Tennessee Vols Basketball Recruiting

[cncchris33]

As much as I like to joke on Gonzaga. Maintaining the success they’ve had as a “mid major” is incredible and there’s some blue blood schools that would love the run they’ve had the last 10-15 years.

Yeah, it's tough to ignore their success and the longevity of that success. And to the point that they are recruiting with the likes of Duke, UK, UNC, etc., now. They used to do it with underrated kids, transfers, and international guys. Now, they still have those types, but they land 4 and 5* kids pretty regularly, too.

Add to the fact that it is a relatively tiny school (less than 5000 undergrad students) and it's location in eastern Washington state, the level of sustained success is pretty remarkable.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I’d be impressed if Gonzaga was doing what they are doing while in the PAC12. The WCC is loaded with lightweights. After they schedule a handful of tough pre-conference opponents in November and December, they are basically breezing through their conference for the next 10-12 weeks prepping for the NCAAT while the P-6s have to grind it out every week. Also, I bet that their 2nd and 3rd round NCAAT opponents typically have to travel across the country while they don’t have to travel too far to the venues. Got to give them credit though for recruiting world-wide. They have a good formula, but they have a unique situation. SEC, ACC, B10, and B12 teams are battling big budget programs every week January-March.

 

[JelloPuddinPup]

I’d be impressed if Gonzaga was doing what they are doing while in the PAC12. The WCC is loaded with lightweights. After they schedule a handful of tough pre-conference opponents in November and December, they are basically breezing through their conference for the next 10-12 weeks prepping for the NCAAT while the P-6s have to grind it out every week. Also, I bet that their 2nd and 3rd round NCAAT opponents typically have to travel across the country while they don’t have to travel too far to the venues. Got to give them credit though for recruiting world-wide. They have a good formula, but they have a unique situation. SEC, ACC, B10, and B12 teams are battling big budget programs every week January-March.

It definitely has it's advantages but still, to sustain it as long as they have is impressive in any conference. Plus, they generally prove not to be false gold come tourney time even though they haven't had the ultimate win.

 

[McGeesPub]

I’d be impressed if Gonzaga was doing what they are doing while in the PAC12. The WCC is loaded with lightweights. After they schedule a handful of tough pre-conference opponents in November and December, they are basically breezing through their conference for the next 10-12 weeks prepping for the NCAAT while the P-6s have to grind it out every week. Also, I bet that their 2nd and 3rd round NCAAT opponents typically have to travel across the country while they don’t have to travel too far to the venues. Got to give them credit though for recruiting world-wide. They have a good formula, but they have a unique situation. SEC, ACC, B10, and B12 teams are battling big budget programs every week January-March.

Kind of like UK for most of their mid-century success.

 

[walkenvol]

I’d be impressed if Gonzaga was doing what they are doing while in the PAC12. The WCC is loaded with lightweights. After they schedule a handful of tough pre-conference opponents in November and December, they are basically breezing through their conference for the next 10-12 weeks prepping for the NCAAT while the P-6s have to grind it out every week. Also, I bet that their 2nd and 3rd round NCAAT opponents typically have to travel across the country while they don’t have to travel too far to the venues. Got to give them credit though for recruiting world-wide. They have a good formula, but they have a unique situation. SEC, ACC, B10, and B12 teams are battling big budget programs every week January-March.

Playing in the WCC hurts them, not helps them. Playing good teams every week makes your team better. Iron sharpens iron as they say.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Their conference tournament ends on Tuesday while most end on Sunday. They get to rest for a week and a half heading into the NCAAT while also avoiding a 2-3 month conference grind. Then they often have unranked opponents see them in California the 2nd week of the NCAAT. They’ve had great draws. They have a favorable arrangement.

 

[Kas232323]

Their conference tournament ends on Tuesday while most end on Sunday. They get to rest for a week and a half heading into the NCAAT while also avoiding a 2-3 month conference grind. Then they often have unranked opponents see them in California the 2nd week of the NCAAT. They’ve had great draws. They have a favorable arrangement.

