

(Away) January 3 --Florida State
(Away) January 6 -Virginia
(Home) January 9 -Boston College
(Away) January 13- Notre Dame

Can the Heels have a at least a record of 15-3 after these 4 games? I don't thibk the Heels can have more than 5-6 regular season losses if they want a # 1 seed.

 

[NCAAUCoach]

We played TENN without Berry and Pinson last year. That changes our team significantly. We shot 2-17 from 3 and Jackson had 7 points. We shot 39% overall as a team and had Bradley, Britt and Kenny Williams lead us in scoring as the only 3 in double figures. We are a better team this year (at the same point for this game) than for that game last year.

 

[gauchoheel]

A road win here looks good on the resume and keeps the Heels in the Top 6 in the country. Get this road win at Tennessee and the Heels have a good chance of being 13-1 going into the Florida State road game on January 3. I think the Heels must be 13-1 to have a good chance at a #1 seed.

Three tough road games early in the season.

(Away) January 3 --Florida State
(Away) January 6 -Virginia
(Home) January 9 -Boston College
(Away) January 13- Notre Dame

Can the Heels have a at least a record of 15-3 after these 4 games? I don't thibk the Heels can have more than 5-6 regular season losses if they want a # 1 seed.

I think we can afford to lose this game, we lost at GT and Indiana last year and I think Tenn is considerably better than they were. But yeah, obviously losses have to be limited to be a #1. Also, I never want to see an SEC team pick up a win over us.

 

[TheFamily22]

How deep are they?

 

[gary-7]

We played TENN without Berry and Pinson last year. That changes our team significantly. We shot 2-17 from 3 and Jackson had 7 points. We shot 39% overall as a team and had Bradley, Britt and Kenny Williams lead us in scoring as the only 3 in double figures. We are a better team this year (at the same point for this game) than for that game last year.

Yep. This one will be about handling their physicality (especially our 5s) and a hostile atmosphere. Barnes teams will try to turn it into a hockey game. We need to keep our composure, play thru contact and do what we do.

 

[heels05champs]

^ I'm not sure how hostile it will be. They're a football school and even their big basketball games are typically not that "home friendly." With their location to Western North Carolina, I would expect some blue in the crowd.

The Barns coached team is what worries me. He has absolutely owned Roy over the last 10 years. Roy is to Izzo as Barns is to Roy.

 

[bax4444]

Roy poops himself vs Barnes for some odd reason ( I think he's a terrible coach)no matter how good or bad his teams are so I'm not counting on a win.

 

[gunslingerdick]

I think we can afford to lose this game, we lost at GT and Indiana last year and I think Tenn is considerably better than they were. But yeah, obviously losses have to be limited to be a #1. Also, I never want to see an SEC team pick up a win over us.

But we won the ACC last year. I'm not sure we can do that this year based on the unbalanced schedule.

^ I'm not sure how hostile it will be. They're a football school and even their big basketball games are typically not that "home friendly." With their location to Western North Carolina, I would expect some blue in the crowd.
.

Because the kids are not on campus, I too expect to see a lot of blue in the crowd. But I also bet that every average UT fan will do what they can to get a glimpse of the defending National Champions. Their arena is massive (like DD size). It'll be full one way or another, I bet.

The Barns coached team is what worries me. He has absolutely owned Roy over the last 10 years. Roy is to Izzo as Barns is to Roy.

 

[TarHeelTroy]

The Vols basketball "fans" will come out for this game. Chance to knock off the national champs Carolina. There'll be plenty of Carolina blue in the crowd. But you can count on it being hostile.

 

[gary-7]

^ I'm not sure how hostile it will be. They're a football school and even their big basketball games are typically not that "home friendly." With their location to Western North Carolina, I would expect some blue in the crowd.

The Barns coached team is what worries me. He has absolutely owned Roy over the last 10 years. Roy is to Izzo as Barns is to Roy.

It'll be hostile because it's a Top-10 Carolina coming in... pretty special game for them. On the other hand that place is a giant mausaleum unless they get a big crowd --- hopefully with classes not being in that will help our cause.

Barnes teams have indeed been difficult for Roy teams... mostly because of the aforementioned propensity to make it a hockey game. I'll just say, let us hope MIchael Stephens is not within a 100 miles of Knoxville that day...

