All the pressure on Tennessee

[dynastydreamuk]

Never made a final four.
Rumors have it, Rick Barnes may be retiring soon.
Tennessee's last real chance for a final four with it's rival in the way they lost to twice.
Zeigler has performed bad against UK
Lots of seniors on this Tennessee team.
added by zuma:
Higher ranked
Higher seed
Finished higher in conference
Favored by 4.5 pt

What Else?

 

[bluedom44]

But sometimes pressure is a good motivator. We've had out best performances this season when the pressure was on the team. Just sayin'

 

[FiveStarCat]

They are gonna have the crowd on their side too sadly. They had 24 hours longer to gobble up tickets at much more reasonable prices and I guarantee Purdue and Houston fans are NOT going to be on our side (despite us being the underdogs technically). That comes with pressure on its own.

I think Tennnessee wins but if they don’t…. Vol twitter might have its biggest meltdown ever.

 

[dynastydreamuk]

They are gonna have the crowd on their side too sadly. They had 24 hours longer to gobble up tickets at much more reasonable prices and I guarantee Purdue and Houston fans are NOT going to be on our side (despite us being the underdogs technically). That comes with pressure on its own.

I think Tennnessee wins but if they don’t…. Vol twitter might have its biggest meltdown ever.

you are correct, I expect a road game atmosphere again like the Illinois game. Maybe we play better with our backs to the wall when people don't expect us to win.

I'd love to go but can't afford it.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

I think we play loose and we win
UK—83
TN—75

 

[FitchandMurray29]

I like to look at irrelevant historical points as I often think they somehow randomly have some impact.

UT has only had two other seasons where they got to the top of the AP poll.

They were eliminated in the sweet 16 in both seasons.

Not only that but they were also eliminated by local schools in Louisville and Purdue.

Perhaps the trend continues Friday

 

[CatOfDaVille]

you are correct, I expect a road game atmosphere again like the Illinois game. Maybe we play better with our backs to the wall when people don't expect us to win.

I'd love to go but can't afford it.

Oweh and others have made comments that they love a road crowd, so I don't think it will bother them at all. Also, it's at Lucas Oil where the crowd isn't on top of the court, so that mitigates the crowd advantage as well.

 

[MethodUK]

Like many others it's hard to create a scenario where we win for the 3rd time to head to the Elite 8.... my glass is usually half full unfortunately.

With that said this game is about MATCH UPS...and for some reason I think they don't match up well with us. Having Butler back to hopefully slow down their point guard should change things up for sure. Kobe, Chandler, and few others HAVE to step up.

We control the glass, limit turnovers, and shoot decent from 3 I think we win this game by 5-7 points....

 

[SmyrnaCatFan]

Hit the majority of our threes, dunk when we can, make free throws and play defense and we have a better than average chance.

 

[DraftCat]

Butler on Ziegler may cut off the head of the snake.

Have to make shots!

 

[CastleRubric]

Never made a final four.
Rumors have it, Rick Barnes may be retiring soon.
Tennessee's last real chance for a final four with it's rival in the way they lost to twice.
Zeigler has performed bad against UK
Lots of seniors on this Tennessee team.

What Else?

ALLLLLLL THAT NOISE ON THEM!
Yes!!!

 

[Edgarman]

Like many others it's hard to create a scenario where we win for the 3rd time to head to the Elite 8.... my glass is usually half full unfortunately.

With that said this game is about MATCH UPS...and for some reason I think they don't match up well with us. Having Butler back to hopefully slow down their point guard should change things up for sure. Kobe, Chandler, and few others HAVE to step up.

We control the glass, limit turnovers, and shoot decent from 3 I think we win this game by 5-7 points....

That is basic must do's to win any game. We live and die by the three. If we are 45%+ from three, we win. If we don't shoot well from three it could be a tough night. I don't think there is any more pressure on one team. Both teams trying for elite 8 whether it is first time or 20th time will be feeling pressure. If we can control Lanier we will be good. If TN controls our 3 pt shooting they will do well. Simple plan but very difficult for both teams. Both earlier games TN could not throw the ball into the ocean, even n wide open shots. We must not give them open 3 pointers because they have been on a heater shooting threes.

 

[BlueBomb]

Barnes potentially retiring? We don't need another Wooden scenario. Bad mojo.

