Jerry Green vs. Bruce Pearl

by BigBeefe on Apr 15, 2009 12:47 PM EDT Comment 4 comments

I know that sounds silly but hear me out. I have been hearing a lot on the radio about best Vol players in last 20 years and and then the all Vol team on this site and something I have noticed time and time again is that people pick A LOT of Jerry Green players.

No doubt about it that he had some really talented players. I also remember this team well since because at the time I was at UT. There was so much talent and it put us on the map nationally, but they just couldn't put it all together.

I know that in a heads up of who is the better coach Bruce wins this everytime but...

Here is the real question. Let's say Bruce gets to coach Jerry Green's players and he also gets to Coach his current team... which team wins? Jerry's Kids or Bruces Kids?

As a friendly reminder here are the players

Jerry's Kids:

Marcus Haslip

Vincent Yarbrough

Ron Slay

Jon Higgins

Tony Harris

C.J. Black

Four members of the 2000-01 team became 1,000-point scorers: Yarbrough (1,737); Harris (1,588); Slay (1,569) and Victor (1,304.

Yarbrough, Higgins and Harris rank Nos. 3, 4 and 5, respectively in career starts.

Bruce's Kids:

JuJuan Smith

Chris Lofton

Tyler Smith

Wayne Chism

J. P. Prince

Scotty Hopson

Poll

With Bruce coaching both teams who wins:

Jerry's Kids

13 votes

Bruce's Kids

8 votes

21 votes | Poll has closed

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Great question

And how about, would the 2000 team beat the 2008 team?

Tony Harris vs. Ramar Smith at point
Jon Higgins vs. Chris Lofton at guard
Vincent Yarbrough vs. JaJuan Smith on the perimeter
Isaiah Victor vs. Tyler Smith in the paint
CJ Black vs. Wayne Chism in the middle
Ron Slay vs. JP Prince at 6th man

If you bent history and put CJ Watson instead of Ramar Smith on that ‘08 team, then maybe…but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that the 2000 team was more talented. But it’s awfully hard to go against a team with Chris Lofton on it – who of Jerry’s kids guards him?

And did the ‘08 team have a special x-factor because of Pearl, or because of the players? Lofton/Tyler/Juanny have that look in their eye that only Slay ever duplicated (Tony Harris, maybe, but it wasn’t always a good thing).

by Will on Apr 15, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions