If Pearl did end up in Memphis

[voltilifall]

1. My position on Pearl's system not being one that wins championships has been consistent.
2. If you can't spell stereotype, you shouldn't accuse others of perpetuating one.

i apologize for mispelling a word on an internet message board, i didn't realize that all volnation posts will now have to be spellchecked, be in proper mla format, and include a title page and works cited list. i promise not to make such an egregious error again if you don't deduct points from my final score. i felt that the content of my post was such that absolute correct spelling was not necessary to get my message across. but i can tell from your prior statements about pearl that you are an unreasonable, nitpicky, blow hard who will look for any reason to be unhappy instead of just sitting back and realizing that things just aren't that bad. pearl is the first coach in the history of the sec to finish ahead of kentucky in four straight years and while he is yet to win the big game on this level, his record is pretty damn good against coaches who have. and his system has won championships before albeit at a lower level. so before you try to run him off how about you take a minute to think about what kind of options we would have to replace him with, because i doubt a top level coach will be willing to come to a historically mid-level program where the fans will call for him to be fired after one down year.

 

[Vercingetorix]

what it means is that you're shortsighted and delusional...were you saying all of this last year after we beat memphis and became number 1, or did pearl all of a sudden become a terrible coach who is incapable of winning after this one sub-par year (which was still fantastic by ut standards) us vol fans have a terrible reputation around the league for being fair weather fans, please stop giving credence to this steriotype.

I don't pretend to know that much about basketball, but it became obvious even to me two years ago that the Pearl system as practiced then was simply too streaky to be reliable in March. You've got to have another scoring option to go to when the three isn't falling. At the time, I figured well, Pearl's still basically playing with Buzz's guys; once he gets all these athletic guys he's supposed to be recruiting in here, we'll have those other options. But here we are, two years further into Pearl's tenure with all his own guys now, and it's still the same thing. We still don't have any halfcourt offense other than to jack up threes. Only now we don't have Lofton and JuJuan Smith shooting them.

This isn't a case (at least for me) of turning on Pearl after one disappointing season. It's more a case of me deciding that the problems which I used to chalk up to personnel are really more likely to be problems things that Pearl just isn't going to coach well. And unfortunately, those things -- halfcourt offense, halfcourt defense -- are pretty much the two things that you have to do well if you expect to consistently win games in the tournament.

 

[hatvol96]

i apologize for mispelling a word on an internet message board, i didn't realize that all volnation posts will now have to be spellchecked, be in proper mla format, and include a title page and works cited list. i promise not to make such an egregious error again if you don't deduct points from my final score. i felt that the content of my post was such that absolute correct spelling was not necessary to get my message across. but i can tell from your prior statements about pearl that you are an unreasonable, nitpicky, blow hard who will look for any reason to be unhappy instead of just sitting back and realizing that things just aren't that bad. pearl is the first coach in the history of the sec to finish ahead of kentucky in four straight years and while he is yet to win the big game on this level, his record is pretty damn good against coaches who have. and his system has won championships before albeit at a lower level. so before you try to run him off how about you take a minute to think about what kind of options we would have to replace him with, because i doubt a top level coach will be willing to come to a historically mid-level program where the fans will call for him to be fired after one down year.

Sometimes, I'm too slow in using the ignore function. Time to remedy just such a mistake.

 

[motown vol 09]

i apologize for mispelling a word on an internet message board, i didn't realize that all volnation posts will now have to be spellchecked, be in proper mla format, and include a title page and works cited list. i promise not to make such an egregious error again if you don't deduct points from my final score. i felt that the content of my post was such that absolute correct spelling was not necessary to get my message across. but i can tell from your prior statements about pearl that you are an unreasonable, nitpicky, blow hard who will look for any reason to be unhappy instead of just sitting back and realizing that things just aren't that bad. pearl is the first coach in the history of the sec to finish ahead of kentucky in four straight years and while he is yet to win the big game on this level, his record is pretty damn good against coaches who have. and his system has won championships before albeit at a lower level. so before you try to run him off how about you take a minute to think about what kind of options we would have to replace him with, because i doubt a top level coach will be willing to come to a historically mid-level program where the fans will call for him to be fired after one down year.

imo i thought the Memphis-UT game last season was the biggest game of the regular season nationally and we got it done that night. for some of u older than i am. would u classify that as the biggest win in school history. i do.

 

[Vercingetorix]

imo i thought the Memphis-UT game last season was the biggest game of the regular season nationally and we got it done that night. for some of u older than i am. would u classify that as the biggest win in school history. i do.

