Rick Barnes has emerged as a serious candidate the for UCLA job, reportedly has interviewed

[cncchris33]

I gotta say the easy/slam dunk hire for PF would be Pearl. Fans love him. He loves UT. He's proven and successful. If I were doing the hire, I'd go with Pearl and lay a huge buyout on him along with wording that covers our program of he steps out of line with the NCAA. If we get him, we hurt a competitor, we recruit well and quickly, we play exciting bb, fans are ecstatic and I bet we start winning again sooner rather than later.

Perfect outcome for everyone....which is why it won't happen. Everyone wins. Everyone would be happy. Not the UT way. Plus, the admin would never sign off on it.

Every argument against Pearl has to do with life off the court. If it were solely determined by his success on the court, he'd be coaching somewhere better than Auburn already. He is a good floor coach, great recruiter, and an excellent motivator and promoter. And if we hadn't been the one school out of 300+ D1 schools to fire him once already, I would probably be on board with the idea.

I just can't get past the optics of being that one school that fired him, unjustly as he believes, being the school that takes that risk on him again that he keeps his nose clean going forward. Trouble, be it benign or otherwise, just seems to find him. I wish it weren't so, because I didn't want to see him go 8 years ago.

 

[BearCat204]

Probably too 10? Come on let’s get a hold of reality here

Don't you pretty much have to put the COTY in the discussion for top 10 of active coaches?

 

[JMSqb11]

Too many corn cobb up the butt types to allow that. It's a small but vocal minority who will be quick to shame you and anyone who says anything nice about Pearl. Not me though. That's only coach I'd be happy with initially other than Barnes, but also the least likely. Let's pray Barnes stays. That's clearly the best and only realistic outcome under current circumstances.

Here is my thing on it. I get people having differences on potential of Pearl returning to UT.

But you can't tell me that people would rather hire an up and comer while Bruce kills it at Auburn, which includes us, over a potential reuniting with him at Tennessee.

That's where I don't understand people. Like are they really happy with the idea of us falling back into a bubble program while a former coach kills it in the same conference?

Like if you don't want Bruce for reasons outside of optics or some grudge, that's fine. But the people clinging to "he screwed us" are insane.

 

[Vols410]

Agree. I'd only prefer Lanier if it meant we kept Grant, Bone, Josiah James, and Corey Walker. No unwelcomed departures via draft, transfer, or decommitment.

In a vacuum, I'd rather have McKay.

If we're going with mid-major coaches, I'll take Forbes before McKay.

Record (Conference) Kenpom

Forbes at ETSU:
2016: 24-12 (14-4) 153
2017: 27-8 (14-4) 67
2018: 25-9 (14-4) 93
2019: 24-10 (13-5) 80

McKay at Liberty:
2016 13-19 (10-8) 292
2017: 21-14 (14-4) 211
2018: 22-15 (9-9) 184
2019: 29-7 (14-2) 58

McKay's done a great job no doubt, just like the consistency better from Forbes.

 

[Volsfaninva917]

Kiffin. Doesn’t matter if they were toast or not. Something is causing coaches to dislike coaching at UT. Even Dooley was begging to be fired a year early.

That something needs to be addressed.

This should Barnes dream job, and yet here we are with even him seemingly running for the exits.

Kiffin was leaving for his dream job.

Dooley was begging to be fired because he didn't want to delay what was already in the cards

You can't control how someone feels, money is a factor for assistants. Fulmer wants to fix football, the number 1 revenue source for the University.

 

[rocketskates]

I’m standing by for word from MITBEAVER

 

[zjcvols]

Don't you pretty much have to put the COTY in the discussion for top 10 of active coaches?

Rod Barnes won the award in 2001, was he a top ten ten coach at the time?

Undeserving coaches win coaching awards all the time

 

[Volsfaninva917]

I’m standing by for word from MITBEAVER

lol what a clown are the Gruden threads still ongoing?

 

[CardsNVols]

Every argument against Pearl has to do with life off the court. If it were solely determined by his success on the court, he'd be coaching somewhere better than Auburn already. He is a good floor coach, great recruiter, and an excellent motivator and promoter. And if we hadn't been the one school out of 300+ D1 schools to fire him once already, I would probably be on board with the idea.

I just can't get past the optics of being that one school that fired him, unjustly as he believes, being the school that takes that risk on him again that he keeps his nose clean going forward. Trouble, be it benign or otherwise, just seems to find him. I wish it weren't so, because I didn't want to see him go 8 years ago.

Not to mention the simple notion of him being willing to come back is dubious at best.

 

[JMSqb11]

Every argument against Pearl has to do with life off the court. If it were solely determined by his success on the court, he'd be coaching somewhere better than Auburn already. He is a good floor coach, great recruiter, and an excellent motivator and promoter. And if we hadn't been the one school out of 300+ D1 schools to fire him once already, I would probably be on board with the idea.

I just can't get past the optics of being that one school that fired him, unjustly as he believes, being the school that takes that risk on him again that he keeps his nose clean going forward. Trouble, be it benign or otherwise, just seems to find him. I wish it weren't so, because I didn't want to see him go 8 years ago.

So you'd rather continue to watch him kill it at Auburn, which includes beating us, instead of potentially taking a look at him if Barnes leaves?

 

[Vols410]

I'd tend to agree with that, but the previous tweet was a bit more detailed. Barnes didn't just say the in-conference thing was the only thing keeping him away from Arkansas, but that money wouldn't be an issue and he still wouldn't leave. Or in other words, no amount would entice him to even consider Arkansas, which is exactly what you want from a coach committed to your program. UCLA on the other hand is a dream opportunity for almost any head coach. Any HC with an ounce of ambition of winning championships would/should seriously consider that job.

