Date: December 31st, 2014

Time: 1:00 PM

Opponent: Tennessee (7-4, 0-0 SEC)

Place: Thompson-Boling Arena

Television: SEC Network

Webcast: ESPN 3

Radio online: ETSUbucs.com

Tennessee 2014-2015 Roster

Tennessee 2014-2015 Schedule

VolNation Message Board

Tennessee really struggling with RPI #347 TN State tonight.

This will probably end up being a dumb question, but what's this #21 stuff about Tennessee? It's not their ranking or RPI that I can tell.

The simple answer is that I screwed up.

No big deal, I was just like wow, if they end up ranked #21 tomorrow, I want to talk to you about a bunch of other stuff. Lottery ticket numbers, bowl predictions, you name it.

Just curious, what are folks predictions on this one? Do you guys think we'll get blown out? Hold it to less than 10?

I'll go out on a limb and say we win this game. I truly believe we can. UT has a win against Butler and K-State, but they have also looked pretty bad at times. If we can't pull off the win, I doubt we lose by more than 11-12.

I know ETSU is weak in the post, but still we've been rebounding pretty well. Tennessee isn't really that great down low anyway. VCU trottled UT. UT doesn't have a good 3 point defense either. The Bucs can do it if they shoot well.

ETSU can hang with UT. They are not overwhelming in the post, either. But I question the Bucs' ability to win it with a short bench.

Going to say it will be competitive, but not going to say we'll win because I know I'll probably end up eating crow, same with the Colts in this weekend's Wild Card game.

The voles minimize Rembert by putting a long player on him, the Bucs get no calls thus Riley not effective/doesn't get to the line. Voles score at will in the paint and the Bucs lose by 16. Sure hope I'm wrong.

TENNESSEE 2014-2015 RECORD (7-4,6-0 at home):
69-85 L VCU
W 70-58 TEXAS SOUTHERN
W 64-57 Santa Clara
67-82 L Kansas
59-67 L Marquette
W 65-64 KANSAS STATE
W 67-55 BUTLER
72-83 L NC State
W 61-58 TENNESSEE TECH
W 64-54 MERCER
W 67-46 TENNESSEE STATE

Once again the Bucs come off a lengthy holiday layoff (9 days) to play a team that had a game just 3 days ago. At 6-3, the Bucs have 9 games under their belts, while the Vols (7-4) have played 11, including victories over Butler, Kansas State and Santa Clara, and losses to Kansas, Marquette, NC State and VCU (this last being 69-85 in their first game of the season).

Most recently, the Vols have struggled against 3 teams in our category: Tennessee Tech, Mercer and Tennessee State, eventually winning all 3. The fact that they struggled against these teams indicates that they are vulnerable, especially if our shooting is on and we can handle pressure defense. But we do have matchup problems with their size and muscle at guard, and their length in the post. Boy would I feel better about meeting them with 20 minutes from a healthy Ron Giplaye and 10-12 minutes from Alex Bates. Their guards may be able to penetrate and score at mid to short range, as other big guards have done against us. We are further behind than we should be, learning how to win without the two bigs who keyed us for 6-7 games.

GUARDS:
6’6” 200 SR Josh Richardson plays 35.2 minutes and gets 16.3 points on .385 (15-39) from 3, with 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 t.o.’s and 2.2 steals
6’4 180 JR Kevin Punter plays 30.4 minutes and gets 10.8 points on .387 (12-31) from 3, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 t.o.’s and 1.5 steals.
6’3” 170 FR Detrick Mostella plays 16.6 minutes and gets 5.5 points on .262 (11-42) from 3, and 1.6 assists
6’5” 200 JR. Devon Baulkman plays 13.6 minutes and gets 6.2 points on .545 (12-22) from 3, and 2.1 rebounds with 0.7 assists
6’6” 206 SO Robert Hubbs III plays 16.3 minutes and gets 4.3 points on .275 (5-15) from 3, and 1.7 rebounds

These guys are longer than us, and still physical and athletic. They are not the strongest 3 point shooters 5.7 per game on .348 (63-181) and allow more than they make: 8.5 at .388 (94-242). We make 12.0 on .412. But 4 guys can shoot it if you leave them open: Devon Baulkman (.535), Josh Richardson (.385), Kevin Punter (.387) and Derek Reese (.438). They have 11.7 turnovers to 14.7 for their opponents. We have 12.6 to 14.6 for opponents.

FORWARDS:
6’5” 215 JR Armani Moore plays 29.5 minutes and gets 9.5 points on .083 (1-12) from 3, and leads the team with 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks
6’8” 220 JR Derek Reese plays 20.4 minutes and gets 4.1 points on .438 (7-16) from 3 and 5.0 rebounds
6’8” 210 FR Willie Carmichael plays 18.5 minutes and gets 4.5 points on 0 3’s with 3.0 rebounds
6’8” 210 FR Jabari McGhee plays 12.9 minutes and gets 4.4 points on 0 3’s with 3.8 rebounds

The Vols get most points from their guards penetrating, but their long athletic post players could pose a problem for us. They get outrebounded 32.7 to 33.2, while we outrebound opponents 37.3 to 35.0. But that’s against a very different schedule. Their best rebounder is 6’5” 215 Armani Moore with 6.5, while our best is 6’2” A.J. Merriweather at 5.9. Although longer than us inside, their players are not so strong as to take best advantage of that.

Their aggressive play gets them a LOT of fouls: 243 to opponents 196. ETSU is relatively low in fouls with 182. ETSU generally shoots fouls better at .706 (even better than that without Giplaye and Bates: .760) to .654. This could be a significant advantage for ETSU.

My wife and I have got our tickets for this one. If the Bucs throw off their holiday blahs, they’ll win it.

Nobody knew that Giplaye could play until we saw him in live action this season. My hope is that Williams emerges in a similar way against UT. I'm hoping that Bartow gives him 15 minutes and Tommy gives the team 6-8 rebounds, a couple of points, and a lot of hardnosed, junkyard dog play.

At this point the Bucs have played only 9 games. That's the fewest in the SoCon. Most SoCon teams have played 12 to 14 games, with only Furman playing 10 and the Citadel playing 11. http://www.soconsports.com/standings/Sta...&SPID=1798

I'd think we'd be a little sharper, and would have avoided the problem of long layoffs, with an early schedule that had a few more games.

Got my tickets this morning. Anybody else in section 320?

I'd say neither team is great, but neither team is terrible, either. If I was forced to bet my own money, I'd pick UT by 14. However, I believe if ETSU played its best game, it's possible they could come out with a win. I was there when ETSU beat UT in '89 and in the games that followed at Thompson-Bowling.

What's the head count for this trip? There's 9 in our caravan.

I'm guessing it will be a small crowd, faithful. I haven't talked to anyone around here (Knoxville) that even realized there is a game tomorrow - and I sent out a message to about 30 friends in JC this morning to see if any were coming, but haven't heard from one who is yet.

My guess is that they'll announce a crowd of 16,000 - but there will be about 7,000 in the seats.

I am going along with 3 others. I think it will be a small crowd too, someone gave me the tickets for free

I'm driving down with immediate family.