For next year, I'd choose Martin. Look at how he is recruiting at Mizzou. Pearl has shown at Auburn that he needs high level assistants (such as Forbes and not Steven Pearl) on staff.
For long term, I'd probably choose none of the above. Martin would jet in 3 years, Pearl has struggled without great assistants, and Barnes isn't recruiting at a high enough level.
Good points. I definitely think Pearl was much better because of his assistants. I don't think we get to keep Martin's recruits.
So, I went with Barnes. I actually think he is a better on the court coach, and I never expected to say that about him when he was hired.
So far, Bruce Pearl is the only one who has proved that he could take the proverbial Vols by the tail and lead us to the Elite Eight. The fan base wasn't that hyped up about basketball even during the halcyon days of Ray Mears. Based on that, if nothing else, I'd take Bruce. Besides that, he beat Barnes when Texas had the superior roster, including Durant. And that was not the only superior team we knocked off during his reign. We haven't been known for pulling off as many upsets since.
Bruce's 2007-08 team went 31-5. 14-2 in the SEC which gave TN an outright SEC championship. Regular season record of 28-3 before going 1-1 in the SECT and 2-1 in the NCAAT... getting bounced by Louisville in the regional finals which prevented Tennessee from getting their first ever Elite Eight. Many people believe this to be TN's best team ever. This is the team that beat #1 Memphis at Memphis and had the #1 ranking for the next week. Remember that one other loss? Barnes and Texas beat the snot out of Bruce and TN, 78-97.
So far, Bruce Pearl is the only one who has proved that he could take the proverbial Vols by the tail and lead us to the Elite Eight. The fan base wasn't that hyped up about basketball even during the halcyon days of Ray Mears. Based on that, if nothing else, I'd take Bruce. Besides that, he beat Barnes when Texas had the superior roster, including Durant. And that was not the only superior team we knocked off during his reign. We haven't been known for pulling off as many upsets since.