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Monday, 02/28/05
Peterson's future topic of UT meeting
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE How solid is Buzz Peterson's future at Tennessee?
He figures to get the most definitive answer yet today when he meets with UT President John Petersen and Athletics Director Mike Hamilton.
Hamilton confirmed the three were meeting, but declined to say if any decision would be reached on Peterson's fate.
Peterson is 59-57 in his fourth year as Tennessee's head basketball coach and facing his second losing season. The Vols (12-15, 5-9) have yet to reach the NCAA tournament during Peterson's tenure.
''It's a meeting that was already scheduled to discuss the direction of the program,'' said Hamilton, who attended Tennessee's 70-68 loss to Arkansas on Saturday in Fayetteville.
Hamilton has said repeatedly that his desire is for Peterson to return as the Vols' coach. But Hamilton has also been careful not to guarantee that Peterson would be back.
Peterson will get his chance in today's meeting to map out his plan to elevate Tennessee into a regular NCAA tournament participant.
The Vols have been to just five NCAA tournaments in the last 20 years, which is tied for last in the Southeastern Conference with Mississippi among teams who've been in the league that entire time.
''If the decision is made to continue the course and move on, it will be based upon some level of sound reasoning related to a lot of factors,'' Hamilton said.
''It will primarily boil down to, 'Do we have a clear-cut vision for where we're going and a clear-cut vision for how we're going to get there?' ''
Peterson didn't want to discuss today's meeting specifically, but remains convinced that the Vols are closer to having a winning program than their record would indicate this season.
''This year has been disappointing for everybody,'' Peterson said. ''We've been so close in so many games. We've had some bad things happen to us with the injuries, but nobody has quit fighting.
''We'll keep working and keep recruiting because all it takes is a couple of players to make a difference. I like what I see down the road.''
If Peterson is indeed back, he's expected to make significant changes on his staff although Hamilton has said there won't be any ultimatums.
One potential scenario would be bringing in a veteran coach to take on a more active role in on-the-floor instruction, possibly even somebody who's been a head coach before.
The Vols, who travel to Kentucky on Wednesday, have lost eight of their last 10 games. Their five SEC road losses this season have been by a total of 15 points, and they've struggled in late-game possessions.
For the second consecutive weekend, they struggled in the final few seconds in a game they had a chance to win.
C.J. Watson wound up taking a running one-hander that was no good after the Razorbacks' defensive pressure took the Vols out of what they wanted to do, which was go inside to Brandon Crump.
In the 60-58 loss to Mississippi on Feb. 19, the Vols were left to scramble in the final seconds after the designed play went awry.
Dane Bradshaw had to fire up a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Peterson's future topic of UT meeting
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE How solid is Buzz Peterson's future at Tennessee?
He figures to get the most definitive answer yet today when he meets with UT President John Petersen and Athletics Director Mike Hamilton.
Hamilton confirmed the three were meeting, but declined to say if any decision would be reached on Peterson's fate.
Peterson is 59-57 in his fourth year as Tennessee's head basketball coach and facing his second losing season. The Vols (12-15, 5-9) have yet to reach the NCAA tournament during Peterson's tenure.
''It's a meeting that was already scheduled to discuss the direction of the program,'' said Hamilton, who attended Tennessee's 70-68 loss to Arkansas on Saturday in Fayetteville.
Hamilton has said repeatedly that his desire is for Peterson to return as the Vols' coach. But Hamilton has also been careful not to guarantee that Peterson would be back.
Peterson will get his chance in today's meeting to map out his plan to elevate Tennessee into a regular NCAA tournament participant.
The Vols have been to just five NCAA tournaments in the last 20 years, which is tied for last in the Southeastern Conference with Mississippi among teams who've been in the league that entire time.
''If the decision is made to continue the course and move on, it will be based upon some level of sound reasoning related to a lot of factors,'' Hamilton said.
''It will primarily boil down to, 'Do we have a clear-cut vision for where we're going and a clear-cut vision for how we're going to get there?' ''
Peterson didn't want to discuss today's meeting specifically, but remains convinced that the Vols are closer to having a winning program than their record would indicate this season.
''This year has been disappointing for everybody,'' Peterson said. ''We've been so close in so many games. We've had some bad things happen to us with the injuries, but nobody has quit fighting.
''We'll keep working and keep recruiting because all it takes is a couple of players to make a difference. I like what I see down the road.''
If Peterson is indeed back, he's expected to make significant changes on his staff although Hamilton has said there won't be any ultimatums.
One potential scenario would be bringing in a veteran coach to take on a more active role in on-the-floor instruction, possibly even somebody who's been a head coach before.
The Vols, who travel to Kentucky on Wednesday, have lost eight of their last 10 games. Their five SEC road losses this season have been by a total of 15 points, and they've struggled in late-game possessions.
For the second consecutive weekend, they struggled in the final few seconds in a game they had a chance to win.
C.J. Watson wound up taking a running one-hander that was no good after the Razorbacks' defensive pressure took the Vols out of what they wanted to do, which was go inside to Brandon Crump.
In the 60-58 loss to Mississippi on Feb. 19, the Vols were left to scramble in the final seconds after the designed play went awry.
Dane Bradshaw had to fire up a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer.
