Is it time for Buzz to go?

Should this be Buzz's last year?

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#1
Freak

Freak

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#1
I think it's time to move on. This team has shown no improvement and with Buzz in his fourth year I think he has had more than enough time to make a difference. Our players are clueless on how to run an offense and our post play is non-existant.
 
#2
#2
I can't say that I disagree, but I hate to see us continue going through coaches. Have we had a coach last longer than 5 years since DeVoe?
 
#3
#3
We got some real good recruits coming in next year. U cant just give up on a coach so :censored: fast. damn ppl. If that is the case lets fire Fulmer since we havent won the national title in 7 yrs. :furious3:
 
#4
#4
I don't think 1 tournament appearance in 4 years is too much to ask for. And if I saw some improvement in this team that led me to believe they were moving in the right direction then I would be all for giving him a little more time. Buzz has made a lot of mistakes and hasn't shown me that he is a good floor coach. And while he has been close in the recruiting front he has not been able to close the deals. Are the players that Buzz has coached showing improvement. Are these guys developing like they should? Have we seen any improvement in Crump, Watson, Asumnu, Hendrix, etc? Do we walk away from these games saying that Buzz had a good game plan but we just lost to a better team? Somebody tell me that I'm wrong....I want to like Buzz but I just don't see anything positive right now. We gave Wade Houston longer than we should have because he was such a nice guy and it nearly destroyed our program. ONeil and Green managed to get us back on the map but I don't see Buzz building on that. Buzz's teams remind me way too much of Houson's teams. They look very unprepared and don't seem to run any consistent offensive sets. We turn the ball over way too many times to win any big ball games.

As for recruits...who are you referring to? We HAD a decent class with Smith, Gordon, and the two kids that Auburn stole but we only signed Smith who is a nice player and the Dotson kid who I don't think is anything special. I think I heard we may give a scholoarship to the Harris kid (wasn't that his name) that we recruited last year but I wasn't that impressed with him.
 
#5
#5
absolutely correct. we cannot run an offense, rebound, block out or be competitive with more than reasonable talent. sorry buzz, you just can't cut it. :bad:
 
#6
#6
Bottom line, they look like crap! Last night looked like a scrimmage between college kids and junior high. 17 points in the first half is not that hot. The guys look like they haven't been coached on the fundamentals of basketball. They looked absolutely horrible except for Lofton, who I doubt will stick around that long. I know that New Mexico was 9 - 1, but that is no excuse to go out there and play sloppy ball. I think Buzz is a nice guy, but I don't think he is going to make anything happen here.
 
#7
#7
I have to agree with you, Freak. If UT is paying out thousands of $$ for scholarships, the coach oughtta be able to get atleast a LITTLE return on the university's money. The talent IS there and has been there but Buzz just doesn't know what to do with it. I guess that's why he's still known as "Michael Jordan's roommate".
 
#9
#9
Buzz has had plenty of time to get his players in here, and implement his system. His style of coaching is not working period. Instead of improving, the team has gotten worse every year. It is time for UT to either put some real support behind the men's BB program and hire a good coach, or they need to scrap it. The good ole boy routine has worn thin with fans, players and administrators.
 
#10
#10
I would like to see Tennessee go after Rick Majerus since he backed out on USC....he would be a great asset for the Tennessee program...plus we would have two great Fat (as in great) coaches....Phil and Fat Rick....
 
#11
#11
Rick would be great. But since his health will not allow him to coach USC next year, there's no way his heart is healthy enough to coach us.

Honestly I believe Buzz is OK as a coach with OK being the key phrase. He definitely needs some help in the recruiting department. I see physical tools on the court. Unfortunately most of the players have no basketball smarts, no discipline. Does that come from the coach or is it hopelessly inherent? I can't answer that. We just play stupid and don't seem to have the desire to rebound.

It would take a BIG NAME coach to interest recruits. What big name coach would step down to our program? Probably none. So we should be patient for one or two more years and keep our fingers crossed. Those prospects don't look good though.
 
#12
#12
Its really a sad situation... run off a coach (Green) who has more wins over a 4-year period than any other Tennessee coach in history... 4 NCAA tournament appearances in 4 seasons.... the schools only sweet 16 appearance.... routinely beating Kentucky and winning the SEC East....

and end up with mediocre basketball to rival past Kevin O'Neill teams. The only difference is that O'Neill's teams played hard all the time and with fundamentals and didn't have quite the talent that Peterson's teams have had.

The fact that the Vols had losing records before and after Green was at UT even highlights his 20-win seasons even more.

I was hoping that Buzz would work out... but the Vols don't just lose.... they seem to lose by 20-something points every time. Granted the 4 losses have all been good or great teams... but the games were not even competitive.

