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Tennessee Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - North Carolina moved on Thursday night. Louisville moved on. UCLA moved on.
Tennessee, meanwhile, hit the wall at Bobcats Arena. Or maybe it was a glass ceiling.
Tennessee is upwardly mobile, but after a 79-60 loss to Louisville in the NCAA tournament Sweet 16, the Vols are still trying to get admitted to the country club - the one that decides national championships.
The Tennessee season that ended with a thud Thursday night was a glorious ride that crashed through a number of thresholds.
A school-record 31 wins. The first outright SEC regular-season championship since 1967. The school's first No. 1 ranking.
"We did a whole lot this year,'' sophomore Wayne Chism said in a somber locker room after Thursday night had become Friday morning. "Our seniors carried us for a very long ride.
"I didn't want them to go out like this. The team didn't want to go out like this.''
But go out they did. One barrier Tennessee has yet to break through is getting to the final group that decides a national championship.
The eight teams that suit up this weekend in a regional finals game are only 40 tantalizing minutes away from the Final Four.
The Sweet 16 is the on-deck circle for the regional finals. Five times Tennessee has arrived in the on-deck circle. Five times it has been turned away.
Three of those times, the Vols were agonizingly close.
In 1967, in the program's very first NCAA tournament game, they lost 53-52 to Dayton.
In 2000, they had a modest North Carolina team on the ropes in Austin, Texas, but couldn't finish.
A year ago in San Antonio, Tennessee looked a sure bet at halftime, up 17 points on Ohio State. Nothing is a sure bet, though. The Vols lost at the buzzer.
This time, it wasn't so close.
No one could question Tennessee's heart, but Louisville was the better team by a fair margin.
In victory, Louisville coach Rick Pitino spoke one sentence that said it all about Tennessee:
"They've got a lot to be proud of.''
And this defeat didn't change that.
It was, however, the end of an era, the final game for Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith.
Those two seniors set the pace for the transformation that coach Bruce Pearl initiated when he arrived three years ago.
Lofton was disappointed with his final tournament. The greatest 3-point shooter in SEC history didn't have a good run in UT's three games.
In the locker room, a bleary-eyed Lofton worked to compose himself before answering questions.
"It's been a great career,'' he said. "But I wish we could have made it farther.''
In time, Lofton and Smith will be able to appreciate the remarkable contributions each made to help get the program from where it was then to where it is now.
Lofton leaves as the school's No. 4 all-time scorer. There was no fanfare Thursday night, but he also passed Dale Ellis to become UT's all-time scorer in NCAA tournament play.
Smith helped put the sizzle in the prime-time show that Tennessee basketball has been the past three seasons.
And while Thursday marked the end of an era, Tennessee is a program that isn't going away.
Pearl said he plans to be running it.
"I anticipate, if Tennessee will have me, being back at Tennessee,'' he said. "I think they'll have me.''
He has good talent returning and more on the way. The ingredients will be there for other runs at the glass ceiling.
"It's a top program now,'' said JaJuan Smith, "and it's going to stay a top program.''
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 67
ibvolman writes:
Great season...tough loss...and yes, definitely a top program now thanks to CBP.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
I hate to read into things but that is kind of an odd statement by Coach Pearl. I ANTICIPATE being back... now come on, we all know that he is not getting canned, he said so himself.
Maybe it is just one of those things where he is emotional after the game an really doesn't want to be interviewed so he's not really speaking with a clear head.
Do you guys see it or am I just too nervous?
Madkels writes:
This loss was very tough, but these guys and this season will be one to remember for a long time. Oh, and the ref's were horrible!
We are proud of you VOLS! Thank you for a great year!
hdhurst writes:
nicksjuzunk...I agree...he's emotionally spent over how UT got manhandled in this game. I would be too, especially when you come in feeling you have a good chance at beating them.
Anyway, I sure will miss Lofton and Smith, and even Howell in his better days. But, I am also looking forward to seeing Tatum on the floor. In the few times he had the ball, I was very impressed. If we can get a good another shooter (such as Hopson or the Memphis kid), then we are likely to have a better team next year. Another big coming in (Jurick) and the playmaker (West) will surely put us back in contention.
Sure, we are all a little disappointed with a loss in the Sweet 16, but realistic bb fans realize that it sure does full good to have come this far. I am looking forward to see what Coach Pearl puts on the floor next year. As good as he is as a coach, even he will make improvements to take us up another notch.
GO VOLS!!!
