The best word to describe the first half of Tennessee’s basketball season is disappointing. And that disappointment has led a lot of questions (and worries) about the program.
“Bruce Pearl can’t coach.”
“He won with Buzz’s players.”
“This system stinks.”
Well, let’s take a look at some of the issues folks are talking about.
Did UT fans overrate Pearl as a coach?
Some hotheads are convinced of it. Former Vol coach and 500-game winner Don DeVoe couldn’t disagree more.
“No one wins nearly 80 percent of their games without understanding basketball strategy, knowing how to motivate players, and knowing how to recruit,” DeVoe said. “I think this guy is a tremendous coach. But this is just a real tough stretch in the team’s schedule.
“Only a handful of teams have won at Kansas in the last 10 years. Then you get a talented Gonzaga team. You open in the SEC on the road and come from behind for a win. Then the other night they just weren’t ready to handle what Kentucky threw at them.
“That stretch would have been difficult for North Carolina or Duke back-to-back-to-back.”
The tough schedule that UT put together can also hurt a team’s confidence.
“I think Pearl should be commended for the schedule,” Devoe said. “Tennessee is now a national program. But having new faces playing tough teams in tough places keeps you from putting things together, it can keep your players from gaining confidence.”
Is Pearl’s system better suited for mid-major, hungrier type players?
“I don’t agree with that at all,” said former Vol Dane Bradshaw. “These guys are phenomenal athletes. They just need instruction and experience. Their defense will eventually come around.
“On offense, you’ve got the flex system which is designed to give players freedom and one-on-one opportunities. But you don’t have guys on the perimeter who look very confident right now.
“So defenses sag inside and it takes away Coach Pearl’s play-calling options. The spacing isn’t there because teams don’t respect Tennessee’s outside threat.
“Plus, they’re having to put three and four new guys on the floor at once. Weaknesses are easier to expose, because you’re not just trying to hide one new guy.”
DeVoe agrees that Pearl’s system is not the problem.
“Any system can work if you make your players believe in it. If your players buy in to what you’re teaching, it should work. Gary Williams won a national championship (at Maryland) this decade with this same type of system.
“It’s not a complicated system, it’s just a matter of players being able to knock down critical shots, which then allows Tennessee to turn up their in-bounds defense.”
Is it possible that these players have a sense of entitlement?
“There’s a chance because it’s human nature,” said Bradshaw. “When you’ve been told how great you are and you come into a top-10 program, you feel like you’ve proven something and you really haven’t.
“After the Kentucky game I felt bad for those guys because I knew they’d have to walk to class the next day in their UT basketball gear with their heads hanging low. That’s what I went through. It’s tough.
“Then, I thought it might be a good thing for them. They might need to feel some embarrassment. Someday you may be writing about how much Jodie Meeks helped Tennessee’s young team.”
Any other problems?
Like the rest of East Tennessee, DeVoe believes the Vols’ defense should be better than it’s looked on some nights. But he blames a lack of toughness and shot selection for the problems on the defensive end of the floor.
“Don’t underestimate the loss of Ramar Smith and Duke Crews. Those guys were tough kids. One from Hampton Roads, one from Detroit. That’s tough basketball, boy. Those kids would battle you . . . and they would definitely have helped this team.
“But Pearl made a stand and didn’t want some things going on in his program. That’s good. But this team lacks that toughness, that moxie to be consistently aggressive on defense.”
Which brings us to shot selection.
“They’re just not patient enough at times. And if you’re not hitting your shots, you’re not going to be able to set up your press,” Devoe said.
Again, a lack of toughness and poor shot selection can both be traced back to youth.
Florida lost 12 games last year with a team filled with hotshot freshmen. They had a .500 record in the SEC and a losing record on the road. Billy Donovan even said that he flat-out didn’t like his team.
That’s youth for you. Tennessee fans are learning that lesson this year, even as their team is learning their lessons on the court.
John Pennington hosts the Hall’s Salvage Sports Source on Sunday at 11 a.m. on WATE.
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Comments » 67
volball7222 writes:
News flash! This team is young and learning to play in the SEC. Why all the fuss? Play ball!
mtnbikrtn writes:
Hey Scribe, most of us understand. Quit fanning the flames (that aren't there).
