The All-Time Tennessee Twelve

[NochNoch]

Still, Maravich is everything you described him as; a gunner who lacked defense. His dad pushed him to be selfish because no one could stop him. He is one of the most entertaining passers of all-time, and was IMO, a victim of being way ahead of his time in that regard. Other players, at the time, weren't used to behind-the-back passes, no-look passes, and quick bounce-passes on the break.

I think this would be way more accurate than "greatest".

 

[volbeast33]

If Ray Mears told King to take 37 shots, don't worry about defense, and rebound whenever he felt like it, he would have averaged 50.

Maravich was a good rebounder for a guard, a great passer, and one of the most prolific scorers of all time. You talk about caring about results......Maravich led LSU to their first tournament of any kind in over sixteen yrs back when it meant something to make a tournament. It really depends on what you call results.

 

[cncchris33]

I think this would be way more accurate than "greatest".

I would agree that he was also the most entertaining as well, but the two are not mutually exclusive.

 

[volbeast33]

I would agree that he was also the most entertaining as well, but the two are not mutually exclusive.

I dont think he was the greatest offensive player of all time but I do think he is the most skilled.

 

[GoobieVol]

I would agree that he was also the most entertaining as well, but the two are not mutually exclusive.

The broken noses at LSU say that his teamates probably had not ever been around or heard about passing like that.

 

[cncchris33]

A few broken noses at LSU say that his teamates probably had not ever been around or heard about passing like that.

You're right. High school teammates as well. As I said, he was way ahead of his time, and many resented him for it.

 

[GoobieVol]

Saw a great documentary on Maravich back in the day. The one where he spun the ball on his finger for like 18 straight hours.

Anybody else see?

 

[cncchris33]

I dont think he was the greatest offensive player of all time but I do think he is the most skilled.

You're right. He was very skilled, and it came from hours and hours of hard work and being constantly surrounded by older kids (his dad's college players).

 

[cncchris33]

Saw a great documentary on Maravich back in the day. The one where he spun the ball on his finger for like 18 straight hours.

Anybody else see?

I think it was one hour, but impressive all the same. I've seen a few specials on him, and of course, the bio-pic, "The Pistol" was pretty entertaining as well.

 

[volbeast33]

You're right. He was very skilled, and it came from hours and hours of hard work and being constantly surrounded by older kids (his dad's college players).

Those training videos of him are unreal.

 

[GoobieVol]

I think it was one hour, but impressive all the same. I've seen a few specials on him, and of course, the bio-pic, "The Pistol" was pretty entertaining as well.

.

 

[GoobieVol]

Saw a great documentary on Maravich back in the day. The one where he spun the ball on his finger for like 18 straight hours.

Exaggerating is fun. haha

 

[NochNoch]

I would agree that he was also the most entertaining as well, but the two are not mutually exclusive.

They don't have to be mutually exclusive but in Maravich's case I think they were, his style just led to too many turnovers to also be considered the greatest passer, in my opinion. Guys who were less entertaining but far more proficient fall into the greatest category for me, i.e Stockton, Mark Jackson, etc. If you want the middle of the road between the two, give me Magic.

Hell, Jason Williams was one heck of an entertaining passer

but I wouldn't call him great.

 

[cncchris33]

They don't have to be mutually exclusive but in Maravich's case I think they were, his style just led to too many turnovers to also be considered the greatest passer, in my opinion. Guys who were less entertaining but far more proficient fall into the greatest category for me, i.e Stockton, Mark Jackson, etc. If you want the middle of the road between the two, give me Magic.

Hell, Jason Williams was one heck of an entertaining passer

but I wouldn't call him great.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that JWill pass in the all-star rookie game!!!

Maravich's style led to too many TOs because his teammates were not accustomed to his style of play. I know I sound like a broken record, but he was way ahead of his time. This contributed to the TOs. He was very entertaining, but he was also very good in addition to being very entertaining. He was making the type of plays that Magic Johnson was celebrated for 15 years earlier.

Also, note that I didn't call him the greatest passer of all-time. Only that he has to be considered one of the greatest. Heck, he practically invented the no-look and behind-the-back passes. He certainly popularized them and took the heat/blazed the trail for others by initiating them into the sport at a time when they weren't popular with old-fashioned coaches.

 

[stllvf]

As someone said if the 3 had existed his average would have increased by six or seven. His ability to shoot off the wrong foot, while falling from contact was as impressive as his passing. I once taught at Clemson and the fame of the movie theater at that time was the place he dribbled while a youngster

 

[KBVol]

This is not just your typical best players of all time list. This is a "If we started a team today, what would our team be." This means positions, fits, etc.

