Comments by rkastens
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Posted on April 3 at 10:31 a.m.
In games where you score when you have possession of the ball, it only makes sense that you're more likely to win with a positive turnover margin than with a negative one. That goes for basketball and football. That's why teams that make the final four usually only do so with a solid if not great point guard. If Collison and Lawson were turnover machines, how good are UCLA and UNC (and Love and Hansbrough for that matter)?
Posted on March 28 at 9:47 a.m.
It is virtually impossible to win the NCAA without great guard play - especially point guard play. Our inability to play even solid at the point guard position was finally being exposed late in the year.
One has to wonder if inserting JP into that position to face Butler and Louisville was a good move. I'm sure Coach Pearl was well aware of the dangers and he did it anyway. Coach Pearl is no dummy so I've got to believe that his confidence level in R. Smith and Howell was so low that he felt he had no choice. You have to think how desperate Pearl must have felt to make the switch this late. If we win it all he's a genius. If we lose "he made a bad move". The reality is Pearl must have felt like we at least had a chance to win with JP on the point and practically zero with R. Smith and Howell.
Not that I'm questioning Coach Pearl, but now that it's over I feel the most for Howell. He's a senior who came to UT during a rough stretch for basketball and gave his all for the university. He leaves knowing he was benched in the NCAA tournament and still we were beaten by 19. Jordan - if you even read these things - thoughtful Vol fans appreciate the effort you gave. You helped put UT basketball on a much better footing than you found it. Thanks to you and all the Bball Vols for a fun and enjoyable season.
Posted on March 15 at 11:21 a.m.
Perhaps moving the games out of a dome will help our outside shooting.
On SEC tournament moves to Ga. Tech; fans not allowed to attend
Posted on February 19 at 10:30 a.m.
"Is it a case where you're a senior guy and you're making the same mistakes that a freshman is making and you've made the same mistakes repeatedly?" Briscoe said. "That's where you have to start thinking about somebody's character when it's something that's constantly been going on. That's when I start getting worried. Other than that, everybody makes a mistake." Josh Briscoe. This is exactly what the Colquitt situation is.
On UT senior players direct effort to end off-field incidents
Posted on February 19 at 10:22 a.m.
Hamilton sais, "it has to come back to the concept of personal responsibility and responsibility to your peers." And when a person has shown no personal responsibility for the fifth time, something has got to give. The Colquitt family is very close to TN football and Britton is a very good punter, but this is the fifth time. This is crazy! How this was handled by Fulmer (and Hamilton who signed off on it) looks bad. I know he lost a scholarship (no big deal to the Colquitt family financially) and was suspended for 5 games, but if someone's last name was not Colquitt and he wasn't an all-american candidate, it sure seems like he would be kicked off the team for a 5th alcohol related offense. Maybe there is more to it than we know on the outside, but how it was handled looks horrible and embarassing.
On Hamilton: UT players must be accountable to selves, peers
Posted on February 18 at 9:22 p.m.
Whether Fulmer needs to be fired or not, I'll leave that for another post. But I cannot disagree regarding his comments about Colquitt. His 5th offense? Most of which I believe have been alcohol related? I know his family is special to UT football and I know he is a good punter, but enough is enough. He should be gone; probably should have been gone a time or two ago.
Posted on February 16 at 5:30 p.m.
An SEC win on the road is always a tough win. When you play the Vols you have to pick your poison. It's great to see the options UT can throw at opponents. If the players don't start thinking about how great they are, this team could do amazing things.
Posted on February 14 at 10:45 a.m.
Maybe Tubby Smith will put in a bid.
Posted on February 9 at 9:09 a.m.
Excellent column. In three or four years you really know what you have with ANY recruit. That doesn't mean the a program shouldn't evaluate talent and go for 4 and 5 stars, but it does mean there are no guarantees - with 5 stars or with walk-ons.
Most freshman do not do much anyway. Our success next year will not be determined by this class. In two and three years, yes this class and its development will be integral to our success. Let's make our judgements then.
On Strange: Number of stars don't matter, it's how they shine
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Posted on July 3 at 12:10 p.m.
Wow - The new OC gets the same as your SEC battle-tested DC? I agree that Chavis has struggled the last couple of years in terms of defensive performance and landing the D-line recruits, but Clawson has not taken the field in an SEC game. Perhaps this is why some people who post here do not have a problem with him making the same as Chavis. Chavis has a body of work to criticize. If Clawson's offense struggles, his raise next year will be criticized as well.
Many forget it was our defense, led by Chavis, that won us the national championship in 1998. Many internet posters seem to operate with a "what have you done for me lately" attitude. All Clawson has done so far is bring "hope." In the next six months that hope will turn to reality. I want Clawson to have tremendous success at UT, but if the reality is not good, then watch out.
On UT assistants' pay pool greener