Opportunity Knocks

#1
hatvol96

hatvol96

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#1
I touched briefly on this subject in one of my answers in another thread. I would now like to elaborate on the tremendous opportunity at hand for our men's basketball team. With the coaching changes at Kentucky and Florida, and the fact we have the clearly the best returning team in the SEC and one of the top 5-10 in the country, UT has a chance to set them up for a run of success the likes of which Vol Hoop fans would have previously believed impossible. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that I think Billy Gillispie is every bit as good a coach as Bruce Pearl. However, Bruce starts this race with a two year head start. My guess is that Florida will hire Anthony Grant. He will be a fine head coach, but I don't think he's anywhere near the level of Pearl and Gillispie right now. The West is, in a word, awful. The only school with an A level coach faces the greatest historical obstacles in recruiting. The time is now for UT to seize the moment and set themselves up for a sustained run of basketball prosperity. I, for one, believe they will.
 
#3
#3
Certainly presents itself as the dawn of a golden era doesn't it. Coaching, recruiting, facilities, and an awakened fan base. What an explosive potential chemical reaction....

Do we continue to perform at such a high level in the short term post Lofton period, though?....
 
#5
#5
orange+white=heaven said:
Certainly presents itself as the dawn of a golden era doesn't it. Coaching, recruiting, facilities, and an awakened fan base. What an explosive potential chemical reaction....

Do we continue to perform at such a high level in the short term post Lofton period, though?....
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I think the '08-'09 team will be as good, if not better, than the upcoming team.
 
#6
#6
The competition is certainly looking a little less stiff as this point. But regardless of any of the changes, Pearl had already garnered my faith and I was thinking of great things ahead. But yes, with what has happened, even greater things could be seen in the near future.
 
#7
#7
I think it will put more pressure on UT and coach Pearl with such high expectations.I also think Florida losing alot of key players will impact the season moreso than their coach leaving.Will Tennessee have it's shinning moment this year?I think they will.I see us making the elite eight and a coin toss from there on in.
 
#8
#8
yeah i believe this is our time...I think we can take the SEC but do you guys believe we can contend for a national championship? (contend as in reach the final four and have a great shot at it)
 
#10
#10
allvol123 said:
The competition is certainly looking a little less stiff as this point. But regardless of any of the changes, Pearl had already garnered my faith and I was thinking of great things ahead. But yes, with what has happened, even greater things could be seen in the near future.
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I know that you were referring to the SEC. But there is another point about the competition to be made. We can now look forward to some really outstanding OOC matchups.

Pearl made a comment this spring in one of those cable shows that featured him. He said that the program was now playing at such a high level that they were very appealing to ESPN. The extra benefit of that being that he could now hand his open dates to ESPN and let them set marquee matchups for the Vols. We get better teams to play, and climb the exposure/respect ladder at the same time.

Great for us, the fans....
 
#12
#12
The Vols got knocked out by the runner up and beat the NC. Of course we can contend. 07-08 Vols will be so much more balanced and be more experienced than last years team.
 
#13
#13
Hat, do you think Pearl will win a national title, and if so, do you think he will before Kentucky does?
 
#14
#14
tvolsfan said:
Hat, do you think Pearl will win a national title, and if so, do you think he will before Kentucky does?
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My answers are yes and yes, with a caveat. The main reason I answer yes to the second part of the question is that I think UT will win one in the next three years. If not, I'd have to say UK will win one first.
 
#15
#15
Also, who do you think is more likely to go to the NBA between Pearl and Gillispie?
 
#17
#17
I just dont see Pearl as a good fit for the NBA. He's the show on this stage, but in the league it's all about the players. If he wins a NC they'll build statues of him on the Hill, in the league the players will always be the star attraction. The days of superstar pro coaches is over in basketball.
 
#18
#18
rexvol said:
I just dont see Pearl as a good fit for the NBA. He's the show on this stage, but in the league it's all about the players. If he wins a NC they'll build statues of him on the Hill, in the league the players will always be the star attraction. The days of superstar pro coaches is over in basketball.
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Really? Then why are the Orlando Magic paying a coach $5 mil a year?
 
#19
#19
hatvol96 said:
Really? Then why are the Orlando Magic paying a coach $5 mil a year?
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My thoughts exactly. Whether the players are the attraction or not, the coaches can still sign $27 million / 5-year contracts. If the NBA comes calling on Pearl, I would expect him to go.
 
#20
#20
almost all of the coaches are paid huge sums, but that doesnt make them superstars. Phil Jackson is the end of the line imo and it wasnt him so much as the talent he had. Billy may do very well, but Eddie Munster will never be the "face" of a franchise the way coaches used to be. The NBA is all about the players..it's not even really the teams that people follow anymore. It used to be that you were a Sonics fan no matter who played for them, these days alot of Sixer fans are now following the Nuggets.
 
#21
#21
Jaytrain5 said:
My thoughts exactly. Whether the players are the attraction or not, the coaches can still sign $27 million / 5-year contracts. If the NBA comes calling on Pearl, I would expect him to go.
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I'm not sure he would. He seems to love the college setting. Plus, UT will pay out big bucks. He's already guaranteed, I'd say, about 7-10 years just based on what he's done in the past 2. If he continues to do well, he'll always have a spot at UT, as well as a fat fat paycheck.
 
#22
#22
Jaytrain5 said:
My thoughts exactly. Whether the players are the attraction or not, the coaches can still sign $27 million / 5-year contracts. If the NBA comes calling on Pearl, I would expect him to go.
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I'll never knock somebody for taking the money, but if it's immortality you're looking for, build a winner at the college level. Just look at the Dean Dome or Summit Court or Neyland Stadium, etc.
 
#23
#23
rexvol said:
almost all of the coaches are paid huge sums, but that doesnt make them superstars. Phil Jackson is the end of the line imo and it wasnt him so much as the talent he had. Billy may do very well, but Eddie Munster will never be the "face" of a franchise the way coaches used to be. The NBA is all about the players..it's not even really the teams that people follow anymore. It used to be that you were a Sonics fan no matter who played for them, these days alot of Sixer fans are now following the Nuggets.
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Well...Donovan wasn't exactly the "face" of the University of Florida. He was a roaring success at UF, and he was still the second attraction. Football is #1 at Florida (just like it is at UT)...he'll be the main attraction in Orlando, hauling in his $27 million while he's at it.
 
#24
#24
jwells said:
I'm not sure he would. He seems to love the college setting. Plus, UT will pay out big bucks. He's already guaranteed, I'd say, about 7-10 years just based on what he's done in the past 2. If he continues to do well, he'll always have a spot at UT, as well as a fat fat paycheck.
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UT won't pay him $5 million/year...the NBA will. I don't want him to go to the pros, but if the pros come calling, I wouldn't be suprised to see him leave.

And there's no rule saying you can't come back to the collegiate level if you don't get it done in the NBA. Cal, Pitino, Floyd are all having success in the collegiate ranks after stints in the NBA.
 
#25
#25
hatvol96 said:
My answers are yes and yes, with a caveat. The main reason I answer yes to the second part of the question is that I think UT will win one in the next three years. If not, I'd have to say UK will win one first.
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Without a dominant big man, our guard play better be exceptional. I'm with you and believe we have the potential to shoot the moon, but our style of play today lends itself to topsy turvy play. Big man would help level some of those peaks and valleys. Consistency (controlled by good guards and reliable post play), boards and D are enormous in making a deep run and none are strong suits today.
 
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