NOW? YES, NOW. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER COACH BRUCE PEARL CHOOSES A NEW POINT GUARD
Bruce Pearl is a fantastic coach, but yikes, I hope he knows what he's doing here:
![]() |
|
What happens if we mix this with that?
Photo credit: Lapor |
It's a position that we've not played well enough at. There's 40 minutes, and we're trying to play this tournament to advance. We need better play at the position to advance. If this decision doesn't work, so be it. I've got to get my best players on the floor. J.P. Prince deserves to be on the floor more than 10 minutes. We did it after we lost to Vanderbilt. I just didn't stay with it.
. . . .
As a coach, when I get done with the Arkansas game and I'm looking at J.P. Prince playing 10 minutes, I've got to do something. I've got to do something, and he's playing behind Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith. There's only 16 minutes there. And Josh Tabb is playing well defensively. I've got confidence in Josh. So that took, say, eight minutes away too. I decided I was going to play Josh Tabb, and either not play Jordan or Ramar as much. I just don't think they've played well enough to win a championship.
But wow, did it work today? Sure, we won, but did we play well? Do you really fiddle with chemistry 30 games into the season, just when the team is beginning tournament play?
Of course you do, if you're Bruce Pearl and you think it's best. If this pays off, Pearl's standing in the eyes of Tennessee fans increases even above its already lofty height. If it doesn't, he may experience the first real criticism of his tenure. My guess, though, is that it will pay off. This is Pearl we're talking about.
5 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Wow.
Well, we can fall back on the "transitional" excuse for this game. By Sunday they better have it figured out. But there is one thing this might do for the team that's not so obvious (but could be tremendously valuable): shake off stagnation.
In retrospect, the team could have peaked during the Memphis game. Though the game wasn't the prettiest, it was the game where the team's play was most effective in stifling an opponent and creating the chances needed to win. Since then, there was the Vandy loss, the close UK and Florida games, the end-of-season-who-cares USC game, and the SEC tourney fiascoes. (Fiasci?) If they did hit their peak and are now on a stagnant downslide, they'll need something to break them out of that or they'll lose. It's risky to change working chemistry, but it could end up producing a better product - especially if they can make the Sweet 16 and gain an extra week of practice.
He knows coaching far better than I do. Sometimes you have to take risks without knowing what the end product is. But if he thinks this will produce a better end product, I'm all for the gamble.
Risk perfection; you just might get it.
It can't fail
JP might be the answer (not THE Answer) ... just lay off the alley oops, please.
What's the worse that could happen?
JP better stay out of foul trouble though. He tends do get 3-4 nickle and dime fouls off the bench, let alone when he's going to be playing 25+ minutes.
Hmm.
Pearl knows, though, and so I trust him. I'm just jittery.
by Joel Hollingsworth on Mar 22, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

by 
