Ringside writes:
Some tough SEC games coming up. No time for second guessing. Good luck Vols!
sayhitomaggie writes:
The people that say "Bruce Pearl can't coach" and needs to be fired an such aren't exactly the brightest crayons in the box so I don't get why people give them THAT much attention to what they say.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Truth is.. we need better outside shooting. Hopson will get more confident along with Tatum as they get more playing time.
doctorvol#211700 writes:
young, lacking toughness and understanding. we really miss jujuan (who drove us crazy at times for 2 1/2 yrs) and #5. these guys can achieve wonderfully if they maintain the right attitude with some time. let's be patient and encouraging. possum gym will be tough, but I'm going up tues. don't look fwd to getting home after 2am and being at work by 7am, however.
ncvol writes:
Glad for the win against SC and hope we can keep it up. Defense was much better than the Kentucky game. Kentucky took it to Arkansas today. Go Vols!
Truevol writes:
Since when did we get so cocky about our basketball program? The notion that Bruce is the problem is absolutely absurd! He single handedly has brought more fans to the games and created excitment around a mediocre basketball program. We are not Duke, we are not UNC, we are not Gonzaga. We are a football school and will always be a football school. Being good at basketball is just a plus. There is not one person on this post that can honesty say that they would not trade a losing in basketball for a winning season in football. Get off Bruce's jock, he is the best thing to come through Knoxville in a very long time. I have confidence this team will start to put it together but for God's sake...they are ridiculously young. We only have 1 senior and he never plays. Relax UT fans, we NOT Duke and we do not need to stop being so darn over zealous.
shipperman#280095 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
kdub writes:
Everybody needs to calm down. Coach Pearl is a great coach and he is OUR coach so we need to be behind him and his players 100 percent. They absolutely need to get tougher (someone please give a hard foul instead of looking at someone as they dunk or lay it in). They also lack a bona fide outside shooter so they need to be more aggressive on offense with more movement, ball screens and look for Tyler around the foul line area. If they turn up the nastiness and agressiveness on defense not to mention hit their free throws, this team will turn it around and be March Madness bound.
dfite#440781 writes:
Are these the same guys who begged to give Fulmer another 20 years to turn it around now the one who hit the panic button over 4 games? Have just a little maturity.
David fite 1968
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Kentucky appears to be improving so much that it appears that the Wildcats at this point...will dominate the SEC with their power-inside game and the outside shooting...The Cats inside guys..both 6'9" are too quick and big for any inside game...these two guys on the inside made Georgia look awful.
DooleyNoted writes:
For Pete sake, give them time to develop. They lost four guards in the offseason and lost two of the best three point shooters in the history of UT in Smith and Lofton. No worries from this Vol fan. Go Vols! Spank Vandy.
CoverOrange writes:
o2champs = jealous John Adams
db11_cn writes:
Too many "reporters", too few topics, too many outlets for opinions that don't matter. Everybody can't be Howard Cosell or George Steinbrenner.
eduardo writes:
Why dont you log in to your local lexington herald affiliate and leave the vol faithful in our misery? We are all so tired of you getting on here and telling us what an incredible program kenlucky is. Did you think so when Dewayne Casey's fed ex package came open to Chris Mills? Hey people how bout them Steelers!!!! Thank goodness for the STEELERS!!!!!!!
cowvols writes:
pearl is the best round ball coach in the country, I would like to see some sort of zone D that you may be able to trap out of- but he knows more than I and I for one am grateful for what he has done here in knoxville
ncvol writes:
Sorry - I goofed again...
Kentucky took it to Georgia today...Go Vols1
cowvols writes:
idiot
ncvol writes:
I am going to try until I get this right..
Kentucky took it to Georgia today...Go Vols!
Ironcity writes:
We all knew this was going to happen? News flash you must not read a lot of post here. A lot of people thought the talent alone would put us in the sweet sixteen and that anything less then an SEC championship would be a failure. Not everyone was on board with the idea we are rebuilding. I think fans are starting to adjust their expectations, however to suggest everyone new this was going to be a tough year is false.
