The Official Rick Barnes discussion thread

[VolGee4]

Lucked out? You schleps that despise Pearl will never acknowledge what a great coach he is. Always an “if” getting in the way. He was a great coach a S Indiana, a great coach at UWM, a great coach here, and obviously one at Auburn. If you can’t admit that then you either have a mental disorder ala libs going after Tesla & Elon Musk, or you simply don’t know basketball.

FYI, my admiration of Pearl’s achievements doesn’t cause me to ignore what Barnes has done here. Two EE’s in a row is a solid accomplishment.

I have no idea why you went there because I loved Bruce Pearl when he was here. But herein lies the problem- people who still clamor for him and we STILL get to hear about it 15 years later!

Yes, he lucked out getting to the FF. Just like you suggested he got bad calls that prevented them from getting to the title game. I was correcting an incorrect statement. WTF is wrong with people bringing politics to the discussion? This world has gone absolutely bonkers. Can’t get the facts straight so just throwing out insults.

 

[EasternVol]

He is a generational coach for us.

Beyond generational. He's the most successful coach we've ever had.

 

[hUTch2002]

I am happy with two straight EEs, great players, great culture and great kids with a staff that does things the right way. While I hope to get beyond the EE soon, I have no problem keeping Barnes. What is this "standard" of which you speak? Have you bothered to review our basketball history? You are the one that sounds young.
And I will wager I am older than you.

Old man fight! Select your cane and let’s do this!

 

[jeff1vol]

So much stupidity in this post but that’s pretty much expected coming from you.

You don’t win 30 games and get back to back E8s unless you’re a great coach.

And I don’t know why you and the other knuckle draggers continue with this dumb narrative that the game has passed him by because it’s simply not true.

We had an off game and there’s plenty to be proud of this season.

Go on with your pity party.

Are you able to comprehend? You're the typical emotional spaz. I never said Barnes wasn't a good coach. I never said there isn't plenty to be proud of, etc. You're just making **** up, as usual. Focusing on defense over offense in modern basketball is not going to hang banners, IMO. If you disagree, fine.

 

[jeff1vol]

Houston just made the Final Four without touching 70 points this weekend. It’s just not true that offense matters more than defense. They both matter. FYI we were very good at both this year.

They were playing a team that scored FIFTEEN points in the first half! Let's see happens when they meet a team that can score from anywhere and they have to keep up. If they beat Duke and score under 70 doing it... I'll concede.

 

[05_never_again]

You can still make an argument that Ray Mears is the best coach in school history. 182-76 in SEC play over 15 seasons, won (or tied) the SEC 3 times. Barnes is obviously the best or second best.

Had the modern 64 or 68-team field existed when he coached, Mears would have been in the NCAAT every single year from 1965 to 1977, and often at a high seed.

 

[walkenvol]

You can still make an argument that Ray Mears is the best coach in school history. 182-76 in SEC play over 15 seasons, won (or tied) the SEC 3 times. Barnes is obviously the best or second best.

Had the modern 64 or 68-team field existed when he coached, Mears would have been in the NCAAT every single year from 1965 to 1977, and often at a high seed.

You also have to factor in how much more competitive the SEC is today when comparing Mears. I do agree that the UT goat is between Mears and Barnes with Pearl coming in 3rd

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

You also have to factor in how much more competitive the SEC is today when comparing Mears. I do agree that the UT goat is between Mears and Barnes with Pearl coming in 3rd

The SEC was pretty competitive in the 1970s

 

[05_never_again]

You also have to factor in how much more competitive the SEC is today when comparing Mears. I do agree that the UT goat is between Mears and Barnes with Pearl coming in 3rd

True, but the SEC has become the best or second-best CBB conference in the country on a year-in, year-out basis just within the last 3-4 years. The SEC had a lot of mediocre seasons overall the first 5-6 years of Rick's tenure.

 

[JohnnyD1024]

Barnes has been trying to go more offense the past couple of seasons. That's why he went out and got Knect the season before last and got Lanier, Igor and Dubar this past season. This issue this past season was that Igor and Dubar didn't pan out like they thought they would.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Brother, quit making a fool of yourself. Pearl made an Elite Eight here and a championship game at Auburn (with questionable officiating that thwarted a win) and now another Final Four.

