PUT IT THIS WAY--ASKING WHO IS THE BEST PLAYER IN UT'S HISTORY IS LIKE ASKING WHAT'S THE BEST ROCK & ROLL SONG EVER,OR WHO'S THE BEST ACTOR EVER,TYPE QUESTION-- YOU (I) COULD NEVER ANSWER THAT-- THE BEST ANSWER WOULD BE DIFFERENT PLAYERS AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES!! OR MAYBE YOU COULD ASK WHO'S THE TOP 50 PLAYERS OF ALL TIME:)
Better than Houston? LMAO,before Bernard had his knee problems he was arguably better than anyone on the planet. Larry Bird once said he was the best he had ever seen.
King was the best due to his all around game, shooting, inside play, defense and rebounding.
Grunfeld, Houston, and Dale Ellis were all right there with him, but King was just special.
Bill Justice was just before my time but I think that Jimmy England and Mike Edwards deserve to be on that list as well. Also not listed is Reggie Johnson who was a great player for us.
England and Edwards were both great shooting guards. Edwards played before the 3 point era which is a shame because he would have been there with Lofton.
Reggie Johnson lead us to the SEC tournament championship and was a terrific player.
Just a few additional names that should be considered for future honors.
Not to overlook my hero, Tom Boerwinkle. 7', 300 lbs., vertical leap of 4". But the man could sure clog up the middle. Lasted 10 yrs in NBA. Stu Aberdeen once used broom on him to encourage him to jump. His reply? I AM jumping. A great old Vol.
What about "the man with the golden arm" A.W.Davis. A.W. was silky smooth around the basket. He was a little thin but he was a producer of points. One of my favorites was "Bruising" Howard Bayne. Total intimidation under the boards. Who can forget Micheal Brooks who used to drain long jumpers of 22' to 28' regularly.
Ray Mears slowed it down BEFORE King and Grunfeld. When King and Grunfeld were there, they ran up and down the floor. 85.7 pts/game isn't slowing it down nafslov....without the 3pt shot.
Stupid poll..not surprising coming from KNS.
No one is even close to King. He is arguably the best player ever in the SEC.
I hate to break this to you, but Ernie and Bernie were 1974-1978 and Charles Barkley played at Auburn from 1980-1984. Couldn't have played each other....
Bernard King was at a different level from the others. He was unstoppable with his quick jumper and soft touch. Ray Mears said he asked if he could work by himself during practice before the coaches weren't pushing him hard enough. Don't forget he averaged around 12-13 rebounds per game and he was only 6'7".
Bernard was not only a great scorer, but was the most prolific rebounder in UT history. The man pulled dowen double figures in rebounds every night. He was the hardest working player I ever say. I agree with Larry Bird, the best I ever saw. Unfortunately with no final fours on his resume, many others don't see it that way.
Hathaway not even close on the bottom end. Does anyone remember Shun Shefield and Alonzo Johnson. When Wade Houston signed these two, I remember thinking they probably can really play. NOT!
I'm going to agree with hodocka on that one...if Hathaway didn't have that bloodclot he would have been serious on the court! I played against him in high school and he was the truth! 6'10" shooting three's and everything. He should have went Pro straight out of high school. Hathaway vs. John Henderson then were some serious battles! Now the absolute worst player in UT history has to be Andy Ikeakor, from the Buzz era! He wasn't even supposed to have a scholarship here and then transferred to University of Houston...he was so bad, one of the players off the womens team named him "Big Bubbs"...awful!
I can't believe the poll excludes the likes of: Doug Roth, Dan Federman, Hamer, Wiseman, Tyrone "Turnover" Beaman, Clarence Swarengen (sp?), Greg Bell....ahh the good times.
In all seriousness, can you imagine Michael Brooks behind a 3 pt line? He would have been an all time great.
I can't believe the poll excludes the likes of: Doug Roth, Dan Federman, Hamer, Wiseman, Tyrone "Turnover" Beaman, Clarence Swarengen (sp?), Greg Bell....ahh the good times.
In all seriousness, can you imagine Michael Brooks behind a 3 pt line? He would have been an all time great.
