[Post Game Thread] 6 Tennessee loses to Vanderbilt 76-75
Being ranked #6 and taking heartbreaking losses to Vanderbilt. Name a more iconic duo. I fear that this will absolute gut whatever confidence Chaz had left. All that comeback to lose the way they did is brutal, but this game was lost between the last six minutes of the first half and the first six minutes the second half. The toughest part of their schedule is coming up, and I hope they don’t turn into the 2022-2023 team. Enjoy the long weekend. Here we go.
The Good:
ZZ. One of two guys who, from start to finish, was ready to play in this basketball game. I know a lot of people have commented on it all year, but they’re so much worse when ZZ is off the court vs when he’s on it. Another double-double, a greater than 3:1 assist to turnover ratio. I’m not sure how else to describe his value, but what I will say is potentially whiffing on three straight point guard recruits has put this team in a bind. Kim English is kind of a dogshit head coach, maybe he comes back as an assistant (no shot, but a man can dream).
Felix Okpara. Strong around the rim, largely efficient from the free throw line. Had four blocks. He didn’t rebound well but nobody on Tennessee did. I’m largely his biggest critic but he was one of the few bright spots today.
3pt shooting. If you told me Tennessee would shoot 50% from 3 (10/20 as I’m typing this) I’d say they win by 20. That was not the case, but 3pt shooting was very good.
Igor Milic. Aggressive offense Igor is my favorite Igor. Huge down the stretch in a game that they just barely came up short. Didn’t rebound very well but I hope he builds on the offensive performance today.
The Average:
Chaz Lanier. His best game in two weeks. Looked confident from three a couple of times but those turnovers are so. fucking. bad. The amount of times he was just pickpocketed or careless with the ball is insane for a senior guard. I teetered with the bad but we’ve seen what the bad looks like so he’s here. Another thing, this dude can’t get to the basket if his life depended on it. That missed free throw is brutal because I have no doubt they win in OT.
Darlinstone Dubar. Actually kinda shocked he didn’t play more. Thought he was pretty good when he was in there, guess the flow of the game didn’t demand it. Whatever.
Free throw shooting. Up until the last one I’d put them in the good, but it’s impossible to put them in the good when you miss which a clutch one.
The Bad:
Cade Phillips was effectively useless. Bodies underneath; never got positioning.
Jahmai Mashack. Played so well on Tuesday and then laid an egg today. Low IQ plays on the both ends. Didn’t take care of the call. Tough outing.
Jordan Gainey. Tough because he didn’t have a chance to be a spot up guy due to the way the first half closed. Not a great performance tho.
Rebounding. Vanderbilt’s a small ass team and still had double digit offensive rebounds. That’s fucking inexcusable. And it hurt them today.
Defense, especially at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second. Just so many open looks. If not for an almost all-time choke by Vanderbilt this would’ve been a much more glaring issue today.
Rick Barnes. I’m putting him here for a longer issue, he never recruited a second point guard and today it really, really hurt them. Also, this team seems to foul a three point shooter every game and it feels like that’s a coaching philosophy issue because I’d love to have that point back to end the half right about now.
Edit: Bishop Boswell. That dude came in for 90 seconds. Got absolutely toasted on two straight possessions and never saw the court again. It’s 4v5 when he’s in the game. Really disappointing.
I hate when Tennessee basketball loses in fashion like this. I watched Auburn get lucky four plays in a row in the final four seconds, and we have our best scorer at the line who misses a free throw. I hate that shit.
This post felt fucking cursed, but it’s no way shape or form why they lost.