Since getting blown out at Rupp Arena, the Vols are 4-1 and undefeated in SEC play. Each of those games had their moments of uncertainty in the second half, and each time Tennessee responded with a strong close. It’s what you want from your basketball team: playing their best ball […]
Author: Will Shelton
Tennessee Bracket Math: It’s February
Let’s start with some good news: Average KenPom rank of Tennessee’s previous 10 opponents: 41.9 Average KenPom rank of Tennessee’s next 10 opponents: 74.0 The Vols went 6-4 in the previous 10, earning Quad 1 home wins over Arizona and LSU along with four Quad 1 road losses. The upcoming […]
The Vols & Defensive Strength of Schedule
Kansas and Texas Tech played a double overtime thriller last night, with the Jayhawks securing the win and the new top spot in KenPom’s defensive strength of schedule ratings. This rating is essentially, “How good are the defenses you’ve played against?” The Vols slid to number two, but could move […]
Tennessee 64 LSU 50 – Plan A is Shot Selection
If you were to imagine the most satisfying way to beat Will Wade and LSU, you might’ve come close today. Wire-to-wire beatdowns are fun, and we did look to be on our way there for a minute. Close game decided at the buzzer carries its own satisfaction, a moment that […]
Wisdom From Enemies
I read John Calipari’s postgame quotes after the game on Saturday, curious to see how he described his team shooting 68% from the field. I’m more concerned with how we play. I’m trying not to make this game-to-game. If you do that, you torture yourself and your team. Are we […]
The Offensive Rebounding Final Exam
The most telling statistic for Tennessee this year is how many threes they make. Tuesday’s 20-point win over South Carolina included 7-of-21 from the arc for the good guys, making Tennessee 10-0 this year when they hit 26+% from three and 1-4 when they don’t. But over the last three […]
A Midseason Blueprint: Lineups and Good Shots
Alternative title: make more threes! You already knew that, of course. But the rise in frustration in watching Tennessee’s offense is directly related to their in/ability to make threes…and more than I thought. When word leaked out after an exhibition that the Vols were jacking 40+ threes, optimism reigned. Modern […]
How much difference will more depth make?
Here’s one thing it feels like is happening to Tennessee more often than it actually is: the Vols get to third-and-short, go fast, and get stopped because defenses know what’s coming. Even in Josh Heupel’s fast-paced offense, no two games are exactly alike. It feels like the Vols do that […]
Forward Progress is Beating Forward Progress
Tennessee played four one-possession games this year. They went 1-3 in them against teams that are currently 11-2, 10-2, 9-3, and 9-4. In the three losses, specific calls that should’ve/could’ve gone the other way stand out: Against Pittsburgh, a horrendous spot to leave the ball short after a third down […]
Alabama 73 Tennessee 68: Growth in Progress
When last we met in the SEC Tournament, the Vols were in a similar predicament. John Fulkerson didn’t play, knocked out of the Florida game the day before. And a shorthanded squad played hard and well, led by Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer. Those two gave 36 minutes; Yves Pons […]