Tennessee basketball’s keep in Nashville was reduce brief after a loss to Mississippi State within the SEC Event.
Afterward, Vols coach Rick Barnes and gamers Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler met with the media.
Here is what they needed to say.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM
Opening assertion:
“Congratulations to Mississippi State. I believed from the get-go they got here out and their plan was actually to be aggressive, drive the ball, clearly play inside. We received away from actually our protection being in gaps, attempting to shrink the courtroom. That is how we play. However we received away from that.I believed, once more, give them credit score, offensively that we began lacking photographs and we let that carry over to the defensive finish. We received down. It snowballed on us. We did not do an excellent job of staying to our sport plan. I feel Coach (Chris) Jans did a terrific job of executing their sport plan. Once more, congratulations to them. They dominated the sport in any method they wished to.”
Simply what have been they in a position to do defensively to make it so powerful on you guys?
“Properly, they have been switching. They’re an excellent defensive staff. We have seen nothing they did at present that we have not seen. We actually have not. Once more, this time of yr, as you get late into the season, everyone knows one another nicely. However it’s a must to work extraordinarily onerous offensively to get open, get your guys passing the ball. It is essential. We had a pair possessions the place we ran what we wished however the go wasn’t delivered the place it wanted to be, allowed the protection to catch up. We did not display on a pair units we ran, the place they actually got here by the route we have been attempting to run untouched. And it’s a must to deal with the small print offensively. We did not do an excellent job of doing that. They are a good defensive staff. Chris does a terrific job together with his staff. However I believed Jahmai hit it, it is just about what I mentioned at halftime, we allowed our lack of defensive alertness, depth, sticking to the sport plan to roll over into what I believed went on on the offensive finish.”
One of many gamers talked about Mississippi State was simply the extra determined staff at present. What’s a trait you are on the lookout for in your staff’s response, desperation or in any other case?
“Properly, I informed them, I mentioned, Let’s simply sit right here and take into consideration how we really feel proper now. Let’s simply discuss it, sit right here and marinate in how you’re feeling proper now. In case you really feel like this once more, it is over. I need you to not overlook proper now what you probably did. This time of yr you need to give it your finest. (Mashack) used the time period ‘underdog’. I do not know if ‘underdog’ is the suitable time period. It’s a must to perceive how onerous it’s to win this time of yr. If you wish to be a staff that may play by three days and win a convention match, by six days and win a nationwide championship, there’s received to be considerably of a determined mindset that each possession issues.However we did not play with that sort of mentality at present. Actually the primary 20 minutes, I have not seen that staff all yr, even together with observe. I am sitting there watching it like, Man, perhaps it may be good to get this out of our system. We’ve not had one like this the place we did not reply higher. I believed we received impatient, misplaced our poise, fouling with six seconds on the shot clock, attempting to steal the ball when giving up place. Like Shack mentioned, offensively we’ve gained video games the place we have not been good on offense, however our protection has saved it in it. Our protection didn’t assist us in any respect at present.”
Do you’re feeling like there’s any commonality in what Mississippi State uncovered in each video games this yr?
“Properly, the one factor that they did, the physicality inside. I feel one factor good at present was J.P. I informed the coaches we most likely ought to have put him on the market sooner as a result of he is the one man that may guard submit guys. Matthews had a terrific day at present. He drove us, glided by us. A lot of that was not caring for the small print of the scouting report. Once more, as you already know, our coaches do a terrific job with the scout. To proceed to let him get to his proper hand and the place he wished to go. Even on the finish of the sport after we had actually a fairly good possession, attempting to double-team to get him to play faster, and getting pushed by within the final 4 or 5 seconds, you possibly can’t surrender these straight-line drives. We didn’t do a very good job one-on-one protection. However there’s different groups which have performed us the way in which they performed us. They made up their thoughts they will drive the ball at us. We have seen that each one yr with groups doing that. Once more, we simply received actually spaced out. Why? I can not let you know. We harped on it a lot. Each loss we have had this yr, that is been the case, the place we’ve gotten away from our defensive ideas and allowed groups to do what they wished to do. We did not have a solution for it.”
A lot will get made about this time of yr, having success this time of yr. Do you are worried a efficiency like this at this second for these guys and this staff might get of their head slightly bit, put an excessive amount of stress on themselves?
