Tennessee at Kentucky Game Thread---9PM--ESPN

[SeanJean]

Ok...Woolridge sucks and never plays. Hall is a lost puppy when he plays the last two mins of blow outs. Golden is a freshmen and you can't expect much out of him and McRae has already gotten suspended. Hopson is the most overrated 5 star ever. Harris will not go pro till after next year. He is not ready. Pearl has done a poor job of recuriting.

Again, missing the point. I'm not arguing with any of this. That's all evident.

But if you look at recruiting and look at the guys on our roster, you aren't going to find many other teams with the level of talent that we have. My point is: We aren't developing it at all and most of these guys aren't even in the game, and those that are don't really seem to get better from year to year.

 

[Zasnow]

What?

Since UT won at Rupp

 

[DeepSpringsVol]

Seems like yesterday

I remember the bad days easier than the good. To me Meeks 54 against us seemed like yesterday. That was the first time I ever TRULY wanted someone to get injured.

 

[Vols4us]

Once again, as in nearly every game this year, we played 10 guys with 9 getting 9 minutes or more. They played 8 with 7 getting 9 minutes or more. Same song, 23rd verse. We start a run and CBP yanks them out and puts in 2-4 guys off the bench. Down the tubes we go.

 

[thagodfather]

Tennessee put the smackdown on UK at TB last year. I remember vecause I got engaged during the kiss cam.

First, that's sweet. Second, last year has little to do with this season.

 

[govols1864]

Again, missing the point. I'm not arguing with any of this. That's all evident.

But if you look at recruiting and look at the guys on our roster, you aren't going to find many other teams with the level of talent that we have. My point is: We aren't developing it at all and most of these guys aren't even in the game, and those that are don't really seem to get better from year to year.

Players are not getting better. Which brings you to the question that I think needs to be seriously looked at....Does Pearl need to go?? I say Yes.

 

[thagodfather]

I remember the bad days easier than the good. To me Meeks 54 against us seemed like yesterday. That was the first time I ever TRULY wanted someone to get injured.

It's not right but it's normal for me to feel that way, while losing to a rival.

 

[govols1864]

Once again, as in nearly every game this year, we played 10 guys with 9 getting 9 minutes or more. They played 8 with 7 getting 9 minutes or more. Same song, 23rd verse. We start a run and CBP yanks them out and puts in 2-4 guys off the bench. Down the tubes we go.

Skylar sucks.

 

[SeanJean]

I don't necessarily think Pearl needs to go, as he has brought success to this program the likes of which I could have never imagined, but it really does make me wonder if some other changes need to be made on the staff. We shouldn't be playing walk ons and transfers from mid-major schools when we have 4 star players filling our scout team. That's not how it is supposed to work.

 

[Zasnow]

I remember the bad days easier than the good. To me Meeks 54 against us seemed like yesterday. That was the first time I ever TRULY wanted someone to get injured.

Not the 1st time but I felt the same way. Last year with Cousins as well.

 

[TOP]

Players are not getting better. Which brings you to the question that I think needs to be seriously looked at....Does Pearl need to go?? I say Yes.

Chris Lofton, Jajuan Smith and Dane Bradshaw got better. Maybe it has more to do with evaluating recruits than coaching. Might just be recruiting bunch of lazy, overrated, headcases.

They've beaten talented teams. The talent is there.

They seem to think they can win on talent and athleticism alone. I see a lot of selfish shots and sometimes they just stand there while people walk past them. Other times, they move the ball around and lock down on D. I don't know if that's anything the coaches can control. They already play guys like Pearl, McBee, Bone etc. over guys like Woolridge and Maymon. These highly rated guys don't seem to care that they are sitting on the bench while walk ons play.

 

[govols1864]

Chris Lofton, Jajuan Smith and Dane Bradshaw got better. Maybe it has more to do with evaluating recruits than coaching. Might just be recruiting bunch of lazy, overrated, headcases.

They've beaten talented teams. The talent is there.

They seem to think they can win on talent and athleticism alone. I see a lot of selfish shots and sometimes they stand there while people walk past them. Other times, they move the ball around and lock down on D. I don't know if that's anything the coaches can control. They already play guys like Pearl, McBee, Bone etc. over guys like Woolridge and Maymon. These highly rated guys don't seem to care that they are sitting on the bench while walk ons play.

I wonder if he has lost his team. The Lofton teams believed in Bruce.

 

[DeepSpringsVol]

I wonder if he has lost his team. The Lofton teams believed in Bruce.

Because they remember what kind of coach they had as Freshmen. Buzz Peterson gave them NOTHING to believe in.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I'm really glad UT basketball has moved up to the status of "We know we'll lose at Rupp and we'll maybe win at TBA."

Which was basically the philosophy before Pearl got here. For all he's done, Pearl still sucks against UK.

 

[BasketVolKid]

Once again, as in nearly every game this year, we played 10 guys with 9 getting 9 minutes or more. They played 8 with 7 getting 9 minutes or more. Same song, 23rd verse. We start a run and CBP yanks them out and puts in 2-4 guys off the bench. Down the tubes we go.

yup yup yup.

 

[olbemw7]

I wonder if he has lost his team. The Lofton teams believed in Bruce.

Good question. For a coach coming back from an 8 game suspension, the players didn't seem to get fired up for him. And on top of that, it was a rivalry game. Seems like he has issues with motivating the team, to say the least.

 

[SeanJean]

Motivation is one thing, being good is another. We just aren't a smart or fundamentally sound basketball team, no matter how motivated we are. Those things cost us tonight. Coincidentally that is also Pearl's fault.

 

[BasketVolKid]

You're completely, 100% missing the point.

Also, I forgot Maymon, another 4 star top 50 player who doesn't see the court.

We have the same level of talent as them, just ours, for whatever reason never seems to translate into good consistent play on the court. Hell, our guys don't even see the floor and their freshmen come in immediately and contribute. Makes me wonder a bit at this coaching staff's ability to develop players.

I don't necessarily think Pearl needs to go, as he has brought success to this program the likes of which I could have never imagined, but it really does make me wonder if some other changes need to be made on the staff. We shouldn't be playing walk ons and transfers from mid-major schools when we have 4 star players filling our scout team. That's not how it is supposed to work.

yes. i see your point. i agree 100%. It seems as though pearl doesn't know what to do with real bball talent. He's never had this much. He's come this far with his outwork/out-hussle/wear them out/pressing style. But when you are playing against elite talent, with elite talent... it comes down to scheme and execution. The Coach is responsible for finding the right scheme and getting his players to execute. It is plainly obvious our players are half clueless most of the time and only play with maximum effort when they feel like it. Pearl is an epic fail in this regard. But he is one hell of a cheerleader. His bare chested paint job seems to have crowned him the John Wooden of UT basketball.