Wow I am suprised about all the negative posters here.

[BigPapaVol]

He gets a Final Four and everyone single one of his critics shut up. If he had some more tourney sucess, he would be in the clear in terms of critics.

It takes a Final Four. If he can get to a Final Four, everybody shuts up...including me.

In my mind, it doesn't take getting there to change my view. I know it's a bit of a crapshoot. I'm OK with losing. I'm not OK with having little or no chance against better teams because we simply don't know what to do or play a style that they will all kill far more often than not.

 

[IndubitablyOrange]

Finally, I am disappointed because it feels like the basketball part of this site is one that everyone has to walk around very carefully. If anyone ever supports the staff they are ridiculed. Even if you (being many not just you) disagree, that is ok. Maybe we could just share our disagreement in more of an agreeable way....? (ridicule me now because of this....)

I haven't been part of this forum for very long, but it seems like those who express opinions against the staff are made out to be barbarians.

Any type of suggestion to improve the offense, recruiting, or certain coaching decisions is made out to be a malicious attack against the team and university. If you aren't allowed to hold a dissenting opinion, how can something ever be improved? None of us providing criticism hate the program, instead, we know the great potential this current team has and we refuse to wallow in mediocrity.

I just don't want to see us get complacent. Yes, we have come a long way as a program, but keeping the drive and hunger to be the best should always be the goal. Sometimes that takes tough love, and you just have to learn how to swallow it.

 

[zjcvols]

In my mind, it doesn't take getting there to change my view. I know it's a bit of a crapshoot. I'm OK with losing. I'm not OK with having little or no chance against better teams because we simply don't know what to do or play a style that they will all kill far more often than not.

I disagree about having little or no chance about beating better teams. We have with Pearl. I disagree. And the reason I say Final Four fixes everything is because it means he can win with that offense. The only reason we are not a final four contender this year is because our half-court offense. Yet if he gets to the FF, it shows that he can win in the Tourney with that offense.

 

[HomeGrownVol]

What improvements has a Bruce Pearl coach team exhibited?

Secondly, what recurring problems has BP ever fixed?

Those two questions are the crux of most people's issues with the University of Tennessee's Used Car Salesman of a Coach.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

I'd say besides the problem of losing 15+ games a year, I'd say post play. Chism looks very improved in the low post. I also think Tatum looks like he finally has a clue. Surprisingly, I think Hopson. Now, don't get me wrong, he has a long ways to go. However, his shooting has been a surprise. Not like this is a huge upgrade but we have some press again - albeit against bad teams but last year we couldn't press at all.

I'll give you the "Used Car Saleman" take too. But, when Pearl got here, that is who we were - a used car dealership that no one wanted any part of. Pearl brought us into the spotlight and has brought us up to a level. I think he's done a good job of transitioning out of that too a certain extent - no more body paint.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I disagree about having little or no chance about beating better teams. We have with Pearl. I disagree. And the reason I say Final Four fixes everything is because it means he can win with that offense. The only reason we are not a final four contender this year is because our half-court offense. Yet if he gets to the FF, it shows that he can win in the Tourney with that offense.

The die is cast right now. If you have decent guards, slow us down, pack in a zone and even take a close game, as we don't do big possessions well on either end. Everyone has a chance because of the 3 ball and fickle nature of shooting percentages, but the odds aren't in our favor with the way we play now.

 

[HomeGrownVol]

I haven't been part of this forum for very long, but it seems like those who express opinions against the staff are made out to be barbarians.

Any type of suggestion to improve the offense, recruiting, or certain coaching decisions is made out to be a malicious attack against the team and university. If you aren't allowed to hold a dissenting opinion, how can something ever be improved? None of us providing criticism hate the program, instead, we know the great potential this current team has and we refuse to wallow in mediocrity.

I just don't want to see us get complacent. Yes, we have come a long way as a program, but keeping the drive and hunger to be the best should always be the goal. Sometimes that takes tough love, and you just have to learn how to swallow it.

I'm not trying to be rude but I think you were right when you said, "haven't been a part of this forum long". If you were to look back through most threads, the person that agrees with the direction of the team get beaten down (usually). Just read back through this thread. Everyone has an opinion - that's the beauty of public forums

 

[IndubitablyOrange]

In my mind, it doesn't take getting there to change my view. I know it's a bit of a crapshoot. I'm OK with losing. I'm not OK with having little or no chance against better teams because we simply don't know what to do or play a style that they will all kill far more often than not.

To me, this is the unfortunate truth. Nights that I get to watch UT play and then change channels during commercial to watch [insert elite team] play, I change it back to UT's game and think to myself at some point "Man you don't ever see [insert elite team] doing stuff like that".

We all talk about wanting to be an elite team. If you want to be one, you have to play like one.

