The Kerry Blackshear Thread

[RyanWalkerPGH]

Shakur Juiston still waiting for Barnes to call.

Totally forgot he was still available. I’d certainly look into it.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

This comes back around to the notion that he should’ve had more immediate impact kids coming in off the season they just had. And now he’s facing a potential scenario that involves him only having Kent, Fulkerson, and ORN available in the front court.

And what happens when it turns out he knew what he was doing and those guy are just fine and this is a NCAAT team?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

A couple of Grad guards are still out there. One's from Memphis.(3pt shooter)

They weren’t just taking anyone and running a kid off, it was going to be someone of Blackshear’s caliber, which are very rare.

 

[GREENnTN]

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

And what happens when it turns out he knew what he was doing and those guy are just fine and this is a NCAAT team?

Common sense tells me that is probably unlikely.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

What is Tennessee able to sell that makes great coaches say, “This is my dream job. I want to come here.”?

Patient, logical thinking fans that post on VolNation.

 

[calban]

They weren’t just taking anyone and running a kid off, it was going to be someone of Blackshear’s caliber, which are very rare.

A lot was said about keeping Burns and still taking KB. Is that off the table?

 

[cncchris33]

This comes back around to the notion that he should’ve had more immediate impact kids coming in off the season they just had. And now he’s facing a potential scenario that involves him only having Kent, Fulkerson, and ORN available in the front court.

The season ended in March. Hard to capitalize on that momentum with kids in the spring, especially when we didn't have any open spots until Bone and Williams declared and Walker transferred. The capitalization will come in the 2020 class.

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

The season ended in March. Hard to capitalize on that momentum with kids in the spring, especially when we didn't have any open spots until Bone and Williams declared and Walker transferred. The capitalization will come in the 2020 class.

They had a lot of momentum coming off the the previous season as well.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Common sense tells me that is probably unlikely.

Then you’re a fool, I’m not saying they’re a stone cold lock to do anything, but how quickly people forget how dumb it is to doubt Barnes and an overlooked Tennessee squad.

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

Then you’re a fool, I’m not saying they’re a stone cold lock to do anything, but how quickly people forget how dumb it is to doubt Barnes and an overlooked Tennessee squad.

And I’m not completely writing them off. I just said the odds are against them.

 

[calban]

And I’m not completely writing them off. I just said the odds are against them.

If you look at his history some of his best coaching jobs have come when it looked like it was NIT time.
Rick Barnes - Men's Basketball Coach - University of Texas Athletics

 

[cncchris33]

They had a lot of momentum coming off the the previous season as well.

True, but only had two spots to fill, and one (Gaines) was already spoken for, and had been for over a year. So, you could argue they should have aimed higher than Pember, but the fact Barnes took his commitment when he did tells me he believes in the kid. Now, you are free to disagree with that evaluation, but Barnes' livelihood rides on it while our entertainment rides on it, so I'll likely defer to his opinion while admitting it isn't infallible.

 

[GoVolunteers]

So Florida snagged Blackshear

 

[onevol74]

If you look at his history some of his best coaching jobs have come when it looked like it was NIT time.
Rick Barnes - Men's Basketball Coach - University of Texas Athletics

Or ranked 13th in the preseason SEC polls.

 

[Lefteye]

Sucks for sure... Still rather see him in Gainesville than Lexington.

 

[zjcvols]

Guess we should go ahead and call the season now

I didnt say that, although I’m not surprised you would go way overboard with what I’m saying. But to simply have blind faith and assume all 11 guys are gonna improve/get better is silly. We only have two PG’s on the roster/one frontcourt player that’s played consistent minutes. We have little depth going into this season. If injuries occur we are in big trouble.

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

True, but only had two spots to fill, and one (Gaines) was already spoken for, and had been for over a year. So, you could argue they should have aimed higher than Pember, but the fact Barnes took his commitment when he did tells me he believes in the kid. Now, you are free to disagree with that evaluation, but Barnes' livelihood rides on it while our entertainment rides on it, so I'll likely defer to his opinion while admitting it isn't infallible.

That’s respectable Chris. I agree with a lot of your points. Just personally feel he could’ve put himself in a much better situation. Now I guess we’ll just see how it plays out.

 

[BruinVol]

If injuries occur we are in big trouble.

Says about every team that isn’t a blue blood. That’s not earth shattering news.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

True, but only had two spots to fill, and one (Gaines) was already spoken for, and had been for over a year. So, you could argue they should have aimed higher than Pember, but the fact Barnes took his commitment when he did tells me he believes in the kid. Now, you are free to disagree with that evaluation, but Barnes' livelihood rides on it while our entertainment rides on it, so I'll likely defer to his opinion while admitting it isn't infallible.

Barnes is getting 26 million bucks from UTK no matter who he signs or how many more games he wins and whenever his current tenure ends, be it tomorrow or five years hence, he'll never coach again. Barnes doesn't have anything on the line.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

True, but only had two spots to fill, and one (Gaines) was already spoken for, and had been for over a year. So, you could argue they should have aimed higher than Pember, but the fact Barnes took his commitment when he did tells me he believes in the kid. Now, you are free to disagree with that evaluation, but Barnes' livelihood rides on it while our entertainment rides on it, so I'll likely defer to his opinion while admitting it isn't infallible.

I don't get all of the hate and disrespect for Pember before he's played a single minute for UT. Guys with that much length and guard skills aren't very common. He was a very good perimeter player and then had a freakish growth spurt. Plus he's a local kid. It must be his skin color that has so many triggered.

 

[musolfmj]

Sounds like a lot of churlish, butt hurt little league parents in here who have to find blame for losing a game. You gonna blame Barnes for every recruit who goes elsewhere? Good grief.

 

[golfballs]

Lmao what? Talk about an overreaction.

Targeted ORN, landed him.

Targets Plavsic, landed him.

Targeted Bailey, landed him.

Roster was full...saw an opportunity to land a big time player in Blackshear, targeted him and missed...guess Calipari botched the offseason too?

Roster is full... of some shaky front court players.... And I’m actually more optimistic on Fulkerson than most others. But even at best our front court is a serious risk

 

[SweetDaddy]

I could see Rick having a better than expected regular season but just not winning anything meaningful [conference championships or NCAA tournament games].

20 wins would be stunning and you dont make the NCAA tournament with less than that usually.

We could have one hell of an NIT run though.

 

[zjcvols]

Says about every team that isn’t a blue blood. That’s not earth shattering news.

Okay, let me rephrase:

If there is an injury to Turner or Bowden we are screwed