A little perspective is needed

[Stoked]

Mercer was hot that day, Duke was not. It happens. I hope Michigan shoots like crap in that Indy dome.

Were they hot? Because Duke shot 40% from 3 while Mercer shot 38%...Duke also shot 90% from the free throw line while Mercer shot 80% and they out rebounded Mercer...stop making stupid excuses and just accept the fact that we are in the sweet 16.

 

[Lefteye]

Were they hot? Because Duke shot 40% from 3 while Mercer shot 38%...Duke also shot 90% from the free throw line while Mercer shot 80% and they out rebounded Mercer...stop making stupid excuses and just accept the fact that we are in the sweet 16.

Agree.

On a side note, I bet your glad you didn't ask the mods to let you change your screen name a few weeks ago huh? You went from catching grief to probably gettin offers from folks trying to buy it.

 

[vol66]

You are in the S16. If you don't appreciate that and enjoy it there's something wrong with you. Fans of a bunch of teams would love to be where you are now.

On the other hand, there's also nothing wrong with a little healthy skepticism about the path to get there and what lies ahead.

The two are not mutually exclusive, but you guys seems so anxious to categorize people as either on board totally, or negavol.

Part of the problem is what winning looks like and around here it looks like Pearl. It's hard for people to look at Cuonzo and realize it's going to look completely different. Going from "controlled chaos" to half court "motion offense" seems boring.

Obviously, there is nearly a three year body of work here. Martin is a defensive coach, defense first and scoring will take care of itself. So when you look at points allowed per game I think it would be at least significant that going back the past 17 seasons, Pearl, Peterson and Green, this years Martin's squad has defended to the tune of 61.4 points allowed per game( second only to your Gators in the SEC, this season). That is the best mark for a UT team in those 17 years.

It's also pretty clear that Martin is still doing a lot of teaching/preaching well into the season, as for the last three years the team doesn't seem to flip the switch until February. In all games in the months of Feb. and Mar. the past 3 years, Martin's winning percentage is .674.

In those same months during the Pearl tenure, his winning percentage was .639. Broken down into two 3 year periods, the first 3 years Pearl went .714, in his last 3, he went .568.

I think it's probably hard to change the culture of a team from a running, wide open style to a defensive minded controlled half-court offensive style...even harder to get the fans to "buy in", because that's not what "success" looked like under Pearl.

I think the future looks bright, but I don't have a crystal ball.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

What an idiotic thread.

Wtf is your definition of mediocre? A team ranked 25-50? That's much better than mediocre by most peoples definition.

So only a win verse a top 20 team is a good win, and not considered mediocre???

 

[40Cap]

I hate to take options off the table. What if we come out and get spanked by Michigan? Reverting back to our early season form? Then when you look down the schedule of wins this season you don't see much at all to be happy with. Wins over average to poor teams (minus UVa), very little in the way of quality wins, and some really bad losses.

This is why it is overly simplistic for fans to say, "we are in the Sweet 16, where we should be, so the season is water under the bridge". Which is why most sane people do not evaluate based solely on outcome.

So are you on record that if we lose badly to Michigan CCM should be fired? Just want to make sure I understand where you are coming from.

 

[SECVolFan]

While I appreciate the effort from the coaching staff and team during their current run, I think a little perspective is needed. After a regular season filled with underachievement and bad losses, it is refreshing to see this team playing up to their potential in time for postseason play. Some fans, who just a few weeks ago where ready to can Coach Martin are now ready to erect a statue in his honor. Quite unbelievable. Let's review the teams and their Kenpom ranking that Coach Martin has beaten during this run.

#84 Mercer
#55 UMass
#31 Iowa
#114 South Carolina
#77 Missouri
#129 Auburn
#113 Vandy
#208 Miss State

So why are people rushing to build a statue of this guy for beating a bunch of mediocre teams? These are teams we should be beating. These are things that were expected of this team. Did Coach Martin set the bar so low during the regular season that now any semblance of a pulse from this team is surprising?

The next 2 games (if we win the 1st) are where Coach Martin will prove himself. (#10 Michigan and #3Louisville/#13KY). If we win and or compete in those games then it is time to start considering a raise and extension. Until that happens, all Coach Martin has done is what is to be expected.

I love how you had to reference building a statue twice in your post to try to validate your point. No one has put that much praise on Martin. There has been a large amount of apology/crow threads, but they all are saying that he deserves to be here and to have more time to prove himself.

Basically, they are just saying sorry that they weren't willing to give him the time he needs to grow as a coach and get TN basketball back to where it was under Pearl.

