Selby and Harris News.

#26
#26
hatvol96 said:
How creative. Never seen that one before. Did you come up with that all by yourself?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

I don't spend 24 hours a day on here like you do.... what do you do when not on here hating? Man I feel sorry for you.
 
#27
#27
yoranguavol2 said:
didn't say dominant- but we have won our share. If we played Memphis's sched what would Bruce's record be? If he cheated like Calamari what would our record be?
Click to expand...
Oh, look. It's the "everyone else cheats but Saint Pearl" excuse. Of course, that ignores the fact that Ramar Smith had a transcript Kelvin Sampson and Jim Calhoun wouldn't touch. Further, I guess Josh Selby only went looking for illegal inducements after he committed to Tennessee. When he was on our side, he was just a good kid looking for an opportunity to go to college. Laughable.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#30
#30
IPorange said:
Attacking post counts... The last refuge of the lame.
Click to expand...

if the "mega posters" are going to hate on me because I don't know what other people have posted in the past then I'm certainly going to defend myself by saying I do indeed have a life and that's why I don't know what others have said!
 
#31
#31
hatvol96 said:
Oh, look. It's the "everyone else cheats but Saint Pearl" excuse. Of course, that ignores the fact that Ramar Smith had a transcript Kelvin Sampson and Jim Calhoun wouldn't touch. Further, I guess Josh Selby only went looking for illegal inducements after he committed to Tennessee. When he was on our side, he was just a good kid looking for an opportunity to go to college. Laughable.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

I didn't say anything about Selby or any other recruit for that matter. Are you honestly telling me that you think Memphis has been on the up and up? You have got to see that they have been one of the dirtiest programs the last few years and don't you expect more of the same now that the captain has sailed north to UK?
 
#32
#32
Hate,

I do appreciate the info you bring to this board concerning recruiting in Basketball. That is why I come here. Since I don't go to the pay sites, this is my best source of information about UT bball recruiting. With that said, I just don't understand why you are so negative all the time! I get the feeling that if UT had hired someone other than Pearl (anyone) we'd be hearing the same kind of personal attacks and negative jargon. You just seem to love to hate. Am I wrong? Are you happy about anything? And, I understand if you don't think the BP is the second coming, but at least acknowledge that he has done a good job resurrecting the program from years and years and years of very bad basketball. Maybe he has hit his ceiling- I don't know. His best days may be behind him for all I know, but we've had a good three years and I think there is reason to think that this year will be better than last. He had a very young team last year, and he returns everyone. Yes it's the same team that was terribly inconsistent last year and didn't quite live up to the hype, but it was hype that had been built on the success of the past couple seasons. BP may not be the best coach in the country, or even in the SEC, but he has done a good job in a short amount of time.
 
#33
#33
yoranguavol2 said:
Hate,

I do appreciate the info you bring to this board concerning recruiting in Basketball. That is why I come here. Since I don't go to the pay sites, this is my best source of information about UT bball recruiting. With that said, I just don't understand why you are so negative all the time! I get the feeling that if UT had hired someone other than Pearl (anyone) we'd be hearing the same kind of personal attacks and negative jargon. You just seem to love to hate. Am I wrong? Are you happy about anything? And, I understand if you don't think the BP is the second coming, but at least acknowledge that he has done a good job resurrecting the program from years and years and years of very bad basketball. Maybe he has hit his ceiling- I don't know. His best days may be behind him for all I know, but we've had a good three years and I think there is reason to think that this year will be better than last. He had a very young team last year, and he returns everyone. Yes it's the same team that was terribly inconsistent last year and didn't quite live up to the hype, but it was hype that had been built on the success of the past couple seasons. BP may not be the best coach in the country, or even in the SEC, but he has done a good job in a short amount of time.
Click to expand...
1. There's a litany of guys Tennessee could have hired instead of Pearl that I would have been perfectly content with.
2. This team should be better than last year? What do you base that on? Have we brought in a point guard I haven't heard about? Do we suddenly have someone on the roster who can consistently make jumpshots?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#34
#34
hatvol96 said:
1. There's a litany of guys Tennessee could have hired instead of Pearl that I would have been perfectly content with.
2. This team should be better than last year? What do you base that on? Have we brought in a point guard I haven't heard about? Do we suddenly have someone on the roster who can consistently make jumpshots?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

I don't know how much the current players can improve at PG and long range shooting, but I think the players and coaching staff has been working hard in those two areas. I think they understand that this is a problem for the team! They are not blind. I also wish they could have brought in a shooter or two in this class.

I do think there is reason to believe (from the reports I've heard) that Hopson will be better all around, but specifically in 3pt %. I also believe that the other players will improve in all areas of the game. They should be bigger, stronger, and a year wiser. Those will not totally make up for a lack of shooting ability, but it may take an above average team (last year) and make them a good team this year. They have good athletes over there.
 