#truthhurts

Denying reality is not a good look.

And, don't worry...no one can outdo you in that regard.

 

[PantherVols]

Coach Barnes is a great coach who always wants to win. The winning part may be what’s getting in the way - at least during the early parts of a season. Starting the year 14-0 without developing your bench players hurts your team down the road when you need them. Players like Dubar, Boswell, Phillips and Carr before he got hurt and left the team, need quality minutes to develop. How many times during the season did Barnes pull a bench player for a mistake and never put him back in again. You have to build players up not drag them down. Why care if you’re 11-3 instead of 14-0 if your team will be better in the long run.

For instance - if Boswell was playing 8 to 10 minutes a game through out the season he could have been a factor in the NCAA tournament. However, without the game experience he was essentially useless - Barnes barely played him in games they won by 30-40 points. So what if he makes mistakes - it’s all about development and confidence during these early season games. There’s no reason to depend on your top 6 players in the final 10 minutes of a game when you’re up by 30 and playing inferior teams. This is the time to build your team. So what if they only win by 15 or 20.

Before Carr injured his thumb he was playing 10 minutes a game against inferior talent. Why not play him closer to 20 minutes a game - he’s an awesome talent and I’m convinced he would have stayed if he had the confidence Barnes was going to play him quality minutes when he came back.

Just feel Barnes needs to develop his bench players early and not worry about starting the season like it all about winning. My point is develop the bench and make them a strength. A team with 8-9 reliable players is better than one that has 6 or 7.

 

[hUTch2002]

I don't even need that high quality of a player. Just a Vlad Goldin would be fine. Just somebody that's only offense is dunk or layup. Aidoo seemed to be getting there some but took a step back second half junior year and left. I have high hopes for Estrella, maybe he can be something.

Aidoo plays too soft. I’m definitely excited to get Estrella back.

 

[hUTch2002]

Occasionally making it past the first weekend? We've done that 3 years in a row. Right now, Barnes gives us the best chance to win championship

Casual fan take. It's ok

How many teams have made it to the second weekend 3 straight years? I’d guess no more than 5, probably more like 3. Either way, that’s top 1-2% area.

 

[hUTch2002]

He’s had a couple over the years, but I don’t know why we always assume that every former player is going to join the coaching staff.

As soon as Peyton takes over for Heupel the other dominoes will start to fall. Done deal.

 

[hUTch2002]

There was literally no reason anyone would predict Tennessee beating Houston other than our blind fanbase

Uh, they were like a 2-point favorite, not 20.

 

[VolPack22]

So we are just gonna rewrite history and before Barnes no other coach was just as successful here?

6 times to the tourney never happened between 05 and 11? Didn’t make sweet 16 twice? Didn’t make an elite 8 in 2010? Wasnt number one in the entire country? Didn’t amass a record of 145-61? None of that happened? It was all a dream. Pearl did none of that?

Before Barnes UT was strictly an NIT team?

I’m not trying to be a jerk cause you’re a cool poster but for my own sanity am I imagining all of that happened under a different coach than Barnes here? It never happened?

Pearl took over a program that was returning Chris Lofton, CJ Watson, JuJuan Smith, Major Wingate, and Dane Bradshaw.

Barnes had Kevin Punter, Armani Moore, Robert Hubbs, Devon Baulkman, and Detrick Mostella returning and taking over for a previous coach that was fired for recruiting violations so he had to deal with that mess too.

The situations they were taking over were not even remotely close. Give Barnes a generational three point shooter, a future 10 year NBA vet, along with another very good shooter in Year 1 and I bet he would have great success too. That backcourt Pearl inherited was unreal.

 

[VolPack22]

Somewhat better, not sure about much better. Richt probably wins a bit more without a legend in Saban coaching at Alabama. They had talent with him but not the level Bowl Cut brings in. Franklin won the Big Ten once and actually won a couple of CFP games this past season.

Barnes has a history in the NCAA Tournament going back to his Texas days. I suspect you’d see the parallels if he wasn’t coaching for Tennessee. The thing is I like him and know there aren’t many better, I just will be surprised if he gets our program to a Final Four.

