tennessee's biggest problem

#1
99gator

99gator

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#1
after watching the game last night, there were two glaring problems with tennessee. one of them has been there all season.

the problem that has been there all season is that too many players get too many minutes. it's not even necessarily about who is playing and how many minutes they are getting. it's the fact that it's hard to play as a cohesive unit when lineup changes are constant throughout a game. one minute you are playing the 3 and 2 mintues later you are playing the 2. you go to the bench for 2 mintues and come back in the game and are essentially playing the 1. you've guarded 3 different guys while on the floor. it's just hard on players to have this happen constantly.

also, you can get in a rythym and the players you were clicking with are pulled or you are pulled. it destroys the momentum that the team had going for it.

the second thing is, as of right now, tobias harris is the best player on that roster. while he can shoot from the outside, this team needs his rear end parked on the block. the ball needs to go through harris damn near every possession. this is especially true when tennessee needs a bucket.

anyway, just my thoughts. every time i watch tennessee play, i am amazed at the substitution patterns. mainly, because they don't seem to have a pattern. i don't see any grand design behind the substitutions other than to shuffle players in and out and keep them fresh. if that's the case, there's a better way to do it without crushing the momentum and rythym of the team.

hopefully, they can figure some of this out in the few days they have left.
 
#2
#2
This year has been a train wreck. The coaching has been horrible all year. Bruce is either stubborn or he's got his mind somewhere else.
 
#5
#5
99gator said:
after watching the game last night, there were two glaring problems with tennessee. one of them has been there all season.

the problem that has been there all season is that too many players get too many minutes. it's not even necessarily about who is playing and how many minutes they are getting. it's the fact that it's hard to play as a cohesive unit when lineup changes are constant throughout a game. one minute you are playing the 3 and 2 mintues later you are playing the 2. you go to the bench for 2 mintues and come back in the game and are essentially playing the 1. you've guarded 3 different guys while on the floor. it's just hard on players to have this happen constantly.

also, you can get in a rythym and the players you were clicking with are pulled or you are pulled. it destroys the momentum that the team had going for it.

the second thing is, as of right now, tobias harris is the best player on that roster. while he can shoot from the outside, this team needs his rear end parked on the block. the ball needs to go through harris damn near every possession. this is especially true when tennessee needs a bucket.

anyway, just my thoughts. every time i watch tennessee play, i am amazed at the substitution patterns. mainly, because they don't seem to have a pattern. i don't see any grand design behind the substitutions other than to shuffle players in and out and keep them fresh. if that's the case, there's a better way to do it without crushing the momentum and rythym of the team.

hopefully, they can figure some of this out in the few days they have left.
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I have not analyzed UT's sub patterns to see if there is a logic to them or not, but team chemistry and defined player roles are very important, and that may be an issue this year. Likewise, I agree that Harris needs to get the ball, and get it near the basket, when UT needs a basket. He and Hopson are playing well but could be even better playing off of each other, IMO.
 
#6
#6
FEARinSEC said:
Bruce's mind is wondering who's going to hire him after next month......
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If they fire him after the NCAA ruling then they should fire everyone in the UTAD and get rid of the make shift president too. That would be it, i may never give another dime to them if it goes down that way. That would be stupid on a epic scale.

If they were going to fire Bruce it should have already been done. What good does it do to keep him around see what the punishment is then fire him? It might have been less punishment if they had already parted ways. That would be stupid on a epic scale. I wouldn't be surprised though, it seems the whole thing is ran by morons anyway.
 
#7
#7
99gator said:
after watching the game last night, there were two glaring problems with tennessee. one of them has been there all season.

the problem that has been there all season is that too many players get too many minutes. it's not even necessarily about who is playing and how many minutes they are getting. it's the fact that it's hard to play as a cohesive unit when lineup changes are constant throughout a game. one minute you are playing the 3 and 2 mintues later you are playing the 2. you go to the bench for 2 mintues and come back in the game and are essentially playing the 1. you've guarded 3 different guys while on the floor. it's just hard on players to have this happen constantly.

also, you can get in a rythym and the players you were clicking with are pulled or you are pulled. it destroys the momentum that the team had going for it.

the second thing is, as of right now, tobias harris is the best player on that roster. while he can shoot from the outside, this team needs his rear end parked on the block. the ball needs to go through harris damn near every possession. this is especially true when tennessee needs a bucket.

anyway, just my thoughts. every time i watch tennessee play, i am amazed at the substitution patterns. mainly, because they don't seem to have a pattern. i don't see any grand design behind the substitutions other than to shuffle players in and out and keep them fresh. if that's the case, there's a better way to do it without crushing the momentum and rythym of the team.

hopefully, they can figure some of this out in the few days they have left.
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The biggest problem we had last night was Florida shooting 82% the second half and having a ref that went to high school in Florida.When you combine those two factors then no team has a chance to win the game. I dont care if Eddie Munster himself is coaching the losing team.
 