Also, think about this stat..... Buzz is 0-2 in NIT games .... while Wade Houston was 2-2.

Buzz Peterson Years
2004-05 4-4 (0-0)
2003-04 15-14 (7-9); NIT lost to George Mason
2002-03 17-12 (9-7); NIT lost to Georgetown
2001-02 15-16 (7-9); No postseason appearance

Jerry Green Years
2000-01 22-11 (8-8); NCAA lost to UNC-Charlotte
1999-00 26-6 (12-4*^); NCAA beat La-Lafayette, beat UConn, lost to UNC
1998-99 21-9 (12-4^); NCAA beat Delaware, lost to SW Missouri St
1997-98 20-9 (9-7); NCAA lost to Illinois St (in overtime)
*SEC CHAMPIONS
^SEC EAST Crown


Kevin O'Neill Years
1996-97 11-16 (4-12); No postseason appearance
1995-96 14-15 (6-10); NIT lost to College of Charleston
1994-95 11-16 (4-12); No postseason appearance

Wade Houston Years
1993-94 5-22 (2-14); No postseason appearance
1992-93 13-17 (4-12); No postseason appearance
1991-92 19-15 (8-8); NIT beat UAB, lost to Virginia
1990-91 12-22 (3-15); No postseason appearance
1989-90 16-14 (10-8); NIT beat Memphis State, lost to Vanderbilt

 
#13
#13
interestingly, the Vols are 4-4 but could make a decent run in the schedule right now. upcoming is

Belmont, Campbell, Nebraska, and Coastal Carolina... all at home

then the first SEC game is at Georgia and then Vanderbilt at home

The Vols should really win all 6 of those games and could be 10-4 when Miss State visits Knoxville on Jan. 12th.

They would then come back to earth as 5 of the next 6 games would be on the road... with the 1 home game during that stretch being Kentucky.

the euphoria of 10-4 could easily turn into a 6-game losing streak and 10-10 record (or worse).
 
#15
#15
Originally posted by allvol@Dec 20, 2004 11:52 AM
interestingly, the Vols are 4-4 but could make a decent run in the schedule right now. upcoming is

Belmont, Campbell, Nebraska, and Coastal Carolina... all at home

then the first SEC game is at Georgia and then Vanderbilt at home

The Vols should really win all 6 of those games and could be 10-4 when Miss State visits Knoxville on Jan. 12th.

They would then come back to earth as 5 of the next 6 games would be on the road... with the 1 home game during that stretch being Kentucky.

the euphoria of 10-4 could easily turn into a 6-game losing streak and 10-10 record (or worse).
Click to expand...

If they keep playing like they have been as a team, they won't win any of those games. I don't even think that they have the fundamentals down yet.
 
#16
#16
Originally posted by JSB2277@Dec 20, 2004 12:19 PM
Why fire green only to hire buzz? what a terrible decision
Click to expand...

because buzz was the hot coach at the time...much like all of the chatter about Urban Meyer right now.
 
#17
#17
Originally posted by Orangewhiteblood+Dec 20, 2004 12:52 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Orangewhiteblood @ Dec 20, 2004 12:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-allvol@Dec 20, 2004 11:52 AM
interestingly, the Vols are 4-4 but could make a decent run in the schedule right now.  upcoming is

Belmont, Campbell, Nebraska, and Coastal Carolina... all at home

then the first SEC game is at Georgia and then Vanderbilt at home

The Vols should really win all 6 of those games and could be 10-4 when Miss State visits Knoxville on Jan. 12th.

They would then come back to earth as 5 of the next 6 games would be on the road... with the 1 home game during that stretch being Kentucky.

the euphoria of 10-4 could easily turn into a 6-game losing streak and 10-10 record (or worse).
Click to expand...

If they keep playing like they have been as a team, they won&#39;t win any of those games. I don&#39;t even think that they have the fundamentals down yet. [/quote]
:blink:
 
#18
#18
I pray that I am wrong allvol. Nothing would make me happier than to see them go on a winning streak. But man, they have looked very sloppy in their play. Bad passing, bad shots, poor execution and we have no inside game whatsoever. In the New Mexico game, Crump and Watson combined for 4 points. We only scored 17 points in the first half. New Mexico was good, but not that good.
 
#19
#19
They need to find some confidence on the road. They were 1-11 last season away from TBA, with the 1 against a poor UMass team.

They are 1-3 away from TBA already this season, winning the first game against Stanford (4-4) that is down but much better than UMass was last season. The 3 losses were to North Carolina (8-1), Texas (7-2), and New Mexico (10-1). UNC and Texas were on a neutral floor... but both of them are top 10 teams and New Mexico&#39;s &#39;Pit&#39; is supposed to be one of the toughest places to play.

