He makes some solid points.

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/s...041137001/

Not sure why, but this team reminds me of those Calipari teams '03,'04,'05. This group probably isn't quite as talented.

Burks, Carney, Rice, Richmond, Erwin, Massie, Hunt, Grice, Barron

Martin, Johnson, Parks, Thornton, Brewton, Dav, Rivers, Nickelberry

Maybe these guys will make a run to the AAC final.

The article demonstates how it is possible to simutanously enjoy wins and recognize progress (albeit belated) and still express concern about the long term and strategic direction of the program.

(01-18-2018 09:34 AM)MemTigers1998 Wrote:  Not sure why, but this team reminds me of those Calipari teams '03,'04,'05. This group probably isn't quite as talented.

Burks, Carney, Rice, Richmond, Erwin, Massie, Hunt, Grice, Barron

Martin, Johnson, Parks, Thornton, Brewton, Dav, Rivers, Nickelberry

Maybe these guys will make a run to the AAC final.

Example

(01-18-2018 09:52 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  The article demonstates how it is possible to simutanously enjoy wins and recognize progress (albeit belated) and still express concern about the long term and strategic direction of the program.

True, no one ever said Tubby couldn't coach. Its his recruiting that has been his unaddessed problem. Its still unaddressed and still a problem and it puts a hard ceiling on how good we can be. Unless Tubby hires some recruiters we'll never be as good as we should be with all the advantages this program provides.

I'm happy about the success and will support Tubby so long as he continues to show improvement, leadership, and effort. It isn't just on the players; fans want to see a coach make some effort and get some solid recruiting on the book. Do that, win against Cinci and WSU...and attendance will skyrocket. The formula is easy to follow. As for Penny, he would be a fine addition as an assistant coach in the capacity of lead recruiter.

(01-18-2018 09:34 AM)MemTigers1998 Wrote:  Not sure why, but this team reminds me of those Calipari teams '03,'04,'05. This group probably isn't quite as talented.

Burks, Carney, Rice, Richmond, Erwin, Massie, Hunt, Grice, Barron

Martin, Johnson, Parks, Thornton, Brewton, Dav, Rivers, Nickelberry

Maybe these guys will make a run to the AAC final.

This team doesn't remind me of those teams at all. Those teams underachieved, this one is overachieving. Also, we should be even better by the end of the year and we will 100% be better next year.

(01-18-2018 09:55 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 09:34 AM)MemTigers1998 Wrote:  Not sure why, but this team reminds me of those Calipari teams '03,'04,'05. This group probably isn't quite as talented.

Burks, Carney, Rice, Richmond, Erwin, Massie, Hunt, Grice, Barron

Martin, Johnson, Parks, Thornton, Brewton, Dav, Rivers, Nickelberry

Maybe these guys will make a run to the AAC final.

Example

We definitely caught some breaks. We had just pounded Tulsa at FEF a week earlier and they had no answer for Memphis inside. Even though we were a 6 and TU a 3, we were much better team. Didn't Tulane announce during their 1st round upset that they were firing their coach? Gotta catch some breaks in March. Maybe we will this year.

It seems that Coach Smith is building the Tigers for NCAA tournament style of play. The slow down, inside game, beat-em up style play that the NCAA refs allow (basically, the old Big East/ power conference style of basketball).

As an anecdote, aside from Louisville, occasionally Memphis, and the Nolan Richardson Arkansas teams, I have rarely see a basketball team go far in the NCAA tournament that plays the up and down, full court press style, where the players are built more like greyhounds: fast, lean, long. Aside from Calipari's teams (and the best ones had Joey Dorsey as an enforcer), we would routinely get beat by a team like Michigan St. who had the 6'10" bruiser of a big man.

Anyway, that's my thought (and I could be wrong) - he is trying to build a team that can play with the power teams in the tournament, and not get ground into the dust by the more traditional big man game.

(01-18-2018 11:08 AM)InsiderTiger Wrote:  It seems that Coach Smith is building the Tigers for NCAA tournament style of play. The slow down, inside game, beat-em up style play that the NCAA refs allow (basically, the old Big East/ power conference style of basketball).