BK was great, but so was Ron Widby. Gene Tormolen, the late Carl Widseth, Hank Bertlekamp were the greatest of the pre-Mears era.
I'm old enough that the first UT game I saw was played in Alumni Gym, and Doug Atkins started for the Vols!
If Ray Mears slowed it down, he won that way. Billy Gillespie's team played a "Ray Mears" game Sunday, and darn near beat the Vols. With a shot clock and a three-point line, Mears might have won a national title with the Widby-captained team!
So many great ones...King was the best scorer and rebounder, but he couldn't handle the ball as well as Ernie and probably wasn't the defensive player Grunfeld was, that's why I voted for Ernie.
If you base it on NBA careers then you have to give it to King, Houston or Ellis, but this is in UT history. Without the 3-point basket Houston doesn't score as many points as Ernie. Even if you inclued the 3-pointer and look at points per game, Grunfeld still averaged more than Houston. If King or Grunfeld played in the same number of games as Houston the scoring isn't even close.
With all due respect to Chris Lofton, he shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Ernie or Bernie.
Don't forget Ron Widby. In 1966 he was an All-American in both Football and Basketball. He is only of the last true athlete to win that honor in those sports. Today you don't see many two sport athletes at all and if you do it is normally track with football.
Thing about Bernard King is he should have been dismissed more than once from UT for off court behavior or have you older folks forgotten stolen TVs and other misadventures? I think it's a shame that his number is retired. He shouldn't have been allowed to wear for as long as he did. Yes, he could play basketball but his behavior as a person was not good during his stay in Knoxville.
OldBear: Good points. Mears played with what he was dealt. When he got Bernie & Ernie, his game tempo picked up. Blame (or credit) Ray and Dean Smith for the shot clock. Never saw a game in Old Gym. Bet Doug Atkins could set a mean pick.
I think Bernard King was the best player we ever had and I think Jimmy England should be on the list and I don't know what NAFSLOV has been smoking but Mears is the best coach we ever had hey NAFSLOV just ask Bruce Pearl man you are a JOKE
Did someone say worst Vols ever? - Dan Federmann and John Snodgrass get my vote. Why Devoe EVER recruited Snodgrass make me wonder. I remember the KNS with a write up calling him a diamond in the rough. He was just never a Division 1 Bballer. I'd also throw Willie Burton in for good measure.
Mike Jackson was a tremendous offensive player. I'll never forget the game against LSU wher King, Grunfeld, and Jackson all scored over 30 points. It was really the Ernie, Bernie, and Mikie Show.
Some of you surely didn't see Billy Justus play. Appears most the voters here do not go back past 20-30 years. Billy Justus could have played point for any team.
Bernard King. The only former Vol to co-star in a movie. 1979's "FASTBREAK" starring Gabe Kaplan. Not to be confused with "THE FISH THAT SAVED PITTSBURGH" that also came out in 1979.
Another bit of pop trivia to show you how popular Bernard King was. He was mentioned in the original version of "BASKETBALL" by Kurtis Blow.
Chorus: They're playing Basketball We love that Basketball They're playing Basketball We love that Basketball
I used to go to dinner, and then take the girl, To see Tiny play against Earl The Pearl, And Wilt, Big O, and Jerry West, To play Basketball at it's very best, Basketball has always been my thing, I like Magic, Bird, and Bernard King, And number 33, my man Kareem, Is the center on my starting team,
This is the original version that came out in 1984.
Bernard King will be first in this poll and deservedly so. But my personal favorite will always be Dale Ellis. Before he became one of the NBA's leading 3-point specialists, he anchored those great Don DeVoe teams of the early 80's. His defensive effort against Ralph Sampson in the NCAA Tournament (I believe it was 1982) was one of the greatest performances I ever saw. Too bad Othell Wilson picked up the slack for the Cavs that day and beat the Vols.
Walking in front of the Letterman's Club before the UK game when we saw a jet black BMW 750 with a note tucked under the wiper blade. "This car belongs to Bernard King."
When Larry Bird says you're the best, it means something.