No doubt. But when evaluating Bruce Pearl the Coach for the job he did last year, it's hard for me to give him much credit for being ranked #1 in February (?) for two days when that team was so unsound that he felt he had to put Prince in at PG in the tournament. I mean, even when we were ranked that highly, nobody in the country seriously thought we were anywhere near the best team in the country. It was like those football rankings in 2007 when Kentucky and South Carolina and South Florida all got up in the Top 10. Everybody knew that didn't mean anything.

It was a great win, don't get me wrong. But it wasn't really a win that actually meant anything.

 

[crusse10]

Well he is Jewish. I'm not sayin' he's Jesus...but...

 

[Rock33]

Well he is Jewish. I'm not sayin' he's Jesus...but...

Geeezzz !!! Seriuosly thats a post ????:good!:

 

[emainvol]

i apologize for mispelling a word on an internet message board, i didn't realize that all volnation posts will now have to be spellchecked, be in proper mla format, and include a title page and works cited list. i promise not to make such an egregious error again if you don't deduct points from my final score. i felt that the content of my post was such that absolute correct spelling was not necessary to get my message across. but i can tell from your prior statements about pearl that you are an unreasonable, nitpicky, blow hard who will look for any reason to be unhappy instead of just sitting back and realizing that things just aren't that bad. pearl is the first coach in the history of the sec to finish ahead of kentucky in four straight years and while he is yet to win the big game on this level, his record is pretty damn good against coaches who have. and his system has won championships before albeit at a lower level. so before you try to run him off how about you take a minute to think about what kind of options we would have to replace him with, because i doubt a top level coach will be willing to come to a historically mid-level program where the fans will call for him to be fired after one down year.

Again with this crap. Please find me a post from any poster on this board with a shred of credibility that calls for Pearl's firing.

 

[Goliver24]

I don't think I would have either of those opinions. Possibly B if I had to choose one. No one can disclaim CBP for the success he has had here and the turn around he has done with Tennessee basketball.

 

[cd12]

Who was this Coach before he came to UT and how much money was he making?

 

[Panthro]

If he went to Memphis, it would be A, for sure. It's just about 1% of the fan base that has even said anything negative about him at all. If he can't deal with that, then he needs to decide to either suck it up, or start winning more games in the NCAA tourney.
If he left for like Kansas or UNC, I'd understand. But Memphis???? I'd probably feel like when my girlfriend dumped me in the 8th grade for my arch enemy.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I don't think I would have either of those opinions. Possibly B if I had to choose one. No one can disclaim CBP for the success he has had here and the turn around he has done with Tennessee basketball.

No one would argue that Chainsaw Al Dunlap isn't a great turnaround specialist and dire times CEO. However, no board in its right mind would hire him to transform a company from good to great.
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[Tampavolz]

But over time, I think they'd feel betrayed and cheated and used. I'm thinking in particular of a post a few weeks ago pining about how Pearl "loves Tennessee more than anyone, even Coach Fulmer." It's amazing how strong the cult of personality can be.

They'd scream at you because you're here, but they'd feel jilted at the altar by Pearl. Within two years, they'll hate him.

I think you are giving alot of credit to Hatvol and this web site. I say we would hire the former Kentucky coach
and keep on keepin on.....One is tanner the other drinks more.

 

[hatvol96]

Dearstone and Jacoby talking about how Pearl "turned down" the Arizona job. It must be nice to live in a fantasy world.
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[Kiffin It]

If BP does leave, which i dont think he will. What do ya'll think about promoting Tony Jones as hc. I know he doesnt have hc experience, but all you hear is positive stuff about him. Just a thought.

 

[BleedOrange247]

+1... im not saying the guy is above criticism but im pretty sure hat flat out wants him gone which i just cant understand.

I don't know why he wants him gone either. Maybe Bruce stole his woman or something but hat obviously has sour grapes towards Bruce with no legitimate reason. You are irrational hat and nuts if you want pearl gone.

 

[NochNoch]

I don't know why he wants him gone either. Maybe Bruce stole his woman or something but hat obviously has sour grapes towards Bruce with no legitimate reason. You are irrational hat and nuts if you want pearl gone.

Why is this so difficult to comprehend? The Pearl-ites (is that what we're calling them these days?) think his elevation of the program is worth rewarding with continued employment because it is better than a comparison to past coaching tenures. Others, while acknowledging the accomplishment of an SEC title, think what we have seen from Bruce is as good as it will ever get. The dissenters think that UT has plateued as an SEC contender (which probably just got a lot tougher) and a first or, at best, second week NCAAT team. All signs point to this being accurate so far.

