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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > March > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRocky toppled: Volunteers exposed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Charlotte — Tennessee beat Memphis on Feb. 23 and became No. 1 in the land, and the Vols were never the same. The stakes got too big for them. Now they’re gone.
Gone in Round 3 of the Big Dance, gone after having a nervous time against American in Round 1 and nearly a nervous breakdown against Butler in Round 2. Gone despite being the RPI champion and, for one shining moment, the nation’s top-ranked team. Gone on a night when they were exposed by an opponent that does all the things the Vols did, only bigger and better.
Gone because they were outplayed by Louisville, but also because they were outcoached. Bruce Pearl, who never met a microphone he didn’t seize, made the silliest tactical decision the NCAA tournament has seen since Houston’s Guy V. Lewis went to his stall — the Loco-motion, he called it — with a lead against N.C. State. Maybe you recall how that turned out.
Pearl changed point guards 34 games into a season that had yielded an SEC regular-season championship, benching Ramar Smith and going with J.P. Prince. The Vols got away with it, just, against Butler despite Prince’s six turnovers. Louisville, as expected, made them pay. Prince had four more turnovers Thursday night, and Tennessee mustered just 19 baskets in 40 minutes.
The Cards and Vols pressed and harried one another with unbridled fury, as you’d also expect, and the result was an unsightly game that featured more deflections than crisp passes, more motion than artistry. But the chaos favored Rick Pitino’s team, largely because he pretty much invented this sort of thing 20 years ago.
Louisville led 24-8 after 11 minutes, and by then it was clear something was wrong with Chris Lofton, the pride of Maysville, Ky. The SEC’s all-time 3-point champ had scored only 14 points in Tennessee’s first two NCAA games, and he’d hurt his ankle against Butler. Against the school that once recruited him as a defensive back — Bobby Petrino, whom you might remember, was then the Cards’ football coach — Lofton managed two first-half points, those on free throws.
Lofton didn’t make his first basket (a 2-pointer) until 12:08 remained, didn’t nail a trey until 8:18 remained and his team was 10 points down. By then it was too late. He would finish with 15 points, a credit to his fighting spirit, but Louisville would win by 19. In his final game as a collegian, Lofton missed 12 of 15 shots and had four blocked.
In the end, its reliance a smallish shooting guard was Tennessee’s undoing. It had no half-court offense except to throw the ball to the Maysville flash and let him work some fallaway wonder. Once the Vols ascended to No. 1, they wilted under the accompanying scrutiny. They lost to Vanderbilt three days after beating Memphis, nearly lost at home to Kentucky and had to come from behind against Florida in Gainesville.
It took a Lofton trey, naturally, for Tennessee to fend off South Carolina in the SEC tournament, and then Lofton missed at the buzzer and Arkansas prevailed in the semifinals. That was the tale of Pearl’s team: If Lofton hit, the Vols had a chance. If not, they were just another bunch of guys who needed to steal the ball to score.
Louisville is somewhat better. Louisville has a half-court offense — Pitino learned in 1995, when Kentucky lost a bitter regional final to North Carolina in Birmingham, the folly of total dependence on 3-pointers — and has scorers inside. The Cardinals mightn’t be good enough to beat North Carolina on Saturday, but they at least have a chance. Tennessee would have had none.
Tennessee was a nice team in a weakened SEC. Tennessee was No. 1 in the polls for one fleeting week, but this was never the nation’s finest assemblage. And now it’s gone, clearing the stage for better squads.
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By Dawg fan
March 28, 2008 1:42 AM | Link to this
Confucius say: Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous. Basketball team without offense lose in third round.
UTK: Ranked because of Pearl’s charisma and not because of crisp basketball. Well stated, Mark. Gimme a non-charismatic dud who can coach anytime.
By william
March 28, 2008 1:58 AM | Link to this
Can’t you say anything positive about anybody? Did you ever consider all that Tennessee accomplished with not much talent but great coaching? A lot of teams would be overjoyed with a season like this. Get off your high horse Bradley, you’re about as bad as Terrence Moore.
By another dawg
March 28, 2008 2:01 AM | Link to this
Louisville was better, too big inside. This article is a big-time hatchet job but I guess it makes friends among the locals. Can’t argue with UT’s recent success- they were #1 RPI because of their non-conference schedule. I thought AJC was a big city paper free of homerism? Anyhow, if only the bball UGA scholar-athletes could be cursed with such a crappy season and coach next year.
