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Thursday
Posted: Wed, March 27th, 2024, 10:21 PM • Permalink
Happy Sweet 16 Thursday:






We Need To Step Up & Help One Of Our Own: My main man Les Vineyard, the electrician of the common fan, has had a serious health setback. Les, one of the ALL TIME great people, has had a major heart attack. His friends have put together a go fund me to help with his medical expenses. Les is a Vol to the core and a beautiful man. He and his awesome wife Baseball Lisa need a pick me up. Let's all band together and do our part. Let's lift these folks up and let them feel the love. Les is the man that wired the Ray Mears Studio. And he charged us next to nothing because that's who he is. Please help us pick up these precious folks. And Les and Lisa, if you read this, I want you to know that you're loved and we're here for you.

Here's the link for the go fund me ... LINK



Tennessee is getting ready to roll in Detroit Rock City while the the other side of the Sweet 16 tips off tonight at a few sites around America.

Click to YMCA of East Tennessee!
Going Deeper On Tennessee & Creighton:

Our silent partner Y and a few other sources contributed to the following analysis of what we're probably going to see tomorrow night.

We Believe Creighton Comps To: Alabama of 2022-2023 on defense. They play mostly a drop coverage used by that Bama team. Think of Bama's Charles Bediako instead of Creighton's Kalkbrenner. The matchup is a very strong one for the Vols but Tennessee has to hit shots. The Vols are going to get solid looks at the rim in this game. What Creighton takes away (shots at the rim) isn't what Tennessee is good at to begin with. That's a huge edge in this one.


Tennessee Figures To Test Creighton Early On Defense: Tennessee will run the pick and roll with Knecht. How will Creighton defend this? They won't have Kalkbrenner out with Knecht on pick and rolls where he's the predominant ball handler. If you drop and stand under the rim when Aidoo is setting a screen for Aidoo are they going to give Tennessee and Knecht wide open looks? This is what Auburn did and he went off on them. Can you play drop coverage with your big man with Knecht on the floor? I'd expect Tennessee to put them in the blender early and see how they stop it. Nothing Creighton does on defense is a real problem for the Vols.


Creighton Could Be A Headache For The Vols: If Creighton is hitting shots forget about it. They can really go off when Baylor Scheierman and Alexander get it cooking. They're going to look to space the floor and get shots up early in the game.


The Matchups ... How Tennessee Defends Creighton ... Probably what Tennessee does defensively is Triple J on Baylor Scheierman. Vesco draws Alexander (this could be a key matchup. Need February defensive Vesco here). ZZ on Ashworth (ZZ should win this battle). Aidoo on Kalkbrenner and Knecht on Mike Miller's son Mason Miller who's taken one 2 ball since February 20th. Knecht on Miller is actually good as it will give DK a chance to rest on defense. Then again Miller shoots 45 percent from 3 point land. So DK will need to guard him honestly but he won't have to worry about him exploiting him to the rim.


Upon Closer Review ... Knecht Needs To Dominate This Game: This is the game we've been pointing to all year. The conditions will be right for Knecht to score the Vols through to the next round. This is DK's game. This is why Tennessee got him. Texas had all those athletes that could bottle things up defensively.

Knecht will get all kinds of space to operate in this game. It's just the way Creighton approaches the game. Friday night's game should be the exact opposite of Texas for him. Knecht figures to get a chance to untuck his shirt, get on the balls of his heels and go off early. In a wide open game like this one will be (Creighton loves to play fast) right in DK's wheel house.


Knecht should have every opportunity to go off. Plus Aidoo will get a chance to breathe in this game versus a finesse center that won't play physically against him. This doesn't figure to be a great game for Awaka but who knows? I would expect to see Tennessee put Tobe out there early (first 10 minutes) and see if he could get under Kalkbrenner and bother him.

As we alluded to above, the one mismatch on paper for Tennessee is Vesco and Alexander. Santi could get eaten up if it goes badly. Tennessee really needs him to hit a few shots and keep Alexander honest on defense. The Vesco thing is kind of bizarre at this point but it is what it is.


Both Tennessee & Creighton Have Short Benches: We touched on this yesterday in the blog of record but suffice it to say that short benches are more the rule in this tournament among the contenders. A lot of the upper tier teams don't have a bench. Most coaches of the teams in this Sweet 16 only play 6 guys. Purdue plays 7.5 in tightly contested games. There aren't any Bruce Pearls left in this tournament that play 9 guys (though Stephen Pearl wants to call Auburn a Final 17 team). I realize it's a talking point of our fans on our post-game shows this year, but truly Tennessee is in Rome and they are acting according to the Romans when it comes to playing few players.


As we said yesterday, Creighton had 3 players play 50 minutes against Oregon. Creighton has 7 guys that play while the Vols have 8. If Vesco was right, you wouldn't see Gainey much at all. Gainey is playing (probably too much) because Vesco is lost still and the clock is striking midnight. Therefore, ideally Tennessee would be down to 7 like pretty much everybody else. Bill Self usually only plays 6 guys in the NCAA Tournament because in his words the TV timeouts are 'so damn long.' Self believes that at this time of the year what you got should be in condition to mostly go the distance. Who can argue with a coach of his renown? It's interesting to consider.

Click to Karns Motor Company!
The Edge Belongs To: Tennessee in this game. Tennessee is going to have an opponent in front of them that will encourage them to play fast and free. This is a game where Tennessee's main 3 players ZZ, DK and Aidoo should be able to function at a high level. If two teammates join them in playing well the Vols should make the schools 2nd ever Elite Eight.


Brian Hartman Returns With Some Wonderful Food For Thought On The Sweet 16:
Brian Hartman
'Sweet 16 trips since 2006 including 2024:

North Carolina 11

Duke 11

Gonzaga 11

Arizona 8

TENNESSEE 7

Purdue 7

Uconn 6

Houston 5

S D St 4

Iowa St 4

Marquette 4

Alabama 3

Creighton 3

NC St 3

Clemson 2

Illinois 1


Click to Advent Electric!
It's interesting that the Vols have been to the Sweet 16 more times than Uconn during this span. Despite Uconn winning 3 national titles (2011, 2014, 2023).


Illinois is making their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2005, when they lost to North Carolina in the national championship game. You think of Illinois as more of a basketball school than Tennessee, but not lately according to this.


Click to Collins Insurance Agency
Every other program but Illinois has been to the Sweet 16 at least 2x, counting this season.


I start in 2006 because that was Bruce Pearl's first season at Tennessee. He started the fire that is still burning today. 18 years later.


Kentucky has been to 8 Sweet 16's since 2006, only 1 more than the Vols. They do have four Final Four's and a national title though.



Florida has been to 7 Sweet 16's since 2006, same number as the Vols. They also have 3 Final Four's with 2 national championships. However, Florida's last Sweet 16 was in 2017.


Through The Glass


Brian'




Click to The Garza Law Firm
Brian there's very little doubt that Bruce Pearl started the fire here. Notice I didn't say Stephen F' In Pearl who needs his head checked. Link


Charlie Baker And The NCAA Are Damn Goofy: But it's hard to argue with their points on player prop bets in major college sports. In a perfect world this would be a wide open space with hundreds of bets available at any one time. The world of NCAA sports is anything but perfect and allowing props on players invites too many complexities. Link


ICYMI from Wednesday: TLD Logistics Tennessee Baseball Report
(@Drive4TLD)
Here's Matt Dixon breaking it down ...
Matt Dixon
'Votellos Run Rule Tennessee Tech:

Tennessee snapped a 2-game losing streak to Tennessee Tech with an 11-1 run-rule victory Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.


The Volunteers used a different pitcher in each of the seven innings to hold the Golden Eagles to just three hits.


Tennessee scored 11 runs on 13 hits to improve to 22-4 on the season.


With runners on the corners and no outs in the bottom of the 1st, Christian Moore grounded into a 6-4-3 double play but brought home the runner at 3rd to give the Vols an early 1-0 lead.


Tennessee loaded the bases with only one out in the bottom of the 3rd but a 6-4-3 double play ended the threat.


The Vols loaded the bases with only out again in the 4th inning. This time pushing across two runs. First on a Charlie Taylor fielder’s choice ground ball to shortstop and then on a double steal that saw Reese Chapman’s cross home plate before Taylor was tagged out in a rundown.


Tennessee blew the game open in the 5th inning. A 2-run home run by Blake Burke made it 5-0. It was Burke’s 9th home run of the season and 39th for his UT career, passing Todd Helton. He’s now just one long ball shy of tying the school record for career home runs.


Back-to-back doubles from Kavares Tears and Hunter Ensley plated another run to make it 6-0.


Later in the frame, Reese Chapman crushed a no-doubter to right field for a 3-run home run to extend the lead to 9-0.


A 2-out single by Theo Bryant IV in the top of the 3rd was the Golden Eagles’ only hit until Bryant IV doubled off the top of the wall in right centerfield with one out in the 6th inning.


Bryant IV would eventually come around to score on a muffed catch at 1st base later in the inning to make it 9-1.


After loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 7th, Chapman hit a ground-rule double down the right field line that walked off the Golden Eagles 11-1.


Notes: — Billy Amick was out of the lineup for the first time all season vs the Golden Eagles with appendicitis. He’s expected to miss all three games this weekend vs Georgia as well.


— Ariel Antigua earned his first career start at shortstop and made a couple of nice plays in the field. Regular starting shortstop Dean Curley slid over to 3rd base, giving fans a preview of the likely left side of the infield next season.


— Hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time all season, Robin Villeneuve was 3-for-3 and scored twice.


— Reese Chapman made his 8th start of the season and went 4-for-4 with a 3-run home run, double and five RBIs.


— Freshman Dylan Loy made his first career start. He retired the side in order to open the game in his only inning of work.


— Freshman Derek Schaefer earned the win after pitching a three up, three down 2nd inning with two strikeouts.