As an anecdote, aside from Louisville, occasionally Memphis, and the Nolan Richardson Arkansas teams, I have rarely see a basketball team go far in the NCAA tournament that plays the up and down, full court press style, where the players are built more like greyhounds: fast, lean, long. Aside from Calipari's teams (and the best ones had Joey Dorsey as an enforcer), we would routinely get beat by a team like Michigan St. who had the 6'10" bruiser of a big man.

Anyway, that's my thought (and I could be wrong) - he is trying to build a team that can play with the power teams in the tournament, and not get ground into the dust by the more traditional big man game.

except we're not gonna be playing in that tournament

(01-18-2018 11:08 AM)InsiderTiger Wrote:  It seems that Coach Smith is building the Tigers for NCAA tournament style of play. The slow down, inside game, beat-em up style play that the NCAA refs allow (basically, the old Big East/ power conference style of basketball).

As an anecdote, aside from Louisville, occasionally Memphis, and the Nolan Richardson Arkansas teams, I have rarely see a basketball team go far in the NCAA tournament that plays the up and down, full court press style, where the players are built more like greyhounds: fast, lean, long. Aside from Calipari's teams (and the best ones had Joey Dorsey as an enforcer), we would routinely get beat by a team like Michigan St. who had the 6'10" bruiser of a big man.

Anyway, that's my thought (and I could be wrong) - he is trying to build a team that can play with the power teams in the tournament, and not get ground into the dust by the more traditional big man game.

FWIW, in terms of ppg and offense, Four of the teams in the Elite Eight last year were in the top 15 in scoring offense, while only South Carolina (at #40) was an Elite Eight team in the top 80 in scoring defense.

(01-18-2018 09:34 AM)MemTigers1998 Wrote:  Not sure why, but this team reminds me of those Calipari teams '03,'04,'05. This group probably isn't quite as talented.

Burks, Carney, Rice, Richmond, Erwin, Massie, Hunt, Grice, Barron

Martin, Johnson, Parks, Thornton, Brewton, Dav, Rivers, Nickelberry

Maybe these guys will make a run to the AAC final.

Probably?

(01-18-2018 11:24 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 11:08 AM)InsiderTiger Wrote:  It seems that Coach Smith is building the Tigers for NCAA tournament style of play. The slow down, inside game, beat-em up style play that the NCAA refs allow (basically, the old Big East/ power conference style of basketball).

As an anecdote, aside from Louisville, occasionally Memphis, and the Nolan Richardson Arkansas teams, I have rarely see a basketball team go far in the NCAA tournament that plays the up and down, full court press style, where the players are built more like greyhounds: fast, lean, long. Aside from Calipari's teams (and the best ones had Joey Dorsey as an enforcer), we would routinely get beat by a team like Michigan St. who had the 6'10" bruiser of a big man.

Anyway, that's my thought (and I could be wrong) - he is trying to build a team that can play with the power teams in the tournament, and not get ground into the dust by the more traditional big man game.

FWIW, in terms of ppg and offense, Four of the teams in the Elite Eight last year were in the top 15 in scoring offense, while only South Carolina (at #40) was an Elite Eight team in the top 80 in scoring defense.

Great post; pretty much backs up what Jay Bilas (like him or not, he knows CBB) hammers on at Tourney time-you have to be able to score to win more than one or two games.

For those who want to hire Penny as a head coach..does he have a Masters degree?
Don't head coaches need to have Masters degrees to be head coaches?
Wasn't there a head coach not long ago that that happened to...a former disciple of Calipari?

(01-18-2018 11:08 AM)InsiderTiger Wrote:  It seems that Coach Smith is building the Tigers for NCAA tournament style of play. The slow down, inside game, beat-em up style play that the NCAA refs allow (basically, the old Big East/ power conference style of basketball).

As an anecdote, aside from Louisville, occasionally Memphis, and the Nolan Richardson Arkansas teams, I have rarely see a basketball team go far in the NCAA tournament that plays the up and down, full court press style, where the players are built more like greyhounds: fast, lean, long. Aside from Calipari's teams (and the best ones had Joey Dorsey as an enforcer), we would routinely get beat by a team like Michigan St. who had the 6'10" bruiser of a big man.

Anyway, that's my thought (and I could be wrong) - he is trying to build a team that can play with the power teams in the tournament, and not get ground into the dust by the more traditional big man game.