I do really like Bradshaw and Devoes insight. It makes a lot of sense and helps explain what I am seeing on the court.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Flames aren't there? I have seen some of the same comments JP listed at the top of the column on this board, and not all from UK and UM interlopers, either. I agree that most on here DO understand and DO support CBP, but some of the so-called fans on here seem to have the same sense of entitlement that Dane was talking about!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Now that was about the most sensible thing you have ever posted on here! That must have been quite a contortion; I just hope you didn't pull a muscle or something(;-P)!
dave_olympia writes:
Agree 100% - this is a very timely article with great supporting comments from Mr's Devoe and Bradshaw. This place was absolute riddled with every kind of negativity you can think of after the recent losses.
Everything from Pearl's lifestyle, Pearl's son, Pearl's wife, tattoos, accusations of thuggery and entitlement - you name it, it was on here. Two things:
1. This is a young team in a major conference with a major schedule that lost a lot of offense AND defense from last year's team. Great comment from Devoe about the defense.
2. One of the luxuries of being a basketball fan is watching a young team grow with the wins and the losses - can't afford losses in FB, not so with BB.
Go4Two writes:
Don Devoe is right any coach that wins 80% of his games understands coaching. I guess unless it the football coach...
newtonrail writes:
Not much I can add Olympia. You are right on. I have never understood the negativity toward John Pennington. I don't live in KTown, so I don't get his TV show, but have read his columns since this was a pay site. People the KNS is using him as a guest columnist. When Gary Lundy died in 2004, it left a hole there. Strange writes some opinion pieces, but mostly it's dear JA. Pennington is a breath of fresh air, and does try to back what he says. That's more than Adams does.
CapnJohn writes:
John Pennington = a big idiot.
This guy writes less like an informed sports writer and more like the ignorant guy at the bar, who is half drunk and trying to stir up trouble. (You know the one...he doesn't half know what he is talking about, but it's pointless to argue with him because he thinks he ALWAYS has the facts and ALWAYS has "insider" information and of course thinks he is ALWAYS right) By far the worst sports writer on the KNS staff. His show isn't much better if you've seen it. EVERY week he looks as if it's his FIRST time on camera. Ever.
Pennington needs to be pouring drinks at a bar, not making issues out of "non issues" in the local papers sports section. Every time he writes, he lays his ignorance and lack of tact out for everyone to see.
Go away John.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
davoe nailed it. we need some 'nasty' about us, and not with what we say but what we do. Wayne has always been kind of soft...who knows, maybe Childress comes in and makes some hard fouls and stirs things up.
When you look at our personality, it is very passive and, well, nice guys: Wayne, Scotty, Cameron, Tyler, Rolanda, Emmanual...all sweethearts. Brian can be a little scrappy at times, and I think Bobby Maze is trying to NOT be labeled a thug, so he isn't really mixing it up. JosH?? Can't tell, he's always out of position.
I do indeed support Bruce. He trued to fix one problem (athleticism), but has created another (3-point shooting). He has got to get more prodcution from Scotty, Cameron, and Rolando, until maybe next year brings us a new shooter or so?? (do not know what we have coming in at the moment).
99gator writes:
whoa whoa whoa......
are people worried about this year's team or the program?
BIG, BIG difference.
i don't know what this year team will do. (they will make the tournament).
but, the program is in the best shape it's ever been since i have been alive.
mtnbikrtn writes:
And you think the ID10ts are the majority? After re-reading your post, I think we will just have to agree to agree.
HtownVol writes:
We are young. Thats a good point about UF losing last year. Its OK it will get better. No one should blame Bruce! Be thankful he is here!
VolJunkie writes:
Not sure what all the fuss aimed at Pennington is about though I am not very familiar with his work. Seems like a well written article backed up with solid commentary from Don DeVoe and Dane Bradshaw, who has the General notes, know a whole lot more about the subject than we do. Also seems timely given the tone of the past few weeks of comments on this board ... JMO.
Go Vols!
tenntallguy_29#615180 writes:
too bad the KNS doesn't follow the sports animals lead and fire this dude.
