#6 Tennessee +4.5 vs #2 tOSU (ov/un 134.5 ) Fri 7:07 ET, CBS

[OhioState001]

Yea, they beat SDSU by 3, and I looked at their percentages and stats compared to Georgia Tech, and GT was actually better then them in alot of ways. GT turns the ball over way more than Tenn. that was the only difference.

 

[Bulls-Eye]

I think we are going to see A LOT of 1-3-1 and 2-3 matchup zones by Ohio State, especially early on in the game. Matta, if he holds true to form with how he usually operates, is going to make Tennessee shoot OSU out of that zone, and use it to clog the lane for Chism and Prince.

Chism has gotten much better from the outside over his career, but Prince still struggles mightily. For them to be most effective, they have to do their work in the lane. The zones can hopefully negate those as much as possible.

 

[Buckeye Chris]

#1 Reason I hate living close to Kentucky... UK fans. Im so sick of hearing "You guys better beat Tennessee we beat them by thirty!" then I follow with... "But they also beat you..." then they just go off about how they're ranked higher then tOSU etc etc. I want nothing more then either.

A: Cornell to beat UK...
B: Ohio State v UK in the final and for us to just demolish them...

 

[matt_thatsme]

I agree with a lot that is being said on here. I think G Teach was a much more talented team down low. I think UT is a better coached team than G Tech, but I give Thad the nod over Pearl.

As mentioned before, you really don't know what you are going to get with the Vols. The same team that beat Kansas and Kentucky also got blown out by Georgia and the same Kentucky team they had previously beat.

Also as mentioned before, I believe that we have not yet seen the best basketball in this tournament from the Buckeyes.

 

[fourteenandoh]

The Vols play fast. They don't have much of a half court set, because they would rather run. They are very good on the break. In my eyes, it is an interesting match up because of the two completely different styles of play. I'm not sure we have played a run and gun style team this year.

Because of the parity in our players, I think it is going to come down to who hits their open shots. Across the board on paper, we are pretty close to even.

 

[BigWoof31]

I think I can add some value to this thread since my Dawgs played and beat both teams this year at home. :)

My gut feeling after watching all of the UT/OU and GT/OSU games this weekend is that Ohio State's about 10-12 points better than UT. They don't really have a major defensive presence or much of a rebounding presence when Chisim is out of the game - although he is quite athletic with a nose for the ball.

UT's guard play is much better than Tech's and you likely won't force as many turnovers as you did against the Jackets, especially with the 3/4 court press. However - they are shorter and less athletic - so you'll probably force more bad shots from the guards.

Deebler (sp?) is a bad match up for UT since he's so tall and lanky and will likely shoot over anyone the Vols play on the Perimeter. Turner's a matchup nightmare especially on the blocks since he'll draw fouls on Chisim if he guards him and he'll abuse anyone else.

Pearl is a nut - but he's a much, much better coach than Paul Hewitt. He won't waste timeouts and will make adjustments via personel and scheme.

Good luck! Other than the UK/Cornell game - I'm most anxious for your game.

 

[buckeyesin07]

I think I can add some value to this thread since my Dawgs played and beat both teams this year at home. :)

My gut feeling after watching all of the UT/OU and GT/OSU games this weekend is that Ohio State's about 10-12 points better than UT. They don't really have a major defensive presence or much of a rebounding presence when Chisim is out of the game - although he is quite athletic with a nose for the ball.

UT's guard play is much better than Tech's and you likely won't force as many turnovers as you did against the Jackets, especially with the 3/4 court press. However - they are shorter and less athletic - so you'll probably force more bad shots from the guards.

Deebler (sp?) is a bad match up for UT since he's so tall and lanky and will likely shoot over anyone the Vols play on the Perimeter. Turner's a matchup nightmare especially on the blocks since he'll draw fouls on Chisim if he guards him and he'll abuse anyone else.

Pearl is a nut - but he's a much, much better coach than Paul Hewitt. He won't waste timeouts and will make adjustments via personel and scheme.

Good luck! Other than the UK/Cornell game - I'm most anxious for your game.

What do you think of them putting Prince on Turner? I'd say he's the only one on Tennessee's roster who could keep up with Turner athletically (Chism isn't agile enough to guard Turner on the perimeter, IMO).

 

[BigWoof31]

What do you think of them putting Prince on Turner? I'd say he's the only one on Tennessee's roster who could keep up with Turner athletically (Chism isn't agile enough to guard Turner on the perimeter, IMO).

