Honestly???

#1
WillFollowPearl

WillFollowPearl

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Nov 8, 2007
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#1
Before everyone gets on the "FIRE BRUCE" bandwagon here and talks about how he cant coach and all, lets all take a step back and realize something. . . We lost 85% of our scoring from last years team in JuJuan, Lofton, Howell, Ramar, and Crews. We lost 4 experienced guards, and returned our entire front court. Where have we been exposed pretty much the entire season???? Our backcourt, where we are playing basically 3 freshman. (Maze being a transfer can count as a freshman seeing how this is his first year in the system) JP is at about 85-90% and will be for the rest of the season. The area of our defence that is strongest is the interior where all of our experience is. Our point guard was supposed to be the 2nd stringer but because Daniel West wasnt cleared to play Maze was thrust into the starting roll. Tennessee is going to be fine, Bruce hasnt lost his touch, he just lost his experienced players. This year we are just experiencing growing pains as Pearl trys to develope his talent. Lets not give up on these boys yet guys. We are 10-5, still one of the best teams in the confrence, and a few wins on the road, which looks to be very accomplishable, will negate the loss to Kentucky here. No need to throw in the towel just yet. I see this team ending up much like the 06-07 team, which finished the year with a 24-11 record and a Sweet 16 appearance. Lets not forget just what we lost from the teams that brought us to the level we are at right now. We have shown flashes of what we can do against Georgetown and Marquette, and I believe that after we get a couple consecutive wins under our belt we will be ok, maybe not SEC Champs, but a solid 5-8 seed and depending on draw who knows, maybe we get hot at the right time and make a run to the Sweet 16 again. Lets not give up on Bruce just yet though. We have really been spoiled these past couple years with great GREAT shooters.
 
#3
#3
WillFollowPearl said:
Before everyone gets on the "FIRE BRUCE" bandwagon here and talks about how he cant coach and all, lets all take a step back and realize something. . . We lost 85% of our scoring from last years team in JuJuan, Lofton, Howell, Ramar, and Crews. We lost 4 experienced guards, and returned our entire front court. Where have we been exposed pretty much the entire season???? Our backcourt, where we are playing basically 3 freshman. (Maze being a transfer can count as a freshman seeing how this is his first year in the system) JP is at about 85-90% and will be for the rest of the season. The area of our defence that is strongest is the interior where all of our experience is. Our point guard was supposed to be the 2nd stringer but because Daniel West wasnt cleared to play Maze was thrust into the starting roll. Tennessee is going to be fine, Bruce hasnt lost his touch, he just lost his experienced players. This year we are just experiencing growing pains as Pearl trys to develope his talent. Lets not give up on these boys yet guys. We are 10-5, still one of the best teams in the confrence, and a few wins on the road, which looks to be very accomplishable, will negate the loss to Kentucky here. No need to throw in the towel just yet. I see this team ending up much like the 06-07 team, which finished the year with a 24-11 record and a Sweet 16 appearance. Lets not forget just what we lost from the teams that brought us to the level we are at right now. We have shown flashes of what we can do against Georgetown and Marquette, and I believe that after we get a couple consecutive wins under our belt we will be ok, maybe not SEC Champs, but a solid 5-8 seed and depending on draw who knows, maybe we get hot at the right time and make a run to the Sweet 16 again. Lets not give up on Bruce just yet though. We have really been spoiled these past couple years with great GREAT shooters.
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Those guys accounted for nowhere near 85% of last year's scoring. I guess you'll have to come up with another pathetic excuse for Saint Bruce.
 
#4
#4
The Saint Bruce thing is nowhere near funny or clever unless you are trying to be ironic since he is Jewish.
 
#5
#5
Im not saying he is a Saint, Im just saying he is not a bad coach. I really dont think that we have any place to complain because we have been to the tourney every year he has been here, and the Sweet 16 the last two. . . correct me if Im wrong but I believe that is a tad better than what we had been doing. The leading scorer from about 27 of our games last year has either been dismissed or graduated.

