Does this make up for a disappointing season?

#101
#101
McDman444 said:
I still don't think Martin is a good coach but I'm loving the tournament so far.
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He's such a bad coach that he just game planned and shut down three teams in a week. Richardson has gone from a defensive only player to an offensive threat. jarnel is breaking rebounding records. McMcrae scores at will and their in the 16. But you're right, he's not a good coach.
 
#102
#102
HBCButch said:
Why do you really care? They did well enough in the regular season to get in and now here we set. Also, don't get confused. If you and some of the other dissenters want to think they are playing better because of your complaining, think again. Nobody cares what you think. You heard it here first fella. Now be sure to ignore me and run to the mod.
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The players would disagree with you. In a nutshell, J Rich said today they've been playing for CCM because of all the negativity he was receiving, when asked about it by Rachel Nichols post game.
 
#103
#103
bowlinggreenvol said:
The players would disagree with you. In a nutshell, J Rich said today they've been playing for CCM because of all the negativity he was receiving, when asked about it by Rachel Nichols post game.
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He actually didn't say that at all. He defended CCM in his response to Nichols by saying he really cares for the players, but he never said they were rallying because of the negativity directed at CCM from some "fans."
 
#104
#104
PackersVols91 said:
I think the doubters are silent. I'll admit being critical at times, but I am so happy to see Coach Martin completely turn it around.
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The doubt has been silenced but it was certainly legitimate. I mean, we're in the sweet sixteen and we're pretty much annihilating anyone that's in our way. We are in a good place right now, but next year is a reality that we'll soon have to face. That reality can't be as good as this one...that's all I'm saying. The criticism of Martin will probably be back full force
 
#105
#105
It absolutely does, but it's going to take some consistency for me to believe Martin will be truly elite here. He has absolutely earned his chance, and this run will pay dividends in multiple areas.
 
#106
#106
The tournament in March is all that ultimately matters. So I'm now satisfied, as this is about where I expected a team with this amount of talent/experience to end up. Anything beyond this is overachieving.

So I'll say this year the grade goes from D to C for making the tourney, C to B by getting to the sweet 16. Anything beyond this is an A, well above average.

But the health of the program for the long term also has to be taken into consideration. Is this tourney appearance a blip on the radar? Can Martin improve recruiting and the slow starts of the team? In order to advance in the tourney, you have to make it. We were literally one more loss this season away from missing it entirely. Can Martin get the team back to the NCAA next season? If not, can he give fans hope through the product that he will finally own completely next season, that he'll be back by 2016?

I have my doubts, but we're going to get to see unless he leaves after the season. He deserves a raise though, something in the 1.8 mil per season range at least.
 
#107
#107
VolArmy74 said:
The tournament in March is all that ultimately matters. So I'm now satisfied, as this is about where I expected a team with this amount of talent/experience to end up. Anything beyond this is overachieving.

So I'll say this year the grade goes from D to C for making the tourney, C to B by getting to the sweet 16. Anything beyond this is an A, well above average.

But the health of the program for the long term also has to be taken into consideration. Is this tourney appearance a blip on the radar? Can Martin improve recruiting and the slow starts of the team? In order to advance in the tourney, you have to make it. We were literally one more loss this season away from missing it entirely. Can Martin get the team back to the NCAA next season? If not, can he give fans hope through the product that he will finally own completely next season, that he'll be back by 2016?

I have my doubts, but we're going to get to see unless he leaves after the season. He deserves a raise though, something in the 1.8 mil per season range at least.
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Yup. Just look at Wichita State...a perfect season and not even in the Sweet Sixteen (which I called long ago and feel like bragging about)
 
#108
#108
Insunseri said:
Yup. Just look at Wichita State...a perfect season and not even in the Sweet Sixteen (which I called long ago and feel like bragging about)
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I feel pretty sorry for them. An amazingly tough draw for a 34-0 team with this bracket. Kentucky still has more pure talent than anyone in the tournament, that's a tough second game for a #1 to have to draw. I had them out next round to Louisville on my bracket. Now I hope we're taking on Louisville next Sunday.
 
