Rick Barnes discussion (merged)

[walkenvol]

I’m curious. What college team do you really like? If you say Tennessee, then why do you even stick around for all the negativity this team causes you? It’s one thing to have reasonable discussion, but to constantly denigrate all things Tennessee just seems miserable. Tennessee, as all teams do, has their share of shortcomings, but they have way more in the positive column.

Some day, what we have had here the last 7 years is going to turn south a bit, and you are really going to see what reality can look like.

Definition of a troll - only posts to get a rise out of reasonable folks

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

You might want to heed your own advice.

That you're hanging your hat on 2020 is ridiculous. You don't know they wouldn't have made it. Regardless, Barnes is a great coach and only a dumbass would argue otherwise

 

[VolPack22]

That you're hanging your hat on 2020 is ridiculous. You don't know they wouldn't have made it. Regardless, Barnes is a great coach and only a dumbass would argue otherwise

That was the season Lamonte Turner was lost due to injury. He only played in 11 games and didn’t even make it to conference play. Then covid cancelled the postseason. Hard to lose a guy that can give you 12-15 points per game. That was a huge loss that not very many teams could overcome. We would have won 20 games minimum with a healthy Turner.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

We were not going to be a tournament team in 2020. The tournament was canceled.

The one thing everyone brags about Barnes is that he makes the tournament every year. Where did I lose you?

That’s the 1 thing? Not the current ranked streak being what, Top 5 nationally? Not the # of Top 5 weeks being more than every other UT coach combined? Not being a Top 5 program the last 5 years even with that COVID year factored in? Not that he’s likely going to go down as the all time winningest coach in program history?

 

[Col_Cathcart]

You don’t have to be curious. I am responding to the cool-aid kids who trumpet how Barnes has made every single tournament. I just like to keep things even, and not shoot my mouth off about how awesome something is or how terrible it is.

Some people see facts as inconvenient but keeping it real is always the way to go. That’s how we grow up to be decent humans and not insufferable (the woe is me crowd) or con artists (everything is awesome crowd).

You call me negative? I don’t know what you’re trying to sell, but if it can’t include the truth, then stay out of my space.

I have some bad news about that upbringing you’re so proud of…

 

[adam.vol]

Barnes had tournament misses at Tennessee, namely before the ‘17 season. Is it likely the Vols would have missed the dance in 2020 without an SEC title game berth (probably claiming the title, to be frank)? Sure. How does that discount what he built, though? Even without the COVID holdovers JJJ and SV, next year is certainly shaping up to be yet another very solid season.

Are you actively rooting for UT to lose its ranked streak next season? If not, just enjoy the unparalleled ride.

i don’t believe seeing reason for concern is the same as wanting something to go wrong. I don’t expect anyone to keep up with what I’ve said in the past, but this year looks like our best chance yet and probably into the foreseeable future. I said that before the season began, on these forums.

I’m not sure that better is equal to unparalleled. We’ve been in a position to expect annual tournament appearances before in this century. We’ve even had players go on to start in the NBA before Barnes.

Pearl had success with the previous coach’s recruits and then had success with his own while here. Barnes has done basically the same. What happens after this group of seniors moves on will be what separates Barnes from the rest - continued success over several recruiting classes. We’ll find out over the next 4 years whether Barnes is TN’s GOAT or just another good one.

 

[adam.vol]

That’s the 1 thing? Not the current ranked streak being what, Top 5 nationally? Not the # of Top 5 weeks being more than every other UT coach combined? Not being a Top 5 program the last 5 years even with that COVID year factored in? Not that he’s likely going to go down as the all time winningest coach in program history?

Getting ranked is really cool and makes it easier to check on our scores on espn.com. That’s about it. Maybe that meant something when the media decided the national champion(s) but we have a playoffs now days and we haven’t finished inside the top 8 since 2010.

 

[adam.vol]

That you're hanging your hat on 2020 is ridiculous. You don't know they wouldn't have made it. Regardless, Barnes is a great coach and only a dumbass would argue otherwise

I can find several articles which none have us included among the tournament teams. Again, heed your own advice - do some research.

Barnes was a great coach for Texas and we haven’t finished among the top 8 since Pearl moved on. Only a dumbass can’t tell the difference between the playoffs and a media poll.

 

[VolPack22]

i don’t believe seeing reason for concern is the same as wanting something to go wrong. I don’t expect anyone to keep up with what I’ve said in the past, but this year looks like our best chance yet and probably into the foreseeable future. I said that before the season began, on these forums.

I’m not sure that better is equal to unparalleled. We’ve been in a position to expect annual tournament appearances before in this century. We’ve even had players go on to start in the NBA before Barnes.

Pearl had success with the previous coach’s recruits and then had success with his own while here. Barnes has done basically the same. What happens after this group of seniors moves on will be what separates Barnes from the rest - continued success over several recruiting classes. We’ll find out over the next 4 years whether Barnes is TN’s GOAT or just another good one.

Did Pearl ever take a guy from averaging 10ppg to 22ppg in his first season at Tennessee? I seem to remember Pearl being gifted a team with Chris Lofton, CJ Watson, and JaJuan Smith for his first season. Barnes wasn’t afforded the same type of players whenever he got here. He had to rebuild the entire roster.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I can find several articles which none have us included among the tournament teams. Again, heed your own advice - do some research.

That you are still hanging your hat on 2020 is silly. There are plenty of other metrics to boast about for Barnes other than the NCAA appearances. Perhaps you're just a casual fan who believes the NCAA is all that matters. It's ok

 

[adam.vol]

That you are still hanging your hat on 2020 is silly. There are plenty of other metrics to boast about for Barnes other than the NCAA appearances. Perhaps you're just a casual fan who believes the NCAA is all that matters. It's ok

Whatever casual fan means to you, then maybe. I don’t try to go by other people’s names, but I do watch all the TN games and a lot of other games.