 

[njvols]

I don’t think it is necessarily Barnes salary at play. Possibly assistants.

I think Barnes sees Fulmer out there throwing money around on football and women’s basketball...while thinking “why the hell cant the only successful program get enough to pay for the assistants I want....”

This is somewhat reason Barnes got fired from TX. He refused to fire his assistants, so he got canned. Whatever it is, hope we get our stuff together.

 

[BearCat204]

Rod Barnes won the award in 2001, was he a top ten ten coach at the time?

Undeserving coaches win coaching awards all the time

You think he was undeserving of it this year? I don't know if I would automatically put him in the top 10 of active coaches, but he's certainly in the discussion and by no means outside of "reality".

 

[zjcvols]

You think he was undeserving of it this year? I don't know if I would automatically put him in the top 10 of active coaches, but he's certainly in the discussion and by no means outside of "reality".

He had a top ten team preseason, didn’t win a conference title, and didn’t past the S16 as a 2 seed.

He had a much better argument to win last year with a team expected to not do well

 

[JacketVol]

If we're going with mid-major coaches, I'll take Forbes before McKay.

Record (Conference) Kenpom

Forbes at ETSU:
2016: 24-12 (14-4) 153
2017: 27-8 (14-4) 67
2018: 25-9 (14-4) 93
2019: 24-10 (13-5) 80

McKay at Liberty:
2016 13-19 (10-8) 292
2017: 21-14 (14-4) 211
2018: 22-15 (9-9) 184
2019: 29-7 (14-2) 58

McKay's done a great job no doubt, just like the consistency better from Forbes.

ETSU won 24 his first year. Liberty was a mess that was built. Be fine with either one.

 

[#JuanVol]

Atlantavol saying it will be a mitacle to keep him.

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

If we're going with mid-major coaches, I'll take Forbes before McKay.

Record (Conference) Kenpom

Forbes at ETSU:
2016: 24-12 (14-4) 153
2017: 27-8 (14-4) 67
2018: 25-9 (14-4) 93
2019: 24-10 (13-5) 80

McKay at Liberty:
2016 13-19 (10-8) 292
2017: 21-14 (14-4) 211
2018: 22-15 (9-9) 184
2019: 29-7 (14-2) 58

McKay's done a great job no doubt, just like the consistency better from Forbes.

Matt McMahon of Murray State would be another nice Mid-Major head coach for Phil Fulmer to consider

2015-2016 17-14 and 10-6 in the OVC
2016-2017 16-17 and 8-8 in the OVC
2017-2018 26-6 and 16-2 in the OVC and NCAA Tournament 1st round
2018-2019 28-5 and 16-2 in the OVC and NCAA Tournament 2nd round

 

[Vols410]

He had a top ten team preseason, didn’t win a conference title, and didn’t past the S16 as a 2 seed.

He had a much better argument to win last year with a team expected to not do well

Fair point, but the fact that he even had a preseason top 10 team with a bunch of 3-star juniors is a major testament to his coaching ability. Doesn't scream that he deserved the award this year, but he's definitely a fantastic coach.

 

[JCP201]

Atlantavol saying it will be a mitacle to keep him.

yes, this isn't what I was expecting at all. heartbreaking.

 

[Vols410]

Matt McMahon of Murray State would be another nice Mid-Major head coach for Phil Fulmer to consider

2015-2016 17-14 and 10-6 in the OVC
2016-2017 16-17 and 8-8 in the OVC
2017-2018 26-6 and 16-2 in the OVC and NCAA Tournament 1st round
2018-2019 28-5 and 16-2 in the OVC and NCAA Tournament 2nd round

The records are good, just concerned that literally all of his success has come with Morant.

 

[utvolpj]

Phil doing a spot on Dickey impression

 

[tpsdave]

Basilio is saying the problem is relationship between Fulmer and Barnes. Not enough love for basketball. His opinion is that if Fulmer makes amends about more promotion and envolvement in basketball he want be leaving.

Basketball will ALWAYS be second to football. That's jus the way it is. More revenue, more tradition.

 

[CAVPUT]

Every argument against Pearl has to do with life off the court. If it were solely determined by his success on the court, he'd be coaching somewhere better than Auburn already. He is a good floor coach, great recruiter, and an excellent motivator and promoter. And if we hadn't been the one school out of 300+ D1 schools to fire him once already, I would probably be on board with the idea.

I just can't get past the optics of being that one school that fired him, unjustly as he believes, being the school that takes that risk on him again that he keeps his nose clean going forward. Trouble, be it benign or otherwise, just seems to find him. I wish it weren't so, because I didn't want to see him go 8 years ago.

People change and mature with time and experience. I'd wager Pearl would be a much safer hire today than the last time. Don't really care about the optics. At my age, I'm more into results vs what the rest of CBB thinks. Don't see Auburn worried about having Pearl as the face of their program. Don't see it turning off recruits. All I see is exciting basketball, winning and final 4 appearances. I can support a second Pearl era at UT. I'd prefer it actually.

 

[Skullbone]

Here is my thing on it. I get people having differences on potential of Pearl returning to UT.

But you can't tell me that people would rather hire an up and comer while Bruce kills it at Auburn, which includes us, over a potential reuniting with him at Tennessee.

That's where I don't understand people. Like are they really happy with the idea of us falling back into a bubble program while a former coach kills it in the same conference?

I think it's nuts, too, but spite and sanctimony are powerful. Like destroy the world powerful. The people who hate Pearl really, really hate Pearl and feel good doing it.

 

[mrmax86]

Atlantavol saying it will be a mitacle to keep him.

This is not good.