On the Brink of Collapse...

#1
LawVol13

LawVol13

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
11,524
Likes
0
#1
These next two games are going to tell the tale of this season. If our level of play isn't much, much better, we will absolutely suffer two consecutive blowouts on our home floor. If that happens, expect a complete collapse.

At this point, we can still accomplish every goal that we thought was a near lock after Pittsburgh and Villanova. The question now is: how much are the impending NCAA sanctions weighing on our players' minds, and more importantly, how much are the sanctions and lack of job security weighing on Bruce Pearl's mind? From the outside looking in, it appears to be causing an extreme lack of focus.

I've criticized Pearl a lot on here, but there is one thing I'll give him. He's resilient. And he's going to have to be to bring us back from the brink.
 
Last edited:
#4
#4
Tonight showed everyone that as bad as this team is playing, you should be nervous about every game.
 
#5
#5
I don't think they players really realize what's going on and how bad they are (or aren't) playing as a "TEAM." Twitter comments from Hopson such as "Glad we pulled it out and got the W!" don't sound like any sort of desperation to improve. It sounds like, "Whew, glad we escaped that one! Who got next?" This year's version of our bball team looks pathetic. I think we simply caught 'Nova and Pitt at the right time.
 
#6
#6
It amazes me how this team went from being a good well balanced, good defensive team to a team that only beats Martin by 8 or whatever it is.
 
#7
#7
Yankee_Vol said:
I'm going to the Charleston game......I'm actually nervous about losing
Click to expand...

And you should be. As a UTC alum, I had the (not so much) pleasure of watching them kick my Mocs' asses each season (well, except for the conf. tourney a couple years ago, that was awesome). C of C is and always has been a VERY solid and complete team, and Bobby Cremins is a great ball coach (esp. for an old guy). I seriously think someone needs to light a fire under these guys or we will lose by 15 to a SoCon team. Book it.
 
#8
#8
We have 9 wins! If we manage to get 20 wins, I say we are a lock to make the NCAA tourney again. If not, then it will be years before we make the NCAA again. These upcoming sanctions are going to be huge! I expect Pearl to be out for a year. I expect to lose a scholarship in 2012 & one in 2013. I also expect for us to not be permitted to go to the NCAA tourney for two years.
This will ensure that Pearl is gone. It will ensure that no good coach will come to U.T.to replace Pearl. It will also ensure that our recruiting is hurt for years and years.
This is what the NCAA wants.
 
#9
#9
supersmo18 said:
I don't think they players really realize what's going on and how bad they are (or aren't) playing as a "TEAM." Twitter comments from Hopson such as "Glad we pulled it out and got the W!" don't sound like any sort of desperation to improve. It sounds like, "Whew, glad we escaped that one! Who got next?" This year's version of our bball team looks pathetic. I think we simply caught 'Nova and Pitt at the right time.
Click to expand...
Agree except we absolutely got after Pitt and Nova on D... they just quit defending like they were.... we are a VERY good ball team when we defend like we were against Pitt and Nova.... and as you can see we can be a VERY bad ball team when we defend like we have the past five games... JMO
 
#10
#10
dooleydiesel28 said:
Agree except we absolutely got after Pitt and Nova on D... they just quit defending like they were.... we are a VERY good ball team when we defend like we were against Pitt and Nova.... and as you can see we can be a VERY bad ball team when we defend like we have the past five games... JMO
Click to expand...

I agree, the defense on those games was astounding. It's amazing how it can just be completely absent so quickly, huh?:loco:
 
#11
#11
supersmo18 said:
I agree, the defense on those games was astounding. It's amazing how it can just be completely absent so quickly, huh?:loco:
Click to expand...

It's really just an all systems failure right now. Our defense is mediocre; our offense is a joke. It's not solely defense that's killing us. UTM shot 25% in the second half and we still barely won. There are many problems; that's the scary thing about it, imo.
 
#12
#12
We can play great d but Cam and Scotty hitting or missing from the outside is whats going to write the story of how our season ends.
 
#13
#13
There is one thing you can control about the game of basketball and thats how hard you play... our guys need to realize that!
 
#15
#15
supersmo18 said:
I don't think they players really realize what's going on and how bad they are (or aren't) playing as a "TEAM." Twitter comments from Hopson such as "Glad we pulled it out and got the W!" don't sound like any sort of desperation to improve.
Click to expand...

Direct reflection of Pearl's attitude IMO. I heard his postgame show, and he was very laid-back...offered some criticism of Williams, but said Williams's first 10 games were great, and last two had been bad. Offered some criticism of Melvin, but said Melvin was "sensitive" and very competitive and too hard on himself.