 

[EliteBlue]

My concern with the Barnes rumors is that he will get a friendly whistle to put a final feather in his cap as a F4 team (if not title team)….bc Barnes is universally liked and respected in the game

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Lanier has been playing well. I really hope we can keep him in check. If you can keep Lanier from going off, I can’t see Ziegler scoring effectively enough against Butler to beat you. It will come down to how hot Milicic is from deep, how well Maschack and Gainey play. I like our supporting cast more than theirs but anything can happen. Go Cats!

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

Butler on Ziegler may cut off the head of the snake.

Have to make shots!

He has to feel out the referees though. Gradually see what he can get by with. Certain referees ain’t gonna allow him to guard like he’d like to. Put the toe in the water first.

 

[BBNinSC]

Barnes potentially retiring? We don't need another Wooden scenario. Bad mojo.

Man, that was 50 years ago. Can’t believe it

 

[BBNinSC]

Butler defends a smaller Ziegler and Oweh defends Lanier. That’s why we are a bad matchup for them. If those two stay out of foul trouble, we got this game.

 

[Edgarman]

Butler defends a smaller Ziegler and Oweh defends Lanier. That’s why we are a bad matchup for them. If those two stay out of foul trouble, we got this game.

It seems funny that we are talking about Butler shutting down Ziegler when a few days ago several on here were saying they would not want him on our team. Some said he could not start here. I like our team, no I love our team but to think Ziegler would not be a huge benefit to Kentucky basketball is foreign to me. The guard from Florida that wears #1 is the only kid I woulld want more in Lexington. He is the most clutch player in the SEC, the kid from Florida.

 

[thebluestripes]

My biggest concern is that ut suddenly hits all the shots they were bricking in the prior 2 meetings.

 

[sefus12]

Butler on Ziegler may cut off the head of the snake.

Have to make shots!

Well someone will have to shut down Lanier (spelling?). That may be more important than slowing Ziegler down.

 

[JPFisher]

Well someone will have to shut down Lanier (spelling?). That may be more important than slowing Ziegler down.

I agree. Ziegler has folded when we've played them and Lanier is red hot right now. Put Butler on Lanier and Oweh on Ziegler, IMO.

 

[JPFisher]

Never made a final four.
Rumors have it, Rick Barnes may be retiring soon.
Tennessee's last real chance for a final four with it's rival in the way they lost to twice.
Zeigler has performed bad against UK
Lots of seniors on this Tennessee team.

What Else?

You just know Kriisa will be on the sideline talking a ton of s***. MAN, this would be a great game to have him on the court getting them flustered.

 

[Zuma75]

Never made a final four.
Rumors have it, Rick Barnes may be retiring soon.
Tennessee's last real chance for a final four with it's rival in the way they lost to twice.
Zeigler has performed bad against UK
Lots of seniors on this Tennessee team.

What Else?

Higher seed
Higher ranking
Finished higher in conference

Definitely they have the pressure and expectation to win

 

[IH8BlueDevilsandUNcheat]

Brea is due for one of those, ( from three of course ) seven out of eight or eight out of ten games...

 

[Bleedin Blue in Ohio]

If the Cats can get the score up into the 80's it will put a lot of stress on them.

 

[MachineHead1]

Going to be one of the more intense, competitive games that any of us have seen, most likely

 

[Edgarman]

Barnes potentially retiring? We don't need another Wooden scenario. Bad mojo.

I hope Barnes does not retire this year. I would rather have him than Beard. No doubt Beard would crawl to Knoxville with their resources compared to Ole Miss. Beard with resources, Golden at FL, Oats at Bama, and Pearl at Auburn would be a bitch every year, not just occasionally. Bama, Auburn, and FL lose a lot this year but you can bet your sweet ass they will be tough again next year. With the coaches that are in the SEC, it will be really tough for any one school to dominate the conference going forward. Sean Miller at TX is going to be another difficult team in near future, if not next year. Then as much as I hate to admit, Cal at Arkansas will be tough. Remember he can out recruit any coach in the conference. If he gets refocused Arkansas will contend.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

They are gonna have the crowd on their side too sadly. They had 24 hours longer to gobble up tickets at much more reasonable prices and I guarantee Purdue and Houston fans are NOT going to be on our side (despite us being the underdogs technically). That comes with pressure on its own.

I think Tennnessee wins but if they don’t…. Vol twitter might have its biggest meltdown ever.

We had the crowd on our side in 1993 down in Louisiana, and we had it in Indianapolis in 2015. Lost both times.

We will have enough fans to make the players feel supported, and that's all that matters. Anything beyond that is an excuse. What matters is execution.

