For many on here the standard is getting to the Elite 8, maybe even in the Final Four. It seems a few users would expect Pearl to take the team to one of those rounds within his first four years. If that was the standard for every major university basketball team, there would likely be a 75% turnover rate, i.e., some coaches do a fine job but never make it to that level. Does that mean they should get canned? Consider that hypo in reality: of the 96 teams that go to the NCAA Tournament and the NIT each year, you could reasonably expect a quarter of them (24) to lose their jobs (assuming a four- or five-year rotation with the school's basketball squad).
Those of you crying foul should also realize that of the 347 schools playing D-I basketball, only TWO PERCENT actually make it past the Sweet Sixteen. (Two-point-three percent for the literalists.)
I'm quite happy with the job CBP is doing, especially when you look at the big picture like that. Granted, not all of those 347 schools have a shot at being successful, or even winning 10 games, for that matter. But prior to Pearl's arrival, UT was counted among the teams that would do well to scrape together 15 wins. When you consider that Tennessee is not traditionally known as a basketball school (which hurts recruiting), and add it to the fact that CBP has only been coaching at UT since 2005, I don't see how you can reasonably call for the man's job.
