Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl has been on target in most all of his major dealings in his two years leading the program.
But Pearl’s next challenge — replacing SEC player of the year Chris Lofton through the recruiting process — will require more precision than ever.
Pearl and two other members of his coaching staff have been on the road recruiting, looking for sharpshooters and point guards who will keep the Vols on their upward swing beyond this season.
“We need help in the backcourt,’’ said Pearl, who’s in Las Vegas evaluating talent at Nike and adidas AAU basketball tournaments. “What an unbelievable opportunity we have for point guards and two guards.’’
The Vols will lose at least three guards after this season, with Lofton, JaJuan Smith and Jordan Howell finishing out their eligibility. Rising sophomore point guard Ramar Smith is considered an NBA prospect and might also be out of Knoxville after next season.
Pearl said strong backcourt play is paramount to the program’s future success.
“We run a point-guard fast break — it’s not a double-outlet system,’’ Pearl explained. “It’s a structured, numbered break, with the ball getting outletted to the point guard 95 percent of the time.
“We feel if we can put three people on the baseline faster than you can get people back, good things will happen.’’
The Vols’ Class of ’08 already includes a commitment from 6-foot-11 Phillip Jurick of East Ridge High School which leaves three available scholarships.
Pearl said having sophomore transfer J.P. Prince (6-8) and incoming freshman Cameron Tatum (6-6) in the mix at shooting guard isn’t enough, as both are big enough that they’ll see action at small forward.
That means more marksmen and ball handlers are a necessity.
“I’ve been a head coach 15 years, and I’ve never finished second in any league I’ve coached in scoring,’’ Pearl said, “and that’s because I’ve always finished first.’’
Pearl said the extension of the 3-point line beginning with the 2008-09 season won’t affect his offensive philosophy.
“As long as that shot is worth one more point than the other, we’ll take it,’’ Pearl said. “We’re graduating our three best perimeter shooters in Howell, Lofton and JaJuan.
“Guards are absolutely at the top of our list.’’
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Comments » 12
jweaver3#395614 writes:
Coach Pearl, I know if I had a son who was a bluechip point guard I would want him in your system. We know you will get your guards!!!
Go Vols!!!
TXVOLSFAN
FatherVol writes:
Hey Coach, what about this young man from St. George's in Germantown? He seems to be getting a lot of attention from coaches around the country. We can't let Cal get him on the line!
shoalcreekvol writes:
What a ridiculous threadjack. Good, well-written story about basketball and Coach Pearl, and it takes all of 4 freakin posts to get blown into a rant about EVIL COACH FOOLMOREPEOPLEINTOTHINKINGYOURAGOODCOACH or whatever y'all are calling him these days. The only thing you're missing is a good fat joke in there too. Hey the last time I looked he's the HC at UT and he wears orange just like me and you. He doesn't deserve to be stalked by a bunch of haters. There is however a great site for your anti-UT phooey: http://www.rolltide.com. I'll tip 'em off that you're on your way so they can be lookin' for ya...
bleed_orange writes:
I have so much confidence in Coach Pearl that I would vote for him as Governor of Tennessee. I think he is simply a basketball genius. He is very good at finding talent and molding them into his system. I think he is also good at judging the charater of a player also. He just seems to know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. He is good with the UT students, alumi, and the general puplic. I have been following the Vols with my dad since about 75-76 during the Grunfield and King era when I was 6 years old. I don't think I have ever been so excited before about the future of the Vols then now! Not to mention the great assistants Coach Pearl has at his side. I'm ready to follow Coach Pearl into battle this year all the way to the Final Four! Guys, you are all so talented and some of you will be playing at the next level in the NBA, but just remember that you are now playing for the University Of Tennessee men's basketball TEAM and if you just listen to Coach Pearl- you and TN will go to far places never gone before!
JDS
vol4jesus writes:
Shoalcreekvol I am with you on this! No crvaul we are not committed to mediocrity as ewe might think. But ewe know what ? I graduated from Ut and wear ORANGE .Guess what? So does my coach! Trash talking never really got anyone where they need to be so I no longer partcipate in it. I prefer to encourage and uplift(is that ORANGE tinted glasses?) Anyway he represents our school and players...so I support him! Mr. Hamilton will make the move if he needs to based on the track record he expects from our staffs in all the sports. Lets build the team up for a new season ok?
Colliervol writes:
Amen shoalcreek. Good article on the basketball team and our glass-half-empty brethren turn it into a Fulmer bashing session. Amazing. (I guess they have a focusing problem but there is a drug called Concerta that will fix that.) I'm absolutely amazed that DSA hasn't weighed in. What they evidently don't get is that they are wasting their breath. Doesn't matter what any of us think. Nothing will happen unless their names happen to be Thornton or Haslem (with some input from Mike Hamilton). CRVol, you can give the stats a rest. We all know the team has underperformed since 1998. Duh. Dog bites man. Barring another 2005 disaster, I don't think Phil is going anywhere until Phil decides that it's time. Simple as that and the rest is just idle chatter.
Colliervol writes:
Back to the subject at hand. Agree with fathervol. We really need to get Eliot Williams (St. George's Academy) away from Memphis. That would be a major coup for a number of reasons. The fact that we are losing several guards should be of interest to him.
Colliervol writes:
Cmon, CR. I'd say Fulmer is in a little more powerful position than Delmonico, wouldn't you? Not a very good comparison. If you think a little propaganda campaign can knock out Fulmer, I've got some land I'd like to talk to you about. Nope, the current status quo isn't OK with me either. Said that since 2005. My point is simple. It's OK to vent I guess but the bottom line is that your opinion and mine don't matter when it comes to Phil Fulmer. As long as we are selling out the stadium and the VASF donations are rolling in, Hamilton doesn't care either. When donations stop, maybe he might look into it. Again, the basic premise here is that you turned a basketball article into a Fulmer bashing session. If you want to do that, knock yourself out but do it under a football article at least.
vol4jesus writes:
In the words of Ronald Reagan" there you go again." Crvol(spelling corrected) Colliervol's point again(for clarification since apears to be needed) was #1 Basketball article ,#2 don't paint us Coach Fulmer supporters as those who blindly forget the records and support regardless. I support my university and it's programs. I realized a while back that life does not revolve around me or my teams. Their are more serious situations that demand my greater attention and focus. One of our posters is Airborne just recently back from Iraq. His life does not pivot on Big Orange results. Where an individual spends eternity is a whole lot more important than beating Steve Superior(live in SC). So lighten up and smell the ORANGES!!
Colliervol writes:
Last comment I'm going to have on the subject. Let's pretend I'm speaking slowly so you'll understand. I was as critical as anybody during the 2005 mess and I'm on record as being in the category of keeping a close eye on this season as it is a critical one for Phil. But, ultimately, he ain't going anywhere until he and his two or three VERY influential friends decide that it is time. So I'm not going to waste my breath until those folks decide to make a change. The opinion of the everyday fan means squat in this situation. (Maybe if you can organize a huge financial boycott among the VASF donors then Hamilton might pay attention. But you and I know that ain't going to happen.) End of discussion.
threehundredbowler writes:
CRVol,where do you get this 2 years phooey?You must be real close to the program to have information like that.
vol4jesus writes:
jwraymond remember Aretha Franklin's hit R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Call him Coach Fulmer or we are going to put ewe in time out for being disrespectful to your elders.We can complain about the results of the games , but lets not stoop down to name calling poster children. GO VOLS!!!
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