By benadawg
March 28, 2008 6:07 AM | Link to this
Normally i would revel in a Tennessee loss, but this is the S.E.C. we gotta pull for each other. Yeah right. How ‘bout them dogs!!!!
By LA Dawg
March 28, 2008 6:07 AM | Link to this
It’s hard to put into words how much the columnists at this ‘newspaper’ suck. Day after day, column after column, word after word Bradley, Moore and Schultz delve deeper into the abyss of irrelevancy and inanity. It goes to show what happens when one paper has a monopoly. As an Atlanta sports fan living in LA there is no where else for me to get ATL sports news on a daily basis…I’m now at the point of switching my allegiance to the local teams out here because I just can’t take this incompetence much longer. What a friggin’ joke!
No matter what they (Moore, Bradley, Schultz) say, they aren’t taken seriously - especially when they call for a firing. In some cities when columnists call for the firing of a coach it means something — in the ATL it’s ignored because everyone with any sense knows that which ever of these jackasses wrote it should’ve been fired years and years ago. So the intelligent reader is left with nothing but the sharp pangs of irony.
FIRE WOODY, BK, BRADLEY, MOORE, SCHULTZ, FELTON, WADDELL and get some winners in this town.
By doobird
March 28, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this
Tennessee may have been ranked too high but they were great throughout the season until they read the papers. Once they beat Memphis is was all over, tried to survive on reputation … what happened to their sharpshooter Lofton???? He just quit when the tournaments started. Did he get upset because he was not getting all the attention like before??
By AltamahaDawg
March 28, 2008 7:06 AM | Link to this
Who said anything about firing?
By Mike
March 28, 2008 7:15 AM | Link to this
Nice article Bradley, you obviously follow college hoops. TN had the #1 RPI in the county and defeated Sweet 16 teams Xavier, Memphis, W Kentucky, and West Virginia in their OC schedule. Not too many teams can say that. Did they peak too early…I would say yes. They did not play well since the Memphis game but too say they are overrated is being quite ignorant. Article reaks of being a homer…
By Jim
March 28, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
Bark!!! Bark!!! Bark!!!
By VolMan
March 28, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
Pearl got outcoached big time last night by Pitino. I hope he takes the indiana job and UT gets a coach who knows how to get past the sweet 16. Ranked #1 duruing the season and not even making it past 16 teams—-bad coaching! Hit the road Bruce.
By Fanman
March 28, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this
You, Mr. Bradley, are a moron. Yes, Louisville was obviously the better team last night. Yes, the pg change might have been a really bad decision. But, you have pretty much no clue as to what you are talking about with everything else. UT could not win if Lofton was not on? Did you miss the Memphis game when Lofton scored 7 points and UT beat the #1 team in the nation? There were numerous other games against good teams that Lofton was not hitting, and they won. Three reason for the loss last night—-1) three of the key guys for UT were in foul trouble the whole game which forced them all to sit out long periods of the game 2) UT did not capitalize on the UL turnovers 3) UL’s size, length, and athleticism caused a lot of trouble…give them credit for that. BUT, UT proved all season long they were a legitimate top team. So, great job on kicking a team when they are down. Feel real proud of yourself, you idiot.
By Pat
March 28, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
I guess Barnhart’s burning question is settled. Pearl won’t trump Full Philmer on the paycheck.
By Dawgbyte
March 28, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
Bradley; I’m not a Vowels fan, far from it. But, it is sure easier to call a team “overrated” after-the-fact. Where was this assessment from you before-the-fact?
By Tony
March 28, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
Tennessee played 5 teams in the Sweet 16 during the season. They went 4-1. They beat: Xavier (at Xavier), Memphis (at Memphis), West Virginia (neutral site), and Western KY (netural site). They lost to Texas (neutral site). Can anyone else make that claim?
Tennesee had a great year and had much success. They played poorly in the NCAA tournament looking tight and lacking confidence.
However, dismissing this team as Pearl as overated blowhards is not accurate. Pearl has taken a terrible basketball program to the NCAA’s his first three years and two Sweet 16’s. Those are results and not opinions.
Your article is too over the top. Pearl would be the first to admit mistakes were made and they did not live up to expectation the last 1/2 of the year, but you are not overated when you put together a body of work that represents the number 1 RPI in the country.
By Vol Fan
March 28, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Sounds like Lofton is overrated and chokes under pressure. When his team needs him to step up he folds.
