The Official “Regular Posters of the Basketball Forum” Thread

[MinisterofDef#92]

Sure did, and only dropped to #7 in the coaches poll. Just as the rational ones on this board predicted.

I just read a post from another guy declaring this a rebuilding year based on the UF and Vandy losses...lmao.

We definitely have come a long way under CRB when going 14-0, winning a tournament, and setting the all-time record at UT for consecutive weeks ranked #1 is considered a rebuilding year.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

“Inexcusable,” whatever that means.

Agree losing at Vandy is not a bad loss. At the same time, it's ok imo to say how we lost was inexcusable and out of character for this team. We could play Vandy 10 times scoring 70+ points and I would expect to win 9/10 if not 10/10.

Having said that, the absolute absurdity of some posters on the implications of losing at Vandy is quite breathtaking especially when most of them are also the ones who gaslight about how the regular season doesn't matter and it's a tournament sport.

Bottom line, this squad is still learning what it takes to win and what they need to work on individually and collectively to peak at the right time. GBO

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I mean, had we added portal players and kept a few players that left I wouldn’t consider it a “rebuild”

But returning less than 35% of minutes & production from last season definitely had me less optimistic coming into this year. The 2 losses and a few other bad halves in wins have highlighted that despite being 16-2 there is still a higher ceiling this team can reach. I’m hoping they find it in the 2nd weekend of March Madness.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Sure would help for Chaz to get his scoring touch back. According a Barnes statement I saw he apparently has not adjusted well to other teams doubling and trying to deny him the ball.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I mean, had we added portal players and kept a few players that left I wouldn’t consider it a “rebuild”

But returning less than 35% of minutes & production from last season definitely had me less optimistic coming into this year. The 2 losses and a few other bad halves in wins have highlighted that despite being 16-2 there is still a higher ceiling this team can reach. I’m hoping they find it in the 2nd weekend of March Madness.

Barnes has UT in the reloading universe rather than rebuilding. I’m glad that we have a successful, experienced coach that’s decided to take on the challenges of NIL and unrestricted transfers instead of giving up like several of his contemporaries have. Maybe he sees opportunities he’s never had before with an equal playing field instead of the NCAA playing favorites with the traditional blue bloods and favored conferences. Most of his career he’s been the small fish in the big ponds and little brother to KU, UK, UNC, Duke, and the Big Dogs of the otihinal Big East.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Barnes has UT in the reloading universe rather than rebuilding. I’m glad that we have a successful, experienced coach that’s decided to take on the challenges of NIL and unrestricted transfers instead of giving up like several of his contemporaries have. Maybe he sees opportunities he’s never had before with an equal playing field instead of the NCAA playing favorites with the traditional blue bloods and favored conferences. Most of his career he’s been the small fish in the big ponds and little brother to KU, UK, UNC, Duke, and the Big Dogs of the otihinal Big East.

Overall I agree, but disagree that Barnes has us in "reloading" universe.

His style of development requires returning players.

2015-16 - Barnes' first year the team returned 70% of minutes played and 67.5% of scoring
2019-20 - Barnes' first "rebuild" year, this was the season after Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Bone left only 38.3% of minutes played and 30.3% of scoring returned we went 17-14
2024-25 - Barnes' second "rebuild" year, only 37.6% of minutes played and 32% of scoring returned

Every other season except 1 Barnes' teams had returned over 50% in both categories. To me a "reload universe" is more like Duke... where they seem to return less than 50% almost every season

I'm not sure if this will be the new norm and Barnes' is transitioning his philosophy to "reload" instead of "rebuild" but it could be how things continue with NIL and the portal. Either way the good news is that he's showing an ability to adapt. Cause we're 1 win away from reaching that first "rebuild" team in total wins...and it's still January.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Overall I agree, but disagree that Barnes has us in "reloading" universe.

His style of development requires returning players.

2015-16 - Barnes' first year the team returned 70% of minutes played and 67.5% of scoring
2019-20 - Barnes' first "rebuild" year, this was the season after Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Bone left only 38.3% of minutes played and 30.3% of scoring returned we went 17-14
2024-25 - Barnes' second "rebuild" year, only 37.6% of minutes played and 32% of scoring returned

Every other season except 1 Barnes' teams had returned over 50% in both categories. To me a "reload universe" is more like Duke... where they seem to return less than 50% almost every season

I'm not sure if this will be the new norm and Barnes' is transitioning his philosophy to "reload" instead of "rebuild" but it could be how things continue with NIL and the portal. Either way the good news is that he's showing an ability to adapt. Cause we're 1 win away from reaching that first "rebuild" team in total wins...and it's still January.

Everything is different now. JJJ, Aidoo, and Knecht were replaced through the portal. I’d call those spots reloaded. Awaka’s and Vescovi’s not so much but Dubar and Carr have come up a little short replacing SV. Had JP not gotten injured I’d say that Estrella and Phillips reloaded at the Awaka spot.

I’d call it a rebuild if the team was struggling to stay above being a bubble team. It’s clearly not in that territory.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Everything is different now. JJJ, Aidoo, and Knecht were replaced through the portal. I’d call those spots reloaded. Awaka’s and Vescovi’s not so much but Dubar and Carr have come up a little short replacing SV. Had JP not gotten injured I’d say that Estrella and Phillips reloaded at the Awaka spot.

