Dick Vitale Comments on the Vols

#1
LadyinOrange

LadyinOrange

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#1
Bruce Pearl's debut at Tennessee has been a sparkling success as the Vols are unbeaten. The real tests will come at Texas and against Oklahoma State (in Oklahoma City). The backcourt of C.J. Watson and Chris Lofton is one of the most underrated in America, and we will find out how good they are in these two games.
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#6
#6
Despite earning that Dookie V. name, the man knows what he's talking about when it comes to college hoops.
 
#7
#7
Nice to hear they recognize the talent and don't attribute it to a fluke. Keep it up Vols!
 
#8
#8
"Despite earning that Dookie V. name, the man knows what he's talking about when it comes to college hoops."

Typically because he's right. Duke typically is a national title contender. Hell, the man picked the TarHoles to win it all last year, and guess what happened???
 
#9
#9
Cool. Though I will root against you when you play the Gators, I am very much first and foremost a pro-total SEC guy when it comes to the NCAA tourney. Always like to see as many teams as possible from SEC get in. Still need to go .500 in SEC play (not counting SEC torunament), but if you do that I'd days you ae in at this point. A win over Okalhoma would also help a lot if you are on the bubble. Also wouldn't kill you to see Texas find its sea legs again, in the meantime.
 
#11
#11
13th? Can't complain about that. Thanks to DV for the vote of confidence.
 
#13
#13
Dick Vitale annoys the heck out of me, but I'm glad he is giving the Vols some credit. Go Vols !!
 
#16
#16
This awesome! To have a big win and to get a little respect is unbelieveable! If we beat OSU would be even more of a confidence booster for this team. GO VOLS!!!!! :yahoo:
 

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#17
#17
I cant wait to see this game. Great challenge. Pearl's one heck of a coach, but its going to be hard not to have something of a letdown after the huge win at Texas.
 
#18
#18
Pearl has Vols Jamming
Dick Vitale
SPECIAL TO ESPN.COM


Dec. 20, 2005

Down at Tennessee, they have found the right guy! After many years struggling to find someone to bring basketball excitement to the men's game similar to Pat Summitt's efforts on the women's side, the Vols are in good shape. Bruce Pearl has already brought some electricity to generate big-time interest and now he's wheeling his magic on the Knoxville campus.

Tennessee's men's basketball team has been dominated in the headlines by both women's basketball and football. Summitt has done one of the great coaching jobs in all of sports. The question is, can Pearl build on that incredible road win at Texas? Tennessee's last appearance in the NCAA tournament was 2001. The Vols last generated a real buzz in 2000, reaching the Sweet 16 before losing to North Carolina. Tennessee has never made it to the Final Four.

It was more than a win in Austin last weekend, it was blowout city. Pearl has done a remarkable job utilizing the backcourt skills of C.J. Watson and Chris Lofton. Coming into the game against the Longhorns, there was the question of performing against quality competition.

Not only was Tennessee facing a team ranked as high as No. 2 before the debacle against Duke, the belief was Texas was an angry and hungry basketball squad. The Longhorns were embarrassed and humiliated on national television as J.J. Redick lit them up for 41 points. You can make excuses for Texas as Brad Buckman was out and Daniel Gibson suffered a concussion early, but the bottom line is Tennessee was brilliant.

It doesn't shock me that the Vols have started off terrifically. Pearl's star would have risen a lot sooner if it wasn't for the controversy at Iowa over Deon Thomas' recruitment to Illinois. Pearl tried to get the player to admit Illini assistant Jimmy Collins offered him extra benefits. Pearl has maintained that he was only following orders from the NCAA and his school when he recorded a telephone conversation he had with Thomas in 1989.

He had to work his way back up the coaching ladder, winning at Southern Indiana (231-46 in nine seasons, including a Division II championship in 1995) before getting a chance at Wisconsin-Milwaukee (86-38 in four seasons). Last season he led UWM to the Sweet 16 with upset wins over Alabama and Boston College. Then the phone rang and the offer to take over at Tennessee. So far, so good!

The Vols have a dandy coach to get excited about. The only problem is, with a building that holds over 24,000, and fan support around 15,000, it looks empty. Tennessee should build a facility which holds 16,000 and make tickets a hot commodity.

Right now the Vols are a hot commodity in the SEC. The next challenge is Thursday against Eddie Sutton's Oklahoma State squad in Oklahoma City. JamesOn Curry has warmed up, scoring 30 points over the weekend. It will be another test for Pearl, who has passed his early exam in Knoxville this season.
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#20
#20
yep...i said it another thread yesterday...love all the attention these guys are getting, and love the fact that we can get excited about Bball....but you got admit, this is all happening very fast....i like the attitude Pearl brings, and so far he's handling everything very well....but it will be interesting to see how this team begins to handle the hype they've created....

But don't get me wrong...it's great to see it, and i can't wait to get home today to watch the game....
 
#21
#21
Pearl brings an attitude to the table that we have not had in awhile...with Jerry Green, we had thugs...with Buzz, well...poor Buzz. He couldn't get over the fact that he was coached by Dean Smith and beat M. Jordan for NC high school player of the year long enough to realize he couldn't coach SEC ball.
 
#22
#22
Maybe it is quick, but maybe we have a solid team. It will be interesting to see how the depth issue affects us in conference play.
 
#23
#23
Coach Pearl has done a wonderful job so far especially with the attitude and hustle of the players. I just hope the fans are understanding when competition gets stiffer on a regular basis with the SEC games coming up. Even with some losses that will eventually creep up on us, I think Pearl has done a complete turnaround with the program. Of course I would like to see us go undefeated but reality will step in sometime. I can't wait to see when his own recruits come in the next several years. Go Vols !!!
 
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