Happy Vols Know Their Role Monday! 
It's time for this Tennessee team to go to the edge of the pond Lion King style and see that they have what it takes to cut em down. This Tennessee team is MUCH BETTER than they've been the last couple of times out.
We Went Close To 2 Hours Last Night: Previewing Tennessee and responding in real time to what we learned about our upcoming potential opponents ...
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Our UT Insider Orange Throat Leads Off! Today's total team coverage ...
Orange Throat
'T Club Team:
Random musings as the Basketball Vols end up in the Midwest Region and the Baseball Vols blow a series win on the road:
NOT A BAD DRAW ... For Rick Barnes as a #2 seed in the Midwest Region and being sent to Charlotte for rounds 1 and 2. The Volunteers should handle Saint Peter's on Thursday and then face an interesting array of possibilities as an opponent in round 2. The chalk will say Texas in round 2 but the winner of Virginia/Colorado State in the First Four game will be a live dog against the Longhorns.
BASKETBALL VOLS BLOW A TIRE AT BRIDGESTONE ... Call me crazy, but I'm glad Chris Jans' State Bulldog team is in the West Region ... The Bullies bullied the Tennessee Vols in a Friday matinee at the Bridgestone Arena on Broadway. The damage from the decisive loss included a fall from a possible 1-seed in the West Region to the 2-seed in the Midwest but it remains to be seen if that is worse. Rick Barnes' team served up a bad performance to the thousands of Vols fans who showed up to cheer on the SEC champions but all will be forgotten and forgiven if the Large Orange advances this weekend.
PAIN IN THE PAINT ... We've talked this season about the real achilles of this Tennessee team and it is inside depth. Barnes and his staff found a great offensive solution in free agency in Dalton Knecht but failed to replace Olivier Nkamhoua after running him off to Michigan, where he was a walking double/double this season. J.P. Estrella is a nice prospect but wasn't and isn't ready to battle hairy-chested men like Mississippi State has. Tobe Awaka is limited and Jonas Aidoo tends to get outmuscled in matchups like we saw on Friday. Even Plavvy could have been of some use against State.
THE FIGHTING VOLTELLOS ... Dropped an SEC opening series on the road at Alabama. Friday saw the offense hammer home an 11-3 win. Saturday saw a terrible start and missed opportunities to overcome an early 6-0 deficit and lose 6-3. Sunday saw the encouraging sign of A.J. Russell throwing 40 pitches in two innings and yielding one run. The culprit Sunday was two-headed: Alabama's bullpen outperformed the Vols and so did their hitters in clutch situations. Not a disaster at all to get one of three on the road to begin the season. Ole Miss comes to The Lindsey next weekend.
FB COACHES CONTRACTS REVEALED ... One of Doctor Danny's quirks is he likes to hold coaching contract info until releasing it in a big glob but Volquest beat him to the punch on Friday by getting access to new deals on Josh Heupel's staff. The most notable is Willie Martinez only getting a one-year deal. The next step for Tennessee's defense is improved secondary play and for sure at cornerback, which is Martinez' responsibility. The 2024 Vol roster has some new players in the mix in the secondary as spring practice starts today.
LADY VOL ROUNDUP ... Kellie Harper's 6th-seeded Lady Vols are being sent to Raleigh to play #11 Green Bay. If they get past the Phoenix, they'll play 3-seed NC State for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16. Charlie Creme on ESPN proclaimed the Lady Vols as a team to watch! How about that? Karen Weekly's 9th-ranked softball team got off to a good start in the league sweeping #11 Missouri.
Orange Throat'
Love the report ... How long ago does it seem since Tennessee got hammered on Friday? We saw a lot of water roll under the bridge since then. The great news is that it's a brand new season for the Vols and it's the time we've been pointing at for months. This team certainly has what it takes if a few players will join the party ...
Rick Barnes Gave The Vols A Break: After being ousted on Friday. The idea was for the Vols to get a break and clear their heads. My understanding is that Tennessee has been having some trouble focusing in practice since cutting nets down in South Carolina. This makes sense. That was heady stuff and this club has accomplished a lot. Then again there's still so much out there for the Vols if they can get locked back in.
Tennessee Got A Break: With a fairly favorable draw. St. Peter's is hardly capable of beating this Tennessee team while the rest of the teams in Charlotte, Colorado State or Virginia (play in) or Texas don't strike much fear on me. First up is the Peacocks of St. Peter's.
Vols Got The Shaft On Tip Time:
Tennessee and St. Peter's will tip off at 9:20pm. TNT will have the telecast as Dalton Knecht gets some night time love from the networks. The prime time game will feature Texas vs either Colorado State or Virginia. Go figure ...
First Glance At St. Peter's: St. Peter's is 187 in Ken Pom ... One Spot ahead of Vanderbilt ...
St. Peter's is nothing like the team that played Kentucky 2 years ago. This club plays slow. Defensive first team that muddies the game up. They got hot in AC over the weekend beating Fairfield. They zoned them. The Staggs is one of the 25 best 3 point shooting teams in the country. St. Peter's made EVERYTHING down the stretch to win the game.
St. Peter's is ranked #359 in 2 point baskets ... That's atrocious.
They're # 323 in turnovers ... But they're among the best in turnovers created.
Do rebound ball well (especially on offense).
Overall not very good offensively ...
Solid D #'s. Give up a lot of FT's ...
St. Peter's only played 2 high major games all year. Played both Seton Hall and Rutgers.
15 of 19 wins were Quad Four wins ...
A game Tennessee should win ...
St. Peter's is pretty fortunate to have won their conference tournament as Fairfield missed their last 16 3's. While the Peacocks shot out of their minds.
A matchup of the Zeigler brothers. Armoni Zeigler 6-4 comes off the bench ...
You Can Count On Rick Barnes For A Few Games As A #2 Seed: Rick Barnes gets out of the weekend as #2 seed ... 10-0 is his all time record. The draw is solid.
Did The SEC Tourney Matter: Vols are the #1 #2 seed
Auburn is in Spokane ... Stephen F'in Pearl is PISSED ...
#3 Seed Kentucky got whacked on Friday ...
Florida is a #7 seed (I guess they did watch them w/ terribile injury)
Do Conference Tournaments Matter In Seeding? Only Two Of Top 8 National overall seeds won their conference tourney, #1 overall seed UConn and #8 overall seed Iowa State. Everybody else at the top of the sport comes into the tourney as a loser. Wow ... Interesting stat unearthed by Brian Hartman.
Tennessee's Region Snapshot Thoughts:
Purdue & Tennessee struggle mightily ... Purdue hasn't been to a Final Four since 1980 while you know Tennessee's history or lackthereof.
Creighton Never Been
To a Final Four ...
Kansas is all beat up ...
Purdue Can Shoot It Better From 3 than in years past but they're Purdue til they aren't.
#2 seed Tennessee is Tennessee.
#3 seed Creighton is capable but has never advanced to the Final Four (two elite 8's including last year).
#4 Kansas is all beat up and won't last long.
#5 Gonzaga has been disappointing but OK lately.
#6 South Carolina is South Carolina.
#7 Texas is meh ...
Somebody is going to win that region ... Somebody is going to defy history because Kansas isn't getting there ... Think about it..
Finally: Would you come to a Listener Watch Party if we threw one at 9:40pm on a Thursday night? Or is that a little late for the fun?
GBO
Tone
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