Recruiting Forum Football Talk VI

[Dudley Smith]

History is history. We can easily win a championship in basketball with the right hire.

Oh well, if it’s easy for us to win a championship in basketball then we should certainly do it. Why hasn’t somebody figured that out yet?

Look, I know Barnes isn’t going to take us to the Final Four. I have real doubts that I will ever see that happen in my lifetime under any coach, but we are stuck with Barnes until he is ready to retire. That’s just reality. And when that happens the next guy is going to be straining against the weight of our program history. I wouldn’t take my cup off if I were you.

 

[Volsdeep4]

Eastern hognose. They eat toads. Consider yourself lucky, because they aren't easy to find.

I got it right! Been learning on your Facebook page you recommended. Not so scary to encounter a snake if you know what it is. Thanks.

 

[Z06VolinWV]

Eastern hognose. They eat toads. Consider yourself lucky, because they aren't easy to find.

It was up on 4x4 beach in Corolla, I just thought it was a copperhead.

 

[turdherder11]

Gotta see Barnes having success in the portal to believe it. Did we miss out on a kid in the portal in the off-season? I can't remember who it was.

 

[LA Vol]

Do we know for certain that Santi, JJJ, ON, and Uros are leaving and not using their COVID year? I know that has been the talk, but I haven't seen anything official. And I'm not sure anyone knows what Julian Phillips is doing yet, either.

They'll have discussions with all of them. Some will be best served by moving on. At least one is leaning toward returning. Matching what the team needs with what each player brings-- and what they have in front of them-- is always a postseason conversation that involves family.

 

[drvenner]

A coaching search is a total f'n crapshoot...how do you guys not understand that...how many times does that brutal lesson have to be driven home?

I like DW...but he is no clairvoyant...no one is. How many "sure things" and "home run hires" and "bankable names" have you seen turned to pure in your lifetime?

I hope when RB retires that we don't have to learn that brutal lesson yet again. I think DW is a good AD and we have resources...but if we get a coach that does any better than RB it will be pure f'n luck.

This is what not many seem to understand. Everyone thought Shaka Smart would kill it at Texas.....until he didn't. Now, he has Marquette back to a high level program. There are no guarantees. White would do a great job identifying candidates and ultimately hire someone who has an excellent chance to succeed. That does not mean that he will. It is like you said. A total f'n crapshoot.

 

[Weezer]

Eastern hognose. They eat toads. Consider yourself lucky, because they aren't easy to find.

Lot of those posting on VN today. That snake would have a feast.

 

[KPT_VFL]

Losing consistently come tournament time is only part of the problem, regularly losing to teams that are lower seeded or less talented to you is the worst part imo…

 

[SoilVol]

It took Mark Few at Gonzaga 15 NCAA tournament appearances in a row to make the Elite 8. Took 17 tournaments to make the Final Four.

This is only his third Elite 8 in 23 seasons, and he only has 2 Final Fours (runner up twice).

 

[Weezer]

It was up on 4x4 beach in Corolla, I just thought it was a copperhead.

If you saw it, it obviously wasn't a copperhead.

 

[Z06VolinWV]

Lot of those posting on VN today. That snake would have a feast.

Are we eating our own today? This is first time I’ve been on all week.

 

[SoilVol]

It was up on 4x4 beach in Corolla, I just thought it was a copperhead.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

Like...this chaps my ass a bit, HOW are they mediocre exactly? Cause nothing supports that other than you wanting to paint the loss as worse than it really is.

They beat Memphis (barely) and they are more up and down than we are. Beat FDU who was pretty average. And then us on an absolute awful night.

If this gets you all upset, put your money where you mouth is? I bet Kansas state beats them by double digits. If they are so good, that’s easy money for you right? I’ll put $500 on it now.

 

[#JuanVol]

Gotta see Barnes having success in the portal to believe it. Did we miss out on a kid in the portal in the off-season? I can't remember who it was.

We missed out on Key.

 

[GoBigOrange86]

 

[jakez4ut]

You know what's soo 1997?? Wearing sunglasses, on a lanyard, around your neck! So dont school me on dat, mayn.

 

[Weezer]

Are we eating our own today? This is first time I’ve been on all week.

Just a lot of bad takes from bitter posters.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

Idk how you can call an Elite 8 team with the best record in college basketball "mediocre" but whatever helps you hate Rick Barnes I guess

I like Barnes, he is just not good in March and he blew the easiest opportunity to get to an elite 8 or final four probably ever. Some times someone shows you who they are and you just have to accept it. Barnes ceiling is Sweet sixteen. I have not once said fire him or I hate him. Sheesh I see why Bass left this place.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Depends on how good they are, but I think the ingredients are going to be on the roster next season.

When Barnes made the FF at Texas the team was:

TJ Ford (SO)- 17th rated
Brandon Mouton (JR)- 50th rated
James Thomas (JR)- 66th rated
Royal Ivey (JR)
Brad Buckman (FR)- 22nd rated
Brian Boddicker (JR)- 40th rated

So it was a team with experienced guys and Ford was the plug-in talent to take them over the top, they also were a 1 seed.

The tournament averages for the players:
TJ Ford averaged 14.6 ppg, 10.2 apg, 5 rpg, 2.0 spg
Brandon Mouton 17.8 ppg
James Thomas 11 ppg, 9.8 rpg
Brian Boddicker 10.6 ppg, 7 rpg

So it really came down to player execution.


