Coach of the Year Bruce Pearl

viking611 · Mar 1, 2006

has not only turned the record around at Tennessee but I'm currently watching game and the whole lower bowl of the arena is wearing orange and white Ts in a checkerboard layout...very cool...probably 10-12 thousand fans in the lower bowl.

When was the last time Tennessee was sellling out on a regular basis as well? Avg attendence last year was 11,000 something. This year's attendence avg is 17,500+. That has to be near the top in the nation!

Things like this should also be brought into consideration when naming COY. He not only has motivated his players and has them playing great but also has brought a great atmosphere/fan base to basketball at TN. Who would've ever thunk it! (besides me when TN named him head coach-just didn't think it would be so soon).

viking611 · Mar 1, 2006

here are last year's top 5 in attendence...

Rank School G Attendance Average

1. Syracuse 18 413,605 22,978
2. Kentucky 15 337,796 22,520
3. North Carolina 15 307,840 20,522
4. Louisville 17 318,688 18,746
5. Wisconsin 16 274,272 17,142

They gotta be top 5!!

Last year's #1 in differential from year before
2005 2004 Change
Rank School G Avg. Avg. in Avg.
1. Virginia Tech 16 9,405 6,342 3,063

Tennesse is up an avg of 6,000+ Double that figure!!

Fishhead · Mar 1, 2006

This team is VERY GOOD........see them in the FINAL FOUR!

ClipJoint · Mar 1, 2006

He is the hands down winner...I don't think there is any question about that.

viking611 · Mar 1, 2006

the checker board in the lower bowl is very cool tonight

Fishhead · Mar 1, 2006

viking611 said:
the checker board in the lower bowl is very cool tonight

Thinking of moving to Tennessee!

VOLTITAN · Mar 1, 2006

Fish...I think you jinxed us by posting too early. We lost the game. Not only did we not stop Rondo all night, we never even slowed him down. I loved the checkboard, honoring John Ward and Ray Mears and all but we needed the win for our seeding in the big dance. This game and the Arkansas game were two we really needed and Vandy still thinks they have a shot so that will be no cake walk in Knoxville. What Coach Pearl has been able to do with this group of players and the fans etc....has been incredible, but I think we could pick up things defensively a little better. Give Kentucky credit though for not laying down when UT was up 21-7. We need a good run in the SEC tourney to gain our momentum back. Tennessee is a great state. I have lived in Nashville, Knoxville and the Memphis area. Knoxville is a great college sports town and Nashville is growing into a decent pro sports town (Titans and Predators). Go Vols!

Fishhead · Mar 1, 2006

Sorry, think your right.

kyhawk · Mar 1, 2006

Move to Lutz . Won award top 20 place in live us.

kermit16 · Mar 1, 2006

Fishhead said:
This team is VERY GOOD........see them in the FINAL FOUR!

Tenn in final 4 ? They have over achieved but I doubt if they go very far beyond sweet 16 ! Great team but lack the talent to dance with the big boys ! Two more weeks and they start to dance !!!!!:drink: :money:

Fishhead · Mar 1, 2006

kyhawk said:
Move to Lutz . Won award top 20 place in live us.

Strong possibility

oldmanTED · Mar 1, 2006

Fishhead said:
This team is VERY GOOD........see them in the FINAL FOUR!

:monsters-

Horseshoe · Mar 1, 2006

Tenn's Bruce Pearl, Villanova's Jay Wright, and LSU's John Brady, all three have thin benches, limited teams, yet they have overachieved all year to be where they are.

Like LSU, Kansas' Bill Self has a young team playing at a high level, and near the top of a solid conference.

Cailpari has talent, thus should be sitting where Memphis sits, yet deserves kudos, even if his team wins short, and via finesse D in a mediocre Conference USA..same with Duke and UConn and Texas.

Pearl, like Ohio State's Matta, is a top recruiter..Vols like Buckeyes have a solid class coming in.

LivingOffGamblingMoney · Mar 1, 2006

You knew Kentucky sooner or later would pull off a big W.

Tenn is still better.

oldmanTED · Mar 1, 2006

Let's see if Tennessee can win the SEC Conference tournament before the Big Dance even starts. Not convinced the Vols play good enough defense to advance deep.

Horseshoe · Mar 1, 2006

True OMT, they do not play consistent D..rely on Finesse D coupled to an Guard based arc attack with knifing Forwards.

LSU is the SEC's best, but will not be a factor in SEC Tourney(thin and banged up), with Tenn/UF/UK/Ark battling for Tourney Trophy in Atlanta next week.

kermit16 · Mar 1, 2006

Horseshoe said:
Tenn's Bruce Pearl, Villanova's Jay Wright, and LSU's John Brady, all three have thin benches, limited teams, yet they have overachieved all year to be where they are.

Like LSU, Kansas' Bill Self has a young team playing at a high level, and near the top of a solid conference.

Cailpari has talent, thus should be sitting where Memphis sits, yet deserves kudos, even if his team wins short, and via finesse D in a mediocre Conference USA..same with Duke and UConn and Texas.

Pearl, like Ohio State's Matta, is a top recruiter..Vols like Buckeyes have a solid class coming in.

Don't leave out North Carolina as they have the best crop of Freshmen in the country and a top rated recruiting class coming in for 2006 ! Great job by Williams with a very young team !

Horseshoe · Mar 1, 2006

True Kermit16, you can't hold "Diaper Dandy By The Dozens" against the Aristocracy..Roy Williams has them up to speed quickly.

randyrohm · Mar 2, 2006

Jesus, I live in Knoxville and this team has come far. No way they even make sweet 16. No inside game will be exposed badly by quality big men.

catsfan · Mar 2, 2006

Horseshoe
The SEC tournament is in Nashville this year.
Bruce Pearl is an excellent coach. Living up here near Milwaukee many
were very sad to see him go but totally understood. Being a UK fan I was very happy with the outcome of tonight's game. I would make Pearl the COY. Tennessee has had an outstanding season but I would not be surprised if they go out in the first round of the Big Dance. They are very young and they don't play good defense. I hope I am wrong but I see South Carolina of a few years ago. Vols one and done.