As a born and raised Vol fan, I am finally able to say that Tennessee has climbed to the top of the polls for the first time EVER. And I will continue to gloat until the polls are released again next Monday! I attribute every bit of our success to Bruce Pearl and the affect he has on the players.
However, the stretch we face starting with Vanderbilt on Tuesday could very easily make this a short stay at the top. But with this kind of preparation, I hope most of you will have the Vols going at least to the Elite 8 in your brackets. FYI - Tennessee has never made it past the Sweet 16.
Congrats on the W over Memphis, Tenn was/is the better team and plus I had them on the ML so that worked out well. I am a Hoosier and was wondering if there are any murmurs floating around there about Pearl and Indiana? And you are right, the Vandy game is going to be tough.
Bruce is well attached to the area, and has obvious strong support from the media and boosters.
We recently completed a new practice facility, the renovation of our arena, and several other enhancements. And as long as we can give him the necessary salary and incentive increases, while being competetive with potential offers, he has no reason to leave.
I actually hope they hire Bruce to coach the football team as well.
Congrats on a great game and the win. UT deserved it and earned it. I think you are right about Pearl and any mention of going somewhere. He is in the right place and doing a really good job. The question may be the longer term commitment if things went bad (Phillip is having a hard time with a winning program) but I can't see Indiana getting him.
Again, congrats on the win!
To the IU fan, I'd go after a different coach in the SEC named Kennedy. This guy can really coach and there is still some commitment that is needed from Ole Miss. I think they will step up but if I was looking, I would have him on the list.
The Real UT is NOT in Austin, Tx. Tennessee was founded in 1794, years before Texas even came into the Union! Both are great football schools who have become great BASKETBALL schools, too! Will the Vols foil the Memorial Gym (Vanderbilt) magic Tuesday? About Indiana, they should look at some good mid-major coaches, Greg Marshall at Wichita State, Scott Sutton at Oral Roberts, maybe Homer Drew at Valpo. The last few years, the mid-majors have had a big impact with some of their best coaches going to D-I! Pearl at Tennessee, Bo Ryan and Dick Bennett at Wisconsin, and many more!! GO BIG ORANGE!
I will be honest with you I am a huge UK Wildcat fan. I just knew that the Vols would beat Memphis because of Memphis is a terrible foul shooting team. Bruce Pearl is one of those people that you hate when he is against you, but you love him when he is for you. I have to admit that he is a fantastic coach, but the Orange suit is terrible. ha ha
Good luck on Sunday - I am just rooting for the Cats to get in the NCAA Tournament. I think they will.
I will be gloating with you my friend. We must enjoy it while we can. Can you imagine? VOLS Men and Women winning it all in the same year just like UCONN of a couple of year ago. Man! I am excited for MARCH MADNESS!
C'mon VolsFan76 - kudos on the win over Memphis - highlights the mental tougness of the Vols as they've pulle dout several games like that on the road this year. But, this ain't a women's message board - nobody cares about whether the Lady Vols win except their families. Stay on point :)
You have to give Tennessee alot of credit for going on the road and beating a team like Memphis. True Memphis really was exposed for their soft Conference USA schedule and remind me more and more of the Kenyon Martin led Cincinnati teams in the late 90's but it was a great test for the tournament and they passed. The only issue I see with Tennessee is the fact that most eventual National Champions dont lose during the regular season by 20 points. Yes it was to Texas but that is a big loss for them. They have the talent to get to the Final Four but in my opinion the two most dangerous teams right now for a tournament run are UCLA and North Carolina.
The great part of college basketball however is the fact that as much as ESPN wants to try to promote each team and debate who is the best, it will all be played out on the court in March...
About IU, It scares me more than any other job. If he would not leave for Iowa this was the only other one I could see. I don't think Andy Kennedy leaves Mississippi he is from there and wanted that job. We Will See. Pearl says he is loyal to UT and the Vols will give out the $$ now.
Just for the record, my blood bleeds Memphis blue and I love the Tigers!!
That being said, I have to give the Vols (proud of you brothers) props for a job well done!
Folks have talked about the less than great officiating (agreed), that Coach Pearl out coached Coach Cal(ok), that missed free throws killed us (the Vols had the same problem with free throws). All of that can, has been said and will continued to be talked about.
But the bottom line is the Vols "wanted it" more than the Tigers and that's why they won and that's what hurts me so much. We were outplayed on the court.
I really look forward to The Tournament!!!!!!!!! Hopefully, we can get another shot.
Cousin Basil makes some good points. I just don't think Memphis had dealt with the kind of pressure UT can apply. Everyone from Dickie V to Santa Claus has stated that free throws would hurt Memphis in time. I know Tennessee can't shoot free throws either. The big thing that kills Memphis is that outside of CDR and Rose they don't shoot the ball well at all. I mean Memphis got hot from behind the arc and was only up 1 at halftime. I knew then UT would win cause Memphis is an average at best shooting team.
Memphis fans need to pint fingers at it's own players before they do the refs. Let's talk about the foul situation. Tennessee was called for 19 personal fouls and shot 12-18 from the line. Memphis was called for 17 personal fouls and was 8-17 from the line. Seems like the calling was pretty good some people can hit FT's and some can't. "Jabber Jaw" Dorsey showed up big time going 0-3 from the field and 1-2 from the line with 6 boards and 4 fouls....way to show up in the big game Mr. Dorsey with your whopping 1pt and 6 boards.
As for us Tennessee fans we need to realize this is just 1 game. We beat a pretty good team on it's home floor. None of this matters unless we beat Vandy, Kentucky and Florida to win the SEC Championship. Plus the tourney is about to roll in and if we go out in the 2nd round all this stuff about being #1 and winning the Tennessee State Championship will all be lost.
obviously people do care about the lady vols, considering that the court on which the men play is the WOMEN'S court and is named after pat summitt. k thanks.
also does anyone else find it weird that memphis went from getting all the first place votes to getting none, while UNC and UCLA both got first place votes? because i did.