As for Hat, it seems his Cosa Nostra omerta attitude towards coaches probably doesn't really help.

And the Memphis win of last year, at the time I compared it to the Warriors knocking out the Mavs in the playoffs in '07. It was fun to watch and I was rooting for them every step of the way, but at the conclusion there was never a moment when I actually thought they had any hope at all of advancing in the playoffs or that they were the better team overall.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I think the reaction will be a mix of A and B.

Part of it will be B for the obvious reasons. But part will be A because many Vol fans would swear up and down (and have on here and other places) that there is no way Pearl would leave UT for Memphis, and if he did, those Vol fans probably would take it as as a slap in the face.

 

[jakez4ut]

Important? Yes. Of major importance? No.

They judge you by what you do in March. If you're paying a basketball coach $2 mil per, reaching a Final Four at some point had damn well better be realistic. Otherwise, you're just wasting money.

these two things shouldn't go over looked. Hat, for all the criticism you've put forth for Pearl, at the heart of it, you are correct.

bringing Pearl in with the salary he was making for what this program needed just to be mentioned on a regular basis as a factor in the SEC and post season, was the right fit.

it's about perspective. when he was hired, it was perfect for UT. he did what he does. and it's not been bad at all.

but you start making $2 million plus, expectations soar a bit higher than just being part of the conversation.

the perspective, and expectations, have changed in the last two years.

V.......your point about Pearl's system not being one you can trust in March is dead on. during the ebb and flow of an 30+ game season, you will win more than you will lose....but as we've all seen, the tried and true when it comes to college basketball seems to win out when it matters most.

so, to me, the question as fans that you have answer is simple.....are the current results good enough? I'm confident that Pearl can land his teams in the NCAA tourney on a consistent basis. I'm confident that his teams will be in the top 1/3 of the conf on a consistent basis.

and 5 years ago, that seemed like it was light years away. so some credit has to be dished out to Pearl.

but, given the way his teams have faired in the games that matter, minus the Memphis game last year (which to date could be argued the biggest game that Pearl has won in his 4 years, and it was a regular season game to boot), for $2+ Million a year, i would think winning the conf. and making it to the Sweet 16 and beyond should be where this program should be headed on a consistent basis.

I don't think Pearl is the second coming or anything, but i respect what he's done for this program.

but like a couple of you out there, i'm not confident that he's going to be the guy that puts TN in contention for anything of real significance in March.

if he goes to Memphis, he still will be the big fish in a smaller pond. if he stays at TN, i think we'll just see more of the same, and not that that's awful.....it just is what it is.

so, for you as fans, what do you really want for this program? what he's done so far is the equivalent of going to 4 straight non BCS bowls. and for a program that didn't even go bowlling that often, that's not bad, it's just not great for the money he's being paid.

 

[Tenacious D]

I respect the opinions of many posters, but few more than those espoused by BPV and HatVol. I place particular trust and find it hard to dismiss either of their insight(s) / opinion(s) on matters related to basketball - whether it be agreeable or disagreeable to my own personal opinion.

However, in the case of CBP, I just don't "get" it. I really don't.

I don't understand where this passive-aggressive disdain for CBP first originated, nor why it's continuing to be perpetuated. Were it someone other than one of these two espousing such beliefs, in all liklihood, I wouldn't even bother to read - much less debate - the merits of CBP's tenure at Tennessee, nor of the obvious importance which I (and many, many others) place on his retention.

It is possible - perhaps, likely - that I am either missing or simply ignorant of the information required to not only understand how such a negative conclusion could be reached on CBP in any regard, much less to the same level of certainty as that which both BPV and Hat have espoused.

If possible, I'd like to know what belief, knowledge or other pertinent information has served to form the negative opinions of CBP, especially, from these two notably well-respected posters.

I am comfortable in professing that others are far more knowledgeable on this matter than I may be(and incalcuable number of other subjects, as well). However, I'd appreciate knowing the involved reason(s), for my own considerations, and to gauge its affect on my own personal conclusions, if at all.

 

[ridethelightening]

I respect the opinions of many posters, but few more than those espoused by BPV and HatVol. I place particular trust and find it hard to dismiss either of their insight(s) / opinion(s) on matters related to basketball - whether it be agreeable or disagreeable to my own personal opinion.

However, in the case of CBP, I just don't "get" it. I really don't.