Also, we are going with players since the late 60's. It's hard for me to pick somebody from 1953. Here we go.

The Starters

PG- Tony White 6'2/170 Charlotte, NC 1983-1987

White was a scoring PG that you haven't seen before. He was ahead of his time. He was SEC player in 1987 and was a two time first team All-SEC. He was electric and holds the all time school record for points in a game with 51.

SG- Allan Houston 6'6/200 Louisville, KY 1988-1993

This was a tough one, but we are going with Houston, who might be the school's second best player. He scored 2,000 points in three seasons, and if not for terrible teams, Houston probably goes down as one of the ten best players in SEC history. Still the school's all time leading scorer and came close to 3,000 points in four years.

SF- Bernard King 6'7/205 Brooklyn, NY 1974-1977

The best player in school history. A hall of famer. Maybe the greatest player in SEC history. Nobody could score like him. He was a great NBA player also, but let's just put it this way. He put up 1,900 points and 1,000 rebounds in three seasons. He was simply the King.

PF- Ernie Grunfeld 6'6/215 Forest Hills, NY 1973-1977

A four time All-SEC performer at Tennessee, Grunfeld is probably the third or fourth best player in school history. Believe it or not, he was Tennessee's first gold medal Olympian with the 1976 USA basketball team. At the time of his graduation, Grunfeld was the second leading scorer in SEC history behind Pete Maravich.

C- Tom Boerwinkle 7'0/260 Independence, Ohio 1965-1968

The first 7'0 footer in Tennessee history, he averaged a double-double in back to back seasons. He was a beast on both ends, and two time All-SEC first team. To tell you how good he was, he's the highest NBA draft pick in Tennessee history and his second all time in rebounding for the Chicago Bulls franchise. "The Bull" did not mess around.

The Bench

PG- Jimmy England 6'1/170 Knoxville, TN 1968-1971

A lost legend for Tennessee. This point guard averaged 20 points and 5.5 assists per game his senior season and was a two-time All-SEC first team player for the Vols. He was nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" by his teammates.

SG- Chris Lofton 6'2/200 Maysville, KY 2004-2008

Lofton is the greatest shooter in school history. He might just be the greatest shooter in NCAA history. Lofton goes down as an All-American and three time All-SEC first teamer, along with 2007 SEC player of the year to his name, and holds about every single three point record in school history.

SF- Dale Ellis 6'7/205 Marietta, GA 1979-1983

One of Tennessee's top five players. The man could score. He was a two time first team All-American, two time SEC player of the year, and three time first team All-SEC at Tennessee, that's how good he was. He's also the second best NBA player in school history. Ellis was a 6'7/205 SF and finished his career with an absolutely stunning 59.6% field goal percentage. Dear God.

PF- Dyron Nix 6'7/215 Meridian, Mississippi 1985-1989

I love rebounding and that is what Nix was all about. A very good athlete that ended up averaging 8.4 boards per game for his career. He was an efficient scorer with two 20 ppg seasons in his pocket, plus a menace on the defensive end. Nix was a two time first team All-SEC. Nix is an underrated player that gets overlooked.

C- Reggie Johnson 6'9/210 Ellenwood, GA 1976-1980

When you talk about efficient, you see his name in the history books. A two time All-American and three time first team All-SEC performer. He was a career 18/8 player with a 58% shooting percentage for his career. Johnson was a beast.

The Extras

G- Mike Edwards 6'2/180 Greenfield, IN 1970-1973

"The Greenfield Gunner" was a two time first team All-SEC player and co-SEC player of the year in 1972, he was one of the first pure shooters in the school's history. He shot 45% for his career and is one of those players you wonder about what he could have done with a three point line.

F/C- Wayne Chism 6'9/240 Bolivar, TN 2006-2010

He might not have the stats or accolades, but he's one of the school's best defenders, which gives him the edge over Ron Slay and Howard Wood. Chism was a first time All-SEC choice in 2010, and led the Vols to their first and only Elite Eight in school history. He averaged 13/7.5 his last two years at Tennessee.

Great list, nice summaries. I'm a huge Bernard King fan, he was incredible. However, I would definitely say that Pete Maravich could "score like him" in the SEC. Just saying. King, if possible, might've actually been a better NBA than SEC player.

 

[ColinS]

Dale Ellis has to be a first teamer.

 

[nunshalpass]

Do you know what a basketball is?
Bernard King is one of the best to ever play this game anywhere period.

I saw both Maravich and King play. I would take Bernard King all day long every day. Maravich was a good player but not the total package that King was.


