Can the Vols finally break the glass ceiling this year?

#1
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Buster1972

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#1
In all the 110+ year history of UT basketball, not once have they ever reached a final four. Not during the Bernie-Ernie show era, not with Allan Houston, Bruce Pearl, or up until now, Rick Barnes. It is the glass ceiling the Vols have been cursed to live under.

Yet, in this year of all unlikely years, they have a path to do this. I have full confidence they will beat FAU. However, just knowing the Vol history and the will of the Gods, I will be nervous as hell in the final eight game, and frankly expecting the worst.

Will this be the year? Can that glass ceiling be broken? They have the talent. But talent was never the issue in past years shortcomings.
 
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#2
#2
I believe that they will. Im 52 and i want to die knowing my Vols through all the horrible years finally make a final four. I have been a die hard fan from the days of listening with my hand held radio and taping them so i could listen to a replay of the game laying in bed in the 80s. Yeah im a die hard fan. And i have prayed for years that a final four would be in their future. And if it happens i think recruiting blows up. Recruits will finally know UT is a place you can reach a final four. So yes i believe the final four is in their future this season.
 
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#4
#4
Buster1972 said:
In all the 110+ year history of UT basketball, not once have they ever reached a final four. Not during the Bernie-Ernie show era, not with Allan Houston, Bruce Pearl, or up until now, Rick Barnes. It is the glass ceiling the Vols have been cursed to live under.

Yet, in this year of all unlikely years, they have a path to do this. I have full confidence they will beat FAU. However, just knowing the Vol history and the will of the Gods, I will be nervous as hell in the final eight game, and frankly expecting the worst.

Will this be the year? Can that glass ceiling be broken? They have the talent. But talent was never the issue in past year's shortcomings.
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I have said in every NCAA tourney complaint thread about Barnes, there is a lot of luck in the draw. The last few years we have drawn a red-hot team. Michigan had a very talented team that underachieved all year but got hot in the tourney. It kind of matches what the Vols have done this season and the draw is favorable for a change. UT will play 9 guys with no drop-off in defensive intensity or scoring capability. I don't think FAU can match that, there will be weaknesses in their rotations and we need to take advantage of them.
 
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#5
#5
Buster1972 said:
In all the 110+ year history of UT basketball, not once have they ever reached a final four. Not during the Bernie-Ernie show era, not with Allan Houston, Bruce Pearl, or up until now, Rick Barnes. It is the glass ceiling the Vols have been cursed to live under.

Yet, in this year of all unlikely years, they have a path to do this. I have full confidence they will beat FAU. However, just knowing the Vol history and the will of the Gods, I will be nervous as hell in the final eight game, and frankly expecting the worst.

Will this be the year? Can that glass ceiling be broken? They have the talent. But talent was never the issue in past years shortcomings.
Click to expand...
Don't know, but this program deserves to break through instead of breaking hearts. Not asking for a natty just make the final 4 for the first time. Maybe the basketball gods will show us a little kindness for once.
 
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#6
#6
cwbytruckers said:
I believe that they will. Im 52 and i want to die knowing my Vols through all the horrible years finally make a final four. I have been a die hard fan from the days of listening with my hand held radio and taping them so i could listen to a replay of the game laying in bed in the 80s. Yeah im a die hard fan. And i have prayed for years that a final four would be in their future. And if it happens i think recruiting blows up. Recruits will finally know UT is a place you can reach a final four. So yes i believe the final four is in their future this season.
Click to expand...

You’ve basically described my childhood there. Taping the games, lying in bed nights listening to the playback. Sir John Ward introducing the “slender junior from Marietta Georgia” and countless other memories, courtesy of Big Orange basketball. Did you by any chance have a Nerfoop goal over your bedroom door that got a thorough workout during the games? 😄🏀 I’m asking because..I totally did and still have one today, circa 40 years later.
 
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#8
#8
All Vol! said:
You’ve basically described my childhood there. Taping the games, lying in bed nights listening to the playback. Sir John Ward introducing the “slender junior from Marietta Georgia” and countless other memories, courtesy of Big Orange basketball. Did you by any chance have a Nerfoop goal over your bedroom door that got a thorough workout during the games? 😄🏀 I’m asking because..I totally did and still have one today, circa 40 years later.
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Hey, me too! Well...I don't still have a Nerf Hoops over my bedroom door...but I did.

And Dale Ellis is still one of my favorite basketVols.
 