JayTee writes:
The coach isn't blaming it on youth when should the fans. When you play sloppy on defense, out of on control offense with no half court game combined with poor shot selection you either have lack of coaching or lack of talent.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Guess it doesn't say much good about us when the sanest comment on most any thread is from a Gator(;-P)! This team would have possibly been a LOT better if West had qualified and Ramar and Duke were still here. I understand and agree with all the reasons why Ramar and Duke are NOT here, but we ARE paying a price on the court. That is the difference between thinking about a possible short-term benefit and what is best for the future of the program as a whole. I don't agree with every little thing he does or doesn't do, but I DO support CBP as the best thing to happen to this program in many years!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Some people on here have a compulsive dislike for the KNS, which I find somewhat ironic since they are also compulsive posters! Go figure!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Not necessarily an either/or proposition. Youth and chemistry--or lack of the latter--are significant on the team as well. People don't always communicate well with each other, especially early in a relationship, even with good will all around. As a former coach, I can tell you that it is far rarer for a team with lots of new members to meld together all at once than for it NOT to happen right off the bat.
VolJunkie writes:
That is interesting, I have sensed that towards certain writers (e.g. Adams) but did not realize the brush was that broad ... thanks for the response.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Agreed(;-P)!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Hard to put them all in the same category. Many just hate Adams; others dislike Pennington, Griffith, and/or Hooker. Some hate all the above, and maybe others besides. Some seem to hate the fact that those guys have jobs writing and talking about sports while the wannabes are reduced to posting on here!
volsfan74 writes:
Coach Pearl can't coach? WOW!!! I have not heard that one! Coach Pearl is one of the BEST COACHES in NCAA, I think most VOLS fans realize 1. we have stepped up the level of out of conference teams we play 2. We do have a lot of youth on our team and we can attribute our problems to youth and as they develop we will get better. Anybody who questions Coach Pearls coaching ability should be banned from sports.
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
Good post. It does bother me that they are frequently out of position on defense. They get beat a lot with back cuts and give and go's. They did seem to turn the defense up against South Carolina but almost let them sneak a victory out at the end after being ahead by 19 points. This team has talent but doesn't play good defense yet. They really can't lose more than 5-7 games and still go to the Tournament which most folks thought was a given. Scotty Hopson started driving to the basket and good things started happening. We just can't depend on Tyler Smith as the only option inside. Brian Williams had some good minutes so maybe the inside play will improve. Prince is playing very poorly and needs to have his minutes reduced until he can learn not to turn the ball over so much.
Biggie writes:
I'm not worried CBP will bring em around
DarthVol writes:
It's a shame the vocal minority seem to get so much attention and at least a small amount of validation from writers.
When you start the article stating that the "best" word to describe the first half of the season is "disappointing"...well, that sure has the potential to start the ball downhill, doesn't it? It's an opinon, but the sheep are listening and they don't know the difference.
As for me...disapointed? My memory is not that short. We've all been in the pit of disapointment. This is not it.
TommyJack writes:
Well state, Darth.
gtown_vol writes:
Think the columnist at govolsxtra.com could get out and do some volunteer work and quit spewing phooey all over the internet. How about writing about something positive from the university?
Bruce Pear made basket ball worth watching here. You would have to be stupid to run him off.
Pennington and Adams are cut from the same stinky cloth.
Fire Adams! Go Vols!
newtonrail writes:
It gives you a Target to spew your venom at. BTW, I haven't read but maybe two crack heads on here call for Coach Pear(Sp?)'s head. It was just a short time ago everyone was crying to pay him what he's worth, so no one could steal him away. He'll get everything right and he's not going anywhere. Although I'm afraid Tony Jones may. That would be a big loss.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
75% of this crowd are just haters in general who feel compelled to hate on something or somebody incessantly----it cant just be criticism ,it has to be hate. While they hate away over everything, if a columist whose job is to be objective and unbiased says anything not 100% positive hes condemned and castigated---totally laugable. If they charged $5 a year to post on this site half these hating morons would prob disappear and we'd be left with the more rational thinking types whose opinions both postive and negative could be more respected
mtnsvol44 writes:
Did anyone see where a sorry Ga team held Meeks to 1/2 the points he scored on Vols? Does that tell you something?
murrayvol writes:
Don't know if he's the best coach in the country or not. I do know I wouldn't trade him for any coach in the country.
This rough patch will pass but it may take awhile.
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