By jtl
March 28, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this
the vols suck. athletic maybe but absolutely no discipline.
By sc fan
March 28, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
The SEC finished 4-6 in the tournament. Not bad for the fifth ranked conference in the RPI…. The SEC sucks!!
By Sic'em Dawg
March 28, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
Bradley……Me and several of my Dawg buddies were hoping the Vols would advance for conference pride. I guess we all live by the mantra; “Hate’em when we Play’em…but root for the conference when it truely counts!!” Now that they lost….let’s focus on football!!!!
I agree with Mike’s post above -Pearls team played #1 RPI schedule in the country…had some impressive wins…had a fantastic season - but peaked a little too early. Still the best team in the SEC…and Pearl will learn from this season.
Let’s hope the SEC will show better next year.
By SAV'H DAWG
March 28, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
The senior guard (Howell), should have been on the floor. He got no playing time at all the last few games of the season because of a shooting slump. I think UT had better cohesiveness with him on the floor. Lofton couldn’t hit any shots, yet never came out of the games.
By baloney
March 28, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
SavDawg, what season were you watching? Howell played in every single game with the lone exception of last nite. He would have been severely overmatched. Lofton sat about as much as he played during the entire season. In fact most games I watched Lofton was the first guy to go to the bench…..2 minutes into the game. It was also pretty obvious that Lofton is a defensive liability as evidenced by the sub pattern late in a close game.I think Lofton will be too small, too slow, and too streaky to even be drafted.Howell provided some good minutes during the season, but he pretty much disappeared against the better teams.
By GT4EVER
March 28, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Well for all you SEC fans….Proof is in the pudding. Your dismal showing only proves that 6 SEC teams in the tourney was a JOKE! The selection committee should be ashamed! I have no idea about the backgrounds of the committee personnel, but I would bet that there were plenty of SEC alumni picking the field of 65….
By Jim
March 28, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
Bark!!! Bark!!! Bark!!!
By Good grief
March 28, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Mark Bradley, you sir, are an idiot. Tennessee finished #1 in RPI, #1 in Strength of Schedule, and as clear SEC champs. I’d say that “exposed” them as a great team on the season. BTW, that RPI was the highest in college basketball since the ‘99 Duke team, but a little research isn’t really your forte. That RPI was also accomplished in spite of and not thanks to less than stellar PG play. I never agreed with the Prince experiment, but Pearl had to try something, anything, to fix a glaring weakness. Had Howell not completely lost his shot, and Ramar Smith not gone backwards in his decision making ability, Prince would’ve never seen the floor at the point. Given what Pearl’s done as a coach and you as a “journalist/columnist”, you’re the one that’s looking overrated.
By Bradley is a moron
March 28, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
I believe Good Grief hit the nail on the head. Mark Bradley is the overrated one here.
By DP
March 28, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Mark, I’m not a Tennessee fan. But despite its loss last night, this year’s Tennessee basketball team rates much higher in the hierarchy of college basketball teams in the country this year than you ever have or ever will rank in the hierarchy of sportswriters in the country.
With that in mind, how about writing a column ripping yourself, paying particular attention to your limitations in the areas of intellect, writing talent and work ethic?
By DP
March 28, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Mark, after your self-assessment column, you can move on to a reassessment of the man you proclaimed many years ago to be the best tournament coach in the country, Tubby Smith. How is it that this allegedly poor coach, Bruce Pearl, took over a bad team at a school with a modest basketball tradition and almost immediately started whipping Tubby Smith, who already had his own players in place and was coaching at a traditional basketball powerhouse?
It is probably not a stretch to say that Billy Donovan and Bruce Pearl ran Tubby Smith out of Kentucky. So how about a mea culpa on Tubby Smith?
By Dooner Combs
March 28, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
Mark, Wouldn’t it be great to see Rick give Roy Wiliams his due for the humilating defeat he gave Rick his first year at UK. Roy Williams is a jerk. It would be even better since I live in North Carolina.
By Dooner Combs
March 28, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
Mark, Wouldn’t it be great to see Rick give Roy Wiliams his due for the humilating defeat he gave Rick his first year at UK. Roy Williams is a jerk. It would be even better since I live in North Carolina.
By Big Man
March 28, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this
I didn’t read past the first paragraph or two because Mark Bradley has no credibility. Tennessee was and is not overrated, but the one factual thing in this article is that Pearl was outcoached. I was thinking the same thing last night as I was watching the game. It was clear as day. You live and you learn. Pearl is a great coach and he will rebound.
By Freehawk
March 28, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
William, talent is all UT had. A bunch of low basketball IQ chuckleheads, tossing it around like a beachball. Pearl may be a good coach, but his team never played like it. They needed a Lofton miracle heave to beat Winthrop in the tourney last season.
By bye bye SEC
March 28, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
‘nuff said
By A-Train
March 28, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Why call the Vols overrated and then criticize the switching of the point guards? Bruce tried to make the changes necessary to keep playing, but you think he should have just kept the same overrated lineup?
By Wozzo the Wonder Dawg
March 28, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
A 3 Seed beat a 2 Seed and UT was outcoached? It was one game and someone had to lose. Coach Pearl has upgraded UT basketball significantly, and if he leaves for IU (or elsewhere) I would expect the program might likely suffer. UT fans and alumni might have a right to complain about the loss to LEW-UH-VULL but I don’t think anyone else should. Even then, only UT fans with short memories should have any right to complain. Pitino definitely added to his image with the win, and 119 of the 120 counties in Kentucky secretly or openly wish he were back in Lexington.
By Delaware Vol
March 28, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
Unbelieveable, you are a clown!!! I thought it was just the liberal america-hating editorial/op-ed section of the AJC that was causing its circulation/subscription #’s to go in the toilet… The sports section and the sports columnists this “newspaper” employs are a VERY close second causing its demise.
By Delaware Vol
March 28, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Unbelieveable, you are a clown!!! I thought it was just the liberal america-hating editorial/op-ed section of the AJC that was causing its circulation/subscription #’s to go in the toilet… The sports section and the sports columnists this “newspaper” employs are a VERY close second causing its demise.
By SAV'H DAWG
March 28, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
HEY BALONEY, HOWELL AVERAGED 17 MINUTES A GAME DURING THE REGULAR SEASON WHEN UT WAS PLAYING THERE BEST BASKETBALL OF THE YEAR. HE GOT MAYBE 6 MINUTES AGAINST BUTLER AND DID NOT PLAY LAST NIGHT. THE GUARD PLAY BY UT LAST NIGHT WAS AWFUL. THEIR ATTEMPT TO RUN SOME TYPE OF OFFENSE WAS A JOKE. HOWELL DESERVED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, PEARL MADE THIS DECISION, AND WAS OBVIOUSLY OUTCOACHED BY PITINO.
By Big Orange
March 28, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Let’s not forget Tennessee beat Xavier, West Va, Western KY, and Memphis on the road / neutral floor and all went to the Sweet 16 or higher.
The point guard experiement was necssaery because his two point guards were playing poorly which made it look like the team had peaked early. Agree that the timing sucked and JP was not ready to play point. Lofton did not have as good a year as he did his Soph or Jr. year, but Tyler Smith and JaJuan Smith both can fill em up normally. They just had an off game.
By Bama Dawg
March 28, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Hey LA Dawg, et.al.
They are called columnists and they write opinions, not writers who report the events. Opinions are a dime a dozen and serve to evoke emotions and generate conversation.
If you’re going to switch to west coast teams because of a couple of opinion columns in the AJC, you’re not a true SEC fan in the first place. Go ahead a pull for overrated USC and the rest of the Pac-Ten
By oldschool
March 28, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
Looking at the play in the SEC, i am still trying understand why any of SEC teams got there without having to play in the Play-in game.
By Tommy
March 28, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
I dont have a whole lot more to add to this discussion other than the fact that I thought the officiating last night was terrible. I never complain about officiating because in just about any game you could look at streaks where the calls seem to go one way. It typically ends up balancing itself out though and last night i dont believe it ever did. Padgett seem to be pushing and hooking people all night and was rarely called for a foul. Tennessee usually plays better in these games but the calls seem to go one way. there was a stretch in the second half where on three or four possessions out of about six or seven the announcers pointed out that the Cardinals got away with a blatent push under the basket after that exchange tennessee stole a ball and on the fast break the defender grabed the arms of the Tennessee player with no call only to go down to the other end and have an and one called in which the tennessee player wasnt really in the play and made no attempt to stop the offensive player. did anyone else see the game this way? i think its absolutely rediculous to call any team overrated that has the number one ranking in the RPI.