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#10
#10
Buster1972 said:
In all the 110+ year history of UT basketball, not once have they ever reached a final four. Not during the Bernie-Ernie show era, not with Allan Houston, Bruce Pearl, or up until now, Rick Barnes. It is the glass ceiling the Vols have been cursed to live under.

Yet, in this year of all unlikely years, they have a path to do this. I have full confidence they will beat FAU. However, just knowing the Vol history and the will of the Gods, I will be nervous as hell in the final eight game, and frankly expecting the worst.

Will this be the year? Can that glass ceiling be broken? They have the talent. But talent was never the issue in past years shortcomings.
Click to expand...
Possibly. W/ ZZ going down, maybe it's like "Sugar Vols"...TRob goes down, we think the season is over, and Dickey steps in at QB and we have a magical season. Not getting too far over skis excited b/c this team has had tendencies to have poor shooting nights....D will travel for sure.
 
#11
#11
All Vol! said:
You’ve basically described my childhood there. Taping the games, lying in bed nights listening to the playback. Sir John Ward introducing the “slender junior from Marietta Georgia” and countless other memories, courtesy of Big Orange basketball. Did you by any chance have a Nerfoop goal over your bedroom door that got a thorough workout during the games? 😄🏀 I’m asking because..I totally did and still have one today, circa 40 years later.
Click to expand...

100%
 
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#12
#12
Can they? Yes.Will they?I hope but we all know not to get our hopes up.These kids really want to this for Barnes so we'll see.
 
#13
#13
volfanhill said:
I wouldn't be surprised if we lost to FAU. If you would be you haven't been paying attention.
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They're a very tough match-up for good reason. They shoot very well from the perimeter and are very capable of shooting the lights out. If they're just hot and shooting the lights out to beat us, then hats off to them - I could digest a loss like that much easier. If they beat us because we turn the ball over, go stone cold on offense, or allow them to get most of their points in the paint, then a loss to them will have a different feel that will stick with me for a long time.
 
#14
#14
cwbytruckers said:
I believe that they will. Im 52 and i want to die knowing my Vols through all the horrible years finally make a final four. I have been a die hard fan from the days of listening with my hand held radio and taping them so i could listen to a replay of the game laying in bed in the 80s. Yeah im a die hard fan. And i have prayed for years that a final four would be in their future. And if it happens i think recruiting blows up. Recruits will finally know UT is a place you can reach a final four. So yes i believe the final four is in their future this season.
Click to expand...

Honestly, the one thing giving me the most confidence about making the Final 4 is that Vegas has us as the 3rd highest likely team to make the Final 4, behind Alabama and Houston, lol
 
#19
#19
volfanhill said:
I wouldn't be surprised if we lost to FAU. If you would be you haven't been paying attention.
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Likewise, I wouldn't be surprised it we are playing in the final four with a chance in the championship game. This it the type of team we have this year. From disappointment to excitement and everywhere in between.
Go Vols!!
 
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#20
#20
cncchris33 said:
This team is playing on house money at this point. Just enjoy the ride. Sweet 16 was the "ceiling" for this bunch minus ZZ. Anything else is just gravy.
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I felt that way before the tournament started, but drawing a 9 seed in the sweet 16 has me rethinking it. Now will be disappointed if we don’t make the elite 8. JMO
 
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#22
#22
I think we'll make to the E8 (fingers crossed) If we make it to a F4 it will probably mean going over Mr March which would be quite an accomplishment and should quiet the Sandbaggers for a while.
 
#23
#23
walkenvol said:
I felt that way before the tournament started, but drawing a 9 seed in the sweet 16 has me rethinking it. Now will be disappointed if we don’t make the elite 8. JMO
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That's fair if you feel that way, but I don't think it's always fair to adjust the overall expectation based on draw, myself. FAU earned their way into the S16 as well and are more than capable of beating us, and the name on the jersey likely has you feeling that way. I doubt you'd feel that way if it were Arkansas.

I'd feel like you if FDU had beaten them and we were unexpectedly getting to face a 16-seed in the S16. It can be argued that we are fortunate to be where we are. I'll be upset if we lose... just like any other game...but I won't view it as some catastrophic failure.
 
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#25
#25
Honestly they're playing with house money right now for me. After losing ZZ I dwindled my expectations down to just not getting upset (something that many teams couldn't accomplish that were seeded higher than us.

In both football and basketball we lost arguably the two most important players - Hooker and ZZ. It just goes to show you how great of coaches we have leading both programs that they were both able to overcome adversity and one won their bowl game and the other made the Sweet 16!
 
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