2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread

#3,627
#3,627
As far as a replacement coach for Gainey, can we go out and get a big man specialist similar to Orlando Antigua? Our bigs have struggled in the offensive development department for way too long, and tend to stay near the same skill level as when they entered as freshmen.

Most of our coaches have seemed to be guard sized, so maybe they're lacking in the know-how.
 
  • Like
Reactions: i2amavol
#3,630
#3,630
MoCo_Vol said:
Also, just a reminder Barnes simply does not sign players without meeting face to face.

Some coaches will do a zoom, a call or just an email. Thatā€™s not Barnes though. Portal or HS he wants to meet in person at least once.
Click to expand...
Yeah I kinda doubt ole Dusty required JP to pass a physical before he tampered with him
 
  • Like
Reactions: InVOLuntary and MoCo_Vol
#3,631
#3,631
VolArmy74 said:
Yet JP managed 18 minutes per game this season, has a major injury risk history in the worst spot for a big man, his foot, and his defense is suspect, with his free throw shooting getting worse each year as a cherry on top. He also fouls at a high rate.
Click to expand...
and he still led the team in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) by a wide margin. This team was infinitely better with him on the court and now you don't have the 3 and maybe even 4 (counting Evans) most impactful players across the board. Not to make it sound like analytics is everything, but it helps show how big of an impact JP actually made when on the floor. I get there is a risk he gets hurt and I understand the decision, but going all-in on a F4 by swapping Estrella for Rubin is a bit of an oxymoron. I'll believe it from the money people when they put it into practice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MinisterofDef#92 and Chunkyvol12
#3,633
#3,633
allvolrecruiting said:
A) They are going all in and not paying people. If they don't get Tanner, what's the point of saving the money. The Final Four teams were built on a floor general point guards, big/strong guards that could attack rim, and big/strong/versatile/mobile frontcourts. Evans fit big/strong guard category and Estrella obv fits the third as the champions just showed.

B) Just bc Troy played a lil AAU ball with Nate Ament, does not mean Nate is turning down being a potential lottery pick

Click to expand...

1775793723128.pngEstrella was by far the most frustrating player we had last year. I have never seen one of our bigs miss so many 1 ft baskets. Sorry, I was hoping most of the year that he would portal out and we would find a replacement.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vol94
#3,634
#3,634
allvolrecruiting said:
and he still led the team in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) by a wide margin. This team was infinitely better with him on the court and now you don't have the 3 and maybe even 4 (counting Evans) most impactful players across the board. Not to make it sound like analytics is everything, but it helps show how big of an impact JP actually made when on the floor. I get there is a risk he gets hurt and I understand the decision, but going all-in on a F4 by swapping Estrella for Rubin is a bit of an oxymoron. I'll believe it from the money people when they put it into practice.
Click to expand...
This team has reached the Elite Eight the last three seasons. They have lost by an average of 19.3 points per game. What has been shown that they will do something bigger this offseason to build further and reach an entirely new level. They're investing more money reportedly and they probably will, but are they bringing in an entire new level of talent? What if Tanner doesn't enter the portal? What is actually changing. To be clear, Barnes is great and has done an elite job and he needs to be the coach here right now, no doubt about that. He's hiding the $$$ gap from hitting the court, until it's impossible to do that. I just don't want to keep being patronized by being told it will be different with investment this year and then they can't/won't pay all their top targets beside 1-2 again and the exact same result happens.

Football was the same way until they made actionable cause to believe something would change. They hired a top 5 DC who brought over an entire analytics department to add to the scouting staff. Heupel went external to steal Inge from Alabama. They brought in an elite strength coach and gave him free reign as well to build his own staff, no matter how big and wide-ranging. The offensive playbook has adapted to use the middle of the field. Heupel and NIL are getting involved with OL recruiting. There is a reason to believe something will change there.

What has been actually shown in basketball for there to be a potential for change? I know people will say I am overreacting and raising the bar, but the program raised the bar itself when you have the people around the program saying it's going to be bigger and better each year. That's all
 
  • Like
Reactions: Flovol, MinisterofDef#92, Jonboy and 6 others
#3,635
#3,635
johnnybravo said:
I have never seen one of bigs miss so many 1 ft baskets
Click to expand...
This team had Jaylen Carey on it. But anytime you're asking your frontcourt to be the on ball offense, you are going to have to live with that some unfortunately. He will be better when he can be in a more connected offense 1-5 imo
 
#3,637
#3,637
Clad in Big Orange said:
Tobe Awaka developed well in Arizona. Aidoo was a mixed bag in Arkansas but I think he came on late season for them.
Click to expand...
If you have a problem with the best coach Tennessee basketball has ever had, then go screw yourself and cheer for Bama. You are a troll anyway and always have been.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolsWinRLose, InVOLuntary and VolFreakJosh
#3,639
#3,639
allvolrecruiting said:
This team has reached the Elite Eight the last three seasons. They have lost by an average of 19.3 points per game. What has been shown that they will do something bigger this offseason to build further and reach an entirely new level. They're investing more money reportedly and they probably will, but are they bringing in an entire new level of talent? What if Tanner doesn't enter the portal? What is actually changing. To be clear, Barnes is great and has done an elite job and he needs to be the coach here right now, no doubt about that. He's hiding the $$$ gap from hitting the court, until it's impossible to do that. I just don't want to keep being patronized by being told it will be different with investment this year and then they can't/won't pay all their top targets beside 1-2 again and the exact same result happens.