@Mattdixon3'





ICYMI from Monday:
Our UT Insider Orange Throat
Orange Throat
Click to Performance Medicine!
'T Club Team:

Random musings as the Barnes Ballers stagger a bit but keep dancing:

YOUR BIG ORANGE TUMBLER ... Has to be half-full after the Large Orange survived Saturday night at Charlotte. My point in Friday's blog about UT teams under Rick Barnes usually failing in the tourney because of poor shooting almost came true, but thankfully did not. Tennessee set a record for the lowest shooting mark in a tourney win. Wow. Jonas Aidoo and Dalton Knecht came through at the free throw line and another early round disaster was averted.


ON TO THE MOTOR CITY .... As Vol Nation should represent at Little Caesars Arena, the 20,000-seat home of the Detroit Pistons and Red Wings. Friday night's game with a very good Creighton team stands between this team, this coach and this fanbase from an opportunity to make that elusive Final Four. The get-in price for the Friday session is currently hovering around $200. A Delta flight from McGhee Tyson is going to cost you a grand so the 7-hour drive doesn't look too bad in comparison.


THE BLUEJAYS FROM THE BIG EAST... Are outstanding offensively, ranked 5th in the country in EFG percentage at 57.4% and 14th-year HC Greg McDermott's team is 20th nationally in defensive EFG at 46.2. The game opened with the Volunteers as a 1.5-point favorite and has been bet up to -2.5 so far. The Dean will host a massive watch party at Corner 16 Friday night.


Follow Us On Twitter:
@TonyBasilio
IS THERE A DIS-KNECHT ... Going on with our SEC Player of the Year? There's no question Dalton Knecht has cooled from the torrid pace he set for most of the season. He's shooting 38.8% from the field over the last six games after being close to 50% for most of the season ... he's 46.1% for the season going to Detroit. Knecht is hitting 32.7 from three-point land over the last six after being in the low 40s all season. He now's down to 39.1% for the season. Ziggy has also been on the cool side of late, shooting about four percentage points off his season average. Of course, Ziggy's overall game was huge in the win over Texas. With regard to Knecht, is it fatigue, law of averages, better defensive strategy from opponents? Tony and Beanstar will break that down today.


THE FIGHTING VOLTELLOS WIN A SERIES ... In the league home opener but the sweep got away when the bullpen couldn't hold a one-run lead on Saturday. Otherwise, the Vols run-ruled Ole Miss on Friday and Sunday by scoring 30 runs in those games, including 10 homers. C-Moore hit three homers on the weekend and Kavares Tears went 7-for-11 and had two roundtrippers. A.J. Causey breezed to another league win on Friday and Nate Snead came on in relief to collect the dub yesterday. For the second straight weekend, the Vols lost Drew Beam's start, although A.J. Russell sustained the L in relief. Hope Russell hasn't sustained a setback arm-wise.


LADY VOL UPDATE ... Kellie Harper's 6th-seeded squad guns for its third straight Sweet 16 this afternoon but they'll have to do it on the home court of #3-seed N.C. State ... Karen Weekly's softball team completes its road series at South Carolina tonight after winning the first two against the Gamecocks.


GEORGIA CRIMEDOG UPDATE ... It didn't take Florida transfer RB Trevor Etienne long to get "up to speed" on how things roll in Kirby Smart's program. He was booked over the weekend for DUI and reckless driving.


Orange Throat'





Peace

Tony

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Busted
Posted: Sun, Mar 24th, 4:22 PM
by Alison


Get the app! Droid | iPhone







2023 Amachi Tailgate Click for Slideshow


Caitlin Clark
Posted: Fri, Mar 1st, 2:21 PM
We can now officially congratulate Caitlin Clark on breaking the record for the most points scored in women’s basketball!

Caitlin Clark is the biggest superstar in college basketball (men’s or women’s). That’s not just me being a fan, Caitlin Clark is HER! Caitlin scored 49 points on February 15th to pass Kelsey Plum’s NCAA record for the most career points in women’s college basketball..... [more]
It's a Love Story
Posted: Wed, Feb 14th, 11:23 AM
Jared (the redneck from Roanoke, VA) thought the Taylor Swift coverage would end with the Super Bowl, but this love story isn’t going anywhere. In a game that was four hours and 18 minutes (that’s a total of 15,480 seconds). Swift only appeared for around 55 seconds! 55 SECONDS from the moment the game kicked off to the overtime touchdown.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3ONwhRyugP/.... [more]
Missouri Game Preview
Posted: Thu, Nov 9th, 12:56 PM
by Josh
The Vols did what they were expected to do against UConn. There's not really much to say about that game. The game this Saturday in Columbia, Missouri will decide whether or not this season is a failure in my opinion. If they Vols lose, they are staring at 8-4 and probably the Gator Bowl. Maybe Reliaquest..... [more]
Connecticut Game Preview
Posted: Thu, Nov 2nd, 6:19 PM
by Josh
The Vols are coming back to Neyland Stadium and I am returning after a discretionary bye week. I'll be honest with you. This year it seems like I've been writing the same preview over and over because the formula to win has been the same pretty much every SEC game. I didn't want to sound like a broken record so I needed a bit of a break from that.

I'll start with some general observations..... [more]



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