#109
#109
HBCButch said:
Why do you really care? They did well enough in the regular season to get in and now here we set. Also, don't get confused. If you and some of the other dissenters want to think they are playing better because of your complaining, think again. Nobody cares what you think. You heard it here first fella. Now be sure to ignore me and run to the mod.
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Easy killer.
 
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#110
#110
patrick said:
And I will add that I liked seeing CCM show some emotion in the post-game interview. Been waiting and wanting to see that.
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That was a side of him that we rarely see, but we have rarely played this well in big games under him. Hopefully, this a trend!!
 
#111
#111
daj2576 said:
Regardless of what happens from here on out, Martin has met and exceeded my expectations for this year. I admit, I was pretty vocal about the economic benefit of trading Martin (who I really liked as a man but doubted as a coach) for Pearl (even if that was totally unrealistic, it made sense to me). I only wanted Martin gone if the trade-off was for Pearl. That last sentence, in my eyes, is an important distinction.

Now, I am glad that Pearl is at Auburn and I no longer have to contemplate that as an option, and similarly that Martin is showing that his stellar character translates to dominating wins on the court when it matters.

I'm sold on Martin and believe his contract should be raised and extended. And, I stand hat-in-hand asking to be forgiven for my doubt.

Perhaps fortune is beginning to smile on the Orange faithful again...
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Very well-thought and reasonable response. Welcome back into the fold.
 
#112
#112
Yes......its a tournament driven sport.....we almost cost ourselves this opportunity....if martin proves he can win with consistency, he will have all of volnation behind him.
 
#115
#115
iKrager said:
Just want to hear from all the doubters. Does this change your view on Martin's coaching philosophy?
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I don't think it "makes up for it". I think it's a totally different season and it's awesome to be able to root for a team that is still in the tourney at this point.

I guess another way to put it is I'm not going to just forget about the last 3 years and what I figure to be a tough season next year. I made this point to my friends that if the stock market goes up 2,000 points that doesn't mean I think all of Obama's presidency has been great.

People say NCAA basketball is a tourney sport and I sorta buy into that. People remember what you do in the postseason. But fans also remember what you do in the regular season as well. Wichita St is hurting big time today but when their fans look back at this season they're going to remember it as being special. The tourney is pretty finicky. One of my favorite seasons was the year we went to #1 but we didn't get past the Sweet 16. I enjoyed that season so much more than the year we went to the Elite 8. I had more fun during the tourney in that Elite 8 (I've told anyone and everyone that I had more fun at the regional that year than when I went to Tempe for the national championship) year but the whole season of being #1 was much better.

I don't know if this answers any of your questions. I'm thrilled that we're still playing at this point. It doesn't absolve the staff from the things I thought were wrong during the season but that's for another time.

Congrats to Zo and the Vols. This is a great time of year to still be in the tourney!
 
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#116
#116
NYC Vol said:
I don't think it "makes up for it". I think it's a totally different season and it's awesome to be able to root for a team that is still in the tourney at this point.

I guess another way to put it is I'm not going to just forget about the last 3 years and what I figure to be a tough season next year. I made this point to my friends that if the stock market goes up 2,000 points that doesn't mean I think all of Obama's presidency has been great.

People say NCAA basketball is a tourney sport and I sorta buy into that. People remember what you do in the postseason. But fans also remember what you do in the regular season as well. The tourney is pretty finicky. One of my favorite seasons was the year we went to #1 but we didn't get past the Sweet 16. I enjoyed that season so much more than the year we went to the Elite 8. I had more fun during the tourney in that Elite 8 year but the whole season of being #1 was much better.

I don't know if this answers any of your questions. I'm thrilled that we're still playing at this point. It doesn't absolve the staff from the things I thought were wrong during the season but that's for another time.

Congrats to Zo and the Vols. This is a great time of year to still be in the tourney!
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Excellent way to put it.
 
