I will be ecstatic when Vincent Yarbrough graduates!
January 17 2002 at 7:33 AM
volhunter (Login volhunter1) from IP address 160.36.173.242
He came up small again last night, and judging by what I heard on the post game show, Buzz is pissed about it.
Ok sports fans, if you're an NBA prospect (what a joke!), and you get the ball with 5 seconds left with the game on the line, what do you do? YOU TAKE IT TO THE DAMN RACK.
What did Vince do? He dribbled once to his left, and passed it out to Higgins for a 30 foot desperation 3-ball. As Bertlecamp said, "Higgins was over here next to Buzz when he shot it!"
Last night was the culmination of 3.5 years of FAILURE on VY's part. He still does not do 2 things: 1) Take it to the hole (how many airball 3's did he shoot against UGA?)...and 2)When the money is on the line, he shrivels up.
He choked on 2 FT's in OT, and then RAN away from the last second shot. Would Jordan/Kobe/Carter/Iverson, etc. have passed that ball out? Nope.
All we needed was ONE POINT. You take the ball strong, and make the ref call a foul. But no, Vince WIMPED out again. He is quick enough to be UT's all-time steals leader, but he's not quick enough to take it to the hole. Go figure.
Hell Vince, if you're afraid to shoot at crunch time, let's put Zach Turner in there. He'll give it a shot!
If I were Buzz I swear I'd play Vince less minutes. We are 6-9, and probably out of the running for post-season. It's time for the future, and last night proved that Vincent is NOT part of a winning future.
Forget about overseas ball, he wouldn't take the last shot of a church league game!
_____________________________________________
UT 82
OP 76
Well, Ole Piss basketball is stinky and rotten; Championships and rings are long forgotten; We kicked that ass, kicked that ass, kicked that ass, in BuzzyLand; Well, I'm glad I'm not in Oxfraud; Hooray! Hooray! Cause Rebels fans are Redneck flagwavers, who live and die without rings; Hooray! Hooray! I'm glad I'm uuuuuuuuuuup in Knoxville!
I hardly ever agree with Carp but he is right about VY
January 17 2002, 8:47 AM
Has he hit a clutch shot in his career? He would have been better of going to UK where he would have had good coaching for 4 years. He was more highly rated than Prince and look who the better player is. Buzz has improved VY but he doesn't have the makeup to be a great player. Boy does UT miss Terrance Wood's clutch shooting. I hope the guard recruits like to fire away at crunch time. The only gamers on UT's roster are Slay and Haislip and they are not guards. Slay needs to stay out of foul trouble. Why can't UT shoot FTs better? A coach can only put you in position to win. It is up to the players to get it done at nut cutting time!!!!!!!
I went and saw him once when he was a sr at Cleveland. They had him playing some kind of half-ass point guard. He would work the ball up court, and basically stand at the top of the key and shoot a 3. He never penetrated, he never showed any aggression. This has carried on to his UT career.
I used to think A. Houston was the most overhyped talent to ever play over here, but now I think it's VY.
His steal record is a joke. He plays the passing lanes well, but he is not a good on the ball defender. He couldn't wear Fred Jenkins' jock when it comes to manning up. VY is the king of the "ole'" defense.
Jed has nothing to do with this. Either you have it, or you don't. VY doesn't have it. I would compare VY to Scottie Pippen, but that would insult Pippen. Pippen would always have "migranes" in those game 7's against the Knicks, and Kukoc and MJ would always bail him out. VY claims he was "held", that's why he only scored 5 points in the last 25 minutes. Whatever, Vince.
Like I said, he has roughly 14-15 more games, and then he is outta here. Just think, he was ballyhood as the greatest talent since Bernard King when he came here. He couldn't wipe Bernard's ass.
_____________________________________________
UT 82
OP 76
Well, Ole Piss basketball is stinky and rotten; Championships and rings are long forgotten; We kicked that ass, kicked that ass, kicked that ass, in BuzzyLand; Well, I'm glad I'm not in Oxfraud; Hooray! Hooray! Cause Rebels fans are Redneck flagwavers, who live and die without rings; Hooray! Hooray! I'm glad I'm uuuuuuuuuuup in Knoxville!
I wonder what Coach Mears had to say to the team...
January 17 2002, 9:27 AM
after the MSU game? He did go to the game per KNS. I think he would have said, "Free throws must be made to win close games, especially when you are on a losing streak & your coaches have put you in position to win the game.
At this level, you kids need to despise losing--Jimmy England, Bernard King, Billy Justus, & Ernie Grunfeld despised losing!
Ron Slay, do your showboating before the game. You hurt your team tonight by fouling out with 3.5 minutes to go. You hurt your team by being out in the first half with foul trouble. If you continue to NOT focus on the basketball game, and continue to try to show up the officials, the other team, the opposing fans, while deliberately distracting your team from its mission with these 7th-grade tantrums on & off the court during the game--you will be seated at the end of the bench or in the first row of fans!!
