Think 20 months ago where UT basketball was...

[zjcvols]

The most popular coach in a generation embarrassed in scandal and fired.

The worst year in six years at UT.

Recruiting was lackluster.

The roster was average.

The fanbase had been beaten down.

UT hired an "unproven" coach.

Sanctions were looming.

And now people are thinking Top 20 and a Sweet Sixteen appearance.

It's a testament to the work of the Cuonzo Martin, his assistants (Tracey Webster, Jon Harris, Kent Williams, Houston Fancher, Mark Pancratz, and Nicodemus Christopher).

It's a testament to the players that were brought in by Pearl, but had to buy into a new coach who is completely different. For giving a lot to Tennessee and working their asses off to be better players and going through a lot of adversity.

It's a testament to the recruits that have signed with Cuonzo Martin, buying into him, when a lot of people didn't.

It's a testament to the fans for continuing to support Tennessee Basketball during an incredibly tough stretch.

This week starts an incredibly exciting year for Tennessee basketball. It's the beginning of a new era in UT basketball, and it looks great.

It's great to be a Tennessee Volunteer.

 

[SJAVol32]

Loving the game of basketball. Naturally I am more excited for basketball season than I am for football. Last year after the whole scandal I was sure we would fade into oblivion and would be a while before we got even close to we're we were. I couldn't be happier to have Coach Martin as the head coach!! Hopefully we take last season and continue to build upon it.

 

[volcrazy333]

when i was a kid... not that long ago i guess... i was all football. that was when UT was legitimate. 03-08 was the height of my fanhood, but with the emergence of the Grizz and UT bball my focus has shifted much more to the hardwood. very excited to see what this season has for both.

All Heart. Grit, Grind.

GBO

 

[calban]

I'll still be a little worried until the 19th.

 

[YankeeVol]

In Cuonzo we trust

 

[hillsborovol]

Nailed it again ZJC. Thanks. I'm looking forward to some roundball.

 

[governmentmule]

good post ZJR,here is to hoping for a speedy recovery for Jeronne Maymon and everybody staying healthy this year,this is a thing i will worry about




Go Vols

 

[bigsteve13]

it's that time. I'm tired of getting pissed off every saturday supporting the Vols, it's time for some good to come out of this relationship.

 

[jknox33]

The most popular coach in a generation embarrassed in scandal and fired.

The worst year in six years at UT.

Recruiting was lackluster.

The roster was average.

The fanbase had been beaten down.

UT hired an "unproven" coach.

Sanctions were looming.

And now people are thinking Top 20 and a Sweet Sixteen appearance.

It's a testament to the work of the Cuonzo Martin, his assistants (Tracey Webster, Jon Harris, Kent Williams, Houston Fancher, Mark Pancratz, and Nicodemus Christopher).

It's a testament to the players that were brought in by Pearl, but had to buy into a new coach who is completely different. For giving a lot to Tennessee and working their asses off to be better players and going through a lot of adversity.

It's a testament to the recruits that have signed with Cuonzo Martin, buying into him, when a lot of people didn't.

It's a testament to the fans for continuing to support Tennessee Basketball during an incredibly tough stretch.

This week starts an incredibly exciting year for Tennessee basketball. It's the beginning of a new era in UT basketball, and it looks great.

It's great to be a Tennessee Volunteer.

That was his biggest knock in the beginning and it seems he took so much heat for his signees. Now his recruiting seems like such as strength. The past 11 months (since landing Jarnell) has made me a believer in his recruiting.

 

[kwebbvols2344]

So ready for this season!

 

[bamacheats]

when i was a kid... not that long ago i guess... i was all football. that was when UT was legitimate. 03-08 was the height of my fanhood, but with the emergence of the Grizz and UT bball my focus has shifted much more to the hardwood. very excited to see what this season has for both.

All Heart. Grit, Grind.

GBO

I think Grizz has said before that he likes football a lot better than bball.

Unless this "emergence" refers to him getting ready to hit it.

 

[MphsBlues]

Well put, and timely, ZJC. Looking forward to some hoops.

 

[Special Ed]

I've been a Vols basketball fan since before the Ray Mears era. As memorable as it was, Mears’ heyday with the Ernie and Bernie Show was not quite as exciting as the glory years of the Bruce Pearl era. Believe it or not, Bruce was even more popular during his tenure as Vol coach than Ray Mears. But, college sports in general is much bigger now than it was in the Mears era. Also, Bruce is much more charismatic than Ray ever was. You damn him with faint praise when you describe Bruce Pearl as just "the most popular coach in a generation". He was much more than that. BP elevated the Vols to levels never before seen in the annals of college basketball history. And the "scandal" was really nothing more than a tempest in the proverbial teapot. Bruce Pearl was railroaded by a heavily biased shave-tail ncaa honcho who needed a scapegoat in order to make a name for himself as a ‘great enforcer’ of the feculent ncaa rulebook. So, our vaunted basketball coach was not so much embroiled in scandal as caught up in the machinery of an agency determined to mete out punishment for the slightest infraction at that particular time.