By disappointed doc
March 28, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Well said by byanotherdawg above. This is clearly a “hatchet job” by Homer Bradley in attempting to knock Tennessee’s season accomplishments down to make his beloved Georgia team seem better. Tennessee clearly was outplayed by Louisville last night and struggled down the stretch. However, they also won the SEC regular season title outright and had the #1 RPI rating against the most difficult schedule in the nation at the end of the regular season including beating 4 sweet 16 teams. So before you go trashing Tennessee and Bruce Pearl, mr. bradley, you mightwant to inject a little objective journalism into your opinion column rather than simply serving as a cheerleader oe “basher” for Georgia
By JJ
March 28, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Was Bradley one of the 72 UNANAMOUS AP writers who voted UT #1 on their ballot after the Memphis win? Then the next week they lose to Vandy on the road and get NO first place votes. I submit the writers don’t know any better than anyone who the best team(s) are and whether they are overrated/underated.
How the hell can you be unanamous #1 one week and get NO #1 votes the next?
By EVOL
March 28, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Yea, but we own UGA!
By I hate Vols
March 28, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
I hate everything about UT sports. From the ugliest orange on the face of the earth, to the bad country song to their flea bitten blue tick, I cannot stand those inbred jackasses. So, today I am happy. Die, Vols, die.
By john
March 28, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
bradley, you are a tool. why you have a job as a journalist is beyond me. going into last nights game, tennesse was 8-1 vs the sweet sixteen teams and the final four in the NIT. why dont you write articles on basket weaving or something that you are more educated on. what a joke.
By JohnnyVol
March 28, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
Why are you always hating on Tennessee Bradley? The team had a great year. I realize you hate us because you are a UGA fan. When was the last time UGA beat UT in anything? Perhaps you are upset because you look like Weird Al Yankovick? GBO
By What?
March 28, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Louisville has McDonalds all americans running all over the place. UT has - 0. Coach Pearl did not have his best night and when Chism went out early the whole team fell out of sync. Add that to the fact Louisville is a good team you get what you saw. This article is pathetic by the way. What a hack.
By What?
March 28, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
Louisville has McDonalds all americans running all over the place. UT has - 0. Coach Pearl did not have his best night and when Chism went out early the whole team fell out of sync. Add that to the fact Louisville is a good team you get what you saw. This article is pathetic by the way. What a hack.
By Rocky Snot
March 28, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
First of all there is NO such thing as SEC pride when it comes to Tennessee and you can throw Florida in that same catagory too. i love the SEC but i hate Gators(jeanshorts) and Voulenqueers. Go dawgs and to Hell with Tech!!!
By Mark Bradley
March 28, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley here. I’m well aware Tennessee was No. 1 in the RPI. In fact, I mentioned it in the story. But it’s also true that Tennessee split with Vandy, split with Kentucky and lost badly to Texas. And I’d say that any No. 2 seed that loses by 19 in Round 3 can be fairly described as overrated.
By uga fans
March 28, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
georgia fans are by far the dumbest, most idiotic fans around. i am so glad i moved away from the ATL and that god forbidden fan base they have. overrated every single year. wait til tenn whips your a* again in football this year and start your crying.
By Mark Bradley
March 28, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
Oh, yeah. I should probably mention that I’m from Maysville, Ky. And I’m a big admirer, for reasons that go beyond geography, of Chris Lofton’s.
By Vol fan
March 28, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
This is a stupid article. Yes, Bruce made a mistake in changing the point guards and Lofton was down in the tournament, but a Georgia paper has no right to discount a great season even if it was the hated Tennessee.
By VolFan
March 28, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
Hey Bradley - don’t hate us ‘cause you ain’t us. Tennessee had a great season, end of story. You’re a total idiot who shouldn’t be writing anything about basketball if that’s the best you can do. So maybe you can go back to sniffing Richt’s jock and speculating on what a great football season georgia will have. And you can be completely wrong about that topic as well.
Go Vols.
By Bradley is a Douche
March 28, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Bradley, No matter how much you want Georgia to be an “elite” athletics program, they never will. How on God’s Green Earth does a school 1 hour from Atlanta suck so bad. Put down the Vols all you want, but they are a better program…hands down. By the way Damon Evans can’t stand you.
