All you “great regular season” basketball fans need to ask…

#1
brockytop

brockytop

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#1
the Boston Bruins just how important it is.

Truth is regular season is nothing more than the avenue to get to postseason play in tournament/playoff sports.
 
#5
#5
brockytop said:
the Boston Bruins just how important it is.

Truth is regular season is nothing more than the avenue to get to postseason play in tournament/playoff sports.
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Who has ever said otherwise?

Also that's not the same thing as saying the regular season is meaningless. As pointed out, 31 NHL teams compared to like 350 basketball teams isn't apples and oranges.

The Bruins choked no doubt and they will now go down as a punchline but that's becuase they blew a first round 3-1 lead. If they had made it the Stanely Cup Finals and lost the stigma wouldn't be as bad.
 
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#6
#6
VolsSportsFan said:
Who has ever said otherwise?

Also that's not the same thing as saying the regular season is meaningless. As pointed out, 31 NHL teams compared to like 350 basketball teams isn't apples and oranges.

The Bruins choked no doubt and they will now go down as a punchline but that's becuase they blew a first round 3-1 lead. If they had made it the Stanely Cup Finals and lost the stigma wouldn't be as bad.
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Do you realize how many people on here say they’re happy with TN basketball as long as they have a quality regular season and get to the NCAA tournament?
 
#9
#9
I would argue that watching a good regular season college basketball team (one midweek night game, one weekend afternoon game, wins feel good, losses aren’t devastating) is one of the most enjoyable sports fan experiences currently available.
 
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#10
#10
My favorite part of this thread is how you left out how irrelevant Tennessee was for decades before Coach Barnes took over and how respectable the program is now. Sure Bruce had some success.....he also left us holding the bag when the dust cleared. Everyone else has failed miserably.

I would love to see an Elite 8 or Final four appearance. Of course I would love for them to win it all. But Barnes has done a phenomenal job taking this program to consistent heights and sustained a respectable program.

We would be idiots to discount those accomplishments or try to replace him for not winning enough.
 
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#11
#11
5 of 7 NHL teams with home ice advantage have advanced.
The Rangers face the Devils tonight.
I'm not sure what difference the number of teams makes.
Unlike NCAA, there is no committee that determines playoff seeding.
There was no doubt that Boston was the #1 seed.
You could argue that the Islanders were a weaker team than the Panthers (only one point difference during the regular season).
Buffalo finished strong but fell short.
PIttsburgh had a chance; they fell short too.
 
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#12
#12
berryvol said:
OP trying to compare Rick Barnes postseason struggles to, quite possibly, the biggest upset in the history of professional sports. Definitely the same thing. This is a very good, fair, and accurate comparison. Well done.
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It's not even unexpected this point that the Presidential Cup winner gets eliminated in the first round. That's happened more than them winning the cup in the last decade. The previous time it happened was a 4-0 sweep of Tampa Bay by Columbus. You can set records in the regular season with a great team, but to win in the playoffs one of your goalies needs to get hot, and both of the Bruins' goalies let in easy goals in this series. It's a real shame for neutral observers because Florida plays a boring negative style of play in a boring dumb arena populated mostly by opposing fans. But I felt like having a season that good was a curse going into the playoffs.
 
#13
#13
I also want to point out that we ditched Bruce Cassidy partly because he got the team to the playoffs but they kept crashing out. Firing the successful coach who couldn't get us over the hump really worked out for us, didn't it?
 
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#14
#14
The OP is not smart, and a lot of responses aren't much better.

The number of teams between NHL and NCAA argument has two fallacies:
1. It's irrelevant in regards to regular season vs post-season success/struggles for one team.
2. Even if it were relevant, 350+ teams are not eligible to compete for the NCAA basketball championship; 68 are eligible. That's still more than 3x as many in the NHL playoffs, but again, point is irrelevant to begin with.

We really need to put this next fallacious argument to bed: UT's history in the post season is also irrelevant to being upset in the NCAA Tournament. The fact that we've never been to a Final Four does not excuse being bounced prematurely, and it certainly is not a logical rebuttal when someone expresses their disappointment in UT being bounced early. That's essentially shaming someone for wanting UT to be better in the tournament. Each individual's contentedness is their own, but we really need to stop acting like our lackluster post season history is a mitigating factor in determining the quality of post season play.

