Really surprised Cuonzo didn't bolt for Marquette. He had the perfect storm for that Sweet 16 run with the easiest draw imaginable and upperclassmen Pearl recruits. If Stokes leaves like many are guessing he will, that leaves him with very little talent, and is probably NIT bound the next year or two. By then Pearl will be showing improvement at Auburn, and the UT fans will once again freak out and fire Martin. I'm sure he will get an extension and maybe a raise out of UT, but I would rather have the 4 years that Marquette fans would give me as opposed to the 1 or 2 before UT fans hate you again.

So Cuonzo is here to rule the state of Tennessee now

(04-01-2014 02:05 PM)TigerFan386 Wrote:  Really surprised Cuonzo didn't bolt for Marquette. He had the perfect storm for that Sweet 16 run with the easiest draw imaginable and upperclassmen Pearl recruits. If Stokes leaves like many are guessing he will, that leaves him with very little talent, and is probably NIT bound the next year or two. By then Pearl will be showing improvement at Auburn, and the UT fans will once again freak out and fire Martin. I'm sure he will get an extension and maybe a raise out of UT, but I would rather have the 4 years that Marquette fans would give me as opposed to the 1 or 2 before UT fans hate you again.

A really solid basketball insider on another board I frequent has some strong ties/contacts at both UT and Marquette. He said today that despite what is being reported, the decision was not Martin's (he had been calling this for several days) to make. His only meeting was with the AD that is on the way out. This guy is who wanted Martin, but there are two booster factions that wanted other candidates. One of those factions was spear headed by Doc Rivers. Sounds like his faction won out.

Its beginning and will be spun that the TN AD "saved the day" at the last moment and renegotiated the contract, but that is just to try and save face. TN was prepared to let Martin head to Marquette, get paid 1.3 million to let him do so, and hire a new coach.

(04-02-2014 01:24 AM)VolinMemphis Wrote:  

(04-01-2014 02:05 PM)TigerFan386 Wrote:  Really surprised Cuonzo didn't bolt for Marquette. He had the perfect storm for that Sweet 16 run with the easiest draw imaginable and upperclassmen Pearl recruits. If Stokes leaves like many are guessing he will, that leaves him with very little talent, and is probably NIT bound the next year or two. By then Pearl will be showing improvement at Auburn, and the UT fans will once again freak out and fire Martin. I'm sure he will get an extension and maybe a raise out of UT, but I would rather have the 4 years that Marquette fans would give me as opposed to the 1 or 2 before UT fans hate you again.

A really solid basketball insider on another board I frequent has some strong ties/contacts at both UT and Marquette. He said today that despite what is being reported, the decision was not Martin's (he had been calling this for several days) to make. His only meeting was with the AD that is on the way out. This guy is who wanted Martin, but there are two booster factions that wanted other candidates. One of those factions was spear headed by Doc Rivers. Sounds like his faction won out.

Its beginning and will be spun that the TN AD "saved the day" at the last moment and renegotiated the contract, but that is just to try and save face. TN was prepared to let Martin head to Marquette, get paid 1.3 million to let him do so, and hire a new coach.

Tis what I am hearing as well, more or less.

(04-01-2014 10:12 AM)Ramen_Tiger Wrote:  UT fans are getting a lucky draw confused with Cuonzo being a good coach. They didn't beat 1 ranked team this year

They beat the team that knocked us out of the NCAA tournament by 35.

(04-02-2014 07:01 AM)Halfcourt Wrote:  

(04-01-2014 10:12 AM)Ramen_Tiger Wrote:  UT fans are getting a lucky draw confused with Cuonzo being a good coach. They didn't beat 1 ranked team this year

They beat the team that knocked us out of the NCAA tournament by 35.

Yes they did........on Dec. 30 when Virginia was 9-4 at the time and winless on the road. TN was 7-1 at home at the time. Louisville beat UConn 81-48 and we see where they both are now. Comparing scores is absurd. TN still got a nice draw and they did beat Virginia by 35. The two facts are not related.