Rick Barnes discussion (merged)

[SGMVols]

Barnes does Barnes.

Regular season Rick.

The one constant over the last 40 years has been that his teams make the tourney but they also underperform.

What a shame.

Don’t take making the tournament for granted. We might not see another one for a while when he’s gone.

 

[JMSqb11]

If White had not underperformed last year, he wouldn’t be on the hot seat after this yr.

Maybe he should have recruited better last offseason then…. Don’t have to worry about that with us.

 

[Other_Guy]

Why is that the question? I didn't say to fire him. I did say the idea this is the best we can ever do is silly.

Then answer the question. Who is better that we can bring in?

 

[wmcovol]

Don’t take making the tournament for granted. We might not see another one for a while when he’s gone.

Only because Tennessee tends to make a lot horrible coaching hires. Maybe White can change that. Facts are someday they’ll have to replace Barnes.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Having Rick Barnes on your sideline is the equivalent of Buzz Peterson.. You KNOW he will never win anything meaningful. So what is the point?

I vote we push him to retire. I'd rather go back to sucking and the administration continue to look for someone who can actually win when it matters then trot the biggest choker in ncaa tournament history out there every year for the guaranteed L.

Barnes sucks.

The same Buzz Peterson who went to ONE NCAAT game his entire 16 year coaching career? The same Buzz Peterson whose postseason success at Tennessee was 0-2 in the NIT?

He's available, so you think we fire Barnes and bring back Peterson and we do just as well next season?

Keep licking those windows.

 

[Unimane]

Without Barnes, we don't win a regular season SEC championship, we don't win a SECT championship, and we don't go to the NCAA in five straight years. Barnes is the best thing that ever happened to what has always been an otherwise mediocre basketball program.

From 2006-2011, we went to the NCAAs six straight years and even won an SEC title, outright, not to mention going to an Elite 8. What's Barnes done which is completely unique to such a "mediocre" program and not done in the decade prior to him.

Look, I like Barnes. His teams are good and I've enjoyed a number of moments in his tenure, but there is definitely the possibility of life after him. He's not a Pat Summit or even a John Calhoun. We won't become Georgia without him.

 

[hog88]

We fire him today. Who are you bringing in that you KNOW is better?

You never KNOW if the next guy is going to be better, you’re just betting that he will be.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

From 2006-2011, we went to the NCAAs six straight years and even won an SEC title, outright, not to mention going to an Elite 8. What's Barnes done which is completely unique to such a "mediocre" program and not done in the decade prior to him.

Look, I like Barnes. His teams are good and I've enjoyed a number of moments in his tenure, but there is definitely the possibility of life after him. He's not a Pat Summit or even a John Calhoun. We won't become Georgia without him.

He won the SEC Tournament.

 

[VolGee4]

From 2006-2011, we went to the NCAAs six straight years and even won an SEC title, outright, not to mention going to an Elite 8. What's Barnes done which is completely unique to such a "mediocre" program and not done in the decade prior to him.

Look, I like Barnes. His teams are good and I've enjoyed a number of moments in his tenure, but there is definitely the possibility of life after him. He's not a Pat Summit or even a John Calhoun. We won't become Georgia without him.

If you think that SEC was the same as this SEC, then I don’t know what to tell you. The conference is so much better.

 

[VolGee4]

He won the SEC Tournament.

Lol. Not done in 43 years.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Don’t take making the tournament for granted. We might not see another one for a while when he’s gone.

Lol. Like drama much?

 

[Unimane]

Then answer the question. Who is better that we can bring in?

Ah, so this is the point where I mention someone and then you either figure out how he isn't as good as Barnes or, if he is, why we can't get him. I know this game.

As it is, though, you're still missing the point.

 

[hog88]

He won the SEC Tournament.

Kevin Stallings won one too.

 

[VolGee4]

Kevin Stallings won one too.

Kevin Stallings would still be at Vandy if he hadn’t moved on himself.

Not sure what that has to do with Barnes do something that no coach at UT has done in 43 years.

 

[Unimane]

If you think that SEC was the same as this SEC, then I don’t know what to tell you. The conference is so much better.

Was the NCAA tournament the same, too? Because we had a better NCAA record then, too. If you don't think so, I don't know what to tell you.....

As I said, Barnes is a good coach, one of our best. He hasn't done anything which hasn't been seen in the program previously and there's no reason to think we've reached our zenith in coaching with him, becoming Ole Miss when he leaves.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Kevin Stallings won one too.

Cool story.

I was answering a direct question, and the question wasn't "What's a stupid thing Barnes did that even Kevin Stallings did?"

 

[Unimane]

He won the SEC Tournament.

Did he win the SEC outright? No? Then, we're at a wash, really.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

This game isn’t on Barnes. We had our ice cold perimeter shooting return at the most inopportune time.

It’s not on Barnes, but it’s solidified to me that this university is just broken. If THIS team with THIS talent and THIS elite Point Guard couldn’t get it done, no team is going to get it done.

It’s time to just enjoy regular season basketball for what it is. We’re ****ing cursed. We’ll never get it done.

