Lofton catches a lottery pick

 

Wow. Noted. :sssh:

IMO UT is not a National Contender. I do believe that Pearl is getting them headed in that direction.

I really like Bruce Pearl.

Pearl definitely has UT going in the right direction.... but I will never say that I am a fan of or like the guy

Pearl definitely has UT going in the right direction.... but I will never say that I am a fan of or like the guy

Why not, just curious?

Tyler Smith...

Why not, just curious?

 

The same reason players are disliked...

 

 

he shows too much emotion.

First off I am from Mason County so save all the "Homer" comments. I think that Bruce Pearl is an average coach that came into a very good situation with a great player on his team. After Chris graduates, I see Tennessee as a program falling off to being on the Bubble every year, as opposed to a Sweet 16 or better team year in year out.

 

So you think it wouldn't matter who the coach was, that if UT just had any average coach that they would be doing as good as they have lately???

 

I see no way that they would have done as good. Would they have been better than they was before Lofton got there, absolutely, but they would not be as good as they are now. Pearl's style is perfect for them, and perfect for Lofton. Pearl is going to get a ton of kids wanting to go there just because of his style of play. I admit they probably wouldn't be as good without Lofton the last 2 years, but they still would be a good team that was on there way up. Both these guys help each other out alot, but Pearl IMO is the reason why they are a national contender now...

It is really a combonation of Lofton being a star, and Pearl being a brilliant basketball mind in the system he runs.

I still think that the jury is out on UT on whether or not they will be successful without Lofton. As was witnessed last year, even with the players they had... without Lofton they were a VERY average team.

I still think that the jury is out on UT on whether or not they will be successful without Lofton. As was witnessed last year, even with the players they had... without Lofton they were a VERY average team.

 

Maybe I am rememering this wrong, but didn't that very average team without Lofton still beat Florida the back to back national champions?

I was in the I Hate Bruce Pearl fan club before just about everyone that doesn't root for Illinois, but you have to respect what he's building at UT. While having Lofton has accelerated the process, there is no denying the talent is starting to line up to play in his system...

 

There is no doubt he has done an amazing job with UT. And he deserves all the credit in the world for that. I just don't know if he can sustain it.

Maybe I am rememering this wrong, but didn't that very average team without Lofton still beat Florida the back to back national champions?

 

No, Lofton missed 4 games last year and Tennessee went 1-3 in those 4 games. They lost to Ole Miss 69-83, Kentucky 57-76, and Florida 78-94. The one game they did win was against Georgia 82-71. Lofton makes a HUGE difference for Tennessee but every player like Lofton makes a HUGE difference on any team. Tennessee was young last year as well. Now they have that expericence with playing with Ohio State as good as they did, not one time but two times, they should be alright this year if Lofton was to go down. Of course they wont go to the national championship game, but if any team lost there big time player ( Kentucky-Bradley or Patterson, North Carolina- Hansbrough, Michigan State- Nietzel) it would be really hard to be as good as you were with him.

Lofton is a great player. Bruce Pearl is a good coach. They also have good talent besides chris. This is why they are a contender. It takes more than a coach or one player alone to be a contender.

Lofton is a great player. Bruce Pearl is a good coach. They also have good talent besides chris. This is why they are a contender. It takes more than a coach or one player alone to be a contender.

:thumb: