The Kerry Blackshear Thread

[musolfmj]

It's incredible to me how quickly the winds change. Yes, it's a huge disappointment missing out on KBJ after it seemed we had him. I'm not going to hide my disappointment. BUT, the number of people jumping on here to discuss this "trash" roster Barnes has for this season, and how he cannot get it done, is insane. I'm seeing people say things like "Well we were always a football school" or "Maybe Pruitt can get us to 8 wins this season."

The fact you numb-nuts believe we are in better shape for football than basketball shows how little you actually watch sports and just love hating on everything TN. Football is a LONG ways off. And this roster Barnes has, while transitional, is still not that bad. Bowden and Turner were major contributors these last two years, and I would be shocked if they both didn't take another step forward. James is a 5* and Barnes normally hits on 5* and has few busts. There are a lot of questions after those 3, but you also have a lot of potential. High risk. High reward.

Football has been a mess for more than a decade. Barnes restored this program in 3 years. If you're such a fair-weather fan that you're ready to jump ship already, then by all means have fun with the nightmare that is our football program. But, when Barnes lands Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer, and 1 more 5* to go with Corey Walker next year, I don't want to see you back here jumping on to the bandwagon again.

You had me at at "numb nuts."

 

[bleedingTNorange]

The higher the rate at which you sign those guys the better chance you are at hitting on them. I'll gladly hitch my wagon to Pons being a bust. I'm not saying there aren't examples, but it's not a favorable situation to be in if you're Kent.

I’m not declaring Pons or Kent will be All-SEC, but if you rewind to Schofield’s freshman year you aren’t going to find many people overly optimistic about him either. My point being that while you want to go ahead and declare these guys as busts, I would rather wait and see.


Here’s a question/comment for you and everyone else, how many guys have been under Barnes for at least 3 years, how did they fair?

Admiral Schofield #239...NBA Draft Pick
Lamonte Turner...SEC 6th MOY(1 year left)
Kyle Alexander NR...NBA SL Invite
Jordan Bone #166...NBA Draft Pick
John Fulkerson #184...SEC role player
Grant Williams #191...NBA Draft Pick
Jordan Bowden #187...SEC 6th MOY nominee(1 year left)

So of the 7 players to have stuck it out, none of them have been what I would consider “busts” or non-impact guys, however all showed promise and developed at different rates than one another. This upcoming season will be Jalen Johnson, Zach Kent and Yves Pons 3rd year under Barnes, all will be given every chance to see an increased role, what will the result be?


So did Barnes just get luckier than any coach in America and luck into landing 7 guys who were grossly underrated and their development and climb into the NBA had nothing to do with him? Or does Barnes possibly have an eye for talent and if players buy in to why he’s telling them and they work at it there’s a good chance they become very solid players at the very least?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

So?
The fact is that Barnes was recruiting a no star center with a full roster. Apparently you think that’s a good sign.

So was Kansas, hmmmm.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

What forum are you reading?

Barnes did a marvelous job. He also failed to recruit at a high level to sustain success.

???????

Did this season already start/end?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

First of all, that is an utterly ridiculous analogy! As if Austin Peay was in ANY position to win at a high level. That's not the case here. We have the resources here to win and win consistently! Missing the tournament from here on out under Barnes is unacceptable!

Barnes took the money. He should understand the expectations. Whether it's fair or unfair, Barnes signed the contract. The "aw shucks" Deacon Barnes honeymoon days are over. He leveraged himself to getting an enormous salary and we expect return on our investment.

He should absolutely make the dance every year, that was pretty much the expectation anyhow...so if I’m 2-3 years his salary is passed up by multiple coaches, are you going to then lower expectations? I somehow doubt it. Can’t have it both ways.

 

[calban]

I’m not declaring Pons or Kent will be All-SEC, but if you rewind to Schofield’s freshman year you aren’t going to find many people overly optimistic about him either. My point being that while you want to go ahead and declare these guys as busts, I would rather wait and see.


Here’s a question/comment for you and everyone else, how many guys have been under Barnes for at least 3 years, how did they fair?

