[Post Game Thread] 6 Tennessee beats 14 MS State 68-56
Really about as good of a bounce back as they could have asked for, especially playing such a quality opponent. Happy Chaz was able to find a groove. If I have to take shit games against Georgia, Texas, and Florida, and in turn get good games against MS State, Auburn, and Kentucky, I’ll take it. It’s also wild that this game was potentially saved by a Felix Okpara three to beat the shot clock. Defense was really good. The toughest regular season game they will play all year happens this Saturday, let’s hope they build off this performance and carry it on the road. Here we go.
The Good:
Felix Okpara. Rebounding machine. Very good defensively underneath. Hit a huge three that changed the entire direction of the second half. He’s got a major test this Saturday, but for now I’m going to happily call this his best game of the year. Good on him.
Chaz Lanier. Welcome back to being good, Chaz. Is it too early to bring back that DK split? Absolutely. Is it encouraging that he was able to have such a shit moment on Saturday and follow it up with his best game in over a month? Yes. Shot pretty well from behind the arc, actually took two layups today, and made his free throws. No complaints from me.
Jahmai Mashack. Double figures on over 70% shooting, and he played great defense. What a performance for the senior. He’s actually played well offensively in two of his last three games.
Cade Phillips. Didn’t do much offensively but he rebounded well and played hard and he’s just an easy guy to root for.
Defense was crazy good. MS State averages 80+ppg. Wasn’t even fucking close to that tonight.
Jordan Gainey. Average on the offensive end, very good on the defensive end. Hoping he can knock down threes at a higher clip moving forward.
Free throw shooting was very good.
The Average:
ZZ. I’m sure I’ll get some people who disagree, and that’s fine. He was superb on the defensive end, but he had a few too many turnovers and a few too many missed layups for my liking to put him in the “Good” section. Feel free to argue.
Pace of play. The problem with Tennessee playing good defense is that teams take all 30 seconds to shoot and it makes pace of play tougher to watch. Weird thing to complain about, but I did it anyway.
Shooting. Would be higher if not for missed layups, three point shooting was pretty good. Around 36%.
Rebounding. Better on the offensive glass but it wasn’t too bad tonight, largely thanks to Felix.
The Bad:
Their transition offense isn’t very good. For a team that forces a lot of misses they never get out and run like I think they should.
Igor Milicic. This dude got fucking wrecked by double teams. Almost single handedly let them come back in the second half. Wish he’d find a rhythm from 3, soon.
Darlinstone Dubar. I don’t mind the misses, and I get that he has a short leash, but fouling the 3pt shooter got him here.
Bishop Boswell. Useless.
Karl Ravich. Average baseball announcer, shit college hoops announcer. If I took a shot every time he said “a four point game to this” I’d be dead. Also, it’s “Dubar” not “Dunbar.” I hate this crew. Figure it out.
No Chick-Fil-A