The Kerry Blackshear Thread

[VolGee4]

Well you obviously think Barnes is a great coach and Whites had more tourney success. I’m saying Mike White is a good coach and I get why Blackshear would want to stay closer to home and play for UF with White

I don’t. Playing closer to home after graduating? I could understand if he was a high school recruit.

But good for him. Everyone has the freedom to make choices.

 

[VolGee4]

For people trashing Barnes right now, stop and appreciate the job he has done that you are disappointed Tennessee may not be in the National Championship hunt in the next couple of years.

It was a dumpster fire only a couple of years ago.

I had my doubts, but the man has done his job. He took Tennessee out of the abyss and has made them a relevant program again.

We have some fans who don’t understand this. But that’s typical around here.

 

[VolGee4]

So after their SO and FR seasons, respectively, you saw Schofield and Williams as NBA draft picks. I call BS.

He loves to share revisionist history.

 

[VolGee4]

We need to stop acting like the 2020 class is guaranteed to be elite too. Things could take a turn quick. The momentum they had this past year will quickly diminish if they struggle out of the gate. If they miss the tourney, landing an elite class isn’t a given whatsoever.

The difference in basketball is that many sign in November before the season starts.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I feel pretty confident in saying that I don't believe Pons is ever putting it together. He's getting by solely on his athleticism. I'm still in wait and see on Kent because of the injuries. But how often have you seen a guy miss two entire seasons due to injury and come back and become an impact player?

Funny, Pons was the highest rated guy Barnes has signed and yet all the posters complaining about recruiting better are the first to write him off...so which is it?

Seems like maymon missed about 2 years, or maybe a year and a half, was still pretty solid...I’m sure there are other examples.

 

[VolGee4]

Maybe I’m remembering incorrectly but I believe most people on the board felt UT was a tourney team going into the 17-18 season and we thought it was insane they were preseason 13th in the SEC. That team also returned like their top 8/10 contributors

Lol. And again. I guess anyone can have their own podcast on a subject.

 

[TennaciousD957]

ESPN Way Too Early Bracketology - Updated yesterday - 8 Seed.

Bracketology with Joe Lunardi

Here is another as a 6 seed

Way Too Early 2020 Bracketology

I guess we won't have to be "lucky" to make the NIT after all. Whew!

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

Funny, Pons was the highest rated guy Barnes has signed and yet all the posters complaining about recruiting better are the first to write him off...so which is it?

Seems like maymon missed about 2 years, or maybe a year and a half, was still pretty solid...I’m sure there are other examples.

The higher the rate at which you sign those guys the better chance you are at hitting on them. I'll gladly hitch my wagon to Pons being a bust. I'm not saying there aren't examples, but it's not a favorable situation to be in if you're Kent.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

The money changes everything. UT isn't paying Barnes to have a decent season and go to the Sweet 16 every 3-4 years. He's making "blue-blood" level money now. He is expected to re-load. I'm not angry at Barnes for not getting Blackshear. I'm sure we put the full court press on trying to lure him to UT and ultimately the kid decided what was best for him. However Barnes is most certainly going to have to elevate his recruiting to match the kind of money he's making. A great start would be landing Keon Johsnon.

So if tomorrow Austin Peay decided to pay their coach $5/yr they should start competing with blue bloods right away?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Take it up with 247 and RTI

Bilau visited: fact
Bilau was offered a scholarship: fact according to 247 and RTI

And according to those same outlets we passed, fact.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Florida will be a very, very good team next season, it's a perfectly fine decision by Blackshear. They return Nembhard and gain Blackshear, on top of getting future lotto pick Scottie Lewis and another 5 star Tre Mann. Florida could very well win the SEC next season with their roster. The one thing White has always been missing is a top notch big man and he finally has one.

 

[Roustabout]

And according to those same outlets we passed, fact.

So?
The fact is that Barnes was recruiting a no star center with a full roster. Apparently you think that’s a good sign.

 

[Roustabout]

Florida will be a very, very good team next season, it's a perfectly fine decision by Blackshear. They return Nembhard and gain Blackshear, on top of getting future lotto pick Scottie Lewis and another 5 star Tre Mann. Florida could very well win the SEC next season with their roster. The one thing White has always been missing is a top notch big man and he finally has one.

Yup, two elite recruits Barnes went head to head with an in conference opponent and rival.
With Mann and Blackshear in this team they’d be lethal.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I gave my reason why I think it went down like it did.

The offer itself was a major red flag, but you have a funny way of picking at posters personally instead of the facts.

Funny you wanna mention facts and then ignore the fact we pulled the offer?

 

[VolGee4]

Yup, two elite recruits Barnes went head to head with an in conference opponent and rival.
With Mann and Blackshear in this team they’d be lethal.

We weren’t getting Mann with Josiah James. Same position. Man, I have to take a break from this forum. People out of their minds.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

There you are policing the forum again. What would we do without your post counts and monitoring?

Why so sensitive when someone calls you on your BS?

 

[TheMookieMonster]

It's incredible to me how quickly the winds change. Yes, it's a huge disappointment missing out on KBJ after it seemed we had him. I'm not going to hide my disappointment. BUT, the number of people jumping on here to discuss this "trash" roster Barnes has for this season, and how he cannot get it done, is insane. I'm seeing people say things like "Well we were always a football school" or "Maybe Pruitt can get us to 8 wins this season."

