Tennessee Vols Basketball Recruiting

[SGMVols]

I don’t think White strong-arming him into a career decision at this point in the offseason is good for anyone involved. Hiring a replacement and convincing the remaining players to stick around, much less filling out a roster could prove difficult
I could be wrong, and after all, since this is a crazy hypothetical for each of us, I won’t fault you for having that opinion.

It would be complete idiocy to try to strong arm Barnes into quitting right now. Hiring season is over and we would turn into Georgia overnight after whatever low-major schmuck we end up with fails to convince the current players to stay.

I’ve been a big fan of Danny White so far. I would instantly flip and become the founding member of the Fire Danny White Club if he tried to push Barnes out this offseason.

 

[SGMVols]

Phillips isn’t going to be a Vol.

I think anyone who claims to know what he’s going to do is full of it. I’ve never seen a recruit be better at throwing people off his trail than Phillips. Hell I wouldn’t be stunned if he just picked Vandy out of the blue.

 

[Weezer]

Meh, I haven't once called for Barnes' head, but he absolutely needs to adjust to the changing game. Those that don't get left behind. And truthfully, I think it's weak if he backed off of Collins in fear of tampering accusations.

To say I'm disappointed with how this offseason has gone thus far is an understatement. Sure, there's still time, and I'm still hoping CRB pulls something off, but the idea that we're losing out on Collins over some trumped up tampering accusations and Philips over CRB being uncomfortable with his NIL offer, that's just insanity.

Rick needs to get comfortable with NIL real quick.

I still believe with the talent we're returning, we're a true point guard and a dynamic player away from being true contenders next year. Sure, we can still make the tournament just with what we have, but we need more to make a run. And the chance is right there within reach. It could be a while before we get this close again just based on what we lose after this season. And it's sad that the reason we don't take that next step falls on Barnes failing to shore up the roster when he had a chance. I really hope he pulls some miracle off, but I'm far from convinced he will. It sucks when you desperately want to be wrong, but don't think you are.

 

[Weezer]

It would be complete idiocy to try to strong arm Barnes into quitting right now. Hiring season is over and we would turn into Georgia overnight after whatever low-major schmuck we end up with fails to convince the current players to stay.

I’ve been a big fan of Danny White so far. I would instantly flip and become the founding member of the Fire Danny White Club if he tried to push Barnes out this offseason.

Not to mention, firing a coach off an SEC tournament win and NCAA Tournament appearance isn't going to endear you to other coaches, especially someone as respected in the ranks as Barnes. Getting rid of Barnes is not the answer, but he does need to pull his head out of his ass IF he's getting in the way of NIL.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

This is a terrible deal

It’s a great deal.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

Don’t be messin with baseball now

im willing to do anything to keep my mental sanity.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

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

I’m not letting a message board rumor affect my opinion of his program, for now. The jury is still out. I’m not even necessarily “bashing” Barnes.

He does have an eye for talent and he does develop players, but to win at the level we want to win (i.e. win championships, make our first F4), then you need elite talent.

If we’re fine with just being an NCAA tournament team and finishing in the 4-6 range in the SEC each year then the program he is running now is perfectly suitable to accomplish that.

But, if we want any chance at continuing to try and win SEC titles and make a deep run in March, you have to adapt to the new NIL shift. It’s just the truth. Otherwise, Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, and Arkansas (among others) will use the new tools to their advantage and 3-4 years from now there will be a BIG gap between our program and theirs.

 

[cardvolfan]

Not so long ago, many folks said paying players for NIL was the right thing to do and it would make college athletics a better place. Now all hell has broken loose. The ramifications of all this are just mind-boggling. I’m afraid money is going to rot amateur athletics to the core.

 

[Voltime123]

Not so long ago, many folks said paying players for NIL was the right thing to do and it would make college athletics a better place. Now all hell has broken loose. The ramifications of all this are just mind-boggling. I’m afraid money is going to rot amateur athletics to the core.

Yeah illegal under the table money is better (blue font)

 

[berryvol]

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

Open to pretty much anything. It would basically be impossible for him to shoot better and we have no one to get him the ball.