Go look at their seedlings over the past 15 years. They aren’t always a 1 or 2 and haven’t always had favorable draws.

 

[walkenvol]

Go look at their seedlings over the past 15 years. They aren’t always a 1 or 2 and haven’t always had favorable draws.

It’s his hill and he’s determined to die on it!

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Go look at their seedlings over the past 15 years. They aren’t always a 1 or 2 and haven’t always had favorable draws.

I looked back about 5 years. Didn’t see many ranked opponents in NCAAT matchups. They met FL State twice on the west coast. South Carolina was another opponent that had to travel across the country. UCLA wasn’t even ranked when they beat them in the 3rd week. They are an island. The PAC12 hasn’t been on close to the same level as the other 4 majors and probably not the Big East either. They have a good setup. Hit the road for several P-6 opponents early in the season - then only get challenged a couple of times in their conference. Then face a good conference opponent in their conference finals. Then take off 8 or 9 days before the first NCAAT weekend while not having to travel far from home. I would guess that nobody is in a better position by the time the 2nd weekend rolls around. And they’re probably facing an east coast team in a California venue since there are not many good teams out west. They still have to win the majority of the tough November/December matchups to stay highly ranked. But even if they drop a couple of those, they have the entire remainder of the year to steadily climb back up the rankings while the P-6s struggle while beating up on each other. Great seeds aren’t difficult for Gonzaga to grab.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

What is Mark Few’s game plan to counter N-I-L? He’s not supposed to pay his international players. I wonder if he has a work around or loophole.

 

[Kas232323]

I looked back about 5 years. Didn’t see many ranked opponents in NCAAT matchups. They met FL State twice on the west coast. South Carolina was another opponent that had to travel across the country. UCLA wasn’t even ranked when they beat them in the 3rd week. They are an island. The PAC12 hasn’t been on close to the same level as the other 4 majors and probably not the Big East either. They have a good setup. Hit the road for several P-6 opponents early in the season - then only get challenged a couple of times in their conference. Then face a good conference opponent in their conference finals. Then take off 8 or 9 days before the first NCAAT weekend while not having to travel far from home. I would guess that nobody is in a better position by the time the 2nd weekend rolls around. And they’re probably facing an east coast team in a California venue since there are not many good teams out west. They still have to win the majority of the tough November/December matchups to stay highly ranked. But even if they drop a couple of those, they have the entire remainder of the year to steadily climb back up the rankings while the P-6s struggle while beating up on each other. Great seeds aren’t difficult for Gonzaga to grab.

Lol. 15 years….not 5. It’s important to look at what they had to go through in order to be in position to get the better seeds the last 5 years. You can reach the same conclusion by looking at Duke Kansas Kentucky unc etc during a specific 5 year run as well. Anyway. I’m done with this. Ready to see some recruiting updates for our Vols.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Lol. 15 years….not 5. It’s important to look at what they had to go through in order to be in position to get the better seeds the last 5 years. You can reach the same conclusion by looking at Duke Kansas Kentucky unc etc during a specific 5 year run as well. Anyway. I’m done with this. Ready to see some recruiting updates for our Vols.

Their 2 Final Fours are in the last 5 tournaments so I didn’t bother to dig beyond that.

They are pretty much setup to be in the Sweet 16 every year.

 

[berryvol]

The great (and awful, for UT fans) thing about the NCAAT is that the draw really doesn’t matter THAT much. You not only have to be on your A game for 6 games in a row, but you also can’t get unlucky and run into a team that gets hot at the right time. The teams in the tourney are all good enough to win on any given day. The Zags tourney success has been impressive, regardless of who they’ve been playing.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The great (and awful, for UT fans) thing about the NCAAT is that the draw really doesn’t matter THAT much. You not only have to be on your A game for 6 games in a row, but you also can’t get unlucky and run into a team that gets hot at the right time. The teams in the tourney are all good enough to win on any given day. The Zags tourney success has been impressive, regardless of who they’ve been playing.