Also, Mears always had a special defense for Maravich when they played the Vols. He never got close to his average against TN.

 

[nunshalpass]

This is not just your typical best players of all time list. This is a "If we started a team today, what would our team be." This means positions, fits, etc.

Also, we are going with players since the late 60's. It's hard for me to pick somebody from 1953. Here we go.

The Starters

PG- Tony White 6'2/170 Charlotte, NC 1983-1987

White was a scoring PG that you haven't seen before. He was ahead of his time. He was SEC player in 1987 and was a two time first team All-SEC. He was electric and holds the all time school record for points in a game with 51.

SG- Allan Houston 6'6/200 Louisville, KY 1988-1993

This was a tough one, but we are going with Houston, who might be the school's second best player. He scored 2,000 points in three seasons, and if not for terrible teams, Houston probably goes down as one of the ten best players in SEC history. Still the school's all time leading scorer and came close to 3,000 points in four years.

SF- Bernard King 6'7/205 Brooklyn, NY 1974-1977

The best player in school history. A hall of famer. Maybe the greatest player in SEC history. Nobody could score like him. He was a great NBA player also, but let's just put it this way. He put up 1,900 points and 1,000 rebounds in three seasons. He was simply the King.

PF- Ernie Grunfeld 6'6/215 Forest Hills, NY 1973-1977

A four time All-SEC performer at Tennessee, Grunfeld is probably the third or fourth best player in school history. Believe it or not, he was Tennessee's first gold medal Olympian with the 1976 USA basketball team. At the time of his graduation, Grunfeld was the second leading scorer in SEC history behind Pete Maravich.

C- Tom Boerwinkle 7'0/260 Independence, Ohio 1965-1968

The first 7'0 footer in Tennessee history, he averaged a double-double in back to back seasons. He was a beast on both ends, and two time All-SEC first team. To tell you how good he was, he's the highest NBA draft pick in Tennessee history and his second all time in rebounding for the Chicago Bulls franchise. "The Bull" did not mess around.

The Bench

PG- Jimmy England 6'1/170 Knoxville, TN 1968-1971

A lost legend for Tennessee. This point guard averaged 20 points and 5.5 assists per game his senior season and was a two-time All-SEC first team player for the Vols. He was nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" by his teammates.

SG- Chris Lofton 6'2/200 Maysville, KY 2004-2008

Lofton is the greatest shooter in school history. He might just be the greatest shooter in NCAA history. Lofton goes down as an All-American and three time All-SEC first teamer, along with 2007 SEC player of the year to his name, and holds about every single three point record in school history.

SF- Dale Ellis 6'7/205 Marietta, GA 1979-1983

One of Tennessee's top five players. The man could score. He was a two time first team All-American, two time SEC player of the year, and three time first team All-SEC at Tennessee, that's how good he was. He's also the second best NBA player in school history. Ellis was a 6'7/205 SF and finished his career with an absolutely stunning 59.6% field goal percentage. Dear God.

PF- Dyron Nix 6'7/215 Meridian, Mississippi 1985-1989

I love rebounding and that is what Nix was all about. A very good athlete that ended up averaging 8.4 boards per game for his career. He was an efficient scorer with two 20 ppg seasons in his pocket, plus a menace on the defensive end. Nix was a two time first team All-SEC. Nix is an underrated player that gets overlooked.

C- Reggie Johnson 6'9/210 Ellenwood, GA 1976-1980

When you talk about efficient, you see his name in the history books. A two time All-American and three time first team All-SEC performer. He was a career 18/8 player with a 58% shooting percentage for his career. Johnson was a beast.

The Extras

G- Mike Edwards 6'2/180 Greenfield, IN 1970-1973

"The Greenfield Gunner" was a two time first team All-SEC player and co-SEC player of the year in 1972, he was one of the first pure shooters in the school's history. He shot 45% for his career and is one of those players you wonder about what he could have done with a three point line.

F/C- Wayne Chism 6'9/240 Bolivar, TN 2006-2010

He might not have the stats or accolades, but he's one of the school's best defenders, which gives him the edge over Ron Slay and Howard Wood. Chism was a first time All-SEC choice in 2010, and led the Vols to their first and only Elite Eight in school history. He averaged 13/7.5 his last two years at Tennessee.

Great list. I would probably have to work C.J.Watson into this list somewhere, not sure who I would drop off though.

One thing about Dyron Nix. I know lots of people remember him as a great player, but I always felt that he underachieved. I think he was much more talented than he played but seemed to lack focus or motivation in some games. When the guy was "on" he was great, but there were several games he just didn't seem to be into mentally. Still he deserves his place on this list.