Rucker: OK, start worrying about Vols hoops

#76
#76
YankeeVol said:
I think we all knew the team would take a step back. This has been a leap back. Even with Turner healthy, he isn't/wasn't enough to carry this team.

And in regards to that article, I love GW, but he's not "arguably" the best player ever. That's Bernie hands down IMO
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Yeah, thought that was a stretch as well. Bernie, Ellis, Houston are a few that come to mind that are arguably better.
Turner and Bowden were never going to be enough to carry this team, imo.
Best case scenario was them playing solidly, JJJ playing like a one and done, and Pons, Fulky and Johnson stepping up and looking like SEC players on a consistent basis.
Obviously, this combination of events hasn’t played out.
 
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#77
#77
lostsheep said:
Yeah, thought that was a stretch as well. Bernie, Ellis, Houston are a few that come to mind that are arguably better.
Turner and Bowden were never going to be enough to carry this team, imo.
Best case scenario was them playing solidly, JJJ playing like a one and done, and Pons, Fulky and Johnson stepping up and looking like SEC players on a consistent basis.
Obviously, this combination of events hasn’t played out.
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I really wanted Bowden to take that step, but I don't think it's gonna happen at this point.
 
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#78
#78
Bernard wasn't just TN's GOAT by far, he is probably the same in the SEC. Imagine what would have happened if Kosmalski had been the center while King was here or if Reggie Johnson was here a year or 2 sooner. Ernie and Bernie were both 3s and Doug Ashworth was a smallish 4, not the 5 role that he had to fill.
 
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#79
#79
YankeeVol said:
I really wanted Bowden to take that step, but I don't think it's gonna happen at this point.
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He’s the best we have currently. I love the guy and think he’s a great player, but some guys just don’t play as well when they are expected to be “the man.” Doesn’t mean he’s not giving his all or not busting his a$$ on a daily basis. Imo, he needs a better player on the team with him to take some of the pressure off.
 
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#80
#80
Nothing against Grant Williams. King was much better and it is not close. Tennessee will not win 5 conference games this year with what they have now
 
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#82
#82
lostsheep said:
Tennessee basketball: Vols suffered too many setbacks off the court

Pretty good assessment of where we are imo
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Can't agree with this statement.

No program could suffer that much attrition and still expect to win.
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Programs do it all the time, Kentucky/Duke etc replaces more talent every season and still wins. No program could have recruited/built their roster at the level we did prior to 2019/2020 and expected to win, would be a more accurate statement.
 
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#85
#85
lostsheep said:
He’s the best we have currently. I love the guy and think he’s a great player, but some guys just don’t play as well when they are expected to be “the man.” Doesn’t mean he’s not giving his all or not busting his a$$ on a daily basis. Imo, he needs a better player on the team with him to take some of the pressure off.
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Then he isn't a great player. A great player puts a team on his back and shows up in big games. A great player is there when you need a basket. He can't handle it.
 
#86
#86
Nothing to worry about, next year we should be pretty fair. We aren't very good this year.
 
#87
#87
It's obvious that TN has scoring issues, but how many of the losses over the last few years were because the 3 couldn't be defended?

Wisconsin did a great job forcing TN defenders chase them all over the half court and making an extra pass to find wide open shooters.
 
#91
#91
hog88 said:
He’s a lot older than he was when he started at Texas.

We should have let him jump to UCLA.
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And go through yet another hiring process? He needs to retire from UT. It's not my $5mm/year and I don't understand why so many have a problem with it. His pay is determined by supply/demand.
 
#94
#94
VolArmy74 said:
Can't agree with this statement.



Programs do it all the time, Kentucky/Duke etc replaces more talent every season and still wins. No program could have recruited/built their roster at the level we did prior to 2019/2020 and expected to win, would be a more accurate statement.
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Regardless of whether it was poor recruiting or kids leaving early, fact is we don't have the horses this year.

As far as Kentucky and Duke reloading each year, imo we're not to that level just yet. One year of being ranked #1 for a few weeks doesn't suddenly elevate us to blue-blood basketball status.
 
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#95
#95
The Dog said:
Bwaa-ha-ha ! Whatever, dude. Apparently, u want to hire another Tyndell, O'Neil, Houston or Peterson, I don't. So please don't use, "we" should have let him jump to UCLA
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Agree. Keeping Barnes was our best shot at maintaining some consistency in the program. Whether we overpaid or not is debatable.

I do think what we're witnessing from some of the "fan" base after a few losses was earned by Barnes when he mishandled the whole UCLA situation. Coming out and saying UT is where he wants to be for the rest of his career and that he loves it here would've gone a long way towards buying some goodwill during the inevitable downturns.

JMO, so TIFWIW.
 
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#97
#97
lostsheep said:
Yeah, thought that was a stretch as well. Bernie, Ellis, Houston are a few that come to mind that are arguably better.
Turner and Bowden were never going to be enough to carry this team, imo.
Best case scenario was them playing solidly, JJJ playing like a one and done, and Pons, Fulky and Johnson stepping up and looking like SEC players on a consistent basis.
Obviously, this combination of events hasn’t played out.
Click to expand...
There is no arguing about it. Bernard King, Dale Ellis, Allan Houston and Reggie Johnson were all better
 
#98
#98
lostsheep said:
He’s the best we have currently. I love the guy and think he’s a great player, but some guys just don’t play as well when they are expected to be “the man.” Doesn’t mean he’s not giving his all or not busting his a$$ on a daily basis. Imo, he needs a better player on the team with him to take some of the pressure off.
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Great player???? Bowden is at best a fourth or fifth option on a solid top 25 team. If his shot is falling he is an above average player and when it's not he is a below average player.
 
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