How to Reconcile Tennessee's "Disappointing" Basketball Season with Its Tourney Run

[bleedingTNorange]

Serious question:

Do Tennessee fans believe there will be a happy ending with Martin?

Does he simply brush aside the heavily publicized petition to replace him and go on to have a long career at UT? Does he look to move on to some place else? Or do the calls for his head resume next season when adversity hits, eventually ending with him being fired?

After he beats Florida in the Nc this year all is well

 

[NashVol11]

We are clearly playing like a totally different team in the last couple of weeks. It isn't the same team that lost to Texas A&M just happening to get luckier now.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

Serious question:

Do Tennessee fans believe there will be a happy ending with Martin?

Does he simply brush aside the heavily publicized petition to replace him and go on to have a long career at UT? Does he look to move on to some place else? Or do the calls for his head resume next season when adversity hits, eventually ending with him being fired?

He is literally the first coach who's ever been criticized by the fans of his team, so we're just going to have to wait to find out.

 

[UTRavens]

Ridiculous. No need to respond beyond that.

No, I think you're going to need to explain beyond that.

 

[IPleadInsanity]

Its pretty clear, after 3 years of similar results (weak start strong finish), coach Martin is limited in his ability to tweak his offense and defense to his players quickly. He has only been coaching a short period of time at this level so that should be expected. In fact is this not one of the reasons why the big buck coaches are so highly paid? Martin goes thru a trial and error process to formulate a strong team where more experienced coaches can react much faster. They hired a GREEN APPLE coach so he is being trained on the job. I would think he would get better at this part of his job each year going forward?

 

[iKrager]

Its pretty clear, after 3 years of similar results (weak start strong finish), coach Martin is limited in his ability to tweak his offense and defense to his players quickly. He has only been coaching a short period of time at this level so that should be expected. In fact is this not one of the reasons why the big buck coaches are so highly paid? Martin goes thru a trial and error process to formulate a strong team where more experienced coaches can react much faster. They hired a GREEN APPLE coach so he is being trained on the job. I would think he would get better at this part of his job each year going forward?

So far, he's improved every year.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

So far, he's improved every year.

I'm not sure why this seems to get ignored, is improvement not exactly what you want to see in a young coach?

 

[Boca Vol]

I'm not sure why this seems to get ignored, is improvement not exactly what you want to see in a young coach?

I agree. Imagine the reaction of the fanbase had this been our coach:

Year 1: 13-17
Year 2: 14-15
Year 3: 22-9

That was Billy Donovan's record his 1st 3 years at UF. I know all circumstances are different but UF was only 2 years removed from a Final 4 season when Donovan arrived.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I agree. Imagine the reaction of the fanbase had this been our coach:

Year 1: 13-17
Year 2: 14-15
Year 3: 22-9

That was Billy Donovan's record his 1st 3 years at UF. I know all circumstances are different but UF was only 2 years removed from a Final 4 season when Donovan arrived.

Right.

Krager made a thread with about 10 coaches in their first 3 years at said school and their records....they'd all gone on to be good coaches.

We can argue all day whether or not Tennessee is the place for a young coach to learn, I don't believe it is. However, that's the spot Tennessee found itself in, so why not see what ya got?

I would hate to can Martin, he goes on and in 5 years is leading Purdue to multiple NCAAT and sweet 16 appearances or better, while we're still hoping to catch lightning in a bottle while paying coaches a mid major salary.

 

[BaldBiker]

I agree. Imagine the reaction of the fanbase had this been our coach:

Year 1: 13-17
Year 2: 14-15
Year 3: 22-9

That was Billy Donovan's record his 1st 3 years at UF. I know all circumstances are different but UF was only 2 years removed from a Final 4 season when Donovan arrived.

But....but..........I've seen people say in this very forum that a "Top Tier Coach" would have a program turned around and winning big in two years. Those can't possibly be his stats!


I refuse to believe it!!!

 

[VolArmy74]

But....but..........I've seen people say in this very forum that a "Top Tier Coach" would have a program turned around and winning big in two years. Those can't possibly be his stats!


I refuse to believe it!!!

They were sub .500 the year before he took over with a depleted roster. He signed back to back dominating recruiting classes filled with top 100 recruits and they were in the final 4 in year 4.

 

[BaldBiker]

They were sub .500 the year before he took over with a depleted roster. He signed back to back dominating recruiting classes filled with top 100 recruits and they were in the final 4 in year 4.

So, he sucks as a coach right? Because it took him four years.

According to some on here, it shouldn't/doesn't matter what the roster looks like when you take a job. A top tier coach can be winning big in two years. Not saying you're one of them, but that is what has been said.

 

[VolArmy74]

So, he sucks as a coach right? Because it took him four years.

According to some on here, it shouldn't/doesn't matter what the roster looks like when you take a job. A top tier coach can be winning big in two years. Not saying you're one of them, but that is what has been said.

I've not saw that at all and I suspect if Martin had signed two straight top 10 recruiting classes and our starting 5 was made up of freshman and sophomore top 50 recruits this season like Donovan's 3rd team was, there would be far less complaints about next year.

I further suspect that if he'd taken over a Tennessee team without Jordy, Cam, Maymon, etc on the roster and a team that had went 12-15 without even making the NIT the prior year, he'd also have been given more leeway.

Now I don't know what will happen next season, but Florida was loaded with youth and NBA level talent at this same point in Donovan's career. We currently aren't there right now.

There's actually an article titled "Billy the Kid" from the late 1990s that talks about how amazing it was that Donovan signed such great back to back recruiting classes after his first and second year, both of which were tough. And at a place in Florida that had only made it to 5 NCAA tournaments in its entire history before him.

 

[lostsheep]

I've not saw that at all and I suspect if Martin had signed two straight top 10 recruiting classes and our starting 5 was made up of freshman and sophomore top 50 recruits this season like Donovan's 3rd team was, there would be far less complaints about next year.

I further suspect that if he'd taken over a Tennessee team without Jordy, Cam, Maymon, etc on the roster and a team that had went 12-15 without even making the NIT the prior year, he'd also have been given more leeway.

Now I don't know what will happen next season, but Florida was loaded with youth and NBA level talent at this same point in Donovan's career. We currently aren't there right now.

There's actually an article titled "Billy the Kid" from the late 1990s that talks about how amazing it was that Donovan signed such great back to back recruiting classes after his first and second year, both of which were tough. And at a place in Florida that had only made it to 5 NCAA tournaments in its entire history before him.

Good explanation of why comparing Billy D's first 3 years to CCM's isn't apples to apples.

I'd compare Martins more favorably to Mike Davis's tenure at Indiana.

 

[Vols410]

He also set the bar high for himself to begin with. No one expected him to win 19 games in the first place.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Messageboard tip: Nobody will read a wall of text.

Your name is Nobody? I read it, and it is obvious others read it also. What is your point in even posting that? If you don't read it, why bother commenting about it? I will never understand why people do that. :crazy: It makes no sense.