 

[joevols89]

Open to pretty much anything. It would basically be impossible for him to shoot better and we have no one to get him the ball.

Be careful. You can quickly be labeled a troll or negavol with that kind of opinion.

 

[berryvol]

Be careful. You can quickly be labeled a troll or negavol with that kind of opinion.

Oh whale. Wouldn’t be the first time.

 

[Volfan1000]

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.

This subject was brought up in Segment 6 of The Sports Source yesterday and can be viewed on You Tube if anybody is interested.

 

[berryvol]

I think the ridiculous idea of Powell going pro overseas is being glossed over big time here. He’s one of the few guys coming back that have showed ANY ability to score/create off the bounce in his past. He’s one guy that could theoretically make a leap and change the outlook on next year’s team. It’s getting to the point that we can’t even have hope in ridiculous scenarios.

 

[Volfan1000]

Barnes said in an interview with Volquest that he was shocked by the amount of money that some kids get in NIL deals.

If Tennessee does not make a deep NCAA Tournament run in 2023, I could see Barnes possibly retiring.

 

[VolArmy74]

Not so long ago, many folks said paying players for NIL was the right thing to do and it would make college athletics a better place. Now all hell has broken loose. The ramifications of all this are just mind-boggling. I’m afraid money is going to rot amateur athletics to the core.

NiL is exactly the right, moral and most American thing to do I can think of. Having a coach that won't adjust is the issue if it's true that Barnes is dropping the ball on it.

Imagine if someone wanted to pay you a huge sum of money for a service you could provide them but someone else told you you weren't allowed to pursue that revenue. Meanwhile the person who told you no was making billions of dollars off a service you were expected to provide them for free.

No hell has broken loose. Look at the football side, it's already benefitting us huge because Heupel has embraced the new reality.

 

[Volprofch05]

Barnes said in an interview with Volquest that he was shocked by the amount of money that some kids get in NIL deals.

If Tennessee does not make a deep NCAA Tournament run in 2023, I could see Barnes possibly retiring.

Seem to recall someone pointing out that Barnes makes a lot of money

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Exactly. Where in the world could he play pro ball?

Europe

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Also, blast Barns into the sun.

 

[Weezer]

Best case scenario is Barnes decides to retire at the end of a season. Whether it be next season or 5 seasons from now, best to let him choose to walk away, then pray DW makes a good hire. Letting Rick go would poison the well much like we did when we let Fulmer go as coach.

 

[OllVol]

If Barnes really is mishandling NiL that badly, something has to change and it needs to come from above his head that he needs to do it. It's absolutely unbelievable to me that a coach would sabotage his own program that way. There's no sugar coating it or positive spin. In this situation you either get on board or get ran over. DeVoe couldn't adjust to the shot clock rules change and it set the program back a decade in the long run. We can't afford to have a coach who won't actively embrace the new phase of the game.

The sky is falling. The sky is falling!

 

[jbr82]

The sky is falling. The sky is falling!

No problem to see here

 

[beefvol44]

Not so long ago, many folks said paying players for NIL was the right thing to do and it would make college athletics a better place. Now all hell has broken loose. The ramifications of all this are just mind-boggling. I’m afraid money is going to rot amateur athletics to the core.

They were getting paid before, NIL opens it up to more players and lets schools compete with the ones who have cheated for years and got away with it.

 

[vols 30]

Barnes said in an interview with Volquest that he was shocked by the amount of money that some kids get in NIL deals.

If Tennessee does not make a deep NCAA Tournament run in 2023, I could see Barnes possibly retiring.

There used to be a time when a free education was enough. Crazy times

 

[Voltime123]

I think the ridiculous idea of Powell going pro overseas is being glossed over big time here. He’s one of the few guys coming back that have showed ANY ability to score/create off the bounce in his past. He’s one guy that could theoretically make a leap and change the outlook on next year’s team. It’s getting to the point that we can’t even have hope in ridiculous scenarios.

Lol what?