Tennessee Vols Basketball Recruiting

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Barnes is going to have to get with the program in regards to NIL. Love it or hate it, that's the name of the game now. If you want quality players, you better be able to offer some $$$.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

We are literally doomed bro lol. There are 0 dogs currently on this roster and we aren’t currently adding any. We are looking at another first round exist, at best.

That’s pretty disrespectful to ZZ but ok

 

[johnfnkelly]

ZZ, Santi, and Uros all qualify as "dogs" to me. If not to you, then at least the word "scrappy" or "100% effort" should come to mind for them.

By “dog” I mean a player that can take over a game whenever he wants. Santi is good when he can play off the ball. Uros isn’t good. We’ll see what ZZ looks like with more responsibility and pressure.

 

[joevols89]

You think ZZ is good enough to take control of this team? I don’t. Maybe in his 3rd or 4th year. I don’t know if he’ll ever be more than a complimentary piece to a bigger/ more talented point guard.

People really forgot some of his struggles down the stretch. He had an amazing year for a no-star, extremely undersized freshman but we do not want ZZ starting and playing 38 mins per game in his 2nd year.

 

[Lankykong]

No, it proves he got his hand caught in the cookie jar. If he ran away from it initially the SLU AD wouldn’t have had anything to say because it never would have happened in the first place.

On the lack of communication with Spyre, this isn’t the first complaint I’ve heard in regards to Barnes and doing some of the necessary networking with folks on the periphery. When Barnes first took over he was super accessible and it remained that way until they started winning. Once things got rolling Barnes pulled away from that because he felt like he didn’t need those relationships as much since he was winning. With this NIL thing, Barnes needs those relationships and needs to do those things and I’m not sure he really wants to. We will see how it goes this year but I think there is going to be some serious soul searching for Barnes over the next year.

I just feel like there’s way too many players who know where they’re going immediately after entering the portal for tampering to not be a thing.

I agree with you on the soul searching component though.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Apologies, spent the day out on the lake, summary…

As recruiting goes things can change quickly, maybe it’s on me for saying it was a done deal, but it was as much a done deal as it could be. SLU AD started pushing the tampering allegations and threatening pursuing them and making it public, Barnes got cold feet and basically pulled the plug on Collins coming here. He was supposed to originally visit Monday and it got slowed down, then again they were gonna bring him in this weekend but that’s when the tampering smoke thickened. Again, apologies for calling this one a done deal, but I really thought that was safe to say.

The other aspect of everything going on is NIL, Rick is definitely not transitioning well to it and also isn’t just getting out of the way of assistants who are younger and allowing them to handle it. He hasn’t done a good job communicating with Spyre and they feel in the dark in regards to hoops quite often, Rick isn’t necessarily against NIL but it’s not actively pursued like just about every other current school.

There’s also some rumblings that Powell is back to considering heading for a pro deal, obviously if that happens we are back to 4 open spots. How Barnes and staff fill this roster now will be very interesting, and if you’re worried I get it, I will wait and see how it unfolds before declaring us as crappy or doomed etc. I also think calling for the guy to step aside at this point before having a “bad season” is premature, I agree that if recruiting doesn’t pick up he’s dealing himself a tough hand, but again I will see how it plays out.

I appreciate you bringing us the information. People get things wrong. It happens, no worries. I do think it’s awful crappy of the SLU admin to basically blackmail Yuri into staying at SLU if he didn’t want to stay.

In regards to everything else, it seems like based on everything you just said, Rick isn’t cut out for this current recruiting paradigm under NIL…..at this current moment.

I bold that because I’m not calling for his head or asking him to step aside right now. This past season he did what a lot of people said he wouldn’t do and he changed the offense. Maybe he can change.

I will say changing your entire coaching and program philosophy is a lot different than changing the type of offense you run. However, if he can’t or won’t play “ball” with every other school with NIL then I am not optimistic about the future of the program under him.

I love Rick, and I don’t envy him. He has been a coach for decades and NIL is an entirely different beast than he is used to. But, it’s adapt or die. You need talent to win. And if he won’t change his philosophy to get talent in here, well….

 

[johnfnkelly]

People really forgot some of his struggles down the stretch. He had an amazing year for a no-star, extremely undersized freshman but we do not want ZZ starting and playing 38 mins per game in his 2nd year.

Absolutely not.. I love the kid’s game but whenever he began playing poor we had the luxury of taking him right out and putting in Chandler. We won’t have that this year.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

You think ZZ is good enough to take control of this team? I don’t. Maybe in his 3rd or 4th year. I don’t know if he’ll ever be more than a complimentary piece to a bigger/ more talented point guard.

