Does this make up for a disappointing season?

[drewtigeralum]

Richardson was ranked 124th in the nation. So he's a high major recruit imo. He was recruiting by Georgia Tech, Penn State and Oklahoma.

The problem with mid-major level recruits isn't that they have no potential, it's that they aren't likely to impact a program strongly until year 3 or 4. That's why mid-majors tend to have 1 or if lucky, 2 good years every 4 years. Much like the Mercer team we just played who has 5 senior starters.

The problem gets worse as a high major because you're playing against teams who are getting 4/5 star top 100 type players and playing OOC games against teams with similar players. It becomes an issue just making the tournament when you're out talented 2-3 out of every 4 years.

The issue with CCM is that he has taken players that look like they'd be a reach even for a good mid-major team. The players you reach on at this level are those guys ranked in the 150 range. Essentially the team were winning with is a core group of guys ranked in the top 75 in high school and Josh, who was as I said, 124th.

I know rankings aren't the be all, end all, but if you look at the top 20 in basketball recruiting most years, they're your teams who make NCAA's most every year and tend to advance more often than not. It's always got names like Kentucky, Florida, Michigan State, Arizona, North Carolina, Duke, UConn etc. I know his name is mud here to many of you, but it's not a coincidence that Pearl signed top 25 classes after his first year for the most part and for the most part we were a consistent top 25/NCAA team that had a few good runs in the tourney.

The way to avoid the let down while not recruiting top 100 kids is to constantly have a flow of players entering their 3 or 4th year. Also, Martin has signed more 5* players in the last 3 years than Purdue (just using them as an example) has signed in past 10. You need the 4 and 5* talent, but you can surround them with 3* players you have developed and still win. For better or worse, this was the strategy that Gene Keady made it to the hall of fame with. Basically, his best teams had one inside scorer, one outside scorer, a solid defending wing, a solid pass first point guard, and a rebounding big. He leaned on his scores to score, and the other 3 players to defend the other team enough to keep their best players from scoring. Right now, U.T. has 3 scores going off, and that paired with great defense is always a formula for success. That is the model the Martin has coached in. Some people like it, some people don't, that's sort of the way of the world.

 

[tennrich1]

As a guy who said specifically that Martin needed to make the Sweet 16 to change my opinion, I'll respond to this.

I have tons of hope going forward and now truly believe that Martin could be the guy. He's growing into the job.

Congrats to coach and the team. I apologize for ever being part of the anti-Martin crowd.

This is what's starting to bother me. You don't have to apologize because you felt CCM wasn't getting the job done.,,Breaking News..,he wasn't.,,,now things have changed and he IS getting the job done. I had great doubts...never signed a petition, never picketed in front of TBA etc...,but CCM is doing what we ALL expected of this team back in October .... We're in the tournament(barely) and playing well and I'm happy....but feeling bad for simply seeing what was happening during the season is nothing to apologize for. Go Vols....Go CCM.., that is all.,,,

 

[Jax_Vol]

We came in fourth in the regular season in the SEC. Better than football.

But the answer to the question.....yes, it makes up for it!

Cuonzo is the next John Wooden!

 

[utvolkyle06]

The reason for all the fan turmoil revolves around the fact that most really believed we had top 20 or better talent. And when you never make the polls and you lose to teams with much lesser talent it is normal to be disappointed and ask questions. You can go back and look at hundreds of threads asking why we are not pushing the ball inside more, why we settle for outside 3s, why we can't close out close games, why we can't seem to get over the hump?
We may never know what changed, but the team is now playing how most thought they were capable of. I was a active CCM doubter, not a hater or on a personal bases but purely on performance. I am happy, proud and excited at the postseason, like everyone else. I give him all the credit in the world, but I also know that all is temporary, fans and employers will always ask "what have you done for us lately?" Martin has proved he is man enough to handle it either way it goes.

 

[marvin2]

I think that Coach has increased his intense on the sideline, just as the Player have seemed to increase their desire to win. Not sure this is it, but I have never seen someone like Stokes hit the rebounds and finishes as he is doing right now. I have seen some good ones. Whatever, I love what all of them are doing now.

Go Vols!

 

[Air_Force_Vol27]

As a doubter I am gladly eating my crow.

 

[1985Vols]

Just want to hear from all the doubters. Does this change your view on Martin's coaching philosophy?

How can the season be " disappointing" when we are still playing, in the Sweet 16 no less? Did we underperform during the regular season, of course we did and I would assume Coach Martin would say the same thing. Luckily, for us, basketball is a tournament sport and CCM has us peaking at the right time. The players have bought in to what he was trying to get them to do all season and now it is paying off. I seriously could see this team in the Final 4 and who knows, what a story it would be if they bring home the championship trophy.

 

[Weezer]

Easy killer.

Stop picking on the teenagers, ya big meanie!

 

[Weezer]

How can the season be " disappointing" when we are still playing, in the Sweet 16 no less? Did we underperform during the regular season, of course we did and I would assume Coach Martin would say the same thing. Luckily, for us, basketball is a tournament sport and CCM has us peaking at the right time. The players have bought in to what he was trying to get them to do all season and now it is paying off. I seriously could see this team in the Final 4 and who knows, what a story it would be if they bring home the championship trophy.

Let's take it one game at a time.

 

[SCowlsVOL]

It's what I expected from the get go. He met my expectations from the end of last season. Now the regular season was not up to expectations but the tourney was what I expected for sure.

 

[Spartacavolus]

It's what I expected from the get go. He met my expectations from the end of last season. Now the regular season was not up to expectations but the tourney was what I expected for sure.

I expected sweet 16 since the summer. A big part of the reason I was ticked that we were on the bubble and a missed shot or two away from missing it again. I think a lot of people familiar with the game and our players knew we had the talent. Some things they are doing with Stokes, jrich and Barton are good adjustments. I think if stokes is faced up more early in the year, we have 2-3 more wins.