The "up and comers" main strike....

#51
#51
Why in the world is this guy ignored?????
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - For the third time in the last four years, Belmont University men's basketball head coach Rick Byrd has been named finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award, CollegeInsider.com announced this week. Byrd, who ranks eighth among all NCAA Division I head coaches in career wins with 689, led the Bruins to a fifth consecutive conference regular season championship and a ninth postseason appearance in the last 11 years. The Bruins earned two victories in the Postseason NIT to reach the quarterfinal round.
Belmont also notched victories over North Carolina, Indiana State, Middle Tennessee and Green Bay, among others, en route to a 26-10 record - the program's fourth consecutive season of 26-plus victories. Tell me why a Knoxville hometowner and UT grad is not at the top of the list! You'd think he was a convicted felon or something! Instead he is one of the most prestigious college coaches in the country!

Probably because of his age.....
 
#53
#53
The reason Rick Byrd is not a serious candidate is because his teams have played in conferences where, most years, there was one good team, then a significant drop-off to the second best team. ETSU was able to compete with Belmont in the A-Sun for a few years there, but after that, it was Belmont and everybody else. The OVC is no better. Greg Marshall has also enjoyed that situation during his success, but unlike Byrd, his teams have done well in the NCAA tourney. Also, Marshall's teams have beaten more of the better teams they've played out of conference lately. Other than any age concerns, those are the only things that separate Marshall from Byrd in my opinion, but NCAA tournament success is a biggie.
 
#54
#54
I still scratch my head about why Bruce did what he did, but I love the guy. Now on to other things I am very concerned about Hart's gameplan. He is definitely going low budget and that carries all kind of risks. He absolutely lucked out on Butch but he caught lightning in a bottle, how many times can you do that?

I'm sorry, but I have to keep pointing this out. I see this a lot, but I don't see how many can automatically say this. Jones still has to prove it on the field. Yes, he's killed it on recruiting and he's embraced the programs, but until we start winning, I don't think you can say Hart "lucked out".

Case in point, this season is likely going to be a struggle again, and there's a decent chance we go 5-7 again. If that happens, I think a lot of Vol fans will start grumbling (fair or not).

Having said that, I think he'll do fine, but again, until we're playing in a bowl game again, I'm not going to get crazy with the praise.
 
#55
#55
La Tech's/ Michael White. I just believe he will be the next basketball coach at Tennessee.

NBC Sports is reporting that he's the main focus for Hart right now. I'd be fine with this. This is not Derek Dooley going 4 and 8 in his last year. This guy has won nearly 30 freakin' games the last two years at a place where they've never won. You put our resources under this guy and we've got a winner.
 
#57
#57
Actually, on second glance, last year's Final Four run is the only significant difference in NCAA tournament success, but that's still further than TN has ever gotten.
 
#58
#58
I'd take Saban today retirement tour or not. i don't think Byrd will leave at this point. He makes good money, is winning and is tightly dug into the community. Won't get into the Nashville vs Knoxville thing.

also, Dooley had success at LA Tech. No thanks.
When did he have success at Tech. If you mean getting rich at UT he had success.
 
#59
#59
Why in the world is this guy ignored?????
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - For the third time in the last four years, Belmont University men's basketball head coach Rick Byrd has been named finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award, CollegeInsider.com announced this week. Byrd, who ranks eighth among all NCAA Division I head coaches in career wins with 689, led the Bruins to a fifth consecutive conference regular season championship and a ninth postseason appearance in the last 11 years. The Bruins earned two victories in the Postseason NIT to reach the quarterfinal round.
Belmont also notched victories over North Carolina, Indiana State, Middle Tennessee and Green Bay, among others, en route to a 26-10 record - the program's fourth consecutive season of 26-plus victories. Tell me why a Knoxville hometowner and UT grad is not at the top of the list! You'd think he was a convicted felon or something! Instead he is one of the most prestigious college coaches in the country!

I agree but the rest of the world doesn't know what a good job he's done like Tennesseans do, unfortuniantly.
 
#60
#60
I'm sorry, but I have to keep pointing this out. I see this a lot, but I don't see how many can automatically say this. Jones still has to prove it on the field. Yes, he's killed it on recruiting and he's embraced the programs, but until we start winning, I don't think you can say Hart "lucked out".

Case in point, this season is likely going to be a struggle again, and there's a decent chance we go 5-7 again. If that happens, I think a lot of Vol fans will start grumbling (fair or not).

Having said that, I think he'll do fine, but again, until we're playing in a bowl game again, I'm not going to get crazy with the praise.

He is also (55-34) career record and four conference titles! The stats on paper say the wins will come.

You can't say the recruiting is nice but he needs to win. You can't get the wins without the recruiting and I don't think a lot of fans realize how poor this team was overall from lack of depth, quality, speed and athleticism. I think you will see some improvement this year but next year 2015 is when this team will finally look like a Southeastern Conference football team!
 
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#64
#64
Is getting a solid staff together.

It may be more important in football, but I'd think Bball is just as important too.

The bigger the name and longer you've been in the game has a major upside for getting a credible staff together.

Pitino Jr? has the best resource when in comes to creating a staff IMO.

Tyndall? Maybe he grabs a MTSU guy and brings the rest of his staff.

White? His dad is the AD for DUKE. He'll have resources too, but I'm not sure if his dad has a good insight on whom to hire.

Don't worry. I spent too much time worrying about CBJs "best staff in the country." Chemistry >> Best of the best
 
#66
#66
Why in the world is this guy ignored?????
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - For the third time in the last four years, Belmont University men's basketball head coach Rick Byrd has been named finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award, CollegeInsider.com announced this week. Byrd, who ranks eighth among all NCAA Division I head coaches in career wins with 689, led the Bruins to a fifth consecutive conference regular season championship and a ninth postseason appearance in the last 11 years. The Bruins earned two victories in the Postseason NIT to reach the quarterfinal round.
Belmont also notched victories over North Carolina, Indiana State, Middle Tennessee and Green Bay, among others, en route to a 26-10 record - the program's fourth consecutive season of 26-plus victories. Tell me why a Knoxville hometowner and UT grad is not at the top of the list! You'd think he was a convicted felon or something! Instead he is one of the most prestigious college coaches in the country!

Davey Bama and Cheeky Gator don't give two she-its who is a UT alum.
 
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