Zakai Zeigler had no alternative.
The Tennessee basketball guard heaved a 3-pointer from the SEC emblem at Nashville’s Bridgestone Enviornment. It landed feebly within the palms of Mississippi State ahead Tolu Smith and nowhere close to the rim because the shot clock blared.
Zeigler’s shot wasn’t the problem. The shot Jordan Gainey didn’t take was. Gainey handed up an open 3-pointer with 5 seconds on the shot clock and no defender inside 10 toes, resulting in Zeigler’s heave. It was one of many many situations of Tennessee declining a superb shot Friday and, sure, coach Rick Barnes is anxious by it.
“You bought to take the pictures,” Barnes mentioned. “You bought to take them.”
Barnes has talked a few reluctance to shoot, at instances, for Tennessee’s gamers this season. He talked about it once more after top-seeded UT (24-8) was upset by ninth-seeded Mississippi State 73-56 within the SEC Event quarterfinals. He’ll be speaking about it together with his crew as soon as once more earlier than the NCAA Event begins and it is do-or-done time.
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How not taking open pictures is hurting Tennessee basketball
Mississippi State’s Cameron Matthews had his again turned when Gainey caught a crosscourt cross from Jahmai Mashack. Matthews was on the elbow when Gainey set his toes and lined up the shot.
He pump-faked as an alternative and tried to drive, however Matthews had regained place by then. He handed to Zeigler, who needed to hoist a determined shot on the finish of the shot clock.
“Early within the yr, after we had been turning the ball over, it is as a result of we had been turning down pictures, making an attempt to do different issues,” Barnes mentioned. “Usually, we get a excessive quantity of high quality pictures.”
The shot-clock violation was UT’s third straight turnover in a streak of 4 throughout a depressing first 10 minutes in opposition to the Bulldogs. Barnes spoke in an interview on ESPN through the under-12 media timeout about missed alternatives to shoot that led to worse pictures and turnovers. Senior Santiago Vescovi, who has been on the receiving finish of the “shoot it” message essentially the most, handed up one. So did Zeigler, which led to a troublesome layup as an alternative.
Barnes careworn spacing in his postgame remarks and the way the proper spacing will maintain UT’s offense going. Taking good pictures with appropriate spacing results in rebounding alternatives and extra pictures. UT fell into the alternative sample Friday, turning down pictures, and making every part more durable.
How Dalton Knecht elements into Tennessee basketball taking pictures
Dalton Knecht is understandably the main focus of opposing scouting stories. The SEC participant of the yr averaged 25.5 factors in convention play, taking all the main focus off his teammates whereas nonetheless managing to attain at a loopy clip.
“Due to that, another guys are going to get alternatives they usually need to shoot the ball,” Barnes mentioned.
Barnes did say that Knecht can nonetheless do a greater job together with his shot choice after he went 4-for-17 taking pictures and 2-for-9 on 3-pointers. The Vols coach additionally famous gamers passing up pictures could make it seem like every part is being placed on Knecht. He felt much more of the burden falls on Zeigler.
“The whole lot ends as much as be like an avalanche hitting him as a result of he is so aggressive,” Barnes mentioned.
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Knecht and Zeigler are Tennessee’s main scorers for a cause. They don’t seem to be solely the very best scorers but additionally essentially the most prepared scorers − and most prepared shooters. These details are unlikely to alter within the NCAA Event.
However Tennessee nonetheless wants extra willingness from different gamers. That continues to be the case after 32 video games, the newest of which had Barnes involved as soon as once more with a hesitation to shoot.
Mike Wilson covers College of Tennessee athletics. Electronic mail him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and comply with him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. In case you take pleasure in Mike’s protection, think about a digital subscription that may permit you entry to all of it