Vols racing toward mediocrity

[fernandomike]

I am afraid that Buzz's final days as Vols coach are rapidly approaching. Coming into the year, there was lots of talk about what he needed to get done this season with most observers saying that reaching the NCAA tournament was the minimum. Unless there is an abrupt turn around, the Vols are headed to the NIT if anything at all.
I feel bad for Buzz. From all accounts, he is a wonderful guy. He is so nice that he rarely even argues with the refs and as a result gets few of those important calls down the stretch.
The thing is if Buzz gets fired, who can the Vols bring in? The place is becoming a graveyard for coaches. Jerry Green took us to NCAA tournaments and even reached the sweet sixteen one year, but was later fired. Kevin O'Neill left the team to take a job at, of all places, Northwestern. Wade Houston came to Knoxville with his son and Louisville's renowned press defense. Allan Houston was a terrific scorer, but our press was more-or-less a lay-up drill for our opponents.
A big part of this mess is former AD Doug Dickey's fault. Don DeVoe and Jerry Green should never have been fired. Wade Houston and Buzz Petersen should never have been hired. And worse than any of that is the arena. Recruits have to be really impressed when they enter a 24,000 seat arena packed with 10,000 fans. Also, any potential coach would have to look upon that as a negative. I really don't know what the Vols are going to do. Keep Buzz? Fire him? Look for a young, dynamic coach or a proven veteran?
I guess we will know in a couple of months. All I can say is, no more Mr. Nice guys.

[Tidetalk]

I like Buzz Peterson and I think he is a good coach, but after I saw the Bama/UT game Wednesday, I can honestly say that UT is pretty bad. They have 4 SEC caliber players and 1 of them was hurt. They need to recruit.

[fernandomike]

I like Buzz too. He is a fine Christian man and a great influence on the players. One major problem is that we are reduced to looking for moral victories since the other kind are rather scarce for us. It just doesn't look like he can get us turned around. I hate this revolving door of coaches, but I don't think that he will survive this season unless they go on a long winning streak.

[GeauxTo]

I like Buzz Peterson and I think he is a good coach, but after I saw the Bama/UT game Wednesday, I can honestly say that UT is pretty bad. They have 4 SEC caliber players and 1 of them was hurt. They need to recruit.

I don't think anyone could be much worse than LSU. Our men's team sucks at every opportunity. They cannot find consistency, especially for winning on the road. Fortunately, our Lady Tigers are getting the job done in fine fashion, staying atop the AP Poll. We had a great "Clash of the Titans" here the other day when the Lady Tigers beat the Lady Vols. Great game. The ladies will bring me solace, perhaps, so I won't despair too much over the state of our men's basketball program. ;)

[fernandomike]

I don't think anyone could be much worse than LSU. Our men's team sucks at every opportunity. They cannot find consistency, especially for winning on the road. Fortunately, our Lady Tigers are getting the job done in fine fashion, staying atop the AP Poll. We had a great "Clash of the Titans" here the other day when the Lady Tigers beat the Lady Vols. Great game. The ladies will bring me solace, perhaps, so I won't despair too much over the state of our men's basketball program. ;)

Yeah, I saw a little of that game. Your girls were just too tough. Ours are young and hopefully will get better as the season goes along. Glad to see you like the ladies too. Yall obviously have a good shot at the title.
Looks like from the state of your men's program you are qualified to commiserate.

[cocky4ever]

Well if it makes yall feel any better our men and womens basketball teams suck, especially our women. Oh well, its officially baseball season and we started out the season right by sweeping our first opponent.

[supergenius]

I would say that the LSU men have turned it around.

[BigSpur]

I dont think the Vols are racing towards mediocrity. I think they would have to win a few more games to be considered mediocre. Don't worry though you still get to play USC again, that should get you going.

[fernandomike]

I dont think the Vols are racing towards mediocrity. I think they would have to win a few more games to be considered mediocre. Don't worry though you still get to play USC again, that should get you going.

No. USC owns us. Well, at least part of us. The rest is owned by the other members of the conference. :o

[BigSpur]

Yea I have a feeling UT is going to beat Carolina at UT. We are Piss Poor on the road.

[JerryBeeds]

I hope Buzz stays. The Cocks always lost to UT before got there.

[orangevol]

I personally cannot stand Buzz Peterson! He's a horrible coach, he can't make any good calls. over half of our games lost this year has been in the last 20 seconds!

[fernandomike]

I think that hate is a strong term. Buzz is a good guy. Right now, he is just not a very good coach. He has not recruited well which is obvious since a true freshman, who both UK and Louisville passed on, is our best player. I really don't see him turning this thing around and I hope that he gets fired. I do agree about us losing too many games late usually after we have built a lead. Something has got to change.

[Neo]

I personally cannot stand Buzz Peterson! He's a horrible coach, he can't make any good calls. over half of our games lost this year has been in the last 20 seconds!


Welcome to SECTalk.com Orange! If you ever need anything, feel free to PM me.

Neo
SECTalk.com Admin/News Writer

[Jay_Lupo]

I think that hate is a strong term. Buzz is a good guy. Right now, he is just not a very good coach. He has not recruited well which is obvious since a true freshman, who both UK and Louisville passed on, is our best player. I really don't see him turning this thing around and I hope that he gets fired. I do agree about us losing too many games late usually after we have built a lead. Something has got to change.


If you're talking about Lofton, Arkansas passed on him too. But hell, after he lit us up for 30 in Bud Walton, I wish we hadn't.

[Djshockley3]

What happeaned to arkansas tonight jay.

[Jay_Lupo]

Man, I don't know. Pretty much the same thing that's happened in big games all year. We just have severe scoring droughts. Modica hit a 3 with 20 seconds to make it 56-55, but we'd been stuck on 52 for at least 4 minutes. Youth and lack of a true point guard is what many would say, and that's probably it, but I'm tired of that yarn. We just didn't get it done, and as a result we can kiss our already slim NCAA chances bye-bye. NIT here we come. Whoooopiee!!!! At least we'll get another game or two in Fayetteville :))).

[Djshockley3]

Yeah I would say NIT to,at least yall have NIT we don't got anything.

[Jay_Lupo]

Don't worry about that man. UGA and Ark. have very similar b-ball programs lately. I think ya'll are just a year or two behind us. Things may be bad in Athens this year, but I can assure you that it won't last. Felton's a great coach, you guys have some impressive freshman and you've got a great player coming in and if Williams doesn't go pro....you've got the best player in the nation coming to your school. I think he will, he's not ready for the NBA, but boy is he good. So don't worry player, UGA's b-ball misery will be over soon. As for us, this year was a big improvement, but overall I'm disappointed. I always set realistic goals for my teams, and my goal this year for this team was an 8-8 SEC record and NCAA birth. That's impossible now, unless we win the SEC tourney. Like i said, that's impossible now. Next year will be the key for us. If we struggle next year, Frank Broyles (the godfather) will whack Heath.

[orangevol]

The only reason why Chris Lofton came to Tennessee instead of Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, etc.. Is because he knew that if he came to Tennessee that he would get early playing time. And guess what he did, Chris prob. has top minutes in every game! o0o and you can't forget that Tennessee is EXCELLENT and who wouldn't wanna go to Tennessee??

[orangevol]

Welcome to SECTalk.com Orange! If you ever need anything, feel free to PM me.

Neo
SECTalk.com Admin/News Writer
Thankz!! Neo!! If you ever need anything, you feel free to PM me!

[Neo]

Thankz!! Neo!! If you ever need anything, you feel free to PM me!

Well,

Tell your friends about this site. We need more UT fans and such here. :D

[the87sundancekid]

After watching the game against Louisville on ESPN this year, in which UT was winning by 1 with like 8 minutes left, and then lost by like 20, I've just about given up on Buzz. Sure he's a great guy, but being a good person doesn't acheive the needed results. Hopefully the Step-Up program that is improving most of the facilities at Tennessee will allow the basketball program to actually recruit some real players. I'd go with a young dynamic coach for next year. It worked for Duke 20 something years ago.

[fernandomike]

Now that Pat Summitt has come out publicly for Buzz, it will be much more difficult to fire him. Who are people going to listen to Summitt with her six national titles or AD Mike Hamilton? That lady is as popular here as any single person in the state. If he stays, they will strongly encourage Buzz to revamp his staff and bring in an experienced X's and O's guy. I hear that he is resisting this out of loyalty to his guys, but he really doesn't have a leg to stand on, except maybe Mrs. Summitt's.

[orangevol]

Yeh after the interview I started to rethink how i'm thinking toward Buzz, I mean you can't really disagree with Pat Summitt! especially about basketball... so maybe give him one more year to prove the he can do something with the mens program... Cuz Jerry Green was wrong when he said that we don't another program to succeed!