Whether its a stagnant, non-moving offense against 2-3 zones, inability or lack of desire to defend and rebound every possession, or the retarded shots we throw up because everyone else is standing around watching some go 1 on 1, our style of play puts us at a disadvantage before the game ever tips off. It all goes back to lack of discipline, and that starts with the coach.

 

[zjcvols]

The die is cast right now. If you have decent guards, slow us down, pack in a zone and even take a close game, as we don't do big possessions well on either end. Everyone has a chance because of the 3 ball and fickle nature of shooting percentages, but the odds aren't in our favor with the way we play now.

That I will give you. Very true. I have never, ever been impressed with his ability to close late in games. Look, the only thing holding this team back of a Final Four team (in my opinion) is the halfcourt offense, like you described. You put us against a run-n-gun team, we can beat anybody. But I agree, we struggle in a half-court game.

 

[IndubitablyOrange]

I'm not trying to be rude but I think you were right when you said, "haven't been a part of this forum long". If you were to look back through most threads, the person that agrees with the direction of the team get beaten down (usually). Just read back through this thread. Everyone has an opinion - that's the beauty of public forums

Better phrased: I haven't been a posting member of this forum very long, I read threads often before actually registering.

I agree, we all have an opinion. It's just a shame that both sides can't discuss them as sports fans instead of creating a UT BB civil war.

 

[OrangeNYC]

It must be like the Obama hate. Pearl is openly Jewish, after all... It's really all I can come up with, because it is full on tard to think the Vols aren't overachieving BIG TIME. Seriously, the amount of smarmy know-it-all-ism despite being so very wrong reeks of political discussion, or at least a convo with a Bammer about 12 championships. My advice to you- Don't waste your time. UT under Pearl matches up favorably with Coach K under Duke over the last 4 years, and we all know he's no failure. Same tourney apps, same Sweet 16's, all with lesser players.
These same Pearl haters think CLK is THE MAN for going 7-5, so if you need more proof of the suspicious double-standard going on with regards to CBP, there it is. Just as with Obama, they will never admit the real reason for their hatreds, but he has an awesome record, recruits well, always makes the tourney, Sweet 16's half of his years, SEC e champs 75% of the time... What is there to hate? All of us real Vol fans know we never expected such success, and we'd be nuts to think we could get a better coach, like the ones these guys want to compare CBP to. Roy Williams wouldn't coach at UT for $10 mil a year.
But these guys find a way to see whatever they are seeing. Seriously, it is a waste of time on Volnation. They gang up every time, and ignore it when you crush their silly arguments. Just know that hat and his sycophants (sorry if I sound like a pretentious nerd) aren't the norm. They cheer for the UNC's and Kansas's and all have enormous cases of Calipari-envy. Us REAL VOL FANS LOVE CBP. Asking why they hate CBP is like asking someone why they're so stupid- don't expect an enlightening answer.

 

[MikeHamiltonFan]

I haven't been part of this forum for very long, but it seems like those who express opinions against the staff are made out to be barbarians.

Any type of suggestion to improve the offense, recruiting, or certain coaching decisions is made out to be a malicious attack against the team and university. If you aren't allowed to hold a dissenting opinion, how can something ever be improved? None of us providing criticism hate the program, instead, we know the great potential this current team has and we refuse to wallow in mediocrity.

I just don't want to see us get complacent. Yes, we have come a long way as a program, but keeping the drive and hunger to be the best should always be the goal. Sometimes that takes tough love, and you just have to learn how to swallow it.

Sorry this is just not the case.

What is the case is that hatvol, Bigpapa, emain, Lofton4three, get upset when people are happy about where our basketball program is.

I listed a lot of reasons that people like Pearl in a thread that was nuked. Basically it is Deon, style of play, personality, personal issues.

I have criticized players and coaching but I am lumped in with the Pearl lovers because I am more than a negavol.

 

[OrangeNYC]

It's always the same 4-5 posters who linger on the Bball forum just to bash Pearl anyway. Just look at this thread. You will see these same few in agreement and posting up a storm for every CBP article. It's just a very vocal minority, like the tea-party folks. Don't think that the majority of UT fans aren't proud of Pearl and our Vols accomplishments of the last 4 years. Go Vols! Luv ya Bruce!

 

[utvolpj]

It must be like the Obama hate. Pearl is openly Jewish, after all... It's really all I can come up with,

you should really keep looking for a better answer because this one is so very wrong. Labeling anyone who disagrees with the coach an anti-semite and the pres a racist is downright insulting.

Please point out where people criticizing Bruce's coaching have said they hate the man. I bet you can't wrangle up more than one weak example

 

[BigPapaVol]

Overachieving. That's entertainment.

You forgot to list in the overwhelming accolades bucket the #1 ranking. How does a team that did all that actually overachieve? Was the drubbing at the hands of 3 seed Louisville overachievement?

