Panic? No. Let's keep it real, guys.

[DowntownVol]

I'm just saying...

You can't realistically take a basketball team that goes to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament, loses 3 starters (Watson, Patterson, Wingate) and an invaluable sub and vastly underrated defensive player (Asumnu), replaces all four of those roster spots with freshmen (Ramar, Chism, Crews, Tabb), and expect to be as good as you were. Not to mention the fact that the SEC, top to bottom, is vastly improved this year, second in my mind only to the Pac-10. Georgia, Auburn, and Vandy are miles beyond where they were last year.

If Pearl somehow manages to right the ship and get this team into the Dance - ANYWHERE in the dance, even as low as a 9 or 10 seed - he has done a phenomenal job.

If we end up going to the NIT, I say we make a nice run, go to at least the semis, hell, maybe win the whole thing. Not that much consolation, I realize, but it's tournament basketball in March, and gives everyone but Bradshaw invaluable experience that will be handy when we make The Run next year.

And we will.

Mark my words.

We will.

 

[LS Vol]

Very well said!

 

[odbowles]

Word! We will be ok....I am still excited just watching them and seeing what happens.

 

[volhoopsfan001]

I'm not ready to panic, either. Let's see how the next two games go. If the Vols lose both, then they'll be 2-6 half way through the conference schedule. If that happens, then I might start to panic.

 

[volsgal03]

If anything the young guys will get experience this year which will help them out next year and I'm sure Lofton will be back.

 

[odbowles]

Maybe we should call up Major and see if he can get us a little "smoke" to calm our nerves......:cool2:

 

[sickemsmokey10]

If I'm not mistaken I think Florida had a losing streak last year and a time where they weren't playing too well

 

[Jay Hud]

I dont think its time to panic just yet. We are a very young team with talent. With that comes inconsistent play, especially when your best player is out. However, I think Pearl will get the most out of this squad and end up around five hundred in the league and make a run in the SEC tourney to get us in the dance. Then its a crapshoot and anything could happen.

 

[Heebs]

Maybe we should call up Major and see if he can get us a little "smoke" to calm our nerves......:cool2:

C'mon, there's definatly others who could provide it on the team. They don't need Major.

 

[DAVOL]

As long as we have Pearl we will be in good shape. We needto close our borders to other schools cause I believe we might produce the best hs bball talent in all the SEC.

 

[tvolsfan]

At least our magic number is 5 instead of 6.