Will we ever have an elite program?

#176
#176
I've never considered myself to be a huge follower of college basketball, but I can think of many coaches who vastly improved the program they were at. Getting a team to a Sweet 16 is one thing. Pearl did that at UW Milwaukee. But that isn't what UT's big goal should be. I'm just a casual basketball fan, but I want to see UT competing to win championships. I want to see them in the Elite 8 for the first time, and I would love to see them advance. I know Tennessee doesn't have some spectacular basketball history or anything, but that's all the past. It doesn't change the fact that the fans should demand the best. UT is a big time athletic school that pulls in a lot of money and has great facilities. I know things are better than they were in the past, but if we set something as attainable as a Sweet 16 appearance as the bar to judge success, then there is no point in playing.
 
#177
#177
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Bruce Pearl, he is better than any Tennessee mens basketball coach in the lifetime of the people on here who do not cry about him all day and long for slow ball BK style.
Click to expand...
From a gu who wouldn't know BK style if it was driven into his earhole with a sledgehammer.
 
#179
#179
BasketvolsFan said:
You somehow want to make your argument by talking about UT being an elite program. That was not part of the discussion about Florida. We all agree that UT is not an elite program---hopefully some day. I think most of the entire world would not consider Florida as one of the elite basketball programs for the past 20 years. Not even making the tournament for the past two seasons says enough about elite status. I didn't even make a comment about Pearl owning Donavan even when he was winning championships because that does not make UT an elite program.
Click to expand...

I originally responded to a poster who said that to be considered "elite" a program has to have post season success for at least 10 years. In the last 20 years, Florida has played for 3 NC, won 2, and been to another Final Four, and a Sweet 16. By the posters own criteria, he would have to consider Florida an Elite program. I would place Florida in a second tier of successful programs behind the Dukes, UNC, Kansas, UCLAs, Kentuckys, and MIchigan States, of the world.

The only reason I mention UT in this same conversation is because a lot of UT fans dismiss Donovan as "not doing anything" since he won back to back titles 2 years ago. Going to 1 Final Four and winning 1 National Championship is difficult to do in the modern era. Winning back to back is even harder. I wouldn't consider him a Top 5 coach by any means, but he is a good coach. The results haven't been the result of dumb luck.
 
Last edited:
#181
#181
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Robert preferred choking and throwing things to a sledgehammer.
Click to expand...

Continuing to try and equate Knight's approach to basketball with the slowdown game just looks senseless. There's no other way to put it. He used what he had at his disposal. The common thread: everyoe played D, all the time.
 
#182
#182
BigPapaVol said:
Continuing to try and equate Knight's approach to basketball with the slowdown game just looks senseless. There's no other way to put it. He used what he had at his disposal. The common thread: everyoe played D, all the time.
Click to expand...

I am too young to remember the best RBK teams, they played before I was born.

I guess I am picturing the teams in the 90s who grinded it out.

As I have said to you I always loved the discipline his players played with.

Take any 5 top 50 players and make them attend any school where RBK and know that they never get NBA money unless they do exactly what he says and they would win a championship. I just do not think that kids today who are lionized on blogs, AAU tournaments etc. will listen to someone yell at them. Bill Walton under Wooden would be considered the least rebellious most manageable player most of the top coaches have seen in a long time. Much of that can be attributed to a lack of fathering.
 
#183
#183
BigPapaVol said:
Continuing to try and equate Knight's approach to basketball with the slowdown game just looks senseless. There's no other way to put it. He used what he had at his disposal. The common thread: everyoe played D, all the time.
Click to expand...
What? You don't remember how the Chaney/Graham/Bailey teams held the ball so much they were always around the top of the Big Ten in scoring and Calbert ended up tallying more points than anyone in league history?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#184
#184
Bobby Knight could take any five players and run an effective half-court offense. We need to bring him in to teach our coaches how to run an offense. Unfortunately, not all games are transition games and that's the only way we can score.
 
#185
#185
After we beat NC A&T Wednesday, we will all feel better and think the team has pulled it together. One game does not a season make, but Saturday was extremely disappointing. Losing is one thing, but getting embarrassed by an inferior team is something else.
 
#186
#186
#189
#189
GahLee said:
We have been 4th in attendance the last 4 years. Look at who we have been playing and the economy, having the same problem at elite schools, Roy Williams eluded to it after the win over MSU.

Lack of fan support will not keep UT from being elite.
Click to expand...

Are you saying that the fan support, like that at Duke, Ky and Chapel Hill, doesn't have an impact on games and team confidence? Those people are rabid. Watching a game on TV at Knoxville is boring. The fans in the end zones during foul shots might throw up a hand. Get 'em jumpin' and watch things change. But who could do that? Maybe give out free T-shirts and instructions to go ape**** or get tossed.
 
#190
#190
You are absolutely correct. All elite teams have unbelievable fan support. We do not. We will never have a truly elite program until our fan support of the program improves. Fan support helps recruiting, winning, and development of an elite program.
 
#191
#191
OrangeNehi said:
Are you saying that the fan support, like that at Duke, Ky and Chapel Hill, doesn't have an impact on games and team confidence? Those people are rabid. Watching a game on TV at Knoxville is boring. The fans in the end zones during foul shots might throw up a hand. Get 'em jumpin' and watch things change. But who could do that? Maybe give out free T-shirts and instructions to go ape**** or get tossed.
Click to expand...
maybe shoot t-shirts into the crowd during the game? that'll get 'em to stand up....
 
#192
#192
So in order to become an elite program we need all the fans at the game to paint their bodies orange and white, wear rainbow wigs, hold John 3:16 signs, and act like we came to the game straight from the top of ol' Rocky Top?:blink:
 
#193
#193
I don't know of many elite programs that have little fan support or enthusiam for their team. Half-filled areana and fans who set on their hands does not, nor will it ever allow for an elite program.
 
#194
#194
tigervol9802 said:
So in order to become an elite program we need all the fans at the game to paint their bodies orange and white, wear rainbow wigs, hold John 3:16 signs, and act like we came to the game straight from the top of ol' Rocky Top?:blink:
Click to expand...

Not all the fans, just the head coach. Just curious, what other Major D-1 basketball coach has ever showed up to a University function shirtless and painted? If you want to be elite, you gotta at least act like it, instead of acting like a cartoon character.
 
#195
#195
hmanvolfan said:
No, Tennessee is a football school... :p
Click to expand...
Tennessee WAS a football school.
A make pretend basketball school.
I only hope Kiffin continues to untwine the mess that was weaved.
To be honest I think this is why I have no hate for Memphis basketball, simply because it has supplied the only pulse of real basketball ever generated in the state.
 
Last edited:
#196
#196
utfantilidie said:
Tennessee WAS a football school.
A make pretend basketball school.
I only hope Kiffin continues to untwine the mess that was weaved.
To be honest I think this is why I have no hate for :birgits_giggle:.
Click to expand...

You must be Rip Van Winkle and have been sleeping for the past few years if you think Memphis is the only Tennessee team that has played basketball for the past few years.
 
#197
#197
Will the fans show for the NC Charolette game now with these four players out? Will this hurt or help our effort in this game? How will the remaining players react to this situation? I blame Tyler Smith more than any of the four as he has a "C" on his jersey and is a senior. Quite an example for the other players.
 
#199
#199
shamwowpearl said:
UT is an elite program. Pat Summitt has won multiple championships :eek:lol:
Click to expand...

If only our men's program could come close to the Lady Vols in on-court performance and graduation rates, we would truly have an elite program. We aren't close to that at this point.
 
#200
#200
Next years rule change brings the 3 point line to within 6 feet of the basket,,, we will rock.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top