Chris Lofton averaged 15.5 pts (17.9)
JuJuan Smith averaged 14.4 pts (14.3)
Duke Crews averaged 5.4 pts (5.8)
Ramar Smith averaged 7.4 pts (6.3)
Jordan Howell averaged 4.3 pts (3.2)
Ryan Childress averaged 2.3 pts (1.2)

I know that Childress is still on the team but he hasnt played due to injury. Thats a total of 49.3 points per game that we have lost for the season and 48.7 points per game lost during confrence play. That means we have lost 60.2% of our scoring for non confrence games and 60.7% for confrence games.

Granted that isnt the 85% i threw out and I appologize. But still, your not going to win 32 games when you have to replace nearly 61% of your scoring. Add that to experience and you have what we are seeing on the floor right now.
 
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#7
#7
We haven't gotten killed due to lack of scoring. Not once. Our O looks silly in crunch times because we don't run one or we run one pathetically, but our lame D has been the problem.
 
#8
#8
WillFollowPearl said:
Before everyone gets on the "FIRE BRUCE" bandwagon here and talks about how he cant coach and all, lets all take a step back and realize something. . . We lost 85% of our scoring from last years team in JuJuan, Lofton, Howell, Ramar, and Crews. We lost 4 experienced guards, and returned our entire front court. Where have we been exposed pretty much the entire season???? Our backcourt, where we are playing basically 3 freshman. (Maze being a transfer can count as a freshman seeing how this is his first year in the system) JP is at about 85-90% and will be for the rest of the season. The area of our defence that is strongest is the interior where all of our experience is. Our point guard was supposed to be the 2nd stringer but because Daniel West wasnt cleared to play Maze was thrust into the starting roll. Tennessee is going to be fine, Bruce hasnt lost his touch, he just lost his experienced players. This year we are just experiencing growing pains as Pearl trys to develope his talent. Lets not give up on these boys yet guys. We are 10-5, still one of the best teams in the confrence, and a few wins on the road, which looks to be very accomplishable, will negate the loss to Kentucky here. No need to throw in the towel just yet. I see this team ending up much like the 06-07 team, which finished the year with a 24-11 record and a Sweet 16 appearance. Lets not forget just what we lost from the teams that brought us to the level we are at right now. We have shown flashes of what we can do against Georgetown and Marquette, and I believe that after we get a couple consecutive wins under our belt we will be ok, maybe not SEC Champs, but a solid 5-8 seed and depending on draw who knows, maybe we get hot at the right time and make a run to the Sweet 16 again. Lets not give up on Bruce just yet though. We have really been spoiled these past couple years with great GREAT shooters.
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this is a pathetic thread. you can not count Maze as a frsh. he's a freaking JR, and what system do we have? we run a simple flex. u wanna see how difficult the offense is? go watch any jr. high team. this is ridiculous
 
#9
#9
If you want to make a point, then say we lost some good perimeter defenders and good outside shooters. Talking about losing a % of scoring is not the best way to make a point. And I don't think anyone on here is saying: "Fire Bruce right now." Most are saying that this team has problems, which is evident to anyone who has watched a game.
 
#10
#10
Oldblood said:
If you want to make a point, then say we lost some good perimeter defenders and good outside shooters. Talking about losing a % of scoring is not the best way to make a point. And I don't think anyone on here is saying: "Fire Bruce right now." Most are saying that this team has problems, which is evident to anyone who has watched a game.
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getyopopcornready has said as much.
 
#11
#11
I believe the bulk of my initial post spoke of how we are getting beat on the perimeter because we lost our perimeter players, and that our interior defense is quite good, because thats where our experience is. When Tennessee is better next year and the year after and the year after, I dont want you lame fans, who are probably the ones leaving when we are down 7 with 11 minutes to go, to be getting on here talking about how great Bruce is and how he has turned the program around. You are the people who started following Tennessee basketball within the last 3 years and think that this is how its always been. Yea its tough right now, yea its frustrating, and yea its hard to watch, but at the same time this time just 4 years ago we were 5-10 and not 10-5. Its alot easier to make decent talent play great than it is great talent to play better. I guarantee that NONE of the freshman have ever had to play as hard as Pearl asks.