KING!! 20-10 average for career. LED SEC IN SCORING AND REBOUNDING AS FROSH. Top 5 best freshman in NCAA since freshman became eligible in early 70's. 42 pts in freshman debut. Unstoppable one on one. Unstoppable with the ball in his spot with back to basket, zone-double team, whatever. Nobody had quicker feet in post ever. Unbelievable footwork efficiency. Rose to pressure situations. Best hands in post. Quickest release ever. Best dresser. Wore merlot leisure suit with white chuck taylor high tops at War concert(Why Can't We Be Friends, Low Rider). 30 yrs ahead of his time with white sneaks as upscale/clubben' footwear.
Gotta go with Bernie on this one... though I think that maybe in a few years this poll will probably shift to Chris Lofton. King was a great athlete and shooter, but I think Lofton has such a well-rounded skill set that the lucky NBA team that gets him is going to LOVE him just as much as us Vol fans have.
Another funny piece of trivia about Bernard King: He starred in a Miami Vice episode from the first season of the show. AWESOME PERFORMANCE! RIVETING! Don't laugh, my step-son has the DVD of the series.
I guess he's the best, that's what they say. But my favorite is LOFTON all the way. What a shooter!
"Bernard King will be first in this poll and deservedly so. But my personal favorite will always be Dale Ellis. Before he became one of the NBA's leading 3-point specialists, he anchored those great Don DeVoe teams of the early 80's. His defensive effort against Ralph Sampson in the NCAA Tournament (I believe it was 1982) was one of the greatest performances I ever saw."
Are you sure it was Ellis playing D on Sampson in that game? My memory has Woods dominating Sampson and limiting him to an insignificant number of points that day.
Agreed, Bernard King the best basketball player ever at Tennessee.
But, who's the best wrestler? Gotta go with "Big Sexy" Kevin Nash on this one. He was such a great basketball player at Tennessee the Lay's Tip-off book his freshman, or sophomore year called him Kevin Nosh.
I got to see all of these guys play at UT - and I would say Grunfeld is a close 2nd. Houston right after that - Ellis then. I love Chris Lofton, but he still has two tournaments to possibly take this team on his shoulders (if need be) and etch his name right up there. No question Lofton is also very special.
King-Grunfeld-Johnson-Ellis. You can not argue with one of the 2 greatest players all-time in the NBA (L.Bird) when he described BK as amazing and one of the best ever. BK mastered (for 3yrs) the SEC at one of it's strongest periods. He was unstoppable as a scorer and rebounder...What a joy to watch in person...What a joy to see him beat UK...
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Comments » 65
ut_volfan#205651 writes:
I'm sorry, but Chris shouldn't be getting more votes than Allan Houston. He was the only player on the team for 4 years...(sorry Lang)
ORANGEAND2 writes:
PUT IT THIS WAY--ASKING WHO IS THE BEST PLAYER IN UT'S HISTORY IS LIKE ASKING WHAT'S THE BEST ROCK & ROLL SONG EVER,OR WHO'S THE BEST ACTOR EVER,TYPE QUESTION-- YOU (I) COULD NEVER ANSWER THAT-- THE BEST ANSWER WOULD BE DIFFERENT PLAYERS AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES!! OR MAYBE YOU COULD ASK WHO'S THE TOP 50 PLAYERS OF ALL TIME:)
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Great question to stir some juices. King was before my time but was he really THAT much better than Houston?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
nicksjuz - 6:28 a.m.-Yes.
VenomousVol writes:
Better than Houston? LMAO,before Bernard had his knee problems he was arguably better than anyone on the planet. Larry Bird once said he was the best he had ever seen.
leedsvol2007 writes:
King was the best due to his all around game, shooting, inside play, defense and rebounding.
Grunfeld, Houston, and Dale Ellis were all right there with him, but King was just special.
Bill Justice was just before my time but I think that Jimmy England and Mike Edwards deserve to be on that list as well. Also not listed is Reggie Johnson who was a great player for us.
England and Edwards were both great shooting guards. Edwards played before the 3 point era which is a shame because he would have been there with Lofton.
Reggie Johnson lead us to the SEC tournament championship and was a terrific player.
Just a few additional names that should be considered for future honors.
TommyJack writes:
Not to overlook my hero, Tom Boerwinkle. 7', 300 lbs., vertical leap of 4". But the man could sure clog up the middle. Lasted 10 yrs in NBA.
Stu Aberdeen once used broom on him to encourage him to jump. His reply? I AM jumping. A great old Vol.
BloneyBoy writes:
What about "the man with the golden arm" A.W.Davis. A.W. was silky smooth around the basket. He was a little thin but he was a producer of points. One of my favorites was "Bruising" Howard Bayne. Total intimidation under the boards. Who can forget Micheal Brooks who used to drain long jumpers of 22' to 28' regularly.
budrhon writes:
Ernie over Ellis...hmmm not sure 'bout that one.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TJ, Was BOErwinkle from BOErne? Last I heard he was being used as a rest stop for migrating birds. Arms must be tired. LOL
I didn't see Roger the unicycle rider's name on the poll!
bernardking writes:
Ray Mears slowed it down BEFORE King and Grunfeld. When King and Grunfeld were there, they ran up and down the floor. 85.7 pts/game isn't slowing it down nafslov....without the 3pt shot.
Stupid poll..not surprising coming from KNS.
No one is even close to King. He is arguably the best player ever in the SEC.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
nafslov,
I hate to break this to you, but Ernie and Bernie were 1974-1978 and Charles Barkley played at Auburn from 1980-1984. Couldn't have played each other....
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
What, Dan Fedderman didnt make the list! *LOL* My votes for Bernard King!
Homermoosevols writes:
A better poll would be who is the worst UT basketball player in history. My vote. Hathaway.
PennVol writes:
Bernard King was at a different level from the others. He was unstoppable with his quick jumper and soft touch. Ray Mears said he asked if he could work by himself during practice before the coaches weren't pushing him hard enough. Don't forget he averaged around 12-13 rebounds per game and he was only 6'7".
splinterdand#602266 writes:
Bernard was not only a great scorer, but was the most prolific rebounder in UT history. The man pulled dowen double figures in rebounds every night. He was the hardest working player I ever say. I agree with Larry Bird, the best I ever saw. Unfortunately with no final fours on his resume, many others don't see it that way.
hodocka writes:
Hathaway not even close on the bottom end. Does anyone remember Shun Shefield and Alonzo Johnson. When Wade Houston signed these two, I remember thinking they probably can really play. NOT!
jhayes1911 writes:
I'm going to agree with hodocka on that one...if Hathaway didn't have that bloodclot he would have been serious on the court! I played against him in high school and he was the truth! 6'10" shooting three's and everything. He should have went Pro straight out of high school. Hathaway vs. John Henderson then were some serious battles! Now the absolute worst player in UT history has to be Andy Ikeakor, from the Buzz era! He wasn't even supposed to have a scholarship here and then transferred to University of Houston...he was so bad, one of the players off the womens team named him "Big Bubbs"...awful!
BADGES0413 writes:
Hey Nabslob, get your facts straight Big Fat Chuck Barkley did not play against Mears teams. How about a poll for worst blogger of all time.
1. Nafslov
2. " "
3. " "
VolBall writes:
I can't believe the poll excludes the likes of: Doug Roth, Dan Federman, Hamer, Wiseman, Tyrone "Turnover" Beaman, Clarence Swarengen (sp?), Greg Bell....ahh the good times.
In all seriousness, can you imagine Michael Brooks behind a 3 pt line? He would have been an all time great.
VolBall writes:
I can't believe the poll excludes the likes of: Doug Roth, Dan Federman, Hamer, Wiseman, Tyrone "Turnover" Beaman, Clarence Swarengen (sp?), Greg Bell....ahh the good times.
In all seriousness, can you imagine Michael Brooks behind a 3 pt line? He would have been an all time great.
kingb007 writes:
Not even close Bernard King.
theoldbear writes:
BK was great, but so was Ron Widby. Gene Tormolen, the late Carl Widseth, Hank Bertlekamp were the greatest of the pre-Mears era.
