So, Does Martin Kiffin Us?

#76
#76
ric1958 said:
Duh.

Mercer played way over their heads to beat Duke. If they played 10 more games against each other Duke would win at least nine if not 10. To act like Mercer is better than Duke is dumb, Mercer just caught them at the right time. UMass given a six seed does not mean squat. Does not mean how great they are. The Vols are better than these 3 teams ,no doubt , so winning so far has not been miraculous or even close.
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Nobody is saying it is miraculous. But it is impressive any time Tennessee makes it to the Sweet 16. In the tournament, you are getting the very best that every team has to offer. Beating these guys at their best is an accomplishment.
 
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#77
#77
newokie03 said:
My question is this, after all the BS that has gone on lately i.e. the petition, #BBB, the constant negativity directed toward the BB program the last couple of months of the season (and specifically at CCM, which has made a portion of our fan base a laughingstock with the national media BTW), if CCM did leave, why would any sane coach want to coach BB at UT?
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Because of the resources and the "laughingstock" fan base. The same fan base that was top 10 nationally in attendance despite the fact that the team was underachieving for most of the season.
 
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#78
#78
newokie03 said:
My question is this, after all the BS that has gone on lately i.e. the petition, #BBB, the constant negativity directed toward the BB program the last couple of months of the season (and specifically at CCM, which has made a portion of our fan base a laughingstock with the national media BTW), if CCM did leave, why would any sane coach want to coach BB at UT?
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Because the biggest source of all that pissing and moaning (Pearl) is now off the table, UT has top notch facilities and can pay more money than a lot of other schools out there without the absurd expectations of Final Four's and NC's every year that exist at places like UNC, UK and Kansas. Even though there were a lot of people upset with the team's struggles, that was because we barely even got into the tournament. Now that we're into the second weekend, I think most fans would feel that anything that happens from here is gravy. That's not an impossibly high bar given what UT typically pays a coach.
 
#79
#79
bleedorange0037 said:
Because the biggest source of all that pissing and moaning (Pearl) is now off the table, UT has top notch facilities and can pay more money than a lot of other schools out there without the absurd expectations of Final Four's and NC's every year that exist at places like UNC, UK and Kansas. Even though there were a lot of people upset with the team's struggles, that was because we barely even got into the tournament. Now that we're into the second weekend, I think most fans would feel that anything that happens from here is gravy. That's not an impossibly high bar given what UT typically pays a coach.
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Good points
 
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#81
#81
We tried to run the man of, if he leaves the joke is on us don't always ask for something, you just might get what you want, if I was him I would bolt, sigh 20,000 names of vol fan trying to get you fired what would you do.:eek:lol:I would laugh my azz off if he left, the fans have done every thing in the world to run him off he might not run, he might walk away in the middle of the night., then we will go get JOE BLOW from Utah State.:ermm:
 
#82
#82
Vols4us said:
OP - nope. CCM has too much character for that. The man is about to get paid.

CCM grew as a head coach during the season. Probably would not have happened if he had not been criticized by the fans as well as the media. The CCM we all saw near half time of the Mercer game is the one we have been waiting to see. Even the game announcers were surprised to see it. He showed passion and assertiveness for his players and the game. That had been lacking for 2.5 seasons. He now makes good game decisions with his time outs and adjustments. That had been pathetic if we are honest about it. He has let games slip away with 2-4 unused TO's when they were over, that could have been used to stop a run or make adjustments or give his team a blow.

That the team woke up to his style of play is a testament to the team. There are many ways and systems to coach the game. These guys want to run. They are like 19-0 when they score 71 or more points. Tells me that McRae, Barton, Richardson and Stokes love and excel in the transition game. Duh. Adjust your system to score more points and still bring it on D. That is EXACTLY what has happened starting about 10 games ago.

So, no looking back by anybody. This 'us against the world' thing is fine if they need it for motivation. But that has not how it has been for most of us that questioned Zo's abilities. Most of us wanted him to get it and succeed. That appears to be happening now.
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Hey.....at the time the product was very underachieving and fans were basing it on the talent level....at least by it on paper. The BEST thing that EVER happened for Cuonzo Martin's Tennessee team and for him getting his message through was the fan base starting to flip on him. It made the light bulb turn on....whether it was in how to get his message across or the team to start listening to the message and not just hear it.

