I really like the way Barnes has this team playing

[Black Diamond Vol]

They're about to knock off 14-1 USC.

This team is much smaller than everyone they play, and less talented than 90% of them.  But they get after it.  They hold their own on the boards, get to loose balls, and dammit, they MAKE THEIR FREE THROWS. 

I'm under no illusions that they're making the NCAAT this year, but if they can recruit some size, they can be a big factor in the SEC in the next few years as long as they continue to play this hard.

[Tnphil]

Barnes gets us 2-3 type players we need we can be pretty darn good. I like Barnes, good X&O coach.

[HerbTarlekVol]

They play hard and seem to have short memories, which is a good thing as we saw this week. 

Barnes has done a good job thus far on the court, in spite of his Rat Bastard ties, by the way.   

But the proof in the pudding will be in how well he recruits to UT.  Just like in football, you've got to have the horses to have a chance to be in it nearing the finish line.

[Black Diamond Vol]

They play hard and seem to have short memories, which is a good thing as we saw this week. 

Barnes has done a good job thus far on the court, in spite of his Rat Bastard ties, by the way.   

But the proof in the pudding will be in how well he recruits to UT.  Just like in football, you've got to have the horses to have a chance to be in it nearing the finish line.

But thankfully unlike in football, you don't have to stuff the roster with five-stars to win and win big.  Just get 1-2 really good players, surround them with the right role players, and get them all to stick around for 2-3 years.  Look no farther than the Wisconsin team that knocked off Cal's pseudo-NBA roster in the Final Four last year.
 
I don't think Barnes will ever recruit like Cal or Coach K, but if builds his roster correctly, I think he'll succeed in Knoxville. 

[73Volgrad]

This team will go as far as Punter can carry them on his back.

[Tnphil]

But thankfully unlike in football, you don't have to stuff the roster with five-stars to win and win big.  Just get 1-2 really good players, surround them with the right role players, and get them all to stick around for 2-3 years.  Look no farther than the Wisconsin team that knocked off Cal's pseudo-NBA roster in the Final Four last year.
 
I don't think Barnes will ever recruit like Cal or Coach K, but if builds his roster correctly, I think he'll succeed in Knoxville. 

Agree 100%. Also, 3 of the 5 recruits he's got coming in have been bumped up to 4 stars. Looks like Barnes and staff have a eye for talent.

[Creek Walker]

I enjoy watching this team. They have trouble finishing sometimes (the loss to A&M still sucks) but they're fun to watch and play above their heads. Punter has become one of the SEC's best players...raise your hand if you saw THAT coming when he signed here. This team could very well wind up in the NIT, and I wouldn't have expected that.

I was never really on the Barnes bandwagon, but so far it looks like he can have some success here.

[HerbTarlekVol]

But thankfully unlike in football, you don't have to stuff the roster with five-stars to win and win big.  Just get 1-2 really good players, surround them with the right role players, and get them all to stick around for 2-3 years.  Look no farther than the Wisconsin team that knocked off Cal's pseudo-NBA roster in the Final Four last year.
 
I don't think Barnes will ever recruit like Cal or Coach K, but if builds his roster correctly, I think he'll succeed in Knoxville. 

Yep.  Concur on all points. 

I just wonder how long he will still have the fire in the belly to succeed, or if he is just keeping the seat warm for 3-4 years in hopes of turning it over to Rob Lanier.

[BanditVol]

I enjoy watching this team. They have trouble finishing sometimes (the loss to A&M still sucks) but they're fun to watch and play above their heads. Punter has become one of the SEC's best players...raise your hand if you saw THAT coming when he signed here. This team could very well wind up in the NIT, and I wouldn't have expected that.

I was never really on the Barnes bandwagon, but so far it looks like he can have some success here.

I actually thought about the Tamu game today, because there were a lot of sloppy turnovers at the end of that one (really inexcusable ones) and they started to do that against USC jr today, but a couple threes fell and USC jr had their own foulups so we got a bit lucky I think.

At least this game was not quite as sloppy as Tamu, but there is a bit of a tendency to choke late.  That is something experience can cure though.

[PirateVOL]

I actually thought about the Tamu game today, because there were a lot of sloppy turnovers at the end of that one (really inexcusable ones) and they started to do that against USC jr today, but a couple threes fell and USC jr had their own foulups so we got a bit lucky I think.

At least this game was not quite as sloppy as Tamu, but there is a bit of a tendency to choke late.  That is something experience can cure though.

The main difference between the two games wasn't luck, it was defensive intensity.  Yesterday it never waivered, even when we got a little too fast (Mostella is a bit too reckless at times).  We went to man late and were VERY aggressive in denying the 3, really frustrated SCe.

[BanditVol]

The main difference between the two games wasn't luck, it was defensive intensity.  Yesterday it never waivered, even when we got a little too fast (Mostella is a bit too reckless at times).  We went to man late and were VERY aggressive in denying the 3, really frustrated SCe.

They still made two really stupid turnovers inside of the last 2-3 minutes.