Basically talked like this struggle was explainable, and not a big deal.

Part of me wanted him to say "this isn't acceptable. We're better than this."

But perhaps he's trying to save the fire and brimstone for after the suspension. No sense in building momentum now and having the team collapse again in about 8 games.
 
#16
#16
StepCross said:
Direct reflection of Pearl's attitude IMO. I heard his postgame show, and he was very laid-back...offered some criticism of Williams, but said Williams's first 10 games were great, and last two had been bad. Offered some criticism of Melvin, but said Melvin was "sensitive" and very competitive and too hard on himself.

Basically talked like this struggle was explainable, and not a big deal.

Part of me wanted him to say "this isn't acceptable. We're better than this."

But perhaps he's trying to save the fire and brimstone for after the suspension. No sense in building momentum now and having the team collapse again in about 8 games.
Click to expand...
They better get the ship righted now or there's not going to be much left to save after the suspension.
 
#17
#17
hatvol96 said:
They better get the ship righted now or there's not going to be much left to save after the suspension.
Click to expand...

IMO he's making too many excuses. I get his points...that Melvin and Brian and so forth are good kids and are working hard.

But...team-wide, I'm not seeing much energy. They aren't beating anyone to loose balls, they're not moving their feet or getting low on defense, they're not moving their feet in the rebounding game, they're not valuing the basketball or possessions or taking good, intentional shots.

I would be tempted to start Fields or Hall, Maymon, and McRae for a couple of games, and see if it lights a fire under Williams and Tatum, who I thought played lethargically tonight.

Scotty plays pretty hard, and anyway McBee isn't a credible threat, so might as well leave Scotty in. Melvin/Golden I'm up in the air about.
 
#19
#19
StepCross said:
IMO he's making too many excuses. I get his points...that Melvin and Brian and so forth are good kids and are working hard.

But...team-wide, I'm not seeing much energy. They aren't beating anyone to loose balls, they're not moving their feet or getting low on defense, they're not moving their feet in the rebounding game, they're not valuing the basketball or possessions or taking good, intentional shots.

I would be tempted to start Fields or Hall, Maymon, and McRae for a couple of games, and see if it lights a fire under Williams and Tatum, who I thought played lethargically tonight.


Scotty plays pretty hard, and anyway McBee isn't a credible threat, so might as well leave Scotty in. Melvin/Golden I'm up in the air about.
Click to expand...

Actually I think Bruce is taking a different approach with the laid-back approach in the post game. After the Pitt game he was hard on their butts during practice, more animated then usual to avoid a let down vs. Oakland. Bruce knows these players better than anyone of us. Some of these kids do not take criticism well. He pointed out one year that if Lofton did something wrong he would not go up and get in his face even if he deserved it because Chris didn't respond well. You pick your battles and especially with a team full of inconsistent players you don't want to put more pressure on them than usual.
 
#20
#20
StepCross said:
I wouldn't say that. Everything in basketball is geared towards March. Nothing in January will tell the whole story, for anyone.
Click to expand...

I understand there's a ton of season left. I just think if we lose the next two, which looks likely at this point, this team will absolutely collapse.
 
#21
#21
hatvol96 said:
They better get the ship righted now or there's not going to be much left to save after the suspension.
Click to expand...

He shows no sense of urgency, no real fire. It appears that he's just riding the season out and awaiting the inevitable.
 
#22
#22
LawVol13 said:
I understand there's a ton of season left. I just think if we lose the next two, which looks likely at this point, this team will absolutely collapse.
Click to expand...

No Bruce Pearl led team will collapse. Some can question anything in his coaching, personal life, etc... but his teams will not collapse no matter what the circumstances are. As you stated in the OP, he is resilient and his team will always be resilient. Every year there are going to be weaknesses. I'm glad that are weaknesses are being exploited now instead of seeing them heading into March because they can be addressed. Every year this discussions seems to be made about will the season collapse or will this be the team to not make the tourney under Pearl or not win 20 games. And the answer is always no.
 
#24
#24
I agree that we should be nervous. I mean were a top program now, getting a lot of attention. Teams are going to bring it every night, and we're going to have to do the same. It seems like the only team we can hold a 20 pt lead on are teams that are favored to win. So, that being said, drink a beer, put your vols cap on, and raise a little hell with the rest of us!!! GO VOLS!!!
 
#25
#25
I would not view these struggles that we are having as "season ending". We are a very good basketball team. We are going to be okay. The rotation is going to get figured out. It is going to get down to like 8-9 maybe 10. But will not go deeper than that unless we get into some serious foul trouble. I understand that we have struggled but I would rather struggle now then in Feb. or Mar. GO VOLS!!!
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top