As far as Maze goes. . . he started 6 games at Oklahoma, and has been in junior college, which might as well be glorified high school ball. Im not saying this is a complicated system as far as scheme, but Im sure its hard as far as work.

Lets wait til popcorn sells take a big dive before we start wanting to send the U-Haul to his house.
 
#13
#13
BTW, Ive not seen the stats since the Kentucky game, but leading up to that game, we had the best offense in the confrence, and the worst defense, so why we are even talking about offense I dont know. Granted we have possibly the worst major confrence in the country, but still. I know I have talked about offense but Meeks didnt score 54 because Hopson, who is our best 3-pt shooter minus Brian Williams, missed a shot. Meeks scored 54 because we couldnt man up on him and come off ball screens.
 
#14
#14
WillFollowPearl said:
BTW, Ive not seen the stats since the Kentucky game, but leading up to that game, we had the best offense in the confrence, and the worst defense, so why we are even talking about offense I dont know. Granted we have possibly the worst major confrence in the country, but still. I know I have talked about offense but Meeks didnt score 54 because Hopson, who is our best 3-pt shooter minus Brian Williams, missed a shot. Meeks scored 54 because we couldnt man up on him and come off ball screens.
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We were talking about half court offense. Its pathetic. And some of the scores are inflated due to a) the crappy competition and b) garbage points we managed to get while being blown out in the process by mediocre teams.
 
#15
#15
WillFollowPearl said:
I believe the bulk of my initial post spoke of how we are getting beat on the perimeter because we lost our perimeter players, and that our interior defense is quite good, because thats where our experience is. When Tennessee is better next year and the year after and the year after, I dont want you lame fans, who are probably the ones leaving when we are down 7 with 11 minutes to go, to be getting on here talking about how great Bruce is and how he has turned the program around. You are the people who started following Tennessee basketball within the last 3 years and think that this is how its always been. Yea its tough right now, yea its frustrating, and yea its hard to watch, but at the same time this time just 4 years ago we were 5-10 and not 10-5. Its alot easier to make decent talent play great than it is great talent to play better. I guarantee that NONE of the freshman have ever had to play as hard as Pearl asks.

As far as Maze goes. . . he started 6 games at Oklahoma, and has been in junior college, which might as well be glorified high school ball. Im not saying this is a complicated system as far as scheme, but Im sure its hard as far as work.

Lets wait til popcorn sells take a big dive before we start wanting to send the U-Haul to his house.
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With Hamilton this is what will be the major part of his decision if the time comes get rid of CBP.

Hammy is all about the Benjamins!
 
#16
#16
Bruce is going no where, this team will make the tourney, we will lose either in the 2nd round, maybe sweet 16 depending on our draw, we will win 2 games in the confrence tourney, but not win it, and we will be light years better next year when we get our starting point gaurd back in Daniel West.
 
#17
#17
WillFollowPearl said:
Bruce is going no where, this team will make the tourney, we will lose either in the 2nd round, maybe sweet 16 depending on our draw, we will win 2 games in the confrence tourney, but not win it, and we will be light years better next year when we get our starting point gaurd back in Daniel West.
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Lol - really? How do you suppose we ever score at all without Tyler Smith and a good chance without Wayne Chism as well if he keeps playing as well as he has the past month? Chism already tested the waters last year - meaning he was interested and you can only test the waters once and still come back... so that would make you think he wanted to come out after his junior year if he played well enough.

I don't think Kenny Hall will be able to fill Chism's shoes and no point in discussing who will replace Smith.

Realistically - 2009-2010 shouldn't be much better.... neither should 2010-2011 because once again we'll have a TON of freshman having big roles... that team may have a high ceiling. Of course that stuff could all change based on potential JUCOs and transfers.

This team was expected to have a really high ceiling... like two years ago (but even higher)... but start off rough. Well we started off rough but the ceiling shrunk considerably. 2009 probably won't have a high ceiling unless miracles happen for our SGs and Woolridge becomes the next Tyler Smith or something. Also have to hope Maze, West, and Craft (I think he's in this class?) are good - Jurick and Hall will be huge... and if they don't contribute it will be a bad year.
 