I wish Tennessee got to host SMU and play Boise in a neutral site game to make the CFP semifinals. That path was a joke and shouldn’t even be mentioned

 

[OrangeInKy]

Pearl took over a program that was returning Chris Lofton, CJ Watson, JuJuan Smith, Major Wingate, and Dane Bradshaw.

Barnes had Kevin Punter, Armani Moore, Robert Hubbs, Devon Baulkman, and Detrick Mostella returning and taking over for a previous coach that was fired for recruiting violations so he had to deal with that mess too.

The situations they were taking over were not even remotely close. Give Barnes a generational three point shooter, a future 10 year NBA vet, along with another very good shooter in Year 1 and I bet he would have great success too. That backcourt Pearl inherited was unreal.

Barnes wouldn’t have had Brian Williams on his team or played his son meaningful minutes when he had a potential final 4 team, either. I actually can think a handful of Pearl guys that would’ve been able to play for Barnes. Maybe not even a handful. I’ll tell you one thing, Ramar Smith wouldn’t have been playing point in that 2007 OSU game. Who knows what he would’ve done with that team.

 

[brockytop]

I have no idea why you went there because I loved Bruce Pearl when he was here. But herein lies the problem- people who still clamor for him and we STILL get to hear about it 15 years later!

Yes, he lucked out getting to the FF. Just like you suggested he got bad calls that prevented them from getting to the title game. I was correcting an incorrect statement. WTF is wrong with people bringing politics to the discussion? This world has gone absolutely bonkers. Can’t get the facts straight so just throwing out insults.

Yep, lucked out winning an NC at Southern Indiana, lucked out getting to an EE here, and now Pearl’s lucked out getting to two FF‘s with Auburn. I sure wish I was that lucky.

BTW, as much as I admire Pearl as a coach I‘ve also never had any inclination there would be a return to Tennessee. Period. My hope is CRB still has the fire to keep going a few more years in the current environment of NIL and transfers.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Yep, lucked out winning an NC at Southern Indiana, lucked out getting to an EE here, and now Pearl’s lucked out getting to two FF‘s with Auburn. I sure wish I was that lucky.

BTW, as much as I admire Pearl as a coach I‘ve also never had any inclination there would be a return to Tennessee. Period. My hope is CRB still has the fire to keep going a few more years in the current environment of NIL and transfers.

Heck, he's a great coach. The "lucky" comment was crazy. I loved him while he was at UT but was also aware of his previous sleazy behavior before he came to UT. I wanted to believe he had learned from his previous behavior. My worst fears came true about him his last year here. It wasn't about the BBQ either. Nevertheless, his behavior left us in a terrible situation. Regardless of how much he loved it here, he's not an option when Barnes retires. If he would have done what he was directed to do after the BBQ, he might still be here. The narrative that the administration hung him out to dry is false. He hung his own self out to dry

 

[SGMVols]

You can still make an argument that Ray Mears is the best coach in school history. 182-76 in SEC play over 15 seasons, won (or tied) the SEC 3 times. Barnes is obviously the best or second best.

Had the modern 64 or 68-team field existed when he coached, Mears would have been in the NCAAT every single year from 1965 to 1977, and often at a high seed.

I could buy that except he never even won a tournament game with Ernie and Bernie in the years he got in.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I could buy that except he never even won a tournament game with Ernie and Bernie in the years he got in.

How many did he play in with the much smaller fields? Plus, it was before seeding too. For most of his years at UT he would have been a 4 seed or higher in the expanded field model. A couple of years in there as a 2

 

[JMSqb11]

They are just so dissimilar in personality and demeanor that it's natural to compare them to one another.

Tennessee is fortunate that we get to have these types of comparisons. My goodness the thought of having to compare 2 coaches at Tennessee in the last 20 years with the record of Pearl and Barnes. The horror!

 

[JMSqb11]

Are you able to comprehend? You're the typical emotional spaz. I never said Barnes wasn't a good coach. I never said there isn't plenty to be proud of, etc. You're just making **** up, as usual. Focusing on defense over offense in modern basketball is not going to hang banners, IMO. If you disagree, fine.

"Emotional spaz"??? That is best description I've seen of him!