Oregon State and Michigan were horrible draws for TN. Low seeds for losing lots of games. But on fire at the right time.

 

[berryvol]

Oregon State and Michigan were horrible draws for TN. Low seeds for losing lots of games. But on fire at the right time.

Tennessee could have drawn a random high school team in 2021 and they would’ve been smoked. That team was in shambles by the time March rolled around. Michigan was definitely a tough matchup for us, but we were considered one of the hottest teams in CBB and a popular F4 pick headed into the tourney. If anything, the Michigan game is a perfect example of my point.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Tennessee could have drawn a random high school team in 2021 and they would’ve been smoked. That team was in shambles by the time March rolled around. Michigan was definitely a tough matchup for us, but we were considered one of the hottest teams in CBB and a popular F4 pick headed into the tourney. If anything, the Michigan game is a perfect example of my point.

Michigan barely made the tournament. Probably did not deserve to be in based on their regular season accomplishments. But they were far, far better than their record indicated. Oregon State wouldn’t have been in had they not won the PAC12T. Two horrible draws for TN.

 

[Kas232323]

Their 2 Final Fours are in the last 5 tournaments so I didn’t bother to dig beyond that.

They are pretty much setup to be in the Sweet 16 every year.

Gonzaga’s last four 2nd round games - Ohio state, Baylor, Oklahoma and Memphis. Yea…..cakewalks. Haha.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Gonzaga’s last four 2nd round games - Ohio state, Baylor, Oklahoma and Memphis. Yea…..cakewalks. Haha.

Wasn’t Ohio State the only one that was ranked? And weren’t all 4 of those games on the west coast?

20-13 Baylor.
16-10 Oklahoma.
22-10 Memphis.

 

[Kas232323]

Wasn’t Ohio State the only one that was ranked? And weren’t all 4 of those games on the west coast?

20-13 Baylor.
16-10 Oklahoma.
22-10 Memphis.

Baylor won the title the following year…. And you know Memphis was playing way better than an 8 seed. You can’t use Michigan vs us as an example and then discount Memphis last year and Baylor three years ago.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Baylor won the title the following year…. And you know Memphis was playing way better than an 8 seed. You can’t use Michigan vs us as an example and then discount Memphis last year and Baylor three years ago.

Sure I can. I’m not comparing Gonzaga and TN. I’m not talking about seeds either. I said “draws”. TN has had horrible draws. Gonzaga has had favorable draws. Gonzaga has their 2 final fours because of their favorable draws. They aren’t up with UK, KU, Duke, and UNC yet. They’ve made a lot of recent Sweet 16s and have benefited greatly by being on their own island out west.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Memphis traveled to Portland, Oregon for that one.

 

[Kas232323]

Sure I can. I’m not comparing Gonzaga and TN. I’m not talking about seeds either. I said “draws”. TN has had horrible draws. Gonzaga has had favorable draws. Gonzaga has their 2 final fours because of their favorable draws. They aren’t up with UK, KU, Duke, and UNC yet. They’ve made a lot of recent Sweet 16s and have benefited greatly by being on their own island out west.

Lol. You’re funny. I’m out.

 

[VolGee4]

Playing in the WCC hurts them, not helps them. Playing good teams every week makes your team better. Iron sharpens iron as they say.

I understand this point, but I would venture to guess that they wouldn't get seeded the way they do in tougher conferences with more losses. It is an incredible run, but their seeding also helps them with specific matchups.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Lol. You’re funny. I’m out.

You said that you were out 3 hours ago. You really don’t need to make announcements.

 

[cncchris33]

Wasn’t Ohio State the only one that was ranked? And weren’t all 4 of those games on the west coast?

20-13 Baylor.
16-10 Oklahoma.
22-10 Memphis.

Gonzaga was a 1-seed in 3 of those 4, though. The best they could have played was an 8-seed in the 2nd round. And to their credit, they won all 4 games by a combined 38 points.