What if Pearl were 100% out of the picture?

#1
C-town Vol

C-town Vol

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#1
Personally, I think if Bruce was out of the picture (as opposed to still living in Knoxville, still talking about the Vols and about to come to the end of his show cause) then the majority of the fan base would be jumping all in with Martin on this run and way fewer would be calling for his head...they would be more willing to let the season play out before making judgment. But with Pearl sitting there for the taking it is difficult to not want him back. I will admit I am a Pearl fan. If Cuonzo took the team to the Final Four this year I think I would still want to hire Pearl. In part because I just love Pearl. In part because a magical run in the post season doesn't wipe out the body of work Martin has built thus far. However, if Pearl were out of the picture I would likely be much more in a wait and see mode.

Just trying to be transparent.
 
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#2
#2
C-town Vol said:
Personally, I think if Bruce was out of the picture (as opposed to still living in Knoxville, still talking about the Vols and about to come to the end of his show cause) then the majority of the fan base would be jumping all in with Martin on this run and way fewer would be calling for his head...they would be more willing to let the season play out before making judgment. But with Pearl sitting there for the taking it is difficult to not want him back. I will admit I am a Pearl fan. If Cuonzo took the team to the Final Four this year I think I would still want to hire Pearl. In part because I just love Pearl. In part because a magical run in the post season doesn't wipe out the body of work Martin has built thus far. However, if Pearl were out of the picture I would likely be much more in a wait and see mode.

Just trying to be transparent.
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I also am still a Pearl fan over Martin. I think he is way better for this bball program than Martin. I will support Martin while he is here but if I had my choice I'd take Bruce back in a heartbeat. Also, remember that fans have waited to see how it played out. I remind you we are in year three, and once again on the bubble in a "favorable" position. Bruce took all 6 teams to NCAA including teams with a roster of less talented players. That being said, I hope Martin does in fact succeed and continue to improve in this league. The Texas A&M debacles are mostly what has put us in this very familiar position, and you have to be able to motivate your players consistently to avoid these unnecessary losses year after year.
 
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#3
#3
I don't think it matters that he's still in the area or not. It has a minimal impact IMO.

Fans would still want him back based on what they've seen from Martin.
 
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#4
#4
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts....the reality is he is here. People are not going to let this go until he comes off the market as a coach or becomes unavailable in his own words. Geography has nothing to do with it either. There will always be a group that wants him here.
 
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#8
#8
SGMVols said:
All he has to do is make the tournament and he's back.

If he makes the Sweet 16 he's getting a raise too.
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He could make the final 4 and many of us would still want Bruce back. The news yesterday was that the team was finally backing Martin because of the negativity generated. Perhaps the "petition" or "poll" to replace CM finally sunk in that the fans are not happy with lackluster play. This team may or may not make the dance. The way they have played as of late, I say give them a shot, but why are we even discussing this? If CCM was the caliber of coach this team needs, they would have taken care of business in November and December instead of hoping for another bubble shot. I hate to sound negative and will probably be blasted but I am a firm believer that a better coach would have this team battling down the stretch in the dance, not just hoping for a play in game.
 
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#9
#9
KoachKletus said:
He could make the final 4 and many of us would still want Bruce back. The news yesterday was that the team was finally backing Martin because of the negativity generated. Perhaps the "petition" or "poll" to replace CM finally sunk in that the fans are not happy with lackluster play. This team may or may not make the dance. The way they have played as of late, I say give them a shot, but why are we even discussing this? If CCM was the caliber of coach this team needs, they would have taken care of business in November and December instead of hoping for another bubble shot. I hate to sound negative and will probably be blasted but I am a firm believer that a better coach would have this team battling down the stretch in the dance, not just hoping for a play in game.
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Heck why stop there? I guess if he won the freakin' national championship, you'd want Pearl back.
 
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#11
#11
I'd still feel that Zo needs to go simply for the fact that I feel like we're just going to set the program back further by waiting another year or two to make the change. If he's retained he has to be extended/raised, that means a bigger buy-out. Due to his recruiting style, which mostly seems to be take whomever will commit and his search for diamonds in the rough, which have mostly been lumps of coal, the roster is looking very underwhelming for the foreseeable future. We have to count on Robert Hubbs to return from surgery and just be flat out awesome next season to even compete for the NIT imo.

That we're unlikely to be as talented for multiple years as we are right now, and we're still twisting in the wind to make the field of 68, instills no confidence at all in me. It's not Zo's fault he's in this situation. He wasn't experienced enough for a major coaching job when we hired him. Now we've about to run out on the Pearl talent, which currently accounts for 40 percent of our scoring (yes, Jordy and Maymon are 40%) plus Barton and probably Stokes and replace them with guys that were offered by us and mid-majors who've given no indication that they're able to consistently compete at the major college level.

I hope we make the tourney and win lots of games there this season, because with where our roster is right now, barring a homerun hire or a miraculous uptick in recruiting, we're probably gonna be sitting here three years from now still hoping for a bubble spot like we have the last three.
 
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#13
#13
VolArmy74 said:
I'd still feel that Zo needs to go simply for the fact that I feel like we're just going to set the program back further by waiting another year or two to make the change. If he's retained he has to be extended/raised, that means a bigger buy-out. Due to his recruiting style, which mostly seems to be take whomever will commit and his search for diamonds in the rough, which have mostly been lumps of coal, the roster is looking very underwhelming for the foreseeable future. We have to count on Robert Hubbs to return from surgery and just be flat out awesome next season to even compete for the NIT imo.