SewaneeVolFAn writes:
Louisville just plain beat the Vols, unfortunately, and they did all the things they had to do. I couldn't believe their foul-shooting; they were supposed to be worse than the Vols, and they never missed. I've never seen so many rebounds taken away from UT without fouls called. The officiating was horrible, brutal, but when you lose by the margin UT did, it didn't decide the outcome. UT has a way to go to get better, especially at point guard, but I loved the way this team played this year, and the way Bruce coached. One tough loss doesn't change the fabulous season these guys had. They weren't always pretty, and sometimes they were puzzling, but they always played as hard as they could, and that was fun to watch every minute of the game. Thank you, seniors, thank you, Bruce, for a season you'll be able to reflect upon with great pride, even though it hurts very bad right now.
T0MMYJACK writes:
Let's see, folks. What would you as a fan rather have? A football team that has a couple of losses early, then finishes strong. Or a basketball team that plays "lights out" before New Years, performs well early in the conference, then begins to fade like your car's bad paint job.
Last night, Tennessee's men's basketball team got dog slapped by 19 points against a lower-seeded and lower-ranked team. For the last several weeks, the Vols have squeaked by several lesser teams. And they lost more in the last month than they had all season up to that point. The Vols did win the SEC regular season, though. It looks as if they should be glad that there was only one other ranked team in the conference, that being 14th-ranked Vanderbilt. But again, let's face it ... the Vols were humiliated last night, by a lower seed. The sad truth is that Pearl and others might have been right - the Vols were given an incorrect seed. It is apparent, by the whipping that Pitino gave Pearl last night, that they were seeded too highly.
Louisville was the favorite, though. At least the Vegas guys don't fall prey to a coach's winning personality and his ability to make a good sound bite. The press and fans in Knoxville should follow suit. That coach Pearl does look good in orange, though, whether it's a sports coat or body paint.
Was Pearl riding high or what? In EARLY March, Pearl was quoted by ESPN as saying he expected to hear from Indiana about their head coaching position. In LATE March, Pearl says "I anticipate, if Tennessee will have me, being back at Tennessee. I think they'll have me.'' Maybe he was spending that "raise" a little early!
Now, when Tennessee's football team loses, it's the head coach who failed to "coach 'em up". At whose feet does last night's bloodletting lie?
Stay the course (which, for Pearl's Vols, seems to be, at best, imploding in the Sweet 16).
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Wow TommyJack,
That seems a bit harsh. They lost to a seed that was one lower than themselves. A bad loss, yes but nevertheless, that is March Madness.
I did think about the reference to Coach Fulmer myself though. No matter how you cut it, the last two years in basketball, we have finished anywhere between 8-16 depending on how you look at it.
For years, Coach Fulmer did the same until most recently, but that is unacceptable by many posters standards. This year we finished at #12. Anyway, let's save this for August. Great season VOLS!!
Triton1 writes:
Great season! Chris & JaJuan deserve at least as much credit as Pearl for the rise in UT BB. This will make the returning players more hungry. And the statements by Tommyjack prove what kind of negative (probably Fla fan) he really is.
VolJunkie writes:
This team does have a lot to be proud of. I think of how far this program has come in the last three years. Making the NCAA tourney was never a "given", now we are disappointed when we don’t make it past the Sweet Sixteen. With success come higher expectations, as fans we have quickly become spoiled by success. It is hard to look at this season through the lens of last night’s loss, some time in the not so distant future we will look back at CBP’s first three years, this year in particular and have a true appreciation for what these young men have accomplished. I will really miss seeing Chris, JaJuan, and yes, Jordan, wearing the orange.
I have seen the future of UT men’s basketball … and it is very good!
Go VOLS!!!
schymtz writes:
ESPN finally said something I can agree with: "Low: Cards beat Vols at their own game" "Cards' stifling defense and high energy sap the Vols." Last night it wasn't simply that "the better team won," Tennessee was beaten last night by a great team that did better everything that Tennessee did best all year long to most every team Tennessee played: Exhausting relentless defensive pressue and wide open offense. Even the things Tennessee did exactly right, especially early on turning Louisville over, were not enough this game. Even with Louisville hitting free throws and going in Tennessee's face all night, Tennessee closed to within one point and....ran outta gas. Bigger, just as fast, dictating pace with relentless pressure and discipline, Louisville showed Tennessee just exactly what it was like for other teams all year long to play against Tennessee.They flat wore Tennessee out! Yes, the game was closer than the score indicated. Yes, the cards made Tennessee look worse than they actually were. But I believe Tennessee saw the future of Tennessee Basketball in Louisville last night. If you want to see that same winning style of play next year and the next year and the next, it will be it Knoxville...if Pearl stays. A healthy Louisville beats Tennessee this year. Sad, but not a suprise. Keep looking forward. Winning seasons are ahead! GO VOLS! Thank you Coach and Thank you seniors, and thank you team for a great great year!
LadyVolFanForever writes:
This article seems to have the only comments worth adding to........what is wrong with some of you so-called fans ? Coach Pearl and his team has taken TN mens basketball where it has never been before and you are killing them. Rome wasn't built in a day, give them a few more years. The run & gun days are here to stay and the recruiting has to keep up.
It was great to finally have 2 basketball teams playing in Knoxville this year and I am proud of what they accomplished. True fans stick with their team, win or lose.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
If this Louisville team would not have had early season injuries, they would have been ranked higher and seeded higher. They are playing some of the best ball in college and our shooting has been slumping for a while. The lack of a consistently good point guard caught up to us!!!
Unfortunatly for Louisville they are going to play UNC who is playing lights out.
TOMMYJACK, I somewhat agree with your statement Pearl must be accountable for loses as the head coach, but he has taken where only the GREAT Coach Mears could. He is a marketing and promoting genius and kids want to play for him.
Congratulations Vols on a Great season and now let's break that ceiling and come back strong in 09
GO VOLS
TXVOLSFAN
Jshoop writes:
Coming into this game, Louisville was hot, Vols were not. After watching Louisville two times, I picked they would beat us badly. They did. Rick knows how to get his teams to peak at the right time. Bruce will learn how to do that. Vols played poorly after the Memphis win and couldn't get over the edge. Blame whoever you want, but I see Howell's shooting as the key. I am not blaming Howell, these things happen. I am just saying that everything changed when Howell's shooting went South.
Now for next year. If Ramar is going to drive the basket, he has to learn how to shoot free throws. Driving, getting fouled and missing free throws are like turnovers, only they take longer and are more painful.
If JP and Ramar are our guards, then they need to work all summer on a three point shot. If they don't, the big guys are in trouble.
Great year. Go VOLS.
brokebackvol writes:
Sadly, I still think that the Vols peaked in the big game against Memphis, and haven't been the same since. Still, it's been a great season, and I'm looking forward to next season. Hopefully CBP will stay - he's a hot commodity, and Indiana would be step-up job for a career coach.
BigMikeUT writes:
I've got no problem with Pearl putting his son in the game. At first, I was shocked to see him in there, but to be honest he actually gave us some good minutes. He played good D and got one of the maybe 4 offensive rebounds we managed to get all night. He's not an offensive threat, but at the time, we trying to steal minutes until halftime so we could get Chism and Tyler to the half with only 2 fouls. Thanks to Chris, JuJuan, and Jordan for being a HUGE part in the revival of Tennessee basketball. The future is bright, but as far as next year goes, we MUST find a couple guards who can shoot the 3. JP and Ramar look awful shooting jump shots. Tabb and Tatum may be good shooters, but they never get the opportunity. Let's hope some of these freshmen can at least hit open jumpers. The better team won last night, we played very poorly, but a lot of that was dictated by the L'Ville defense. How many times did Lofton have his shot blocked? I haven't seen him blocked that many times during his whole career. The refs were atrocious, but that's besides the point. We didn't play well enough to win. Please come back Bruce! There is still work to be done here!
volunteer4life2 writes:
I couldn't agree more with lady vol fan. I've never been more proud of a TN men's basketball team that I am of this year's Vol's. Lofton and Smith will forever stick in my mind as 2 to of my favorite players and Bruce, you can't say enough about Bruce Pearl. Maybe when football season comes these so called idiot Vol fans can start on Fulmer again and leave Pearl alone. But one thing notorious with Big Orange fans they can never stop moaning and crying about something. GO VOLS!
KSMC9107 writes:
TOMMYJACK:
You should see your doctor about some antidepressants or seek out some psychiatric help for that unrelenting negative approach to life. Cheer up bro...the BIG ORANGE are contending in all sports!
GO VOLS! IT's FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
volguy#211935 writes:
Tommyjack = glass half-empty guy
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Good post, jshoop. Lots of angst on the board today, along with a commendable amount of silver-lining seeking. CBP has nothing to prove to me as a promoter and a motivator. He is as good as we could ever hope to have in terms of promoting and selling the program. Now he has an opportunity to prove that he is a teacher of the game of basketball--not quite the same as the other roles mentioned above. In my ideal world, he would sit down with each player individually and say, "These are the areas in which you need to improve for next year. Here are some ways to practice those skills. Here is a key to the practice facility. If you play in the Rocky Top League this summer, I want to see evidence that you have been working on those skills. If you want to keep or improve your position on the team you will show improvement in those skills." Of course, he WILL meet with each player, and he WILL say things similar to that, but the test is how strongly he demands accountability for that improvement. Make no mistake, unless some key players show major improvement in key fundamentals, we will do well to finish as high as we did this year. UK and UF will be back near their accustomed levels. Georgia will be better even without Gaines. Vandy will always be tough for us at Memorial Gym. In the ultra-competitive world of big-time sports, if you are not improving, you are regressing. If CBP can't impress that on the returning players and doesn't hold them accountable for improving, well, maybe, for all his other outstanding qualities, he really isn't such a good basketball coach. Notice in all this, I am not even addressing issues of team play; that would be another whole chapter in a story already too long(;-P)! Take all of the above in the spirit of "tough love", the kind I hope CBP bestows on the team.
volssam writes:
Schymtz:
"But I believe Tennessee saw the future of Tennessee Basketball in Louisville last night. If you want to see that same winning style of play next year and the next year and the next, it will be it Knoxville...if Pearl stays. A healthy Louisville beats Tennessee this year. Sad, but not a suprise. Keep looking forward. Winning seasons are ahead! GO VOLS! Thank you Coach and Thank you seniors, and thank you team for a great great year!"
I had never really thought of it that way....but that sounds about right.... it kinda eases the sting of the loss a LITTLE bit....if everyone will just calm down and think positively about our future instead of just freaking out.....we only lost 5 games ALL season...that's not bad...and look at what Pearl has done in only 3 seasons....imagine what he can do in 3 more.....limitless baby...GO VOLS!!!
bigbluevol writes:
nick-
I think Pearl used the word "anticipate" because from where he sits, he is believing he is wanted back. He believes that UT wants him and will make that commitment. However, he knows he can't say with 100% certainty what will happen. From that comment though, it seems very apparent this is where he wants to be.
For everyone complaining and questioning his coaching, need I remind you he is the man who took us to #1 and two consecutive sweet 16s? This is a level that we've never seen and Pearl wants to win more than any of us do. He will get it done and get it done the right way. Never forget what this man has done for the university, the program and our state. He's gotten TBA sold out, for crying out loud.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
We just seem to have lost our mojo the past month or so. Chris was heavily defended by great defenders the past several games -- but great scorers score anyway (see Sundiata Gaines, Shan Foster and others).
Never thought a simple 2-3 zone would cause us so many problems. Never thought we'd get outrebounded that badly. No doubt in my mind that BP will have the team learn from this loss and make us better.
Chris, Jajuan -- you are now Vol legends, leaders on the greatest Tennessee basketball team in history. Thanks for all the heart, the toughness, the thrills and best of luck to you.
TommyJack writes:
Note to readers: POSER alert. TOMMYJACK ain't TommyJack.
TommyJack writes:
Lots of immaturity on here. First off, for those wanting to drop BP into the grease...This team would NEVER have advanced to the 16 without BP.
He took less, and made more, most of the year. BP wasn't outcoached by Pitino; he was outmanned.
Forced turnovers, bad decisions, etc. are caused by being outmanned. The lack of a true Point was key. It began showing its head several games ago, I don't fault BP for experimenting. He had to have known that they could not advance without some changes.
In short, don't blame BP. He just needs a couple of key ingredients to get further. One last thing...for those questioning why BP's son was in game..you ever hear of stealing some minutes??
Sheesh...you BB posters are WORSE than the FB crowd. And that's saying a mouthful.
DooleyNoted writes:
You better believe we will have you back next year Coach Pearl. I was a trainer durning the 5-22 Wade Houston era, and I never want to go back there. Thanks for three great years Lofton, Smith, and Howell.
knoxtenor writes:
Thank you for the reality check, Mike. Sure, we hit a speed bump, but at least it was in the parking lot of the country club. One day we'll get our reserved parking space and be admitted at the door. And with an outspoken coach, no one in the NCAA will forget how far we've come or how far we'll go.