I'm old enough that the first UT game I saw was played in Alumni Gym, and Doug Atkins started for the Vols!
If Ray Mears slowed it down, he won that way. Billy Gillespie's team played a "Ray Mears" game Sunday, and darn near beat the Vols. With a shot clock and a three-point line, Mears might have won a national title with the Widby-captained team!
FWBVol writes:
So many great ones...King was the best scorer and rebounder, but he couldn't handle the ball as well as Ernie and probably wasn't the defensive player Grunfeld was, that's why I voted for Ernie.
If you base it on NBA careers then you have to give it to King, Houston or Ellis, but this is in UT history. Without the 3-point basket Houston doesn't score as many points as Ernie. Even if you inclued the 3-pointer and look at points per game, Grunfeld still averaged more than Houston. If King or Grunfeld played in the same number of games as Houston the scoring isn't even close.
With all due respect to Chris Lofton, he shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Ernie or Bernie.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
Don't forget Ron Widby. In 1966 he was an All-American in both Football and Basketball. He is only of the last true athlete to win that honor in those sports. Today you don't see many two sport athletes at all and if you do it is normally track with football.
Thing about Bernard King is he should have been dismissed more than once from UT for off court behavior or have you older folks forgotten stolen TVs and other misadventures? I think it's a shame that his number is retired. He shouldn't have been allowed to wear for as long as he did. Yes, he could play basketball but his behavior as a person was not good during his stay in Knoxville.
volfanincarolina writes:
My vote is Bernard King. He was just a super basket ball player. The Ernie and Bernie show, wow that was great.
TommyJack writes:
OldBear: Good points. Mears played with what he was dealt. When he got Bernie & Ernie, his game tempo picked up. Blame (or credit) Ray and Dean Smith for the shot clock.
Never saw a game in Old Gym. Bet Doug Atkins could set a mean pick.
txvolsfan writes:
What about the glistening locks of
Dyron Nix??????????????????
GO VOLS
TXVOLSFAN
ncvol17 writes:
WE used to wait all night to get basketball tickets and see Ernie & Bernie. Burned stackes of the Daily Radical (Beacon) to keep warm while in line.
E&B were worth it. Who else was on that team, wasn't Mike Jackson one? Too many years ago to remember the 5.
jimbo37918 writes:
I think Bernard King was the best player we ever had and I think Jimmy England should be on the list and I don't know what NAFSLOV has been smoking but Mears is the best coach we ever had hey NAFSLOV just ask Bruce Pearl man you are a JOKE
budrhon writes:
Did someone say worst Vols ever? - Dan Federmann and John Snodgrass get my vote. Why Devoe EVER recruited Snodgrass make me wonder. I remember the KNS with a write up calling him a diamond in the rough. He was just never a Division 1 Bballer. I'd also throw Willie Burton in for good measure.
johngalt writes:
I may have missed it, but I haven't heard Carl Widseth mentioned. Maybe not the Greatest, but, what a player!
splinterdand#602266 writes:
Mike Jackson was a tremendous offensive player. I'll never forget the game against LSU wher King, Grunfeld, and Jackson all scored over 30 points. It was really the Ernie, Bernie, and Mikie Show.
jdcdjc#246285 writes:
Some of you surely didn't see Billy Justus play.
Appears most the voters here do not go back past 20-30 years. Billy Justus could have played point for any team.
mtnbikrtn writes:
Bernard King. The only former Vol to co-star in a movie. 1979's "FASTBREAK" starring Gabe Kaplan. Not to be confused with "THE FISH THAT SAVED PITTSBURGH" that also came out in 1979.
mtnbikrtn writes:
Another bit of pop trivia to show you how popular Bernard King was. He was mentioned in the original version of "BASKETBALL" by Kurtis Blow.