“I talked about that, too. I’ve mentioned I’ve had groups a few years that I have been blessed to do that, taking part in nicely on the finish of the yr, did not do nicely within the NCAA Event. I’ve had a pair groups that have been limping slightly bit, ended up having nice runs. We’re who we’re proper now. Like Jahmai mentioned, like we talked again there, we have per week or so to repair it and return. Like he mentioned, we do what we at all times do. We have now a system that we consider in. We have now to clean it out, have a look at it. It’s going to return to a mindset. That is what I spent lots of time speaking to our staff about, our mindset. The place is it? The place was it? Why was it like this at present? Was it preparation completely different? It was. We’re an skilled staff. We did not know who we have been going to play till, what, 3:00 yesterday. We had already practiced. Every part we did, we walked by. That is not an excuse since you would have finished that at present. We would not be going within the health club to do what we usually do main as much as it. With that mentioned, our older guys who we rely on to get us going, they struggled in a giant method at present. We simply received to get again to being who I do know we’re and who I feel they know we could be.”
You are worried about going from an uncharacteristic efficiency again to regardless of the character of this staff is in per week’s time?
“Yeah, I would not be truthful — I am involved. I do not know if I would say ‘fearful’, however I am at all times involved about the place we’re, our mindset, what we’re considering. Like I mentioned, I have been doing it lengthy sufficient to know I want I had a crystal ball and look into it, know precisely. All we are able to do, like I mentioned, we’ve a program, we’ve a system we consider in. Win or lose, we received to do what we do, get ready to play somebody subsequent week, whoever that may be, go from there.”
Are you involved about some guys passing up open appears proper now?
“Sure, completely. That is what we have talked about. Once more, whether or not individuals assume they’re placing all of it on Dalton (Knecht). However he is received to do a greater job together with his shot choice. I feel extra of it has been placed on Z, to be trustworthy with you. Every part ends as much as be like an avalanche hitting him as a result of he is so aggressive. Clearly they will sport plan for Dalton. Due to that, another guys are going to get alternatives they usually must shoot the ball. Early within the yr, after we have been turning the ball over, it is as a result of we have been turning down photographs, attempting to do different issues. Usually we get a excessive quantity of high quality photographs. You bought to take the photographs. You bought to take ’em. If we do this, more often than not we’ve the ground spaced the right method the place we are able to rebound the ball, get some offensive stick-backs. When photographs get turned down, guys begin driving, what’s subsequent, it leaves the ground unbalanced and we do not get what we have to off the offensive glass.”
You mentioned you were not positive in regards to the mindset to begin. A number of guys within the locker room mentioned that. Might you’re feeling that coming into the sport? Was it a shock? How assured are you in what staff will present up subsequent week?
“I believed what we did main into this was good. Our rhythm will get damaged slightly bit. The season is over with, then you could have an extended week. That is the longest time we had off since our open week. I’ll say this. We didn’t reply nicely after our open date.I do not assume we performed nicely. I informed the staff that, main into that sport. I belief these guys. I have been with them. I understand how onerous they work. I understand how a lot it means to them to be a very good staff. I do know they consider in one another. I feel they’re going to maintain one another accountable, like (Mashack) mentioned. I’m going into each sport considering we’ll win if we do what we’re able to doing. We did not. I do not need to sound like I am taking away from Chris and his staff. I believed they did a terrific job they usually deserved to win the sport. They outplayed us your complete time. He is a terrific coach. From our standpoint, we’re not pleased with lots of issues that occurred at present, issues that should not have occurred. There’s nothing that did occur that we won’t repair.”
A few of these older guys, something you possibly can say to them that hasn’t been mentioned but about attempting to determine what is going on on there offensively?