By Delaware Vol
March 28, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
First of all, before you pull the over-rated card about UT you need to put the losses you referred to into context. The Texas loss occured less then 24 hours after they had a knock-down drag out with West Virginia and Texas had a cakewalk over New Mexico St. In regards to the Vandy & UK games—-Vandy was undefeated at home and of course the Vols were coming off of that very difficult and emotional Memphis game with less than 3 days between games… Rupp Arena has ALWAYS been a difficult place for Tennessee to play over the years. Therefore I think you would be pretty hard-pressed to find any “honest” and “knowledgeable” basketball people to say they were “bad” losses… Which brings us to the Louisville game—-the fact that Louisville was a 3 seed and Duke was a 2 is asinine in and of itself… Louisville would have destroyed that team—-worse than UT (in my opinion). I believe that Louisville can and very possibly will beat North Carolina… Louisville’s pretty good—-obviously. I will concede that it was a horrendous game from a poise, shooting and perhaps even a strategic standpoint—-that being said, to honestly write that in some way UT were a bunch of frauds this year (or exposed—-as you stated it) is a very misguided assessment. Perhaps basketball is not your strong sport to write about, or maybe you just really don’t care for UT—-in either case that is ok. I don’t mind someone with strong opinions—-you’re a columnist that’s your job. I just with your opinion would at least be on the same planet as reality.
By DP
March 28, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Well here’s the central issue Mark. Tennessee had a great season by virtually anybody’s standards and deserve better than to be crapped all over the day after they got knocked out of the tournament. Everybody (except you apparently) understands that Louisville is one of the top 4 or 5 teams in the tournament and would have had a better record and been seeded higher had it not been for injuries to key players.
There is clearly a hidden agenda behind this column, i.e. Bruce Pearl snubbed you or whatever it is. I don’t recall you kicking Tubby Smith in the teeth after any of his recent mediocre Kentucky teams made an early exit. Did you write that Kentucky was overrated when they were the #1 seed in the tournament and lost in the second round to UAB? Did you talk about Tubby’s coaching mistakes?
By ugagrad
March 28, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Mark - I am a UGA grad. Way to play for the home team here. Personally, I found your article useless and stupid. Even though I am not a Vols fan, you cannot discount their success season. Quit writing to the home team here and write something that has some meaning and merit.
By john
March 28, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
mark, tenn split with vandy…beat them by 20 in knoxville, and lost by 3 at vandy which you should know is a very tough place to play. vandy also earned a 4 seed in the tourney. tenn split with ky by losing a close one at KY. ky went 12-4 in the sec. not bad. texas beat tenn bad where they played 3 games in 5 days. texas also will probably be in the elite 8 and possible final 4. losing by 19 to louisville, who is playing as well as anyone in the tourney, doesnt mean they are overrated. they were hampered by foul trouble early and never got into any rythem. that was their worst game they played all year. i dont understand how you can say they are overrated when they had the #1 rpi, #1 strength of schedule, beat # 1 memphis on the road, went undefeated at home, and dominated the sec.
By JJ
March 28, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley, Were you one of the writers who “overrated” Tennessee in the poll the Monday after they beat Memphis?
By kevin
March 28, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley, you may think UT is overrated but how can you downplay what Pearl has done with that program. Two straight sweet 16’s. First time in history. SEC Title…first since 1967. Best RPI since the 99 Duke Team. To say Pearl is always looking for the mic is the same jealousness coaches display. Pearl is becoming the face of UT basketball. Think Louisville BB and what comes to mind…is anyone criticizing Pitino for wearing a white suit on Valentine’s Day? There are a lot of fans in the SEC would would love to have the success that Pearl has brought to UT. One is just down the road from the ATL.
Also, chew on this. Next year Pearl adds Renaldo Woolridge, Orlando’s son, and he also adds 6’11” Philip Jurick…and is getting very close to Scotty Hopson…He already has Kenny Hall committed for 2009. I guess once he gets his players…we will see how overrated he is…
Undefeated against UGA 5-1 against Billy Donovan including 3-1 against the national champions. Only UK has less than a losing record in the SEC against him and that is 3-3. Take note and review this article in about 3 years.
But most writers won’t bring up when they are totally wrong, but we won’t forget.
I remember one quote in another hack column in 1998. UT Football had beaten a bad auburn team 16-9 and stopped AU on the 1” line 4 times. UGA had beaten LSU at LSU…both undefeated playing in Athens….to quote Mark Bradley, ” I bet UGA can gain an inch.” Final UT 22 UGA 3. UGA never got inside the UT 10 all day.
An overrated columnist…I’d say.
By Delaware Vol
March 28, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Nice work Kevin!!!
