10 Observations On This Tennessee Team After 8 Games.

1.) Jarnell Stokes is not going to be going pro barring an absolute dominating effort the rest of the season. He just doesn't appear ready.
2.) Trae Golden is being too much of a facilitator rather than an initiator meaning the attacking Trae Golden we saw against Wichita State is the one we need to see the rest of the season.
3.) Jordan McRae appears to still be a poor man's Scotty Hopson, woefully inconsistent.
4.) Josh Richardson is a premier SEC perimeter defender. It's really impressive.
5.) Kenny Hall's still, well, Kenny Hall.
6.) D'Montre Edwards looks to be pretty solid offensively, and the Vols need his help, but his continued defensive lapses have limited his playing time.
7.) Skylar McBee looks to still be hit or miss with the only thing he brings to the table, shooting. He either makes a ton or misses them all.
8.) Tennessee is an elite defensive team right now. I'd venture to say possibly the best in the SEC. Simply mediocre offense will win plenty of games.
9.) I've seen many on here refer to Tennessee's offense right now as "Pearlesque." There's nothing wrong with the scheme. When you can't make a shot and the defense focuses all its attention on stopping Jarnell Stokes, cutting and screening can be rendered ineffective when the defense pays no attention to 4 players on the team and only focuses on one. Make some shots, and the offense will look much prettier.
10.) Tennessee might have found something against Wichita State. Push the ball when the opportunity presents itself and get some easy buckets before the opposing defense gets set. Look for that to continue.

 

Not as mopey as Hopson on D, though.

 

Very succinct, Law. Appreciate your contributions to the basketball forum.

 

I argued for #10 awhile ago. I have no idea why teams walk the ball up the court. Push the ball, look for easy baskets and pull the ball out if there's nothing there. Why waste easy opportunities in order to have to break down a defense on every possession?

 

This team can get up and down the court, not sure why anyone would walk the ball up when you know the defense is just going to pack it in and make you take contested jump shots, which is a major weakness for UT.

 

Why in the world are you posting this on what I presume to be your honeymoon?

 

Had a little down time and cranked it out in about 10 minutes while the wife was getting ready to go out for dinner.

 

Damn, why were you cranking one out on your honeymoon?

 

Solid work.

 

Hell, he wrote the draft of this during the vows, just got a little preoccupied and didn't push send. Understandable I guess....

 

That's understandable, that's the ceremony and not the honeymoon.

 

Don't buy it.

Rehydrating most likely.

 

better take her shopping in the morning

 

Congrats, btw