FTR, I have been a big advocate and supporter of Barnes since before he was even officially hired, and I still think he's doing overall a good job. He is not infallible, however.
 
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#16
#16
I go back to Bill Justice so I think I can spout off based on experience. Let me just say that a wise fan will enjoy each season/roster one game at a time. Savor the moments as they come. When your focus becomes "championships" only, you set yourself up for disappointment, and you miss out on the other moments. When I did a lot of riding on my Harley, my motto was that it's not about the destination but the journey. Can't claim credit for that, but it's certainly a life truth for those with ears to hear. With that, I surrender the soap box.
 
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#18
#18
CAVPUT said:
I go back to Bill Justice so I think I can spout off based on experience. Let me just say that a wise fan will enjoy each season/roster one game at a time. Savor the moments as they come. When your focus becomes "championships" only, you set yourself up for disappointment, and you miss out on the other moments. When I did a lot of riding on my Harley, my motto was that it's not about the destination but the journey. Can't claim credit for that, but it's certainly a life truth for those with ears to hear. With that, I surrender the soap box.
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Good post. We may not obtain the end result we desire but that doesn’t take away from the memories throughout the season. The same goes for the game of life. I’m 51 yrs old and blessed to have a wife of 28 yrs and 20 yr old twins (son and daughter).

Time flies but we can’t go back in time. It’s a difficult to live by the Good Book and live each day to the fullest but important to try.
 
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#19
#19
CAVPUT said:
I go back to Bill Justice so I think I can spout off based on experience. Let me just say that a wise fan will enjoy each season/roster one game at a time. Savor the moments as they come. When your focus becomes "championships" only, you set yourself up for disappointment, and you miss out on the other moments. When I did a lot of riding on my Harley, my motto was that it's not about the destination but the journey. Can't claim credit for that, but it's certainly a life truth for those with ears to hear. With that, I surrender the soap box.
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I agree totally. Following any team JUST FOR CHAMPIONSHIP's is an act in futility. I personally think that's one reason we see so many posters taking every single game so personally and not afraid to post their unrealistic expectations. I have a Vol friend, season ticket holder and the entire works...but for me it can be miserable to watch or attend a game with him because he lives and dies with every pitch, every play, every down. I've told him time after time to enjoy the "game" within the game and stop the declaration of despondency ever two minutes. Championships will come and go...but the "thrill of the game" last for a lifetime. Guess I'll surrender said soap box now too.
 
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#20
#20
Chris4Vols22 said:
The OP is not smart, and a lot of responses aren't much better.

The number of teams between NHL and NCAA argument has two fallacies:
1. It's irrelevant in regards to regular season vs post-season success/struggles for one team.
2. Even if it were relevant, 350+ teams are not eligible to compete for the NCAA basketball championship; 68 are eligible. That's still more than 3x as many in the NHL playoffs, but again, point is irrelevant to begin with.
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This is not true

1. It is relevant, because for the vast vast majority of CBB fans, their team will never win a national championship in their lifetime. That’s not true for most NHL fans (or NFL or NBA or what have you). Therefore while going championship or bust for professional sports could be a valid approach (it likely will eventually pay off and you’ll be really happy), it makes no sense if your goal with sports is to enjoy yourself (because your college team is probably never winning the championship)
2. Again, not true. 350+ teams are eligible to compete for the championship every year. 68 make the tourney, but the others were able to compete for the national championship. I’m not even sure the point you’re trying to make it

Your point would be better founded if OP had focused in on post season shortcomings, rather than making the point that the regular season does not matter. As it is, it addresses a completely different issue
 
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#21
#21
Vol49er said:
This is not true

1. It is relevant, because for the vast vast majority of CBB fans, their team will never win a national championship in their lifetime. That’s not true for most NHL fans (or NFL or NBA or what have you). Therefore while going championship or bust for professional sports could be a valid approach (it likely will eventually pay off and you’ll be really happy), it makes no sense if your goal with sports is to enjoy yourself (because your college team is probably never winning the championship)
2. Again, not true. 350+ teams are eligible to compete for the championship every year. 68 make the tourney, but the others were able to compete for the national championship. I’m not even sure the point you’re trying to make it

