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California has hired Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin to replace Mike Montgomery, sources told ESPN.
Martin has spent the last three seasons in Knoxville and led the Vols to the NCAA tournament this past season. He was previously the head coach at Missouri State.
Montgomery retired last month.

Their fans will cry all the louder about not rehiring Bruce Pearl. Nevermind that there was no way UT could, the butthurt will be huge.

Be careful when you start a petition to get rid of your coach. He might take you to the sweet 16 and then leave for a better job.

Let's hope it remains NBR. Who is on the UTK list to replace Martin?

(04-15-2014 04:45 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Let's hope it remains NBR. Who is on the UTK list to replace Martin?

You're insinuating UT would be interested in hiring Haase to replace Martin right now? Are you crazy?

(04-15-2014 04:45 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Let's hope it remains NBR. Who is on the UTK list to replace Martin?

Haase

(04-15-2014 04:48 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(04-15-2014 04:45 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Let's hope it remains NBR. Who is on the UTK list to replace Martin?

You're insinuating UT would be interested in hiring Haase to replace Martin right now? Are you crazy?

It is said that Nature hates a vacuum. So to does an AD who has just lost his coach in a major sport. I expressed a hope and then asked a question. How certain are you that you know what the UTK AD is thinking?

What, exactly, has Haase done in his two years as a head coach to make an SEC athletic director sit up and take notice? Especially one who was on many of his fan's bad side over not making any move on Pearl and who needs to replace a coach who just took UT on an unexpected run to the Sweet Sixteen? Haase has a record of 34-30 as a head coach, with one conference tournament win and no postseason tournament appearances.

We like the guy, but basically even we like him more on the improvement he has made and his potential, not his accomplishments on the court and conference and postseason tournament victories. The UTK fans would throw a hissyfit if his name came up.

Don't get me wrong, I like the guy and very much think that he has us moving in the right direction... but that's just not going to move the needle in an SEC coaching search.

So, what makes you think that he would be on the UT AD's list?

Tennessee thinks they are a better job than they are. A few years ago when Pearl left they tried to get Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens and they weren't interested. They were forced to settle for the Missouri State coach who had never been to an NCAA tournament before.

Their fans are now wanting them to go after Shaka Smart again and Greg Marshall at Wichita State, who will probably laugh in their face again. They might end up having to settle for a coach who hasn't shown success again in the tournament.

I don't think Haase is on anyone's radar. My guess is they will hire the MTSU coach or Donnie Tyndall or the La Tech coach.

I'm thinking they'll go after a more known commodity. If they were looking in C-USA, those would be the coaches I think they'd look at. I just think they'll be looking elsewhere for a replacement.

(04-15-2014 06:40 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Tennessee thinks they are a better job than they are. A few years ago when Pearl left they tried to get Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens and they weren't interested. They were forced to settle for the Missouri State coach who had never been to an NCAA tournament before.

Their fans are now wanting them to go after Shaka Smart again and Greg Marshall at Wichita State, who will probably laugh in their face again. They might end up having to settle for a coach who hasn't shown success again in the tournament.

I don't think Haase is on anyone's radar. My guess is they will hire the MTSU coach or Donnie Tyndall or the La Tech coach.

Of course, the last coach they got from LaTech didn't work out too well.

(04-15-2014 05:07 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(04-15-2014 04:48 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(04-15-2014 04:45 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Let's hope it remains NBR. Who is on the UTK list to replace Martin?

You're insinuating UT would be interested in hiring Haase to replace Martin right now? Are you crazy?

It is said that Nature hates a vacuum. So to does an AD who has just lost his coach in a major sport. I expressed a hope and then asked a question. How certain are you that you know what the UTK AD is thinking?

Like Answer asked, are you crazy?

Ok, now lets put the shoe on the other foot. Haase has his own guys now, and a very solid freshman class coming in.

Do you really think he'd leave what he's built before he can make it pay off to go to UTK? I really don't think he wants to jump for just any program. Everything he has said so far indicates that he respects the opportunity that UAB offers, and that he wants to build something here. Once he's got his career foundation built, I imagine he'll be willing to talk, but I don't think he's just going to take a job to cash in, a la Barbee. He's smarter than that, he'll hold out for a selected job, not the first paycheck that gets waved at him.

I want to believe that. But reality is that coaches move to better paying jobs as soon as the opportunity presents itself, with some exceptions like Few and Smart. The majority is looking for the big time. They all say the right things (the same things Haase has said) but they jump at first chance.

I hope he stays and means what he says, but I am no longer shocked or upset when they leave for higher profile jobs.

(04-15-2014 07:27 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  I'm thinking they'll go after a more known commodity. If they were looking in C-USA, those would be the coaches I think they'd look at. I just think they'll be looking elsewhere for a replacement.

They went after known commodities when Pearl left and no one wanted to work for them.

I'm young, so maybe I just don't know, but it seems like Cal would be a step down from Tennessee...

(04-15-2014 10:05 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  I'm young, so maybe I just don't know, but it seems like Cal would be a step down from Tennessee...

Pac10 is a better basketball conference than SEC. Cal has been to more NCAA tourneys in the last few yrs than UT. They are comparable but the main difference is Cal wanted him and the UT fans didn't.

The most surprising thing is Martin really doesn't have any ties to the west coast.

The other surprising thing is that he sucks.

My guess is that he felt unloved and unappreciated with the Bruce Pearl thing and how many fans did indeed sign that petition. I would also expect that he was able to cash in on some degree of being the hot rising young coach after a Sweet Sixteen run.

(04-15-2014 09:20 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(04-15-2014 07:27 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  I'm thinking they'll go after a more known commodity. If they were looking in C-USA, those would be the coaches I think they'd look at. I just think they'll be looking elsewhere for a replacement.

They went after known commodities when Pearl left and no one wanted to work for them.

We'll see how much they pony up for the next coach. Money talks, and if they can offer enough, plenty of guys will listen. I guess it could happen, but I'd be pretty shocked if they went after top tier coaches in a conference that isn't even top ten anymore.