Have A Little Faith in Our Program...

[LawVol13]

I'd first like to express my gratitude to Bruce Pearl for what he's done for this program. I've often questioned things about his coaching philosophy, but I've never questioned him being a good coach. His results speak for themselves. The Elite Eight last year was the proudest UT sports moment I've had since the '98 National Championship; it's something I'll always remember.

Now, it is clear that now is the time to start anew with the basketball leadership, and many seem to think that that means an instant return to mediocrity. I understand your devotion to Bruce Pearl to an extent, but have some faith in our program, especially considering what it is today compared to what it was when Bruce Pearl took it. We have one of the premier arenas in the nation; we have a state of the art practice facility; we're top 5 in attendance; we were paying a coaching salary that ranked in the top 10 in the country; we've made the NCAA tourney 10 out of the last 14 years. We can get a good coach here. Have a little faith.

 

[zjcvols]

Negavol. Having faith in our program.

 

[g8terh8ter_eric]

I'd first like to express my gratitude to Bruce Pearl for what he's done for this program. I've often questioned things about his coaching philosophy, but I've never questioned him being a good coach. His results speak for themselves. The Elite Eight last year was the proudest UT sports moment I've had since the '98 National Championship; it's something I'll always remember.

Now, it is clear that now is the time to start anew with the basketball leadership, and many seem to think that that means an instant return to mediocrity. I understand your devotion to Bruce Pearl to an extent, but have some faith in our program, especially considering what it is today compared to what it was when Bruce Pearl took it. We have one of the premier arenas in the nation; we have a state of the art practice facility; we're top 5 in attendance; we were paying a coaching salary that ranked in the top 10 in the country; we've made the NCAA tourney 10 out of the last 14 years. We can get a good coach here. Have a little faith.

The biggest problem we are going to face next year is the roster. We are going to lose in all this, somewhere around 70% or more of our scoring. That's why I think we will suck, but it takes "solid" recruiting to bring it back, which I have no doubt will happen. Pearl did not recruit his style of ball well, and it REALLY showed this year. He also tried to become a half-court coach, and that failed miserably, but that was by his own recruiting.

The next coach we bring in needs to be a coach that teaches fundamentals and defense. I don't care about scoring 80+ points a game, I care more about being a tough minded defensive team that gets transition points. Those are the teams that get it done year in and year out.

 

[Shaun1985]

Nicely put and I agree with you 100%. Tennessee will be relevant after Bruce is gone.

 

[Mattlock]

The biggest problem we are going to face next year is the roster. We are going to lose in all this, somewhere around 70% or more of our scoring. That's why I think we will suck, but it takes "solid" recruiting to bring it back, which I have no doubt will happen. Pearl did not recruit his style of ball well, and it REALLY showed this year. He also tried to become a half-court coach, and that failed miserably, but that was by his own recruiting.

The next coach we bring in needs to be a coach that teaches fundamentals and defense. I don't care about scoring 80+ points a game, I care more about being a touch minded defensive team that gets transition points. Those are the teams that get it done year in and year out.

None of us thought the roster was that great when Buzz was fired. . .AND we lost Tyler Smith cause he only wanted to play for HIS coach. Pearl did a great job with a walk-on, a guy with only one major scholarship offer, and a dude from Memphis who wasn't Lee Humphrey.

Next year will be tough, but I wanna see a coach that demands effort and accountability.

p.s. I remember a debate about Buzz being fired and local media saying "can we do better?"

 

[LawVol13]

The biggest problem we are going to face next year is the roster. We are going to lose in all this, somewhere around 70% or more of our scoring. That's why I think we will suck,

I honestly think our roster is a little underrated. I think Kenny Hall has the potential to be really solid. I think Trae Golden and McRae also have potential. What they need is a coherent offensive system, something they didn't have this year.

 

[Coastypop]

I'd first like to express my gratitude to Bruce Pearl for what he's done for this program. I've often questioned things about his coaching philosophy, but I've never questioned him being a good coach. His results speak for themselves. The Elite Eight last year was the proudest UT sports moment I've had since the '98 National Championship; it's something I'll always remember.