Yeah, I think we have a different definition of what a “dog” is. I think it’s someone who isn’t afraid to rough up the game, and agitate the opponent.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

Any of y’all know anyone who deals in black magic? Gonna go make a deal with the devil. We lose our baseball team, and our football team, but we land Kenneth Lofton Jr, along with some other good transfers and we win a national championship. Fair enough IMO.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Yeah, I think we have a different definition of what a “dog” is. I think it’s someone who isn’t afraid to rough up the game, and agitate the opponent.

ZZ is tougher than anyone in this forum.

Considering he didn’t have any big time offers out of high school and worked his a$$ off during practice to get meaningful minutes despite being very undersized for a guard, is a dog in my book.

People forget where he came from.

 

[cncchris33]

I'm not to the point of calling for Rick's head. After all, I've defended him more than he probably deserves.

BUT, if he isn't careful, as one other poster intimated, he could quickly undo all the good he's done in 7 years, and Tennessee is back to hiring a replacement coming in to a mid-level SEC team that has been lapped by more progressive teams like Arkansas, Alabama, and Auburn, not to mention mainstays like Kentucky. I'd really hate for him to sour his legacy due to selfish pride or stubbornness.

I love Barnes, but man, you have to change with the times, even if you don't agree with them. If you won't change, then you have to know when to get out of the way and bow out. The game isn't the same one he devoted himself to as a coach, mentor, and developer, 40 years ago. You either change with it, or you move on.

Bruin used to make one or two red-hot takes each offseason, so in his honor, I'll make one, now. The 2022-23 season will be Rick Barnes last season as Tennessee's head coach. The 2022 class is pretty much disastrous. Even if he manages to recover and fill the open spots with capable players, none of them will be first or even second options, at this point. If the rumors of his rigid approach to NIL, Spyre, the transfer portal, and his assistant coaches are true, I can't see the 2023 class making much more headway. I think he will tire of the pressures of coaching, the new era of recruiting, and just say, "You know what, I've had enough. I don't need this", and bow out gracefully into retirement. And hey, if he isn't willing to budge on his own scruples, even I'm willing to admit it's probably for the best for everyone involved, him included.

We will see.

 

[CNeagleVolFan]

Well hopefully we get in on some guys soon. We need help. I love the core of our team, but you have to have solid players around the core of your team too. I’m beginning to get a little worried.

 

[golfballs]

I appreciate you bringing us the information. People get things wrong. It happens, no worries. I do think it’s awful crappy of the SLU admin to basically blackmail Yuri into staying at SLU if he didn’t want to stay.

In regards to everything else, it seems like based on everything you just said, Rick isn’t cut out for this current recruiting paradigm under NIL…..at this current moment.

I bold that because I’m not calling for his head or asking him to step aside right now. This past season he did what a lot of people said he wouldn’t do and he changed the offense. Maybe he can change.

I will say changing your entire coaching and program philosophy is a lot different than changing the type of offense you run. However, if he can’t or won’t play “ball” with every other school with NIL then I am not optimistic about the future of the program under him.

I love Rick, and I don’t envy him. He has been a coach for decades and NIL is an entirely different beast than he is used to. But, it’s adapt or die. You need talent to win. And if he won’t change his philosophy to get talent in here, well….

Take it w a gain of salt.

Barnes’ biggest pitfall has been how his team performs in March. His biggest strength is how he runs a program and has an eye for and develops talent. He’s built that reputation over decades. Would be foolish to let some anonymous message board rumor have any bearing on his track record in this department

 

[cncchris33]

If ZZ isn’t a dog no one is. Lol

He's a dog, for sure, but more like a min-pin. Nothing wrong with that, but we need a Rottweiler on the wing or in the post.

 

[AngryButchJones]

Any of y’all know anyone who deals in black magic? Gonna go make a deal with the devil. We lose our baseball team, and our football team, but we land Kenneth Lofton Jr, along with some other good transfers and we win a national championship. Fair enough IMO.

This is a terrible deal

 

[VolGee4]

I'm not to the point of calling for Rick's head. After all, I've defended him more than he probably deserves.

BUT, if he isn't careful, as one other poster intimated, he could quickly undo all the good he's done in 7 years, and Tennessee is back to hiring a replacement coming in to a mid-level SEC team that has been lapped by more progressive teams like Arkansas, Alabama, and Auburn, not to mention mainstays like Kentucky. I'd really hate for him to sour his legacy due to selfish pride or stubbornness.

I love Barnes, but man, you have to change with the times, even if you don't agree with them. If you won't change, then you have to know when to get out of the way and bow out. The game isn't the same one he devoted himself to as a coach, mentor, and developer, 40 years ago. You either change with it, or you move on.

