I am not going to complain

[VolunteerCeltic]

This team united a Vol Nation that has been down for a while on their athletic programs. They put together a phenomenal season! The carried the torch for UT and made it a national brand! How often did you see a new story of a high school, college or Pro team mimicking the One Fly-We all Fly pregame ritual around the country? How often did you see positive stories come out from the UT Basketball program, whether it was visiting and supporting Tony Harris, GW and Fulky changing a tire for another student, AD stopping and signing autographs while running down the tunnel to the locker room? Several players committed to the Lord and were baptized, they were not afraid to proclaim their faith in these turbulent times. To top it all off, they have owned Kentucky the past couple of years!!!! There are no phone recordings of their coach swearing like a sailor discussing payments to a player, there were no controversies of players having their grades changed or fake classes passed, there were no prostitution stories regarding players and boosters. This program is clean!

Yes, we all wanted to see this team go to the Final 4, we got to experience these boys transform into men over the past couple of years and it was refreshing to see them do so with integrity. Unfortunately this ride has ended for this season, but it is not the end or the beginning of this program, but a continuation of the evolution and vision that Rick Barnes created. IT stings that it ended the way it did last night, but I am very thankful for this basketball team and their impact on Vol Nation, looking forward to next year!!!

 

[gasguy98]

We have nothing to show for the season in terms of hardware. No SEC regular season title, No SEC tourney title, not the deepest run in the NCAA by a TN team. With the hype this team had this is a very disappointing end to the season.

 

[CladInOrange]

I really think if we held on to win that game we would have beat UVA.

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

I really think if we held on to win that game we would have beat UVA.

I agree, I think we would have beat UVA as well!!

 

[germantown902]

I really think if we held on to win that game we would have beat UVA.

I disagree. This team was running on fumes. The lack of depth showed going down the stretch. The boys just ran into a buzz saw last night. Earlier in the season, Bone was wearing teams down by forcing them to keep pace with him. We didn't see that much yesterday, but we did see Kline flying off screens forcing our guys to chase and give up ground when he shot the lights out from NBA range. Also, a very good FT shooting team throwing up bricks is a sign that the legs are giving out. Boys had a good season. The foul call in the LSU with less than a second left was the catalyst that put the team on the path it was given. Had Tennesee won that game, they would be the #1 seed in the SEC Tourney and avoided the emotional drain from the Kentucky game. And if they faced Auburn and lost in the Semis, maybe that would've been the rest and motivation they needed. Basketball is a fickle sport. We should be proud of this team despite their shortcomings. They put Tennessee sports back in the limelight and we should be thankful.

 

[VOLED]

Only got contributions from 6 players last night. Lack of depth definitely took its toll.

 

[NCVOL327]

This was a special season for my Vols. A group of wonderful young men who worked hard to represent the University of Tennessee in a way that exemplifies what it means to "Give My All to Tennessee".
Thank you guys for putting us on the national stage with class and dignity.

 

[1985Vols]

I agree, I think we would have beat UVA as well!!

We say this every year, last year the path was paved for us to go th the Final 4 and we lost to Loyola. Beginning to think there is a shield keeping us from the Final 4 since it never has happened.

 

[1985Vols]

Only got contributions from 6 players last night. Lack of depth definitely took its toll.

As good as Barnes has been at developing Grant, Admiral and Alexander, so far it has been a complete fail with Pons, Walker and Johnson.

 

[savannahfan]

We say this every year, last year the path was paved for us to go th the Final 4 and we lost to Loyola. Beginning to think there is a shield keeping us from the Final 4 since it never has happened.

Yes there is (or has been) a shield stopping us. It's called not enough top flight players on the team. This last year or two we have had two sometimes three I put in this class. The teams that shield us from being of final four potential usually have at least four on the floor that are, or nearly are, as good as we can put on the floor part of the time. We just don't have the "it" right now to attract enough top flight guys willing to share the bench time that being a "final four" type team requires. The college season is just to hard on a body for a 5 or 7 man rotation to hold up til April. This being said, the last couple of years can go a long way toward attracting the type guys needed to break in the that mystical group of final four participants.