Now, it is clear that now is the time to start anew with the basketball leadership, and many seem to think that that means an instant return to mediocrity. I understand your devotion to Bruce Pearl to an extent, but have some faith in our program, especially considering what it is today compared to what it was when Bruce Pearl took it. We have one of the premier arenas in the nation; we have a state of the art practice facility; we're top 5 in attendance; we were paying a coaching salary that ranked in the top 10 in the country; we've made the NCAA tourney 10 out of the last 14 years. We can get a good coach here. Have a little faith.

I totally understand what you are saying, but many of us had faith in the program when they fired Devoe and hired a great "Wade Houston" an we held strong in faith when we fired Jerry Green ans replaced him with Buzz.... so w ehave proven our faith, but the program has done very little to EARN IT

 

[JZVOL]

Agreed. I'm so sick seeing the "welcome back to 5 K fans back in TBA" when the fans are the one's who can control how many people go to games and support the program. We've tasted success so if the next coach doesn't cut it we'll find someone else who will.

I don't see UT going back to not caring or supporting the BB program after the past 6 years,

 

[LawVol13]

I totally understand what you are saying, but many of us had faith in the program when they fired Devoe and hired a great "Wade Houston" an we held strong in faith when we fired Jerry Green ans replaced him with Buzz.... so w ehave proven our faith, but the program has done very little to EARN IT

It's a totally different job than the one Jerry Green or Wade Houston took. Also, Doug Dickey won't be making the calls on this one.

 

[Shaun1985]

Exactly. It depends on what coach is here and how he runs his offense. We have the talent.

 

[Sudeepvol]

Fair assessment. Bruce is a very good coach, but he has improved the program so much that we can get another one, and perhaps a better one. That's something I wouldn't have said 6 years ago.

 

[Mattlock]

Exactly. It depends on what coach is here and how he runs his offense. We have the talent.

We have talent, they just never bought in. I know Steven Pearl hustled, but are you telling me that he was a better player than Hall, Maymon, Woolridge and McRae. Players not buying in/developing is attributable to the coaching staff IMO. I could understand one or two, but if 4 talented guys can't be developed enough to see the floor over Steven Pearl something is going wrong. . .

 

[BoseefusTheVol]

I understand your optimism, but I frankly don't share it. I know everybody likes to mention Mears and Devoe, but look at how many hires UT had to make to get it right. No matter what you guys think, Kentucky we are not. We can't just plug in the next coach and rely on our great tradition. I hope I'm wrong, but I see 7-8 years of mediocrity, 2-3 coaches till the right guy comes along again. Even if we hire a good coach, he'll probably use UT as a stepping stone and get the hell outta here once a "real" bb school comes calling.

 

[zjcvols]

I understand your optimism, but I frankly don't share it. I know everybody likes to mention Mears and Devoe, but look at how many hires UT had to make to get it right. No matter what you guys think, Kentucky we are not. We can't just plug in the next coach and rely on our great tradition. I hope I'm wrong, but I see 7-8 years of mediocrity, 2-3 coaches till the right guy comes along again. Even if we hire a good coach, he'll probably use UT as a stepping stone and get the hell outta here once a "real" bb school comes calling.

You are putting WAY TOO MUCH stock into tradition. This isn't the early 90's. TBA is awesome. Pratt is top notch. Tennessee is fully committed to making our basketball program top notch.

 

[Coastypop]

It's a totally different job than the one Jerry Green or Wade Houston took. Also, Doug Dickey won't be making the calls on this one.

I am glad that that Doug Dickey is not making the calls on this one, but somehow the thought that Hamilton will be does not bring me a lot of courage.... but again I will hold faithful, purchase my same tickets and BELIEVE... I just don't have the same faith as others seem to hold

 

[OrangeInKy]

I honestly think our roster is a little underrated. I think Kenny Hall has the potential to be really solid. I think Trae Golden and McRae also have potential. What they need is a coherent offensive system, something they didn't have this year.

Yeah, I'm not counting out next year. Many talented guys with much time to improve. Coaches all have diff philosophies and ways of developing talent and utilizing what they have. We have no idea who is next, but I am not ruling out this roster being productive. Also not ruling out either Harris or Hopson coming back. Players always say they will leave, let's play a hypothetical best case scenario of UT getting a huge hire, can't see those guys bolting then esp if not guaranteed first round at that time. I don't believe Hopson when he vows to return if Pearl does, think these guys are trying to help their coach.
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[yont sum iss?]

