Rick Barnes discussion (merged)

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Laugh all you want, but it sucks losing big time games that we should win

We’re one game removed from winning a game nobody picked us to win. Forget about that already?

 

[lvocd]

Tennessee was fortunate to get to the round of 16 without a point guard. FAU was quicker and had better chemistry and confidence. A team doesn't win 33 games by accident. Yes, our guys lost a nice first-half lead, but games are two halves and FAU was the better long-game team tonight.

I hate it for the Vols because I know they're hurting. Gotta remember they're still developing as young men. They are not mature, seasoned professional players even though we often think of them as such.

I'm still proud as hell they knocked Duke out!

 

[GAVol]

Ok some of you putting down the fire Barnes crowd aren't doing much better yourself. The Who We Gonna Git argument has been played out since the Butch Jones days.

Barnes deserves equal credit and blame. They play tough d thanks to him, but disappear on the offensive end too much.

Some of you are ok with never getting past the Sweet Sixteen because we were so terrible in the past. I was until he played hardball with his contract. You want to get paid that much you better deliver results.

I don't want him fired, but not sure early exits to lower seeded teams is worth the big contract either.

Nobody is “just happy to be here”. I just think it’s way oversimplified to throw a fit and think a coaching change just because after a sweet 16 run makes any sense.

 

[joevols89]

Oh shut up already

We have the most toxic and irrational fan base around

Barnes just took a crippled team to the sweet 16 without their PG, that in itself is truly amazing. Barnes wasn't the one who got outrebounded tonight. Barnes wasn't the one missing shots.

I think some people like it more when Barnes loses than he wins. It's clowns like you that ruin great things.

Rebounding is effort. Why didn’t he have the team ready to play?

 

[Vol49er]

It was a fine season. Not spectacular, not special. But solid. It’s frustrating to see another terrible offensive performance in the tournament but there’s no point bitching about the offense because it’s never going to change.

They did a good job rallying without Zakai. I’m hoping Aidoo and Mashack take big steps next year. Team can be really good if they find a PG without Ziegler next year. Phillips needs to come back and get in the gym.

Also, I hope Uros never plays another minute at the University. He’s a blight on this program. He’s an embarrassment. He’s a punk and if he played on a different SEC team this board would want him hung from the gallows.

This is pretty much where I’m at, except for the last paragraph. That’s a bit much

 

[tincupUT]

It’s disappointing as hell. But the analysis in here is just dumb in most cases.

Which team has more talent on the floor? Most would say TN so the difference in the game is coaching right? And that’s dumb?

 

[Volstylexx]

Barnes has served his part, but it’s time to move on. He’s almost 70.

He will retire soon enough, and we will be relegated back to the historical average of our program - making the tournament once every 5 to 6 years and firing a coach.

 

[JMSqb11]

I am fine with it LOL. Been getting ripped as a coach hater and nega since about 2005.

I truly respect Barnes and like the guy but got ripped last week for saying he is getting up in age and lacks the fire he had years ago.

Sure didn't see anything tonight to convince me otherwise.

I personally can acknowledge we are nearing the end of Barnes’ tenure just because of his age. I think if you told us we would get him for 8 years on the day he was hired, everyone would take it…

I don’t really get the money argument people have…. The money he is making is more than worth it considering where the program was before him… Barnes at his minimum is a Top 25 ranked team and autopilot to the NCAAT but has his obvious shortcomings in the postseason. In short, he’s low risk, low reward…. Considering Tennessee’s historical trend, I’m fine with that. Unless there is a clear upgrade, I’m fine to roll with Rick because the truth is, Rick is prolly done at Tennessee within 2-3 more seasons… i can “stomach” 2-3 more of these type seasons of 25+ wins and coasting to a NCAAT berth….

 

[Vol49er]

Really?

I mean what he said is 100% true. You can make a compelling argument Bruce is the better coach (or the inverse argument), but there’s no debate that Bruce took over a program in better shape and had a more stocked cupboard than Barnes. If you’re denying that you’re blinded with anger at Barnes

 

[Vols till I fall]

Rebounding is effort. Why didn’t he have the team ready to play?

Tell that to all the other teams 67 teams

 

[zjcvols]

I get frustrated with RB too , but those who want him fired are not thinking. He has us in a good place.

Rick has done a great building a competitive program that has never been more stable

Rick has a program fans can be happy with players that are good kids and easy to cheer for (except Uros)

Rick is going to be at Tennessee as long as he wants despite the early tourney exits

Rick has an offense that is incredibly frustrating and doesn’t seem to recruit to the offense’s strengths

All of these are true

 

[utvolpj]

Which team has more talent on the floor? Most would say TN so the difference in the game is coaching right? And that’s dumb?

Actually I've seen posts all year saying every player on our roster sucks and isn't good enough for the SEC.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

This is pretty much where I’m at, except for the last paragraph. That’s a bit much

I do agree if he played for another team, we'd label him a punk/thug.

 

[tnvols72]

His players missed jump shot after jump shot from inside the paint.

been a problem all year. Tn just did not find out that we had no shooters. Once ZZ went out all we had left was Santi and he cant shot nothing but wideopen 3s. He cant shoot a jump shot or drive the lane or create his own shot. Phillips is a bust ,JJJ is what he is and Mashack is streaky at best and Key was useless

 

[barney]

I've had my moments of frustration, but as long as Barnes has got us nationally competitive, and we were this year in spite of everything, I'm good with rolling with him for as long as he wants to keep going.

 

[JMSqb11]

Laugh all you want, but it sucks losing big time games that we should win

Okay…. That’s not the convo at hand… you’re acting like Barnes took over a program that wasn’t on death’s door…that not living in reality.

 

[joevols89]

Tell that to all the other teams 67 teams

Lol

 

[zjcvols]

This is pretty much where I’m at, except for the last paragraph. That’s a bit much

Maybe but I simply cannot stand him. He’s a dirty player that thinks he’s intimidating when in reality he’s being a moron that costs his team points

 

[GAVol]

Which team has more talent on the floor? Most would say TN so the difference in the game is coaching right? And that’s dumb?

Yes

How many games do you need to see from a team that has won 34 games before it dawns on you “hey…these guys can play”?

 

[95 Vol Alum]

If you think Pearl and Barnes were hired to a program in the same state/condition, you must be a recent Vol fan. Which i doubt, given your username.

You think more highly of Buzz Peterson than me.

 

[OC VOL FAN]

Who you wanna get and fire in 3 years after Barnes leaves? You can pick

I'm all for trying to catch lighting in a bottle in hopes of bucking this trend honestly. I'd rather try that then go through the same routine year in and year out with Rick

 

[EaglesVols91]

He will retire soon enough, and we will be relegated back to the historical average of our program - making the tournament once every 5 to 6 years and firing a coach.

No, not with the current AD we have. TN has one of the best NIL programs, world class facilities, top of the line fan support, Knoxville being a great place to live and we have proven paying money is not an issue. Will we hire a good replacement? Maybe not, but we sure as hell have the ability to

 

[GAVol]

Maybe but I simply cannot stand him. He’s a dirty player that thinks he’s intimidating when in reality he’s being a moron that costs his team points

I won’t go quite that far, but his plusses definitely stopped outweighing the minuses a while ago.

 

[utvolpj]

Maybe but I simply cannot stand him. He’s a dirty player that thinks he’s intimidating when in reality he’s being a moron that costs his team points

He's still a UT player so the cheap shots really aren't warranted. It's really low

 

[VolArmy74]

Barnes doesn't deserve to be fired. Barnes was really really bad tonight and that's a common theme with him in the post season. No excuse to lose to FAU with us having one of the oldest rosters in NCAA BB.

All those can be true and tonight, they are. My hope from Barnes when he was hired was stability until he retires. Hopefully we get that. It's frustrating to know he's going to lose earlier than he should in the tournament every season but he should leave Tennessee in a good spot when he steps away unless he tries to Bobby Bowden/Jim Boeheim it.