Tennessee fans low key complimentary of Coach Pope
- Thread starter twwilliams9
- Start date
Barnes made some mistakes with that game. But when your team decides to launch 45 threes, they are just being stupid, especially considering that they weren’t hitting them. Reminded me of Cal just letting Wall and company bomb away when it was so obvious we couldn’t hit that night, with Cousins sitting in the lane with no one to stop him. Really really stupid not to put a stop to it.
Yeah Barnes completely mishandled the game.
Even at the end, they are only down 3 or 4 with about a minute to go, and they launch 75 3FGs back to back to back. Barnes should have called a timeout and drawn something up to get Milicic or Mashack or even Zeigler a look at the rim or get fouled.
Yeah
I’m super happy with the win and excited about it, but Tennessee couldn’t throw it in the ocean.
So thankful that Barnes didn’t go at Amari and foul him out.
I’m super happy with the win and excited about it, but Tennessee couldn’t throw it in the ocean.
So thankful that Barnes didn’t go at Amari and foul him out.
There was a point late in the game with 6 or 7 minutes left that Barnes looked defeated, like he just wanted to go home.
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This.^^^^^^^
I told my buddy the same thing when I saw that on TV. Barnes looked really old (he is) and really tired. Like he really didn't want to be there. It is time for him to go also. He will be 71 this year and I know how hard it is to stay motivated after you pass that 70 mark. Even money can't motivate you like it once did.
Barnes is old school like Cal and this new era is just not sitting well with him. And I get it. But it is not going back to the "good old days" of amateur athletics, if there ever was such a thing.
.... going forward ?
OK, I understand that perspective. But ..... let me enlighten this Vol fan on a little history ....
Kentucky is 162 - 78 in the series with Tennessee. Haven't we won 5 of the past 6 in hardknoxville? 6 of the last 9 overall? That's just in the RECENT past.
So, apparently, in the past, in the present, and in the future, we're a PROBLEM FOR THEM ANYTIME THEY'D LIKE TO SLICE THAT PIECE OF PIE ! When your rival is beating you better than 2/3rds of the times you face them, yeah, it's a "problem" !!! lol !!
bring it on !
Go Big Blue !
OK, I understand that perspective. But ..... let me enlighten this Vol fan on a little history ....
Kentucky is 162 - 78 in the series with Tennessee. Haven't we won 5 of the past 6 in hardknoxville? 6 of the last 9 overall? That's just in the RECENT past.
So, apparently, in the past, in the present, and in the future, we're a PROBLEM FOR THEM ANYTIME THEY'D LIKE TO SLICE THAT PIECE OF PIE ! When your rival is beating you better than 2/3rds of the times you face them, yeah, it's a "problem" !!! lol !!
bring it on !
Go Big Blue !
It’s amazing to me some of our own fans don’t understand that we were playing to force them into 3s. Why would we do that in 2025 where the 3 is king? Because Tennessee sucks at them. Something like 3/4 of their attempts were uncontested. It was the game plan. And it worked. We didn’t just get lucky they weren’t hitting.
I'm certain that if we try the Amari-brings-the-ball-up thing again on Tennessee or anyone they'll put a forward on him and pressure him the whole way up the floor. What's he going to do, back them down from 80 feet out?
I suspect that will be the plan Saturday against the Brick Laying Razorbacks as well.
The coaching in this game has always bothered me for the exact things you pointed out. As I look back now, I should have realized sooner that Cal was a great recruiter, but average at everything else. I think Cal was more concerned with showcasing Wall for the NBA than the outcome of the game. I kept yelling at the TV, get the ball to Cousins instead of throwing up bricks.
I’ve been high key on Pope, told my wife and her UK family I thought it was a great hire.
As far as when Barnes retires, I think he’s put us in a spot where it’s an attractive job.
As far as when Barnes retires, I think he’s put us in a spot where it’s an attractive job.
If we do that in that game, we would have walked to the final and won the damn game.
Agree. I think it’s always been a good job, sometimes just didn’t hire the right coach.
Agreed. They always had average to good coaches. Barnes is the best hire they have had since Ray Mears. I know Pearl was successful and even Jerry Green but Barnes has been good for a longer period of time. NIL will help UT a lot...
I hope you’re correct, because if you’re not it means we suck at guarding the three.
It was, and was a good plan. But they’re shooting about 33% on the season and only shot 24% Tuesday.