By Mike
March 28, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Mark is an equal opportunity offender. Get over it Vols.
I was rooting for the ones in orange that hail from the shallow end of the gene pool. I generally root for any SEC team in non-conference match-ups.
I though UT was the more talented team but had no discipline at all. I have seen pick up games on black-tops that with more organized offense.
This message was posted from a choice seat on the Xavier band wagon!
By Mike
March 28, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
I guess with Mark’s rationale about getting bounced early makes you overrated, then Georgetown and Duke REALLY must be overrated. They were both 2 seeds and lost to inferior opponents. I am sure your next article will be about them, right? Your justification of splitting with Vandy and Kentucky is hilarious…they lost 4 games all year coming into the tourney. Not many teams can say that in major D-1 ball. I guess the RPI and SOS means nothing to an CBB expert like yourself. I look forward to you taking Vitale’s place on ESPN as the CBB Swami.
By GreenWaveJG
March 28, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
You are f*** moron piece of s**!
By VolFan11
March 28, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
If Pearl ever gets close to the kind of talent that Kentucky, Florida and Louisville are able to recruit, he will dominate the SEC. He has been doing pretty well already with smoke and mirrors and a couple of key transfers (Tyler Smith and JP Prince).
As for Pearl’s coaching prowess, the move of JP to guard was out of desperation. Ramar Smith regressed to the point of being a turnover-waiting-to-happen and Jordan Howell was a defensive liability who was 4 of 40 shooting to end the regular season. Pearl’s move was risky, but made no ultimate difference in where the Vols ended 2008.
Finally, Pearl is going to get a lot of offers this post season and in years to come. And your Georgia Bulldogs would LITERALLY (not figuratively) throw Felton under a moving bus to give his job to Bruce Pearl.
By Gen Neyland
March 28, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
I did have my reservations of Tennessee getting by Louisville. They bore out. I guess they may, in some people’s estimation, have been the most over-rated team in the nation at what, 31-4 prior to Louisville. A RPI of # 1 and a 29-4 record is what earned them a # 2 seed. This all speaks volumes about our SEC. We are not recognized year in and year out as a BB conference. We do have our moments though. And for this UT team to have accomplished another Sweet 16, a regular season SEC Championship, it just ran out of gas when it needed to dig deeper. Personally, I’m pleased and proud that they were the last SEC team standing at the Men’s NCAA’s..Lack of bench didn’t help. Many returners next year ( Lord help ‘em ). Maybe a true Freshman ball handling, shooting guard is in Pearl’s wish list. Along with a Redwood plugging up the middle, UT Men’s BB has great promise for next season…Now my hope hinges on the Lady Vols to shove another NCAA Women’s BB Championship trophy in their overflowing trophy case…Go Vols
By Mark Bradley
March 28, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
I just ran into Chris Lofton’s mom and dad in the hotel lobby. We had a nice chat about Maysville. The Mason County Royals won the state tournament last Saturday. George Clooney premiered his new movie in Maysville on Monday. Bill Clinton was in Maysville on Tuesday. Maysville, Ky. — center of the world.
By Gen Neyland
March 28, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Bradley
I wouldn’t have mentioned Clinton and Maysville in the same post…
By DP
March 28, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Bradley, if Lofton’s parents spoke to you it either means they’re exceptionally gracious people or haven’t read your hatchet job on their son’s team.
By Delaware Vol
March 28, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
Well, center of the world if your into arrogant, self-righteous, pontificating blowhards… Wow, how generous of Slick and George Clooney to grace Maysville with their presence…. Afterall, what if George’s or Bill’s Hollywood Elitist friends find out they were in such a “backward” part of the country, they may not get invited to any more of those diverse wine and cheese parties…
By DR
March 28, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Nice recruiting tactic for Georgia! Pearl is only the 3rd winningest active coach in basketball. Not the VOLS best effort nor Pearl’s but to say the VOLS were lucky is a gross, biased opinion!! You don’t win 31 games because you are lucky with a #1 SOS and #1 RPI! Please take off your “bias spin” glasses and see the real world!
By MrDawg
March 28, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
Pearl’s a short timer at UT. As soon as a big time job is offered by schools like IU, he’ll be gone. UT’s a football school. Also, starting next season, UGA will own UT in football and basketball. UGA will win the national title in football easily this year, and will make the sweet 16 in BB.