Coach K would tell you that his program has sucked over the past 4 years and his greatness certainly has nothing to do with his swoon. The guy has 3 national titles, about 400 ACC titles and went to the final 4 about 400 other times. Trying to compare the two makes you look absurd.

 

[KB5252]

It's always the same 4-5 posters who linger on the Bball forum just to bash Pearl anyway. Just look at this thread. You will see these same few in agreement and posting up a storm for every CBP article. It's just a very vocal minority, like the tea-party folks. Don't think that the majority of UT fans aren't proud of Pearl and our Vols accomplishments of the last 4 years. Go Vols! Luv ya Bruce!

Can't hang in the political forum so you come here to make attacks on the reasoning of others opinions with a awkwardly weak comparison to Pearl?

How unimaginative you must be to come up with such pathetic comparisons.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Sorry this is just not the case.

What is the case is that hatvol, Bigpapa, emain, Lofton4three, get upset when people are happy about where our basketball program is.

I listed a lot of reasons that people like Pearl in a thread that was nuked. Basically it is Deon, style of play, personality, personal issues.

I have criticized players and coaching but I am lumped in with the Pearl lovers because I am more than a negavol.

I don't get upset. I don't care how happy you are with the program. Don't give yourself so much credit for impacting what I think. I post my opinion and argue for it. The people involved just don't matter.

 

[BigPapaVol]

It's always the same 4-5 posters who linger on the Bball forum just to bash Pearl anyway. Just look at this thread. You will see these same few in agreement and posting up a storm for every CBP article. It's just a very vocal minority, like the tea-party folks. Don't think that the majority of UT fans aren't proud of Pearl and our Vols accomplishments of the last 4 years. Go Vols! Luv ya Bruce!

Do you really need the support of feeling like you're in the majority?

That's a really sad commentary on who you are, but fitting nonetheless.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

It must be like the Obama hate. Pearl is openly Jewish, after all... It's really all I can come up with, because it is full on tard to think the Vols aren't overachieving BIG TIME. Seriously, the amount of smarmy know-it-all-ism despite being so very wrong reeks of political discussion, or at least a convo with a Bammer about 12 championships. My advice to you- Don't waste your time. UT under Pearl matches up favorably with Coach K under Duke over the last 4 years, and we all know he's no failure. Same tourney apps, same Sweet 16's, all with lesser players.
These same Pearl haters think CLK is THE MAN for going 7-5, so if you need more proof of the suspicious double-standard going on with regards to CBP, there it is. Just as with Obama, they will never admit the real reason for their hatreds, but he has an awesome record, recruits well, always makes the tourney, Sweet 16's half of his years, SEC e champs 75% of the time... What is there to hate? All of us real Vol fans know we never expected such success, and we'd be nuts to think we could get a better coach, like the ones these guys want to compare CBP to. Roy Williams wouldn't coach at UT for $10 mil a year.
But these guys find a way to see whatever they are seeing. Seriously, it is a waste of time on Volnation. They gang up every time, and ignore it when you crush their silly arguments. Just know that hat and his sycophants (sorry if I sound like a pretentious nerd) aren't the norm. They cheer for the UNC's and Kansas's and all have enormous cases of Calipari-envy. Us REAL VOL FANS LOVE CBP. Asking why they hate CBP is like asking someone why they're so stupid- don't expect an enlightening answer.

I've already said this but apparently it needs repeating....you seriously need to consider never, ever posting about basketball again.

This post is a serious contender for Dumbest Post Ever, and given the amount of crap that has been posted here, that's saying a ton. You fail not only in basketball but also manage to fail in politics as well.

And no you don't sound like a pretenious nerd, you sound like someone who couldn't think his way out of a paper bag.

 

[zjcvols]

It must be like the Obama hate. Pearl is openly Jewish, after all... It's really all I can come up with, because it is full on tard to think the Vols aren't overachieving BIG TIME. Seriously, the amount of smarmy know-it-all-ism despite being so very wrong reeks of political discussion, or at least a convo with a Bammer about 12 championships. My advice to you- Don't waste your time. UT under Pearl matches up favorably with Coach K under Duke over the last 4 years, and we all know he's no failure. Same tourney apps, same Sweet 16's, all with lesser players.
These same Pearl haters think CLK is THE MAN for going 7-5, so if you need more proof of the suspicious double-standard going on with regards to CBP, there it is. Just as with Obama, they will never admit the real reason for their hatreds, but he has an awesome record, recruits well, always makes the tourney, Sweet 16's half of his years, SEC e champs 75% of the time... What is there to hate? All of us real Vol fans know we never expected such success, and we'd be nuts to think we could get a better coach, like the ones these guys want to compare CBP to. Roy Williams wouldn't coach at UT for $10 mil a year.
But these guys find a way to see whatever they are seeing. Seriously, it is a waste of time on Volnation. They gang up every time, and ignore it when you crush their silly arguments. Just know that hat and his sycophants (sorry if I sound like a pretentious nerd) aren't the norm. They cheer for the UNC's and Kansas's and all have enormous cases of Calipari-envy. Us REAL VOL FANS LOVE CBP. Asking why they hate CBP is like asking someone why they're so stupid- don't expect an enlightening answer.