 

[Heelswin]

How deep are they?

Thre best way to get ourselves beat is to go there looking for an easy time!

The question we must ask 'are we intent on playing our game' that is, playing to our standards, not theirs. Do this and we win going away! Focus and concentrate!!!

Not picking on you Family, but we need to keep our heads in this game!

 

[TheFamily22]

Thre best way to get ourselves beat is to go there looking for an easy time!

The question we must ask 'are we intent on playing our game' that is, playing to our standards, not theirs. Do this and we win going away! Focus and concentrate!!!

Not picking on you Family, but we need to keep our heads in this game!

Not taking it as a picking but I'm not looking fr an easy win, I am genuinely curious as to how deep they are. I know nothing about them.

So how deep is this team?

 

[TheFamily22]

The Barns coached team is what worries me. He has absolutely owned Roy over the last 10 years. Roy is to Izzo as Barns is to Roy.

And we got owned by Izzo this last go around, so hopefully it's our turn as well.

 

[shun1]

Yep. This one will be about handling their physicality (especially our 5s) and a hostile atmosphere. Barnes teams will try to turn it into a hockey game. We need to keep our composure, play thru contact and do what we do.

Hi gary-7, coach Barnes is a BUTT-HOLE & A MEANIE

!!!!!!!!!!!! GO TAR HEELS !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HeelzLover]

Just read that the game is sold out. Should be a raucous crowd. I think we win. Go Heels

 

[gary-7]

Just read that the game is sold out. Should be a raucous crowd. I think we win. Go Heels

Wow. That's impressive as that's a BIG arena. They can't do that for SEC games. Hoping there'll be a healthy contingent in light blue.

 

[pln2013]

We're 3-4 points better, and home court is worth ~3 points.

Should be a tossup and a really fun game.

 

[berry30]

I think we win by 8-12 points. We have depth, we are shooting the ball well and this team enjoys playing together.

Go Heels!!

 

[HeelzLover]

I believe a true road game against a good team will help gauge where we are. 8 point win for the good guys.

 

[carolinablue34]

I think either we win within single digits, or they win within single digits. It’ll be close for sure. I feel like like the upperclassmen will have to have excellent games:

 

[heels05champs]

All I know is that they'll try to knock us in the mouth just like MSU did and this time we better be ready to respond. They will play physical and/or dirty and we can't be intimated by that.

 

[al would]

Anybody want to take a stab at an opening line ?? I say UNC -7.5 with o/u around 154.5 ...

 

[gary-7]

All I know is that they'll try to knock us in the mouth just like MSU did and this time we better be ready to respond. They will play physical and/or dirty and we can't be intimated by that.

Bingo. We need to attack them like we did vs Arkansas, not wait and react.

 

[3skinny]

Throwing the ball into are freshmen bigs needs to be are last option.They where lost and overmatched against Michigan State frontline but we continued to go inside and it was a mismatch. If UNC is to win this game it will be guard play and Luke Maye.

 

[HeelzLover]

Throwing the ball into are freshmen bigs needs to be are last option.They where lost and overmatched against Michigan State frontline but we continued to go inside and it was a mismatch. If UNC is to win this game it will be guard play and Luke Maye.

Tennessee doesn't have the same interior D Sparty has. Roy will NOT stop throwing the ball down low.

 

[3skinny]

Tennessee doesn't have the same interior D Sparty has. Roy will NOT stop throwing the ball down low.

Never said stop throwing the ball down low. But like a said last option needs to feed the freshman bigs. If where running are offense throw the freshmen bigs it will get ugly in Knoxville.

 

[TarHeelMark]

Man, I can't stand Barnes. We really need to win this game.

 

[delawaredukies]

Shun lol good man !! there strength is your strength. You guys defend really well on the perimeter and if you don' have to drag down. and help your bigs you should be good to go . Fyi I really like your team this year . Kind of surreal how you guys mirror some of Dukes recent teams . The big diff is that your perimeter defends much better!!

 

[Littlejon]

I don't know what it is about Barnes that he seems to get Roy's teams, but for some reason he manages to get his teams to play lights out against Roy's. Regardless, I just have a feeling we are going to win this one. I actually think we have a shot at a comfortable margin, too. I think our big guys are starting to come into their own and we are playing much better defense, especially on the perimeter. If we come close to shooting as well from 3 as we did the other night, I don't think this one will be all that close.

