Off-topic but not off-topic

[ThreeToMakeTwo]

A tweet from Rivals on the twittermachine:

Not a single member of the #Vols top-ranked team was in the #Rivals150.


Their opponent Saturday, #Kentucky, is a little different: rvls.co/2Gqx02g

A bit from the Rivals article:

Believe it or not, not one single member on the top-ranked team in America was a member of the Rivals150. Compare that with Kentucky whose entire starting five were top-50 prospects and is only bolstered further by McDonald’s All-Americans coming off their bench.

This is all to say that there is more than just one way to build a national title contending unit. For Kentucky, it is the one-and-done pitch; come to Lexington, work on your abilities against the other elites within the sport, and take your talents to the NBA within a matter of eight months.

For Tennessee, while it would love nothing more to secure such premier talent, similar to what Rick Barnes did this fall with five-star

Josiah James, it comes down to investing in slighted but prospects that have evolved into what we now see in Williams and Schofield.


Whether Tennessee does further its stance as the best team in America by knocking off the Wildcats at Rupp Arena or not, what won’t change is Barnes’ standing as one of the best coaches in the sport and just how strong and sturdy the backbone is for Volunteers’ basketball.

 

[SIhoosier26]

Tennessee is really good no doubt, but the real gauge will be how they do in the tournament. That's what people judge on.

 

[hookyIU1990]

Tennessee is a fun team to watch. I had no idea they were entirely made up of kids outside the 150 ranking. They're all high motor, hard nosed competitors. I bet practices are like a cage match.

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

Tennessee is a fun team to watch. I had no idea they were entirely made up of kids outside the 150 ranking. They're all high motor, hard nosed competitors. I bet practices are like a cage match.

guess I'm getting old....but shouldn't practices be 'cage matches'? That's the kind of players we are dying to see on the court (with talent of course). I played through high school in Indiana, started varsity Jr and Sr yrs, and most every practice was like that...best friends fighting tooth and nail with each other for playing time. Long before the self-entitlement generation with their iphone Xs and instagram accounts.

 

[hookyIU1990]

guess I'm getting old....but shouldn't practices be 'cage matches'? That's the kind of players we are dying to see on the court (with talent of course). I played through high school in Indiana, started varsity Jr and Sr yrs, and most every practice was like that...best friends fighting tooth and nail with each other for playing time. Long before the self-entitlement generation with their iphone Xs and instagram accounts.

I'm with you. I've heard the stories first hand from guys on the IU team about what those practices were like under Knight. I've heard the same about Keady's practices back in the 80's. My high school practices match the description of yours. Maybe that's not the way it works anymore?

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

I'm with you. I've heard the stories first hand from guys on the IU team about what those practices were like under Knight. I've heard the same about Keady's practices back in the 80's. My high school practices match the description of yours. Maybe that's not the way it works anymore?

Ive coached in house youth ball for several years and coached a high level travel baseball team for 7 yrs. And no, it doesn't seem to be like that anymore. I see way too much of 'my daddy wrote a check, now where's my playing time?' from kids. We had a game last night (7th grade) and got whooped on the boards. We have practice tonight and I told the boys I'm pulling out our old rebounding drills from my days...told them to prepare to see some blood. Maybe a little dramatic, but I was taught to rebound like your opponent is questioning your very manhood and take it personally. Just doens't seem to work well with kids today.

 

[cryano]

I think the two lines, roll a ball out down the middle and the 2 kids fight til one has possession is now outlawed...as is dodgeball in PE classes that dont have the approved ‘gator-soft’ dodgeballs.

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

I think the two lines, roll a ball out down the middle and the 2 kids fight til one has possession is now outlawed...as is dodgeball in PE classes that dont have the approved ‘gator-soft’ dodgeballs.

really sucks being an '80s kid' and now raising my own in the nerf world .

 

[hookyIU1990]

I think the two lines, roll a ball out down the middle and the 2 kids fight til one has possession is now outlawed...as is dodgeball in PE classes that dont have the approved ‘gator-soft’ dodgeballs.

I guess I'm not surprised if that's the case. All I need to do is a watch a game where they spend 5 minutes twice in each half to determine if there was a hook and hold to know the game is drastically different.

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

I guess I'm not surprised if that's the case. All I need to do is a watch a game where they spend 5 minutes twice in each half to determine if there was a hook and hold to know the game is drastically different.

I watched most of an 8th grade travel ball game last night, and just realized I don't remember any kid trying to take a charge, not even once. But I did see a group of 14 yrs old go a combined 4 for 22 from the three point line. Yes the game has changed.

 

[iubud]

A tweet from Rivals on the twittermachine:

Not a single member of the #Vols top-ranked team was in the #Rivals150.


Their opponent Saturday, #Kentucky, is a little different: rvls.co/2Gqx02g

A bit from the Rivals article:

Believe it or not, not one single member on the top-ranked team in America was a member of the Rivals150. Compare that with Kentucky whose entire starting five were top-50 prospects and is only bolstered further by McDonald’s All-Americans coming off their bench.

This is all to say that there is more than just one way to build a national title contending unit. For Kentucky, it is the one-and-done pitch; come to Lexington, work on your abilities against the other elites within the sport, and take your talents to the NBA within a matter of eight months.

For Tennessee, while it would love nothing more to secure such premier talent, similar to what Rick Barnes did this fall with five-star

Josiah James, it comes down to investing in slighted but prospects that have evolved into what we now see in Williams and Schofield.


Whether Tennessee does further its stance as the best team in America by knocking off the Wildcats at Rupp Arena or not, what won’t change is Barnes’ standing as one of the best coaches in the sport and just how strong and sturdy the backbone is for Volunteers’ basketball.

Tom Crean built a team that made it to #1 and a great season record. They lost in the Sweet 16 and he couldn't sustain that success. I want a program that makes the Sweet 16 every year and has the talent with some good luck to compete for Final 4 appearance on any given year.

The test will be what Tennessee does in the next year or two.

 

[jsig]

Tom Crean built a team that made it to #1 and a great season record. They lost in the Sweet 16 and he couldn't sustain that success. I want a program that makes the Sweet 16 every year and has the talent with some good luck to compete for Final 4 appearance on any given year.

The test will be what Tennessee does in the next year or two.

Maybe. He had a real nice run for about 9 years at Texas then did less with more than just about any other coach in his last 7 years. I don't think he is doing any better than Weber at K State whose team of Juniors and Seniors went to the elite 8 last year and are poised to end the Kansas streak of Big 12 titles.

 

[iubud]

I watched most of an 8th grade travel ball game last night, and just realized I don't remember any kid trying to take a charge, not even once. But I did see a group of 14 yrs old go a combined 4 for 22 from the three point line. Yes the game has changed.

AAU has given players opportunities, but it can be done for the wrong reason. I saw the extremes of the good and the bad sides of AAU. The growth of organized travel teams and AAU participation is a good example of change in basketball.