By Bobby Knoght
March 28, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
Alot of talk about a program.. nobody even talking about their own team.. Bruce Pearl owns your thoughts!! HAHAHAHAHAHA Loosers!! HAHAHA Owned by the Pearl and Vols!!
By Bobby Knoght
March 28, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
Alot of talk about a program.. nobody even talking about their own team.. Bruce Pearl owns your thoughts!! HAHAHAHAHAHA Loosers!! HAHAHA Owned by the Pearl and Vols!!
By Jason
March 28, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Reading this article is like reading one from a local high school paper. The author is absolutely ignorant. It is hilarious to claim that the #1 RPI and the #1 SOS is overrated. Get off your high horse you moron. People should stop buying this joke of a newspaper with their joke a* writers. I wonder if this guy ever even saw a college basketball game this year, besides the far below average game in the state of Georgia.
By Mark Bradley
March 28, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley here. I am gay and know about as much basketball as a 2 year old girl would know.
By Greg
March 28, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradly, Greg here…
Personally, I don’t care if you are gay. It’s an interesting admission, but hardly relevant. However, speaking on behalf of 2-year old girls everywhere, please don’t malign their intelligence by association. After reading your column, I’m pretty sure almost every 2-year old would agree that an analytical mind and basketball acumen are obviously not prerequisites for the position of a sports ‘opinion writer’ at the AJC.
I’ve got to hand it to you. This column stands alone as the single most overtly prejudiced hatchet-job I’ve read in the AJC this week. Honestly, as a UK grad, you really shouldn’t have to be defensive. Instead of this blunt (re; dull, not at all sharp or insightful) instrument, a swift condescending blow to Bruce Pearl’s ego would have suited you better. One sentence and you could have moved on sparing yourself countless hours of rewrites and mad dashes to your dog-eared Thesaurus. If you had remained faithful to the KY tradition, at least we would have been treated to a rousing journalistic buggering instead of this pitiful, over-reaching, self-revealing ‘stink piece’.
If ever I needed any proof that Bruce Pearl scares the living hell out of KY fans everywhere, I now have it. It’s in writing and at this very moment lining the cage of my African grey. I swear to God, if that parrot could hop from key to key, he would have written a truly blistering rebuttal. Instead, this will have to do.
Oh, and I’ve saved the best part for last you clueless, dripping testicle sack of a man; you’re not even gay!
By Greg
March 28, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradly, Greg here…
Personally, I don’t care if you are gay. It’s an interesting admission, but hardly relevant. However, speaking on behalf of 2-year old girls everywhere, please don’t malign their intelligence by association. After reading your column, I’m pretty sure almost every 2-year old would agree that an analytical mind and basketball acumen are obviously not prerequisites for the position of a sports ‘opinion writer’ at the AJC.
I’ve got to hand it to you. This column stands alone as the single most overtly prejudiced hatchet-job I’ve read in the AJC this week. Honestly, as a UK grad, you really shouldn’t have to be defensive. Instead of this blunt (re; dull, not at all sharp or insightful) instrument, a swift condescending blow to Bruce Pearl’s ego would have suited you better. One sentence and you could have moved on sparing yourself countless hours of rewrites and mad dashes to your dog-eared Thesaurus. If you had remained faithful to the KY tradition, at least we would have been treated to a rousing journalistic buggering instead of this pitiful, over-reaching, self-revealing ‘stink piece’.
If ever I needed any proof that Bruce Pearl scares the living hell out of KY fans everywhere, I now have it. It’s in writing and at this very moment lining the cage of my African grey. I swear to God, if that parrot could hop from key to key, he would have written a truly blistering rebuttal. Instead, this will have to do.
Oh, and I’ve saved the best part for last you clueless, dripping testicle sack of a man; you’re not even gay!
By Jim
March 28, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
Bark!!! Bark!!! Bark!!!
By mun10
March 29, 2008 2:20 AM | Link to this
greg, bruce here.
your hilarious. love it
By mun10
March 29, 2008 2:21 AM | Link to this
greg, bruce here.
your hilarious. love it
By ....................................Gen Neyland
March 29, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Fear not, the wrath of the pen. As of this writing, Bradley is putting the finishing touches on a scathing story of the demise of Wisconsin, Georgetown, and UConn at the NCAA’s. I figured it out last night. It’s not so much his dislike for Tennessee, it’s his total distain of Louisville and their success…Jus’ a good ol’ boy frum ol’ Ken-tuck