Will Bruce Pearl win a N/C at Tennessee?

#1
volfan2024

volfan2024

“Wanna play ball scarecrow “
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#1
I have a feeling if it can be done, he'll do it.The question is how long will it take?
 
#3
#3
tvolsfan said:
depends on how long he stays here...
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With all the freshmen across the country this year who likely will go pro next year (Durant, Wright, Oden, etc.), and with the talent we have returning next year, and assuming we get 1-2 new players who can play a role on next year's team, I think next year could give us a legitimate shot.

I like the progress Ramar, Crews and Tabb are all making. They could be real studs next year. Chism needs to put on some muscle and be more consistently tough. But this team will be experienced, will have leaders, and will have Lofton.

After that, it all depends on the recruits we get, and like someone else said, how long Pearl stays. I certainly think he's got what it takes to lead a team there.
 
#7
#7
I dont know if Bruce will be a big fan of these 1 year guys...oden,durant,wright, etc.
 
#9
#9
Depends on when they come along... Give Pearl enough years and I don't think there would be any point making the switch unless UT refused to pay him as mcuh.
 
#11
#11
Tennessee needs to establish itself in the paint before a National Championship can be talked about.

I am quite sure in the darkness of Eastern Europe a Gheorghe Muresan is waiting to wear orange!

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#13
#13
Bruce Pearl and the mens hoops team are the best chance for a Vol NC, cant see Fulmer winning one, and Summitt doesnt seem to be able take her girls all the way
 
#14
#14
In my opinion, we will have a legitimate shot to do it next season.

-We have seen the improvments that Ramar Smith, Duke Crews, and Wayne Chism have made so far this season. Just think how much better they will be this time next season. They will have another year in the weight room to get stronger.

-Ramar Smith and Duke Crews have shown flashes of being not just good, but GREAT players. Ramar Smith has gone from being question on whether he was the answer at point guard to potentially being one of the best we have ever had at the position. If he can learn to consistently finish when he gets to the basket, he could be unstoppable. He can already get to the basket against anyone. He also needs to develop a better jump shot, which he can do if he works on it. If and when he is able to do these things, it will only help get Lofton and our other shooters more wide open shots.

-Wayne Chism is another guy who needs to get stronger and more consistent, which I see him doing with Pearl as his coach.

-Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith will have another year to get even better.

-Josh Tabb is already one of our better defensive players. If he can work on his jump shot, I can see him turning into another JaJuan Smith type player.

-Cameron Tatum will be here to provide a legitimate 3 guy. He is very athletic, and can shoot the ball. I think he will be a key component for the Vols next season.

-We will be a deeper team next season. Lofton, JaJuan Smith, Ramar Smith, Crews, Chism, Tabb, Childress, Tatum, and Howell. That's 9 guys who will see around 10 or so minutes a game. Plus we'll have Brian Williams and Passley who may or may not play much next season depending on how much they improve. And if Pearl takes J.P. Prince or a spring signee, it will only add more depth.
 
#15
#15
There are a number of really, really good basketball coaches who have never won a National Title. There is an element of luck involved in winning the NCAA tournament that can't be accurately quantified.
 
#16
#16
True, but I think Pearl will get us to be competitive enough that at least once we will slip through, maybe not even in our best year.
 
#17
#17
Bill Walton said:
In my opinion, we will have a legitimate shot to do it next season.

-We have seen the improvments that Ramar Smith, Duke Crews, and Wayne Chism have made so far this season. Just think how much better they will be this time next season. They will have another year in the weight room to get stronger.

-Ramar Smith and Duke Crews have shown flashes of being not just good, but GREAT players. Ramar Smith has gone from being question on whether he was the answer at point guard to potentially being one of the best we have ever had at the position. If he can learn to consistently finish when he gets to the basket, he could be unstoppable. He can already get to the basket against anyone. He also needs to develop a better jump shot, which he can do if he works on it. If and when he is able to do these things, it will only help get Lofton and our other shooters more wide open shots.