Your point would be better founded if OP had focused in on post season shortcomings, rather than making the point that the regular season does not matter. As it is, it addresses a completely different issue
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I may have misinterpreted the OP; I took it as a swipe on Barnes's tournament upsets, specifically, since we've had really good regular seasons followed by early exits. Since we are the type of program that can realistically get to the Final Four or even win a championship, I was not lumping in the enormous field of NCAA teams who do not have a realistic chance of advancing in the tournament. If you narrow the NCAA field down to teams who regularly have a realistic chance, that's where my point sits. I think your point moreso speaks to 350+ teams being pigeonholed into 68 tourney slots. I agree with you in the sense that the regular season is important to the teams who don't typically dance.

Surely you will agree that the teams who don't make the tournament/playoffs have a 0% chance of winning the championship. That's all I meant by "eligible."

In any case, the OP is dramatic, and I think some (not necessarily you) are bending over backwards to excuse UT's disappointing postseason performances. I do my best to be objective, and this forum has sunshine pumpers in spades, so I know I'm coming off as a negative Nancy. That is not my intention.

Barnes has overall been very good here. My only gripe is that we can't seem to break the glass ceiling of the tournament. On the other hand, it is remarkable how Barnes turned this program around. I'm just really wanting us to take the next step and be better at seizing opportunities.
 
#22
#22
Chris4Vols22 said:
I may have misinterpreted the OP; I took it as a swipe on Barnes's tournament upsets, specifically, since we've had really good regular seasons followed by early exits. Since we are the type of program that can realistically get to the Final Four or even win a championship, I was not lumping in the enormous field of NCAA teams who do not have a realistic chance of advancing in the tournament. If you narrow the NCAA field down to teams who regularly have a realistic chance, that's where my point sits. I think your point moreso speaks to 350+ teams being pigeonholed into 68 tourney slots. I agree with you in the sense that the regular season is important to the teams who don't typically dance.

Surely you will agree that the teams who don't make the tournament/playoffs have a 0% chance of winning the championship. That's all I meant by "eligible."

In any case, the OP is dramatic, and I think some (not necessarily you) are bending over backwards to excuse UT's disappointing postseason performances. I do my best to be objective, and this forum has sunshine pumpers in spades, so I know I'm coming off as a negative Nancy. That is not my intention.

Barnes has overall been very good here. My only gripe is that we can't seem to break the glass ceiling of the tournament. On the other hand, it is remarkable how Barnes turned this program around. I'm just really wanting us to take the next step and be better at seizing opportunities.
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I’m with you with the frustrations with the tournament, but I think one can be frustrated and want more postseason wins and still value the regular season. And I think that’s especially the case in college sports, for more reasons than there being lots of college teams but that’s one reason
(Not to mention, we’ve never had a team that was expected to do as nearly as well as that Bruins team. It was a really bad way to make OP’s point)
 
#23
#23
TheMookieMonster said:
Coming from the guy who started a thread about how you wanted to face FAU over FDU, I don’t think the “great regular season fans” are the ones who need the reality check.
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Don't think I started the thread, but at the time, facing a Helter Skelter group of killer bee underdogs scared the beegeebers outta me. Given our history with Cinderella teams, I wanted no part of them. In hindsight, well...CAVPUT is still a dumbass.
 
#24
#24
"The only thing that matters are Championships" argument is such a terrible and toxic one. I argue it devalues the game-- it says only winning matters. "Doesn't matter" if you play well or are a team that's relevant or fun to watch. "Doesn't matter" if you have a winning record against top 10 teams. "Doesn't matter" if you have players that bring you joy when they hit dagger 3s or and-one's after a spin move in the post or come out of nowhere to get a crucial block or rebound.

Winning matters. Postseason matters. But to claim its the only thing that matters is ridiculous. By that argument Grant Williams was an irrelevant, worthless failure of a player. Heck, NBA greats like Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, George Gervin, and Allen Iverson -- might as well have never played.

Tennessee has had some spectacular moments during the regular season these past few years. I'm going to keep enjoying them.

If you claim to only care about championships and post season production, especially at the college level, it tells me you aren't here to enjoy the game of basketball.
 
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