#8
#8
Cartervol said:
If they fire him after the NCAA ruling then they should fire everyone in the UTAD and get rid of the make shift president too. That would be it, i may never give another dime to them if it goes down that way. That would be stupid on a epic scale.

If they were going to fire Bruce it should have already been done. What good does it do to keep him around see what the punishment is then fire him? It might have been less punishment if they had already parted ways. That would be stupid on a epic scale. I wouldn't be surprised though, it seems the whole thing is ran by morons anyway.
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I think a deal has been finalized and will be shocked if no announcement comes shortly after the season is over.
 
#10
#10
The problem its that UT doesnt have any consistency through the years. We get these coaches in who can do only one thing extremely well. Some can recruit and can't coach, others can coach and can't recruit. Pearl is a used car salesman. He can sell the program, and all the amenities that go with the university, but can't coach in certain situations. Its almost like he chokes under pressure. Splitting my life in Kansas and Tennessee, I follow both programs religiously.

What i see in Kansas is the overall package. The guy can recruit and recruit deep. They experienced 2 suspensions, 4 injuries, and deaths with family members, and he simply reached down the bench and grabbed the next kid.

He obviously can coach, as evident in the Jayhawks 7th straight conference championship, and Coach Selfs 11th in 13 years as a head coach. He doesnt fold or crack under the pressure. Not to mention an NC 2 years ago, and a great shot at another this year.

TBA is way nicer than Allen Field House. AFH has the tradition and a ton of banners. They dont have a facility anywhere close to what Pratt Pavilion is yet. TBA seats 24k+ and AFH seats 16,300.

I can keep going.......but do we really need to look any further than across Pratt Pavilion for a blueprint for success? Coach Summitt can do it all too.

Bottom line is, you have to be committed to it in every aspect. Until that happens....UT can just keep celebrating occasional success... And that doesn't cut it.

Two words and im done........

Danny Manning!
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#11
#11
rok_etop said:
The problem its that UT doesnt have any consistency through the years. We get these coaches in who can do only one thing extremely well. Some can recruit and can't coach, others can coach and can't recruit. Pearl is a used car salesman. He can sell the program, and all the amenities that go with the university, but can't coach in certain situations. Its almost like he chokes under pressure. Splitting my life in Kansas and Tennessee, I follow both programs religiously.

What i see in Kansas is the overall package. The guy can recruit and recruit deep. They experienced 2 suspensions, 4 injuries, and deaths with family members, and he simply reached down the bench and grabbed the next kid.

He obviously can coach, as evident in the Jayhawks 7th straight conference championship, and Coach Selfs 11th in 13 years as a head coach. He doesnt fold or crack under the pressure. Not to mention an NC 2 years ago, and a great shot at another this year.

TBA is way nicer than Allen Field House. AFH has the tradition and a ton of banners. They dont have a facility anywhere close to what Pratt Pavilion is yet. TBA seats 24k+ and AFH seats 16,300.

I can keep going.......but do we really need to look any further than across Pratt Pavilion for a blueprint for success? Coach Summitt can do it all too.

Bottom line is, you have to be committed to it in every aspect. Until that happens....UT can just keep celebrating occasional success... And that doesn't cut it.

Two words and im done........

Danny Manning!
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Dude....it's kansas.

The court is named after the man who invented the game.
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#12
#12
Cartervol said:
If they fire him after the NCAA ruling then they should fire everyone in the UTAD and get rid of the make shift president too. That would be it, i may never give another dime to them if it goes down that way. That would be stupid on a epic scale.

If they were going to fire Bruce it should have already been done. What good does it do to keep him around see what the punishment is then fire him? It might have been less punishment if they had already parted ways. That would be stupid on a epic scale. I wouldn't be surprised though, it seems the whole thing is ran by morons anyway.
Click to expand...

who knows what's been going on behind the scenes, none of us for sure. that being said, until ya'll got the letter a few weeks ago it would have been idiotic to not publically support pearl.

the letter arrives, you're still stuck. are you going to really fire him on the spot and do that to your student-athletes or do you sit on it for a few more weeks and let things play out the way they will?

it's a tough situation for all involved and from the administration/PR side of it, you have to handle it very carefully.
 
#13
#13
99gator said:
Dude....it's kansas.

