Georgia just gave Tennessee all they could handle in Athens. Congrats to a tough Georgia team that just wouldn’t give up. They had leads in this game several times. They were never out of it. They had a chance to tie it with 2.7 seconds left but ran out of time. Tennessee moves to 23 – 2, 10 – 1 in the SEC.
Gators lose a tough one at Vandy 61-58. That's 4 losses in 5 games and our NCAA streak could be in trouble. Tennessee wins a close one, still rolling.
Just saw that Duke lost to Wake Forest last night. Since Texas took out Kansas, that should move Tennessee to the #2 spot. If we take care of business with Auburn on Wednesday, and Memphis is successful at Tulane, Saturday's matchup in Memphis will be #1 vs. #2.
That game could be the biggest in college basketball's regular season this year. It makes me glad that I bought a new LCD Tv.
Aquila, Memphis is tough but I expect them to run a man to man defense and that will play to our strength. I am not "counting my chickens before they hatch" but I am excited about this matchup. Overly confident... No. Excited... YES!
Auburn is holding tough in the second half. with 5 minutes left in the game, Auburn has matched us point for point in the second half. Their only problem is that they were behind by a score of 46 to 20 after the end of the first half. Tennessee emptied the bench and even Steven Pearl got to play... if you can call what he did playing. Now Memphis with a 22 point lead with 12 minutes left just has to hold on so that #1 meets #2 Saturday night.
Can you imagine if Tennessee is ranked #1 next week after a thrashing of Memphis? I was at a bar hanging out with friends back in October. I had a guy virtually laugh me out of the bar when I said this team was a Final Four caliber team. He offered to bet me $100 on it but since I had never even seen the guy before and didn't have $100 on me I didn't take the bet. Also, I felt like it was a fool's bet since the bracket hadn't come out and I didn't know who Tennessee would likely be paired against. I'm really kicking myself right now though. I'm not saying they will make it to the Final Four as a lot depends on matchups and how favorable their bracket is but they're definitely Final Four caliber. We'll find out just how much so Saturday night.....
I'm not sure there is an accurate comparison between those two teams. Let's look at the starting five. PG Taurean Green vs. Ramar Smith This is a decent comparison. Two guys who can really slash to the basket but Green's shooting touch is better. Both are good PG's but Smith is probably quicker and a better slasher. Green probably gets the edge. Green wins for now but Smith is still young. Lee Humphrey vs. Chris Lofton These guys have similar styles. Lofton is a better shooter and can create much better by himself. Lofton is the obviously better player. Corey Brewer vs. JaJuan Smith I think Brewer is clearly the better defender although Smith makes some good plays from time to time. Smith is the better 3pt. shooter while Brewer was great going to the basket and a better rebounder. Two very different players. Tennessee has more of a 3 guard system whereas Florida employed a more traditional look with a swing man (Brewer). I think as a player you would take Brewer but in Tennessee's system Smith fits better. Advantage: Draw Joakim Noah vs. Tyler Smith These are actually two similar players. Noah was a bit longer and maybe a better defender. Smith is probably the better scorer and can hit a 3 on occassion. Both bring a level of intensity to their respective teams. I would probably take Noah though but I think it's close. Al Horford vs. Wayne Chism Chism is probably the better athlete and you have to respect his 3 pt. shot. Horford is more of a traditional post player but could dominate games in the paint both scoring and rebounding. Advantage: Horford. The starting five is obviously better for the Gators. I think Tennessee would draw even or maybe surpass Florida because of depth. If I'm not mistaken Tennessee went 3-1 against that Florida team. I could be wrong of course and I'm sure the Gators fans will correct me if I am. That was without Tyler Smith, J.P. Prince, and Brian Williams too. I think Tennessee would match up really well with the champion Gators. However, I think there are teams that Tennessee wouldn't match up very well with. Florida could match up with anybody. So don't give the Vols the championship just yet.
[The starting five is obviously better for the Gators. I think Tennessee would draw even or maybe surpass Florida because of depth. If I'm not mistaken Tennessee went 3-1 against that Florida team. [/quote] I believe you are correct about going 3-1 against that Gator team. You killed us in Knoxville last year. I also believe that Tennessee was capable of being a Final 4 team last year. In fact in our Skybox contest I had Florida and Tennessee in the final game. The strength of that Gator team was consistency and being able to put a bad streak behind them. Both years about this time of year we had a mini losing streak, then came back for the SEC tournament and NCAA tournament. My feeling about Tennessee the previous two years was that on any given night they could be unstoppable, and they always brought their A game to their game with the Gators. This year they seem much more consistent. I will probably have Tennessee into the Final Four again. I have to also say I like your coach Bruce Pearl. That stuff that he and Pat Summitt pulled in the Gator game, and Pearl earlier, was classic.