 

[1985Vols]

Yes there is (or has been) a shield stopping us. It's called not enough top flight players on the team. This last year or two we have had two sometimes three I put in this class. The teams that shield us from being of final four potential usually have at least four on the floor that are, or nearly are, as good as we can put on the floor part of the time. We just don't have the "it" right now to attract enough top flight guys willing to share the bench time that being a "final four" type team requires. The college season is just to hard on a body for a 5 or 7 man rotation to hold up til April. This being said, the last couple of years can go a long way toward attracting the type guys needed to break in the that mystical group of final four participants.

Agree, Barnes past couple of recruiting years have been flops. Walker, Pons, JJ, Kent, I don't see any of them ever becoming elite players. The lack of their contributions this season had a huge negative impact on this years team. With that, getting Josiah James and a Corey Walker commitment for 2020 is hopefully the start of something new for CRB. Elite talent wins elite games. Until we have it, going to continue hitting a wall in the first and second rounds of the NCAAT.

 

[OldandStillaVol]

Agree, Barnes past couple of recruiting years have been flops. Walker, Pons, JJ, Kent, I don't see any of them ever becoming elite players. The lack of their contributions this season had a huge negative impact on this years team. With that, getting Josiah James and a Corey Walker commitment for 2020 is hopefully the start of something new for CRB. Elite talent wins elite games. Until we have it, going to continue hitting a wall in the first and second rounds of the NCAAT.

Can't argue with that. Don't think any of those guys will be regular contributors. We love Admiral and Grant but for every one of those guys, there are 2 others who never pan out. Barnes knows this. Can he pull in better talent and perhaps grab a stud grad transfer? Who knows.

 

[VolGee4]

Agree, Barnes past couple of recruiting years have been flops. Walker, Pons, JJ, Kent, I don't see any of them ever becoming elite players. The lack of their contributions this season had a huge negative impact on this years team. With that, getting Josiah James and a Corey Walker commitment for 2020 is hopefully the start of something new for CRB. Elite talent wins elite games. Until we have it, going to continue hitting a wall in the first and second rounds of the NCAAT.

If JJ stays, I think he could be a good contributor. Has the athleticism and even the shot. He just needs more minutes.

Not sure about Walker and Pons.

 

[LivinginthePast]

We have nothing to show for the season in terms of hardware. No SEC regular season title, No SEC tourney title, not the deepest run in the NCAA by a TN team. With the hype this team had this is a very disappointing end to the season.

This season will not be forgotten. Plus we were a losing team who couldn’t keep a coach few years ago. I’m glad just to be able to win 31 games. It’s hard as hell to win the tournament. To many damn teams.

 

[volmainia2]

This team united a Vol Nation that has been down for a while on their athletic programs. They put together a phenomenal season! The carried the torch for UT and made it a national brand, how often did you see a new story of a high school, college or Pro team mimicking the One Fly-We all Fly pregame ritual around the country. How often did you see positive stories come out from the UT Basketball program, whether it was visiting and supporting Tony Harris, GW and Fulky changing a tire for another student, AD stopping and signing autographs while running down the tunnel to the locker room. Several players committed to the Lord and were baptized, they were not afraid to proclaim their faith in these turbulent times. To top it all off, they have owned Kentucky the past couple of years!!!! There are no phone recordings of their coach swearing like a sailor discussing payments to a player, there were no controversies of players having their grades changed or fake classes passed, there were no prostitution stories regarding players and boosters. This program is clean!

Yes, we all wanted to see this team go to the Final 4, we got to experience these boys transform into men over the past couple of years and it was refreshing to see them do so with integrity. Unfortunately this ride has ended for this season, but it is not the end or the beginning of this program, but a continuation of the evolution and vision that Rick Barnes created. IT stings that it ended the way it did last night, but I am very thankful for this basketball team and their impact on Vol Nation, looking forward to next year!!!

They are great people. God is Good!

 

[OrangenSC]

Yep, wish I could've been there to welcome them home and show em some much deserved love.

 

[jp1]

As good as Barnes has been at developing Grant, Admiral and Alexander, so far it has been a complete fail with Pons, Walker and Johnson.

