Posted by TennesseeTominTexas on March 26, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tennessee defense must be on in this game. Shot selection is being quoted as the difference in their two losses and two victories. We must not allow that to happen. The Tennessee defense is much better than Boise State and Oklahoma when it is on. Just ask Tiger High!

Posted by BallBreaker on March 26, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Cardinals 58% shooting percentage will drop when they face the real deal Thursday! :) Vols by 3!

Posted by eb502us on March 26, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As both a UL and UT fan (grew up in Louisville), I can tell you that UL is not a good shooting team. They may have hit their shots these first two games, but if you pressure them, they will turn it over and take bad shots. Their talent is on the frontline down low, but this matchup bodes well for UT.

Posted by schymtz on March 26, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)

eb502, I hope you are right. I lived in Louisville in the late 60's early '70's, and loved watching the cardiac cards and the old ky kernels, but I've followed UT longer than that. Go Vols!

Posted by HotlantaVol on March 26, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hands in their faces all night. No clean looks at the basket and that 58% becomes a 38%. Even I could shoot 58% if I was able to square up, take my time and let it fly without being contested.

Pound it inside and get that big man in foul trouble. Then kick it out to Lofton and JuJuan for the open three . . . Bottom!!

Posted by RJ_Vol on March 26, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They are a due a poor shooting game! Contest every shot. Let's go Big Orange! This is the "big time" now!!!!

Posted by johnlg00 on March 26, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Small world, schymtz! I was in the Army at Fort Knox in the early '70s. I caught several Louisville and Kentucky Colonels games while I was there. The old ABA was a hoot! The Colonels had Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, and Louis Dampier, among others. I saw Julius Erving, George Gervin, and a host of other all-time greats. I played pickup ball on several occasions with Butch Beard, former UofL All-America. I loved my time in the area. It had loads of three of my favorite things--barbecue, basketball, and bluegrass music! That said, I hope the Big Vols lay a big-time whipping on the Cardinals. I'll settle for a 1-point, last-second squeaker(;-D)! GO VOLS!!! PLUCK THE BIRDS!!! ON TO SAN ANTONIO!!!

Posted by bowerst on March 26, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Different arena also. Here's a little Sweet 16 poem:

Vol D is the key. Our Coach P. will say he can't match-up with their Coach P. but here at UT we say wait and see!

Posted by GoVol on March 26, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cards can't keep shooting 58%...good omen for us.

GO VOLS!!! TN by 12.

Posted by marc_ash on March 26, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Unfortunately UT hasn't played good defense since Memphis. The first half of the Butler game was solid, but if the Vols want to pull this one out they need to play until the final horn blows.

Posted by Kwitcherbellyachin on March 26, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The difference between GT/Pitt and Boise/OK is that the former played actual defense, while the latter did not. If we defend the perimeter aggressively, we win this game. eb502us is right - LV has average shooters when they are defended. They do not have a Jajuan, or CL that can hit while contested. While the media and Vegas wax orgasmically about LV, I've watched a dozen or so of their games, and I remain unimpressed. I believe the Vols pull this one out.

Posted by nastyman on March 26, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sorry guys. We will lose this game and the sweet 16 wall will remain.

Posted by Orangeblood13 on March 26, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

SHUT UP NASTY! No negatives here, they can shoot and we can shoot, but the battle for loose balls, hustle balls, good def, and keep turnovers to a minimum, we will win!

Go do your thang boys!

Posted by nastyman on March 26, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They need to prove me wrong. Believe me... I want us in the final four more than anything. Just doesn't look good with the way Louisville is playing, plus Lofton being banged up.

Posted by VolJunkie on March 26, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

IMO, you will see a different mindset from UT tomorrow night. All along they EXPECTED to make the Sweet 16, you might even call it a sense of entitlement. IMHO, that led to some complaceny, lack of focus, and some sloppy play that resulted in games that were closer than they should have been.

Tomorrow night that changes. As we have heard since UT clinched the SEC regular season championship, this team is making history and has a chance to do even more. A win Thursday night takes this program to a level that no UT men's team has ever reached. There will be a focus and intensity that we have not seen since the Memphis game. It's not even close, UT hitting on all cylinders will run UL out of the gym. UT by double figures.

Go VOLS!!!

Posted by johnlg00 on March 26, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If we can believe the reports, Chris is not all that banged-up. Most guys have a few bumps, bruises, and strains this time of the year. When the game-time adrenalin gets flowing, that injury will be nothing. As he and CBP have said, if there had been a game Tuesday, Chris would have played. I think the Vols bring the fire Thursday and play one of their best games of the season, win or lose. All anyone can ask is an even chance of beating a quality opponent on college basketball's biggest stage. How we would have longed for that for, lo, these many years! GO VOLS!!! PLUCK THE BIRDS!!! ON TO SAN ANTONIO!!!

Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 26, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

CBS already has Loovul penciled in for Saturday's game in their schedule!!! THAT is a lack of respect.

http://www.sportsline.com/ncaawbasket...

Posted by General_Watermelon on March 26, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think UL is a great team and they may very well beat us this year, but they haven't seen the defense we will throw at them. The percentages will come down regardless of the outcome.

Posted by phillyvol on March 26, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

burntorangeVOLffle -- that's the Women's bracket you're looking at.

Posted by westkyvolfan on March 26, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To schymtz and johnlg00: I was in Loo-a-vul in the early 70's, too. Only time I got to see the ABA Colonels play was in N.O., La in 69-70, though. They beat the Jazz and I got to see an old college mate, Wayne Chapman, play in that game. My wife and I were the only KY Colonel fans in the gym that night. As a WKU grad, I would love to see UT and the 'toppers in the championship, although I doubt Western will get that far. I've been a Vols fan for a long time now and I'm hoping they will step up the pace and win out from here.
By the way, a lot of folks in the western end of KY have become Vols bball fans since Bruce came. Southern Indiana is barely out of West KY and lots of folks there like CBP. GO VOLS beat the Cards!!!

