Enjoy it. Really.

[cncchris33]

Everything is arguable if you try hard enough. I’m sure there are plenty of Pearl zealots out there who would vehemently disagree with me.

Well, I meant a good/valid argument. It could be argued that the earth is flat, but it wouldn't be a good argument.

 

[vollygirl]

I don’t think I could cheer for another basketball coach.

You can. And you will. We all will. Because DW will find the one who will love Tennessee, and understand what a gift the opportunity is. And CRB will expect us to give our all for the team the new guy coaches.

 

[walkenvol]

Absolutely could also be used to negatively recruit. Others know who’s graduating this year, as well as the state of the program. I trust CRB and DW have worked through this day, whenever it may come, and will do what’s best for all involved. I hope he stays on awhile, personally. He’s a fantastic coach and ambassador for the University. His records and accomplishments speak for themselves. He has a great perspective and will do what’s best. GB

Have there been discussions about creating a general manager of basketball like North Carolina did recently? Is that a less demanding job that might be of interest to CRB?

 

[cncchris33]

Have there been discussions about creating a general manager of basketball like North Carolina did recently? Is that a less demanding job that might be of interest to CRB?

I'm not sure CRB wants to do anything but coach. He just seems hardwired to be a leader of men in a hands-on capacity. I also think it would be tough for him to take a backseat to someone else, essentially reporting to them, with guys on the team that he probably feels responsible for looking after. This might be easier if someone like Gainey got the job. I just don't believe that's where we are headed with a potential hire.

 

[NOLACHUCKEYTOM]

We have certainly been blessed to have Rick Barnes not just as a great basketball coach but as a leader who teaches the kids to live and work the right way! What a great Christian role model he has been for this program! GBO

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Thank you for sharing OP.

Unfortunately, it makes total sense for this to be his last ride at Tennessee.

Players like Ziegler & Maschack don’t come around often anymore. His relationship with Ziegler is also a huge factor why he hasn’t hung it up earlier imo.

I really want Barnes to get us to our first Final Four before he retires. He deserves it with how much work he’s put into the program.

 

[SGMVols]

It’ll be tough to see RB retire, but we have the best AD in the country and I have full confidence that he will be ready to put another winner in place when the time comes.

You better be willing to endure a ROUGH year or two though if this is the year Rick leaves. We only have 4 players eligible to return next year and I frankly doubt any of them will stay for a new coach. We would likely have to start completely over from a roster standpoint. And in a conference that is sending 14 teams to the tournament, that’s a tough position to be in.

 

[ttocswob]

Right now, I'm enjoying March Mashackness - not worrying about the Ides of April.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Well, I meant a good/valid argument. It could be argued that the earth is flat, but it wouldn't be a good argument.

That reminds me, I have some YouTube videos I'd like you to watch....

 

[VolFreakJosh]

You better be willing to endure a ROUGH year or two though if this is the year Rick leaves. We only have 4 players eligible to return next year and I frankly doubt any of them will stay for a new coach. We would likely have to start completely over from a roster standpoint. And in a conference that is sending 14 teams to the tournament, that’s a tough position to be in.

Honestly, I trust DW with this upcoming hire.

He seems like the type who’ll go after a big name but will have a rising star in the back of his pocket if things go south.

Shaka Smart would be a great fit from a “big name” standpoint but whether or not he’d be truly interested is up for grabs.

I do agree that the next coach will have very big shoes to fill, especially in this conference.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

He seems like the kind who wants to pick an up and comer to me

 

[berryvol]

I’m sure someone will be chopping onions in the room with me when CRB has his retirement press conference. Impossible to overstate what he’s meant to all of us and the program. I want so badly for him to be able to go out on top this year - not even for myself and the program (as much as I want it for both) but for him to be able to do what everyone has said he can’t for most of his career. ZZ and Shack getting him back to the final four or to the top of the mountain, would be such a great ending to his coaching story.

 

[walkenvol]

Honestly, I trust DW with this upcoming hire.

He seems like the type who’ll go after a big name but will have a rising star in the back of his pocket if things go south.

Shaka Smart would be a great fit from a “big name” standpoint but whether or not he’d be truly interested is up for grabs.

I do agree that the next coach will have very big shoes to fill, especially in this conference.

I think through the years replacing a successful coach always comes with a certain degree of risk. I don’t think it’s a slam dunk DW will find the right guy immediately after Barnes leaves, but he has a better chance of doing so than our other recent AD’s

 

[Tanner1010]

I posted a week or so about our decline in faith/interest in certain HS prospects, and our shift to portal players in this recruiting cycle. This came from my friend who is a regular source for information inside the program, and a prominent (top ten) booster. I sat with the two of them at a game. In the middle of this, I started to question why some of these situations with HS players had shifted dramatically and quickly. There were reasons from the player side (hometown school for Mallory, money for Burries) that explained the changes in optimism, but it also piqued my curiosity about changes in attitude on our side. I asked whether Barnes’ plans about the future might be a reason for either a win now portal team before he goes, or if he might retire this year after the tournament. I didn’t get good straight answers beyond “Those are great questions”. I did get a straight answer that DW has a succession plan, and thoughts on what’s next that include RB having many options for remaining a part of the culture, but not steering the hire. All of that made me wonder whether we’re seeing our last dance with Coach Barnes. There were other details that suggested this might be the last year, but I’d have to step on some privacy to share them. Suffice it to say, I do not “know” that he’s planning to retire. I do know he’s considering it, and in counsel with those he cares about most. He had a similar moment a few years back, and decided he was happiest coaching, and returned. For all the whining we do, and noting of imperfections, I’d suggest we all enjoy this ride, with these players, and this coach. Whether he stays or goes, we’re seeing a brand of basketball, a type of player and a breed of leader that is rare to find these days. As always, I hope we win it all, but I’m going to pay attention and appreciate what we’re witnessing. We won’t see it again.

