Tennessee Vols Basketball Recruiting

[cncchris33]

All I’m saying is if my boss asks me to finish a project by June and comes to me in May saying he has doubts about my abilities because it’s not finished yet, I’d feel hard done by. Let them wrap the class up and then evaluate how they are as recruiters.

I am evaluating these coaches in real time with the ability to adjust my opinion, same as we do with players during the season. Waiting an entire year until the class is finalized to discuss results doesn't really make for an interesting message board topic. And it isn’t like they missed on their first target and I immediately turned against them in a panic and demanded they be fired. Again, I'm not making an absolute judgement against them.

 

[SJAVol32]

Relevant to Hunter.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Let’s hope they are full now.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Again, they were 0 for everybody (BJ Edwards, notwithstanding) as of a month ago. That was no one's expectation. At that point, it was absolutely fair to question their results nearly a year on the job. Doing so wasn't akin to abandoning all hope and demanding we cut the cord.

As with most issues you take exception with, though, especially any that aren't effusive with an overabundance of praise for Barnes and his staff, you are only willing to deal in absolute outcomes.

I suggested we maybe wait and see we wait and see how spring 2022 unfolds and 2023 class as well before making definitive claims about those 2 assistants…many said that was outlandish and others suggested they be fired, looking like just a little patience was probably the smart move

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Let’s hope they are full now.

They aren’t.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

They aren’t.

I guess that means Wilson is staying in the draft. Oh well. See ya Hunter. I’m sure he’ll announce his commitment soon.

 

[Schasz]

Relevant to Hunter.

Saw somewhere today that BJ Edwards is on campus now. Leads me think that the staff knows Hunter is not coming and the coaching staff want to get BJE working on his game as he likely will need to play some minutes next season.

 

[SJAVol32]

Saw somewhere today that BJ Edwards is on campus now. Leads me think that the staff knows Hunter is not coming and the coaching staff want to get BJE working on his game as he likely will need to play some minutes next season.

I don’t think that’s the reason BJ is on campus already personally.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I don’t think that’s the reason BJ is on campus already personally.

It’s definitely not. He’s done with high school. No reason to not have him on campus early to start working out regardless of the roster.

 

[cncchris33]

I suggested we maybe wait and see we wait and see how spring 2022 unfolds and 2023 class as well before making definitive claims about those 2 assistants…many said that was outlandish and others suggested they be fired, looking like just a little patience was probably the smart move

I'm not sure why you're replying to my posts as if I explicitly said either of those things, though. All I originally did was question why you framed your statement as if ANY criticism wasn't fair/warranted. I'm fine with you exercising the patience of Job with every aspect of this coaching staff. I just don't think it's fair of you to expect everyone else to share that same level of forbearance, nor is it fair to judge anyone who doesn't as Chicken Little.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I'm not sure why you're replying to my posts as if I explicitly said either of those things, though. All I originally did was question why you framed your statement as if ANY criticism wasn't fair/warranted. I'm fine with you exercising the patience of Job with every aspect of this coaching staff. I just don't think it's fair of you to expect everyone else to share that same level of forbearance, nor is it fair to judge anyone who doesn't as Chicken Little.

I just think trying to draw definitive conclusions based on just the fall signing class was unfair, and when I said that many folks seemed pretty set that these weren’t good hires and moving on from them should be considered.

 

[jp1]

I'm not sure why you're replying to my posts as if I explicitly said either of those things, though. All I originally did was question why you framed your statement as if ANY criticism wasn't fair/warranted. I'm fine with you exercising the patience of Job with every aspect of this coaching staff. I just don't think it's fair of you to expect everyone else to share that same level of forbearance, nor is it fair to judge anyone who doesn't as Chicken Little.

Man I totally get what you are saying, and I've been on your end of the discussion with BTO before. However, I have to side with him on this one. I think you know full well what he is getting at and the posters that were saying that ridiculous stuff. I dont want to speak for him, but I dont think he is pointing his finger at you. Barnes has earned the right for a little patience in my opinion.

 

[cncchris33]

I just think trying to draw definitive conclusions based on just the fall signing class was unfair, and when I said that many folks seemed pretty set that these weren’t good hires and moving on from them should be considered.

I guess I just don't remember "many folks" making those claims, but regardless, I certainly wasn't one of them. Nor was anyone else in this current discussion. It just seems like you take exception to literally any level of criticism of the staff. Your reaction to the most minimal amount of disapproval is as if the only two options are to offer unabated and unquestioned support, or you want the coach fired.

 

[cncchris33]

Man I totally get what you are saying, and I've been on your end of the discussion with BTO before. However, I have to side with him on this one. I think you know full well what he is getting at and the posters that were saying that ridiculous stuff. I dont want to speak for him, but I dont think he is pointing his finger at you. Barnes has earned the right for a little patience in my opinion.

Sure he has. No one is calling for his head, though, at least not in this discussion. No one is even really discussing Barnes. The real issue in this matter is his assistant coaches. I think it was fair to make note of their failures in recruiting during the summer, fall, winter, and early spring, and to still be able to recalibrate your compass on them as this summer approached.

Perhaps I am grossly misremembering the amount of people who were calling for either of their (Gainey and Clark) heads along the way. I just don't remember it being an alarming number of posters.

 

[VolArmy74]

I may be missing something, but isn't Phillips the only top 50 guy we have commited right now for 2022 or 2023? We got lucky and got a second bite at the apple with him and thankfully we closed the deal, though Spyre may have been a huge factor there.

