Barnes has never been good in close games....

#2
#2
I didn’t love the end of game inbound play like everybody else, but I thought he coached fine besides that. Keep the guys heads in it down 18, generally not a lot of open three point shooters for Purdue, they were just hitting ridiculous shots. And he can’t stop Lamonte fouling at the end of regulation (or the ref screwing TN. Take your pick, either way, not really Barnes fault).
The most frustrating thing to me was how we insisted on taking long twos. I know we’ve done so all year, and it’s generally worked, but I really wish we’d look at doing something like the Rockets in the NBA where the VAST majority of our shots would come either right at the basket or from three. Because that is the most efficient way of doing offense, and probably even more so when you have a great passer out of the post like Grant
 
#4
#4
1985Vols said:
His NCAAT record worries me more than close games. Don't think he'll ever get us to a Final 4. Maybe when he retires we can get Bruce back!
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As much as I like a reuniting down the road, it is downright stupid and insane to think Barnes is anywhere close to retiring. He rebuilt the program. He developed guys into stars like Admiral, Grant, and Bone.... On paper, we are losing two starters and replacing a graduating senior with a 5 star.... There is zero reason to think Barnes is fading. At the end of the day, he has restocked the program and stabilized it. I think we are definitely a top 10 team next year if Kyle and Admiral are our only players leaving. The scheme will have to change a little bit to make up for losing Admiral, but Fulkerson should be able to slide into Kyle's spot and have a very small learning curve.

The biggest emotion I am feeling right now is pure punch in the nuts because we are losing Admiral.... Dude is the heart and soul of the entire Tennessee Athletics over the past 2-3 years. Truly hurt for the guy.
 
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#9
#9
Wow, Tennessee has never made it to the Final Four. Fire the coaches, close the program because we've never done it and will never do it. Is that the bottom line? Ridiculous! 1 year ago we were 1 point away from a good shot to make a Final Four and this year we lost to a HOT Purdue BARELY keeping us from an elite 8. That's not bad for a team picked 13 in SEC 1 1/2 year ago. Enjoy the success and don't let the HOPE of winning more overshadow a great winning run in our BB program.
 
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#10
#10
JMSqb11 said:
I think the Barnes vs Bruce argument is childish, but if you're argument against Bruce is using a Final Four Appearance from 16 years ago, you're just as childish as the guy trying to start the argument......
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Ahh yes, can’t answer the question so let’s just accuse me of being childish.

I’m just saying if Pearl is apparently the answer to all our problems, why hasn’t he made it to Final 4’s with more talent than Barnes has had his time at Tennessee?
 
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#11
#11
JMSqb11 said:
I think the Barnes vs Bruce argument is childish, but if you're argument against Bruce is using a Final Four Appearance from 16 years ago, you're just as childish as the guy trying to start the argument......
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IMHO, the whole point of asking the question about Bruce's final 4 appearances is to point out the asinine nature of the comparisons in the first place. But I will defer to VolFreakJosh to defend himself against a personal attack (calling him childish) if he feels the need to do so.
 
#13
#13
1985Vols said:
His NCAAT record worries me more than close games. Don't think he'll ever get us to a Final 4. Maybe when he retires we can get Bruce back!
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As has been said many times since the season started, getting to the FF these days is a rarity, even for many very good teams. It takes talent, resolve, hustle, and lots of good fortune, including some favorable whistles. Look at Duke against UCF last week. UVA could have lost to Oregon. In the end, you could argue that only one team in America ends the season successfully by many people's standards. I am proud of this team AND their character. The total picture here trumps everything else for me, including our head coach's ability on the floor and his dedication to furthering character.
 
