Looking ahead to Tennessee

[TarHeelMark]

So just curious, but I did look back over the last 3 years, and the Heels are 1-4 in Nov/Dec games where there was 6 or more days since the last game and they were playing a quality opponent (well, it's actually 2-4 if you want to count UAB as a quality opponent).

Regardless, the 2 wins were at home (Maryland, UAB); the four losses were away (@IU, UK in Vegas, @Texas, @UK).

I still believe we will win this one but expect it to be a grinder.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

UT will have the revenge thing going for them. If I'm a UT fan, player or coach I probably feel like last year's game was stolen from them. And ALL their returning starters were here for and played in that game.

Of course Arkansas had the revenge thing going for them, too, and we still crushed them.

 

[DSouthr]

So just curious, but I did look back over the last 3 years, and the Heels are 1-4 in Nov/Dec games where there was 6 or more days since the last game and they were playing a quality opponent (well, it's actually 2-4 if you want to count UAB as a quality opponent).

Regardless, the 2 wins were at home (Maryland, UAB); the four losses were away (@IU, UK in Vegas, @Texas, @UK).

I still believe we will win this one but expect it to be a grinder.

Yeah, it is that exam week break and coming back from it for a road game that has vexed us. Now this is a shorter road travel game and this Tenn team is not what those teams we lost on the road to over that time frame after past exam weeks. WE should win with a + 10 spread but this has just been a hard game for us to get really ready for, we will see.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

UT plays small by choice. Like us, they have a lot of big, young, lower-ranked guys. The difference is that Roy plays his bigs. But they can match us up front if they want to.

If you are tempted to feel sorry for them because we have bigs, don't be.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I stopped hating Barnes last year. I don't really know why. But it's good for my blood pressure. So I suggest we beat them again. Just for health reasons, you understand.

 

[gary-7]

I stopped hating Barnes last year. I don't really know why. But it's good for my blood pressure. So I suggest we beat them again. Just for health reasons, you understand.

Tennessee not exactly having an easy time with Lipscomb at home.

 

[Archer2]

They have a deep bench, take note LOM, because they play a lot of guys double digit minutes(9), with their star forward Grant Williams pacing the team with 27 MPG. So they will come at us in waves and try to disrupt our offense with their defense. I think we have the guards to make them pay but we have to be strong with the ball and expect a lot of hand checking. But if we're strong with the ball, and utilize ball fakes to entice them to jump into passing lanes, we have the facilitators to get good shots against their defense.

Their best player is 6-7 Grant Williams, who leads the team in MPG, PPG, and RPG. He may be too much for Luke to handle defensively without getting into foul trouble, so look for Theo to be given that assignment for the most part.

They have 5 players who shoot better than 37% from downtown so our perimeter guys need to stay to stay within recovery distance of their shooters at all times. Our bigs will have a decided height advantage and should not require a lot of additional help. They must take advantage of this and own the boards. They are a good, but not great rebounding team.

They also shoot free throws very well(76%). This will be a very good test for us, especially since we traditionally don't play well right after exam break.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

I didn't do any research, but this feels like an especially long break to me. I hate this every year due to our constant struggle to get back to playing shape and game speed! This will be just the next in a series of tests for our young team. We don't have to pass every test, we just have to get better from each! UT plays a style that is similar to MSU so we get to see if we react better this time! Can our bigs man up and play without help? Will we stay connected to their shooters? How will we respond to physicality, especially in the post! I can't wait too see the answers!

I think this year will be different because our leaders are healthy and determined and our youngsters clearly mirror the vets! I expect a really close first half and it is likely we will trail going into the locker room. But I also expect to finish strong and win pulling away!

 

[Archer2]

Their frontline isn’t nearly as physically imposing as MSU’s. Our bigs will have an advantage inside. But Barnes’ teams are always physical to the point of playing dirty. We have to be prepared for that. That’s where our upperclassmen come in, they have to set the toughness tone for our team. If they do, our young players will respond accordingly.

The “toughest” team will prevail.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

They lack the size of MSU, but they will try the same strategy against our young bigs! Let's see what they learned from that woodshed!

 

[Heelswin]

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.

Barnes will have them ready .... they will play over their heads .... be ready ... the only way we win is to play mean, tough, nasty and bold ... be tougher than they are!!!

 

[Heelswin]

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?

Deeper than the doo at dook!

 

[Heelswin]

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

One thing you can count on ..….. Vols will play over their heads v. UNC ... write it down ... be ready ....kill!!!

 

[Heelswin]

The key to beating Tenn ... Heels must be MTNB!!!

 

[soap - new and improved]

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.

THIS x 1000. For some reason refs usually give Barnes Kay status when his teams play UNC. Style of call matters most when playing teams that have a "defensive" strategy of five guys fouling at once cos' "the refs won't call them all."

