Recruiting Forum Football Talk VI

[jave36]

Barnes must be working a miracle to have a team favored to be a 1-seed with so many glaring, insurmountable flaws at every position.

I know you're being sarcastic, but this team on paper really shouldn't be this good. They're overachieving for sure. Now, you can say Barnes should recruit better and that's fair, but he's definitely getting more out of them than I expected this year.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Barnes has landed 6 of Tennessee's top 10 all-time basketball recruits...he's the best recruiter we've ever had.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Barnes has landed 6 of Tennessee's top 10 all-time basketball recruits...he's the best recruited we've ever had.

I honestly feel like thats a chink in his armor.

 

[ConwayFitty]

Oof! That last dunk vs KY..... his dunk on 2 guys vs Wright St was awesome too.

Admiral and Grant were awesome and took over games, but I don't think Bone gets the credit he deserves for that season. He pushed the ball up the court so quick that it opened up a lot of those plays for the bigs. Guy was always 100mph.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Barnes has landed 6 of Tennessee's top 10 all-time basketball recruits...he's the best recruited we've ever had.

Barnes has recruited better than anyone in the history of Vol basketball. He still hasn't recruited at the level of the upper tier of college basketball. Barnes has always been a more with less type of coach here, which is what we've needed.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Barnes has recruited better than anyone in the history of Vol basketball. He still hasn't recruited at the level of the upper tier of college basketball. Barnes has always been a more with less type of coach here, which is what we've needed.

Because he can coach those guys his way. Before he got here ZZ wasn't super highly recruited, where's he gonna go if he gets here and doesn't like Barnes? Now flip that with a kid like Julian Phillips who has options if he wanted to leave. Very few of the 5* CBB talents want to play on defense like they would have to here.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Barnes has recruited better than anyone in the history of Vol basketball. He still hasn't recruited at the level of the upper tier of college basketball. Barnes has always been a more with less type of coach here, which is what we've needed.

True, I just find it fascinating to me that suddenly the expectation is for Tennessee to be on the same level as Kentucky or Duke in recruiting when that's never been the case here.

Barnes will be 3rd all time in Wins here before the season ends, he's won a regular season title and a SECT title, this season will be his 5th NCAA appearance good enough for 3rd all time (DeVoe/Pearl had 6), I am honestly surprised this team is sitting where they are right now. I really felt like losing KC and having no clear 2nd PG behind ZZ would have set us further behind.

Just need to finish the last 9 games strong. If we're heading into the SECT with 6 or less losses we'll be in a solid position to be a high seed, and then all you have to do is have a brief stretch of great shooting to make the FF.

 

[Orange.]

Love Ricky getting some face time.

 

[InVOLuntary]

True, I just find it fascinating to me that suddenly the expectation is for Tennessee to be on the same level as Kentucky or Duke in recruiting when that's never been the case here.

Barnes will be 3rd all time in Wins here before the season ends, he's won a regular season title and a SECT title, this season will be his 5th NCAA appearance good enough for 3rd all time (DeVoe/Pearl had 6), I am honestly surprised this team is sitting where they are right now. I really felt like losing KC and having no clear 2nd PG behind ZZ would have set us further behind.

Just need to finish the last 9 games strong. If we're heading into the SECT with 6 or less losses we'll be in a solid position to be a high seed, and then all you have to do is have a brief stretch of great shooting to make the FF.

We'll lose 3-4 more of those 9. And next year will be a step back. Lose a lot. Especially experience.

 

[volbeast33]

Because he can coach those guys his way. Before he got here ZZ wasn't super highly recruited, where's he gonna go if he gets here and doesn't like Barnes? Now flip that with a kid like Julian Phillips who has options if he wanted to leave. Very few of the 5* CBB talents want to play on defense like they would have to here.

That was what frustrated Barnes at Texas

 

[mr.checkerboards]

That was what frustrated Barnes at Texas

And it hasn't changed at Tennessee. So either he changes or nothing changes. And I don't know any 68 year old men that aren't as stubborn as a mule and just willing to change all Willy nilly.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

We'll lose 3-4 more of those 9. And next year will be a step back. Lose a lot. Especially experience.

I'm not sure about next year... Key is the only guaranteed player we're losing. Santi, JJJ, ON, and even Uros I think all could return with the COVID year.

Have discussed in Basketball forum with some of the regulars there, but if Phillips returns and we don't lose anyone unexpected (transfers) we could be pretty solid next year.

We've got 13 on scholarship right now and 3 coming in (since Freddie came in early and counts already). Key leaves and that'll mean we need at least 2 more to leave...I think Uros is likely gone and then ON or JJJ would be my next guess. Santi's dating a girl and she's only a Junior so he may take advantage of staying another season.

 

[jakez4ut]

We'll lose 3-4 more of those 9. And next year will be a step back. Lose a lot. Especially experience.

yeah, not sure about the w/l total, but i do agree about what next year brings. lots of veteran leadership exits the program. will be interesting to see what that transition looks like.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Not a copperhead but a leopard…..can you find it?

https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/01/crop-21229713.jpg?w=1280&quality=44

There's atleast 17 copperheads in that photo.

Is the cat in the mid-upper-left?