I fully believe this to be true, But saying “we won’t see it again” is just false. Danny is not gonna sit back and watch a premier program die. He loves the basketball program I am certain we will be among the top of the SEC for a VERY long time. down years sure but we will consistently be top 4 in SEC after barnes. program doesn’t end there

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Honestly, I trust DW with this upcoming hire.

He seems like the type who’ll go after a big name but will have a rising star in the back of his pocket if things go south.

Shaka Smart would be a great fit from a “big name” standpoint but whether or not he’d be truly interested is up for grabs.

I do agree that the next coach will have very big shoes to fill, especially in this conference.

Shaka Smart, a big name?

 

[walkenvol]

Shaka Smart, a big name?

You really think Smart would try a second run at replacing Barnes?

 

[YankeeVol]

I'm not sure CRB wants to do anything but coach. He just seems hardwired to be a leader of men in a hands-on capacity. I also think it would be tough for him to take a backseat to someone else, essentially reporting to them, with guys on the team that he probably feels responsible for looking after. This might be easier if someone like Gainey got the job. I just don't believe that's where we are headed with a potential hire.

I don't see a coach being ok with that anyway (except maybe an assistant, but we shouldn't be looking at assistants).

 

[YankeeVol]

You better be willing to endure a ROUGH year or two though if this is the year Rick leaves. We only have 4 players eligible to return next year and I frankly doubt any of them will stay for a new coach. We would likely have to start completely over from a roster standpoint. And in a conference that is sending 14 teams to the tournament, that’s a tough position to be in.

$$$ talks (NIL)

 

[VolArmy74]

Barnes did here what I've always hoped coaches would do at any of our programs. Leave it better than he found it. That's not happened since General Neyland retired for a major men's sport. Pearl was close but his ending was just too toxic. We are a stable, top program that any coach should want to be a part of if possible. Barnes showed that you can win here and that you'll get financial and fan support at the highest level.

That said, I'm hoping he's got at least another year in him and lets us go out with a retirement tour of sorts next season.

 

[VolArmy74]

You better be willing to endure a ROUGH year or two though if this is the year Rick leaves. We only have 4 players eligible to return next year and I frankly doubt any of them will stay for a new coach. We would likely have to start completely over from a roster standpoint. And in a conference that is sending 14 teams to the tournament, that’s a tough position to be in.

Louisville showed that you just need the right person. They benefitted from being in an awful conference but they were the worst in that bad conference 12 months ago. Now they won 27 games with a complete roster overhaul. I also don't see why any potential returnee wouldn't stay if the new coach wants them and is a good hire.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

I fully believe this to be true, But saying “we won’t see it again” is just false. Danny is not gonna sit back and watch a premier program die. He loves the basketball program I am certain we will be among the top of the SEC for a VERY long time. down years sure but we will consistently be top 4 in SEC after barnes. program doesn’t end there

I didn’t comment on whether we will or won’t be in the top four programs in the SEC. Speculation about that isn’t the topic.

Here is what I said:


“Whether he stays or goes, we’re seeing a brand of basketball, a type of player and a breed of leader that is rare to find these days. As always, I hope we win it all, but I’m going to pay attention and appreciate what we’re witnessing. We won’t see it again.”

I was commenting on the type of coach, player and program we possess currently. We are very unlikely to see a program with this level of leadership, integrity and toughness again. If you don’t understand that, your problems obviously go beyond reading comprehension. Danny White has earned my trust in his hiring process, but we are actually experiencing something we won’t experience again.

 

[RockyTop140]

Would love for Barnes to stay here a few more seasons. But if that isn’t the case, I’ll just be glad I got to watch the team under his leadership for this long. It’s easy to complain about individual games, but we’ve been damn good under Barnes and the question wasn’t whether we’d get in the tourney, it’s how high we’d be seeded.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Would love for Barnes to stay here a few more seasons. But if that isn’t the case, I’ll just be glad I got to watch the team under his leadership for this long. It’s easy to complain about individual games, but we’ve been damn good under Barnes and the question wasn’t whether we’d get in the tourney, it’s how high we’d be seeded.

He puts us in the national conversation EVERY year

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Barnes did here what I've always hoped coaches would do at any of our programs. Leave it better than he found it. That's not happened since General Neyland retired for a major men's sport. Pearl was close but his ending was just too toxic. We are a stable, top program that any coach should want to be a part of if possible. Barnes showed that you can win here and that you'll get financial and fan support at the highest level.

That said, I'm hoping he's got at least another year in him and lets us go out with a retirement tour of sorts next season.

Dickey, Majors, and Mears all left it better than they found it. Devoe kind of did so as well.

Edit: probably Cuonzo and Green as well

 

[Tanner1010]

I didn’t comment on whether we will or won’t be in the top four programs in the SEC. Speculation about that isn’t the topic.

Here is what I said:


“Whether he stays or goes, we’re seeing a brand of basketball, a type of player and a breed of leader that is rare to find these days. As always, I hope we win it all, but I’m going to pay attention and appreciate what we’re witnessing. We won’t see it again.”

I was commenting on the type of coach, player and program we possess currently. We are very unlikely to see a program with this level of leadership, integrity and toughness again. If you don’t understand that, your problems obviously go beyond reading comprehension. Danny White has earned my trust in his hiring process, but we are actually experiencing something we won’t experience again.

Okay i’m with you now, thanks for clarification midget