I love Basketball, I hate Basketball

#51
#51
Serious question…not meant to be argumentative: say Barnes retires after this season. Who we hiring?

My answer is, a 100% better coach than was possible when Barnes took the job. That was the worst point in history even exceeding the Pearl departure. This program was on the down cycle and now the program has a coach fired for cheating. No coach in America would come here, why Barnes did I have no idea. He stabilized a dead program and brought it back to relevance in a period where the SEC was also getting stronger. I remember the many seasons completely out of the tournament or on the bubble, now its almost automatic. Maybe we could jump to the next level with White, NIL money and get 3 top 50 players every year, maybe. It would be a huge risk. We will find out soon enough, Barnes won't coach much longer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NighthawkVol
#52
#52
My answer is, a 100% better coach than was possible when Barnes took the job. That was the worst point in history even exceeding the Pearl departure. This program was on the down cycle and now the program has a coach fired for cheating. No coach in America would come here, why Barnes did I have no idea. He stabilized a dead program and brought it back to relevance in a period where the SEC was also getting stronger. I remember the many seasons completely out of the tournament or on the bubble, now its almost automatic. Maybe we could jump to the next level with White, NIL money and get 3 top 50 players every year, maybe. It would be a huge risk. We will find out soon enough, Barnes won't coach much longer.

Great answer. I’m guessing he’ll retire in about 2 years. Another reason it would be dumb to fire him…why create bad optics when he’s going to retire soon anyway? If we let it run its course, Barnes retires a Vol, probably continues to be involved in the UT AD/Basketball ops, and is a tremendous resource in hiring his replacement.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ttocswob and Delmar
#53
#53
No one has mentioned him, but Paul Mills at Oral Roberts is someone I’d reach out to when Barnes is done at UT. Longtime Baylor assistant under Drew, has OR at 30-4, just won their conference tournament, and they score points.
 
#54
#54
Common sense has been thrown out. The NCAA said they went to freedom of movement rules several years back, but it’s never been implemented. Otherwise, the charge/block calls would be called differently, and guys wouldn’t be allowed to hold while coming off screens. They will call a “reach” where both players are after a loose ball, and the offending player doesn’t gain an advantage or cause the other to lose the ball, but they won’t call body contact on a layup at the basket.

We want to review every slight contact or taunt or hit players with technicals on silly “play on” situations. As you say, officials refuse to call traveling or carrying now for some reason. If the officials want to set it a certain way, the players will eventually adjust.

It’s gotten out of hand and making it more difficult to watch.
I think one of the best officiated games this year was our Bama game. There was about a 5 minute stretch where the block/charge calls were stupid, some in our favor and some not, but overall the refs were consistent between the teams and, just as important, they were consistent throughout the game. That’s what really drives me nuts. Sometimes in the first half they’ll let the teams play and then the second half the refs call every little thing. Overall, they let the players play in that Bama game and the refs were pretty consistent.
 
#55
#55
I roll my eyes every time I see a TN fan blaming losses on the refs. Fans complain when refs interrupt the flow of a game when they whistle too much and then complain when they let them play. Truth is the lacking whistle favors TN because they play tough D and foul a lot. Barnes has said himself that our guys foul too much and they've discussed it. Another truth, our D has struggled all season against the top 20 offensive teams regardless of the whistle. Arizona, Ky and Mizzou are all in that class and we scored enough to win in all those losses. And I'd venture a guess that in all those losses people were blaming the refs.
 
#56
#56
Wow, I just absorbed a lot of opinion having started with the OP.

Just set expectations low for the NCAA Tourney and hopefully there will be a pleasant surprise or two.

But don't get your hopes up and you won't be disappointed.

That's my Halfull take for our BasketVols and their NCAA opportunities.

Until next year....
 
#57
#57
Would you take an interim coach from Texas or a bench coach over Barnes today? I wouldn’t. There’s not many I would take over him today so we wait, he retires and then we figure out the who. That’s my opinion anyway.
One thing we should have learned from the firing of Fulmer,: make sure you have a seasoned winning coach to slide in that spot before you cut the ties. I'd take 10-2 seasons under Fulmer all day rather than the dumpster fires that replaced him.
 
#58
#58
One thing we should have learned from the firing of Fulmer,: make sure you have a seasoned winning coach to slide in that spot before you cut the ties. I'd take 10-2 seasons under Fulmer all day rather than the dumpster fires that replaced him.
10-2 seasons were done under Fulmer though. He was slipping big time against ranked teams and in conference. His last 4 years we were right around .500 in SEC play.

Edit: I do get your overall point though and don’t disagree.
 
#59
#59
I know Barnes will never admit it, but if you look at the minutes against Mizzou it seems obvious they were trying to work new lineups and rest other players.

JJJ only played 22 minutes, ON just 25, Aidoo just 15, and even with 4 fouls Mashack lead the way in minutes with Santi at 31.

We saw a lot of action with Key, Mashack, Phillips playing together. More than we have all year. Hopefully it pays...you wonder if playing JJJ more in the 2nd half might have changed the outcome. We didn't lose much offense (in the 2nd half) but a big difference in defense relying so heavily on Key.

Most people said it would be best to bow out of the tourney early and rest, and then everyone was miserable when it happened.
 
#60
#60
The Barnes apologists really need to find another talking point besides pointing to the history of bargain bin hires that polluted the program for decades. Barnes teams struggle in the post season, it's not an indictment or call for his replacement, but a predictable pattern that won't change without better teachers on the bench and more proven talent levels brought in on the front end, particularly on the front line.

The disappointment in this season is obvious, the reference to other terrible Tennessee coaches does not excuse or justify the piss poor performances which plagued the program this season, a program which had characteristics of a terrific season, but couldn't avoid the wholesale breakdowns along the way.
It will never happen. Most East Tennessee folks want nothing to ever change in life. They're happy with being decent. They will throw out "what if" hypotheticals as an argument.

