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Post by Stopspopsdrops83 on Apr 11, 2024 11:06:18 GMT -5
Just make scholarships contracts and allow universities to pay them like employees. I like athletes being able to move and get paid, because power 5 ball is close to pro anyway. Look at the stadiums, coach salaries, endorsements, tv contracts, etc. It’s basically the same. But this idea of you’re an unrestricted free agent every year and we’re going to beg people to donate to collectives to make “off the books” payments instead of the athletic departments making 100s of millions per year and being funded by endless TV money is completely ridiculous. And all of it is the NCAA’s fault for not doing anything proactive for 20-30 years when everyone saw this coming. Most simply put, Yep
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Post by goldenjay on Apr 11, 2024 11:35:45 GMT -5
I don't know. Big guys often make big strides from one year to the next. I think the only reason why Estrella didn't produce more this past season was that he didn't play much. He will know going into this off-season that a much bigger role is his for the taking, so I expect him to work his butt off to be ready for it.
Maybe it depends on what big strides means. I'll be happy if he comes close to replacing Awaka's production, something like 5/4 in 15 minutes, hopefully with better defense. Would that qualify as big strides for you, or are you expecting more next year?
Of course, I don't see JP in practice, and nobody has seen much of him in games, but I would consider replacing Awaka's production as a minimum if JP plays 15 minutes or so. I would go so far as to say that unless the Vols land another big man in the portal, 15 minutes is the minimum JP should expect to play next year. If he is the kind of prospect Barnes thought he was, the fact that the team will really need him to step forward should inspire him to improve in all aspects of his game.
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Post by govols85 on Apr 11, 2024 11:42:12 GMT -5
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Post by goldenjay on Apr 11, 2024 11:48:25 GMT -5
What if we get Awaka back, but lose Aidoo and Mashack. But then we add a guy like Ballo. And then get guys like Lanier and Dubar. How we feeling then? I think we could drive ourselves crazy trying to figure out all the "coulda-shoulda-wouldas" involved in portal comings and goings at this point in the recruiting season. I'm just glad I'm not the one who has to try to put all this together. I do trust Barnes and staff to do about as well as could be expected in an environment that has so few sure things. It is said that people who love the law and sausages should never watch either being made. The same goes for putting together basketball teams these days!
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Post by knoxkid on Apr 11, 2024 11:50:57 GMT -5
This doesn't make sense to me. But what do I know...
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Post by smyrnavol on Apr 11, 2024 11:53:10 GMT -5
Alright Tobe, time to come back.
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Post by wtmvol on Apr 11, 2024 11:54:53 GMT -5
Geez... It's like Kelly Washington and Donte' Stallworth with these 2.
I'm assuming we're going to go out and try to get another post from the portal even if Awaka decides to stay, right? So if we do that, will Awaka walk out the door again?
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Post by hamiltonvol on Apr 11, 2024 11:56:59 GMT -5
All of this sucks.
With that said, I expect RB to be better in the portal than he is in freshman recruiting. I do think we will end up with a well-built team at the end.
But the process is crap for fans.
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Post by smyrnavol on Apr 11, 2024 12:02:12 GMT -5
All of this sucks. With that said, I expect RB to be better in the portal than he is in freshman recruiting. I do think we will end up with a well-built team at the end. But the process is crap for fans. I think we could end up with individual upgrades at most spots (other than DK's spot) and have a worse team. I don't know that Rick's coaching style can succeed with a bunch of new guys and 1 year players.
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Post by goldenjay on Apr 11, 2024 12:20:54 GMT -5
All of this sucks. With that said, I expect RB to be better in the portal than he is in freshman recruiting. I do think we will end up with a well-built team at the end. But the process is crap for fans. I think we could end up with individual upgrades at most spots (other than DK's spot) and have a worse team. I don't know that Rick's coaching style can succeed with a bunch of new guys and 1 year players. That is the main reason why I think Barnes is nearing the end of his UT tenure. My impression is that he has a particular vision for what a basketball program should look like, and he knows that he needs not only a particular type of personality in his players, but also time for them to internalize a demanding team culture. The number of really good players who would be drawn to such a situation has always been relatively small, but finding them and keeping them together has never been harder.
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Post by siberiavol on Apr 11, 2024 12:23:36 GMT -5
My concerns when Barnes first came was related to recruiting. He was able to develop a brand and sell that and we have been successful . The challenge will be to see if that brand still has value in a a changing environment . It did for Dalton . Frankly it still might . There might be players that in addition to money want to get better or have an opportunity to play at higher level. Smyrna makes a good point about portal guys adopting to Barnes’s style of coach . It is however possible that we get folks that have already demonstrated they can play defense or are high energy guys .. It is too early to tell . It is sad that college basketball will look more like the UK model of constant roster movement . Except most players won’t be moving to NBA or probably to better situations than they were already in . Many will look back with maybe a little more money but not the long term relationships so many athletes treasure as they get older .
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Post by glenstorm on Apr 11, 2024 12:29:52 GMT -5
Maybe he's told the guys and he's retiring now... He's about to turn 70... and this past year does seem like it was his last best chance...
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Post by smyrnavol on Apr 11, 2024 12:56:28 GMT -5
Awaka probably coming back now according to a friend of mine involved with our collective.
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Post by gdrinnen2 on Apr 11, 2024 12:59:31 GMT -5
I heard two points on Aidoo that seemed to both be believable, but also somewhat in opposition to each other. One was that Aidoo was upset over the last couple games, how the staff handled it, and how he was ripped on social media (reference Mrs Mashack tweet). I've also heard he overplayed his NIL hand after Awaka went into portal. I guess both of those could be true. They came from two different people who would have reason to know. I think the first seems most likely.
Also seems possible, maybe even likely, that one of Awaka or Aidoo still returns and Awaka is the more likely.
BChilds might be able to shed more light and straighten out with more detail.
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Post by graingermater23 on Apr 11, 2024 13:03:42 GMT -5
Awaka probably coming back now according to a friend of mine involved with our collective. If not we are in trouble. But awaka + Estrella + transfer post is workable
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