Ron Slay, like Vincent, you continue to disappear when at the start of the game & at the finish. That is not Buzz's fault or Uncle Jerry's or your mother's or the stars! You both have Masters degrees in basketball and it is time for you to grow up & show 40 minutes of SENIOR LEADERSHIP!!"
The UTJethros want to continue to sell Vincent & Slay as great talents, so they can cling to the apron strings of their Uncle Jerry. Anyway to avoid the problem--they do not despise losing. As Phil or someone noted above, they do not have basketball minds! How is it Jenis Grindstaff & Marcus Haslip can be trained under Uncle Jerry & flourish under Coach Peterson?
Raise, not lower, the expectations for Coach Peterson, Vincent, & Ron Slay--there needs to be leadership from all three! What happened to hating to lose? The 3 of them better toughen up, the SEC is no rec league!!!
I watched Vincent Yarbrough in high school also. What that young man needed was a coach that got on his ass.His coach in high school was a joke. He was one of those coaches who just rolled the balls out.
Vincents team won the state the year I watched him. He was no where near the player Trenton Hassell was. Trenton lit his ass for 38 points that game between Cleveland and Clarksville.
I'm sick and tired of his antics. Good point by OS, Slay decides to act like a PUNK with 3.5 minutes left, and it costs the whole team. I'm sick of his behavior! He pounded on the "G" down in Athens, and was no better than those IDIOT UGA players that did the same thing up here to our "T" last fall! I ripped them, so I'll rip you too Ron!
If Slay and Vince left TODAY, I would help them pack. Give me a lineup of Jenis (PG), Higgins (2), Stribling (3), Slip (4), and Crump (5) and I'll take my chances.
AT LEAST THEY WILL LISTEN TO THEIR COACH!
_____________________________________________
UT 82
OP 76
Well, Ole Piss basketball is stinky and rotten; Championships and rings are long forgotten; We kicked that ass, kicked that ass, kicked that ass, in BuzzyLand; Well, I'm glad I'm not in Oxfraud; Hooray! Hooray! Cause Rebels fans are Redneck flagwavers, who live and die without rings; Hooray! Hooray! I'm glad I'm uuuuuuuuuuup in Knoxville!
"At what point in the life of a basketball player in the SEC does it become the responsibility of the player himself to decide that he despises losing?"
Did you hear Jenis on the postgame? He is over it. He says just "playing hard" isn't good enough, it's time to win. To bad VY is more concerned about his draft status, and Slay is more concerned about "raising the roof"!
I hate it that Higgins was hung out to dry last nite!
_____________________________________________
UT 82
OP 76
Well, Ole Piss basketball is stinky and rotten; Championships and rings are long forgotten; We kicked that ass, kicked that ass, kicked that ass, in BuzzyLand; Well, I'm glad I'm not in Oxfraud; Hooray! Hooray! Cause Rebels fans are Redneck flagwavers, who live and die without rings; Hooray! Hooray! I'm glad I'm uuuuuuuuuuup in Knoxville!
If Vincent was a competitor he would have hated losing when he got to UT. He would play with more fire. He doesn't give a damn. Mark Griffin is my favorite Vol basketball player of all time. He laid it on the line and played hard every night.If Vincent played hard like Mark Griffin he would have been an all american.
If you watch Vincent dunk on a breakaway you will see how passive he is. He barely touches the rim. Heck! If I had his athletic ability I would slam the ball hard. I would try to bring the goal down.
"If you watch Vincent dunk on a breakaway you will see how passive he is."
That illustrates how VY is all about style and NO substance. He likes to look pretty, but doesn't care about winning. Oh he wants to win, but it's not the driving force in his life.
He's simply willing to pass it to Higgins for a 30 footer!
_____________________________________________
UT 82
OP 76
Well, Ole Piss basketball is stinky and rotten; Championships and rings are long forgotten; We kicked that ass, kicked that ass, kicked that ass, in BuzzyLand; Well, I'm glad I'm not in Oxfraud; Hooray! Hooray! Cause Rebels fans are Redneck flagwavers, who live and die without rings; Hooray! Hooray! I'm glad I'm uuuuuuuuuuup in Knoxville!
When did the love affair with Ron Slay end? Just a couple years ago, he brought "energy and excitement" to UT basketball. Now he's a clown that just cares about showing off for the camera. IMO his actions haven't changed, but now he's a villian where before he was a hero. Are you guys really sick of Slay or do you just not like him because UT can't buy a win right now.
BTW, the Vols aren't as bad as you make out, they just can't finish a game for their life right now.