Until Barnes takes us where we’ve never been before, I’m happy we’re winning games but I’m not going to join the cult.

GOAT should be reserved for people who actually did something that no one else has pulled off. Acting like we’re creating our own TN league is pitiful.

 

[adam.vol]

Did Pearl ever take a guy from averaging 10ppg to 22ppg in his first season at Tennessee? I seem to remember Pearl being gifted a team with Chris Lofton, CJ Watson, and JaJuan Smith for his first season. Barnes wasn’t afforded the same type of players whenever he got here. He had to rebuild the entire roster.

No. But Williams was the only consistent scorer on that team. Pearl had two guys who became reliable scorers on his first team.

A lot of folks didn’t think so highly of CJ Watson until Pearl came along. JaJuan was good for us, but neither really deserves to be talked about with Lofton for what they accomplished at TN. Albeit, this is a good argument and I thank you for that.

Barnes coached that team well, but he hasn’t brought in a team that finished better, whereas Pearl brought in the team that made it to the elite 8.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Whatever casual fan means to you, then maybe. I don’t try to go by other people’s names, but I do watch all the TN games and a lot of other games.

Until Barnes takes us where we’ve never been before, I’m happy we’re winning games but I’m not going to join the cult.

GOAT should be reserved for people who actually did something that no one else has pulled off. Acting like we’re creating our own TN league is pitiful.

Who claimed Barnes was the GOAT?

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Who claimed Barnes was the GOAT?

Maybe not the GOAT but multiple posters have suggested we can never do better than Barnes. Hell I was mocked and flamed for suggesting we could maybe pull Eric Musselman who is *checks notes* 9-4 at Arky this year entering conference play...in his 5th year.

 

[Vols410]

Whatever casual fan means to you, then maybe. I don’t try to go by other people’s names, but I do watch all the TN games and a lot of other games.

Until Barnes takes us where we’ve never been before, I’m happy we’re winning games but I’m not going to join the cult.

GOAT should be reserved for people who actually did something that no one else has pulled off. Acting like we’re creating our own TN league is pitiful.

This level of sustained high quality basketball has never been pulled off at Tennessee. The only way you could claim otherwise is if you place all eggs in a crapshoot tournament.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Maybe not the GOAT but multiple posters have suggested we can never do better than Barnes. Hell I was mocked and flamed for suggesting we could maybe pull Eric Musselman who is *checks notes* 9-4 at Arky this year entering conference play...in his 5th year.

Pull Musselman when? Now? Or after Barnes retires? I'm happy with Barnes being here for as long as he wants to continue coaching. When he is done he will leave the program in fine shape so we can get someone like Musselman

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Pull Musselman when? Now? Or after Barnes retires? I'm happy with Barnes being here for as long as he wants to continue coaching. When he is done he will leave the program in fine shape so we can get someone like Musselman

Yes, when Barnes retires. Obviously UT isn't ever going to let him go, and they shouldn't. He'll go out on his own terms. But I was told we could never pull anyone as good as Musselman because Arky is a basketball school even though his record this year sucks and he's making 1.5 million per year less than Barnes.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

That’s rich. Says he’s not joining “the cult” while swinging on Bruce’s sweaty b*** ***k. Hilarious.

 

[ColinS]

That was the season Lamonte Turner was lost due to injury. He only played in 11 games and didn’t even make it to conference play. Then covid cancelled the postseason. Hard to lose a guy that can give you 12-15 points per game. That was a huge loss that not very many teams could overcome. We would have won 20 games minimum with a healthy Turner.

The point production is one thing but we were left without a primary ballhandler when he went down.

 

[VolPack22]

No. But Williams was the only consistent scorer on that team. Pearl had two guys who became reliable scorers on his first team.

A lot of folks didn’t think so highly of CJ Watson until Pearl came along. JaJuan was good for us, but neither really deserves to be talked about with Lofton for what they accomplished at TN. Albeit, this is a good argument and I thank you for that.

Barnes coached that team well, but he hasn’t brought in a team that finished better, whereas Pearl brought in the team that made it to the elite 8.

He literally had his team in the E8 if a 5 second call is made before the very questionable foul call for Carsen Edwards on that 3pt attempt. You know it, I know it, everyone else knows it. So stop acting like he can’t get us there. He did get us there but the refs wouldn’t allow it.

 

[OrangeInKy]

No. But Williams was the only consistent scorer on that team. Pearl had two guys who became reliable scorers on his first team.

A lot of folks didn’t think so highly of CJ Watson until Pearl came along. JaJuan was good for us, but neither really deserves to be talked about with Lofton for what they accomplished at TN. Albeit, this is a good argument and I thank you for that.

Barnes coached that team well, but he hasn’t brought in a team that finished better, whereas Pearl brought in the team that made it to the elite 8.

I’m not even sure where to start with all of this. Man, this take a willful ignorance.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

 

[VolTull]

View attachment 607701

 

[orangemadam]

Wish VN would quit calling everyone "troll" who doesn't agree with them.
If everyone agreed, this would be a very dull board.

 

[walkenvol]

Wish VN would quit calling everyone "troll" who doesn't agree with them.
If everyone agreed, this would be a very dull board.

I don’t agree with this post, but I don’t think you’re a troll. I see plenty of discussion where folks have different opinions. Some are civil, agree to disagree type interactions. The majority are tedious repeated back and forth arguing which are very tiring to me. Then there are some who post some clearly erroneous statements that no reasonably informed person would believe and stick to that narrative in spite of facts presented - trolling.
JMO, TIFWIW, AARP