fryeguy93
Rufus X. Sarsaparilli
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For those guys who are my age or older.
This team with limited talented and even more limited coaching may mirror another Vol team which many may be familiar with; the 1993-1994 Tennessee Basketball team.
I graduated UT in December 1993 so I recall the first half of that season very well. By the way, at the same time the UT baseball program was humming along getting ready for the second Todd Helton season.
The basketball team started their pre-SEC slate 2-6 with some bad losses to UALR, VaTech, and Western Carolina. They were blown out by Syracuse and mediocre Tiger High team. Their 2 wins were against incredibly bad UTM to open season and to even worse Mercer team. Midway through the conference slate they beat TennTech. With this massive momentum the Vols finished SEC slate 2-14 and was beat again by MissSt in SEC Tourney.
This was the season after Alan Houston and his "Stand around and watch" teammates graduated.
I compare Cody Hawn and Blake Forsythe leaving to Alan Houston leaving. As they provided much of the Vol offense as well as some stability.
The coaching staff knows this is important season. They know there has to be improvement and this embarrassing OOC schedule shows they are thrashing in the water.
They recognize there is little talent in the lineup. There is no more (likely less) talent in the pitching staff. Worse, not only is the talent questionable, it is young as well.
I appreciate the optimism by some on here, but I think the chances of the Vols finishing under .500 (even with soft schedule) is greater than a .500 finish.
The 1994 Vol cagers finished 5-22 (.185) overall and 2-15 (.118) against SEC.
The equivalent winning percentages in baseball would result 10-45 overall record and 4-26 in SEC.
I don't think these records are likely as there is far more luck in baseball than basketball. Our Vols could get a few extra breaks here and there and get 4-5 extra conference wins.
Plus the Vols' out-of-conference record would need to be 6-19. With the very bad opponents we have scheduled, this does not seem likely. I hope not anyway. At least Wade Houston scheduled some tough OOC teams even if he did not beat them.
So midway through season, let's expect Todd Raleigh to again state
(1) his team is still fighting, "We're really uhhh uhhhh uhhh close"
(2) ERA has improved over 2010 (due mainly to dead bats)
(3) Vols are running bases better.
If the Vols are not above .500 going into SEC play. Then Hamilton needs to pull the trigger immediately and send the man packing.
The only way this team has a chance is to play and excel playing small ball. Even the Raleigh defenders have to admit the man has no experience and prior success in coaching such a team.
This team with limited talented and even more limited coaching may mirror another Vol team which many may be familiar with; the 1993-1994 Tennessee Basketball team.
I graduated UT in December 1993 so I recall the first half of that season very well. By the way, at the same time the UT baseball program was humming along getting ready for the second Todd Helton season.
The basketball team started their pre-SEC slate 2-6 with some bad losses to UALR, VaTech, and Western Carolina. They were blown out by Syracuse and mediocre Tiger High team. Their 2 wins were against incredibly bad UTM to open season and to even worse Mercer team. Midway through the conference slate they beat TennTech. With this massive momentum the Vols finished SEC slate 2-14 and was beat again by MissSt in SEC Tourney.
This was the season after Alan Houston and his "Stand around and watch" teammates graduated.
I compare Cody Hawn and Blake Forsythe leaving to Alan Houston leaving. As they provided much of the Vol offense as well as some stability.
The coaching staff knows this is important season. They know there has to be improvement and this embarrassing OOC schedule shows they are thrashing in the water.
They recognize there is little talent in the lineup. There is no more (likely less) talent in the pitching staff. Worse, not only is the talent questionable, it is young as well.
I appreciate the optimism by some on here, but I think the chances of the Vols finishing under .500 (even with soft schedule) is greater than a .500 finish.
The 1994 Vol cagers finished 5-22 (.185) overall and 2-15 (.118) against SEC.
The equivalent winning percentages in baseball would result 10-45 overall record and 4-26 in SEC.
I don't think these records are likely as there is far more luck in baseball than basketball. Our Vols could get a few extra breaks here and there and get 4-5 extra conference wins.
Plus the Vols' out-of-conference record would need to be 6-19. With the very bad opponents we have scheduled, this does not seem likely. I hope not anyway. At least Wade Houston scheduled some tough OOC teams even if he did not beat them.
So midway through season, let's expect Todd Raleigh to again state
(1) his team is still fighting, "We're really uhhh uhhhh uhhh close"
(2) ERA has improved over 2010 (due mainly to dead bats)
(3) Vols are running bases better.
If the Vols are not above .500 going into SEC play. Then Hamilton needs to pull the trigger immediately and send the man packing.
The only way this team has a chance is to play and excel playing small ball. Even the Raleigh defenders have to admit the man has no experience and prior success in coaching such a team.
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