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#18
#18
Why did this team have such a high ceiling???? Why???? Look at what we returned, basically T. Smith and Chism. Those two have been huge. Prince was supposed to contribute, but he got hurt. West was going to be our guard, but he was denied by the NCAA. Now tell me why exactly this team was hyped. Other than winning the SEC, which I think they might still do, I really didnt see much coming from them. The only reason we were picked to win the confrence was because it was down. I just really dont think Bruce deserves all the lip some people are wanting to give him.
 
#19
#19
WillFollowPearl said:
Why did this team have such a high ceiling???? Why???? Look at what we returned, basically T. Smith and Chism. Those two have been huge. Prince was supposed to contribute, but he got hurt. West was going to be our guard, but he was denied by the NCAA. Now tell me why exactly this team was hyped. Other than winning the SEC, which I think they might still do, I really didnt see much coming from them. The only reason we were picked to win the confrence was because it was down. I just really dont think Bruce deserves all the lip some people are wanting to give him.
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You're joking right?

First of all - this was BEFORE Daniel West was denied. We also didn't expect a bunch of morons out there trying to find a player off a ball screen but by the time they find them they've already gotten an easy layup for 2.

They weren't ranked in the top 15 - with a fairly young team - for no reason. Things didn't work out as planned... things don't always ('05 football). This team had a bunch of hyped freshman coming in to go along with the top player in the SEC and the #2 or #3 big man in the SEC... and several key role players. There was no reason to believe they shouldn't have a high ceiling.

Oh, but of course you'll say something along the lines of - "I knew they weren't going to be that good - I'm a genius" blah blah.
 
#20
#20
I'll be totally honest. . . I thought Hopson would be better than he is, I didnt expect to lose to Temple, or Kentucky, or Gonzaga twice. I thought at this point we would have lost two games, one being in the Old Spice Tourney to G'Town, and the other being at Kansas in a close game. Im dissappointed in our results thus far, but at the same time Im not jumping off buildings and saying that Bruce Pearl is a bad coach. I think its just that we have been spoiled with experienced great shooters the past 3 years and now that we dont have that we dont know how to act. When I say we I mean the fan base and the team.
 
#21
#21
WillFollowPearl said:
I'll be totally honest. . . I thought Hopson would be better than he is, I didnt expect to lose to Temple, or Kentucky, or Gonzaga twice. I thought at this point we would have lost two games, one being in the Old Spice Tourney to G'Town, and the other being at Kansas in a close game. Im dissappointed in our results thus far, but at the same time Im not jumping off buildings and saying that Bruce Pearl is a bad coach. I think its just that we have been spoiled with experienced great shooters the past 3 years and now that we dont have that we dont know how to act. When I say we I mean the fan base and the team.
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That's where most expected us to be. 2-3 losses... BUT most expected us to be improving and we're not. Most expected us to play a defense to an extent and make a few threes. Most of us didn't expect to get embarrassed on national TV 5 times because of horrible defense and lazy offense.
 
#22
#22
Really? Do we want to go back to the way it was 5 yrs. ago?

The season is definitely not going the way anyone would want, but Pearl has been the best thing to every happen to Tennessee basketball. Give it time, we are young and right now no one looks like NBA talent on this team. I see no one going pro after this year, and we will be much better next year.

I never want to go back to the Houston, Green or Peterson years. I think ole bruce will be just fine!
 
#23
#23
BigOrange04 said:
Really? Do we want to go back to the way it was 5 yrs. ago?

The season is definitely not going the way anyone would want, but Pearl has been the best thing to every happen to Tennessee basketball. Give it time, we are young and right now no one looks like NBA talent on this team. I see no one going pro after this year, and we will be much better next year.

I never want to go back to the Houston, Green or Peterson years. I think ole bruce will be just fine!
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THANK YOU!!!! Although I disagree about the NBA statement. . . I am 93% certain that Tyler Smith is gone and about 72% on Chism
 
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