Stokes scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against Georgia.
Photo by Reed Carringer

The win against Georgia was like a Thursday. I’m not tremendously excited about it, but I’ll certainly take it. The blue print, which we discussed a few weeks ago here, for Tennessee’s success this year is that they go ‘Middle Out.’ Meaning that Stokes and Maymon have to be dominant inside and when they are the guards will find enough points to win because the opposing defenses will have to adjust. That formula looked pretty good against the Dawgs this past Tuesday. As it has in other spots when the Vols have employed it. As we turn to the rest of Tennessee’s schedule, with the exception of one final game against Missouri, it is not one that’s going to catch the eyes of the Selection Committee, at least not in a way that’s positive.

at Texas A&M

at Mississippi State

Vanderbilt

at Auburn

Missouri

Other than the Tigers of the “Show Me” State, there are plenty of opportunities for Tennessee to get wins, but not the kind of wins that push them over the top. There are also plenty of chances for Tennessee to be less than stellar and therefore guaranteed a spot in the NIT. To be clear, Tennessee should be favored in all these games. That’s precisely why a loss would be so deadly.

Elsewhere around College Hoops, for those not damaging their livers by playing the Tennessee Vols Drinking Game it’s fairly clear that there are as many as 12-15 teams out there that can win the National Title, and despite Syracuse sitting at an impressive 25-1, there is no team that looks so utterly dominant that everyone else should pack it in. The sprint down the stretch should be fun.

Onward.

Glance Game Of The Weekend

LSU at (18) Kentucky (TV: 4 PM EST ESPN)

Kentucky is a gifted team talent wise. That much is undisputed. Where they are, despite that physical talent, a bit more suspect than many anticipated going into this season, is perhaps the lack of a pure point guard to run Coach Cal’s ‘Dribble Drive’ offense and the fact that the core of his team is transitioning from AAU Stars to a solid team game. There were prognostications that, because of the physical talent here, the ‘Dribble Drive’ would be even more utilized than in past seasons. But if anyone wants to start doubting that these kids can’t put together a strong run, then they don’t know how good John Calipari’s teams are and how he makes them better. Last year was the exception and not the rule. So take a glance at this game. But it’s unlikely you’ll have to stay too long to get a feel for how it’s gonna go.

Haterade Game Of The Weekend

(2) Florida at Ole Miss (TV: 12 PM EST CBS)

It should surprise utterly no one that this is the Haterade game this week. A really good Florida team vs. an Ole Miss squad about whom my feelings have already been made openly and notoriously known. There is much to HATE here. So much to hate that Florida feels like the good guy. Particularly when Ole Miss continues doing things like this.  There’s even a bit of intrigue after Florida barely survived against Auburn. But the hate is the thing. There’s so much to hate that just thinking about how much there is to hate should bring warmth to your heart even in these cold and snow filled times. Not even a polar vortex can drown out this much hate. Revel in it.

Reservation Game Of The Weekend

(1) Syracuse at (5) Duke (TV: 7 PM EST ESPN)

A few weeks ago this game lived up well past the hype and I, while putting it on the guide didn’t give it the billing it should have gotten. I’m amending that mistake. This promises to be fun, but now less so. Syracuse was poised to be on the road at Cameron Indoor and rocking an undefeated record. Then a little thing called Boston College came along and wrecked the TV programmers dreams. The game does lose a bit of luster because of that, but it is still worthy of your time. If nothing else, enjoying a game when you have no fandom skin in the game other than just the spectacle is often a welcome respite from abusing one’s liver and cursing at the screen every once in a while. This is the perfect chance to do just that.

Tennessee at Texas A&M (TV: 3 PM EST ESPN U)

While Tennessee’s schedule is something to behold, particularly after every time Tennessee has a frustrating loss bracketologists everywhere have been keeping them with one foot in the tournament for weeks, there is a macabre debate to be had about Tennessee’s worst loss of the season. On any short list is to Texas A&M at home. Other opportunities for the Vols to ‘punch up’ against Kentucky and Florida or a chance to knock out Missouri are lost chances but the committee looks at them as ‘good losses’ and will not necessarily penalize a team for that. But bad losses tend to tick them off. A season sweep of the Vols by the Aggies would put the Vol resume below the pile. That’s why it cannot happen if this season is still to have an uplifting finish. For Tennessee, having your only shot at the NCAA’s to be winning the SEC Tourney for the automatic bid is not that far off. Which will make the off-season in Knoxville full of more palace intrigue than Game of Thrones.

Something To Watch On Selection Sunday

If you need a laugh for what could be a disappointing day, I’d recommend the collected works of Ron White. I’m sure he’d partake in and approve of the Vols Drinking Game. And unlike most, he’d function better afterwards.

Enjoy the weekend and the games everyone.