 

[BBNinSC]

It seems funny that we are talking about Butler shutting down Ziegler when a few days ago several on here were saying they would not want him on our team. Some said he could not start here. I like our team, no I love our team but to think Ziegler would not be a huge benefit to Kentucky basketball is foreign to me. The guard from Florida that wears #1 is the only kid I woulld want more in Lexington. He is the most clutch player in the SEC, the kid from Florida.

Ziegler is a great player- first team all-SEC. Butler has a size advantage over ZZ and I believe if Lamont can stay out of foul trouble, he can at least neutralize Ziegler.
Lanier is a stat sheet stuffer, but has not been a
clutch player for Tennessee this season.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

My concern with the Barnes rumors is that he will get a friendly whistle to put a final feather in his cap as a F4 team (if not title team)….bc Barnes is universally liked and respected in the game

If the refs didn't throw him the game down in Knoxville, I doubt they're going to do it in a tournament game when there's six million people watching.

 

[EliteBlue]

If the refs didn't throw him the game down in Knoxville, I doubt they're going to do it in a tournament game when there's six million people watching.

We can only hope there is some integrity…but we’ve all seen some blatant tournament shenanigans before

 

[blue cincy]

At this point in the season. Each of the teams have the same amount of pressures (albeit different types of pressure). The staff that keeps the team focused but loose will have the winning combination on stress and pressure.

No matter it will be the 5 to 9 guys on the floor that either do or don't do, listen or don't listen, focus or lose themselves in the moment. We have a guy that has made it all the way to the summit of the tourney and fell right at the tippy top. We have guys that play defense, guys that shoot and so forth. Amari, Carr, Brandon need to be focused. BG got lost a few times on defense against Illinois, Amari was not focused with his offense. Came up short on tons of shots. Carr what laser focused on aggressive play, going for loose balls and such. He did not care enough about offense and it worked for the Illinois game. We have Kobe that was very focused on 99% of his playing time, Butler 99.9% of his time, Oweh on 85% or his time (less time on the floor) and we had Chandler and Noah with a solid 75% focus while on the court. BG picks it up, AA picks in up and AW picks it up and we are going to be hard to beat. We need to stop fouling (reaching and allowing the refs to blow the whistle).

GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HogFan2012]

Finally the BBN that I respect instead of the one that was happy just to beat Troy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Play as hard as you can, never give up, and your a winner no matter what!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MethodUK]

That is basic must do's to win any game. We live and die by the three. If we are 45%+ from three, we win. If we don't shoot well from three it could be a tough night. I don't think there is any more pressure on one team. Both teams trying for elite 8 whether it is first time or 20th time will be feeling pressure. If we can control Lanier we will be good. If TN controls our 3 pt shooting they will do well. Simple plan but very difficult for both teams. Both earlier games TN could not throw the ball into the ocean, even n wide open shots. We must not give them open 3 pointers because they have been on a heater shooting threes.

Fair point and of course they are the must do's.. But we can score different ways. If Lamont and Double Zero can get to the rack we may be shooting mid range jumpers and on the free throw line.. Did I mention it would help to shoot better than 50% from the line to win?? lol I do agree about it being difficult for both teams. The both have the same pressure. It's time to get that Elite 8

 

[rick64]

Tenn relies mostly on their D. Not known for scoring a lot of points. If UK can score like they did vs Illinois they should win.

 

[HalHR2500]

They are gonna have the crowd on their side too sadly. They had 24 hours longer to gobble up tickets at much more reasonable prices and I guarantee Purdue and Houston fans are NOT going to be on our side (despite us being the underdogs technically). That comes with pressure on its own.

I think Tennnessee wins but if they don’t…. Vol twitter might have its biggest meltdown ever.

Crowd is not gonna be like Milwaukee and frankly won’t come into play

TN has the most pressure no doubt

UK is playing with house money

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I don't see how this is any more of a road game than playing Illini in Milwaukee was, 3 hours away from them.

Indy is closer to UK, our fans will find ways to get tickets, and the other two teams (Houston and Purdue) would objectively be rooting for Tennessee, the higher seed, to lose.

I'm not saying it's gonna be a home game, but it should be FAR less hostile than Milwaukee was, which was essentially a home game for Illinois.

 

[KyCPA]

They are gonna have the crowd on their side too sadly. They had 24 hours longer to gobble up tickets at much more reasonable prices and I guarantee Purdue and Houston fans are NOT going to be on our side (despite us being the underdogs technically). That comes with pressure on its own.

I think Tennnessee wins but if they don’t…. Vol twitter might have its biggest meltdown ever.

Agree on all points except maybe the crowd. We will see soon enough.