I don't understand where this passive-aggressive disdain for CBP first originated, nor why it's continuing to be perpetuated. Were it someone other than one of these two espousing such beliefs, in all liklihood, I wouldn't even bother to read - much less debate - the merits of CBP's tenure at Tennessee, nor of the obvious importance which I (and many, many others) place on his retention.

It is possible - perhaps, likely - that I am either missing or simply ignorant of the information required to not only understand how such a negative conclusion could be reached on CBP in any regard, much less to the same level of certainty as that which both BPV and Hat have espoused.

If possible, I'd like to know what belief, knowledge or other pertinent information has served to form the negative opinions of CBP, especially, from these two notably well-respected posters.

I am comfortable in professing that others are far more knowledgeable on this matter than I may be(and incalcuable number of other subjects, as well). However, I'd appreciate knowing the involved reason(s), for my own considerations, and to gauge its affect on my own personal conclusions, if at all.

1) Questionable things have happened in his past
2) Don't agree with his coaching style
3 He likes to stay tan
4) He painted his body
5) He likes to work out
6) He has an ego just like every other major d1 coach in America

1 and 2 are pertinent, 3-6 are just an annoyance.

 

[jakez4ut]

I respect the opinions of many posters, but few more than those espoused by BPV and HatVol. I place particular trust and find it hard to dismiss either of their insight(s) / opinion(s) on matters related to basketball - whether it be agreeable or disagreeable to my own personal opinion.

However, in the case of CBP, I just don't "get" it. I really don't.

I don't understand where this passive-aggressive disdain for CBP first originated, nor why it's continuing to be perpetuated. Were it someone other than one of these two espousing such beliefs, in all liklihood, I wouldn't even bother to read - much less debate - the merits of CBP's tenure at Tennessee, nor of the obvious importance which I (and many, many others) place on his retention.

It is possible - perhaps, likely - that I am either missing or simply ignorant of the information required to not only understand how such a negative conclusion could be reached on CBP in any regard, much less to the same level of certainty as that which both BPV and Hat have espoused.

If possible, I'd like to know what belief, knowledge or other pertinent information has served to form the negative opinions of CBP, especially, from these two notably well-respected posters.

I am comfortable in professing that others are far more knowledgeable on this matter than I may be(and incalcuable number of other subjects, as well). However, I'd appreciate knowing the involved reason(s), for my own considerations, and to gauge its affect on my own personal conclusions, if at all.

1. in the 4 years he's been here, we've not been able to run effective half court offense or defense w/out manufacturing turnovers via i/b play, steals and transition offense. to rely on those as your method of playing defense, and off setting deficiencies in rebounding requires a) executing perfectly, and b)relying on opponents to also make some mistakes along the way.
2. we rely too much on the three. which was fine with Jujuan and Lofton, but as we've seen this year, the lack of any effective perimiter shooting, deals a death blow to how this offense operates, and kills any chance of creating open lanes for people to get to the basket. Again, it's another way of manufacturing an inside game w/out actually having one. i think of it as using the pass to set up the run.
3. finesse style of play offensively, which is great because it attracts good atheletes, but the downside is, like we saw this year, is we turned the ball over a lot, and missed so many close in baskets, and didn't rebound offensively, that kills any chance of running a press like Pearl wants to run off the i/b.
4. offensive oriented. in the previous three years we were able to create enough turnovers that it off set some poor half court defense and rebounding deficiencies, that also set up our transition offense, which is what we want to do rather than move the ball around and create. we were able to create more possesions than our opponent. this last year we weren't in a lot of cases.
5. lack of fundamental defense. this year was chock full of examples. but this team struggled mightily against team that could rebound offensively and that had shooters. the Auburn, Memphis and OSU games come to mind as games where they had to defend for one play to win, and couldn't get it done and allowed lay ups for game winners. it's not like in those games they chucked up half court bombs. they drove right to the basket, and all you saw as a lot of heads in orange shirts watching.


in 07/08, we saw how successful that system can be. in 08/09, we saw how that system can get beat rather easily.

in the end, even last year, it was something that you just couldnt' ever trust. we have blown double digit leads even when it was hitting on all cylanders.

this system gets you in. it doesn't win it.

 

[7maxims]

Will Tony Jones take over as HC if he leaves?

 

[Tenacious D]

1) Questionable things have happened in his past
2) Don't agree with his coaching style
3 He likes to stay tan
4) He painted his body
5) He likes to work out
6) He has an ego just like every other major d1 coach in America

1 and 2 are pertinent, 3-6 are just an annoyance.

