JB, this is Tennessee mens basketball, not football. Just so you know.

[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 6:42 PM. Reason : .]

3/23/2011 6:40:43 PM

We're talking about the men's program, right?

[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 6:41 PM. Reason : UT is a WBB school]

3/23/2011 6:41:16 PM

Yeah, talk about being compared to the legend 20 miles away...how about being compared to the legend sitting 2 doors away

3/23/2011 6:43:17 PM

once again, #4 in attendance nationally, havent been out of the top 20 in attendance since the late 70s ... thats a lot of people going to a lot of shitty teams. Ahead of UNC and the Dean Dome holds more people...

DIV. I
School G Total Avg
1, Kentucky 18 433,989 24,111
2. Syracuse 19 420,890 22,152
3. Louisville 19 368,537 19,397
4. Tennessee 16 306,680 19,168
5. UNC 19 337,934 17,786
6. Wisconsin 17 292,910 17,230
7. Maryland 16 268,673 16,792
8. Memphis 20 329,968 16,498
9. Kansas 19 312,230 16,433
10. Marquette 17 265,484 15,617



[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 6:58 PM. Reason : as I hear the frantic typing as ernie and others scour google for data ]

3/23/2011 6:45:02 PM

State's top-25 in attendance, and has been for decades

And we fucking suck

--

But seriously, depleted roster, possible sanctions, no real basketball history, football school, women's program is more popular, shit town, shit state, shit conference. UT is like fifth or sixth at best on the list of programs that have opened this season, and has a less than zero chance of landing someone like Wright or Dixon.

[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 7:06 PM. Reason : Lame duck AD]

[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 7:08 PM. Reason : No '11 commitments]

3/23/2011 7:02:42 PM

thats nice... doesnt really mean anything for the debate though since we are comparing two teams only...

depleted roster - depends on what coach comes in and if he can keep the current recruits and/or bring some in, but yes, this next year will be down a bit probably
possible sanctions - true, a biggie
no real basketball history - moderate, but I dont know how much that matters to 16-18 year olds. For most of their life where they actually paid attention to bball UT has been a good team
football school - of course
women's program is more popular - more by default, and as the attendance figures show its not a question of fans picking one or the other, they both draw huge numbers
shit town - agree for the most part, its great around campus, aside from that, it sucks. But, the reasons why it sucks is pretty much describing Raleigh outside of a few areas, so not a big difference there
shit state - lived in both for many years, pretty much the same
shit conference - not at all, once again, during their lifetime you got Kentucky of course, Florida winning back to back, UT solid
A less than zero chance of landing someone like Wright or Dixon - I somewhat agree but only due to the sanctions. If those arent there, I could see them getting either. If they pay Calipari/Donovan type money, which they can, then almost everyone is possible.
Lame duck AD - god I hope so. I would destroy the entire bball program just to get rid of him
11 commits - depends on who comes in



[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 7:13 PM. Reason : d]

[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 7:14 PM. Reason : d]

3/23/2011 7:03:35 PM

Donovan and Calipari make about $4m a year, Pearl made about $2m. You really think there's a chance they could double down for a big name?

[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 7:16 PM. Reason : Now you make a list that makes State a bad job]

3/23/2011 7:15:55 PM

Those attendance numbers are skewed. The UT students have to got to a certain amount of men's basketball games to qualify for women's basketball tickets.

3/23/2011 7:16:12 PM

^^ money is not a problem, if Pearl hadnt had this mess he was up for a new contract, they would have paid him around that I imagine

and once again, I never said it was a bad job. You said out of those two which one is better right now (not based on all time) and I gave you my opinion. Just because I think UT is a better job right now doesnt mean I also think State is a bad job right now.



[Edited on March 23, 2011 at 7:18 PM. Reason : d]

3/23/2011 7:16:59 PM

He signed a six-year deal in 2009.

3/23/2011 7:18:02 PM

and it was voided... he coached this last season without a contract

3/23/2011 7:18:25 PM

Well played, old friend.

3/23/2011 7:19:20 PM

we will see what happens... Louis Salazar is keeping an eye on the story

3/23/2011 7:21:49 PM

You could argue that Arkansas is a better job than State

But State and Georgia Tech are both better jobs than Tennessee

3/23/2011 7:24:11 PM

the big drawback to Arkansas is if you win the SEC west you dont automatically get a high NCAA bid.. If you win the east (which means better than Kentucky), you do.

Thats the only reason I would see Grant moving over from Bama

3/23/2011 7:27:08 PM

I guess, but you can't let that stop you from wanting to coach somewhere

If Arkansas goes 28-4 or whatever they did a couple times in the mid-90s, their seed will be fine

3/23/2011 7:30:31 PM

3/23/2011 7:38:35 PM

http://deadspin.com/#!5784437/bruce-pearls-first-c%20on-and-the-world-that-created-a-monster



Dude is shady as fuck

3/24/2011 1:22:50 PM

^Remember reading about that when he got hired and it it gave me a negative opinion of him that I've always held. He's Calipari-level IMO...at least given enough time he would easily get to that point.

I think he's a really good basketball coach...just has extremely loose morals and ethics when it comes to handling a college basketball program.

