Next year / this year

[ETNCvol]

I was disappointed in the outcome for sure as we had the talent and were “hot” at the right time I really thought we’d get to at least final 8 or 4, but that’s why they call it March Madness!

I don’t know if Kennedy would seriously consider another year under Coach Barnes, but look how much he has improved this year. I really think he could improve his draft stock and ability to be NBA ready by at least another year.

This team exceeded my expectations and just kept getting better, we got 3 bigs coming back with all 3 experienced, we got 3 ( maybe 4) great guards who can shoot the ball.

We have the most experienced coach in the SEC, just wish his luck in NCAA tournament would change. He also is so much more to these young men as well, he has great character and unashamedly a Christian. I would bet most Moms and Dads would love their son to play for him.

It’s nice to be relevant in the basketball world, but we must stay the course. Even if Coach Barnes doesn’t get us to the Final 4 before he retires , he will make it an attractive job and make it easier to bring in another experienced coach.

I still believe Tennessee has a bright future for men’s basketball!

 

[NighthawkVol]

I think Kennedy is gone. Seeing how crushed he was after the game sure looked like a kid who knew it was his last college game.

Don’t forget, we get Nkamhoua back. He was just starting to come on when he was injured. With his return/improvement and the inevitable development of BHH and Aidoo, along with the continued progress of Plav, the frontcourt could be a real force. I don’t expect Edwards to be as good as KC (obviously), but he’ll be a solid #2 PG behind ZZ, who may be a star next year. If ZZ can become a consistent 3 pt shooter (Barnes says he’s the best natural shooter on the team), he will be a star.

The final piece will be JJJ. He became an offensive force about mid-season. The last part of his development will be to become a guy who can take it to the rim and finish strong. If he does that, he’ll be one of the best players in America.

This team should be really good again next year. Yesterday was heartbreaking. But this program is on a level that it’s fun every year. That’s all I can ask.

 

[vol94]

I know I’m in the minority but I’m concerned about our front court. We need an athletic 6’10 guy who can move around the post and finish at the rim. I don’t see Uros materializing into that type of player. Aido and the other tow bigs could transform but they have to be able to put the ball onto the floor without turning it over.

I love JJJ’s leadership and hopeful he can become a slasher to the paint as that will reduce scoring droughts when we need a bucket and/or get to the foul line.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

I know I’m in the minority but I’m concerned about our front court. We need an athletic 6’10 guy who can move around the post and finish at the rim. I don’t see Uros materializing into that type of player. Aido and the other tow bigs could transform but they have to be able to put the ball onto the floor without turning it over.

I love JJJ’s leadership and hopeful he can become a slasher to the paint as that will reduce scoring droughts when we need a bucket and/or get to the foul line.

I’m not sure how people can miss the extreme growth of Bone, Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Santi etc. and then not apply that to BHH, Aidoo, ZZ, Olivier, Masshack etc. BHH has the highest ceiling on the team. These kids have a lot of room to grow.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I’m not sure how people can miss the extreme growth of Bone, Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Santi etc. and then not apply that to BHH, Aidoo, ZZ, Olivier, Masshack etc. BHH has the highest ceiling on the team. These kids have a lot of room to grow.

Barnes is best with kids he can develop over a few years, rather than the one and dones (KC notwithstanding). I think player development is his biggest strength. Those guys will all improve.

 

[vol94]

I’m not sure how people can miss the extreme growth of Bone, Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Santi etc. and then not apply that to BHH, Aidoo, ZZ, Olivier, Masshack etc. BHH has the highest ceiling on the team. These kids have a lot of room to grow.

I respect your opinion and optimism and I hope you are correct.

 

[Sam I Am]

We lost because of 2-18 shooting from 3's. Period. Coach had nothing to do with it. The boys just could not put it in the basket.
Lost to an inferior team. I've seen 45 years of this. How the University of Tennessee has never had a Final 4 team in bball is beyond explanation.

But it is what it is. God is still God, and its Sunday, go to church. Cheer on the baseball team this afternoon.

 

[a vol n tears]

The most improved this year is hard to say. There are several contenders. However my vote goes to JJJ. He is the best defender Tenn has against the 2, 3, and 4 positions. He is an excellent rebounder, and could be a better than average scorer if he were not so unselfish. He may be the team MVP. Underrated because he does things that go unnoticed.

 

[njvols]

I think Kennedy is gone. Seeing how crushed he was after the game sure looked like a kid who knew it was his last college game.

Don’t forget, we get Nkamhoua back. He was just starting to come on when he was injured. With his return/improvement and the inevitable development of BHH and Aidoo, along with the continued progress of Plav, the frontcourt could be a real force. I don’t expect Edwards to be as good as KC (obviously), but he’ll be a solid #2 PG behind ZZ, who may be a star next year. If ZZ can become a consistent 3 pt shooter (Barnes says he’s the best natural shooter on the team), he will be a star.

The final piece will be JJJ. He became an offensive force about mid-season. The last part of his development will be to become a guy who can take it to the rim and finish strong. If he does that, he’ll be one of the best players in America.

This team should be really good again next year. Yesterday was heartbreaking. But this program is on a level that it’s fun every year. That’s all I can ask.

Agree...am disappointed with the early flame out in NCAA's again, but we've got a good upper tier SEC program, with good outlook for future. Most SEC programs would trade to be in our spot. Just need to keep getting better...got a good nucleus for next year.

 

[Vols8086]

I’m not sure how people can miss the extreme growth of Bone, Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Santi etc. and then not apply that to BHH, Aidoo, ZZ, Olivier, Masshack etc. BHH has the highest ceiling on the team. These kids have a lot of room to grow.

Kids have a lot of room to grow but they don't always reach their potential. That Grant Williams group was special and anybody using your logic is dismissing them by acting like that type of development and growth is the norm. For every Grant, Admiral, Bone etc there is a Pember, Gaines, Walker, and Burns to match.

I'm just shocked at how many people act like this program is just going to develop another 2 time SEC POY like its nothing.

 

[Schasz]

I know I’m in the minority but I’m concerned about our front court. We need an athletic 6’10 guy who can move around the post and finish at the rim. I don’t see Uros materializing into that type of player. Aido and the other tow bigs could transform but they have to be able to put the ball onto the floor without turning it over.

I love JJJ’s leadership and hopeful he can become a slasher to the paint as that will reduce scoring droughts when we need a bucket and/or get to the foul line.

Maybe do some looking in the transfer portal for the big?

 

[vol94]

Justice sd same thing about bigs. We need a big man from portal …

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

TN most likely takes a step backwards in 2021-22. But the potential is there to keep the long term trend on an upward trajectory.

 

[GoVolunteers]

We outperformed this year… I think some need to go back to the beginning of the season and see what the expectation was for us.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

We outperformed this year… I think some need to go back to the beginning of the season and see what the expectation was for us.

Many were saying a Sweet 16 as a minimum. Realistically 2 games in the NCAAT is about where TN was projected. Only 16 teams advanced further and most polls had TN around 15th +/-. The NCAAT is a crap shoot and TN’s bad luck continued. TN might be the best of the teams not in the Sweet 16 and Michigan is the best 14 loss team in the country. Certainly they are the best 11 seed and possibly better than every 10, 9, 8, 7, and/or 6. They didn’t deserve to be in the tournament but unfortunately they were and get bracketed against TN.

 

[TartanTurff]

Chandler was most effective penetrating the lane, drawing extra defenders and then making a pass for an easy two from the guy whose defenders came to help, with no realistic changes down low and with Fulky completely out of eligibility, there isn't a solid reason to come back to Tennessee, Barnes has done what he can do for the kid within the parameters he operates the program, let's wish him well and welcome him back to Knoxville when he has the opportunity to return along the way

 

[GoVolunteers]

Many were saying a Sweet 16 as a minimum. Realistically 2 games in the NCAAT is about where TN was projected. Only 16 teams advanced further and most polls had TN around 15th +/-. The NCAAT is a crap shoot and TN’s bad luck continued. TN might be the best of the teams not in the Sweet 16 and Michigan is the best 14 loss team in the country. Certainly they are the best 11 seed and possibly better than every 10, 9, 8, 7, and/or 6. They didn’t deserve to be in the tournament but unfortunately they were and get bracketed against TN.

