(07-20-2021 12:56 PM)gusrob Wrote:  I want every team on our schedule to win their every game, except against us. Helps us with the subjectivity of rankings, NCAA tournament birth, seeding, etc.

I still hate UTay

It is much healthier to root for 20 opponents and root against UT, Ole Piss, Loserville, etc. I never want them to be good.

(07-20-2021 08:39 AM)Claw Wrote:  UT may be a better team. I don't think they are as talented a team. I don't think they will be a better team come next March either.

How are they a better team, if they're less talented? We each return 4 rotation guys from last season. It was a season where they trended downward. Yes they backed into the NCAA, but they were a limp noodle by that time. Meanwhile, we trended upward and could have done damage in the NCAA.

UTK's highest rated guys are 3 newcomers. So I just don't see how they could be considered a better team IF you think they are less talented.

(07-20-2021 01:11 PM)jsw3ent Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 01:08 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 08:48 AM)TiminMem23 Wrote:  They've been the better basketball program for the better part of the last 8-10 years.

Whoa now. 8-10 years? Not so fast.

10 years:
They've been to the tourney 4 times, we've been 3 times.
Our recruiting classes have beaten theirs (247 composite) 6 years.
We've won 2 conference championships and they've won 0.
but here's the kicker...
Over the last 10 years, we are 4-1 head to head against the mighty vawls.

They've for sure had the edge the last 4 years. But you gotta stop there.

We've been 3 times .......is Pastner the coach that took us to ALL OF THEM ?

Well yeah. And Barnes is the coach that took them to their tourneys. But I don't want either guy in charge at Memphis.

(07-20-2021 10:45 AM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 07:22 AM)TallTiger Wrote:  Geoff Calkins stated UT is a better basketball team than Memphis. With recruits and talent coming, it sounds he's wanting to rile up the Tiger fans.
I hope both teams are undefeated going into the December game and prove him wrong.

He’s a bUTtchugger fan.

Calkins is a lot of things, but I don't for a second think he ever cheers for UTK. One of his redeeming qualities is that he constantly trolls them in columns, radio, and social media.

(07-20-2021 11:14 AM)rolexjames Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 08:39 AM)Claw Wrote:  UT may be a better team. I don't think they are as talented a team. I don't think they will be a better team come next March either.

I was thinking the exact opposite. UT has higher rated players and better athletes. We may be a better team and our players fit better together. However, the kid from Memphis may end up being the difference. UT was missing a point guard last year and they got one coming in. That position is still a huge question mark for us.

I agree.

Their roster is more highly ranked. They can start 5 guys that were all borderline top 50 guys. They have 3 guys in the top 25. But their best talent is new talent.

Whereas our best talent was not as highly ranked (no guys in the top 25 and Deandre wasn't even ranked), but they are veterans.

With the momentum we have and chemistry we are returning, we are a strong team.

We hang on to the ratings of classes but production is what counts. All the arguments about who is more talented or athletic or who has the better coach comes down to records in Regular season, records in making and winning in the Tourney and records in Head-2-Head competition.

I'm no UT hater (maybe an ole miss hater). I do want to beat them when they are at their best. Playing vs highly ranked Bruce P teams was about as good as it gets.

We have hit the skids a few times since I became a Tigers fan in the 70s watching replays on Channel 10 after 10pm from my Chester County home (which at the time the county was 99.9% orange.) You can name the coaches and the years it got bad but we have as all good programs do, come roaring back as strong as ever.

BB is important to Memphis but only important to UT when FB is not good. Over all I would give Memphis the better program nod going back to the 50's. Through 20-21 since Barnes arrived UT has had a better program than us because we made similar mistakes with BB that UT has made with FB...hiring the wrong guy when most people were telling the ADs it was the wrong guy.

I hope and believe that the core we have here right now in players and coaches will reestablish the Tigers as the preeminent BB program.

(07-20-2021 10:45 AM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 07:22 AM)TallTiger Wrote:  Geoff Calkins stated UT is a better basketball team than Memphis. With recruits and talent coming, it sounds he's wanting to rile up the Tiger fans.
I hope both teams are undefeated going into the December game and prove him wrong.

He’s a bUTtchugger fan.

Best way to settle who's best is to play on the court & on the field every year. All this other crap is just BS. No reason we shouldn't play UTK every year.

(07-20-2021 01:11 PM)jsw3ent Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 01:08 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 08:48 AM)TiminMem23 Wrote:  They've been the better basketball program for the better part of the last 8-10 years.

Whoa now. 8-10 years? Not so fast.

10 years:
They've been to the tourney 4 times, we've been 3 times.
Our recruiting classes have beaten theirs (247 composite) 6 years.
We've won 2 conference championships and they've won 0.
but here's the kicker...
Over the last 10 years, we are 4-1 head to head against the mighty vawls.

