Bruce Pearl wont win the SEC Coach of the Year honor Wednesday, and he should smile.
Receiving such an honor from his peers would mean they actually liked him, and Pearl has said from his opening news conference that he wants to be the most hated coach in the league. If youre detested, youre probably winning.
If youre not, well, Buzz Peterson was a really nice guy, wasnt he?
Pearl got his wish last year when SEC coaches some of them already weary of the Tennessee coachs antics and most of them unforgiving for his snitching on Illinois 17 years ago, voted LSUs John Brady as SEC Coach of the Year. The vote was part laughable, part unconscionable. Pearl took over a 6-10 SEC punch line and led the Vols to a 12-4 record and an SEC East championship, including two wins against Florida.
Brady returned SEC Freshman of the Year Glen Davis and Darrel Mitchell from a 10-6 team in SEC play, added future NBA lottery pick Tyrus Thomas to the lineup and went 12-4. Lets face the reality: Pearl will never win an honor given by his peers, because of the Illinois incident.
But Pearls work last year was his second-best coaching job in two years at Tennessee, and even he agrees with that assessment. He should be named SEC Coach of the Year on Wednesday. Will he? Of course not, and that will likely expose the hypocrisy of these SEC coaches. The leagues coaches qualified their vote for Brady by stating that LSU won the overall league title. Using that reasoning, Floridas Billy Donovan should win the award this year. And well probably need to change some votes from previous years.
Another deserving candidate is Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy. The Rebels were absolutely atrocious over the last few years even worse than Tennessee. Their tiny 8,700-seat arena was somehow still too big.
Then Kennedy, a personable, outgoing, fiery coach, came along, installed an uptempo offense led by a senior point guard starting to sound familiar? used a press to create turnovers and began winning lots of games. If he wins SEC Coach of the Year honors, the voting process is officially a joke. He is last years Pearl, only not quite as successful. The Rebels are much more likely to earn a 2 seed in the NIT than the NCAA.
But back to Pearl and his remarkable coaching job this year with three freshmen in the starting lineup. Last season, he could rely on an outstanding senior point guard in C.J. Watson and a legitimate post presence with Major Wingate and Andre Patterson. The Vols overachieved, but you could understand why they were successful. The league was unfamiliar with Tennessees style of play.
Last years team had a lot of veterans. They had been there and done that, Pearl said Monday. They knew what they could and couldnt do.
Pearl, seemingly, couldnt do much after a flurry of misfortune rocked the team this season. He kicked Wingate off the team for marijuana use, a move so significant the release is still hanging in the Georgia locker room. The dismissal forced Duke Crews and Wayne Chism to play Majors major role as freshmen.
The loss of Major Wingate early on could have had a devastating effect on our team, Pearl said.
All-American Chris Lofton missed more than four games with an ankle injury and still doesnt look right. Jordan Howell broke his hand. Dane Bradshaws shoulders are hurting so much hell never admit how much he couldnt toss a ball into the Tennessee River from Calhouns. Ramar Smith got to school late, but in enough time to start at point guard as a freshman.
Ramar Smith had the most difficult transition from high school to college of any player in the country, Pearl said.
And here they are, an RPI of 7, tied for second in the SEC East with Vanderbilt and headed to another NCAA tournament as possibly a 4 seed. Did you envision this when Pearl booted Wingate?
No, but Pearl wont be rewarded for his work. But hey, he doesnt want to be well liked, and when youre snubbed for the petulant Brady, you are not well liked. He is the Steve Spurrier, the Geno Auriemma of mens basketball. Thats a nice honor for Pearl. Congratulations, Coach.
How is Brady doing this year, anyway?
arren Epps