Actually, we were a pre-season 18 and picked 4th best in SEC. Sweet 16 was not a conversation pre-season.

 

[NEO]

Barnes is best with kids he can develop over a few years, rather than the one and dones (KC notwithstanding). I think player development is his biggest strength. Those guys will all improve.

If players development is his biggest strength then why does it not show in the tourney. It should be first round, second round, sweet sixteen then maybe repeat with an elite 8 thrown in every decade or so.

Not first round or second round bounce continuously for twelve years with one sweet 16 thrown in the mix. That seems to show the second round is his ceiling and he doesn’t actually coach anyone up better than other coaches do their players.

Just going by the stats.

 

[NighthawkVol]

If players development is his biggest strength then why does it not show in the tourney. It should be first round, second round, sweet sixteen then maybe repeat with an elite 8 thrown in every decade or so.

Not first round or second round bounce continuously for twelve years with one sweet 16 thrown in the mix. That seems to show the second round is his ceiling and he doesn’t actually coach anyone up better than other coaches do their players.

Just going by the stats.

Pointing out disappointing tournament play is a weird way to attack player development, but you do you.

 

[spacificislander]

Many were saying a Sweet 16 as a minimum. Realistically 2 games in the NCAAT is about where TN was projected. Only 16 teams advanced further and most polls had TN around 15th +/-. The NCAAT is a crap shoot and TN’s bad luck continued. TN might be the best of the teams not in the Sweet 16 and Michigan is the best 14 loss team in the country. Certainly they are the best 11 seed and possibly better than every 10, 9, 8, 7, and/or 6. They didn’t deserve to be in the tournament but unfortunately they were and get bracketed against TN.

I can’t tell if you are being sarcastic here. I think not expecting to lose to an 11 seed is fair when you are a 3 seed especially when we were ranked #5 before the tournament. I do like Barnes a lot. We have been bounced by 11,11,12 seeds the last three years, and that’s not to be expected this often. It’s upsets every time.

 

[spacificislander]

Pointing out disappointing tournament play is a weird way to attack player development, but you do you.

Yeah I think this is more in game coaching as a problem over his long career. He recruits well and the players are better every year he has them. I don’t know what besides not being able to adjust well offensively makes sense for his lack of success in the NCAA tournament.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Yeah I think this is more in game coaching as a problem over his long career. He recruits well and the players are better every year he has them. I don’t know what besides not being able to adjust well offensively makes sense for his lack of success in the NCAA tournament.

Yesterday, it wasn’t coaching. It was players missing wide open shots.

 

[VolArmy74]

Yesterday, it wasn’t coaching. It was players missing wide open shots.

Yesterday it was defense way more than players missing shots. We gave up 44 points in the second half and we just got murdered by Dickinson from all three levels of the floor and we let Brooks kill us too. Still don't know why Aidoo didn't play more and why we didn't double team Dickinson while he was dominating Fulky in the paint.

 

[spacificislander]

Yesterday, it wasn’t coaching. It was players missing wide open shots.

2/18 is unreal I agree. But losing to a lower seed happens with Barnes teams almost every time. I want to keep him and think he is a really good coach. But he isnt very good in the NCAA Tournament, and I don’t think that is very debatable.

 

[NighthawkVol]

2/18 is unreal I agree. But losing to a lower seed happens with Barnes teams almost every time. I want to keep him and think he is a really good coach. But he isnt very good in the NCAA Tournament, and I don’t think that is very debatable.

Correlation and causation aren’t the same thing. He’s been to a Final 4 and 3 Elite 8s. He was the same coach then.

Players play the game. Tournaments can be very flukey. I just don’t see what else you wanted him to do yesterday. James, Vescovi, and ZZ all played tight. Chandler and Plav rose to the occasion. All five had the same head coach.