Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[TN-POSSUM]

Lost the game in the first 8 minutes. Houston is not that much better than we are.

Yep

They had a more talented post player and a better shooting team overall but we were pretty even everywhere else. It should have came down to a final shot. We just came out flat and never recovered. We've seen this team play like garage before but I just don't know how it happens in the Elite 8.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Good not great season. They won one more than I thought they would. I really hate they went out like this. I'm sure they are hurting right now. I'm proud of and love this team. Really gonna miss ZZ, Shac, and Gainey. Coach Barnes is the goat when it comes to TN basketball.

 

[JCP201]

Bad matchup. Oh well

Senior night showed us that emotions really get to this team. IF we played like we did in the second half then we would have been fine.

 

[Revived2002]

Loss wasn’t surprising - Houston’s good. Didn’t expect the blowout though.

Great season overall. Enjoyed all the wins and enjoyed watching Ziegler give it his all every time out.

On to baseball!

Go Vols!!

 

[SoilVol]

In 2024 the Vols were the 3rd or 4th best team but had to beat the national runner-ups in the Elite 8 and couldn't.

In 2025 I believe they are in the 4th or 5th range. We would've beat Texas Tech, Michigan State, Alabama and I think Auburn is 50/50. Houston, Florida, and Duke are too good right now and have personnel this group couldn't hang with.

Hell of a season and we should be proud of this squad and staff for setting a new standard at Tennessee.

 

[Volnut]

Go pearl or Izzo

Going with Pearl. I don't want to see a B1G team get in.

 

[VolGee4]

Right. But that’s a different conversation.
I”ll enjoy every win and title but , it was a conversation with a very specific subject so your comment on it was off topic and wrong.

Your post said “championships.” So, yes, you are dismissing anything but one championship. I’m not wrong at all. Ridiculous people can’t enjoy things we’ve never seen before.

 

[pierce60]

Held a really good team under their season average in points.

Play even close to average in the first half and you give yourself a chance, but when you’re worse than ice cold shooting that won’t happen.

Still a really good season and I’m proud of this team!!

 

[StoVol]

In 2024 the Vols were the 3rd or 4th best team but had to beat the national runner-ups in the Elite 8 and couldn't.

In 2025 I believe they are in the 4th or 5th range. We would've beat Texas Tech, Michigan State, Alabama and I think Auburn is 50/50. Houston, Florida, and Duke are too good right now and have personnel this group couldn't hang with.

Hell of a season and we should be proud of this squad and staff for setting a new standard at Tennessee.

One very tall player that could rebound, that's what we needed to get over the top imo

 

[VOL608]

Barnes will never take us to a Final 4.

 

[LargePairOfVols]

Imagine that game against Purdue…

 

[VolGee4]

Hope we have some offense next year…..
I expected this kind of performance against duke or Florida , not ****ing Houston

Say what you want but we got embarrassed and it’s a shame we lost the way we did

I’m not embarrassed one bit. I don’t get embarrassed by a sporting event with players we should revere for years to come. It happens with competition.

 

[UTgrad2015]

Candy baseball bout to get swept at home hahahahaha

 

[TN-POSSUM]

One very tall player that could rebound, that's what we needed to get over the top imo

Estrella is who you're thinking of

 

[Revived2002]

I think Duke takes the title.

Florida looks wobbly to me - having too many close calls. Auburn can’t hang with Duke (or Houston) and may lose to Sparty or Florida.

 

[Adam Sandler]

Houston is that good.

Sampson has been on a solid run, a FF a couple years ago, multiple second weekend runs.

These guys arent scrubs.

Houston is one of the best coached teams in the nation. So were we. They’ll lose to duke by 15.

 

[Adam Sandler]

 

[MoCo_Vol]

To be honest, this season exceeded my expectations.

I was very worried that after losing, JJJ, Santi, DK, Awaka, Aidoo, & Freddie we would have a down year.

Then to have just 11 on scholarship was hoping we’d stay healthy. JP out for year then Carr quitting.

Honestly, was just hoping for 20+ wins and another Tournament. Team played great and really seemed to find their way quick.

I hope Barnes is back, I think he’s beyond due for a Natty run & we’re so close to being there, regardless of what the negative fans will say.

 

[TN-POSSUM]

I think Duke takes the title.

Florida looks wobbly to me - having too many close calls. Auburn can’t hang with Duke (or Houston) and may lose to Sparty or Florida.

Duke is the best team I've seen in the tournament.

But, anyone can have an off night. Unfortunately, we just proved that....... again

 

[GVol1966]

I picked Houston as my champ

I bet $10 on Duke before the season, so if they win I’ll be $105 richer

 

[UTK]

I don’t know past me woulda flipped out at this loss, but maybe I’ve just mentally matured and understand we’re seeing the best run in Tennessee basketball history. It’s hard to be too pissed off. I get it sucked to see the first half, but at least we were playing for a spot in the final 4 two years in a row. Something we’ve only done once in program history before then. Perspective is important here. Barnes may never get us in the final 4, hell he may not even get us back to an Elite 8, but he’s at very minimal raised the bar around this program and will go down as the best to ever do it here until someone does do the things no one has. So yes it’s a bit annoying to hear any Barnes slander. Grow up

 

[SoilVol]

One very tall player that could rebound, that's what we needed to get over the top imo

Estrella was the guy that would've put this team over the top. His skillset and stature is the piece this team was missing. Awaka's rebounding would've been nice but still not enough imo.

 

[VolGee4]

First off . Back to your last post.
There’s no Guaranteed championship.
Nobody mentioned Guaranteed but you.

All any UT fan can wish for is a chance at a NC.
We can agree to disagree on whether Barnes can give you a chance.

He couldn’t reach a final four with Kevin Durant or Dalton Knecht.

Then you don’t know history. Tell me you don’t know the team he had with Kevin Durant. Lazy argument. I’ve been over it multiple times.

 

[pierce60]

One very tall player that could rebound, that's what we needed to get over the top imo

He was injured on the bench….JP Estrella…

 

[Adam Sandler]

Please lord, make sure Duke beats Florida. I don’t think my heart can take this ending and a gata national championship.