#35
#35
hatvol96 said:
1. There's a litany of guys Tennessee could have hired instead of Pearl that I would have been perfectly content with.
2. This team should be better than last year? What do you base that on? Have we brought in a point guard I haven't heard about? Do we suddenly have someone on the roster who can consistently make jumpshots?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

Did you hate the hire from the beginning? Is that the issue... you didn't think he was a good hire so now, no matter how many games he wins, you have already committed to "proving" that you were right all along?
 
#36
#36
While I agree, the Vols have the talent and experience to have a special year this year, there are a lot of ifs. If they get decent play at the point, if Chism, Prince, Williams get serious, if Hopson, Tatum, Smith can hit 3s in the clutch, if they can stop someone who isn't 6 inches shorter on D. That's a lot of ifs and after last year it's to be seen what will happen. I was one of the biggest Pearl supporters there was, but something changed last year. The record was ok but the desire and effort wasn't there. Pearl's post game statements sounded like he didn't know what to do to fix the problems. I'm hoping last year was just a blip but I'm not counting on it. Something seemed to be different about Pearl last year. I'm not sure what it is but I sense a change in his attitude.

Here's my big fear, if UT doesn't win big this year, with the way recruiting is going for 2010, it could be Buzz ball again real soon.
 
Last edited:
#37
#37
I really liked the hire of BP at the start as well. His energy and enthusiasm seemed to be exactly what we needed. I am not ready to write him off completely but the past couple of years I have taken a more critical look at him. There are a few things I don't like, players don't seem to be improving the way I think they should. We have not been able to find a viable threat at point. Since Lofton left we have had no real 3 point threat. We do not play defense. Pearl is a great promoter but that only gets you so far.

In the last year I have started to come to the conclusion that Hat might have been right all along. Much of what he said at the beginning has proven to be true as it pertains to CBP. He made a huge splash but things appear to be fizzling out. Just my two cents.
 
#38
#38
yoranguavol2 said:
Hat
When UT wins the conference again this season, you are going to catch some hell you know. Clown or not, you can't argue with wins and losses.
Click to expand...

Take a look at UK's roster and then come back and tell us UT will win the SEC this year. I've been a Pearl fan, but we were a Patrick Patterson injury away from going 0-4 against Billy Gillispie. Calipari will crush us, I'm afraid...
 
#39
#39
yoranguavol2 said:
Did you hate the hire from the beginning? Is that the issue... you didn't think he was a good hire so now, no matter how many games he wins, you have already committed to "proving" that you were right all along?
Click to expand...
I didn't think it was an awful hire, but I was 100% certain UT could have done much better. Nothing he's done has made me change my mind.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#40
#40
Pearl was not my top choice when he was hired, but like most, I am still amazed with what he has done with this program. Without even looking at the product on the court, he has brought in millions for the program and played a huge role in the upgrade at TBA and the new practice facility. To say that he hasn't exceeded everyone's but the harshest critics' expectations is ludicrous. A down season (in which UT won the SEC East and made it to the SEC title game for the 1st time in many years) does nothing to change what Pearl has done, except maybe to show how high expectations have become.
 
#41
#41
jlovevols said:
Pearl was not my top choice when he was hired, but like most, I am still amazed with what he has done with this program. Without even looking at the product on the court, he has brought in millions for the program and played a huge role in the upgrade at TBA and the new practice facility. To say that he hasn't exceeded everyone's but the harshest critics' expectations is ludicrous. A down season (in which UT won the SEC East and made it to the SEC title game for the 1st time in many years) does nothing to change what Pearl has done, except maybe to show how high expectations have become.
Click to expand...

Will you say the same if once again Tennessee makes an early exit in the NCAA's and fails to win the conference?
 
#42
#42
IPorange said:
Will you say the same if once again Tennessee makes an early exit in the NCAA's and fails to win the conference?
Click to expand...

Yes, what the team does this year does nothing to diminish how much the team overachieved in his first 2 years or how good the team was in his 2nd 2. If that were to happen this year, I would begin to question whether Bruce is able to lead this team to the next step (winning the SEC tourney for the first time since 1979 or advancing to the Elite 8 for the first time ever).
 
#43
#43
jlovevols said:
Yes, what the team does this year does nothing to diminish how much the team overachieved in his first 2 years or how good the team was in his 2nd 2. If that were to happen this year, I would begin to question whether Bruce is able to lead this team to the next step (winning the SEC tourney for the first time since 1979 or advancing to the Elite 8 for the first time ever).
Click to expand...

So what if the results were similar two years from now as well?

I guess I am asking how long Pearl has to get back to winning the conference and advancing past the first weekend of the NCAA's, until you start questioning whether he's "the guy?"

How much benefit of the doubt does he get?
 
#44
#44
IPorange said:
So what if the results were similar two years from now as well?