Vol fans should never forget that Bruce was punished way out of proportion to his transgressions while repeat offenders like Calipari get off scot free in spite of serial violations. You may have noticed that the recent scandals at North Carolina and Duke aren’t drawing much attention from Mark Emmert and company. No one on the staff has yet been punished for paying a recruit $10,000 to come to Miami during the Frank Haith era. Haith not only escaped the wrath of the ncaa, but is skating merrily along as the head coach at Missouri now. Had such violations occurred at UT, we’d have gotten the death penalty by now. I like what Cuonzo’s doing with the team now and where they seem to be headed, but the groundwork was laid by BP.
Go Vols!

 

[volbeast33]

I've been a Vols basketball fan since before the Ray Mears era. As memorable as it was, Mears’ heyday with the Ernie and Bernie Show was not quite as exciting as the glory years of the Bruce Pearl era. Believe it or not, Bruce was even more popular during his tenure as Vol coach than Ray Mears. But, college sports in general is much bigger now than it was in the Mears era. Also, Bruce is much more charismatic than Ray ever was. You damn him with faint praise when you describe Bruce Pearl as just "the most popular coach in a generation". He was much more than that. BP elevated the Vols to levels never before seen in the annals of college basketball history. And the "scandal" was really nothing more than a tempest in the proverbial teapot. Bruce Pearl was railroaded by a heavily biased shave-tail ncaa honcho who needed a scape goat in order to make a name for himself as a ‘great enforcer’ of the feculent ncaa rulebook. So, our vaunted basketball coach was not so much embroiled in scandal as caught up in the machinery of an agency determined to mete out punishment for the slightest infraction.

Vol fans should never forget that Bruce was punished way out of proportion to his transgressions while repeat offenders like Calipari get off scot free in spite of serial violations. You may have noticed that the recent scandals at North Carolina and Duke aren’t drawing much attention from Mark Emmert and company. No one on the staff has yet been punished for paying a recruit $10,000 to come to Miami during the Frank Haith era. Haith not only escaped the wrath of the ncaa, but is skating merrily along as the head coach at Missouri now. Had such violations occurred at UT, we’d have gotten the death penalty by now. I like what Cuonzo’s doing with the team now and where they seem to be headed, but the groundwork was laid by BP.
Go Vols!

I agree with a lot of this....the NCAA makes absolutely no sense with their rulings. Can't wait for basketball.

 

[calban]

I've been a Vols basketball fan since before the Ray Mears era. As memorable as it was, Mears’ heyday with the Ernie and Bernie Show was not quite as exciting as the glory years of the Bruce Pearl era. Believe it or not, Bruce was even more popular during his tenure as Vol coach than Ray Mears. But, college sports in general is much bigger now than it was in the Mears era. Also, Bruce is much more charismatic than Ray ever was. You damn him with faint praise when you describe Bruce Pearl as just "the most popular coach in a generation". He was much more than that. BP elevated the Vols to levels never before seen in the annals of college basketball history. And the "scandal" was really nothing more than a tempest in the proverbial teapot. Bruce Pearl was railroaded by a heavily biased shave-tail ncaa honcho who needed a scapegoat in order to make a name for himself as a ‘great enforcer’ of the feculent ncaa rulebook. So, our vaunted basketball coach was not so much embroiled in scandal as caught up in the machinery of an agency determined to mete out punishment for the slightest infraction at that particular time.

Vol fans should never forget that Bruce was punished way out of proportion to his transgressions while repeat offenders like Calipari get off scot free in spite of serial violations. You may have noticed that the recent scandals at North Carolina and Duke aren’t drawing much attention from Mark Emmert and company. No one on the staff has yet been punished for paying a recruit $10,000 to come to Miami during the Frank Haith era. Haith not only escaped the wrath of the ncaa, but is skating merrily along as the head coach at Missouri now. Had such violations occurred at UT, we’d have gotten the death penalty by now. I like what Cuonzo’s doing with the team now and where they seem to be headed, but the groundwork was laid by BP.
Go Vols!

No comment.
But I am grateful to Pearl for bringing us out of the darkness.

 

[ShoalCreekVol]

GO VOLS! Thanks for posting this. The basketball team can be a source of positive uplifting news at a dire time for UT sports. I'm proud to have Cuonzo and his staff in the UT family.