True difference makers on the team currently...

[1985Vols]

TN isn’t in the top 25 more than half the time. I’m pretty happy with where we are right now. Only 2 teams have ever been #1. Need to build a base of success… Elite 8s and Final 4s aren’t that simple when you’re one of 325+ schools are don’t have a blue blood card to play.

Are we going forward or backwards? 15 first half points today hasn’t been accomplished since 1996 ( vs. KY)

 

[walkenvol]

I guess I’m tired of paying filet prices ( $5M/ yr) for sirloin results ( Oregon St. In first round last March) . We are not getting our money’s worth and I have always felt CRB took this job to pad his retirement account. He is quite the salesman. I guess UCLA is happy?

You didn’t pay $0.01!

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

I remember saying that I thought JJJ would have a similar career trajectory as Yarbrough and people getting aggravated that I was underselling him.

But he isn't even in the same zip code as VY.

 

[cncchris33]

it has nothing to do with “ liking” him or not liking him. Sorry but when you’re one of the top 5 paid professionals In your industry, no matter what it is, you are expected to deliver results. Maybe CRB will coach better in March this year than he does in November-February which would be opposite of what he does historically.

He hasn't always been a top-5 paid coach, though, yet you've always had the same complaints, exhibited in your earlier stated (and overly-played) retirement comment. So, that tells me that the salary is really a non-issue for you, and more of a convenient, if not irrelevant, excuse that helps to compound the real issue. Thus, in fact, it has everything to do with you "liking or not liking him", which you clearly do not. Just don't be disingenuous about it and own it.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Barnes is a good but not great coach. He struck gold with Grant Williams. Is he worth his salary? Probably not but I don't care. I'm glad we have him.

 

[cncchris33]

Setting some screens usually helps

You mean the ones that netted us at least 3 offensive fouls? I'm starting to wonder whether you even watch the games or just bitch over the results.

 

[The Dog]

I guess I’m tired of paying filet prices ( $5M/ yr) for sirloin results ( Oregon St. In first round last March) . We are not getting our money’s worth and I have always felt CRB took this job to pad his retirement account. He is quite the salesman. I guess UCLA is happy?

Bwaa-ha-ha, u are not paying for sh!t, UT is

 

[greenbacknative]

I’m waiting on Rick Barnes to out coach somebody

Barnes wasn't shooting the ball today...

 

[1985Vols]

Barnes wasn't shooting the ball today...

Barnes wasn't shooting the ball today...

Never the coaches fault when a team doesn’t shoot well, huh?

 

[1985Vols]

Bwaa-ha-ha, u are not paying for sh!t, UT is

You know my donation amount?

 

[The Dog]

You know my donation amount?

Yeah, I do, your donation is bitching about how much Barnes makes every time UT loses a game.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I got pretty bent out of shape in the game thread, but we aren’t going to find better than Barnes at the moment, so suggesting he should be fired is dumb.

I am, however, getting pretty disappointed in the performance of some of our upperclassmen. I don’t see any improvement in Josiah’s game, in fact I see regression. He is elite defensively there is no denying that fact. But, if feels like he is as offensively challenged as he is elite defensively, so I don’t know which factor is a bigger one. Currently, I lean more towards his offensive ineptitude being far more of a hindrance. And, it’s not like he’s been like this just to start the year. He’s not been good offensively for most of his tenure. Bailey just sucks.

We definitely need Barnes to re-think how he manages the starters and the rotation. I want to see more Powell. I want to see less Bailey. BHH didn’t play well today, obviously, but we need to give him more minutes because his ceiling is so far above ORN.

Fulky also looked really bad today. That’s concerning.

Overall, just a really poor performance and it has me completely re-thinking this team’s ceiling. Unless Bailey and James find some semblance of an offensive game, this team will struggle all year.

 

[HarsinVol]

This is my list of players you can expect to show up most of the time.

Sad. "Most". Sad.

 

[walkenvol]

Never the coaches fault when a team doesn’t shoot well, huh?

Just shows your limited knowledge of the game. In basketball sometimes the open shots simply don’t fall. If in the next game those shots start falling did CRB remember how to coach again?

 

[HarsinVol]

Waiting on James to breakout.

Might as well wait for Godot.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Are we going forward or backwards? 15 first half points today hasn’t been accomplished since 1996 ( vs. KY)

It’s not linear. Forwards.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

it has nothing to do with “ liking” him or not liking him. Sorry but when you’re one of the top 5 paid professionals In your industry, no matter what it is, you are expected to deliver results. Maybe CRB will coach better in March this year than he does in November-February which would be opposite of what he does historically.

The SECT is in March. 2 back-to-back finals after only making 3 in the previous 39 years.

 

[CAVPUT]

Chandler didn’t play good today

He went against a group of studs in Gillespie. I'm sure he'll learn from it. Same for the rest of the team. We'll take several beatings early in the season. As long as we're rounding into shape and coming together come March, I'm good with it. One positive is that Chandler and HH will certainly recognize they've got a long way to go before they're ready for the NBA.

 

[LeannaVol]

Just the same thing we have seen for 3 years now. 2 points in 27 minutes would typically get a player a seat next to the coach. However, we all know what’s going to happen, JJJ will go for 20 points and 9 rebounds once in the next few games and solidify his starting spot so he can disappear in the following 4 Games

JJJ is struggling on offense. No doubt about that but he remains our best rebounder and defender. As long as he does that we need him on the court.

 

[cwbytruckers]

Waiting on James to breakout.

Not happening

 

[VolsRule]

UT had no chance against Villanova — they have way too much talent

 

[volfan1954]

Same Crap, different year

pu

 

[malibuvol]

I guess I’m tired of paying filet prices ( $5M/ yr) for sirloin results ( Oregon St. In first round last March) . We are not getting our money’s worth and I have always felt CRB took this job to pad his retirement account. He is quite the salesman. I guess UCLA is happy?

They are now...

 

[iVolSoHard]

This team seems weak, physically and mentally. We'll be in trouble if we play any physical teams going forward and some of the players seem to fold when facing any kind of adversity IMO. Just like last year, there doesn't appear to be any alphas on the team or the player just isn't good to be an alpha. Chandler could be one, but he's just a freshman.

Hope the team learns from it and grows in the future and that Rick finally decides on what lineups actually work before we hit the conference slate this year...

 

[BreatheUT]

True. But, just as importantly as folks showing up is leadership and identity. When Chandler not driving the basket or Vescovi shooting, everyone else may as well have had popcorn. Think something off w/ Fulk...don't think he was 100% today...he's usually arms and elbows with alot of activity down low. He was non existent and low energy (compared to normal). For all that JJJ talked at end of last season, sure was disappointing to see his shot selection...

JJJ looks like a liability offensively much of the time. His defense keeps him on the court. I want to see if all the big schools offered or if there are a few puzzling non offers at the time and now we see why.