Bruin used to make one or two red-hot takes each offseason, so in his honor, I'll make one, now. The 2022-23 season will be Rick Barnes last season as Tennessee's head coach. The 2022 class is pretty much disastrous. Even if he manages to recover and fill the open spots with capable players, none of them will be first or even second options, at this point. If the rumors of his rigid approach to NIL, Spyre, the transfer portal, and his assistant coaches are true, I can't see the 2023 class making much more headway. I think he will tire of the pressures of coaching, the new era of recruiting, and just say, "You know what, I've had enough. I don't need this", and bow out gracefully into retirement. And hey, if he isn't willing to budge on his own scruples, even I'm willing to admit it's probably for the best for everyone involved, him included.

We will see.

Not you too.

 

[golfballs]

Not one day has gone by since I was bemoaning inevitable conflict between Barnes and Spyre and here we are.

 

[cncchris33]

Not you too.

Again, I'm NOT calling for his head. In my hot take, I think he will step out on his own terms. But, man, if those rumors are true (and they are coming from multiple sources), then I think you have to admit it's pretty damning evidence.

 

[Volprofch05]

Any of y’all know anyone who deals in black magic? Gonna go make a deal with the devil. We lose our baseball team, and our football team, but we land Kenneth Lofton Jr, along with some other good transfers and we win a national championship. Fair enough IMO.

Don’t be messin with baseball now

 

[AngryButchJones]

I'm not to the point of calling for Rick's head. After all, I've defended him more than he probably deserves.

BUT, if he isn't careful, as one other poster intimated, he could quickly undo all the good he's done in 7 years, and Tennessee is back to hiring a replacement coming in to a mid-level SEC team that has been lapped by more progressive teams like Arkansas, Alabama, and Auburn, not to mention mainstays like Kentucky. I'd really hate for him to sour his legacy due to selfish pride or stubbornness.

I love Barnes, but man, you have to change with the times, even if you don't agree with them. If you won't change, then you have to know when to get out of the way and bow out. The game isn't the same one he devoted himself to as a coach, mentor, and developer, 40 years ago. You either change with it, or you move on.

Bruin used to make one or two red-hot takes each offseason, so in his honor, I'll make one, now. The 2022-23 season will be Rick Barnes last season as Tennessee's head coach. The 2022 class is pretty much disastrous. Even if he manages to recover and fill the open spots with capable players, none of them will be first or even second options, at this point. If the rumors of his rigid approach to NIL, Spyre, the transfer portal, and his assistant coaches are true, I can't see the 2023 class making much more headway. I think he will tire of the pressures of coaching, the new era of recruiting, and just say, "You know what, I've had enough. I don't need this", and bow out gracefully into retirement. And hey, if he isn't willing to budge on his own scruples, even I'm willing to admit it's probably for the best for everyone involved, him included.

We will see.

I've more or less thought similarly about Barnes' attitude toward this new era of CBB and have thought for about a year now that 2022-23 or 2023-24 would be his last season at UT. Which is why I was surprised to see him get a contract extension this offseason. Not because the 2021-22 season didn't warrant it, but I just can't see him here in 2026 or 2027, not with the old school background he comes from and who he learned coaching from and admired.

Would love to be wrong, because if he's here that long, it likely means he's had a good amount of success. I like Barnes overall and have defended him plenty, but you and others are right: If he can't adapt to the times, he shouldn't be here too much longer. For his sake and UT's.

 

[golfballs]

Again, I'm NOT calling for his head. In my hot take, I think he will step out on his own terms. But, man, if those rumors are true (and they are coming from multiple sources), then I think you have to admit it's pretty damning evidence.

Multiple people. Likely the same source.

 

[walkenvol]

Get ready to see Santi take a huge step back unless we land a ball dominant PG who can create off the bounce. We have no one on this team who will force defenders out of Santi’s shorts and into help defense on a consistent basis.

I’ll make a friendly wager SV will be as productive if not more next season

 

[cncchris33]

Multiple people. Likely the same source.

Maybe so, and I'm careful about putting an exorbitant amount of blind faith in those rumors, but if they are true, then it isn't good. The landscape has changed far too much to be stubborn.

 

[JRVOL11]

staff should’ve made sure they had collins locked up for sure before they stopped recruiting other pgs.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Again, I'm NOT calling for his head. In my hot take, I think he will step out on his own terms. But, man, if those rumors are true (and they are coming from multiple sources), then I think you have to admit it's pretty damning evidence.

Well I know one thing, the posters who said “Barnes cheats too” can be laid to rest now if the rumors are indeed true.

Huge respect for Barnes for being a great man trying to do things the right way but unfortunately, times have changed and it’s not working in his favor.

Honestly, this would be the best time to call it quits regardless the outcome of next season. He doesn’t have to deal with the NIL nor get his hands dirty and still go out with a good reputation.