I guess I am asking how long Pearl has to get back to winning the conference and advancing past the first weekend of the NCAA's, until you start questioning whether he's "the guy?"

How much benefit of the doubt does he get?
Click to expand...

That's a good question. He has truly rebuilt the program, so I think that definitely gives him at least a few years. So, say that we continue to finish in the top 2 in the East and exit the NCAA tourney after a win or 2 each year...I'd say that the fan base would begin to get increasingly restless. A lot of his job security has to do with exceeding expectations and fan support (attendance, donations, etc.). I think the seat would be pretty warm after 3 years.
 
#45
#45
jlovevols said:
That's a good question. He has truly rebuilt the program, so I think that definitely gives him at least a few years. So, say that we continue to finish in the top 2 in the East and exit the NCAA tourney after a win or 2 each year...I'd say that the fan base would begin to get increasingly restless. A lot of his job security has to do with exceeding expectations and fan support (attendance, donations, etc.). I think the seat would be pretty warm after 3 years.
Click to expand...

I think we have different definitions of what rebuilding a program means.

To me rebuilding a program means you take the players that were given you and recruit better players while coaching the players you have up. If you use this definition he has a long way to go.

What he did do was bring excitement to the program, even that has started to fade some. If he doesn't take the next step soon 1 to 2 years I think he hasn't lived up to realistic expectations.
 
#46
#46
Using your definition, here's how I think Pearl has rebuilt the program:
Several players had huge turnarounds under Pearl: (Bradshaw, Asumnu, etc.)
Has also brought in & retained several high profile recruits (Chism, Prince, Woolridge, Hopson, Negedu)
Brought in Brian Williams, who was an unknown, and is a completely different player now
Helped get C.J. Watson into the NBA

Etc.:
Avg. 24.5 wins/season (UT averaged 15.25 during the previous 4 seasons)
In first season, lost top 2 scorers from a 14-17 team and won the SEC East (pre-season SEC East #5) and received a #2 seed in NCAA tourney (2005-06)
Reached Sweet 16 for 1st time since 1999-00 (2005-06, 2006-07)
1st ever #1 ranking (2007-08)
Won SEC outright for 1st time in 41 years (2007-08)
Made it to the SEC Championship game for the 1st time since 1981 (2008-09)
 
#47
#47
jlovevols said:
Using your definition, here's how I think Pearl has rebuilt the program:
Several players had huge turnarounds under Pearl: (Bradshaw, Asumnu, etc.)
Has also brought in & retained several high profile recruits (Chism, Prince, Woolridge, Hopson, Negedu)
Brought in Brian Williams, who was an unknown, and is a completely different player now
Helped get C.J. Watson into the NBA

Etc.:
Avg. 24.5 wins/season (UT averaged 15.25 during the previous 4 seasons)
In first season, lost top 2 scorers from a 14-17 team and won the SEC East (pre-season SEC East #5) and received a #2 seed in NCAA tourney (2005-06)
Reached Sweet 16 for 1st time since 1999-00 (2005-06, 2006-07)
1st ever #1 ranking (2007-08)
Won SEC outright for 1st time in 41 years (2007-08)
Made it to the SEC Championship game for the 1st time since 1981 (2008-09)
Click to expand...
Prince was an abject failure at Arizona. Vanderbilt was the only team really competing with UT for his services as a transfer.
Woolridge was scarcely recruited by the two teams in his hometown.
Brian Williams is still nothing more than a role player.
CJ Watson's time in the D-League got him into the NBA, not anything Pearl did.
 
Last edited:
#48
#48
I am confident we will split with UK probably win at TBA. I do see us winning 25-28 games, getting bounced in the 2nd round of the SEC tourney. Probably a 4-5 seed in the NCAA tourney benefiting from a much improved SEC conference next year. Should get back to the sweet 16 before getting beat by double digits. This kind of season would be considered average by our current expectations. We expect to get this far. Until Bruce gets us further our recruiting situation will not change. But I will say the exposure such as ESPN game coverage and intense scheduling by Pearl has been phenominal.
 
#49
#49
At this point in a coach's tenure, I'm not really satisfied with sweet 16 appearances. Why settle? If he isn't capable of breaking past the sweet 16, then maybe he isn't the coach some are making him out to be.

We're a major D-1 athletic school. The amazing thing isn't the relative success of the last few years, it's the previous several years of less than mediocrity. I would think the immediate turn-around of Tennessee into a conference contender proved that we were not fulfilling our potential. That hasn't changed. There is no reason why Tennessee can't ultimately be as successful as Memphis has been lately. If Pearl can't take us there, let's not waste time in looking for someone who can.
 
#50
#50
I am amazed at the number of people who actually think a team with no SEC quality point guard and a complete derth of shooters is going to approach 30 wins. That's not even taking into account the utter incompetence in the halfcourt on both ends.
 
Last edited:
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top