Voluntary Reaction Summary: ‘I’m Shocked And I’m Scared’
By Cody McClure
Did you miss last night’s Voluntary Reaction?
Were you too busy sulking after the beatdown at Florida? Did you have to go to bed early because you had to be up this morning to feed the horses? Did you pass out in the second half because you had three too many martinis?
Whatever the case, we’ve got you covered with a brief summary. Maybe you don’t have time to listen. How about a quick read?
Jon Reed hosted last night’s VR and was accompanied by rising producer Donaven Cook. The show began with Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt.” It lasted 59 minutes.
Here’s a summarized, paraphrased version of what the boys and callers had to say.
Jon: “Maybe the worst game of Rick Barnes’ tenure at Tennessee.”
Donaven: “I’m almost speechless at how pitiful the performance was … Hell, we couldn’t dribble the basketball. I guess the guys had the flu.”
*90 seconds of the boys trying to figure out if they were live while also trying to remember the call-in number*
Jon: “From the get-go it was brutal. You made it to the first TV timeout without scoring. … You just got roasted. Absolutely dominated. A Barnes-era low of 43 points.”
*Show starts over seven minutes in for some reason*
Donaven: “I mean, we literally could not throw it in the ocean.”
Frank in Salt Lake City: “I hope I can help some people not be so down in the dumps this evening … We did not have to beat Florida tonight. They deserved it. Having said that, we did not have to win this game. We did not have to be No. 1 at this time. We did not have to be hot at this time. What we need this team to do is be hot [in March] and make the Final Four.”
Jon: “It’s not the fact that you lost, but the fact you got 30-pieced … It was the nature of which you got physically dominated. Everyone looked afraid of the moment and rattled on the road. That’s what’s going to alarm people.”
Jacob in Knoxville: “I’m shocked and I’m scared. It’s been a rough few weeks. Do you think Rick Barnes took the under on our points? … We’re the number one team in the country and we can only put up 15 points in the first half?”
Jon: “I wish I had taken the under … You can’t let one loss turn into two. You hope this is fuel for the fire, not sand put on the fire. Sand puts out fire, right? You hope this isn’t a spiral.”
Jacob: “I’m in a spiral right now. I’m about to go to Henley Street [to jump off the bridge].”
Jon: Don’t do it. Reconsider. It’s not worth it.
Donaven: “Twenty-eight points, Jon. [that UT scored without free throws].”
Caller Ricky: What the hell was that? I think the game plan is out. I’m scared! Shut down Chaz Lanier and make somebody else beat you. That was the plan. Somebody has to step up!
Jon: “I was really disappointed with [Lanier]. There has been some growing momentum from the engagement farmers online saying Lanier is just as good as Dalton Knecht. We can put that to sleep.”
Ricky: “Ricky is beyond frustrated.”
Caller Lincoln: I’m gonna quote coach Carter here. Lanier owes me 2,500 pushups and 1,000 suicides. I saw him just waltz up the court and just get the ball poked out from him. I thought it was lazy.
Jon: Yeah that led to another Florida spurt. You thought maybe Tennessee could maybe make a push there. … And Florida put some distance.”
*Lincoln abruptly hangs up the phone*
Jon: “Shit, Lincoln, you didn’t have to hang up without saying bye … We need to go back to Salt Lake City. My man, Frank, was spewing positivity.”
Caller Bob: “It’s a long season. Tough game. Not really worried about tonight. One comment… Jahmai [Mashack] was kind of exposed offensively tonight. Especially on the 3-point line. It was embarrassing when he was left open.”
Jon: “One of the guys to step up has to be Mashack. Last year he shot 36 percent. Better than Igor. Better than Zakai. If you don’t want him to shoot, who the hell do you want to shoot?
*Jon gargles water into the mic*
Jon: “I’m not worried that Mashack was exposed. I’m worried he’s lost his confidence.”
Donaven: “Yeah.”