Hopefully there's further good news in the future but we are 8th in the SEC right now according to 247 for 2022. People are acting like we just signed the fab 5.

To Chris's point, how many of our top targets did we sign in 2022? Hopefully we do much better with 2023.

 

[The Dog]

If Barnes doesn't get Phillips or someone similar, after KC and the Sunshine Band winning the first SECT Championship in 40 years, he deserves all the shade, imo. He did and he he keeps adding kids with a certain set of skills, Awaka/rebounding, Jefferson/the slasher/athlete, we have needed. So, yeah, Barnes, Gainey and Clark deserved all the doubts thrown at them. But, it looks like they got it right

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

I may be missing something, but isn't Phillips the only top 50 guy we have commited right now for 2022 or 2023? We got lucky and got a second bite at the apple with him and thankfully we closed the deal, though Spyre may have been a huge factor there.

Hopefully there's further good news in the future but we are 8th in the SEC right now according to 247 for 2022. People are acting like we just signed the fab 5.

To Chris's point, how many of our top targets did we sign in 2022? Hopefully we do much better with 2023.

I bet you are a blast at parties.

 

[i2amavol]

I may be missing something, but isn't Phillips the only top 50 guy we have commited right now for 2022 or 2023? We got lucky and got a second bite at the apple with him and thankfully we closed the deal, though Spyre may have been a huge factor there.

Hopefully there's further good news in the future but we are 8th in the SEC right now according to 247 for 2022. People are acting like we just signed the fab 5.

To Chris's point, how many of our top targets did we sign in 2022? Hopefully we do much better with 2023.

Isn't it great when we are (at least slightly) upset when we "only" get one top 50 guy so far? How many years ago would we have given anything to get just one?

Just a quick observation. Not a jab at anyone.

 

[VolGee4]

I may be missing something, but isn't Phillips the only top 50 guy we have commited right now for 2022 or 2023? We got lucky and got a second bite at the apple with him and thankfully we closed the deal, though Spyre may have been a huge factor there.

Hopefully there's further good news in the future but we are 8th in the SEC right now according to 247 for 2022. People are acting like we just signed the fab 5.

To Chris's point, how many of our top targets did we sign in 2022? Hopefully we do much better with 2023.

We only had limited numbers though in the early signing period. Sure, we would have taken 1 or probably 2 of our top 50 targets and worked out scholarships. But once we missed, we re-evaluated in the spring as so many transfered. We started out back in rankings initially because of numbers. Roster building will continue to be fluid from fall to spring.

 

[VolArmy74]

We only had limited numbers though in the early signing period. Sure, we would have taken 1 or probably 2 of our top 50 targets and worked out scholarships. But once we missed, we re-evaluated in the spring as so many transfered. We started out back in rankings initially because of numbers. Roster building will continue to be fluid from fall to spring.

We pursued 10 guys pretty heavily. The best thing about Barnes' recruiting is that he will recruit over people if they aren't performing. The great ones go after and take the best then can and they deal with roster numbers after the season.

 

[VolGee4]

We pursued 10 guys pretty heavily. The best thing about Barnes' recruiting is that he will recruit over people if they aren't performing. The great ones go after and take the best then can and they deal with roster numbers after the season.

Yea, but we weren’t signing all 10. We weren’t even signing probably 4. Maybe 3, depending on who they were. But you have to remember that the early signing period is around the time that the first regular season game is played. They didn’t expect to lose BHH and probably Powell at that point. Like I said, this is all fluid. You just can’t convince me we were signing that many at that point. We moved down a pecking order.

 

[VolArmy74]

Yea, but we weren’t signing all 10. We weren’t even signing probably 4. Maybe 3, depending on who they were. But you have to remember that the early signing period is around the time that the first regular season game is played. They didn’t expect to lose BHH and probably Powell at that point. Like I said, this is all fluid. You just can’t convince me we were signing that many at that point. We moved down a pecking order.

I believe we'd have signed several (3-5) if they'd wanted to come here. We've not been shy about cleaning out the roster any year and we saw it again here in spring. BHH may have been a surprise, though I would guess Barnes probably had an idea early on he wasn't the kind of player that would stick here since his biggest issue was effort in practice.

 

[cncchris33]

Yea, but we weren’t signing all 10. We weren’t even signing probably 4. Maybe 3, depending on who they were. But you have to remember that the early signing period is around the time that the first regular season game is played. They didn’t expect to lose BHH and probably Powell at that point. Like I said, this is all fluid. You just can’t convince me we were signing that many at that point. We moved down a pecking order.

We signed BJE (always were going to), and no one will ever convince me we'd have told Wallace, Mitchell, or Miller there was no room at the inn. So I absolutely believe we'd have signed 3-4. We knew, on some level, that we were losing Chandler, and that certain guys were expendable (Bailey, maybe Plavsic).

And whether that number was 3 or 4, we landed 0. That didn't set well with many people, and justifiably so. Anyone claiming they should be fired for not landing any of those top targets is being dramatic and ridiculous. Anyone who voiced a reasonable level of concern was being cautious and aware.

 

[walkenvol]

I suggested we maybe wait and see we wait and see how spring 2022 unfolds and 2023 class as well before making definitive claims about those 2 assistants…many said that was outlandish and others suggested they be fired, looking like just a little patience was probably the smart move

Well, you better just give yourself a Bruin

 

[Willy14]

Anyone heard where we turn with this last roster spot if we miss on Hunter (which is looking likely since we are dealing with Kansas) @bleedingTNorange @Stoerner Fumbles @FranklinVol16