When can we start criticizing Coach Pearl?

#27
#27
Well, the expectations were to win the SEC going away. Especially with the "talent" we have this year. Being tied for first at 7-4 is far from what everyone expected.

The team does not seem to have any chemistry, and that rests with the coach. Chism gave Pearl some **** eating looks last night. None of the players seem to be communicating or looking at each other. For most of the second half they all looked lost. No leader, no scorer. It was like watching a train wreck. If we don't get the lead early we are doomed. Last year I felt like the team could pull it out at the end but this year I don't see the same thing. Look at the Auburn game...

Kennedy gets in a shout down with a player that ends up coming on and doing well. He was motivating his players.
 
#28
#28
Slov said:
Well, the expectations were to win the SEC going away. Especially with the "talent" we have this year. Being tied for first at 7-4 is far from what everyone expected.

The team does not seem to have any chemistry, and that rests with the coach. Chism gave Pearl some **** eating looks last night. None of the players seem to be communicating or looking at each other. For most of the second half they all looked lost. No leader, no scorer. It was like watching a train wreck. If we don't get the lead early we are doomed. Last year I felt like the team could pull it out at the end but this year I don't see the same thing. Look at the Auburn game...

Kennedy gets in a shout down with a player that ends up coming on and doing well. He was motivating his players.
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I think they have been competitive all year long (in every game) it just seems tonite was the exception. (and Kentucky)
 
#30
#30
volball625 said:
Seriously? This a joke of a roster that he has put together. We get abused on the perimeter every game.

1. We have no true PG. Maze is a scoring guard and Tabb is a 2 guard playing PG.

2. This team is full of forwards. Tatum and Hopson are three guards playing the 2. The simply do not have nearly enough quickness to defend any off guard in the country, especially Tatum.

3. Revisiting point 1, we have 2 legitimate guards on the entire roster.

I love what Bruce Pearl has done for this program, but i hope that he has learned his lesson when recruiting players.
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I think there has been criticism of Pearl on this board, which is expected when a team does not perform up to billing. I'm not sure, however, the billing was fair.

The roster Pearl has put together is out of necessity, not design. The point guard situation has been in question since Ramar was released, and it was compounded with West being ineligible. The team is forward heavy because two guards and a center were lost to off-court issues. Bruce is responsible for bringing in kids that can play, but sometimes things happen that are beyond control.

This is a team that has no experience and very little toughness at guard. The half-court offense still stinks, the ball-handling and shooting are erratic, and the defensive intensity is lacking to a point where they can't use those long, athletic frames to press, which should be a strength. Those are weaknesses that can be disguised in some situations, but they won't be fixed this year.

Criticism of Pearl is fine; the man isn't perfect. But years like this happen. If our "down years" consists of being tied for first in late February while jockeying for NCAA seeding, I'm not going to get too down on him.
 
#32
#32
VolsSportsFan said:
I understand your point, but this "Hey at least it's not the Buzz Peterson/Kevin O'Neil/Wade Houston days" line of thinking is getting pretty old. That's only going to work so much longer.

Plus it's 100% valid to criticize the team when they deserve it, and after our last 2 road games, this team 100% deserves it as does Pearl. Just becuase you point out problems doesn't mean you want Pearl gone, and most of us were around in the crappy days when UT basketball was a complete joke, so you don't need to keep reminding us. Not to mention it makes you sound like some apologist who's argument is purely emotional.
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I think the criticism is only good when they lose at home. lets face it, they got out played, hustled, and out coached by a pretty good Ole Miss team who is 10 and 2 at home. now 11 and 2. Anyway, this team will probably lose 11 games this year, but there is no shame in that. As long as Pearl gives me something to cheer about come NCAA tourney time, I'll be fine.
 
#33
#33
cotton said:
I think there has been criticism of Pearl on this board, which is expected when a team does not perform up to billing. I'm not sure, however, the billing was fair.

The roster Pearl has put together is out of necessity, not design. The point guard situation has been in question since Ramar was released, and it was compounded with West being ineligible. The team is forward heavy because two guards and a center were lost to off-court issues. Bruce is responsible for bringing in kids that can play, but sometimes things happen that are beyond control.