I think we've been watching two different tournaments.

Here's my take: right now I'm having a blast watching this team get better and really maximize their talent level.

But the underlying problems are still there. In this moment when the season is going I'm loving this team. That does NOT mean that all of the other factors in coaching that are critical won't evade my notice when the season is over.

Unless something drastic changes I don't see Tubby getting it done here.

(01-18-2018 01:57 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  For those who want to hire Penny as a head coach..does he have a Masters degree?
Don't head coaches need to have Masters degrees to be head coaches?
Wasn't there a head coach not long ago that that happened to...a former disciple of Calipari?

I don't think so
No
Unsure of the question

(01-18-2018 01:57 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  For those who want to hire Penny as a head coach..does he have a Masters degree?
Don't head coaches need to have Masters degrees to be head coaches?
Wasn't there a head coach not long ago that that happened to...a former disciple of Calipari?

Just a bachelors degree required from college, not an advanced degree.

Is this the guy you are talking about? http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...ing-resume

To sum, in 2014, Manhattan coach Steve Masiello accepted the USF job. But when USF did the background check, they found out Masiello never graduated from Kentucky, as he had claimed. More to the story, but that's it in a nutshell.

(01-18-2018 11:24 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 11:08 AM)InsiderTiger Wrote:  It seems that Coach Smith is building the Tigers for NCAA tournament style of play. The slow down, inside game, beat-em up style play that the NCAA refs allow (basically, the old Big East/ power conference style of basketball).

As an anecdote, aside from Louisville, occasionally Memphis, and the Nolan Richardson Arkansas teams, I have rarely see a basketball team go far in the NCAA tournament that plays the up and down, full court press style, where the players are built more like greyhounds: fast, lean, long. Aside from Calipari's teams (and the best ones had Joey Dorsey as an enforcer), we would routinely get beat by a team like Michigan St. who had the 6'10" bruiser of a big man.

Anyway, that's my thought (and I could be wrong) - he is trying to build a team that can play with the power teams in the tournament, and not get ground into the dust by the more traditional big man game.

FWIW, in terms of ppg and offense, Four of the teams in the Elite Eight last year were in the top 15 in scoring offense, while only South Carolina (at #40) was an Elite Eight team in the top 80 in scoring defense.

You are right guard/wing offensive play wins in the tourney...

The successful Cal teams had outstanding guard and wing play...The way games are called in the tourney it is getting easier to beat the crap out of bigger guys down low while they are still trying to allow for "FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT" for the guards.

You can stop a big if they are going to allow you to root him out of the paint and beat the crap out of him when he doesn't have the ball. But guards will have the ball and get all the calls.

(01-18-2018 11:08 AM)InsiderTiger Wrote:  It seems that Coach Smith is building the Tigers for NCAA tournament style of play. The slow down, inside game, beat-em up style play that the NCAA refs allow (basically, the old Big East/ power conference style of basketball).

As an anecdote, aside from Louisville, occasionally Memphis, and the Nolan Richardson Arkansas teams, I have rarely see a basketball team go far in the NCAA tournament that plays the up and down, full court press style, where the players are built more like greyhounds: fast, lean, long. Aside from Calipari's teams (and the best ones had Joey Dorsey as an enforcer), we would routinely get beat by a team like Michigan St. who had the 6'10" bruiser of a big man.

Anyway, that's my thought (and I could be wrong) - he is trying to build a team that can play with the power teams in the tournament, and not get ground into the dust by the more traditional big man game.

UNC is an up and down/ run and gun team without question...They may not press but they run at every opportunity...Even with their dominant bigs

(01-18-2018 03:39 PM)Tigx Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 01:57 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  For those who want to hire Penny as a head coach..does he have a Masters degree?
Don't head coaches need to have Masters degrees to be head coaches?
Wasn't there a head coach not long ago that that happened to...a former disciple of Calipari?

Just a bachelors degree required from college, not an advanced degree.

Is this the guy you are talking about? http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...ing-resume

To sum, in 2014, Manhattan coach Steve Masiello accepted the USF job. But when USF did the background check, they found out Masiello never graduated from Kentucky, as he had claimed. More to the story, but that's it in a nutshell.

that's the guy....that is the story.
Thanks...my memory isn't what it used to be.
Carry on.