By Paul Gotham Coaching through adversity To get to the Elite Eight or Final Four a team has to confront its fair share of hurdles. Some teams have more than others. Tom Izzo, Bruce Pearl, and Bob Huggins deserve a tip of the hat. Each of these guys guided their squads through some trying times. New Years was not a time of celebration for Pearl. Four of his guys were … [Read more...] about College Basketball Splinters | March 29, 2010
Bruce Pearl
Tennessee – Michigan State: Tale Of The Tape
By Paul Gotham Setting: Tennessee and Michigan State meet in St. Louis as Bruce Pearl's No. 6 seed Volunteers (28-8) do battle with Tom Izzo's Spartans (27-8) on the court at Edward Jones Dome. Plot: SEC clashes with the Big Ten for a spot in the Final Four. Sub-plot: The game pits a pair of coaches and teams who have dealt with adversity during the season. Earlier in … [Read more...] about Tennessee – Michigan State: Tale Of The Tape
College Hoops Countdown | #9 Tennessee
Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin' Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation. '08 - '09 Results: 21 -13 (10 - 6 SEC) Lost to Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 77-75 Coach: Bruce Pearl 98 - 37 (4 years at UT) 415 -121 17 seasons Key Returners: Wayne Chism - 13.7ppg, … [Read more...] about College Hoops Countdown | #9 Tennessee
Bruce Pearl’s Vols – the new definition of overrated
by Paul Casey Gotham Ah pre-season polls -those dainty morsels that we feast on like pizza and wings. After the summer months drift into fall, basketball fans look forward to 'Midnight Madness' and the eventual tipoff of a new season. Pre-season polls whet the appetite of many a college hoops fan - providing an opportunity for folks to debate the … [Read more...] about Bruce Pearl’s Vols – the new definition of overrated
ACC full of surprises thus far
by Paul Casey Gotham In what could be a case of quality over quantity, the Atlantic Coast Conference has rather quietly seized four of the AP's most recent Top Ten. While much has been deservedly made of the Big East and their potential for nine or ten teams earning invitations to the NCAA tournament in March, the ACC has shown they could be punching more than one ticket … [Read more...] about ACC full of surprises thus far