I’d call it a rebuild if the team was struggling to stay above being a bubble team. It’s clearly not in that territory.

Yeah but this is the first time he's really done it this way. So not sure yet if it's where we are or just a 1 of thing that happened.

Either way, not returning many young players that have been developed for a year or 2 so next season by default will also have to be basically a reload year UNLESS the NCAA gives players a 5th year...and I could see most the guys willing to return since I don't think anyone outside Igor or Chaz has a legit shot at being drafted in the NBA. And honestly another year with NIL is worth what they'd get playing outside the US so why not stay for another run?

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Yeah but this is the first time he's really done it this way. So not sure yet if it's where we are or just a 1 of thing that happened.

Either way, not returning many young players that have been developed for a year or 2 so next season by default will also have to be basically a reload year UNLESS the NCAA gives players a 5th year...and I could see most the guys willing to return since I don't think anyone outside Igor or Chaz has a legit shot at being drafted in the NBA. And honestly another year with NIL is worth what they'd get playing outside the US so why not stay for another run?

Which is why I said CRB now has UT in the reloading universe. Knecht, Gainey, Estrella, and Phillips (with Dilione and Carr failing to work out) was a pretty good reload when Tyreke Key, Nkamhoua, and Uros didn’t return. Replacing Julian Phillips should have been a rebuilt spot, but he underachieved so it really didn’t play out as the rebuild category for him.

Minus massive regression after attrition, I’m not calling it rebuilding. We’re about to go to the 7th consecutive NCAAT ever in program history. The long term trend has been mostly upward over CRB’s entire 10 years. There was a drop off for a year replacing Grant, Admiral, Bone, and Alexander in 2019 but it was hidden with the shortened COVID year in 2019-20. And then 2x one-and-done NBAers were added in 2020-21 to keep the trend moving upward.

 

[walkenvol]

Yeah but this is the first time he's really done it this way. So not sure yet if it's where we are or just a 1 of thing that happened.

Either way, not returning many young players that have been developed for a year or 2 so next season by default will also have to be basically a reload year UNLESS the NCAA gives players a 5th year...and I could see most the guys willing to return since I don't think anyone outside Igor or Chaz has a legit shot at being drafted in the NBA. And honestly another year with NIL is worth what they'd get playing outside the US so why not stay for another run?

Don’t know what Igor has shown to date that would entice an NBA team to draft him? Chaz is rapidly headed towards the same if he can’t recover his early season form.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Don’t know what Igor has shown to date that would entice an NBA team to draft him? Chaz is rapidly headed towards the same if he can’t recover his early season form.

Listen, what we as fans see and what the NBA cares about in drafting talent is totally different. NBA doesn't give a damn what players do in college.

Chaz they'll look at his shot and shooting % for his career.
Igor they'll see his size/length and how well he moves/handles the ball.

Edit: Also, not saying either will be drafted. Just looking at this year's team those would be the 2 most likely is all.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Don’t know what Igor has shown to date that would entice an NBA team to draft him? Chaz is rapidly headed towards the same if he can’t recover his early season form.

I’ll be surprised if he’s drafted but won’t be surprised that he signs a contract. Most likely though, he’ll be yet another former UT player with a long professional career playing internationally.

 

[VolGee4]

Overall I agree, but disagree that Barnes has us in "reloading" universe.

His style of development requires returning players.

2015-16 - Barnes' first year the team returned 70% of minutes played and 67.5% of scoring
2019-20 - Barnes' first "rebuild" year, this was the season after Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Bone left only 38.3% of minutes played and 30.3% of scoring returned we went 17-14
2024-25 - Barnes' second "rebuild" year, only 37.6% of minutes played and 32% of scoring returned

Every other season except 1 Barnes' teams had returned over 50% in both categories. To me a "reload universe" is more like Duke... where they seem to return less than 50% almost every season

I'm not sure if this will be the new norm and Barnes' is transitioning his philosophy to "reload" instead of "rebuild" but it could be how things continue with NIL and the portal. Either way the good news is that he's showing an ability to adapt. Cause we're 1 win away from reaching that first "rebuild" team in total wins...and it's still January.

I agree that Barnes excels in developing players over years, but the 2019-20 team lost a significant player in Lamonte Turner very early in the year. He does seem to be adapting to the portal. With the "development" of DK and now CL, there should be a ton of interest in players coming to UT.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I agree that Barnes excels in developing players over years, but the 2019-20 team lost a significant player in Lamonte Turner very early in the year. He does seem to be adapting to the portal. With the "development" of DK and now CL, there should be a ton of interest in players coming to UT.

I think so too

 

[05_never_again]

Barnes has UT in the reloading universe rather than rebuilding. I’m glad that we have a successful, experienced coach that’s decided to take on the challenges of NIL and unrestricted transfers instead of giving up like several of his contemporaries have. Maybe he sees opportunities he’s never had before with an equal playing field instead of the NCAA playing favorites with the traditional blue bloods and favored conferences. Most of his career he’s been the small fish in the big ponds and little brother to KU, UK, UNC, Duke, and the Big Dogs of the otihinal Big East.

I don't think he gets enough credit for this. Rick isn't a spring chicken, to put it mildly, yet he's played the Portal really well.

He's been a HC since 1987; that's my entire life. It'd be so easy (and understandable) to just throw his hands up at where the game has gone and ride off into the sunset.