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.

 

They do have good talent besides Lofton, but they havent shown that they are the same team with out him. They are VERY average with out him. Contenders have depth and while they might not be as great with a certain player, they wont completely implode like UT did when losing your best player for 4 games.

I picked other because that's the closes thing I could find to "I don't think they are a national contender".

 

Good team, sure...they'll probably be rated pretty high this season and be successful, but when the big dance rolls around, I don't expect Tennessee to be one of the teams that I consider a serious threat to run the table. That's just me though, I could be wrong.

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

Not exactly futurecoach, the "very average" team fell to the back to back national champions Febuary 3rd 79-84.(w/out Lofton) While the national contender Vols, (w/Lofton), returned the favor later that month on the 27th 86-76. Lofton had 21 and sealed the game with free throws. Not to mention Lofton comes back from the injury to lead his team to victory 7 out of last 8 games, with wins over Florida, LSU, Alabama, and Kentucky.:sssh:

I voted "other" bc I just do not consider UT a "National" contender, their records in the SEC tournament and especially the NCAA haveot lead me to believe anything else. Improved under Pearl..............Yes, National Contender.................No.

 

 

 

When I opened the thread this is what I was thinking. You summed it up perfectly.

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.

I agree:thumb:

Solid coach + solid players = solid program

 

It is really very simple, ... you need both and UT has both.

Chris Lofton is a great player. Bruce Pearl is an alright "coach." I think, however, it is his recruiting. Finding players that score and score in bunches.

Chris Lofton is a great player. Bruce Pearl is an alright "coach." I think, however, it is his recruiting. Finding players that score and score in bunches.

 

That is apparent in their first round tournament game where they scored 121 points I believe.

Being from the left side of the state, I hate UT!

 

OK, having said that, Pearl has done a really good job attracting players. I would also agree that he seems to let them play to their strengths. Just as important, he had stirred local interest in the program. In rivalry games, with big crowds, the crowds can definitely have an impact on the game..or at least the opposing team.

 

Did I mention I hate UT???

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.

Bruce Pearl is far from an "average" coach ... his record speaks for itself.

 

Lofton is a good player, but he isn't the only reason Tennessee is on the rise ... the biggest one is running the show.

Bruce Pearl is far from an "average" coach ... his record speaks for itself.

 

Lofton is a good player, but he isn't the only reason Tennessee is on the rise ... the biggest one is running the show.

 

I think that Pearl has done an outstanding job, but I don't think he will be able to sustain it. Lofton is not the only reason they are good, but he is a big reason.

Who is the world decided Tennessee was a national contender????