Rick Barnes is a do it my way coach. That's why he gets so upset when a player makes a mistake. He recruits "yes men" to his team. Supposedly JJJ was a 5 star. No 5 star stays at a program this long. No 4 star stays that long either unless they aren't developed.

I look at the football program. Heupel knows offense and teaches offense. He had an offensive coordinator who was able to go start head coaching this year. Heupel lost Cedrick Tillman, the best all around receiver, the Vols had. Didn't matter, Heupel said "next up". Things went smoothly. Yes Jalen Hyatt is a huge factor but he had nothing to do with Bru McCoy making big plays in big games like the last drive against Alabama.

SC was a letdown. I think it had to do a lot with Jeremy Banks being on the field but that's already over and Heupel had to move on.

He didn't force Joe Milton to play his game or Hendon Hookers game. He tailored the offense to the strengths at the time. Primarily Joe Milton's strengths.

Josh Heupel did what was best for the team and program, not what he wanted to do or run what he was determined to run.

That's the downfall of Rick Barnes. His way or you won't play.
 
#61
#61
It will never happen. Most East Tennessee folks want nothing to ever change in life. They're happy with being decent. They will throw out "what if" hypotheticals as an argument.

Rick Barnes is a do it my way coach. That's why he gets so upset when a player makes a mistake. He recruits "yes men" to his team. Supposedly JJJ was a 5 star. No 5 star stays at a program this long. No 4 star stays that long either unless they aren't developed.

I look at the football program. Heupel knows offense and teaches offense. He had an offensive coordinator who was able to go start head coaching this year. Heupel lost Cedrick Tillman, the best all around receiver, the Vols had. Didn't matter, Heupel said "next up". Things went smoothly. Yes Jalen Hyatt is a huge factor but he had nothing to do with Bru McCoy making big plays in big games like the last drive against Alabama.

SC was a letdown. I think it had to do a lot with Jeremy Banks being on the field but that's already over and Heupel had to move on.

He did. He didn't force Joe Milton to play his game or Hendon Hookers game. He tailored the offense to the strengths at the time. Primarily Joe Milton's strengths.

Josh Heupel did what was best for the team and program, not what he wanted to do or run what he was determined to run.

That's the downfall of Rick Barnes. His way or you won't play.

This is a completely false narrative you just made up
 
#62
#62
It will never happen. Most East Tennessee folks want nothing to ever change in life. They're happy with being decent. They will throw out "what if" hypotheticals as an argument.

Rick Barnes is a do it my way coach. That's why he gets so upset when a player makes a mistake. He recruits "yes men" to his team. Supposedly JJJ was a 5 star. No 5 star stays at a program this long. No 4 star stays that long either unless they aren't developed.

I look at the football program. Heupel knows offense and teaches offense. He had an offensive coordinator who was able to go start head coaching this year. Heupel lost Cedrick Tillman, the best all around receiver, the Vols had. Didn't matter, Heupel said "next up". Things went smoothly. Yes Jalen Hyatt is a huge factor but he had nothing to do with Bru McCoy making big plays in big games like the last drive against Alabama.

SC was a letdown. I think it had to do a lot with Jeremy Banks being on the field but that's already over and Heupel had to move on.

He didn't force Joe Milton to play his game or Hendon Hookers game. He tailored the offense to the strengths at the time. Primarily Joe Milton's strengths.

Josh Heupel did what was best for the team and program, not what he wanted to do or run what he was determined to run.

That's the downfall of Rick Barnes. His way or you won't play.

Then why did Heupel not play Jeremy Banks at USCjr?
 
#67
#67
Mizzou won with offense, defense, in the paint and on the perimeter. Vols are just too limited unfortunately.

Not to mention the numerous free layups we gave them by not having a guard rotate back…they had at least 3 in the second half where we had everyone below the foul line, miss the shot, and they just lob the ball ahead to their guard…
 
#70
#70
So Barnes tells them not to shoot the ball and lose their man?

Cmon now. You really think a HOF coach would purposely deliberate his own offense?
You claim that, not me.

Barnes can't adapt to the strengths of his team.

His only way of thinking is Barnes ball.

Don't fall in line and play Barnes ball you yet a cussing on the way to the sideline and sit on the bench.

Worked well for Barnes. Tennessee was 17-2 with goofball Uros who apparently the players were more in sync with.
 
#71
#71
The Barnes apologists really need to find another talking point besides pointing to the history of bargain bin hires that polluted the program for decades. Barnes teams struggle in the post season, it's not an indictment or call for his replacement, but a predictable pattern that won't change without better teachers on the bench and more proven talent levels brought in on the front end, particularly on the front line.

The disappointment in this season is obvious, the reference to other terrible Tennessee coaches does not excuse or justify the piss poor performances which plagued the program this season, a program which had characteristics of a terrific season, but couldn't avoid the wholesale breakdowns along the way.

Hell Yeah... We only are in the Sweet 16 this year! The lowest position we should accept is National Championships every year. That's how you keep a program going. That's how you get the best coaches,... by making sure if they lose, THEY ARE OUTTA HERE!!!
 
#72
#72
So I just watched the Alabama v San Diego State game (3/24/23) I have no love for Blamadama whatsoever!! But while watching this game, if there was not an agenda to keep the SEC out of the final 4, I don't know what else to make of it. Just for the record; "I HATE ALABAMA!", but that game was called so against AL, I don't know what else there is to say.

Look, I know this tourney is all about the money, and having controversy is compelling, but is the NCAA making an effort to create a solution that would gain the largest TV audience? If so, the TRUMP WON AND YOU KNOW IT.
 
Advertisement



Back
Top