Dear Tennessee: Wish you had been here

by guilded on Mar 20, 2009 5:28 PM EDT

Informer on the team. Taking success for granted. Disinterested Athletes.

"And I'll tell you why. This is a theory, but it's an educated theory. More than that, I talked to someone close to this Tennessee team -- someone who sits on the bench during games, OK? -- and ran my theory past him. And he nodded his head. Said my theory was right on the money.

And that theory is this:

Tennessee got too good."

Ouch.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11528873

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I actually don't disagree with that article

And that is the first time I’ve ever said that about an article penned by Mr. Doyel.

by kidbourbon on Mar 20, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Greg Doyel is an idiot, but even idiots get it right once in a while

Greg Doyel is obnoxious and arrogant, but in this case he is absolutely right.

Chism never bought into the idea that he is a 5 and not a shooting guard. JP may have heard the words ‘consistent effort’ and ‘hustle’ but he doesn’t buy into it either. Maybe they’ll both take their big egos and declare early. And, continuing the wishful thinking, maybe Tyler comes back for his senior year to overcome a disappointing finish to the season.

I wonder if Pearl’s main mistake this year is lowering his standards and changing his system to adapt to the team’s weaker work ethic. Of course, Billy G @ KY stuck to his guns and he may be run out on a rail. That makes me think Bruce did the best he could with a group that has more talent and less heart than previous teams.

The team left an awful lot on the table, but that’s on the players, in my opinion.

Can’t wait for Craft (2010) commitment. Need more hungry, high character guys like him.

by memphispete on Mar 21, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Doyel ...

is a bitter, arrogant, Florida fan who hates Tennessee. I really find it interesting the way everyone suddenly seems to have their degree in forensic psychology and know every player’s every thought and motivation. I don’t buy into the “too much talent” theory, unless you’re saying that Pearl can’t coach, which is not the case. What are going to do, refuse to sign the best players? I’m not saying I know the answer as to why this team didn’t perform as well as we all wanted it to this year. I’m just saying I’m not taking Gregg Doyel’s opinion as gospel.

by sddbaker on Mar 21, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

This.

by rblakeh on Mar 21, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Let me give the too much talent theory a try

Some of the players think they have too much talent to listen to any coach. Nobody is that talented, and JP had talent. When he wanted to, he could fill up the stat sheet – steals, assists, rebounds, slashing points. When he didn’t hustle, he’d pull down zero rebounds and be a waste of space on the defensive end.

Chism had talent. When he wanted to, he could be a dominant force on the inside – pulling double, doubles and handling bigger players on D. He was a streaky three point shooter. He could either light it up, or he could also miss five in a row. When Chism didn’t want to play (usually), he’d drift outside and launch the three and play less than inspired D.

I am not sure how you make players want to play hard. That comes from their heart. So, I am not necessarily blaming BP. The flex or motion offense works, if you cut hard and set good screens. We didn’t run it – even when BP called for it repeatedly. At some point execution is on the players’ heads.

I am not trying to get inside the players’ heads. Just watching how they perform on the court and their enthusiasm level. Also listening to all of BP’s interviews is pretty revealing as to what’s going on with the players. BP has had too much success here and elsewhere for me to view this as anything other than a bad chemistry year.

You do sign the good players. Like Eric Berry in football. Talent + character + work ethic. Like Tyler Smith in hoops.

All that being said, we still agree that Doyel is an arrogant piece of gator meat. But even he swerves into the truth once in a while.

by memphispete on Mar 21, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting

If I recall correctly, Joel and I had this exact conversation back in December…that this year’s team was relying on the successes of the past. Doyle made a few very valid points, but also threw in some questionable tidbits for the sake of making things sound like the world is coming to an end in Knoxville. What we saw out of the 08-09 Volunteers was certainly different than what we’ve seen the previous 4 years, but something worked right in 21 of our games. We’ll be back next year. Just wait.

by Aerobab on Mar 21, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

gotta admit

no matter how big a prick doyle is, he nailed it. this team never looked like what i had come to understand was bruce pearl basketball. no press, no fire, no savvy, no poise.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Mar 22, 2009 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

I disagree with “never”. We just didn’t see it enough.

by sddbaker on Mar 22, 2009 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions

i’m not currently in the tennessee area, so i only got to see games that espn 360 picked up (which was still a good number). so maybe i missed it and it shone through a few times hear and there. the one thing i loved about the first pearl years was how it was obvious that the guys were going all out in the effort department virtually every night, win or lose. that was conspicuously absent in the majority of the games i saw.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Mar 23, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions