Posted by Hunter on May 28, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

“I don’t worry about starting; I just want to go and play my role,’’ Negedu said. “I want to win, so I won’t go to a place that loses just to play a lot of minutes.’’

I'm convinced. Throw everything we have at him to get him here. Sounds like an upgrade even from Duke Crews, who we will miss desperately without Negedu to fill in.

Posted by budrhon on May 28, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pearl will need to close the deal on this kid before he heads to the Bluff City. By his comments of wantng to play on a Championship caliber team as oppose to getting a lot of PT should rule out Indiana as we all know what kind of season they will have this fall. The other 3 schools are probably deadlock with a slight edge to the Vols maybe due to the earlier recruitment. The key is his relationship with the asst coach at Memphis Josh Pastner and if he has any influence in the decision making for Emmanuel. Currently I believe the Vols are ranked #10 in recruiting nationally so far, if they pick up this kid it will surely bump them up a few notches.
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content...

Posted by Colliervol on May 28, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hunter, I don't know if we miss Duke that much or not. Depends on Brian Williams' development. If he improves like I think he will, I think the post position is covered for a couple of years. For his lack of experience, I was pretty impressed with his play and expect him to be much better this year.

Personally, I think the rotation of Williams, Chism, Tyler Smith (rotating inside and out) and Jurick (in spots) will be pretty interesting next year. Between Williams, Chism, and Jurick that's over 750 lbs to throw at other teams' post players.

Posted by murrayvol on May 28, 2008 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This young man sounds coachable.

Posted by mempuss on May 28, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Come join the party in Knoxville.....We dont like to lose either!

Posted by golfballs03 on May 28, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Now that Antonio Anderson is coming back for Memphis, how does it affect their scholarship situation and Negedu's recruitment?

Posted by 3StatesofTN on May 28, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Memphis still has two scholarships remaining. Eubanks presumably would have taken one had he opted for Memphis. Calipari has said that he would carry them over to next year. Pastner was the main reason that he signed with AZ and will be an influence, as will Negedu's desire to play for a championship caliber team immediately. They are definitely your biggest threat and it's a shame Pearl wasn't the last visit. I do wish you all the luck. He would make an instant impact at UT.

Posted by murrayvol on May 28, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

golfballs: Not one iota. They'll find a way.

Posted by Smallmike4pres on May 28, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by ncvol on May 28, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hope he picks UT..Go Vols!

Posted by ubershamu311 on May 28, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Um, Georgia Tech isn't winning anything anytime soon. Nor have they outside of one season under Hewitt.

Come to the land of orange my friend

Posted by VOLS85 on May 28, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN,

can you not save your fulmer comments for the football articles at least? Your point accomplishes nothing, and this article has nothing to do with fulmer...get a life

Posted by pdhuff on May 28, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dang, TT, 8:13 I've warned you about getting off accepted topics into no-man's land.

Go stand in the corner, no, not the one Dupree is already in!

Posted by RichRollin on May 28, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Replaced Ramar with Maze and this would be a good replacement for Crews. Hope we get him!!

Posted by CatScratchFever on May 28, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A Memphis lean by most recruiting experts with Tennessee second. Don't look for GA Tech and IU to be in the picture when decision time comes.

Posted by Titan on May 28, 2008 at 11:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN - give it a break - PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on May 29, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No offense to the other schools but seriously, why play for Memphis? The competition in conf. usa reaks bigtime and the games are not on tv.

IU? please...and Pearl is a more fun and probably a better coach than Crean.

Georgia Tech? Who? Sorry, but they have gone the way of the dodo bird with their small gym and will be the UNC - Duke whipping boy forever.

Add to the fact if you play under coach Pearl he will be with you for a lifetime assisting you in whatever he can do to help your success.

Sorry, but this is a should be a shut case. Honestly, I feel bad for the guy if he goes to another school besides us.

We are the fUTure of college hoops with Pearl.

Posted by DandyVol on May 29, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

SF- Good post. Couldn't agree with you more.

Posted by King53 on May 29, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

come on down!!! join the big orange band wagon and help bring more success to the fastest rising college program in the country.

Posted by dirtdobber1 on May 29, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

SF- good stuff...If he wants to play up-tempo- he doesnt need to play in Memphis...they play sum kind of 5th grade 4 passes befoe you shoot crap!

Posted by TurboFan on May 29, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If this guy signs with us should we send a "Thank You" card and a bouquet of flowers to Kevin O'Neill for ignoring him at Arizona?

Posted by dcvol63 on May 29, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If we get this guy, an athletic power forward, to go with all the other tools we have, the depth and the coaching.......we will definitly make a run next year!

Join a winning team Emmanuel!