Posted by schymtz on March 26, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

burntorange: I believe that bracket is for the Women's Tourneyment. I kinda hope Louisville wins that game. Ohio State knows what it feels like to lose to the same school with high stakes! I believe there are many but not all the "experts" with brackets busted worse than a lot of ours who are saying "Louisville over Tennessee." ESPN's "bracketologist" had UT picked for an early exit at the hands of South Alabama! NEVER EVER TAKE THE COUNSEL OF YOUR FEARS. UT can do this! UT WILL do this! GO VOLS! Beat the Cardinals! I don't care how, just DO IT! Beat 'em! Beat 'em! BEAT 'EM BAD!

Posted by brad2235951 on March 26, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

has anybody seen the odds for the teams left in the tourny

Odds to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
North Carolina 3/1
UCLA 3/1
Kansas 7/2
Louisville 4/1
Memphis 6/1
Texas 10/1
Wisconsin 16/1
Stanford 16/1
Tennessee 16/1

talk about gettin no respect!

Posted by Madkels on March 26, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Born in Louisville, raised in Memphis, UT alum...I grew up watching the rivalry between Tigers and Cards. Now is out time to beat them both in the same year! Lofton goes off and scores 25, Brian Williams turns into godzilla, and we win by 2!

I wish they would split screen the TV broadcast so we can see the coaches on one side. The animation of CBP and RP will be just as entertaining.

Posted by marc_ash on March 26, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

brad2235951,

I don't know that I much disagree with the Vegas odds posted. The 4 number 1 seeds should have an advantage going in. WI, ST and the Vols IMO have the lowest chance of winning it all based on seedings and current play.

Watch the line change some if UT wins, but not much. Everyone has man crushes on NC and they are the top favorite to win it all. Either way, the last 16 teams will brutalize each other. One game at a time...and anything can happen.

Posted by brad2235951 on March 26, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

marc_ash

i agree with you for the most part, the only problem i have with it is that they have louisville at 4/1, they have the same route as we do and i dont see how they are that much favored than us.

Posted by Razzle on March 26, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here is a lack of respect in the online gaming world. Of 14,747 wagers on the game, 60% are on Louisville. As of 2pm eastern, the line has risen from Louisville -2.5 to Louisville -3.

Posted by newtonrail on March 26, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My heart doesn't want to believe it, but the odds are about right. That's from non betting layman's perspective. Have to agree Louisville ought to be closer to our spread, but can't argue much about the others.

Posted by Razzle on March 26, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our players just need to prove them wrong again like they did against tiger high.

Posted by brownsvillevol on March 26, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

look who louisville played if anything we got their seeds and they got ours.no way was butler a 7 seed and oklahoma a 6 seed but hey we have stared adversity in the face this year and still come out on top this team has the hustle factor that i just don't see in louisville.

Posted by marc_ash on March 26, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I said at the beginning of the bracket seedings that if anyone beats the Vols it will be Louisville. They play a very similar style and are very well coached.

I would much rather have faced a half dozen other teams than Louisville believe it or not...but thats why they play the games.

It's about one game at a time. Go Vols and Go W. State (oh, and go Michigan State too).

Posted by THE_VOL on March 26, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's see now...39% vs G-town and Pitt...58% vs Boise and OK...I'd say that makes the Cards just a bit susceptible to good defense wouldn't you??? GT and Pitt play just a tad tougher than the other two on most occassions. Besides shooting % can be highly misleading. GT shot over 60% vs Davidson but they're still watching this weekend! Turnovers and some nasty defensive intensity will get Louis beat in this game.

Posted by mparker on March 26, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

marc_ash,
hate tot tell you, fella, but we didn't really play that well against Memphis. We played about average. Memphis is not anything special, except for Derrick Rose.

As for UL, the heck with the hand in the face, we better make sure we have a butt in the belly, that is, box out on misses.

Posted by IBleedOrange444 on March 26, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know where ya'll got the lines from, but the site I use (and I live in Vegas and gamble on sports more than I should) has them a little different. The site is pretty reliable and updates automatically every few minutes. Here's the link.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-b...

Also, I don't know if ya'll had a chance to watch the L'ville/ Okla game, but Okla played TERRIBLE uninspired b-ball. They gave up before the game even started. We're not gonna let that happen!

Posted by rednblack on March 26, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Current poll results on ESPN
1) Which team will win the East Regional?

49.5% North Carolina
36.1% Tennessee
9.3% Louisville
5.1% Washington State

Posted by dirtdobber1 on March 26, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

line up to 3! load up on da Vols!!!!!!!!!

Posted by mparker on March 26, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

still say....watch out for wash state. they know they are 'disrespected'. The thing that will hurt them, IMHO, is home-cooking refs.

As for Us?? I look for us to begin the game by pounding it inside.

Here is the question: can Tyler deliver in a game lihe this?? Will it be a ref's game or a player's game??

The butler game was VERY well refereed. Best of tournament. The UCLA-A&M game, Memphis-Miss State game, and the UGA-Xav game where ALL badly done.

Posted by Razzle on March 26, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here is another place to get lines.

http://www.sportsinsights.com/college...

Posted by Razzle on March 26, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.sportsinsights.com/affilia...

If u click on the line graph, u will see that betting action on tennessee has increased from 40-43% in the last hour.

Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 27, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Women's Bracket.... that's funny.

That's odd that I ended up there as I went thru my favorites to CBS Men's BBall page. I was further fooled by the seeding.