The one game of a Barnes coached team I ever saw properly officiated he ended up with most of his players fouled out.

 

[Heelswin]

Vols will play over their heads v. Unc ... expect the worst, hope for the best!

Ricks got schyzt on his tie!!!

 

[gary-7]

THIS x 1000. For some reason refs usually give Barnes Kay status when his teams play UNC. Style of call matters most when playing teams that have a "defensive" strategy of five guys fouling at once cos' "the refs won't call them all."

The one game of a Barnes coached team I ever saw properly officiated he ended up with most of his players fouled out.

soap, it's funny --- Roy of course has to be somewhat PC in this day and age in his public statements (Dean, ironically, was more pointed), but he's pretty easy to translate. In his radio show Roy said TN would hit our guys "in the mouth" early. Metaphor, yes, but more euphemism for the fact he has told the guys they're gonna get fouled early and often, and they need to react strongly instead of "curling up in a fetal position".

Michigan State (despite so many here not wanting to discuss it) hit us hard physically and it took us out of our game. We can't let that happen again Sunday. The guys (especially our inside players) need to learn to play thru the undercuts and elbows, because you can't count on the zebras to keep it under control, especially in a hostile environment. Unfortunately we will inevitably encounter games along the way where the guys need to learn to adapt and give back as good they get.

Having tough hosses like Meeks and Hicks in the trenches went a long way in taking us to the promised land last season, and it's time for the younguns to start growing up. That being said, let us hope Michael Stephens isn't within 100 miles of Knoxville Sunday...

 

[mikeirbyusa]

This is their "Super Bowl", much like IU did, they are building this up as THE GAME for them. Our youngens will have to match that intensity to stay in it. Good learning experience.

 

[gary-7]

This is their "Super Bowl", much like IU did, they are building this up as THE GAME for them. Our youngens will have to match that intensity to stay in it. Good learning experience.

Yep, and remarkably they've sold out for this one. That arena used to be like 25000 capacity. Granted, I think they cut that back when the renovated a few years back but it's still like 21000 I think.

 

[HeelzLover]

Who wouldn' want to see that beautiful shade of blue.

 

[al would]

It seems each and every year UNC travels with a great big bullseye on their jerseys and this year they carry an especially big target because of the "2017 Defending NCAA Basketball Champions" banner . Nothing new and I wouldn't want it any other way. Great opportunity to learn and grow in a hostile building which will certainly pay big benefits heading in to the ACC regular season... jmho

 

[kevindow]

I hope the environment is extremely hostile and the game very physical. This will toughen our young guys and make them mentally and physically stronger to do well in the ACC and beyond in the Big Dance. We were truly humbled by Michigan State, and I am confident that Roy and the veterans (Maye, Pinson, Berry and Williams) will absolutely not allow another humbling experience at UT.

 

[al would]

I hope the environment is extremely hostile and the game very physical. This will toughen our young guys and make them mentally and physically stronger to do well in the ACC and beyond in the Big Dance. We were truly humbled by Michigan State, and I am confident that Roy and the veterans (Maye, Pinson, Berry and Williams) will absolutely not allow another humbling experience at UT.

Don't know that I would want it to be VERY physical .. like Creighton or Izzo's boys .. but a fairly called physical game will certainly help down the road .. I think the young guns on the inside would/will benefit the most .. jmho

 

[itstartedwithmj]

Barnes will have them ready .... they will play over their heads .... be ready ... the only way we win is to play mean, tough, nasty and bold ... be tougher than they are!!!

So you're saying we need a team full of Huffs out there. Physical games aren't our forte. I hope they'll be prepared to play that way.

 

[Tigertown_a_Rick]

I see a game similar to the games Carolina had when we played at Clemson when Barnes was there....Crowd will be electric, and they will be very motivated to knock off a top 10 team, especially a Carolina team that they feel they should have beaten last year in Chapel Hill....I agree with Mike that it will be a great learning experience for this year's team, and should help prepare us for the ACC road games to come...

As for the game, we will need to defend the perimeter, rebound the basketball, limit our turnovers, and most of all make our free throws....The fact that this team has already beaten a team(Arkansas) that had revenge on their minds as mentioned above, should help us in this game, but make no mistake this ain't going to be easy....

Just hope the officiating isn't a factor in determining the outcome, but that may be too much too ask for....

Go Tar Heels!

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Who wouldn' want to see that beautiful shade of blue.

Especially if your team wears prison orange.

 

[DaSheed]

Rick Barnes is right up there with the Rat, Jim O’Brien and Greg McDermott. NEVER forget!

 

[TarHeelMark]

Rick Barnes is right up there with the Rat, Jim O’Brien and Greg McDermott. NEVER forget!

Dean coulda took him. He was fired up that day.