1. Nobody cares that Pearl is Jewish. This isn't the 1940's. Get your facts straight.

2. Coach K has three national titles and 10 Final Fours. Pearl hasn't even dreamed of that. Seriously, don't compare Mike K. to Pearl.

3. You can't compare Pearl in his fifth year to CLK in his FIRST YEAR.

4. I didn't expect this much sucess. Just some people do not know if it will sustain. What's wrong with thinking that?

5. I'm a real Vol fan and I don't love Pearl. He's okay. What's wrong with thinking that? please tell me.

P.S. Obama has nothing to do with this. If people don't like Obama because of his policies, there is nothing wrong with that. You qualifiy as an idiot. You are a freaking moron. Go ahead, reprimand me for calling names, but this is the dumbest post in Volnation history.

 

[OrangeNYC]

Coach K would tell you that his program has sucked over the past 4 years and his greatness certainly has nothing to do with his swoon. The guy has 3 national titles, about 400 ACC titles and went to the final 4 about 400 other times. Trying to compare the two makes you look absurd.

Coach K never told me that. Link to where he said that, oh wise one.
I'd say it looks absurd to pretend a sweet 16 or sec e championship or even hitting #1 for the first time ever AREN'T accomplishments that us Vol fans should be proud of.
Riddle me this, what were you proud of about UT BBall 5 years ago?

 

[zjcvols]

Sorry this is just not the case.

What is the case is that hatvol, Bigpapa, emain, Lofton4three, get upset when people are happy about where our basketball program is.

I listed a lot of reasons that people like Pearl in a thread that was nuked. Basically it is Deon, style of play, personality, personal issues.

I have criticized players and coaching but I am lumped in with the Pearl lovers because I am more than a negavol.

You can think that our basketball program is right where it needs be. That's fine. Some people (like me) don't think we are going anywhere near a Final Four, which should be the goal.

Another thing: What's wrong with people saying that they feel Pearl isn't the man to lead UT to the promise land? Is there something wrong with that? No. It's an opinion. I don't think Pearl is leading us to the promise land. Doesn't mean I'm not happy with the past sucess. It means I want more sucess because that's what programs do. Keep going up to other levels.

 

[zjcvols]

Coach K never told me that. Link to where he said that, oh wise one.
I'd say it looks absurd to pretend a sweet 16 or sec e championship or even hitting #1 for the first time ever AREN'T accomplishments that us Vol fans should be proud of.
Riddle me this, what were you proud of about UT BBall 5 years ago?

Those are great. Yet, that's the past. It's time to take the program to the next level. We have the money, the facilities, the name brand. Can Pearl takes us to the next level? People say no, there is nothin wrong with that.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Coach K never told me that. Link to where he said that, oh wise one.
I'd say it looks absurd to pretend a sweet 16 or sec e championship or even hitting #1 for the first time ever AREN'T accomplishments that us Vol fans should be proud of.
Riddle me this, what were you proud of about UT BBall 5 years ago?

I don't suspect that you know Coach K. Otherwise, you would have stopped talking.

I never said I'm proud of the history of the program. I never said I don't like what Pearl has done to turn a bad program around. I think the accomplishments are nice, if a bit overblown. I think he can take us further, but not without some serious focus on our glaring weaknesses. It's that simple.

 

[zjcvols]

I don't suspect that you know Coach K. Otherwise, you would have stopped talking.

I never said I'm proud of the history of the program. I never said I don't like what Pearl has done to turn a bad program around. I think the accomplishments are nice, if a bit overblown. I think he can take us further, but not without some serious focus on our glaring weaknesses. It's that simple.

I agree, and I don't think we will take us further because in five years, he hasn't fixed them. Yet we are going to get ripped for hating Pearl for whatever reason. It's fact: Pearl is a good coach, not a great one.

 

[LawVol13]

Couple things:

1) I didn't "call anyone out". If you read the posts I am the only one that people are ripping. I've only attempted to show facts.

2) Sadly we can't win every game. Louisville went into the game against us with a determination to win just like we did. A team had to lose and the team that was inferior did.

3) Point guards have been weak. Ramar was a 5 star that did not pan out. Pearl recruited him - who knew he would be such a wash. Apparently rivals and scout missed that one too. He had Shelby minus Nike - that is just the problem with basketball these days. We also have a strong commitment from a top '11 point guard.

Apparently all the other schools that quit recruiting him.