Admiral Schofield #239...NBA Draft Pick
Lamonte Turner...SEC 6th MOY(1 year left)
Kyle Alexander NR...NBA SL Invite
Jordan Bone #166...NBA Draft Pick
John Fulkerson #184...SEC role player(1 year left)
Grant Williams #191...NBA Draft Pick
Jordan Bowden #187...SEC 6th MOY nominee(1 year left)

So of the 7 players to have stuck it out, none of them have been what I would consider “busts” or non-impact guys, however all showed promise and developed at different rates than one another. This upcoming season will be Jalen Johnson, Zach Kent and Yves Pons 3rd year under Barnes, all will be given every chance to see an increased role, what will the result be?


So did Barnes just get luckier than any coach in America and luck into landing 7 guys who were grossly underrated and their development and climb into the NBA had nothing to do with him? Or does Barnes possibly have an eye for talent and if players buy in to why he’s telling them and they work at it there’s a good chance they become very solid players at the very least?

Agree, but Fulky is 2 year left.

 

[gorockytop98]

I'm sorry. I just read a mod claim that UT wasn't a disaster when Barnes was hired and blacked out for a little bit

Woo y'all done lost your minds because a guy signed a new contract.

 

[Vol49er]

I’m not declaring Pons or Kent will be All-SEC, but if you rewind to Schofield’s freshman year you aren’t going to find many people overly optimistic about him either. My point being that while you want to go ahead and declare these guys as busts, I would rather wait and see.


Here’s a question/comment for you and everyone else, how many guys have been under Barnes for at least 3 years, how did they fair?

Admiral Schofield #239...NBA Draft Pick
Lamonte Turner...SEC 6th MOY(1 year left)
Kyle Alexander NR...NBA SL Invite
Jordan Bone #166...NBA Draft Pick
John Fulkerson #184...SEC role player
Grant Williams #191...NBA Draft Pick
Jordan Bowden #187...SEC 6th MOY nominee(1 year left)

So of the 7 players to have stuck it out, none of them have been what I would consider “busts” or non-impact guys, however all showed promise and developed at different rates than one another. This upcoming season will be Jalen Johnson, Zach Kent and Yves Pons 3rd year under Barnes, all will be given every chance to see an increased role, what will the result be?


So did Barnes just get luckier than any coach in America and luck into landing 7 guys who were grossly underrated and their development and climb into the NBA had nothing to do with him? Or does Barnes possibly have an eye for talent and if players buy in to why he’s telling them and they work at it there’s a good chance they become very solid players at the very least?

Wow, good post. That’s kind of eye opening when you look at it that way

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

2019 will be a rebuilding year. 2020 with the stud freshmen we will be good.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Wow, good post. That’s kind of eye opening when you look at it that way

It’s why I’m not ready to say “damn we are gonna suck this year” or “these guys are definite busts”...if we go 14-16 this year and are sitting at home come March then I get it, but until that happens it’s hard for me to write them all off.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

2019 will be a rebuilding year. 2020 with the stud freshmen we will be good.

I tend to agree, I think we are a NCAAT team, but probably much closer to the bubble than we have been...somewhere around that 9-11 seed range imo, and then yes, primed for a big following year.

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

We will be like KY and Duke in 2020. Our freshmen will carry the team

 

[golfballs]

I think there’s still way too much uncertainty. Will Josiah he here in 2020? How much can Victor Bailey improve? Do we actually land those recruits we seem to be counting on? Who out of our front court will emerge? Will they emerge?

 

[lostsheep]

Mike White is quickly becoming as unlikable as Billy D was while he was a Florida.

First he spurns UT when they approach him about the job a few years ago.
Next he signs Quez from Bearden.
And now Blackshear.

Hanging my hat on the fact that Barnes has forgotten more about basketball than i'll ever know.

However, it's hard to argue that some of the negative response from this Blackshear situation isn't somewhat related to the PR debacle of his UCLA flirtation.

 

[cncchris33]

Why so sensitive when someone calls you on your BS?

The irony of which is he feels fully entitled to call out other people, and then believes it's his duty to be the white knight of justice against the BB forum "bullies". He just doesn't see how hypocritical his crusade really is, apparently.

 

[cncchris33]

The pay is determined by supply and demand. It's not like somebody making $3.5 million is going to turn up their effort because they're now making $4.9 million. They better have been giving 100% effort when they were making $3.5 million.

It's amazing how few actually understand this.

 

[cncchris33]

What forum are you reading?