PharmDVol writes:
My goodness people, calm down. We lost a basketball game to a great team. When this tournmanent is over, only one team out of 65 will be happy with the end result We had the best year Tennessee basketball has ever had, and we can expect to be a good program year in and year out. Do we really need to gripe and complain about every detail of the game and ridicule every mistake a player or coach may make. I love how so many of us "fans" act as if we know more about the game than the people who make a living coaching it and playing it. Grow up Vols fans. Let's show some class, be proud of our team's accomplishments this year, and look forward to next year. We should be happy that losing to a Rick Pitino coached Louisville team is so hard to swallow, 5 years ago we would have stormed the court had we even been in the game at the end. As for the complainers, as Barney Fife would say, "Nip it in the bud!"
auttat writes:
TommyJack, we know TOMMYJACK is a poser. Probably a Memphis fan! I may not have a team left to pull for in the tournament, but there sure as hell is one to pull against.
Great Season! This loss can't take anything away from that. Lofton and Smith and Howell, thanks for giving us a reason to go to the games and watch all they way through March. Keep your head up!
TommyJack writes:
auttat: With you, bro.
givehim6 writes:
Yes, the vols lost in the sweet sixteen agine. But were the reg. season SEC champs! And that's futher then we got last year. I would rather get a bit better every year, but play in the ncaa tournament every year, then play like a shooting star team. Bruce is bilding UT a new program, not just a one shot wonder team.GO VOLS!
westkyvolfan writes:
for dash and BigMike: for the minutes he played, Steven Pearl played as well as any Volunteer on the floor last night. If I was the coach and he was my kid, I'd probably have played him more throughout the season than CBP has. Give 'im a break dash. Good response BigMike!
TommyJack writes:
tnmike: You're kidding, right?
MrBamSeydu writes:
FireBrucePearl: Your post just made everyone who has read it dumber. If you truly ARE a Vol fan (and I'm thinking you're a Memphis or KY fan in disguise), you should be ashamed of yourself.
Cut our losses?? WHAT LOSSES???? You mean the 5 total losses we had this entire season? You mean the single greatest back-to-back seasons in UT basketball history????
Man, I can't even believe I'm wasting my time responding to your stupidity.
MrBamSeydu writes:
ok he changed his name to tnmike..... which is such a great fake name.
DennisVols writes:
A GREAT season Vols! We can not and should not judge a season on one game.
Peal has worked wonders at UT in a very short time. Just three years ago the best we could hope for was an NIT bid and not even consider a Sweet 16 in that.
The lack of rebounding killed us last night and probably too many bad shot selections lead to some of that.
Go Vols!!! Looking forward to next season already.
tigervol9802 writes:
I do love this.
I don't care how much you drool over Coach Pearl, you cannot argue that he got outcoached by miles last night and that something on this team has not been right for a month or so. There were lots of little things that kept adding up that something just wasn't clicking at all. It gets put on the coach on every other sport at UT when that happens, why is it not fair to do so here?
I will continue to say the benching of Howell and moving Prince to point this late in the season was a mistake, and it would have been nice to have Howell at least calm things down when we continually went right at Padgett after we "broke" the press last night with little success.
The big question for me is if someone comes after him and offers $1.80-$2M a season, will Hamilton match it. He's a good coach, but I don't know if he is worth that. Actually, I don't think he is at all. Yes, comparared to recent UT coaching history he's gold, but when you compare what he's done versus other coaches currently.....I don't know.
For the record, I also thought it was pretty jerkish to never put Howell in the game at all last night. I don't care how bad he's played, he's helped win several games the last three seasons. Thought that was poor taste, IMO.
grantck#217719 writes:
Officiating can greatly change a game when EARLY ticky-tack fouls are called. Especially when Tn. couldn't get calls against Louisville when actually fouled. Chism couldn't play the same, nor could the rest of the team.
tenacjim#211887 writes:
tigervol-
I was thinking the same thing about Howell last night. The game was out of hand. Put him in late and let him get an ovation at least...
On the other hand, I'm not ready to throw Pearl under the bus just yet. I'm thrilled with the 31-5 record and SEC championship but really, I expected that (or something close)based on preseason rankings and predictions. More than anything, I wanted to get past the sweet sixteen. This team was ranked and seeded to get to the Elite Eight. That was my expectation (yes, they got a crappy draw)and they failed. At least this loss was easier on the heart than the last two trips to the sweet 16.