-Wayne Chism is another guy who needs to get stronger and more consistent, which I see him doing with Pearl as his coach.

-Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith will have another year to get even better.

-Josh Tabb is already one of our better defensive players. If he can work on his jump shot, I can see him turning into another JaJuan Smith type player.

-Cameron Tatum will be here to provide a legitimate 3 guy. He is very athletic, and can shoot the ball. I think he will be a key component for the Vols next season.

-We will be a deeper team next season. Lofton, JaJuan Smith, Ramar Smith, Crews, Chism, Tabb, Childress, Tatum, and Howell. That's 9 guys who will see around 10 or so minutes a game. Plus we'll have Brian Williams and Passley who may or may not play much next season depending on how much they improve. And if Pearl takes J.P. Prince or a spring signee, it will only add more depth.
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Nice post.:thumbsup:
 
#18
#18
hatvol96 said:
There are a number of really, really good basketball coaches who have never won a National Title. There is an element of luck involved in winning the NCAA tournament that can't be accurately quantified.
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True, but you also have to have talent and good coaching, and I think we will have plenty of it next season.

I obviously don't see any of our guys going pro after this season, either, so we will also be experienced...at least in comparison to some of the teams who will have players leave after this season (Texas, North Carolina, Florida?, Ohio State, etc.) I would take a second year Duke Crews, Chism, and Ramar Smith over just about any freshman out there. Of course, I wouldn't cry if we had a guy like Greg Oden, either. Coach Pearl is also a tremendous developer of talent, so our guys are only going to get better, as opposed to staying the same or getting worse like we have seen in the past.

Another thing that will be a major factor in our favor next season is Thompson-Boling Arena. A few years ago no one would have ever said that! But think about it. It has already become a major home court advantage for us. We are currently 4th in the nation in home attendance. With the renovations to the arena next year, as well as the continued success and excitement of our program, it is only going to get better next year. That means an even louder place to watch basketball games. Who knows? That could mean a couple more wins and higher seed in the Tourney.
 
#19
#19
Although it's hard to quantify exactly how much of an impact losing Dane Bradshaw will have on next year's team, I sincerely think that next year will be the Vols' best-ever chance at, if not a national title, a Final Four run, which would be unprecedented, seeing as how UT has never even gotten to the Elite Eight. (although we had it in the bag, damn it, against UNC back in the late 90's)
 
#20
#20
hatvol96 said:
There are a number of really, really good basketball coaches who have never won a National Title. There is an element of luck involved in winning the NCAA tournament that can't be accurately quantified.
Click to expand...

So true. Look at Roy Williams. How many times did he knock on the door before he got his NC, with another coach's players, no less?

The key is getting enough sweet 16 appearances to increase the odds that your team will hit a streak where it plays its best bball and the other teams aren't quite as good.
 
#21
#21
Thank God for Bruce Pearl!!!

It is awesome being excited about Mens basketball again. What this guy has done in the short time he has been here is unbelievable.

I am not sure a NC is possible till we are able to get 8 to 10 years of getting in the tournament and advancing past the first or second round.

But we have a shot now at a Sweet 16, Great 8, or even Final 4. If this team gets hot they can beat anyone they are on the court with. But to win championships is so hard you have to be in the mix every year and then you have to have some luck.

There is no doubt that Pearl has this program going in the right direction. I would not trade the guy for any coach in America. We just have to continue to bring guys like Smith, Chism, Crews in. If we continue to do that we have as good a shot as anyone.
 
#24
#24
VolinArizona said:
I have a gut feeling we may make a deep deep run this season. Who knows, though?
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Living by the 3 and opponent turnovers makes for some serious inconsistency. Until we address this, we're likely to struggle in some games that we should win and vice versa. Not the recipe for winning it all.

That said, our current style of ball is very attractive to players because it's flat out fun to play and displays athletic talent. Bodes well for our recruiting.
 
#25
#25
It also depends on how we go into the tourney... I believe last year we were going in in a slump, and it was apparent that we weren't going to make it far... If we come in hopefully playing some good basketball, we can make a run.
 
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