Barnes did a marvelous job. He also failed to recruit at a high level to sustain success. Thus the transfers in and out. There is plenty of legit criticism for this and plenty of reason for doubt and concern. Applauding Barnes’ results and questioning his recruiting are not mutually exclusive and we don’t need your permission to do so.

Next year you could conceivably lose three guards and there is not one committed. He got Bailey which is a start but until he signs a top class it’s all speculation.

Can't wait until after the 2020 class is signed for you to continue running out of reasons to hate.

 

[calban]

It's amazing how few actually understand this.

Probably when offered by Fulmer should have said , that's way too much young fella.

 

[cncchris33]

Our class was already signed when Barnes got the pay raise. We had no other spots until Bone and William's went pro. Barnes's recruiting should be judged on the 2020 class and beyond based on his new salary.

Also amazing how few actually understand this.

 

[cncchris33]

Those throwing in the towel could at least wait until the conclusion of the upcoming season. If they regress to missing post season play, then criticism of recruiting can hold weight. Until then it's just opinion and dooms day BS.
I'll repeat it again, Barnes problem has never been winning in regular season. It's ranked teams and post season where he comes up short.

But ZJC told me this forum wouldn't be any fun if we were all patient and waited for failure before complaining about it. Am I to now believe that we should trust the coach making $5 million to win before pulling out my hair and pouting like a 5 year old in June?

 

[cncchris33]

It’s why I’m not ready to say “damn we are gonna suck this year” or “these guys are definite busts”...if we go 14-16 this year and are sitting at home come March then I get it, but until that happens it’s hard for me to write them all off.

Patience isn't welcome. Those who pissed and moaned about Barnes first two classes just chalk it up to luck, now. I will firmly be in the, "we better recruit better" camp if we finish .500 next season. The die for the 2020 class will likely already be cast at that point, but I have full confidence e that we end up with a top-15ish class, so that helps to alleviate any worry I have beyond this season.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

The irony of which is he feels fully entitled to call out other people, and then believes it's his duty to be the white knight of justice against the BB forum "bullies". He just doesn't see how hypocritical his crusade really is, apparently.

His posts are even better when he's on your ignore list.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

It's incredible to me how quickly the winds change. Yes, it's a huge disappointment missing out on KBJ after it seemed we had him. I'm not going to hide my disappointment. BUT, the number of people jumping on here to discuss this "trash" roster Barnes has for this season, and how he cannot get it done, is insane. I'm seeing people say things like "Well we were always a football school" or "Maybe Pruitt can get us to 8 wins this season."

The fact you numb-nuts believe we are in better shape for football than basketball shows how little you actually watch sports and just love hating on everything TN. Football is a LONG ways off. And this roster Barnes has, while transitional, is still not that bad. Bowden and Turner were major contributors these last two years, and I would be shocked if they both didn't take another step forward. James is a 5* and Barnes normally hits on 5* and has few busts. There are a lot of questions after those 3, but you also have a lot of potential. High risk. High reward.

Football has been a mess for more than a decade. Barnes restored this program in 3 years. If you're such a fair-weather fan that you're ready to jump ship already, then by all means have fun with the nightmare that is our football program. But, when Barnes lands Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer, and 1 more 5* to go with Corey Walker next year, I don't want to see you back here jumping on to the bandwagon again.

I'm amazed at some of the same people who bash Barnes are swinging from Pruitt's nuts. I mean I hope Pruitt does well but so far the jury is still way out on whether he's going to work out like we want.

Of course they'll be the same people that will turn on Pruitt if/when the time comes that it's clear he isn't "the guy". Just like they did with Dooley and Jones.

 

[zjcvols]

I'm sorry. I just read a mod claim that UT wasn't a disaster when Barnes was hired and blacked out for a little bit

Woo y'all done lost your minds because a guy signed a new contract.

Such a disaster that UT hired a 600 win coach in a week. It was not a good situation but you guys really need to see what an actual disaster is. 2017 Tennessee Football after Schiano. 2004 Baylor. 2012 Penn State. That’s a disaster

 

[zjcvols]

But ZJC told me this forum wouldn't be any fun if we were all patient and waited for failure before complaining about it. Am I to now believe that we should trust the coach making $5 million to win before pulling out my hair and pouting like a 5 year old in June?
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What we gonna talk about till November if we just have to wait to see how this all plays out? Are you not familiar with a message board during the off-season? Most places talk about the roster.