They've for sure had the edge the last 4 years. But you gotta stop there.

We've been 3 times .......is Pastner the coach that took us to ALL OF THEM ?

WHO?

(07-20-2021 06:45 PM)tiger1016 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 01:11 PM)jsw3ent Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 01:08 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 08:48 AM)TiminMem23 Wrote:  They've been the better basketball program for the better part of the last 8-10 years.

Whoa now. 8-10 years? Not so fast.

10 years:
They've been to the tourney 4 times, we've been 3 times.
Our recruiting classes have beaten theirs (247 composite) 6 years.
We've won 2 conference championships and they've won 0.
but here's the kicker...
Over the last 10 years, we are 4-1 head to head against the mighty vawls.

They've for sure had the edge the last 4 years. But you gotta stop there.

We've been 3 times .......is Pastner the coach that took us to ALL OF THEM ?

WHO?

LOL

being in the SEC gives them the ability to throw lots and lots of money at basketball (see TBA renovations and Rick Barnes new contract). That is their biggest strength so while I wouldn't say they have the better program (they have zero FF's) I will say they have the larger potential IMHO.

(07-20-2021 10:42 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 07:22 AM)TallTiger Wrote:  Geoff Calkins stated UT is a better basketball team than Memphis. With recruits and talent coming, it sounds he's wanting to rile up the Tiger fans.
I hope both teams are undefeated going into the December game and prove him wrong.

I have never in my life, understood this. I want them to lose every single game. You want them to be undefeated? Wtf.

As Memphis fans, we have dodged more than a few bullets when it comes to UT's performance in the tournament.

In 2018 they were ranked as high as #13 and lost as a #3 seed to a #11 seed in the round of 32. In 2019, they were ranked #1 during the season, before losing in the Sweet 16. In 2021 they were ranked as high as #6 but finished 8-8 and lost in the round of 64 as a #5 seed to a #12 seed.

Choking in the tournament is Barnes' calling card. He is a great recruiter, has great regular seasons, and regularly chokes like a pig in the tournament. Thank God.

Yep, couldn't agree more.

(07-20-2021 01:18 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 10:45 AM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 07:22 AM)TallTiger Wrote:  Geoff Calkins stated UT is a better basketball team than Memphis. With recruits and talent coming, it sounds he's wanting to rile up the Tiger fans.
I hope both teams are undefeated going into the December game and prove him wrong.

He’s a bUTtchugger fan.

Calkins is a lot of things, but I don't for a second think he ever cheers for UTK. One of his redeeming qualities is that he constantly trolls them in columns, radio, and social media.

Yep. He's just selling "news." And that's tough for a sports writer in July.

(07-20-2021 07:58 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  being in the SEC gives them the ability to throw lots and lots of money at basketball (see TBA renovations and Rick Barnes new contract). That is their biggest strength so while I wouldn't say they have the better program (they have zero FF's) I will say they have the larger potential IMHO.

If they do, they haven’t reached that potential in forever. I just looked at five or six “best programs all-time” lists and Memphis came out on top in every single one.

(07-20-2021 05:15 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Best way to settle who's best is to play on the court & on the field every year. All this other crap is just BS. No reason we shouldn't play UTK every year.

Agreed.

So far, they have the best of us in head to head competition. And I hate that!

(07-20-2021 05:15 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Best way to settle who's best is to play on the court & on the field every year. All this other crap is just BS. No reason we shouldn't play UTK every year.

We should NEVER play them

(07-20-2021 07:58 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  being in the SEC gives them the ability to throw lots and lots of money at basketball (see TBA renovations and Rick Barnes new contract). That is their biggest strength so while I wouldn't say they have the better program (they have zero FF's) I will say they have the larger potential IMHO.

Memphis will always have Memphis...As long as Memphis Basketball is important to Memphians I don't think I can say UT has more potential.

Tennessee has a statewide fanbase and is a member of the SEC. It should have a quality men's basketball program.

Memphis does a strong job of maintaining what is a nationally respected program year in and year out.

Memphis' goal is to have the "better" team (compared to that of UT), say, six of every 10 seasons. If we're doing that ... we're doing well and we're maintaining some separation in terms of "overall program quality." (Remember: a "team" is one season, while a "program" is many seasons/historical).

For UT fans I doubt this makes up for Memphis having a better football program.

(07-20-2021 10:45 AM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  

(07-20-2021 07:22 AM)TallTiger Wrote:  Geoff Calkins stated UT is a better basketball team than Memphis. With recruits and talent coming, it sounds he's wanting to rile up the Tiger fans.
I hope both teams are undefeated going into the December game and prove him wrong.

He’s a bUTtchugger fan.

Yeah...you're right. he even says he's located in and roots for the colon.

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