College Hoops "experts"..opinions on Tennessee Basketball this year?

[cdub6238]

Im a UT fan but nothardcore basketball.

Wanted to get some opinions on what "diehard/experts" thought on them so far this year.

Im not expecting: "oh they are awesome..i expect Final 4"...im more realistic than that.

Their record is horrendous (3-4) right now..but they havent exactly had it easy.

- they held their own against now #4, then #6, Duke..getting as close as 55-53 with 9 minutes to go before ultimately losing by 10.

- they took then #8, now #21, Memphis into double OT..ultimately losing by 2

- took #17 Pitt to the wire tongiht, getting within a point with 8 minutes to go..and cutting an 8 point lead down to 2 with 10 seconds left...

now the loss to Oakland was a shock and a wtf happened typeof thing...but they have some cupcakes coming up before playing Memphis again, starting SEC schedule, and a late game against UConn.

Is anyone impressed with their play (definately not them losing), or at least how theyve been able to play with a new coach? and obviously KY is the best of the SEC..but think UT has any shot at being good down the stretch and possibly making it to NCAA's under 1st year coach?

[jp98]

Oakland is actually a solid team, made the Touney a couple years in a row now I think.

[pkscards]

I'd like to consider myself an expert since I try to watch and take notes on multiple games a day. :)!

The Vols are an NIT team this year. They have some talent and could pull off some surprise wins against some of the good teams in the SEC on their home court in the coming weeks, but they are rebuilding so much that the NCAA Tournament is a very high expectation.

Oakland's not as horrible of a loss as it sounds, but they aren't the team they were last year with Benson. Duke, Memphis and Pitt should have been expected, they are all superior in terms of talent. It seemed like Tenn. scheduled for this year not knowing that Pearl would be gone and it would be a rebuilding year.

They will be back in the very near future though, even though Tatum is gone after the year. Maymon is a beast, and that sophomore backcourt of McRae and Golden will have two more years to only get better. That, and Cuonzo Martin is a really, really good basketball coach.

Basically, I'd give them true middle of the pack in the SEC this year. They will be behind Miss. State, Florida, Kentucky, Alabama and Vandy for sure, but will be right in the same league as like Ole Miss, Georgia...there is such a gap between the quality teams in the SEC and the rest though. There is a very good chance they finish 6th in the conference, looking brilliant at some points and miserable at others.

Just my take on what I've seen so far.