It's not like we have ever enjoyed a trip to the FF before Barnes, or a bunch of elite eights. The truth is that Tennessee has always underperformed in the ncaat, regardless of the coach, with the possible exception of Pearl, but he didn't get us to the FF either. Ernie and Bernie couldn't win an NCAAT game. So many UT teams have entered the tournament with glowing credentials over the years only to be shot down early. I'm beginnning to think it is a curse. Nothing else explains it, really. We got beat this time because we were soft in the post, same as last year.

One thing is for sure this year: The SEC sucks as a basketball conference. I was skeptical about all the propaganda about the conference being so good, and bought into the hype this year only to see the conference made a laughingstock in the past few days. 4 of our 6 teams are out, and it isn't even the end of the first weekend yet. I wouldn't be surprised if none of our teams get to the EE or even the SS. The big 10 is clearly better, and the SEC competition does not prepare us or other SEC teams for the big dance.

I don't think we have ever sent a better team to the tournament than this team, despite the soft inside presence. If this team can't get to the SS, we might as well stop hoping and being disappointed. It's baked in the cake for UT and the ncaat. Time to just enjoy our SECT and the regular season each season.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Did he win the SEC outright? No? Then, we're at a wash, really.

He won an SEC co-championship and an SEC Tournment. I would say that's not a wash with one outright SEC Championship.

Also, stop moving the goalposts, you asked a specific question and what I said was 100% correct. Now you're making a judgment call based on criteria you just made up.

 

[VolGee4]

Was the NCAA tournament the same, too? Because we had a better NCAA record then, too. If you don't think so, I don't know what to tell you.....

As I said, Barnes is a good coach, one of our best. He hasn't done anything which hasn't been seen in the program previously and there's no reason to think we've reached our zenith in coaching with him, becoming Ole Miss when he leaves.

Do you understand that an easier conference can help you with seeding in the NCAAT? You are wrong…but I’m not going to argue.

Pretty sure in one year under Pearl the SEC got 4 teams in. Pearl also coached mostly in split divisions. Barnes has a regular season title and tournament title.

 

[Unimane]

He won an SEC co-championship and an SEC Tournment. I would say that's not a wash with one outright SEC Championship.

Also, stop moving the goalposts, you asked a specific question and what I said was 100% correct. Now you're making a judgment call based on criteria you just made up.

The one SEC Tournament is good accomplishment, but, if we're talking like it's a significant different to what happened in those years, then we're kidding ourselves. Pearl went to two Sweet 16s and an Elite 8 with an outright title. Is this better or worse than what Barnes has done?

 

[Unimane]

Do you understand that an easier conference can help you with seeding in the NCAAT? You are wrong…but I’m not going to argue.

Pretty sure in one year under Pearl the SEC got 4 teams in. Pearl also coached mostly in split divisions. Barnes has a regular season title and tournament title.

No, you're not right. We had 2 #2 seeds this year. The perceived tougher conference helped seeding, actually. Split divisions mean what, exactly? You're just reaching.

Explain to me how what Barnes has done is so remarkably different and better than what was done in that time to show me we are in the Golden Age of UT Basketball which could never be repeated? One SEC Tournament isn't going to do this, it's not a crutch.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

The one SEC Tournament is good accomplishment, but, if we're talking like it's a significant different to what happened in those years, then we're kidding ourselves. Pearl went to two Sweet 16s and an Elite 8 with an outright title. Is this better or worse than what Barnes has done?

You asked a question and I answered. I'm not acting like anything. I would generally say what Barnes has done is pretty much on par with what Pearl did when you factor in all context around their situations.

I would say both have done well and both of their best teams under performed in the NCAAT. I will give Pearl made an Elite 8 but if you're honest with yourself you admit that was a pretty unexpected result considering we went into that NCAAT on a 30 point beatdown by Kentucky and we got a pretty favorable draw with the benefit of an upset.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

From 2006-2011, we went to the NCAAs six straight years and even won an SEC title, outright, not to mention going to an Elite 8. What's Barnes done which is completely unique to such a "mediocre" program and not done in the decade prior to him.

Look, I like Barnes. His teams are good and I've enjoyed a number of moments in his tenure, but there is definitely the possibility of life after him. He's not a Pat Summit or even a John Calhoun. We won't become Georgia without him.

We were Georgia before Pearl and between Pearl and Barnes. No one has ever recruited at this level at Tennessee. We would likely be Georgia again without him, unless you think we could attract a truly great coach to come here. Got any names?

 

[VolGee4]

No, you're not right. We had 2 #2 seeds this year. The perceived tougher conference helped seeding, actually. Split divisions mean what, exactly? You're just reaching.

Explain to me how what Barnes has done is so remarkably different and better than what was done in that time to show me we are in the Golden Age of UT Basketball which could never be repeated? One SEC Tournament isn't going to do this, it's not a crutch.

Pearl had an easier conference…that’s a fact. That’s all I said, along with Barnes winning the conference tournament.

But I never said anything like that in your second paragraph. People can’t understand middle ground these days. It’s always extreme. Barnes has done really good things at UT and will continue, but I never once said Golden Age…lol. I’m done.