Expectations Met

[orange+white=heaven]

Let's leave what has yet to be done aside for a moment. We're all eager to follow the Volunteers through a deep tourney run.

But back during media days, the writers were not picking who would win the NCAAs. Those guys were picking our Vols to win the SEC regular season. With a few votes, they confirmed what everyone else was already saying.

It was on us. Er, well, on Bruce and his team. Hunter, now hunted. Real pressure. Stuff UK kids have lived with for years. Stuff Florida kids became quite comfortable with given their fairly recent brush with quality play.

Lofton and the Smiths and company now had to go out and prove they had arrived... 15 SEC games, just 2 losses. Mission accomplished.

I've written all of this to make a point that the coach made Wednesday night....

Asked if he or his players were “relieved” to have won the SEC outright, and ended the pressure to break the school’s long drought, Pearl said, “Not really, because this was what we set out to do.

“But the one thing I’d ask is that because we were expected to win, let’s not enjoy it any less,”

That the Vols were expected to do it. That they took everybody's best shot. That they did it with senior leadership that were not elite level recruits. That a 41 year old albatross was draped about their neck whilst they did it. That they were physically worn to the nub by the four rivalry game home stretch, yet hung in there.....

That these guys are champions, is amazing. Even if they were expected to do it.


And then there's the Pearl, making sure the press puts the credit where it's due...

“my guys. Please focus on JaJuan Smith, focus on Tyler Smith, focus on Chris Lofton, focus on Wayne Chism making the two free throws.
“Focus on those kids, because they had a will and a determination to win this championship here,” Pearl said. “We did not want to have to put that kind of pressure on ourselves on Sunday. We wanted to do something that hasn’t been done at Tennessee in 41 years, and that was win the outright championship.
“And those kids have got great pride and great respect for the history and tradition of Tennessee basketball.”

Those 'kids' laid it on the line these last two weeks

“This is a good tired — a ‘We’re SEC East champs, baby’ kind of tired.” -Jajuan..

Expectations beautifully, courageously, resiliently, intensly... met.

Maybe this commentary is a day late, but I'm still savoring this...

Go Vols!!!

 

[orange_by_grace]

I would have to say that they have probably exceded some expectations

 

[utvolpj]

someone tell JaJuan it's a bit more than that

Enjoy it men, you earned it!

 

[General Jack]

Sure is nice to meet, if not exceed expectations. Exceeding expectations has been Pearl's trademark. As impressive as this year was, I think his first year was just - if not more - impressive, considering he took a squad picked to finished 5th of 6th in the East and tied to win the division and get a #2 seed in the NCAA's.

However, this year we get the hardware/banner! And more national respect...

No matter what happens from here on out, we were lucky to personally witness one of the greatest, if not greatest, season of Tennessee men's basketball.

 

[abvol]

:good!:Great job CBP and the VOLS. Vol Nation is proud of you. Now the pressure is off, let's make a run baby.:yes:

IT's GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL:lolabove:

 

[Lexvol]

That the Vols were expected to do it. That they took everybody's best shot. That they did it with senior leadership that were not elite level recruits. That a 41 year old albatross was draped about their neck whilst they did it. That they were physically worn to the nub by the four rivalry game home stretch, yet hung in there.....


Go Vols!!!

Thank you O+W. This team has the "guts" of a championship basketball team.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Very nicely done OWH.

Now, let's get over it and move on to the real prize.

I think some of our letdowns in the basketball program are due to our thinking in a football mentality. The regular season, as Jakez so often points out, is enormous in football so we place huge emphasis there. Over the past couple of seasons, we've done some of that in hoops. We've had these enormous debates over tourney seeding and such and view those seedings as an accomplishment instead of a means to the real end. Then we've taken our NCAA lumps in a "that's OK, look what we accomplished" style manner.

The regular season championship is a big deal and one we should celebrate, but let's make these things so regular that we can keep our eyes on the real deal, NCAA tourney Ws.

For me, this squad can win a NCAA Regional and that would be a huge step for the program long term. That's what I'm after. The step that brings us into the national conversation regularly. That's how we will sustain recruiting and make the program bigger than a single coach.

 

[mscc1998]

Who would have thought that along the way they would
"visit" the #1 spot in both polls

 

[orange+white=heaven]

The regular season championship is a big deal and one we should celebrate, but let's make these things so regular that we can keep our eyes on the real deal, NCAA tourney Ws..

I'm all for that.

For me, this squad can win a NCAA Regional and that would be a huge step for the program long term. That's what I'm after. The step that brings us into the national conversation regularly. That's how we will sustain recruiting and make the program bigger than a single coach.

I think last season pushed us into the conversation, even if the outskirts of the debate. A regional final, dare I hope win, would indeed create the kind of sustainable growth you speak of. Although recruiting is already starting to sparkle.

Regardless of how deep the Vols make it into this postseason, the media will come back skeptical next season, because of the senior leadership that will have departed. Bruce's production next season will be , I think, the biggest arbiter of how much a part of the national conversation we will be able to be in the long term.

Good points BPV. onward, upward...

 

[vader]

Very nicely done OWH.

Now, let's get over it and move on to the real prize.

I think some of our letdowns in the basketball program are due to our thinking in a football mentality. The regular season, as Jakez so often points out, is enormous in football so we place huge emphasis there. Over the past couple of seasons, we've done some of that in hoops. We've had these enormous debates over tourney seeding and such and view those seedings as an accomplishment instead of a means to the real end. Then we've taken our NCAA lumps in a "that's OK, look what we accomplished" style manner.

The regular season championship is a big deal and one we should celebrate, but let's make these things so regular that we can keep our eyes on the real deal, NCAA tourney Ws.

For me, this squad can win a NCAA Regional and that would be a huge step for the program long term. That's what I'm after. The step that brings us into the national conversation regularly. That's how we will sustain recruiting and make the program bigger than a single coach.

:thumbsup: Excellent points, BPV.

As always, I enjoy your threads, OWH.