Next year's TN team could have
Julian Phillips (SO)- 15th rated
Jahmai Mashack (JR)- 62nd rated
Jonas Aidoo (JR)- 40th rated
Freddie Dilione (RS-FR)- 41st rated
JP Estrella (FR)- 47th rated
Cameron Carr (FR)- 65th rated

Not sure next year is the year to break through, but if you look at where recruiting is one good off-season where the talent you recruit just plays to their abilities in the tournament and you're dancing into the Final Four.

 

[jakez4ut]

Firing Rick Barnes would absolutely be idiotic. Unlike most of the basketball fair-weather fans I watched pre-Pearl era Vols basketball. This program has gotten very lucky to 1. hire an up and comer in Pearl and then 2. have a culture/foundation building experienced hire like Barnes fall into our lap.

I remember that fans didn't appreciate Jerry Green when he was here. But Wade Houston and Kevin O'Neill had never even made the damn NCAA, Green takes the team every year and even makes a Sweet Sixteen. Then back in the dumpster with Buzz and no NCAA appearances for four straight seasons.

Hell after Pearl we were right back in the dumpster with Cuonzo, somehow snuck into the NCAA in his final season and they make a run off sheer player talent cause if ya'll remember that team was UGLY on offense, tournament comes around and they average 79.5 ppg on offense... McRae, Stokes, Richardson all said "we ain't going out like this" had absolutely NOTHING to do with Cunozo and his coaching, we got to be a low seed and then we got the most beautiful bracket you could have asked for with a 6 seed UMass and then a 14 seed Mercer that had upset Duke, soon as we faced a legit team (Michigan) we got bounced though.

But Rick's made 5 NCAA appearances, 4 25 win seasons, 2 Sweet 16s, 1 Regular Season Championship and 1 SECT Championship...unless he stops making the NCAA you let that man stay until he retires himself.

Yup

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

Oh well, if it’s easy for us to win a championship in basketball then we should certainly do it. Why hasn’t somebody figured that out yet?

Look, I know Barnes isn’t going to take us to the Final Four. I have real doubts that I will ever see that happen in my lifetime under any coach, but we are stuck with Barnes until he is ready to retire. That’s just reality. And when that happens the next guy is going to be straining against the weight of our program history. I wouldn’t take my cup off if I were you.

Problem is I took it off after Duke and FAU coming in. I should have known better! Ha. I accept Barnes for who he is. Good coach who won’t get far in March. Not saying I want him gone. I want changes but he is too old to change now. He is who he is. We just blew a huge opportunity and it sucks. This place just eats you alive if you call a spade or spade or talk down a coach. It’s not wrong to criticize last night, that was a bad loss when it could have shut up analysts, fans, etc. about Barnes and helped UT basketballs image.

 

[Revived2002]

Depends on how good they are, but I think the ingredients are going to be on the roster next season.

When Barnes made the FF at Texas the team was:

TJ Ford (SO)- 17th rated
Brandon Mouton (JR)- 50th rated
James Thomas (JR)- 66th rated
Royal Ivey (JR)
Brad Buckman (FR)- 22nd rated
Brian Boddicker (JR)- 40th rated

So it was a team with experienced guys and Ford was the plug-in talent to take them over the top, they also were a 1 seed.

The tournament averages for the players:
TJ Ford averaged 14.6 ppg, 10.2 apg, 5 rpg, 2.0 spg
Brandon Mouton 17.8 ppg
James Thomas 11 ppg, 9.8 rpg
Brian Boddicker 10.6 ppg, 7 rpg

So it really came down to player execution.


Next year's TN team could have
Julian Phillips (SO)- 15th rated
Jahmai Mashack (JR)- 62nd rated
Jonas Aidoo (JR)- 40th rated
Freddie Dilione (RS-FR)- 41st rated
JP Estrella (FR)- 47th rated
Cameron Carr (FR)- 65th rated

Not sure next year is the year to break through, but if you look at where recruiting is one good off-season where the talent you recruit just plays to their abilities in the tournament and you're dancing into the Final Four.

Alternatively, you could fire Barnes, watch all those guys transfer out and kickstart the 3 year rebuild, hoping to get to a Sweet 16 in maybe year 4 or 5.

The choice is yours!

 

[Vfl2407]

As Pat said, offense sells tickets, defense wins ballgames, rebounds win championships. We had no effort in rebounding, it was really sad to watch. Anytime a shot went up they were frantically trying to get it, we weren't interested.

Pat did say that…but she also said this… “I have plenty of shooters, what I need is some makers”. That’s my favorite.

 

[KB5252]

Money talks. It happens all the time. You don’t hear about a coach wanting to leave until a team lays the money down and hooks them. Let’s take FAUs coach Dusty May. You think FAU could bid us if we really wanted him? No way. Throw &6 million a year at May and I bet he comes in a heartbeat.

This whole narrative that we can’t do better than Barnes is absolutely insane.

But it's Dusty May better than Barnes? Could he recruit at the level needed to sustain an SEC program?

He put that team together, but sometimes things just work out that way in basketball. Can he sustain it?

 

[MoCo_Vol]

They beat Memphis (barely) and they are more up and down than we are. Beat FDU who was pretty average. And then us on an absolute awful night.

If this gets you all upset, put your money where you mouth is? I bet Kansas state beats them by double digits. If they are so good, that’s easy money for you right? I’ll put $500 on it now.

A 34-3 team that went undefeated at home and hasn't lost since tournament play started (including them winning their conference tournament) is somehow awful and mediocre now?

We lost all 11 of our games when the opponent scored 60 or more points...if anything that game just highlighted the fact that our offense was mediocre, us beating Duke didn't suddenly change or make our team better either. Cause before the tournament everyone was saying we wouldn't get out of the first weekend. Now we should have "blown out" a "mediocre" team.