Key word is team, this team feeds and plays off each other, fundamentally sound and disciplined. I loved the Bernie & Ernie teams don't think they got past
1st rd in tourney with all that talent. I never liked Mears's star system, 2 scorers 2 rebounders and point guard, if his shooters were off same game team WAS EASY GUARD.
I'm enjoying this watching this team play and its is a team not trying take anything from Mears, but this team is balanced doesn't rely on 1-2 players score every game.
GO VOLS
This!!
Mears got a lot of wins, but not when it really counted. HATED the star system - wasted so much talent. King, Grunfield, Darden, Jackson, Johnson could have won NCAA with CRB.
This!!
Mears got a lot of wins, but not when it really counted. HATED the star system - wasted so much talent. King, Grunfield, Darden, Jackson, Johnson could have won NCAA with CRB.
Anyone who says anything other than the jury is still out is getting way ahead of themselves. He hasn't even gotten UT to the Sweet 16 yet. Hell, I'm not sure this is the best team in Vol history, either. The team that won 31 games, the SEC title and went to the Sweet 16 was really good, too. They have this next month to cement their status and put Barnes at the top of this list.
Game was so different then. Only 16 teams made the tournament early in his career and even in Ernie Bernie year it was 32 I believe. Them playing Syracuse in first game tells you it was much different then. Syracuse was Big East champ I believe. Who thinks SEC champ and Big East champ plays in first round today?
The point is Mears with elite players Bernie & Ernie, he didn't get maximum from talent on hand. I've watched lots games Reggie Johnson or Mike Jackson never get a shotGame was so different then. Only 16 teams made the tournament early in his career and even in Ernie Bernie year it was 32 I believe. Them playing Syracuse in first game tells you it was much different then. Syracuse was Big East champ I believe. Who thinks SEC champ and Big East champ plays in first round today?
What would make you change your vote?
The point is Mears with elite players Bernie & Ernie, he didn't get maximum from talent on hand. I've watched lots games Reggie Johnson or Mike Jackson never get a shot
until King and Grunfeld on bench foul trouble, b/c Mears only played 5-6 players. Mike J great player Reggie J was nearly unstoppable Sr yr. King & Grunfeld best talent I've saw @ UT, I watched
Syracuse game Mears choked, and let VMI beat him n tourney KIng Jr year sad wasted BB talent...……..GO VOLS
Going further in the NCAA tournament would trump everything the 2008 team did, obviously. Similar accomplishments would put me in favor of this team, as well. But, no SEC title of any sort and Sweet 16 or less, then I still gotta go with 2008.
It's no shame. That was a really, really good team who went 31-5.