2019-2020 Season

Fans were entertained as much as ever last year. Did we go undefeated at home?

 

yes

 

I think we are tied for longest unbeaten streak in the country.

 

not too shabby

 

Decent shot at having 7 ranked opponents in non-conference play. I like having more chances for sig wins, but that might be a brutal stretch for our roster.

 

It sucks that we have to wait until next season to be elite again. I hope we don't lose any of our steam with an average season this year.

 

I have a feeling we are going to be better than people think. We have a tough non conference schedule though.

 

Being elite was fun, but, I'm willing to have a bit of a transition year while we wait on this killer group of recruits coming into Knoxville next year.

 

This team will win 20+ and 11+ in conference.

 

I think that's possible if we get the 7 footer eligible.

 

I think we will struggle, and that it’s much more likely that we will miss the tourney, than make it.

 

Get ready to complain about a bunch of 3s because Ricky is gonna try to build a guard heavy team and be able for 1-5 to hit the 3 and spread the floor. No starting the offense on the block. Anxious to see how it works.

 

James will have to be elite for us to get to those numbers.

 

We will be nowhere close to last year's team but I think people are underselling the fact that we have two senior guards who have played in a lot of big games. Guards control college basketball. I'm with Unimane. I think Plavic getting eligible would make a big difference for this team.

 

Here's a hot take: last year's team actually under-performed, and a lot of that had to do with trying to run the offense through a particular player. Guard teams can over-perform, because on an "on" night, they can beat anyone and on an "off" night, they can get hot at the right time.

 

Both of those guards disappeared for decent stretches last season.

I think Bowden has the potential to have a Josh Richardson style break out season, but he will have to find consistency.

 

That's my concern. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues or if them disappearing had more to do with them being options 4 & 5 on last year's team. Also wonder if they will be able to shoulder the burden of being the main guys and the focal point of the other teams defensive game plans.

 

I think we primarily underperformed because they just ran out of gas before tourney time, and because Barnes is a control freak, and both he and the team struggle when shit gets off script...as nearly every tourney game against a quality opponent will tend to do.

I think that’s been Barnes’ shortcoming long before he came to Tennessee, but he’s brought it with him, here.

But I can also admit that I know nothing about basketball, too.