I would have expected them to play more &#39;competitive&#39; against those 3 teams, but I still thought they would lose. I also thought the Vols would lose to Stanford too. The upset was the loss to Chattanooga (4-2). However, Chattanooga is a good team and will probably be in the NCAA tournament.

The close win over Wofford (7-2) is looking much better as the Terriers have beaten Auburn and lost to Georgia in overtime. Xavier (2-4) is always tough in the NCAA tournament and just lost to Miss State by 6 pts a few days ago. Alabama St (1-5) is another participant from last year&#39;s NCAA tourney.

The Vols&#39; leading scoring, Scooter McFagdon, was out against Belmont (2-6) for violating team rules. The Vols inside game provided the bulk of the Vols points. Crump had 22 points, Patterson 16 pts, and Hendrix 8 pts.

Up next for the Vols (5-4) is Campbell (2-5), Nebraska (4-3), Coastal Carolina (2-6), at Georgia (4-3), and home against Vanderbilt (6-4) before taking on No. 21 Miss State (10-2).

I still think the Vols have a good chance of being 10-4 when Miss State rolls into Knoxville.

 
#20
#20
All I know is that Lofton has caught fire of late. He&#39;s only missed 3 shots in the last 4 games. Although he only took about 5 shots a game on average (over the last 4), most of them are from 3-pt. range.

v. Xavier
2-3 5 points

v. Alabama State
4-5 12 points

v. New Mexico
7-8 19 points

v. Belmont
4-4 13 points

I think maybe he should take some more shots.
 
#21
#21
You are right, he should shoot more. But considering that Lofton is the only guy who seems to be able to score at will, it is pretty easy for the opposing team to shut him down. If someone else on the team would step up and make some shots, Lofton would be open more. Hey, they beat Belmont, that is something I guess.
 
#22
#22
Vols&#39; leading scorer Scooter McFadgon was late to practice and Buzz held him out for the Belmont game as punishment. Coach Byrd (Belmont) said that with Scooter out, they focused on guarding Lofton... who is hitting around 55% on the season even though most of his shots are 3-pointer.... However, Belmont was not very effective stopping the Vols inside game.... where Crump (22pts), Patterson (16pts) and Hendrix (8pts) all played well.
 
#23
#23
Let&#39;s see he has a top class coming in next fall and it should get better when Gordon commits. Looks like UT has a hard lean from one of the top Forwards in the class of &#39;06 and a better than even shot at 3 more high rated HS players all from the state of Tennessee.
You want a competitive basketball team but you want to run-off a coach after 4 years because he doesn&#39;t win at a football school. Cry a river for me the next one will do no better. They will see coaches run-off after 3 or 4 years and in this day and time building a program is hard work and takes 5 or 6 years to do it other coaches see UT firing as an unstable situation and want nothing to do with it.
Buzz was hired at an awkward time and I consider his first year null and void since 1. It was real late in the recruiting year and he was lucky to get anyone. 2) 2 players J. Green signed decided they liked the weed better than their scholarship to UT, that put him behind the 8 ball right off the bat. 3. 2 of the signees from his first year was J. Green&#39;s and neither of them are still in school either.
His signing classes have gotten better each year with this class next fall having the ability to compete with anyone (not win 30 and an NCAA Championship but competitive). With what he has coming back next year he finakky has his players, his talent base which is decent and will have the players coming in to elevate the program back to contender status in the SEC East. I&#39;m not saying the will win the East because they will have growing pains but give him 2 more years after this one and UT will be competing for Championships.
 
#24
#24
Originally posted by allvol@Dec 21, 2004 4:40 PM
Vols&#39; leading scorer Scooter McFadgon was late to practice and Buzz held him out for the Belmont game as punishment. Coach Byrd (Belmont) said that with Scooter out, they focused on guarding Lofton... who is hitting around 55% on the season even though most of his shots are 3-pointer.... However, Belmont was not very effective stopping the Vols inside game.... where Crump (22pts), Patterson (16pts) and Hendrix (8pts) all played well.
Click to expand...

Lofton is 62% from 3 pt. range.

I was able to locate some season stats and averages:

UT basketball stats
 
#25
#25
You can talk about recruits all that you want. The fact is, what is Buzz going to do with them? It doesn&#39;t matter if you have an all star team, they are going to lose if they don&#39;t know the fundamentals. I wouldn&#39;t mind if they lose playing good, sound, fundamental basketball. These guys just don&#39;t seem well coached. They make bad passes, bad shots, miss too many free throws, struggle with the post game and turn the ball over too much. Not to mention that the only thing they seem to know about defense, is to foul when the other team is shooting. I am all for giving Buzz two more years, it is not like we have been contenders anyway. The only place for us to go is up. We seem to excel in every other sport, so why can&#39;t we excel in men&#39;s hoops? If it is not the coaching, then what is it?
 
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