He toned it down last year from his freshman year. And what he USED to do was try to energize the crowd, or pump up his teammates.
For some reason, he's turned it up about 5 notches this year, and is acting like a total punk. For me, it was the pounding his fist on the "G" down in Athens last Sat nite. I ripped the UGA football players for doing that, so I must be consistent.
He's also bickering with the refs alot more this year than in the past. He must just be frustrated.
_____________________________________________
UT 82
OP 76
Well, Ole Piss basketball is stinky and rotten; Championships and rings are long forgotten; We kicked that ass, kicked that ass, kicked that ass, in BuzzyLand; Well, I'm glad I'm not in Oxfraud; Hooray! Hooray! Cause Rebels fans are Redneck flagwavers, who live and die without rings; Hooray! Hooray! I'm glad I'm uuuuuuuuuuup in Knoxville!
44's, Ron Slay is our guy as is Vincent! vh has it right about Ron Slay! On a team that is fighting to win with a coach that is telling the players enough to FINISH close games, Ron Slay consistently draws the attention away from his team. His teammates need to have a heart to heart. The guy has some talent! When he arrived he was a jolt & a cheerleader for the crowd that we needed! Nice against the lack of outward fire that Uncle Jerry, Victor, & Higgins displayed. That was fine, but I have watched him several times in person the past three years including at Birmingham. I have seen him on the tube with all the face shots. His team needs to taking him out behing the woodshed & give him a tune up. This team does not need the type of leadership Ron Slay is providing, but it does need the type of solid leadership Ron Slay is capable of providing!!
I have posted here several times that these teams are baiting Ron Slay. Veterans like Harrick, Donovan, Tubby know he is vulnerable & they use him! It hurts the VOLS & if he cannot see a that his antics are hurting a THIN, but fighthing team, then he needs to step aside. Uncle Jerry & Buzz have both told him the score. The kid has the equivalent of a Masters in basketball.
A team does not beat good teams like your 'cuse with APPEARANCES, but rather the REALITY of leadership & basketball smarts & hustle for 40 solid minutes!
Tennessee Basketball continues to be a seemingly incurable case of hemorrhoids for Vol fans. There has been no medication strong enough to curb the effects since 1983. Frustration has understandably reached the boiling point for the staff, players, and fan base. I appreciate the effort and resiliency I’ve seen and don’t want to pour salt in the wound but I think the following statements are valid criticisms:
-The upperclassmen on the roster have NEVER shown a sense of urgency since they first stepped on campus. They DO NOT hate to lose and I think it is inaccurate to lie that at the feet of the teachings of their former or present Coach. You RECRUIT desire and intensity. It is difficult if not impossible to instill at this stage of a young man’s life.
-I like natural excitement in a player. I despise theatrics. I think Ron Slay combines both. He must learn which is positive and which is counterproductive. He also must eliminate the stupid frustration fouls from his game. He is a crunch time player but it’s difficult to show it with your ass planted on a folding chair.
-Vincent Yarbrough is a vital contributor to this team. But he has never and will never be a crunch time player. Buzz has been here long enough to recognize this fact and should NEVER design a game-on-the-line play with Vincent as the primary shooter.
-Since January 16, 2001 Tennessee’s Basketball Team is 12-19. They have forgotten how to win.
I am optimistic about the future of the program. I believe that Buzz has broken the extremist mold (Sergeant Carter/ Colonel Klink) of Coach that we have alternated between since 1978. My hope and belief is that he will recruit more intelligently than his predecessors and realize that we have overemphasized athleticism while underestimating the importance of basketball savvy and acumen (see Gerald Fitch).
That sucks. I thought about that same record today, and wondered what it was. We were 16-2 at one point last year, and since then we've been about 12-19 or worse.
This team just needs a good 10 point win over Syracuse, and everything will be ok. Then they can beat MTSU, and I like our chances with USC and Aub at home. That would put us at 10-9 really quick.
IMO, we need 15 wins, plus at least 1 in the SECT, and that would put us in the Dance. Our SOS must be high enough to get us in!
_____________________________________________
UT 82
OP 76
Well, Ole Piss basketball is stinky and rotten; Championships and rings are long forgotten; We kicked that ass, kicked that ass, kicked that ass, in BuzzyLand; Well, I'm glad I'm not in Oxfraud; Hooray! Hooray! Cause Rebels fans are Redneck flagwavers, who live and die without rings; Hooray! Hooray! I'm glad I'm uuuuuuuuuuup in Knoxville!
He and Haislip cannot carry the team by themselves. Just because he hasn't quite lived up to his hype doesnt mean that he hasn't contributed to the program. I'm sure he works as hard as any of those kids and hates losing just as much. And let me remind you that he is only the leading scorer in the SEC. Look at where we would be without him.
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