Absent advancing farther in the tourney the next couple of years, I would like to see TN improve in areas that have haunted them the last three years:
- FT shooting
- Tendency to blow comfortable leads
- At least one 4-5 minute scoreless spell per game (see bullet 2)
ronbliss writes:
From the first row of press row..I knew the day was going to end in anguish. From the opening shot to the lack of respect shown to me over my book "The Years with Ray Mears". Richard Pitrino rejected my sacrificial offer of leading him to the likes of Raymond Mears.
Pitrino once said "Larry Bird is not walking through that door tonight."
And Mr. Pritinoi, neither is Ray Mears.
Bliss what, bliss your kitty kat.
richvol writes:
Disappointment comes from not achieveing your expectations. Expectations come from having achieved previously. This year Tennessee achieved so much. They have much to be proud of and I will remember this season with the many thrills these young men brought to me and my friends.
In the end,it just came down to discipline. As time goes by Coach Pearl will have more athletes to play with and he will eventually have the pieces to complete the puzzle.
I love what happened this year.
dirtdobber1 writes:
refs had money on the game...chism 2 tic-tacs, tyler 2 tic-tacs early...game was over!
lets give them support...they are hurting a lot worse than the fans! Pearl, lofton, Smith and Howell thumbs up for great season! We will get em next year.
volbeck writes:
I tend to agree with tigervol about jordan not playing, and not much else. The biggest problem we had with jordan was that he couldnt hit an outside shot. But jp has the same problem. Now he has upside in other areas. Going the basket, better rebounder, better defender. However, he obviously struggled at the point, with ballhandling and decision making and constantly jumping to pass. Also it seemed that his teammates weren't in sync with him. I think jordan would have provided a lot of leadership and the team is more used to how he runs the point. I think in hindsite BP may be reconsidering his decision there. But I almost can't blame him for trying. Maybe with a lot of practice this offseason jp can become a good point.
bearyh#240689 writes:
I am glad to see that most agree that the team did have a good season. Last night was an abberation and not a constant thru the season. To me, I would rather win 30+ games a season and play in the NCAA than what I have witnessed in the past. Coach Pearl did a fantastic job this season. Whatever his shortcomings, he should not be judged on one loss.
I remember the 80's and they were ugly!
UltraVolDavid writes:
31-5. 'Nuff said.
And don't be at all surprised if history ends up showing us that we ran into a buzz saw last night. Louisville may just win it all. They are that good. Made us look very bad.
martinvolfan writes:
Great season, bad ending, but a loss in the 16 hurts less than the pounding we would've received by the tar heels in their own backyard. We need point guards who can handle the ball and no, JP or Ramar ain't it.
TommyJack writes:
ronbliss: What?????
bigbluevol writes:
I love how we're complaining about losing in the NCAA tournament "again" as someone said. A few years ago we couldn't even get in the NCAA tournament. I think that speaks to the fact that Pearl knows X's and O's. Remember, we still have no McDonald's All-Americans on our team. Our most talented player (Tyler) was saddled with foul trouble. We didn't play well against a team that is on a hot streak. It happens. To say Pearl can't coach all of a sudden is ludicrous. As Ultra said, we were 31-5 against what was ranked as one of, if not the, toughest schedules in the country. Pearl gets the program publicity as well as the fact that he wins. To complain about him because we lost in the sweet 16 is stupid. It wouldn't hurt to enjoy what we have instead of constantly complaining about what we don't. We were a doormat before; now look at the conversations we're having. Don't rip the guy who's made this possible.
bigbluevol writes:
Ramar's biggest problem last night was that he couldn't finish at the rim. He was getting there whenever he wanted. He couldn't convert (some of that was due to blatant no calls). Ramar will be a good player and we need him on our team. He'll work on his ball handling in the offseason and I imagine he'll have a big year next season.
lildevils7 writes:
I am very disappointed that Howell did not even get a opportunity last night. How he must feel that his last game of his career was spent sitting on the bench. He was not the only player going through a shooting slump, but he sure was the one getting punished. Horrible move by Pearl!!!!
Titan writes:
31-5, best season in history, first SEC championship in 41 years, back to back Sweet 16s, exciting brand of ball, sell outs at TBA, a buzz that has never been seen (well at least not since Ernie and Bernie) and some of you people want to fire the coach? What a miserable life you must have. Give me a break. Remember where we were four years ago and reconsider just how ridiculous your comments look.
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