Football was the same way until they made actionable cause to believe something would change. They hired a top 5 DC who brought over an entire analytics department to add to the scouting staff. Heupel went external to steal Inge from Alabama. They brought in an elite strength coach and gave him free reign as well to build his own staff, no matter how big and wide-ranging. The offensive playbook has adapted to use the middle of the field. Heupel and NIL are getting involved with OL recruiting. There is a reason to believe something will change there.

What has been actually shown in basketball for there to be a potential for change? I know people will say I am overreacting and raising the bar, but the program raised the bar itself when you have the people around the program saying it's going to be bigger and better each year. That's all
Click to expand...
maybe wait until we're past the 1st weekend of the portal before making all of these declarations? JP fits Michigan's system infinitely better than ours and he's worth more to them than he is to us. He's a brilliant offensive player but has clear deficiencies on the defensive end for what we like to do. Add on the potentially disastrous injury risk and that's not an ideal recipe

The football program is also light years away from competing at a title level compared to BBall so not sure that's a great comparison
 
  • Like
Reactions: MinisterofDef#92
#3,643
#3,643
Nighthawkvol10 said:
maybe wait until we're past the 1st weekend of the portal before making all of these declarations? JP fits Michigan's system infinitely better than ours and he's worth more to them than he is to us. He's a brilliant offensive player but has clear deficiencies on the defensive end for what we like to do. Add on the potentially disastrous injury risk and that's not an ideal recipe

The football program is also light years away from competing at a title level compared to BBall so not sure that's a great comparison
Click to expand...
I was saying the football program actually invested into making the change this offseason instead of just talking about it. Football team has made an Elite Eight to be fair. The portal is a two week window now for one and it feels like Tanner or bust with little suggesting he will actually enter the portal and stay in it. I get there is still time left, but letting two guys go that fit the mold of what has worked for F4 teams in NIL era, every big name the program is "in" on feels like they are not in the top group, and the first focus has turned to rotational players. I was not overreacting to a couple days in and saying oh no this team will be bad. I'm just asked what changed after this was the offseason yet again that it was supposed to. All the signs say it hasn't. Sure it's early, but if Tanner doesn't enter, then what? How does this team look so drastically different that it's F4 worthy?
 
#3,646
#3,646
Clad in Big Orange said:
Maybe other coaches are poaching players from TN and making them more productive offensively.

Iā€™ll hang up and listen.
Click to expand...
Maybe Barnes has taken players from other teams and made them better. Players donā€™t fit in every system. If JP has a great year at Michigan that doesnā€™t mean Barnes didnā€™t use him well or develop him well. It could be several things, including JP fitting better in the Michigan system and JP simply staying healthy and developing as he would have naturally. Another poster responded saying it would be ā€œtellingā€ if JP produces. Sure, but what it tells is up for debate despite the fact a lot will use it as a way to take shots at Barnes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MinisterofDef#92, goodnight_vol, cardvolfan and 4 others
#3,648
#3,648
GSPVol said:
Estrella is skilled. Injury prone tho. I'd rather spend the money on a physical bruiser or two. Guys who make you think twice before driving the lane. Guys who think every rebound is theirs. Guys who could play for Houston. In any event, best of luck to him and thanks for the memories. He's a quality kid.
Click to expand...
While I agree, maybe itā€™s not the right way. The game has definitely become more finesse. Michigan won it all. Houston hasnā€™t under Sampson. Just a thought. I trust Barnes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolsWinRLose and MinisterofDef#92
#3,649
#3,649
allvolrecruiting said:
I was saying the football program actually invested into making the change this offseason instead of just talking about it. Football team has made an Elite Eight to be fair. The portal is a two week window now for one and it feels like Tanner or bust with little suggesting he will actually enter the portal and stay in it. I get there is still time left, but letting two guys go that fit the mold of what has worked for F4 teams in NIL era, every big name the program is "in" on feels like they are not in the top group, and the first focus has turned to rotational players. I was not overreacting to a couple days in and saying oh no this team will be bad. I'm just asked what changed after this was the offseason yet again that it was supposed to. All the signs say it hasn't. Sure it's early, but if Tanner doesn't enter, then what? How does this team look so drastically different that it's F4 worthy?
Click to expand...
Perhaps Barnes feels that Burg will progress enough to handle pg duties and Tanner will just be icing on the
cake if we can get him late. Just have to trust the staff but I really have reservations in our doing to the pg position
the same thing that we did last season with the 2 position. Could come back to bite us.
 
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top