3/24/2011 1:45:17 PM

I think everyone that follows college basketball already knew all that... Hell, ESPN mentions it every interview

3/24/2011 3:20:56 PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jeff_pearlman/03/23/pat.summitt/index.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=Sbin

lol

3/24/2011 9:13:57 PM

hahah, I would take her in a heartbeat


but back to serious:

Quote :

"Tennessee has added Richmond men's basketball coach Chris Mooney to the list of coaching candidates it's interested in, according to a source with knowledge of the coaching search. The source requested anonymity because Richmond has not been contacted. Mooney, 38, who played at Princeton, has been coach at Richmond since 2005, compiling a 112-86 record heading into Friday night’s NCAA tournament Sweet 16 game against Kansas. Mooney signed a contract extension in 2010 that takes him through 2017 and could be worth as much as $700,000. The Vols began their coaching search on Monday with the following five coaches on their list: Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon, Villanova coach Jay Wright, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon and Alabama coach Anthony Grant, according to a source in the UT athletic department."

[Edited on March 24, 2011 at 10:25 PM. Reason : d]

3/24/2011 10:20:20 PM

Any word on Dixon or Wright? I assume they've been contacted.

3/25/2011 12:32:00 AM

No, but Grant is supposedly waiting to see if Mike Hamilton is going to keep his job or not. Not sure which way he is wanting it to go, Hamilton to stay or get fired, but either way he's waiting.

3/25/2011 12:44:16 AM

Quote :

"Counzo Martin lost weight at an alarming rate while he was playing professionally in Italy. He had trouble breathing and after several exams he was told that he had bronchitis and was required to return home immediately. Upon his return Martin met with a US doctor. The doctor in a business-like, matter of fact tone told Martin that he had cancer, "life threatening cancer." At 26 years old and in the prime of his life, Cuonzo Martin who grew up in the middle of the societal cancers of East St. Louis now faced Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The tumor was located between his heart and lungs and it was an aggressive and growing mass. He was treated with the most advanced and most volatile treatments available at that time. The chemotherapy left him near death. He could barely move and his will to live was reduced to one prayer, "God, please let me live long enough to see my 4 month old son turn 18 years old." That was the prayer of a dying man who had only one option, trust that God might listen and give him one last chance to make a difference for his son, Joshua. God listened and today just before practice I watched Cuonzo Martin with emotion filled eyes and slightly trembling hands describe the horror he once faced one day at a time. He never said the word, 'Cancer' as we spoke. He can't say it because he hates it in a deep and personal way. He watched other patients die along the timeline to his own personal path to recovery. He has not forgotten them and he works today through multiple organizations to help find a cure. As practice began Martin was stoic but focused. At Missouri State there are no excuses. Martin's mother taught him that, "No one wants to hear someone else's excuses!" With 6:32 to go and Martin's Missouri State Bears behind 55-45 to the Nevada Wolf Pack the game seemed all but over. At that point in the game I looked across the court and saw a man who is emotional without showing emotion and a man who doesn't make excuses. I saw a man who still had a prayer and so did his team. Missouri State went on a 17-5 game winning run. I watched Cuonzo Martin pump his fist at the closing buzzer. It wasn't demonstrative but it was emotional without showing emotion. He did it again as he walked off the court never raising his head. This was just another day in the life of a man who now lives to help others and now lives 12 years after he made that request of God. Joshua is 12 years old now and day by day father and son cherish these special days."

I had mentioned him for the State position before Bruce was let go, very interesting, a Keady guy which I love (played at Purdue/was asst there under Keady). Also from that coach tree: Bruce Weber, Kevin Stallings, Matt Painter, Steve Lavin.

Cuonzo Martin's 3 years at Missouri State: 11-20, 3-15 Valley; 24-12, 8-10 Valley; 26-9, 15-3 Valley

[Edited on March 27, 2011 at 7:52 PM. Reason : you could just not be annoying and predictable and actually talk about sports]

3/27/2011 7:39:31 PM

can't let Jaybee tee this one up w/o swinging!

Quote :

"Counzo Martin lost weight at an alarming rate"

but i can't decide what to do w/ it ...

3/27/2011 7:41:19 PM

so they officially got Cuonzo Martin... will you guys tell me if that is a good thing or bad thing?

3/27/2011 10:29:13 PM

as a big fan of MVC basketball, I think you guys got a great coach

3/27/2011 10:43:37 PM

Quote :

"Former Purdue coach Gene Keady on Vols' hire Cuonzo Martin: "In 50 years of coaching, he's the best leader I ever had.""

Quote :

"When Cuonzo Martin took over at Missouri State, he had 5 scholarship players."

3/27/2011 11:19:59 PM

I am gonna miss Bruce Pearl

3/28/2011 12:40:15 AM

presser is live right now

http://www.utsports.com/allaccess/?media=239348

3/28/2011 2:38:14 PM

i was surprised to be the one to let john kruk know about this... he is always on top of UT knowledge and usually the one to let me know about this kinda stuff

lets hope a quick hire is also a wise hire

3/28/2011 6:43:32 PM

Quote :

"Cuonzo Martin has been on the job as Tennessee’s men’s basketball coach since Sunday, but he’s still receiving honors from his tenure at Missouri State. Martin received the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year Award on Friday at the CollegeInsider.com awards banquet in Houston. The award is presented annually to the top minority coach in NCAA Division I men’s basketball. Martin was named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year after guiding Missouri State to a 26-9 record and the school’s first MVC regular season championship. Other finalists for the Jobe Award were Alabama’s Anthony Grant, Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton and Virginia Commonwealth’s Shaka Smart. The award is in its second year and is named after Jobe, who is best known for his 12-year tenure at Southern University."

4/1/2011 11:34:08 PM