Zo is a class act and all around nice guy....which sometimes finish last. NO ONE can deny it was starting to kind of look that way too....last for a fan base that wanted a tourney run. With that being said...I have never ever wanted a Tennessee coach in any sport at the University to fail.....ever. But if the product is not living up to Tennessee standards then by all means I as a fan....and Alumni have the right to start questioning the conductor of the orchestra when the music is just a hot mess. If the Head Coach is failing then that means the team is failing. It will always be about the greater good.....ALWAYS. If that means turning on a coach...just like many did Phil Fumer and Derek Dooley then it will happen. Nice guy or not....and legend or not.

So with that being said....if Zo leaves us...he has every right to if he wants. But I believe he knows that this fan base wanted and expected him to maintain and build upon further what Bruce Pearl started. A man determined would do so.....Zo is a fighter...he was in his playing days....against having cancer...he is delivering that now with this run his team has built with his coaching. I just don't see a man of his integrity bouncing after doing so but this is a business. But it would not surprise me if he did.
:hi:
 
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#84
#84
bleedorange0037 said:
Because the biggest source of all that pissing and moaning (Pearl) is now off the table, UT has top notch facilities and can pay more money than a lot of other schools out there without the absurd expectations of Final Four's and NC's every year that exist at places like UNC, UK and Kansas. Even though there were a lot of people upset with the team's struggles, that was because we barely even got into the tournament. Now that we're into the second weekend, I think most fans would feel that anything that happens from here is gravy. That's not an impossibly high bar given what UT typically pays a coach.
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Pearl's not going to be off the table as far as this fanbase is concerned unless and until he's crappy at Auburn, gets fired, gets another job somewhere else, and is crappy there too.
 
#85
#85
SamRebel35 said:
Nobody is saying it is miraculous. But it is impressive any time Tennessee makes it to the Sweet 16. In the tournament, you are getting the very best that every team has to offer. Beating these guys at their best is an accomplishment.
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Exactly. To the people whining that he didn't beat any good teams on his way to the Sweet 16, I'll ask this... When the hell has UT ever played their way through a powerhouse and into the second weekend? Every trip to the Sweet 16 I can recall either involved us starting out as a high seed and playing two relatively soft teams, or somebody else doing the dirty work and the bracket falling nicely in our favor like when Ohio beat Georgetown in 2010.
 
#87
#87
He better take what he can get he was one loss away from being jobless.Sti ll not a CM fan unhappiest looking coach in America but kids have played hard and its not the JM show everynight.To compare him leaving to Kiffin is assine
 
#88
#88
bleedorange0037 said:
Exactly. To the people whining that he didn't beat any good teams on his way to the Sweet 16, I'll ask this... When the hell has UT ever played their way through a powerhouse and into the second weekend? Every trip to the Sweet 16 I can recall either involved us starting out as a high seed and playing two relatively soft teams, or somebody else doing the dirty work and the bracket falling nicely in our favor like when Ohio beat Georgetown in 2010.
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Not to mention we were a miracle Melvin Goins three away from losing to San Diego State in the first round that year. Instead we went to the Elite Eight.
 
#89
#89
DERELICK_MY_VOLS said:
Hey.....at the time the product was very underachieving and fans were basing it on the talent level....at least by it on paper. The BEST thing that EVER happened for Cuonzo Martin's Tennessee team and for him getting his message through was the fan base starting to flip on him. It made the light bulb turn on....whether it was in how to get his message across or the team to start listening to the message and not just hear it.

Zo is a class act and all around nice guy....which sometimes finish last. NO ONE can deny it was starting to kind of look that way too....last for a fan base that wanted a tourney run. With that being said...I have never ever wanted a Tennessee coach in any sport at the University to fail.....ever. But if the product is not living up to Tennessee standards then by all means I as a fan....and Alumni have the right to start questioning the conductor of the orchestra when the music is just a hot mess. If the Head Coach is failing then that means the team is failing. It will always be about the greater good.....ALWAYS. If that means turning on a coach...just like many did Phil Fumer and Derek Dooley then it will happen. Nice guy or not....and legend or not.

:hi:
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so wait, you're saying the reason the team/coach started performing better was because the fans were upset? I thought I'd heard it all last week when Basilio tried to take credit for the turn-around, but now it's message board posters and talk radio callers who are responsible.
 
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#90
#90
Jazzy#10 said:
Fakers...not all, but most.
I remember how let down many of the fan base was when CCM signed several players most thought couldn't play at the SEC level (including our beloved Josh Richardson).
Raise your hand if you were one of them.
The "eternal mid-major coach" hired by the villian Hamilton has succeded far beyond what many ever imagined...with only one 5* player (Hubbs not included).
Now think about what Hubbs can do if he developes the work ethic of J Rich.
Count your blessing Vol fans.....you didn't polish this gem by your criticisms, so don't take ownership in it's success. CCM's success comes from above, spinkled with plenty of hard work and faith in himself and his players.
Thumbs up to Reggie Miller and Len Elmore who said it right. You know who you are!!!!
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It couldn't be you? All of a sudden, everyone wants to say "I told you so", but they never said anything during the UTEP or A&M games. BS!
 
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#91
#91
Vercingetorix said:
Not to mention we were a miracle Melvin Goins three away from losing to San Diego State in the first round that year. Instead we went to the Elite Eight.
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True. I'd actually forgotten about that. As best I can tell, the closest UT ever came to knocking off a "powerhouse" on their way to the Sweet 16 was when we beat a #5 seeded UCONN team in the second round in 2000. We were a #4 that year so it's not like we were really punching above our weight class.
 
#92
#92
Number two in attendance in the SEC and surely top 15 in the country.

All of this whining about..the whining - pfft. Fan support is best measured by the turnstiles imo.
 
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#93
#93
40Cap said:
Unfortunately it may well be too late. Word is CM is very unhappy w/ the way things have played out this year, and if the right offer comes, he is gone. And I'm not sure I agree that he will get any slack from our idiot fans next year. I'll wager that if they are struggling next year, all you will hear form the morons is "we should have hired Bruce back when we had the chance" And unfortunately the morns make up a disproportionate segment of our fan-base.
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"Word" meaning what you read on the BB forum.
 
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#95
#95
If he beats 2 Big 10 teams in the tourney, I can think of at least 1 B10 team that might give him a call. Could be more.
Think that's where his heart is by his own admission.
 
#97
#97
Everyone acts like it would be easy for Martin to just up and leave. He clearly has a special bond with that locker room. He isn't going to screw over the kids just because some fans screamed to hire a TN legend back. When Cuonzo sits back I'm sure he sees an administration that had his back the whole time and realizes all you have to do is win to shut up a fan base. Now that Pearl is gone and he has Nike and a sweet 16 to pitch in recruiting he can really sieze momentum. Why leave and start all over again just because of a situation that you knew could happen before takig job if you struggled. This team was on brink of failure and he understands that.
 
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#100
#100
Vercingetorix said:
There are nowhere near three million Tennessee basketball fans. Thirty thousand is not a tiny percentage.

If you're the coach, there's no way not to construe that as a giant FU. And God forbid he have a bad year next year and lose to Pearl, whom this fanbase will never get over. He's got no ties here. I wouldn't blame him at all if he parlayed this run into a different job. And that might actually be the best result all around for everybody.
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utsports got 500k hits on signing day. There are 100's of 1000's of fans that don't follow recruiting, or post anything on any board about the team. Your numbers are off, imo.
Either way, it's big boy business. Pearl went to several tourneys in a row and was getting lambasted his last year for his team's play. Fulmer was run off. Dooley was called dumbass. CM wasn't coaching his team up and people aren't going to not discuss it in fear of hurting feelings.
Hell, ky fans have been pissed at Cal, and he just won an NC a couple years ago.
 
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