#117
#117
It's easy to try and make everything black and white, but I don't think it's the most accurate description for our situation. The criticism of Cuonzo and this team was absolutely deserved...just as the praise they're now receiving is 100% deserved.

The way the team is currently playing, in a weird twist of fate actually validates much of the prior criticism. Many of us knew all along this team had insane potential if everything came together. Now they're finally showing it.

Where Cuonzo deserves even more praise, and where many of us - including myself - should have given him the benefit of the doubt, is on his philosophy. He has remained unwavering in his beliefs and approach to the game, fully believing if you do things the right way then success will follow. I still think he has a lot to prove, but if anything, this run has shown he's more than capable. It's just a matter of consistency from here on out.

To answer the original question of the OP, I wouldn't say it erases the regular season...but March is what matters above all else. I can tell you this much. I would take our season over Wichita State's right now and wouldn't even blink. I'll take 24-12 with a Sweet 16 any day over 35-1 on the outside looking in..
 
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#118
#118
Jonboy said:
It's easy to try and make everything black and white, but I don't think it's the most accurate description for our situation. The criticism of Cuonzo and this team was absolutely deserved...just as the praise they're now receiving is 100% deserved.

The way the team is currently playing, in a weird twist of fate actually validates much of the prior criticism. Many of us knew all along this team had insane potential if everything came together. Now they're finally showing it.

Where Cuonzo deserves even more praise, and where many of us - including myself - should have given him the benefit of the doubt, is on his philosophy. He has remained unwavering in his beliefs and approach to the game, fully believing if you do things the right way then success will follow. I still think he has a lot to prove, but if anything, this run has shown he's more than capable. It's just a matter of consistency from here on out.

To answer the original question of the OP, I wouldn't say it erases the regular season...but March is what matters above all else. I can tell you this much. I would take our season over Wichita State's right now and wouldn't even blink. I'll take 24-12 with a Sweet 16 birth any day over 35-1 on the outside looking in..
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Another excellent viewpoint.
 
#119
#119
iKrager said:
Just want to hear from all the doubters. Does this change your view on Martin's coaching philosophy?
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Were you not one of the doubters? We had a very marginal season, needing to win a play in game just to make the tournament. Considering the talent we have it should have never been this way. But in college basketball... It's not how you start but rather how you finish. I can speak for anyone else but I'm thrilled with what we've ended up accomplishing.
 
#120
#120
CCM was also accused of not being able to recruit anything above a mid-major player. Josh Richardson was one of them. How far has this guy climbed? This guy has climbed into a possible draft pick. Chris Lofton, Weezie Chism and the rest went undrafted.
 
#121
#121
Three games in five days! To those who are throwing out the they haven't really played anyone in the tournament yet, they have played three games in five days and won all three.

They outscored Iowa 14-1 in overtime the first game and completely dominated the next two games. Mercer took Duke out of the tournament, so I can't see where anyone can say they weren't a good team.

Way to go Zo and team! Michigan will be tough, but we have a great shot at making the Elite 8.
 
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#122
#122
Jazzy#10 said:
CCM was also accused of not being able to recruit anything above a mid-major player. Josh Richardson was one of them. How far has this guy climbed? This guy has climbed into a possible draft pick. Chris Lofton, Weezie Chism and the rest went undrafted.
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I don't think Richardson was one of the guys anyone had an issue with. He was a great get, especially at the point in time when Zo got him. I think he was around 125 in the country. The issue, I believe (and definitely with me), was the guys that we haven't seen anything from. So far it seems to me as if we've gotten exactly the results from our recruits that are consistent with their rankings. The good have been good. The great have been great (Hubbs notwithstanding because of injury, IMO). Not so good has been not so good.

But whatever, we're in the Sweet 16. That's what matters now.
 
#125
#125
Great run by coach zo and the boys but they have won...

a play in game vs Iowa

a over seeded UMASS team who struggled late

a 14 seeded mercer team.

Im not taking anything away from coach zo so before yall start bashing me that's not what im doing. Im saying we need to slow down a bit before talking about he is the guy long term. He has had a great run and its not over yet.

Go Vols!
 
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