The end of this season, and the current run in the tourney, is more than a lot of ppl thought Martin could do. They have been proved wrong and many have felt the need to publicly display the error of their ways. There is no harm in that. No one is saying that Martin is the next Pat Summitt, Coach K, or John Wooden.

Also, no one is saying that we beat a handful of top50 teams. Therefore, wth is this thread even referencing? It's like your mad that ppl are finally starting to get behind Martin. It's pathetic, really.

Just be thankful that the Vols are getting the opportunity to play in the Sweet16! Ya know, it's not like we've only been there before like 6 times in school history or anything...

 

[Cdywolfe]

good grief no one is starting a petition to erect a statue. Enjoy the run without trying to play the "realist" and water the damn thing down.

the SEC has always had some bad teams but when was the last time UT ran through 3 straight by an average margin of 30+? There will also be no asterisk on the banners in TBA because some view the NCAAT opponents as weak. Lots of teams wish they were exactly where we are right now yet our fans don't seem to appreciate it.

I completely agree but I think the "I told ya so" crowd is equally, if not more so, annoying.

 

[whobethis16]

I completely agree but I think the "I told ya so" crowd is equally, if not more so, annoying.

You wouldn't if the shoe was on the other foot. And you cannot deny that if Martin flopped instead of this run, the Anti Martins would be saying I told ya so now.

 

[volgr]

Were they hot? Because Duke shot 40% from 3 while Mercer shot 38%...Duke also shot 90% from the free throw line while Mercer shot 80% and they out rebounded Mercer...stop making stupid excuses and just accept the fact that we are in the sweet 16.

Why did you leave out what both teams shot from the field? One shot 35% the other shot 55%. Guess which one shot what. It isn't an excuse, it is what it is.

 

[volgr]

So are you on record that if we lose badly to Michigan CCM should be fired? Just want to make sure I understand where you are coming from.

I wouldn't have a problem with Hart if he decided to do that.

 

[Volman1970]

Why did you leave out what both teams shot from the field? One shot 35% the other shot 55%. Guess which one shot what. It isn't an excuse, it is what it is.

There is no doubt in my mind that you are mad that we are still dancing!There is a bandwagon heading down 59 to Auburn campus if you want to join them!

 

[volgr]

What an idiotic thread.

Wtf is your definition of mediocre? A team ranked 25-50? That's much better than mediocre by most peoples definition.

So only a win verse a top 20 team is a good win, and not considered mediocre???

The definition of mediocre wins is barely making the NCAAT as a play-in game.

 

[volgr]

There is no doubt in my mind that you are mad that we are still dancing!There is a bandwagon heading down 59 to Auburn campus if you want to join them!

LOL. Out of bullets so you throwing the gun at me now?

 

[whobethis16]

The definition of mediocre wins is barely making the NCAAT as a play-in game.

You must have a different dictionary than I do. Because less than half the NCAA makes the tournament, and Miriam Webster claims mediocre is "of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance: ordinary". Being one of the 68 out of 300 eligible teams is a bit better than "ordinary".

 

[utvolpj]

The definition of mediocre wins is barely making the NCAAT as a play-in game.

play-in games don't exist anymore. According to the NCAA, UT played in the 1st round as an 11 seed

the thing about bball is it doesn't matter how you get there. The bball season is all about the last 3 weekends. A successful team can have early bumps but if they're peaking at the right time then the season can easily be viewed as successful.

I'm convinced many UT fans (and probably SEC fans except for UK) watch bball with the same mentality as football. Losing games, even to bad teams, doesn't really matter that much in bball. It's a tournament sport played in March with a few months of qualifying

 

[mocfan]

I wonder if some people would be singing a different tune if Bruce Pearl was still available?

 

[volgr]

play-in games don't exist anymore. According to the NCAA, UT played in the 1st round as an 11 seed

the thing about bball is it doesn't matter how you get there. The bball season is all about the last 3 weekends. A successful team can have early bumps but if they're peaking at the right time then the season can easily be viewed as successful.

I'm convinced many UT fans (and probably SEC fans except for UK) watch bball with the same mentality as football. Losing games, even to bad teams, doesn't really matter that much in bball. It's a tournament sport played in March with a few months of qualifying

You can skew it however you like. The bottom line is, we barely made the tourney. Probably because we lost games to bad teams, but you say that doesn't really matter. I guess it does when you play in a crap conference and don't have many quality wins.

