The Official “Regular Posters of the Basketball Forum” Thread

[cncchris33]

Well, sure. I am guessing Danny White wasn't thrilled with having to deal with the Maui Ahuna ordeal and with the other noise from the baseball program. There was also a suggestion that White wasn't thrilled with us having roughly 40 on the roster when the December 1 deadline to get to 36 is looming. It all comes with TV.

But I take Rick Barnes at face value. He doesn't hold back on his honesty, and that's been proven. He could always avoid the topic, but he has praised Danny White for several years now.

No, I wasn't trying to establish a contradictory opinion. I was just adding additional context as to why I believe they have a good working relationship. I think Barnes has a fine working relationship with White and believe him when he says as much. I just added context about why that likely is the case as opposed to why it might not have been always been the case with Tony.

Follow the dollars and you'll find Danny White. It would probably surprise no one that his closest relationships with coaches pair hand and hand with the budget sheet. Basketball being the second-most profitable program on campus, I'm sure Rick gets a commensurate amount of Danny's time and attention. Add to that the fact that Barnes is pretty by the book and resolved, and I doubt he gets called to the principal's office on account of his/his team's behavior too often, if ever, thus the "less headaches" comment.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Well, Barnes has been honest about some things that came back to bite him. He has also praised Danny White WELL before all of this. I have no reason to doubt Rick Barnes.

I also think TV genuinely struggled with the decision, and I would love to hold him to coming back to our university.

If Barnes had come out and said rev share distribution is a problem those same folks would be posting it saying how Deacon Barnes would never lie and say it’s evident to support their theory. As I said the other day whichever way folks leaned on DW prior to the Tony deal is which way they’re leaning harder now, facts be damned…and that’s a shame, because it’s not helping anything and making the AD look bad which isn’t a benefit for any of us.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Barnes wasn’t commenting on NIL and Rev share in regards to basketball, he was commenting on the entirety of the situation in the athletic department, and addressed the rumors surrounding the baseball deal and claimed they were false. The quote wasn’t about Danny & Barnes relationship as it pertains to basketball and their dealings just in that regard.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

I don’t think I disagree with anything you’re saying…like I’ve said could White have offered him the 75% rev share football was getting and Tony be happy, sure, but that’s not realistic for the success of an athletic department. Obviously I’m being a bit over the top in that number, but the point stands regardless. Like you said it’s a hard bar to meet, I’m sure many would’ve liked it done and in all likelihood would matching Arkansas or LSU kept Tony, probably not ultimately from what I’ve heard. Boosters were willing to commit to NIL to just baseball that would’ve more than made the difference of the rev share, in the end he’d have had as much if more more $$$ to go around, but he chose to head to the big leagues and I don’t think many fault him for that.

Arkansas and LSU also aren't trying to be "everything schools" like we are.... LSU men's basketball is hot dog doodoo, as is Arkansas women's basketball. A lot of those dollars that could go to those programs goes to the LSU and Arkansas baseball programs

 

[05_never_again]

Arkansas and LSU also aren't trying to be "everything schools" like we are.... LSU men's basketball is hot dog doodoo, as is Arkansas women's basketball. A lot of those dollars that could go to those programs goes to the LSU and Arkansas baseball programs

Hard disagree on LSU. Matt McMahon was a highly sought after name based on what he did at Murray St; it just hasn't worked out there so far. They have very good and baseball and women's basketball teams. Also very good at gymnastics.

 

[walkenvol]

Barnes is also a tamer personality, especially at his age, now, and is quite a bit more strait-laced than Tony Vitello. I'd imagine he gives Danny White far fewer headaches. His program is also rather profitable, so Danny White keeping closer tabs on him is not too foreign an idea. I have no doubt their relationship is probably on solid footing. Barnes is also only a threat to go one place at this point in his career, and that is to the house. He is an easy manage for the AD.

An easy manage as long as he remains competitive….could become a nightmare if the program falls off and CRB doesn’t choose to leave on his own. FWIW, I don’t anticipate either of those happening but firing a HOF beloved coach has to be an AD’s least desirable problem.

 

[05_never_again]

I don’t think it should be surprising how Tony handled his remarks. He’s not going to throw the university under the bus. It’s not his style. And I don’t think it’s surprising that Barnes, a university employee, is going to defend how the university handled things.

It's also quite possible that Rick and DW have a better relationship than TV and DW did. Like TV Rick is also an insanely competitive person but also older, probably wiser, and more level-headed than TV. Probably easier for DW to deal with.

 

[YankeeVol]

To your last point, he was not only an effective communicator he was a university ambassador. I know we’re a “football school” but TV was arguably the voice of the university. Heupel is essentially a robot. His press conferences are pure coach speak. He is boring to listen to. I think that is where TV’s value extended beyond just being a great baseball coach. He was extremely visible both nationally and in the community. I will miss that.

As best a college baseball coach can be, which still isn't THAT big IMO. I will give you that he was probably the most recognizable college baseball coach there was. No one would know Jay Johnson on a flight

 

[cncchris33]

An easy manage as long as he remains competitive….could become a nightmare if the program falls off and CRB doesn’t choose to leave on his own. FWIW, I don’t anticipate either of those happening but firing a HOF beloved coach has to be an AD’s least desirable problem.

Certainly agree. I didn’t mention it because I don’t consider it a viable threat. He’ll retire before it ever really drops off, I think.