The fact you numb-nuts believe we are in better shape for football than basketball shows how little you actually watch sports and just love hating on everything TN. Football is a LONG ways off. And this roster Barnes has, while transitional, is still not that bad. Bowden and Turner were major contributors these last two years, and I would be shocked if they both didn't take another step forward. James is a 5* and Barnes normally hits on 5* and has few busts. There are a lot of questions after those 3, but you also have a lot of potential. High risk. High reward.

Football has been a mess for more than a decade. Barnes restored this program in 3 years. If you're such a fair-weather fan that you're ready to jump ship already, then by all means have fun with the nightmare that is our football program. But, when Barnes lands Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer, and 1 more 5* to go with Corey Walker next year, I don't want to see you back here jumping on to the bandwagon again.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The money changes everything. UT isn't paying Barnes to have a decent season and go to the Sweet 16 every 3-4 years. He's making "blue-blood" level money now. He is expected to re-load. I'm not angry at Barnes for not getting Blackshear. I'm sure we put the full court press on trying to lure him to UT and ultimately the kid decided what was best for him. However Barnes is most certainly going to have to elevate his recruiting to match the kind of money he's making. A great start would be landing Keon Johsnon.

The pay is determined by supply and demand. It's not like somebody making $3.5 million is going to turn up their effort because they're now making $4.9 million. They better have been giving 100% effort when they were making $3.5 million.

 

[Lurker]

Cause he got ****ed.

Nonsense. He did it to himself. Because of his past he knew he would be on thin ice his entire career and he just didn't care enough to stay between the lines. No one's fault but his.

 

[Roustabout]

It's incredible to me how quickly the winds change. Yes, it's a huge disappointment missing out on KBJ after it seemed we had him. I'm not going to hide my disappointment. BUT, the number of people jumping on here to discuss this "trash" roster Barnes has for this season, and how he cannot get it done, is insane. I'm seeing people say things like "Well we were always a football school" or "Maybe Pruitt can get us to 8 wins this season."

The fact you numb-nuts believe we are in better shape for football than basketball shows how little you actually watch sports and just love hating on everything TN. Football is a LONG ways off. And this roster Barnes has, while transitional, is still not that bad. Bowden and Turner were major contributors these last two years, and I would be shocked if they both didn't take another step forward. James is a 5* and Barnes normally hits on 5* and has few busts. There are a lot of questions after those 3, but you also have a lot of potential. High risk. High reward.

Football has been a mess for more than a decade. Barnes restored this program in 3 years. If you're such a fair-weather fan that you're ready to jump ship already, then by all means have fun with the nightmare that is our football program. But, when Barnes lands Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer, and 1 more 5* to go with Corey Walker next year, I don't want to see you back here jumping on to the bandwagon again.

What forum are you reading?

Barnes did a marvelous job. He also failed to recruit at a high level to sustain success. Thus the transfers in and out. There is plenty of legit criticism for this and plenty of reason for doubt and concern. Applauding Barnes’ results and questioning his recruiting are not mutually exclusive and we don’t need your permission to do so.

Next year you could conceivably lose three guards and there is not one committed. He got Bailey which is a start but until he signs a top class it’s all speculation.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

So if tomorrow Austin Peay decided to pay their coach $5/yr they should start competing with blue bloods right away?

First of all, that is an utterly ridiculous analogy! As if Austin Peay was in ANY position to win at a high level. That's not the case here. We have the resources here to win and win consistently! Missing the tournament from here on out under Barnes is unacceptable!

Barnes took the money. He should understand the expectations. Whether it's fair or unfair, Barnes signed the contract. The "aw shucks" Deacon Barnes honeymoon days are over. He leveraged himself to getting an enormous salary and we expect return on our investment.

 

[zjcvols]

Lol. And again. I guess anyone can have their own podcast on a subject.

Not sure your issue but I remember a lot of people thought we had a tournament team. 3 seed and SEC title? No. But we all laughed at that projection.

 

[JohnnyD1024]

First of all, that is an utterly ridiculous analogy! As if Austin Peay was in ANY position to win at a high level. That's not the case here. We have the resources here to win and win consistently!

Barnes took the money. He should understand the expectations. Whether it's fair or unfair, Barnes signed the contract. The "aw shucks" Deacon Barnes honeymoon days are over. He leveraged himself to getting an enormous salary and we expect return on our investment.

Our class was already signed when Barnes got the pay raise. We had no other spots until Bone and William's went pro. Barnes's recruiting should be judged on the 2020 class and beyond based on his new salary.

 

[calban]

Our class was already signed when Barnes got the pay raise. We had no other spots until Bone and William's went pro. Barnes's recruiting should be judged on the 2020 class and beyond based on his new salary.

Those throwing in the towel could at least wait until the conclusion of the upcoming season. If they regress to missing post season play, then criticism of recruiting can hold weight. Until then it's just opinion and dooms day BS.
I'll repeat it again, Barnes problem has never been winning in regular season. It's ranked teams and post season where he comes up short.

 

[VolGee4]

First of all, that is an utterly ridiculous analogy! As if Austin Peay was in ANY position to win at a high level. That's not the case here. We have the resources here to win and win consistently! Missing the tournament from here on out under Barnes is unacceptable!

Barnes took the money. He should understand the expectations. Whether it's fair or unfair, Barnes signed the contract. The "aw shucks" Deacon Barnes honeymoon days are over. He leveraged himself to getting an enormous salary and we expect return on our investment.

You know how he leveraged himself? By winnning.

Amazing concept.

We have the resources to never make a F4.