I would like you to tell me the exact point in time/career that you thought Admiral was a good/great player.

Edit: Also same question on Kyle.

 

[VolAmerican]

We have nothing to show for the season in terms of hardware. No SEC regular season title, No SEC tourney title, not the deepest run in the NCAA by a TN team. With the hype this team had this is a very disappointing end to the season.

I agree this was a very disappointing ending, but I can't put this completely on our guys. Several of those calls were suspect at the end of that game, and most agree should have been officiated differently. To tell you the truth I was more down on the two Auburn losses, than this one, since this game seemed to be out of reach with the officiating.

 

[OrangenSC]

This team united a Vol Nation that has been down for a while on their athletic programs. They put together a phenomenal season! The carried the torch for UT and made it a national brand, how often did you see a new story of a high school, college or Pro team mimicking the One Fly-We all Fly pregame ritual around the country. How often did you see positive stories come out from the UT Basketball program, whether it was visiting and supporting Tony Harris, GW and Fulky changing a tire for another student, AD stopping and signing autographs while running down the tunnel to the locker room. Several players committed to the Lord and were baptized, they were not afraid to proclaim their faith in these turbulent times. To top it all off, they have owned Kentucky the past couple of years!!!! There are no phone recordings of their coach swearing like a sailor discussing payments to a player, there were no controversies of players having their grades changed or fake classes passed, there were no prostitution stories regarding players and boosters. This program is clean!

Yes, we all wanted to see this team go to the Final 4, we got to experience these boys transform into men over the past couple of years and it was refreshing to see them do so with integrity. Unfortunately this ride has ended for this season, but it is not the end or the beginning of this program, but a continuation of the evolution and vision that Rick Barnes created. IT stings that it ended the way it did last night, but I am very thankful for this basketball team and their impact on Vol Nation, looking forward to next year!!!

But, but, but this team that only last season was picked to finish 13th in the SEC; the team that had nobody higher than a 3-star; the team that has the most wins in school history and was #1 in the nation for almost a month, didn't win a championship so apparently that makes them meh.

 

[1985Vols]

I would like you to tell me the exact point in time/career that you thought Admiral was a good/great player.

Edit: Also same question on Kyle.

What? Admiral went from basically being recruited by non Poer 5 conferences to Second Team All SEC. I would say that makes him a pretty good player. Alexander went from playing only 2 years of high school basketball to being a pretty decent starting center on a top 10 team.

 

[jp1]

What? Admiral went from basically being recruited by non Poer 5 conferences to Second Team All SEC. I would say that makes him a pretty good player. Alexander went from playing only 2 years of high school basketball to being a pretty decent starting center on a top 10 team.

I'm asking at what point in their career you felt this way?

You are clearly stating that both players did not come into the program very heralded, so when in their career do you think they become a good/great player?

Edit: also remind me who they were playing behind early in their career here.

 

[1985Vols]

I'm asking at what point in their career you felt this way?

You are clearly stating that both players did not come into the program very heralded, so when in their career do you think they become a good/great player?

Edit: also remind me who they were playing behind early in their career here.

Admiral his Jr. Year and Alexander the same. Not sure what your point is?

 

[volfanjustin]

We aren't a UK,UNC,Duke so there is no guarantee this program can have a team this good that's why this one stings so much. Likely the best team most of us have seen in our lives and nothing to show for it. No depth, bad refs, bad luck, lack of defense, lack of rebounding on defensive end all caught up with them the same time.

 

[jp1]

Admiral his Jr. Year and Alexander the same. Not sure what your point is?

My point is you named 3 players that said Barnes "have been a complete fail" on developing. I don't see how you can say this.

Neither player became a really good player until in to their junior year, and both played many more minutes at the early part of their careers out of necessity.

To write off Pons, Walker, and Johnson may be a bit premature is my point.

 

[VolGee4]

Admiral his Jr. Year and Alexander the same. Not sure what your point is?

That’s his point. All those guys will be juniors next year. They have time if they put the work in.

I actually think JJ could be solid with more minutes. Just needs confidence.