 

[Vol49er]

To your last point, he was not only an effective communicator he was a university ambassador. I know we’re a “football school” but TV was arguably the voice of the university. Heupel is essentially a robot. His press conferences are pure coach speak. He is boring to listen to. I think that is where TV’s value extended beyond just being a great baseball coach. He was extremely visible both nationally and in the community. I will miss that.

I think it’s nearly impossible for a college baseball coach to be the voice of the university. It may seem like it to people like us who are immersed in TN sports, but college baseball remains an extremely niche sport (about 1.5-2 million viewers for the World Series, about a tenth as the CBB championship, not to mention football). Even if not Heupel since he’s a robot, I think it would definitely be Barnes before Tony. (But again, my opinion of that could be clouded by my being closer in temperament to Rick than Vitello, or at least I’d like to be)

 

[05_never_again]

I think it’s nearly impossible for a college baseball coach to be the voice of the university. It may seem like it to people like us who are immersed in TN sports, but college baseball remains an extremely niche sport (about 1.5-2 million viewers for the World Series, about a tenth as the CBB championship, not to mention football). Even if not Heupel since he’s a robot, I think it would definitely be Barnes before Tony. (But again, my opinion of that could be clouded by my being closer in temperament to Rick than Vitello, or at least I’d like to be)

The voice of the university is still probably Peyton Manning.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Arkansas and LSU also aren't trying to be "everything schools" like we are.... LSU men's basketball is hot dog doodoo, as is Arkansas women's basketball. A lot of those dollars that could go to those programs goes to the LSU and Arkansas baseball programs

Right, and that’s what I meant by what “realistically” could Danny have done? You can’t implode football and basketball for him, that’s just not a realistic plan for an athletic department. He was Top 3 in his sport in overall support, without sacrifice another major sport it was pretty impossible to raise that rev share number.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Hard disagree on LSU. Matt McMahon was a highly sought after name based on what he did at Murray St; it just hasn't worked out there so far. They have very good and baseball and women's basketball teams. Also very good at gymnastics.

He was a hot name, but what’s he done? He was begging for more support this past offseason iirc, that’s the posters point.

 

[YankeeVol]

Arkansas and LSU also aren't trying to be "everything schools" like we are.... LSU men's basketball is hot dog doodoo, as is Arkansas women's basketball. A lot of those dollars that could go to those programs goes to the LSU and Arkansas baseball programs

They attempted to make a good hire after a chit situation with Will Wade*. McMahon was very succesful at Mu**y State.

*which is why he was given a 7 year deal.

 

[YankeeVol]

Hard disagree on LSU. Matt McMahon was a highly sought after name based on what he did at Murray St; it just hasn't worked out there so far. They have very good and baseball and women's basketball teams. Also very good at gymnastics.

Softball wasn't half bad either.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Barnes today with another unsolicited quote…

“So many people read into things that aren’t there. I mean, the bottom line is he had a chance to leave the University of Tennessee and go to the San Francisco Giants. And it’s not like he’s going to another university. That’d be something that I think you could talk about, but the fact is, I can tell you from my position, being here on this campus and the administration that we have here from Randy Boyd to Donde Plowman and to Danny White — it’s the best in the country. It’s not even close. I’ve never seen people align like they are. And I do know this, Danny has given every one of us what we need to compete at the highest level to give us a chance to play for the national championships in our sport.“

 

[Vol49er]

Barnes today with another unsolicited quote…

“So many people read into things that aren’t there. I mean, the bottom line is he had a chance to leave the University of Tennessee and go to the San Francisco Giants. And it’s not like he’s going to another university. That’d be something that I think you could talk about, but the fact is, I can tell you from my position, being here on this campus and the administration that we have here from Randy Boyd to Donde Plowman and to Danny White — it’s the best in the country. It’s not even close. I’ve never seen people align like they are. And I do know this, Danny has given every one of us what we need to compete at the highest level to give us a chance to play for the national championships in our sport.“

Spoken like someone who just got a lifetime contract!

I kid, mostly

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Spoken like someone who just got a lifetime contract!

I kid, mostly

Heck with a lifetime contract you can do and say whatever you want

 

[YankeeVol]

Heck with a lifetime contract you can do and say whatever you want

I'm sure Danny knows people.

 

[omghulkhands]

Purdue playing very flat vs UK.

 

[Lefteye]

Purdue playing very flat vs UK.

That’s a lot nicer than what I came here to post. I’d replace flat with turrible.

 

[tev.sm]

Purdue playing very flat vs UK.

Agreed. Purdue’s looking a bit overrated. Offense looks inefficient, defense looks a step slow.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

Agreed. Purdue’s looking a bit overrated. Offense looks inefficient, defense looks a step slow.

Those guards although good have never been good as hyped since the ogre Edey left.

 

[cncchris33]

Also worth noting, UK was down two starters.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

To your last point, he was not only an effective communicator he was a university ambassador. I know we’re a “football school” but TV was arguably the voice of the university. Heupel is essentially a robot. His press conferences are pure coach speak. He is boring to listen to. I think that is where TV’s value extended beyond just being a great baseball coach. He was extremely visible both nationally and in the community. I will miss that.

I think you’re overestimating how much people who don’t follow college baseball were aware of who he was. “Extremely visible nationally” seems like a big stretch unless you mean “nationally in baseball circles”