I understand your optimism, but I frankly don't share it. I know everybody likes to mention Mears and Devoe, but look at how many hires UT had to make to get it right. No matter what you guys think, Kentucky we are not. We can't just plug in the next coach and rely on our great tradition. I hope I'm wrong, but I see 7-8 years of mediocrity, 2-3 coaches till the right guy comes along again. Even if we hire a good coach, he'll probably use UT as a stepping stone and get the hell outta here once a "real" bb school comes calling.

Your savior didn't do it. If he was so great, why didn't he leave for a "real" job?

 

[vol1981]

Next year will be tough, but I wanna see a coach that demands effort and accountability.

Wouldn't that be refreshing?

 

[knowthevols]

I honestly think our roster is a little underrated. I think Kenny Hall has the potential to be really solid. I think Trae Golden and McRae also have potential. What they need is a coherent offensive system, something they didn't have this year.

Didn't you read the thread on the players. McBee or McBrick as you call him is the only one who said he would be back next year if Pearl is gone. Besides you have insulted three fourths of the people on volnation and its a little late to call a truce.

 

[emainvol]

Didn't you read the thread on the players. McBee or McBrick as you call him is the only one who said he would be back next year if Pearl is gone. Besides you have insulted three fourths of the people on volnation and its a little late to call a truce.

Yeah, McBee will be the only player that returns.
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[LawVol13]

Didn't you read the thread on the players. McBee or McBrick as you call him is the only one who said he would be back next year if Pearl is gone. Besides you have insulted three fourths of the people on volnation and its a little late to call a truce.

The entire roster isn't going to leave. That's delusional. I certainly apologize if you don't like reading what I have to say. My advice would be to hit the ignore button.

 

[armchair]

Coaches ARE programs. Programs rise and fall according to who the coach is, simple as that. There might be 10 programs with a strong enough tradition to withstand a bad hire--they sack the under-achiever and they go hire the best coach they can find in the country. Everybody else is up and down, often way up or way down, depending on who is at the helm. Our next coach will benefit from the fact that the SEC is a pretty weak basketball conference, but UT isn't likely to be good next year or the year after, attendance will fall--and my bet is signficantly--and we'll go from there. I know this: if we do have a couple of bad years, they will probably hurt recruiting--and so you can see how we could fall back into a down cycle in B-ball pretty quickly.

 

[Mattlock]

Didn't you read the thread on the players. McBee or McBrick as you call him is the only one who said he would be back next year if Pearl is gone. Besides you have insulted three fourths of the people on volnation and its a little late to call a truce.

I like McBee's hustle. . .I say we play 1 on 5 and see how he does.

 

[Domestic Silence]

What's funny are the people saying if we lose Bruce we will be terrible forever, yet they are calling everyone else "Negavols"...

LV made some great points some of you need to realize. This University is committed to keeping this program up...quit your whining and let them do it. You complain no one is going to go to TBA...how about you just buy a damn ticket to the next home game and shut the hell up? How about you quit being such a fair-weathered fan and get some tickets and keep showing up. You say you love the program right? Jesus. You are the same people that complained when we hired some no-name tanned man from Wisconsin. It will be alright people, it will be alright.

 

[kidbourbon]

I'd first like to express my gratitude to Bruce Pearl for what he's done for this program. I've often questioned things about his coaching philosophy, but I've never questioned him being a good coach. His results speak for themselves. The Elite Eight last year was the proudest UT sports moment I've had since the '98 National Championship; it's something I'll always remember.

Now, it is clear that now is the time to start anew with the basketball leadership, and many seem to think that that means an instant return to mediocrity. I understand your devotion to Bruce Pearl to an extent, but have some faith in our program, especially considering what it is today compared to what it was when Bruce Pearl took it. We have one of the premier arenas in the nation; we have a state of the art practice facility; we're top 5 in attendance; we were paying a coaching salary that ranked in the top 10 in the country; we've made the NCAA tourney 10 out of the last 14 years. We can get a good coach here. Have a little faith.

Nice post. I totally get your point. But I also understand those who -- relying on historical evidence -- do not share your viewpoint that UT is a program where any coach can succeed. Which is why I've mostly just been observing this discussion from the sideline. Still trying to figure out what I think.