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#15
#15
VFL49er said:
I didn’t love the end of game inbound play like everybody else, but I thought he coached fine besides that. Keep the guys heads in it down 18, generally not a lot of open three point shooters for Purdue, they were just hitting ridiculous shots. And he can’t stop Lamonte fouling at the end of regulation (or the ref screwing TN. Take your pick, either way, not really Barnes fault).
The most frustrating thing to me was how we insisted on taking long twos. I know we’ve done so all year, and it’s generally worked, but I really wish we’d look at doing something like the Rockets in the NBA where the VAST majority of our shots would come either right at the basket or from three. Because that is the most efficient way of doing offense, and probably even more so when you have a great passer out of the post like Grant
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I guess I am in the minority about the play design with 1.7 left. I thought it was a nice design. Even someone like Bone can’t get far enough to get a decent look with that time. I thought it was correct in getting it to half court. Once you throw it in at half court, all you need is time to catch and shoot, which we should have had 0.6.
 
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#16
#16
1985Vols said:
His NCAAT record worries me more than close games. Don't think he'll ever get us to a Final 4. Maybe when he retires we can get Bruce back!
Click to expand...
He now owns the worst record as a coach as the higher seed, only 23-13 as the fav/higher seed in the tourney.

Was a great season, ranked #1, had a shot at the SEC title, both Regular season and Post Season. Season should be appreciated imho.
 
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#17
#17
VolFreakJosh said:
Ahh yes, can’t answer the question so let’s just accuse me of being childish.

I’m just saying if Pearl is apparently the answer to all our problems, why hasn’t he made it to Final 4’s with more talent than Barnes has had his time at Tennessee?
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The 2007-2008 team to date has been Bruce's best team he has ever assembled and made it to the Sweet 16. The biggest coaching miracle was taking the shorthanded team the next season after the suspensions and removing players to the Elite 8.... In 6 years at Tennessee Bruce did a mighty fine job.

But to sit here and act that Barnes is light years ahead of Bruce because of a Final Four appearance 16 years ago is lunacy. You are aware that both can be great coaches at the same time right?

I just find it absolutely hilarious your comeback to comparing the two is something almost 2 decades old like its a big gotcha!

Do I hope that Bruce one day finds his way back to Tennessee? Sure I do. I'd be lying to your face if I said I didn't. However, I'm not going to sit here and clamor and bang the drum that Barnes needs to retire soon so we can get Bruce back. Barnes was fired from Texas for a reason and has used that to rejuvenate himself and his career. The Tourney Woes for Tennessee (I think 1-7 in Sweet 16 games) and Barnes happened for the second straight year. I think next year, if we only lose Kyle/Admiral, will be the best team Barnes will have put together at Tennessee in what will be his 5 years.

The sky isn't falling at Tennessee or with Barnes. This is fact
Bruce is a great coach. This is fact
Barnes easily has 4-5 years left here at Tennessee at minimum.
 
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#19
#19
VolGee4 said:
I guess I am in the minority about the play design with 1.7 left. I thought it was a nice design. Even someone like Bone can’t get far enough to get a decent look with that time. I thought it was correct in getting it to half court. Once you throw it in at half court, all you need is time to catch and shoot, which we should have had 0.6.
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Agreed. If the clock doesn't start early on the initial inbounds, and the refs award the TO as soon as Bowden crosses halfcourt and calls it, we probably have around 0.7-0.9 seconds. Perhaps the only thing they should have done that they potentially didn't do, was alert the officials to their plan so that they knew to be watching for it.
 
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#20
#20
esarmstrong said:
IMHO, the whole point of asking the question about Bruce's final 4 appearances is to point out the asinine nature of the comparisons in the first place. But I will defer to VolFreakJosh to defend himself against a personal attack (calling him childish) if he feels the need to do so.
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Barnes had a Final Four Appearance 16 years ago. Bruce doesn't. Acting like Barnes is lightyears ahead of Bruce in the current time is asinine. Both can be great coaches at the same time.
 
#22
#22
There is a lot to like about Coach Barnes and I believe the program will see a lot of success under him but only 1 Final Four in his 31 year career should let you know what to expect from his teams.
 
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#23
#23
BigOrangeMojo said:
I think teams are a reflection of their coaches and I think we sometimes have a tendency to play tight in big games/moments/tourneys.

With that being said, the Bruce talk is stupid. He is a cheater with no ethics/morals...
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That is laughable.
 
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