That we're unlikely to be as talented for multiple years as we are right now, and we're still twisting in the wind to make the field of 68, instills no confidence at all in me. It's not Zo's fault he's in this situation. He wasn't experienced enough for a major coaching job when we hired him. Now we've about to run out on the Pearl talent, which currently accounts for 40 percent of our scoring (yes, Jordy and Maymon are 40%) plus Barton and probably Stokes and replace them with guys that were offered by us and mid-majors who've given no indication that they're able to consistently compete at the major college level.

I hope we make the tourney and win lots of games there this season, because with where our roster is right now, barring a homerun hire or a miraculous uptick in recruiting, we're probably gonna be sitting here three years from now still hoping for a bubble spot like we have the last three.
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Spot on. What I'm hoping for is that the BBB buzz actually happens and that he could bring in a recruit or three that could change dynamics. I hate it for this team and for CCM, but he's just not the man. He just does not bring out the tough mentality that it takes to compete. I hate for us to have to go through another coaching change but we have seen enough.
 
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#17
#17
I think if Bruce Pearl was the man VOL Nation thinks he is, he would have made a statement early on in this Bring back Pearl petition and said we need to support Conzo Martin, but it took him almost a full year for him to make that statement. With his son Steven still working in town I'm sure he knew all about the push to call for CCM head.
 
#18
#18
C-town Vol said:
Personally, I think if Bruce was out of the picture (as opposed to still living in Knoxville, still talking about the Vols and about to come to the end of his show cause) then the majority of the fan base would be jumping all in with Martin on this run and way fewer would be calling for his head...they would be more willing to let the season play out before making judgment. But with Pearl sitting there for the taking it is difficult to not want him back. I will admit I am a Pearl fan. If Cuonzo took the team to the Final Four this year I think I would still want to hire Pearl. In part because I just love Pearl. In part because a magical run in the post season doesn't wipe out the body of work Martin has built thus far. However, if Pearl were out of the picture I would likely be much more in a wait and see mode.

Just trying to be transparent.
Click to expand...

I will said that I will not react to this stupid idea of getting rid of Coach Martin after only 3 years, actually 2 years given the fact, that CM was left with a crappy squad the first year that he took over for Pearl. CM is doing a great job! Yea, this team has lost a few games that they should've have won, I get that. But during those losses the Vols did play without one of its young guns whom would've developed into a bigtime out side threat (Mr Hubbs) Josh Richardson a questionable CM recruit at first, has developed into a beast on defense and has improved greatly with his offensive game, Jarnell Stokes has developed into a beast down low, Jerrone Maybin has gotten his legs back, CM stole a future star at PG in Thompson, Barton is back to his silky smooth self, Jordy Mac is awesome! A.Moore will be a future star! I love the fact that CM game plan has finally came together, great defense, Offense inside out! GO Vols!
 
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#19
#19
ItsAllVols said:
I think if Bruce Pearl was the man VOL Nation thinks he is, he would have made a statement early on in this Bring back Pearl petition and said we need to support Conzo Martin, but it took him almost a full year for him to make that statement. With his son Steven still working in town I'm sure he knew all about the push to call for CCM head.
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Explain
 
#20
#20
If Pearl were out of the picture, then the majority of the fan base would still be talking about the next coach. Don't be blinded by the fact that we have beaten up on some REALLY bad teams recently.

Martin has proved that he is not fit for the job, no matter what kind of run he makes in the NCAAT.
 
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#22
#22
C-town Vol said:
Personally, I think if Bruce was out of the picture (as opposed to still living in Knoxville, still talking about the Vols and about to come to the end of his show cause) then the majority of the fan base would be jumping all in with Martin on this run and way fewer would be calling for his head...they would be more willing to let the season play out before making judgment. But with Pearl sitting there for the taking it is difficult to not want him back. I will admit I am a Pearl fan. If Cuonzo took the team to the Final Four this year I think I would still want to hire Pearl. In part because I just love Pearl. In part because a magical run in the post season doesn't wipe out the body of work Martin has built thus far. However, if Pearl were out of the picture I would likely be much more in a wait and see mode.

Just trying to be transparent.
Click to expand...

It really has no more meaning to me than the fact that Don Devoe lives in the area. I recognize a poorly coached team, I recognize an underachieving team and coaching staff, poor substitutions patterns, crazy time outs and planning, etc. I think the problem are two fold. Everyone can see the amount of talent and possibilities of this team when they are well coached and executing as they should. Point two, some of the recruiting has been questionable at best and we fear that may come to a head next year.

This team will do well in the SEC and NCAA tournament imo. Coach CM should get a one year extension - and after next years results should be looked at more closely to see if he is the long term answer or if he and his crew should move along. The Jury is still out - see me this time next year.
 
#23
#23
C-town Vol said:
Personally, I think if Bruce was out of the picture (as opposed to still living in Knoxville, still talking about the Vols and about to come to the end of his show cause) then the majority of the fan base would be jumping all in with Martin on this run and way fewer would be calling for his head...they would be more willing to let the season play out before making judgment. But with Pearl sitting there for the taking it is difficult to not want him back. I will admit I am a Pearl fan. If Cuonzo took the team to the Final Four this year I think I would still want to hire Pearl. In part because I just love Pearl. In part because a magical run in the post season doesn't wipe out the body of work Martin has built thus far. However, if Pearl were out of the picture I would likely be much more in a wait and see mode.

Just trying to be transparent.
Click to expand...

I don't believe in ifs any more. He is out of it.
 
#25
#25
KoachKletus said:
He could make the final 4 and many of us would still want Bruce back.
Click to expand...

facepalm2.gif
 
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