Will UT ever be a basketball school?

#78
#78
Speaking of other sports, soccer, etc. What i have never understood is why we do not have a women's gymnastics team. It is huge at some other schools in the sec. Ga and Bama come to mind. It is not unheard of for Bama or UGA to fill their coliseum for a big match.

Instead we have women's rowing. Would you rather watch women's rowing or women's gymnastics.
 
#79
#79
I feel that in order to be a "school" in a particular sport you have to exhibit a sustained level of success.
The kind of level that has your fan base supporting year in and year out.
You have to have the kind of success and consistency that changes the historical outlook of said school.
One or two years of success does not make a "school".

Good example that comes to mind is Michigan.
Historically they are seen as a 'football school', but their recent years in basketball success is starting to change people's outlook.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolsLady-in-FL
#80
#80
Our football team has been down for more than 10 years. Our basketball team is ranked #1. We are all excited. However, the number of basketball posts are still only 10 % if the football posts. If for some reason football continues to spiral downward will the gap between football and basketball narrow? Or will basketball always be a casual pastime while we wait for football regardless of how bad we are at football?

Why not be both? They don’t play at the same time.
 
#82
#82
If you asked 20 Kentucky fans if they would rather win 5 National Championships in football or basketball then I think most of them would say football. Would be an interesting survey nonetheless.

Well I live in Lexington and my roommate works for UK so I’m going to tell him to do this to 20 people on campus. I’ll be back with results tomorrow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Behr
#85
#85
Will UT ever be a basketball school?

Well ... will UK ever be a football school?


UT will enjoy success in various sports, but will first and foremost, always will be, a football school. JMHO.
 
#86
#86
Will UT ever be a basketball school?

Well ... will UK ever be a football school?


UT will enjoy success in various sports, but will first and foremost, always will be, a football school. JMHO.
Theres no comparison between Kentucky football to UT basketball.... likewise there’s really no comparison between UT football and UK basketball.
 
#87
#87
Theres no comparison between Kentucky football to UT basketball.... likewise there’s really no comparison between UT football and UK basketball.

I didn't say there was.

I simply posed a similar question as a segway to say "UT will enjoy success in various sports, but will first and foremost, always will be, a football school. JMHO."
 
#88
#88
I didn't say there was.

I simply posed a similar question as a segway to say "UT will enjoy success in various sports, but will first and foremost, always will be, a football school. JMHO."
The gap between the two sports is a heck of a lot closer here than it is at Kentucky. Anyway, I still don’t get what it means to be a ‘basketball school’.

What is UCLA? Michigan St? I don’t think I’d co sided them strictly basketball schools. Seems like the schools that can be definitely called a ‘basketball school’ have historically ****** football programs. That’s it.
 
#89
#89
I don’t think that you’re a basketball school until you hang a few banners. That being said, Barnes might be the man to do it and the team this year sure look like they may break the ice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: preacherwebb
#90
#90
We should focus on basketball and try to become a men’s soccer dynasty. Get ahead of the curve before tackle football is outlawed.

Atlanta United is a great example of how fast it can take hold. Let’s embrace our futbol matches guys.

giphy.gif

Seeing up to 100k SEC fans screaming GOOOO -ulll !!!! makes me think of what it would be like to watch George Strait start covering three6mafia.
 
#91
#91
The gap between the two sports is a heck of a lot closer here than it is at Kentucky. Anyway, I still don’t get what it means to be a ‘basketball school’.

What is UCLA? Michigan St? Seems like the schools that can be definitely called a ‘basketball school’ have historically ****** football programs.

I guess the phrase "name the sport school" means that is what they have historically been most successful at (W-L's, championships, ect) and possibly the cash cow/money maker for the university (tickets, concessions, apparel, ect).

For example, has North Carolina had success in football? Here and there, sure.
Basketball? Now that's where their history, tradition, championships, money, and so forth lies, hence, North Carolina is a basketball school.

Kentucky and Louisville are basketball schools. Duke is a basketball school. I would say UConn is a basketball school. I would agree that Mich St is a basketball school. UCLA is one of those schools that have had some success in both football and basketball (maybe?).

UT, in my opinion, is a football school.
Success in other sports here and there, sure, but football is where most of the wins, tradition, championships, and money lies.
Lady Vols Basketball under the Legendary Pat Summit is probably the exception for championships, but definitely not the money machine.