The court is named after the man who invented the game.
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And Naismith its the only only losing coach the program ever had. And thats the problem with your thinking and others. So what if its Kansas?? That doesnt mean in 10 years from now somebody won't be typing..."Dude its Tennessee. We can't compete with them." Or do we just accept the fact that we aren't gonna compete....ever! Somebody has to be the one to make it happen.
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#14
#14
its funny how quickly people forget.

no one had a problem with substitution patterns a few years back when UT won 30 games was no 1 for a cup of coffee but of course didnt go far enough in tourney..
just saying
 
#15
#15
Tennessee's problem is it doesn't have a 3rd scoring threat that is consistent to make the defense over react. If Hopson struggles like he has been then it is all on Harris. The defense trully doesn't fear any other player as a true scoring threat on the bench. Yeah the subs are confusing to me to kill a player's mental flow into the game but without that 3rd weapon we will be the same team next season IMO....but we'll beat those scrub caliber teams we choked against this season....again IMO.
 
#16
#16
HATINGBAMAISAWAYOFLIFE said:
its funny how quickly people forget.

no one had a problem with substitution patterns a few years back when UT won 30 games was no 1 for a cup of coffee but of course didnt go far enough in tourney..
just saying
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Yeah and those players rotating in from then are all now our starters....our bench has no fire power dude.
 
#19
#19
wildnkrazykat said:
who knows what's been going on behind the scenes, none of us for sure. that being said, until ya'll got the letter a few weeks ago it would have been idiotic to not publically support pearl.

the letter arrives, you're still stuck. are you going to really fire him on the spot and do that to your student-athletes or do you sit on it for a few more weeks and let things play out the way they will?

it's a tough situation for all involved and from the administration/PR side of it, you have to handle it very carefully.
Click to expand...
Keeping him until the punishment is laid out would be dumb. Fire if you're going to fire and do it before the hammer drops. LWS knows something, Hatvol knows something. It seems it's a done deal. Someone finally woke up and figured it out.
 
#20
#20
U say he can't coach... Kansas Texas Memphis Nova Pitt Marquette and Florida will all say ur liars....... along with many other top ten programs that Bruce has beaten while at Tn. That many wins against top programs doesn happen by accident
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#22
#22
99Gator the problem that has been there all season is that too many players get too many minutes. it's not even necessarily about who is playing and how many minutes they are getting.

It's really hard for me to understand why BP plays so many guys and uses some of the rotations he uses. IMO, he needs to play 7-8 guys MAX. I could understand playing more guys in previous years when we full-court pressed for 40 mins but now it seems playing all these guys is just killing the chemistry. Look at UK for example. They play six guys. Six! The Knight kid played all 40 mins vs UT last week.
Also, if BP actually believes S Pearl is better than Maymon or K Hall, not just as a "defensive player" but overall on both ends of the floor he's crazy. I watched SP get outrebounded by guys he's guarding who have 5-6" on him several times. Then he gets called for three stupid fouls, the third in which SP lost control of the ball trying to dribble(which he can't do) to the rim, which resulted in BP getting T'd up defending his son. SP is no threat at all on offense. If he's standing around the perimeter, the guy guarding him is 15 feet away. So it's basically four on five.
S McBee is another guy who shouldn't get on the floor. Sure he makes the occasional 3 but that's it. Where is J McRae if BP is gonna play this many guys? I always hear how he's the best offensive player on the floor during scrimmages in practice but BP says he can't defend. So what? So SP and SM are gonna give the team more overall? I don't think so.
As far as keeping BP around until sanctions are announced, If they do that, everyone in the Athletic Dept that has anything to do with men's hoops should be fired. If BP doesn't resign or they don't fire him they deserve to get hammered by NCAA. Mike Hamilton should leave right along with his "big hire." He's done enough damage to UT.
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#24
#24
The first few posters of this thread nailed it as far as I am concerned. I have always respected 99Gator's posts going back to the GoVolsXtra site days.

It's been a good run with Pearl, but it is time to move on. As I have said before, Urban's offense at UF created havoc for defensive coordinators in the SEC for a few years. In the last couple of years - not. He moved on after accomplishing great things for them. Pearl came in with a style that created havoc for UF, the Cats, etc. for a good 5 year run. That has now ended as they have figured it out, recruiting fell off, and the AA slammed him.

We can do better and hire better. We are not the UT basketball program of old.
 
#25
#25
Neyland2nd2none said:
99Gator the problem that has been there all season is that too many players get too many minutes. it's not even necessarily about who is playing and how many minutes they are getting.

It's really hard for me to understand why BP plays so many guys and uses some of the rotations he uses. IMO, he needs to play 7-8 guys MAX...
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This + 1
 
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