Chorus:
They're playing Basketball
We love that Basketball
They're playing Basketball
We love that Basketball
I used to go to dinner, and then take the girl,
To see Tiny play against Earl The Pearl,
And Wilt, Big O, and Jerry West,
To play Basketball at it's very best,
Basketball has always been my thing,
I like Magic, Bird, and Bernard King,
And number 33, my man Kareem,
Is the center on my starting team,
This is the original version that came out in 1984.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
was there even a question about this one.......I don't think so.........
volfaninVA writes:
Bernard King will be first in this poll and deservedly so. But my personal favorite will always be Dale Ellis. Before he became one of the NBA's leading 3-point specialists, he anchored those great Don DeVoe teams of the early 80's. His defensive effort against Ralph Sampson in the NCAA Tournament (I believe it was 1982) was one of the greatest performances I ever saw. Too bad Othell Wilson picked up the slack for the Cavs that day and beat the Vols.
gohawks1 writes:
I wanted to vote for Dupree, but he's not on the list.
murrayvol writes:
Walking in front of the Letterman's Club before the UK game when we saw a jet black BMW 750 with a note tucked under the wiper blade. "This car belongs to Bernard King."
When Larry Bird says you're the best, it means something.
jasvol writes:
The best vol of all time has not graduated yet.
cltvol writes:
KING!! 20-10 average for career. LED SEC IN SCORING AND REBOUNDING AS FROSH. Top 5 best freshman in NCAA since freshman became eligible in early 70's. 42 pts in freshman debut. Unstoppable one on one. Unstoppable with the ball in his spot with back to basket, zone-double team, whatever. Nobody had quicker feet in post ever. Unbelievable footwork efficiency. Rose to pressure situations. Best hands in post. Quickest release ever. Best dresser. Wore merlot leisure suit with white chuck taylor high tops at War concert(Why Can't We Be Friends, Low Rider). 30 yrs ahead of his time with white sneaks as upscale/clubben' footwear.
knoxtenor writes:
Gotta go with Bernie on this one... though I think that maybe in a few years this poll will probably shift to Chris Lofton. King was a great athlete and shooter, but I think Lofton has such a well-rounded skill set that the lucky NBA team that gets him is going to LOVE him just as much as us Vol fans have.
scruffylookingnerfherder writes:
Another funny piece of trivia about Bernard King: He starred in a Miami Vice episode from the first season of the show. AWESOME PERFORMANCE! RIVETING! Don't laugh, my step-son has the DVD of the series.
I guess he's the best, that's what they say. But my favorite is LOFTON all the way. What a shooter!
TommyJack writes:
Agree with the General. Lofton deserves to be included in all-time TN greats. Objectively, no one was better than King.
Chainsaw writes:
VolfaninVA wrote:
"Bernard King will be first in this poll and deservedly so. But my personal favorite will always be Dale Ellis. Before he became one of the NBA's leading 3-point specialists, he anchored those great Don DeVoe teams of the early 80's. His defensive effort against Ralph Sampson in the NCAA Tournament (I believe it was 1982) was one of the greatest performances I ever saw."
Are you sure it was Ellis playing D on Sampson in that game? My memory has Woods dominating Sampson and limiting him to an insignificant number of points that day.
tloutn writes:
Agreed, Bernard King the best basketball player ever at Tennessee.
But, who's the best wrestler? Gotta go with "Big Sexy" Kevin Nash on this one. He was such a great basketball player at Tennessee the Lay's Tip-off book his freshman, or sophomore year called him Kevin Nosh.
bob.bigorange#605842 writes:
King was the best.............period.
I got to see all of these guys play at UT - and I would say Grunfeld is a close 2nd. Houston right after that - Ellis then. I love Chris Lofton, but he still has two tournaments to possibly take this team on his shoulders (if need be) and etch his name right up there. No question Lofton is also very special.
ishrk#298165 writes:
Not the greatest, but one of my favorites for honorable mention was Howard Wood.
cmglassman#237498 writes:
TJ- you know better! The order is simple;
King-Grunfeld-Johnson-Ellis. You can not argue with one of the 2 greatest players all-time in the NBA (L.Bird) when he described BK as amazing and one of the best ever. BK mastered (for 3yrs) the SEC at one of it's strongest periods. He was unstoppable as a scorer and rebounder...What a joy to watch in person...What a joy to see him beat UK...
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