 

[40Cap]

I wouldn't have a problem with Hart if he decided to do that.

And hire whom?

 

[utvolpj]

You can skew it however you like. The bottom line is, we barely made the tourney. Probably because we lost games to bad teams, but you say that doesn't really matter. I guess it does when you play in a crap conference and don't have many quality wins.

I'm not skewing anything by using the NCAAs definition. Making up your own is an attempt to skew the record

I've seen 3 quality wins in the past week. You miss those?

I wonder if some people would be singing a different tune if Bruce Pearl was still available?

no and he was never coming back to UT anyways. It was a ridiculous notion

 

[Sudden Impact]

While I appreciate the effort from the coaching staff and team during their current run, I think a little perspective is needed. After a regular season filled with underachievement and bad losses, it is refreshing to see this team playing up to their potential in time for postseason play. Some fans, who just a few weeks ago where ready to can Coach Martin are now ready to erect a statue in his honor. Quite unbelievable. Let's review the teams and their Kenpom ranking that Coach Martin has beaten during this run.

#84 Mercer
#55 UMass
#31 Iowa
#114 South Carolina
#77 Missouri
#129 Auburn
#113 Vandy
#208 Miss State

So why are people rushing to build a statue of this guy for beating a bunch of mediocre teams? These are teams we should be beating. These are things that were expected of this team. Did Coach Martin set the bar so low during the regular season that now any semblance of a pulse from this team is surprising?

The next 2 games (if we win the 1st) are where Coach Martin will prove himself. (#10 Michigan and #3Louisville/#13KY). If we win and or compete in those games then it is time to start considering a raise and extension. Until that happens, all Coach Martin has done is what is to be expected.

Dislikers going to dislike.


If this were all true there would be no need for a NCAA tournament and if you did have a tournament it would just chalk the line based on seeding.

Tennessee is playing to its potential. Enjoy it. Hit the reset button daily. We have no idea. Odds are out there but where they were 10 games ago is different than where they are today.

You are going to have to learn how to adjust. 3 tournament wins. All by 13 pts or better. This is the same team Physically that lost to UTEP and Texas AM x 2 and Vandy.

It is not the same team that has been on the court the last three NCAA games.

Just compare FT percentages in the Tournamnent versus pre Tourney. FG Percentages. Offensive efficency in the tourney is 1.28 in the tournament according to Ken Pom.

 

[Sudden Impact]

I wonder if some people would be singing a different tune if Bruce Pearl was still available?

drama.

He is not.

According to some he was never an option.

According to the NCAA he wasn't available until August 2014.

According to the Pearls he was not an option.

According to Auburn he is not an option.

Based on the fact that we don't have a vacancy nor did we he was never available.

Based upon the fact that CCM won 2 + games in the Tourney he would never have been avaliable.

So what's the question. Hypothetically speaking. He was never an option no vacancy nor will he be at the end of the season. That is fact.

 

[TennMan101]

I don't call going to OT almost losing. I call that going to OT.

When ONE point, at the end of regulation, would have determined the winner, I would say either team could have lost.

 

[cncchris33]

While I appreciate the effort from the coaching staff and team during their current run, I think a little perspective is needed. After a regular season filled with underachievement and bad losses, it is refreshing to see this team playing up to their potential in time for postseason play. Some fans, who just a few weeks ago where ready to can Coach Martin are now ready to erect a statue in his honor. Quite unbelievable. Let's review the teams and their Kenpom ranking that Coach Martin has beaten during this run.

#84 Mercer
#55 UMass
#31 Iowa
#114 South Carolina
#77 Missouri
#129 Auburn
#113 Vandy
#208 Miss State

So why are people rushing to build a statue of this guy for beating a bunch of mediocre teams? These are teams we should be beating. These are things that were expected of this team. Did Coach Martin set the bar so low during the regular season that now any semblance of a pulse from this team is surprising?

The next 2 games (if we win the 1st) are where Coach Martin will prove himself. (#10 Michigan and #3Louisville/#13KY). If we win and or compete in those games then it is time to start considering a raise and extension. Until that happens, all Coach Martin has done is what is to be expected.

Wet blanket.

 

[drewtigeralum]

When ONE point, at the end of regulation, would have determined the winner, I would say either team could have lost.

Actually, Tennessee had the ball at the end of regulation. They could have won or gone to overtime, depending on their best player making or missing a shot. Only Iowa could have lost at the end of regulation.

 

[DominicLoBianco]

Interesting read on the 1&done rule

Small World of Sports: The Landscape of College Basketball