The new #1 team in the country?
- Thread starter 1Tripoda
- Start date
Tenn people made such a wonderful decision...after those Texas people ...
It depends on if Kansas wins their next game or not. They play one more game before the next poll comes out. If they win that game then I think they move back to #1 but if they lose then I think Gonzaga will be #1.
Kansas has a strong case if they beat Tennessee but you can’t go wrong with Zags either
Nothing against Rick Barnes but he overstayed his welcome in Austin.
I don't see the hype with Tennessee. They will be good but never elite.
Pretty much Rick Barnes at his best. A Sweet 16 run.
What Shaka has in Austin is going to be dangerous.
He is actually taking advantage of the athletes at his finger tips.
Not taking anything away from Rick Barnes nor Tennessee but they won't be in the Final 4.
Maybe some programs want to be consistent and have a few deep runs every few years but Texas was ready for more.
The ceiling for Shaka Smart at Texas is a lot higher than it ever was under Rick Barnes.
Shaka’s ceiling became limited when the ncaa cracked down on being able to hand and hip check all game
They still are consistently one of the best defensive teams in the country.
So far this year they are Top 10.
Plus the guard play so far is light years ahead of last year.
That hand and hip check trash use to be great in tournaments when teams had little time to prepare for it. Shaka doesn’t scare anyone anymore.
Not to derail the topic...
Like what I mentioned before Rick Barnes has a ceiling.
If he didn't crack it at Texas he won't at Tennessee.
When you realize the head coach will never win a NC it is time to move on.
Most people around Texas still believe Shaka Smart can reach that level.
Especially considering his next two recruiting classes.
Rick Barnes has been a head coach for well over 20 years and has only won one conference tournament.
Regarding Shaka. He is being given every chance in the world to win.
If he doesn't then I am sure Texas will move on.
Hes in his fourth year at Texas and has not won a single tournament game at Texas.
His leading scorer went out early in Andrew Jones.
Texas played with Duke, Gonzaga and Michigan early last year
While beating Bama and Butler.
This was on a freshman heavy team.
Can't fault Shaka for last year.
Even with all that they played an OT game against a dangerous Nevada team in the NCAA tournament
That team loss close games for most of the year.
Enter 2018-19.
A lot more experience, veteran player who scored 15 points on a NCAA tourney team and a Top 10 recruiting class.
Played with Michigan? Michigan had a double digit lead midway through the 2nd half when Wagner got injured. Game was headed to blowout city but Michigan still won comfortably.
You’re talking about ceilings.
Smart never won the Atlantic 10 or Colonial Concerence. He used a gimmick defense to make a deep tournament run before the rule changes.
His ceiling isn’t as high as Texas homers apparently think it is.
Kansas will be #1 if we beat Utenn on Friday. The main word....IF. Tenn’s roster is not a good matchup for KU right now. We can’t hit 5 threes and not guard the three point line like we did tonight. Going to be a tough game for us.
What is scary about Gonzaga is that their best shooter did not play due to injury.Think he is due to return in January I think,They will be even more of a load then
Is Shaka even gonna be there in another year or two? Seems like a lot of underachievement to me so far.
And on top of that, the run should have ended in the Sweet 16. Fluky last second bucket in OT against FSU—which was only a 10 seed and had their best defender coming back from a broken foot.
Not to be pure homer but LSU could make some noise late when they get their act together and so can UK.
As Ronald Reagan use to say, Is Texas better off in the 4 years he has been gone from Texas, Hell No. Is Tennessee better off since the arrival of Barnes, Hell yes. GBO
Texas could have a really big year this year but so far Smart has been incredibly underwhelming at Texas.
Rick Barnes has been great for Tennessee. Texas never should have fired Barnes. Or at least they should have made a better hire. Barnes did the best of anyone competing with Kansas.
Rick Barnes has been great for Tennessee. Texas never should have fired Barnes. Or at least they should have made a better hire. Barnes did the best of anyone competing with Kansas.
You could say that about 20 other teams also, these are the teams that stick out to me.
Not realistically No, maybe 2 or 3. Not every team has a Tremont Waters and a Naz Reid to go along with other seriously talented players.
LSU is gonna have to play defense if they want to make a run in March. Sub-100 D might allow you to finish top 3 in the SEC, but it ain’t gonna get you beyond the Sweet 16.
And yes, you could say “they could make some noise late” about 20 different teams. Hell, NCSU could “make some noise late” given the right set of circumstances.
You’re new to this basketball thingy aren’t you? You had one of the most talented teams a couple years ago, and didn’t even make the tournament. Lol
KU hasn't had a consistent threat since Barnes left Texas. He was underrated there.
I guess y'all need something to celebrate, Della.
But....I already saw Barnes at his best last March for Tennessee.
Almost all of your seasons will end in that way.
Only one team will win the championship. If you can't be happy unless you win it all, you will more then likely be miserable most of the time.
Barnes was at Texas for 15 years had some years in the Top 5 others not but what ultimately caused him to be fired was that if he couldn't win one Big XII tournament championship during that time so he wasn't going to win the NCAA tournament.
Fans of the Vols still expect more out of him. I understand that.
He is very good at football schools because he brings energy to the basketball program.
Did it at Clemson, Texas and now Tennessee.
Barnes is a home run as far as I'm concerned. He gets the most out of what he has got and he doesn't cheat.
Well, he does cheat. But he doesn’t cheat any worse than what’s acceptable in NCAA hoops. He keeps it reasonable.
Besides, he looks like the Prime Minister of Finland, Norway or some northern European country.
I'm pretty sure he taught my bible study class.
Besides, he looks like the Prime Minister of Finland, Norway or some northern European country.
