Joe Robbins - Getty Images
4 months ago: KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 14: Cameron Tatum #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers goes up for a shot against Terrence Jones #3 and Anthony Davis #23 of the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 14, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Kentucky defeated Tennessee 65-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
It still makes me smile. So the numbers favor #1 Kentucky over the Vols tonight in Rupp Arena. No surprise there, but VolQuest really emphasizes the challenge:
For a Tennessee team that has struggled mightily to put its best foot forward away from home, tonight's trip to Lexington, where No. 1 Kentucky wait[s], is about as stiff a challenge as you could draw up. For a little perspective, this year's Vols have yet to win in an opponent's gym, while Wildcats are currently riding the nation's longest home-winning streak at 47 games.
Nice. Coach Martin points out that we are a better team now than we were when we played the Wildcats before, but still. If we do win, though, I do in fact want the team to act like they acted when they'd been there before, meaning I want to see Cuonzo rip his shirt off in the locker room.
National Signing Day is tomorrow, and we're helping, but Brad is ALL OVER IT. The official source of breaking Tennessee recruiting news tomorrow is @Vol_Football, but we'll also have immediate analysis as well as the news. Time to find out whether having 2 of the top dozen best recruiting hires of the year pays dividends. Sure, we're practically making history with a class devoid of offensive linemen, but it's an intentional trade for guys like Daniel McCullers, the 6'7", 400 lb guy with size 18 shoes and size XXXXXXL (that's 6XL) shirts who is a yes-sir, no-sir teddy bear off the field and a "sack of hell" on it. Who doesn't like a big ol' sack of hell along their defensive front?
Miscellaneous links and a Cuonzo YouTube below the jump.
A Divisionless Set-Up Would Help The SEC In Football | Mr. SEC
The 2% man | Get The Picture
You want to know how toxic a candidate Craig James is? Chernobyl-level toxic:
0 recs | 9 comments
I really liked Mr SEC's 4-1-8 basketball proposal
the football one has its benefits, but as they mentioned, would require the NCAA to change their rules regarding conference championship games. And leaves open the possibility (however far-fetched) of three-way ties at 8-0 (say, Tennessee, LSU, and Florida) that can’t really be settled by a championship game.
Incipient_Senescence - January 31, 2012
We've been the victim of a three-way tie twice in the last 23 years
’89 under a non-divisional plan: Tennessee beats Auburn, Alabama beats Tennessee, Auburn beats Alabama, all three finish 6-1 in the SEC as co-champs But Bama got the Sugar Bowl, we were left to the Cotton, and Auburn (with a non-conf loss to FSU) went to the then Hall of Fame/now Outback Bowl.
And in ’03, of course, you had Tennessee beats Florida beats Georgia beats Tennessee, with each team losing to a different West Division foe. And we got the Chick-Fil-A Bowl out of that one.
I don’t see how they would consider a non-divisional scenario in this day and age with that possibility still on the table.
Will Shelton - January 31, 2012
You probably do something lame like use the BCS as a tiebreaker
Like we would’ve done this year if ’Bama, LSU, and Arky were all 1-1 against each other and 7-1 overall.
VolnVA - January 31, 2012
true enough
and the three-way tie at 8-0 case (rare as it may be) is way scarier than the three-way tie at 7-1
Incipient_Senescence - January 31, 2012
Mr. Pomeroy's computer says...
Kentucky 75-56 (95%)
One in twenty. So you’re telling me there’s a chance?
kidbourbon - January 31, 2012 via mobile
Great minds
I just made the identical comment and connection on the preview post
Will Shelton - January 31, 2012
Obviously a 5% chance?
sddbaker - January 31, 2012
Yup
Kenpom’s projection indicates that Tennessee has a 95% chance of not winning.
After you adjust the moneyline to de-account for juice, Vegas thinks we have a 94.55% chance of not winning. They’re bullish on the Vols in Sin City!
kidbourbon - January 31, 2012 via mobile
Yay!
Time to get excited about recruiting!
gramsey712 - January 31, 2012
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