With that said, Rick does get the most out of his guys when playing UNC, so I do expect them to come out and try to muscle us around. I just don't think it will work. Hope i'm right.

 

[UNC Blue Hup]

I have a good feeling we’ll be ready, Junk Yard Dog may hit his stride in this game. We guard so tough up front it will be hard for them to score. They don’t have much size but it’s gonna be a fight and our Dog is tough ! Berry will be the difference Go Heels !

 

[gary-7]

I don't know what it is about Barnes that he seems to get Roy's teams, but for some reason he manages to get his teams to play lights out against Roy's. Regardless, I just have a feeling we are going to win this one. I actually think we have a shot at a comfortable margin, too. I think our big guys are starting to come into their own and we are playing much better defense, especially on the perimeter. If we come close to shooting as well from 3 as we did the other night, I don't think this one will be all that close.

With that said, Rick does get the most out of his guys when playing UNC, so I do expect them to come out and try to muscle us around. I just don't think it will work. Hope i'm right.

Well, I've said it before, it's the style of play --- which honestly is a microcosm of the ongoing battle for the soul of the game --- basketball the way it was intended vs "physical" shortcuts to thwart that. Barnes definitely represents the latter approach.

For those who remember, Rick's tactics during his Clemson days nearly provoked a physical altercation with Dean Smith. Teams like Barnes's or Laranaga's that take a bumper-pool or hockey-game approach present a systemic challenge to Roy's teams. Some folks don't like to hear this, but the fact is these games often rest on how they're officiated. If it's called straight? Hey, may the best team win... and I like our chances. If not?... all bets are off and it's a crapshoot.

For those who would scoff, I'll just harken back to the last time we played a Barnes team on the road, and Marcus Paige taking a hit that would be 15 yds in football, but no, instead of him shooting FTs for the win, this happens...

...which was sadly the tenor of the entire game.

 

[2DDIMOND]

Anybody want to take a stab at an opening line ?? I say UNC -7.5 with o/u around 154.5 ...

I don't think the spread will be higher than 2.5 either way. I'm inclined to think the Vols might be favored in this one. I think the game will be a close one, maybe won on the final shot.

 

[TarHeelMark]

I hate that we have this long break before the next game.

 

[gary-7]

I hate that we have this long break before the next game.

Hey, I hope the guys feel that way too and come out full of venom.

 

[DSouthr]

Tenn looks good with wins over Purdue, GT, and State already. Should be a tough game on the road but we've been killing it lately, so I like our chances.

I think the Vols are a good matchup for us because they've only got one guy over 6'5" in their top seven rotation players by minutes, and he only plays 20 minutes per game. Grant Williams is a wide body athlete and probably their best player, but he doesn't seem like a terrible matchup for Luke/Theo. They've also been crushing teams with 3's, shooting 42.6% as a team so far. I hope we help a bit less and let them try to beat us to the basket, where they're not as good (shooting .472 from two, 291st in D1).

They've got a good defense, the 2nd best we've played behind MSU and 18th in Kenpom. Should be a good test for our offense, and I'm hoping we can beat them with a combination of rebounding, pace, and some good defense of our own. I think we'll need to take care of the ball better than we have for the past few games.

Purdue is a solid win, everyone is beating GT now days, wuffs are pretty blah, so who they have beaten does not scare me. Yeah, Barnes will look to play us very physical, they are not long, they do have some widish bodies but length against this version of our team concerns me more than the shorter wide body does. Throw out the MSU game guys, it was an outlier, that was the last day of an 11day west coast road trip and we just had zero legs, they were just ready to come home.

I am not so worried about Barns and their physical game or the refs, not as long as the refs call it consistently. Let them play physically is fine by me but call it consistently and we will adjust.

What does concern me is many times we do struggle coming off of this exam week because we do not get as much practice time in as the time off would have you think and the exam schedule has a funny way of draining your focus. If we can regain our focus and play like we have the last couple games I do think we can double digit them but my question is can we have that focus and intensity. Our experienced guys have been thru this before but how do the freshmen adapt to this.

 

[TarHeelMark]

Hey, I hope the guys feel that way too and come out full of venom.

Agree.

I mostly hate the long break for me as a fan, because I'm enjoying watching this team.