Was thinking about this earlier and it wouldn't surprise me to see UT deploy some type of modified 2-3 zone. It isn't their primary defense, they loose rebouding presence, but they probably save fouls too.

They did it against UGA when they wanted to slow the game down a bit. UT likes the uptempo stuff - but Pearl will reel them back in if he feels things are getting sloppy.

The reference to Pearl's son being the next Saul Smith is a little unfounded too. He isn't the crybaby that Smith was and he doesn't start. I'd wager if you like hard nose players who grab offsensive rebounds, set good screens, take a charge, and dive on the floor - you'll admire his play. He's a garbage player who hustles and gives maximum effort. Just wasn't blessed with amazing talent.

 

[TJnTN]

What do you think of them putting Prince on Turner? I'd say he's the only one on Tennessee's roster who could keep up with Turner athletically (Chism isn't agile enough to guard Turner on the perimeter, IMO).

Prince has to be UT's only option to guard Turner. He's very good at creating turnovers and is always looking for the steal. I think Turner will need to handle the ball a bit better than he has been. Prince has quick hands but he could easily get into foul trouble as much as he tries to get knock balls away and reaches in.

 

[OHSportsFan]

19 turnovers will be a lot uglier against Tennessee. Those guys get out and can blow a game open.

Turner has to be ready to beat a press and not be careless/frustrated with the ball in his hands. If he's calm on the ball and able to let the game come to him, his teammates are looking primed to help him out.

 

[jwinslow]

19 turnovers will be a lot uglier against Tennessee. Those guys get out and can blow a game open.

You're right they'll probably turn it over 25 times to us :p

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Okaaaay, so the old lady volunteered (poor choice of words there?) us to watch her boss's kids Friday night. Then just a couple minutes ago suggested we have the 5-year old niece and nephew over, too. Apparently, she wants me to teach some young children some new words. Yeah, this is going to work.

Whose place can I crash Friday night to watch the ball game?

 

[HineyBuck]

Okaaaay, so the old lady volunteered (poor choice of words there?) us to watch her boss's kids Friday night. Then just a couple minutes ago suggested we have the 5-year old niece and nephew over, too. Apparently, she wants me to teach some young children some new words. Yeah, this is going to work.

Whose place can I crash Friday night to watch the ball game?

Just her way of saying Happy Birthday. . . . umm, wrong thread, sorry.

 

[Jake]

Okaaaay, so the old lady volunteered (poor choice of words there?) us to watch her boss's kids Friday night. Then just a couple minutes ago suggested we have the 5-year old niece and nephew over, too. Apparently, she wants me to teach some young children some new words. Yeah, this is going to work.

 

[buckfanfromTN]

So I've watched Tennessee Basketball all season, since my GF loves them. Well first off, they are a poor foul shooting team. Probably the best one's are Chism, and Bobby Maze. Maze isn't one to take lightly, he can be lights out from the three and also bring the ball inside. J.P. Prince is one that isn't too good at the three, but he is good at defense and can steal the ball at the opportune time. He also makes alot of bad decisions. He throws the ball away out of bounds alot, tries to take over the game rather than play team ball, and tries to get into the other teams head. Scotty Hopson, he has range, but is very streaking. Can score alot, and is so so on defense. Brian Williams is a big guy, literally. He knows how to move people to get into position, but can get into foul trouble easy. Wayne Chism. The guy loses his head band tons of times, alright jokes aside, Best rebounder on the team. Gutsy on his three point shot he has developed, forces it alot of times, but has limited in his past two games. Not amazing under the rim shooting, or moving people under the rim. Can get to the foul line, and make them! Cameron Tatum, and Steven Pearl are their wild cards. Tatum for his offense, Pearl for his defense. Pearl is a great defensive man. Can collect charges, but isn't good at generating points. Cameron Tatum, great at 3 pointers, but is very streaky at making them. He can drive to the basket though. Isn't good at defenders. Lets the opposing team past him alot of times. All the other players I wouldn't worry about so much, they are mediocre at best. Kenny Hall is tall and pulls rebounds down, but isn't stunning on the defensive end. I can see them putting Prince on E.T. because that truly is there best defensive guard. Scotty Hopson will probably square off on Dieb, because both are similar in size, and well both can hit the long range shots. Can't wait till Friday!