Thanks. I'll leave out 3-6, other than to say that I don't understand why some seem to be so fascinated with these aspects, or why they find them so distasteful. I guess it's just personal preference, I suppose. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o></o>
Can you help me to better understand those, "Questionable" things? What are they? When did they happen? How bad are they? Are you hinting at the Illinois recruiting debacle, or other - perhaps more insidious - things which have gone on, whether publicly known or just widely suspected?<o></o>
<o></o>
I agree with all of the points made about the "erratic" style of his system and coaching, It's cool to watch when its disruptive to the other team, but when it isn't, you can get it handed to you (i.e. Louisville last season). However, I'm not yet willing to say that his up-tempo / full-court pressure system won't ever be "not-good-enough" to win at a consistently high level, nor even at the highest possible level. Similar systems have worked quite well in the past (i.e. UNLV in the 90's, Nolan Richardon's 40-minutes of hell, somewhat akin to Mizzou's current attack, etc.).<o></o>
<o></o>
Another point that I think should be considered - few schools have the luxury of bringing in a coach who is a proven and consistent winner (i.e. contender for conference rings, regular Elite Eight / FF teams, once every 5-10 years play for it all) - and Tennessee does not have that luxury. Case in point - you could have offered Cal $5M per season, and I doubt he even entertains coming to Rocky Top, IMO. <o></o>
<o></o>
For a school like Tennessee to get a coach of that ilk, they can't simply raid another team to get one - they'll have to be developed. Meaning, they'll have to have shown some potential just to be hired, but not so much as to be considered worthy of a more tradition-rich school (because schools like Tennessee lose those bidding wars.....just ask Memphis). Most importantly, the coach has to be retained once hired - and as they (hopefully) become more successful, this becomes increasingly difficult until they reach this magical threshold where they become so ingrained with that school as to be seen as unattainable by other teams - of any size or strength (i.e. Coach K is a notable name that comes to mind, albeit I understand that CBP is nowhere near him in any regard at the moment, outside of this example).<o></o>
<o></o>
Tennessee can't "hire" a coach of this ilk, they have to hire him from relative anonymity, and hold onto him while fighting off others - that's just the way it is.<o></o>
<o></o>
What Memphis is trying to do is say, "We've seen enough of CBP at Tennessee - we think he's going to be that perennial winner that we want to lead our program. Where going to go enjoy what he'll do here. We're going to hire what you've begun to develop, and enjoy the fruits of the development he's made at Tennessee" Talking about the program taking a step back - if CBP goes to Memphis, how can anyone believe that the Tennessee job would ever again be reasonably considered as anything other than just another proving ground for up-and-coming coaches, that would simply be stolen away by other programs, even if they had begun to show great success at the current school (history tells us most up-and-coming hires do not, in fact, experience the successes of CBP). <o></o>
<o></o>
Is CBP infallible? No. <o></o>
Is he the greatest tactician in basketball today? No.<o></o>
<o></o>
Is his style of play somewhat erratic, and perhaps even, "gimmicky"? Sure.<o></o>
<o></o>
Does he present a mixture of both personal and professional traits that seem to make the sum greater than any one respective part? Yes. (i.e. being an excellent tactical coach is not enough at Tennessee, no matter how preeminent some believe that single trait to be, IMO)<o></o>
<o></o>
Did he rouse a program and energize a fan-base that had long-suffered through 20 some odd years of stumbling and slumbering? Yes.<o></o>
<o></o>
Will it be a simple and certain process to replace him, as some seem to think? Not by any means, whatsoever. <o></o>
<o></o>
What's likely to happen? It's a greater likelihood that we won't find even a comparable - much less, better -coach than CBP.<o></o>
<o></o>
Wouldn't it just be easier to give that money to someone you are already developing - and who is adored by 95% of the fan-base, who is a proven winner (albeit with some question as to where his ceiling may be), who can recruit the big-named talent, who is the perfect fit for the Tennessee demographic, and who is one of the most visibly beloved coaches routinely sought out by the national media? Yes. Yes, it would.<o></o>
<o></o>
Even if such a coach could be found outside of CBP - unlikely to impossible, at best - what price tag would they likely command, considering today's newly heightened market? Likely, about $2.5M - $3.25M per year.<o></o>
<o></o>
That's just my opinion, but understand if it is not the one shared by others, or that it is the most well-educated or even sensible argument available. <o></o>

 

[NYYVol]

Will Tony Jones take over as HC if he leaves?

No way...

He will be sent out of town with the rest of the staff..
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