 

[jakez4ut]

Because he can coach those guys his way. Before he got here ZZ wasn't super highly recruited, where's he gonna go if he gets here and doesn't like Barnes? Now flip that with a kid like Julian Phillips who has options if he wanted to leave. Very few of the 5* CBB talents want to play on defense like they would have to here.

i don't think it's a secret that there's a "type" of star Barnes looks for. everyone one of the highly touted kids that's come here, has the same basic MO, unselfish, team first, wants to develop etc...

which is good. self awareness is a good thing, and you don't see us trying to be something we're not....style wise that can be frustrating for some that just like a different style of basketball, but from a program/organizational standpoint, that's what you want....an identity.

and it's also not a secret that Barnes' style may be, likely is, part of the reason he's never made more than the one final four. it is, also, the reason he's still considered one of the best basketball coaches in the country, and will always be considered a "winner" no matter where he's coached...i mean think about it, between Clemson, Texas and TN, 3 basketball programs that are not exactly household names in the annals of basketball history, he's made each of those programs nationally relevant, and has won at the highest levels THOSE programs have ever won at.

at worst, he's elevated every program he's coached for to some of their highest levels ever, at best he could luck up and win a national title before he retires.

it's just not bad...in any way, shape or form. until Bruce Pearl got here, i couldn't have cared less about basketball, consistently. sure i watched Dale Ellis, Alan Houston and some of those Jerry Green teams...even some of Buzz's teams. but for the first 35ish years of my life TN basketball was not exactly appt viewing. then, the way Bruce's tenure ended, really left a sour taste.

but i look forward to basketball season now. i watch every game. i love that other teams storm the court when they beat us now......i love that florida winning yesterday "saved" their season. we're THAT program now. that's freaking awesome imo.

and we beat Auburn Saturday...beat Alabama....beat UK in Rupp....well, all will be right as rain again.

and when march gets here, it's just about match ups....so you never know, we may get a good draw finally....

 

[Glitch]

Love Ricky getting some face time.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

i don't think it's a secret that there's a "type" of star Barnes looks for. everyone one of the highly touted kids that's come here, has the same basic MO, unselfish, team first, wants to develop etc...

which is good. self awareness is a good thing, and you don't see us trying to be something we're not....style wise that can be frustrating for some that just like a different style of basketball, but from a program/organizational standpoint, that's what you want....an identity.

and it's also not a secret that Barnes' style may be, likely is, part of the reason he's never made more than the one final four. it is, also, the reason he's still considered one of the best basketball coaches in the country, and will always be considered a "winner" no matter where he's coached...i mean think about it, between Clemson, Texas and TN, 3 basketball programs that are not exactly household names in the annals of basketball history, he's made each of those programs nationally relevant, and has won at the highest levels THOSE programs have ever won at.

at worst, he's elevated every program he's coached for to some of their highest levels ever, at best he could luck up and win a national title before he retires.

it's just not bad...in any way, shape or form. until Bruce Pearl got here, i couldn't have cared less about basketball, consistently. sure i watched Dale Ellis, Alan Houston and some of those Jerry Green teams...even some of Buzz's teams. but for the first 35ish years of my life TN basketball was not exactly appt viewing. then, the way Bruce's tenure ended, really left a sour taste.

but i look forward to basketball season now. i watch every game. i love that other teams storm the court when they beat us now......i love that florida winning yesterday "saved" their season. we're THAT program now. that's freaking awesome imo.

and we beat Auburn Saturday...beat Alabama....beat UK in Rupp....well, all will be right as rain again.

and when march gets here, it's just about match ups....so you never know, we may get a good draw finally....

It is why he fails. Every year his teams have a fatal flaw that end up killing them when it matters. Size, athleticism, no post, can't shoot the 3 etc.
At the end of the day the goal of athletics is to win championships, you do that in basketball in March.
Take Barnes records here and equate that to football, there would be legions wanting Heupel gone.

A better comparison might be Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, would TN fans be happy with him in football at the moment? Because that's basically Barnes.

 

[VolNash17]

We’ll have to win out and hope Bama drops two SEC games for the SEC Championship

 

[VolNash17]

People didn’t think Bama could be this good in basketball and yet now 4 years in Nate has already blew past what everyone thought possible. Both in recruiting and on court. I hope he goes somewhere else and their program tanks. Can’t stand them. It’s putrid.

 

[bignewt]

We’ll have to win out and hope Bama drops two SEC games for the SEC Championship

Does that really matter?

 

[VolNash17]

Does that really matter?

Depends, grand scheme of things probably not but you can hang up an sec championship banner if you do. Just an extra history marker and it involves some bonus money

 

[bignewt]

Depends, grand scheme of things probably not but you can hang up an sec championship banner if you do. Just an extra history marker and it involves some bonus money

I dont think the fan base cares. Its a a March run or bust.

 

[VolNash17]

I dont think the fan base cares. Its a a March run or bust.

True. But everything counts.

 

[bignewt]

True. But everything counts.

everything is relative.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

It is why he fails. Every year his teams have a fatal flaw that end up killing them when it matters. Size, athleticism, no post, can't shoot the 3 etc.
At the end of the day the goal of athletics is to win championships, you do that in basketball in March.
Take Barnes records here and equate that to football, there would be legions wanting Heupel gone.

A better comparison might be Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, would TN fans be happy with him in football at the moment? Because that's basically Barnes.

lol...you're on one again

Barnes is winning at 66.4% in year 8. Equating that success to Football, it would mean Heupel in his first 8 seasons is averaging 8.6 wins, with 3 appearances in the SEC title game and 1 win, while also making the CFP 3 or 4 times (counting 4 seeds or higher as an equivalent).