All that being said, I'm sure there are many, many Universities that haven't won much of anything at any sport to be a sports school (as we are talking about) at all. Likewise, there are some places that have had as much success in one sport as the other (which admittedly clouds the water a little bit for this discussion).

All of this is just my simple way of thinking and as well as an effort to answer your question.
Hope this helps.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolsLady-in-FL
#92
#92
I guess the phrase "name the sport school" means that is what they have historically been most successful at (W-L's, championships, ect) and possibly the cash cow/money maker for the university (tickets, concessions, apparel, ect).

For example, has North Carolina had success in football? Here and there, sure.
Basketball? Now that's where their history, tradition, championships, money, and so forth lies, hence, North Carolina is a basketball school.

Kentucky and Louisville are basketball schools. Duke is a basketball school. I would say UConn is a basketball school. I would agree that Mich St is a basketball school. UCLA is one of those schools that have had some success in both football and basketball (maybe?).

UT, in my opinion, is a football school.
Success in other sports here and there, sure, but football is where most of the wins, tradition, championships, and money lies.
Lady Vols Basketball under the Legendary Pat Summit is probably the exception for championships, but definitely not the money machine.

All that being said, I'm sure there are many, many Universities that haven't won much of anything at any sport to be a sports school (as we are talking about) at all. Likewise, there are some places that have had as much success in one sport as the other (which admittedly clouds the water a little bit for this discussion).

All of this is just my simple way of thinking and as well as an effort to answer your question.
Hope this helps.
So basically there are only a few schools that could be characterized as one or the other.

What is Arkansas? Iowa? Oklahoma St? All of which have historically had better basketball programs.

Also, football revenues dwarf basketball revenues even at “basketball schools”
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: VolsLady-in-FL
#94
#94
Florida won back to back National Titles in basketball in The last 15 years. Does anyone consider them a basketball school? Michigan has been to 2 title game under Beilin, most i bet would think of them as a Football School . We’ve never been to a final four. The only schools that have had sustained success in both sports are pretty much in the B1G (Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin). FSU has been decent, Washington, OU, Texas and Florida that’s about it. All known for football despite success in basketball on occasion.

No we will never be a basketball school. We shouldn’t want to be either.
 
#95
#95
Our football team has been down for more than 10 years. Our basketball team is ranked #1. We are all excited. However, the number of basketball posts are still only 10 % if the football posts. If for some reason football continues to spiral downward will the gap between football and basketball narrow? Or will basketball always be a casual pastime while we wait for football regardless of how bad we are at football?
Being ranked #1 still isn't good enough for some folks. Some folks have this very realistic expectation that we should be ranked #1 in ALL sports! I guess VFL Fulmer doesn't know anything about being #1....in any sport.
 
#96
#96
So basically there are only a few schools that could be characterized as one or the other.

What is Arkansas? Iowa? Oklahoma St? All of which have historically had better basketball programs.

Also, football revenues dwarf basketball revenues even at “basketball schools”

I give up.
I got no more words.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
#97
#97
What is the definition of a "basketball school"?
A school where people like/follow basketball like Tennessee follows football.

Most schools are clearly one or the other. Other schools you can make a case either way. I'd argue it is what sport is the school most known for/which sport is a bigger part of the school's reputation. For example, Michigan has had successful football and basketball programs over the years. Their basketball team has more titles than their football team since 1950. However, they're unquestionably a football school, even though the basketball program is also really good.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: preacherwebb
#99
#99
A school where people like/follow basketball like Tennessee follows football.

Most schools are clearly one or the other. Other schools you can make a case either way. I'd argue it is what sport is the school most known for/which sport is a bigger part of the school's reputation. For example, Michigan has had successful football and basketball programs over the years. Their basketball team has more titles than their football team since 1950. However, they're unquestionably a football school, even though the basketball program is also really good.
I agree. I think most schools have more football support than basketball. Appeals to more people. There are a lot of schools without great success in either sport. So by default schools tend to be “football schools”. And when schools have a lot of success in both sports, they’re still “football schools”. Basketball schools either don’t have a D1 football program or have a humongous disparity in success - Kansas, Duke, Kentucky. Just seems like a pointless designation. Nobody wants to be a “basketball school”. And I say that as someone who likes basketball better.
 

VN Store



Back
Top