The CheckerBoard

Score Please

we are down 19.

I'm a bit surprised, but every team has days like this in basketball.

This is just one of those days for Tennessee.

Vols being out-toughed, though, and that's what will irk Cuonzo.

not an excuse at all

This is over. We have work to do. Somebody besides stokes has to be a viable option on offense. We have zero guys who can create their own shot out side of Jarnell from a post move. Defense looks reasonable but if you can't score and sustain good possessions then the defense will eventually get worked. Still love my vols. I am sure this team will progress with Coach Martin's direction. Go Vols

we really aren't playing great defense. Okie State is a pretty poor shooting team.

It's November.

Relax.

Come March the last few years, UT fans were whining they didn't place enough emphasis on the early part of the schedule and too much on the last portion. With Maymon out early, that's a GOOD thing for us this year.

I think we actually miss his leadership, drive and determination more than we miss his skillset. We don't look out-athleted, and we don't JUST look out-toughed, we also look out-smarted and confused.

FINAL: Oklahoma State 62, Tennessee 45.

Vols play N.C. State or UMass in Sunday's Puerto Rico Tip-Off 3rd-place game.

Thing is Wes when March comes and both of these teams are on the bubble this stuff matters. Every game matters. Okla. St is not a good basketball team. This will be considered a bad loss come tournament time.

Yes, it counts. But stop comparing a loss to Oklahoma State to an abysmal month in 2011 that included losses to Austin Peay, Oakland, and Charleston. Not even the same ballpark.

This game exposed a lot of issues with the Vols, and probably takes away the chance to boost our RPI with a game against NC State, but let's not overreact here and say we're going to miss the tournament because of this.

Reasons I'm not overly concerned with this loss:
1) Without Maymon - the tournament committee takes this in to consideration
2) Game was at 10:30am. It's sloppy. Can't learn too much about either team under those circumstances.
3) Oklahoma State has two first rounders. They may not be consistent enough to be All-Americans, but they are capable of giving any team fits.
4) Any team can have a poor shooting day. It happens.

Reason that I am concerned about this loss:
1) Completely out-hustled rebounding and showed very little aggressiveness offensively. That's not Cuonzo ball.

For now, it's one game. It's disappointing for a team that has high expectations, but the season ain't over. When we have 2-3 more like this, then I'll start to worry.

Seriously, dude. You're being ridiculous. I'm beginning to think you're a troll rather than a fan.

Not every team is going undefeated. When we have a bad trend of losses like this, the tune will change. For now, this team has lost one game. Go find a new hobby if you can't take it.

Yes, it's November and it was 1030 a.m. But Im pretty sure it's November and 1030 for OSU as well.. No panic, just saying. That was a brutal game. No offensive flow, aggressiveness, skill, plan, coordination, however you want to say it. We still do not have guys who are reliable scorers. That was disappointing to watch. And i dont think Maymon would have changed the ultimate outcome. Maybe we dont get outrebonded as badly..maybe. But there was nothing good about that game.