This is a team that has no experience and very little toughness at guard. The half-court offense still stinks, the ball-handling and shooting are erratic, and the defensive intensity is lacking to a point where they can't use those long, athletic frames to press, which should be a strength. Those are weaknesses that can be disguised in some situations, but they won't be fixed this year.

Criticism of Pearl is fine; the man isn't perfect. But years like this happen. If our "down years" consists of being tied for first in late February while jockeying for NCAA seeding, I'm not going to get too down on him.
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Agreed, but if UK and UF and really the rest of the league was like it usually is UT would have a much worse record.
 
#34
#34
TennNC said:
and Kansas.

and Temple.

and Gonzaga the first time.
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All road games, and all very good teams at home.

Not going to complain, road wins are the toughest to come by. Especially with the team Pearl has right now. They just aren't ready
 
#35
#35
JZVOL said:
Agreed, but if UK and UF and really the rest of the league was like it usually is UT would have a much worse record.
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I understand what you are saying, but we do have a SOS of 1st in the country; our record is not inflated because the opposition stinks.
 
#38
#38
And honestly, I don't see this team being any better next year. We have no help coming in where it matters. It will probably will be the same team except we won't have Chism Or Tyler Smith.
 
#40
#40
volball625 said:
And honestly, I don't see this team being any better next year. We have no help coming in where it matters. It will probably will be the same team except we won't have Chism Or Tyler Smith.[/QUOTE]

Ever heard of Kenny Hall.

Stick to another sport. You seem a little uninformed on this one

Chism won't be here??? Ridiculous
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#41
#41
limadog007 said:
I think criticism is OK, but this team is without a senior leader. They really don't have the ammo to go out and compete when the chips are stacked against them.

This is an average team. Deal with it.
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And good coaches can do more with an average team than what Bruce Pearl is doing with this team...
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#42
#42
Lofton4Three said:
And good coaches can do more with an average team than what Bruce Pearl is doing with this team...
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Which is sort of enigmatic for Pearl. He took a team of average players (2006) and did more with them than he is doing with this team. I truly believe he must settle on an 8 man rotation and stick with it.
 
#43
#43
Truefan, you think adding Kenny Hall and losing Chism and Smith is going to make UT better?
 
#44
#44
JZVOL said:
Agreed, but if UK and UF and really the rest of the league was like it usually is UT would have a much worse record.
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True, but you can single out any of the teams you mentioned and apply the same rationale.
 
#45
#45
truefan said:
volball625 said:
And honestly, I don't see this team being any better next year. We have no help coming in where it matters. It will probably will be the same team except we won't have Chism Or Tyler Smith.[/QUOTE]

Ever heard of Kenny Hall.

Stick to another sport. You seem a little uninformed on this one

Chism won't be here??? Ridiculous
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If our shortcomings are in the backcourt, then Kenny Hall won't be able to fix them.
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#46
#46
We need Josh Selby to forego his senior year of eligibility and declare for the NCAA.
 
#48
#48
truefan said:
Which is sort of enigmatic for Pearl. He took a team of average players (2006) and did more with them than he is doing with this team. I truly believe he must settle on an 8 man rotation and stick with it.
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Those average teams had above average shooters that blanketed Bruce's blatant inability to coach any organized offense....
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#49
#49
vol4life14 said:
well it doesnt help when your young point guard you recruit doesnt qualify and have to go to a backup plan in tabb a month before the season starts... also having 6 new guys in the rotation and all of them except maze are fresh outta high school... cut this team some slack...

look at the gators they are coming off back to back championships are they saying donavon sucks after 2 sub par seasons..
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However the other point guard he recruited "Ramar Smith" was a mistake also. Not only because Ramar got into off court trouble but also because he was'nt smart could'nt shoot or make free throws. A point guard should be a second coach on the floor, unselfish and you want the ball in his hands when your holding a slim lead late in the game. Bobby Maze is not a true point guard and I think coach Pearl put athleticism over basketball knowledge in the point guard position which I think is a mistake.
 
#50
#50
I wouldn't criticize Pearl simply out of fear of the famous Dickens, "Dumb" that would be coming. You've all been warned.
 
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