“Properly, we do lots of various things. We return, put collectively a video of them taking part in nicely, making photographs. We’ll do all of it. I feel the most important factor, is once more, what we have at all times finished. We’ll watch the tape. Once more, the tape goes to level out all the pieces that we have talked about. Like I mentioned, there’s nothing that they did that we won’t repair, that we have not needed to repair earlier than. Perceive that there isn’t any extra fixing. It is finished. You bought to get it finished proper now. You’ll be able to’t look again and assume, once more, the query a couple of mindset. I believed we might be able to play based mostly on how we ready coming in right here. I understand how unhealthy Z wished to play nicely as a result of he wasn’t aside of this match final yr. Nonetheless, that is all new to Dalton. At present, I believed he performed prefer it. He is received to know how he is going to determine methods to affect the sport when he isn’t making photographs, different individuals are taking part in him. One in all them is just working the courtroom onerous, pulling individuals with him. The secret’s that we have all received to be trustworthy, myself, have a look at it and see what I did not assume we did or I did nicely, what our employees did not do to prepare, as a result of we’ve to keep away from it someway, someway. I’ve all the boldness that these guys will determine it out, as a result of they’ve all yr. We’ll return and study from it and prepare for subsequent week.”
What do you’re feeling went fallacious so that you can begin the sport?
“Protection. I really feel like protection. That is how you are going to lose video games. Offensively… You’ll be able to management protection, you possibly can at all times management protection. Like they at all times finished, whether or not they lose or win, they will follow what they do. They did not change whether or not it was the primary time we performed them or now. They did what they at all times do. They weren’t attempting to do something. They weren’t attempting to do something they do not at all times do. With us, we simply received to quiet down and play good protection. I feel that may get us in transition, get us some simple appears. We’re a very good staff after we’re out and working. If we’re not getting our protection there, our offense is simply going togo downhill from there. I feel that is precisely what occurred. That is all you possibly can say is defensively we weren’t locked in, particularly within the first half.”
Any stage of concern going into March Insanity with a dropping streak?
“Completely not. No matter it’s we have been doing, we’ll get that fastened for positive. I feel we have proven it this complete season, that we’re a staff with resilience. I feel video games like this simply construct toughness for us. However assure that we’re going to return, we’ll have a look at no matter we have to have a look at. We’ll have a look at what we’ve to do ourselves and as a staff and we’re not going to undergo what we went by at present. It begins with the seniors, with me and Zakai, the fellows which have been in that match. There isn’t any second possibilities from there. No matter we have to repair, we’ll get it fastened. We’ll go from there and have ourselves a terrific March Insanity.”
You talked about protection, attempting to get out in transition. When photographs aren’t falling, how a lot does that have an effect on protection?
“It should not in any respect. It should not. Protection is the one factor that you could management. You’ll be able to management protection. You’ll be able to management rebounding. In case you can management these two issues, whether or not your photographs are falling or not, you are getting stops on the opposite finish. You are going to make layups, wide-open layups. That is what you get in transition.By no means, form or type ought to making or lacking photographs have an effect on our protection. I feel that has so much to do with what went on on this sport. I feel it received to our heads. That may’t occur in basketball, man. You’ll be able to’t be good. However protection, you are able to do no matter you possibly can to get them stopping from scoring the ball.”
You delight your self on the toughness and physicality when it isn’t going nicely. Do you’re feeling you had the correct response? How do you be sure you do subsequent week?
“I feel me personally, it is actually onerous to be that staff that goes down and is at all times recognized for we’ll get again up. I feel we’ve to lose that and begin with the staff that begins off like that. That may’t be us. We will not be that staff that’s like, We’ll give them the primary half, the second half… No, that may’t occur. To be the staff we need to be, that begins within the first half. In case you’re making use of or not, it’s a must to have vitality, are available like we are the underdog. That is the mindset, that is going at that time the remainder of the season, we are the underdogs. It doesn’t matter what. I do not care what seed we’re taking part in, we’ll be the underdogs, play just like the underdogs. We’ll come again from the bounce taking part in protection and rebounding.”
How do you retain this from changing into one thing worse? How do you flip this into one thing that may assist you to down the street?
“After we go watch the movie, we won’t take something private. Every part that we see on that movie, movie do not lie. We simply received to take it to coronary heart and know if we go on the market and do this once more, it may be the tip of the season. So we received to know what’s at price.”
Y’all have had video games this season the place issues do not go proper, you get in a deep gap. Till at present y’all often got here again and made these video games attention-grabbing or gained them. Why did not that occur?
“Simply wasn’t ourself. We will not let that occur once more. Easy as that.”