Posted by brownsvillevol on May 29, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

keep talking ashley but is sounds more sexy in german!

Posted by brownsvillevol on May 29, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

as for negedu if we land him we may jump up a notch or two but we already have a solid recruiting class without him. i would say we are the odds on favorite to win the sec wouldn't you say catscratch,overated and itsmeimaidiot.

Posted by MemphisTigersNo1 on May 29, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dirtdobber says "SF- good stuff...If he wants to play up-tempo- he doesnt need to play in Memphis...they play sum kind of 5th grade 4 passes befoe you shoot crap!"

It's funny how you can insult the Tigers when your team got killed by Louisville, which got killed by North Carolina, which got killed by Kansas.

Even though I'm a tiger fan, I applaud Kansas for pulling a huge upset. It will only make the Tigers hungrier for a National Championship. Not only that, Kansas fans are classy.

Your comment was not classy. Your Vols fans should be shamed of you.

I really hope he chooses Memphis over UT because statistically in the last three years, the Tigers have a better chance of winning a National Championship than the UT Vols.

Posted by volwalk on May 29, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Come on down, Negedu. You will be joining the best thing going in college basketball.

GO VOLS!

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on May 29, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

MemphisTigersNo1 - Salute your State Champs B*tch

Posted by TommyJack on May 29, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

brownsvillevol: 95 Tage bebauen Fußball in Tennessee!!!!

Posted by brownsvillevol on May 29, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sorry if you think that post wasn't classy tigerfan but you should look at some of your own commpadres(that means FRIENDS itsmeimaidiot)for classless posts. and furthermore the tigers do not have a better chance of winning a national championship than tennessee. memphis has only two starters returning on a team that has an unproven bench while tennessee has two starters returning and a very proven bench.they had their chance last year and coach cal blew it or choked it away,wich ever you prefer. with that being said their chances of a championship left with rose and cdr. if they would have returned the tigers would probably have been the favorite to win it all but they didn't so for right now your just the favorite to win c-usa.

Posted by VolGraduate on May 29, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pd huff and silent:

funny comments...keep em coming

Memphis blows

Posted by FUT on May 29, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why would anyone destroy their professional chance and go to UT? You can't even get past the Sweet Sixteen. You were the champions in a weak SEC and got clocked by Louisville. I would say stick to Football but Florida is always in your way. Soon Alambama will be back too.

Posted by MemphisTigersNo1 on May 29, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Evans, Anderson, Taggart, Dozier, Kemp, Mack, Witherspoon, Robinson, Niles, Garcia, Simpkins.

That is a championship team next year. They will most likely beat the vols. Sorry if its going to upset you guys, but Emmanuel is going to Memphis.

Posted by MemphisTigersNo1 on May 29, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not to mention that Memphis and CUSA are in China right now playing against an Olympian and NBA caliber team. What's Tennessee doing now?

Posted by volwalk on May 29, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Your right FUT--we couldn't get past the sweet 16 with Buzz Peterson's players. Now that Bruce has been around and bringing in his players; we will get past the sweet sixteen and continue to dominate the SEC.
Its a fairly decent place to play--20,000 plus crowds every night, lots of TV exposure,championship banners, great coaching and the best facilities.

Posted by MemphisTigersNo1 on May 29, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry, you vols are not state champions. Vanderbilt is.

Posted by volwalk on May 29, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thats great no.2
All those players you listed are not qualified and have yet to sign. I hope your team is doing well in China--(very impressed). Once they make it to Knoxville this fall; they will fall again and will have lost 8 out of 10 to the VOLS.

Posted by Raynoch on May 29, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Apparently one reason Emmanuel is leaning towards Memphis is his parents are moving to Bartlett. That way, he can live with them and drive from the burbs to college like every other Tiger High student.

State University-12, Kindercollege-7

Posted by pdhuff on May 29, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Time check, Ashley!

Posted by marc_ash on May 29, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ever seen the movie "The Air up there". Had Kevin Bacon staring as a washed up coach traveling to Africa to recruit a 7ft tribesman. Reminds me of that movie...cept without the trip to Africa or Kevin Bacon's pitiful acting.

Posted by IBleedOrange444 on May 29, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Tiger fans, how many of your incoming recruits have signed LOIs and passing test scores to get in to school? I just want to know. Can someone give me the current run down?

Posted by marc_ash on May 29, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MemphisTigersNo1,

As I appreciate your concern for Vol fan's they have a right to say what they will about other teams on a "Vols site". Classy or not, this isn't the commercial appeal, and talking about a team whose fans have a history of making excuses is fair game on this "Vols site".

If you don't like what is being said, then please feel free to head back to the commercial appeal. The reality of it is, in truth...nobody cares one bit what memphis folks think, so save your "ashamed" comments for the CA.

Posted by marc_ash on May 29, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

FUT,

How quickly you forget. If UT is so bad, then why can't memphis beat us? As for football, yea we play football. What does memphis do on the gridiron?

UT didn't make it past the sweet 16. What is your point? Nothing matters besides championships. Period. Memphis (last time I checked) had as many championships as UT has. Besides, UT has started a program from the last few years and is becoming a force. How long did it take Cal to win his first post season GAME?

If you say the SEC was weak, you are a bigger fool that you sound. HOw many CUSA teams made it to post season play?

Posted by TommyJack on May 29, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Seriously folks. Why would any kid CHOOSE to go to Memphis State? I can understand some go because they can't gain admittance elsewhere. But that aside, why?

Posted by marc_ash on May 29, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by MemphisTigersNo1 on May 29, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry, you vols are not state champions. Vanderbilt is.

Hey genius, how do you figure Vandy is state champs with your thinking? Please elaboratem because my math recalls UT and Vandy split in the regular season.

Posted by marc_ash on May 29, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ,

Maybe they like the clean air.

Posted by marc_ash on May 29, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey FUT,

Funny how you call the SEC weak. Seems to me that this proves otherwise:

"The Vols land the overall #10 class in the nation. Other SEC schools in the top 30 of the final recruiting ranking were Florida (No. 9), Alabama (No. 13), Vanderbilt (No. 15), Arkansas (No. 16), Kentucky (No. 21) and Georgia (No. 28).

Preseason Ranking: The Vols are No. 9 in Rivals.com preseason top 25 rankings after finishing last season 31-5 and No. 5 in the final polls."

Posted by VOLS85 on May 29, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008...

Another headline article about the vols and chris lofton...

Posted by brownsvillevol on May 29, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

when was getting past the sweet 16 a requirement to get in the nba? you memphis fans are truly ridiculous. the chinese national team an nba caliber team? what a joke. without their two best players they couldn't beat mexico. vandy state champions? wrong again we split with vandy beating them by 20 and losing to them by 3. we all know what happened at fedex forum 66-62. you memphis fans need to go back to the commercial appeal and hibernate as usual.

Posted by THE_VOL on May 29, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pastner will not have the influence that many think he will with this kid. Remember, Josh already loved him and left him once.

Secondly, Negedu was quoted in a recent article as saying when he visited AZ how he found everybody so unhappy after being told what a great environment it was. Rest assured there will nothing but smiles around TBA on June 10.

Finally, I'm willing to bet that Negedu never visits MemP!$$. With what they're preparing for this kid, I say BP and company get a commitment while he's on campus on the 10th!

Posted by RJ_Vol on May 29, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Is FUT (12:33) just a mispronunciation for "foot" or is it a regional dialect thing? I don't understand.

Posted by THE_VOL on May 29, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Now a couple other things...Jurick needs to qualify before folks start writing him into line-ups.

Don't get too excited about this so-called Top 10 class until they actually deliver the goods. Remember we had a Top 5 a couple of years ago, only 2 of them are still here and only one of them really has shown any demonstrable improvement. Alot can happen in a short time with over-hyped 18-20 yr old egos.

And last, if Congress really wants to involve themselves in sports why don't they pass a bill that bans all forms of team rankings and recruiting ratings related to basketball. As not a single one of them mean anything don't they all represent a form of fraud?????

Posted by VolsRyourmaster on May 29, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ah to hear Wildcats and Tigers whine and cry. Dont hate your masters! Be a "good" little school and do as we say. It must stink that WHEN we want, we take away the sports you thought you had!! HAHAHA hey hey its great to be a TENNESSEE VOL!!! HAHAHA

Posted by IBleedOrange444 on May 29, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

THE_VOL-

Good insight. I hope you're right about Negedu as you usually are when it comes to UT basketball.

Posted by mempuss on May 29, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Memphis is trash!

Posted by TurboFan on May 29, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To add to The_Vols comments, I read that Negedu found great team relations when being recruited when Olsen was the coach. He noticed that it had turned sour after he signed and when O'Neill was leading the team. In fact, on one official visit, he sat in his room ignored the entire trip.

Can't say how much he attributes to Pasten, but sounds like a Kevin O'Neill uckfup.

Posted by FUT on May 29, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You UT guys don't know sh*T. Vanderbilt is the State Champions.

Take your thugs and go back to your outhouses.

Posted by Raynoch on May 29, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What do you mean by "State Champions", Foot?

Posted by mempuss on May 29, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

FVU- You too are officially a dumb@ss!

Posted by auttat on May 29, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How exactly does FUT come up with Vanderbilt being the state champions?

BTW, if you take the first letter of his name and add the letters kcu in no particular order and then add back UT you should be able to catch his motivation

Posted by missrvrvol on May 29, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

marc ash.

I am a UT fan living in Memphis. Do you not care what I think. Last time i drove down Union Ave. UT Medical School was there. Just wondering? Go Vols!

Posted by IBleedOrange444 on May 29, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

FUT-

Academically yes, athletically no way in h3ll. How do you justify that statement? Surely it doesn't have anything to do with the 20pt loss in K-Town or the loss to Siena in the 1st round of the tourney!?! Are they just the "state champions" b/c you say so? Obviously, you weren't educated at Vandy or you would know a little more about subject verb agreement. If Vandy "is" anything (which they are not) it would be state champion. If you want to declare THEM state championS, then you must say they "are" (but they still aren't sh!t).

Posted by Mr_Man52 on May 29, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Volwalk-all of the banners hanging in your big barn are from the Lady Vols-your team can't even get past the sweet 16. Not an opinion, a fact. All of you orangeheads would love to have the basketball program that Memphis has. marc_ash-you obviously MUST care about Memphis fans comments, or you would not have responded to them. Get past the sweet 16 and then you can talk to the BIGBOYS.

Posted by Mr_Man52 on May 29, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh yeah, FUT-who are you calling thugs? Looked at UT's program lately?

Posted by VolsRyourmaster on May 29, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How does it feel to walk and there be NO banners? No football team? No Womens program? No facilties? and nobody cares? I didnt know a "tiger" could cry so loudly.. oh and how does it feel when a super school now takes away the "One" sport you had at Tiger high? haahahahahah

Posted by Colliervol on May 29, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Funny how a mid major school gets pretty good in ONE sport (and I stress ONE) and then, all of a sudden, they are in the "Big Boy" category. Wrong. Talk about delusions of grandeur. When you get as many Final Fours and championships as Duke, NC, Kansas or UCLA, then you're in the "Big Boy" category. The Vols aren't there yet and neither is Memphis.

Until you do get to that level, all one can do is compare head-to-head competition in the series. And what's that tally again? The silence is deafening. Aren't you a little ashamed that a piddling old football school OWNS you in the only sport you have any credibility in? A 63% winning percentage in any kind of series looks pretty good to me.

Posted by FUT on May 29, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Go Gators!!

Posted by volwalk on May 29, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mrs_man

whenever you get a #1 banner in your arena other than conferance america...you can come back and shoot your load, otherwise get lost!

Posted by mempuss on May 29, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

GAYtors HAHAHAHA

Posted by THE_VOL on May 30, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ATTN ALL VOL FANS ON THIS BOARD:

Let's start something we are all used to doing - IGNORE EVERYTHING MEMPI$$!!!

They are gutter trash from a cesspool city and only come here to detract from the intellectual exchanges and drag us down to their bottomless pit. FROM THIS POINT FORWARD - JUST IGNORE ALL OF THEM, and trust me they will go away. IF and ONLY IF they ever manage to beat us in anything again we MIGHT reply to them but until they do they are not worth our trouble and only waste space on this board. Thanks for your support VOL FANS!

Posted by FUT on May 30, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

T*h*U*g .see you can't spell thug without UT.

Posted by bamacheats on May 31, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! Got a little Barkley in him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b-J58...

Posted by itsme53792 on May 31, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The uthug site: a sight for sore minds....where delusions subsitute for vision, where misplaced, overaggressive self-promotion belies massive insecurity, where professions of intellect are eroded by poor logic..and an embarassingly poor command of English, and where poor breeding is borne of being unable to distinguish your sister from your mother/wife/cousin...as they're all the same, and--of course--where your unwillingness to grasp your being 2nd rate to elite programs...only amplies all of the above. Take a month or so...Collier and Browns...and figure out what all that means.

Posted by TommyJack on June 1, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

itsme: You used to word "elite". Nothing more offensive than psuedo elitist or psuedo intellectual. Suits you to a T. Wuz tHat a pUn?

Posted by Basketball_Jones on June 2, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr Man, when is the last time Memphis beat Tennessee in any sport, including mens basketball? Like 4 years, pretty sad to be known more for choking the National Championship than winning it

Posted by itsme53792 on June 3, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

coll and browns: Please take this TommyJack with you during your course of study. His command of English ("you used 'to' word elite?") is equal to yours...and clear evidence of the uthug u educational value. T-Jack (aufh): Why don't you consult the Webster's Unabridged...and write 3 sentences properly using the word "pseudo"? That should only consume about 3 days of your time. And Basketball: Unintended comedy absolutely erupts from your ignorance as well.

Posted by AllLadyVol on June 9, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Can't wait to hear Burt Bertlekamp try to say his name!