Yo Jaybee, why the fuck did Tennessee do this to Thompson-Boling Arena? They removed a ton of seats in place of luxury suites and now it just looks lopsided as fuck like the Atlanta Hawks arena, and replaced all of the cool orange seats with black seats. This is college ball. This isn't pro ball where you need a fuck ton of suites to make money. The old arena design has worked out for UNC and Kentucky for the past 20+ years. If they wanted to put in some suites, just take out some of the first rows around the top of the lower bowl and make some. It would look a lot better and they'd be closer to the floor anyways.

http://web.knoxnews.com/gvx/1018arena/
http://video.ap.org/v/Default.aspx?partner=en-ap&g=8f0394fb-3be9-4318-8f16-910fb19dffc1&f=TNKNN&mk=en-ap

The new basketball practice facility looks ok. Not as good as State's Dail Center though.

[Edited on October 24, 2007 at 8:28 PM. Reason : ]

10/24/2007 8:24:09 PM

cause the arena was too good damn big (largest on campus bball in the country) and they never sold it out ever except for UK and Florida and figured they could get more $$ from luxury suites... I have been to Phipps (atlanta) and really like it, its different, but it definitely makes it seem lopsided.


and the random Sheldon Richardson video??

10/24/2007 8:28:30 PM

Sorry I saw it posted on the Kentucky board by a Tennessee poster, and just copied all of the links, but forgot to exclude the video on the player.

10/24/2007 8:30:15 PM

its ok, nothing special... but the new student rec center/gym....



[Edited on October 24, 2007 at 8:35 PM. Reason : d]

10/24/2007 8:31:29 PM

Seriously though black seats? Why not replace the chairs but keep them orange? Most schools have their seats the color of the school's primary color.

[Edited on October 24, 2007 at 8:42 PM. Reason : ]

10/24/2007 8:41:00 PM

I dont know, I like the black, might have something to do with concerts. They have a ton of them their and maybe the orange was too bright not sure...

the black does make the orange that is there REALLY stand out though... either way its going to be about as nice as you can get for a completely college owned arena

[Edited on October 24, 2007 at 8:44 PM. Reason : d]

10/24/2007 8:42:18 PM

Another thing about the big shows and concerts there at TBA, the roof isn't up to date or up to code for these bigger shows since it can hold the weight, so they have to go back and strengthen it so they can attract to big shows. I don't know, I was always a fan of the orange seats. It was great to go there this past Dec over X-mas, but I think it looks pretty cool now. Don't know where the whole football style suite box came from though.

10/24/2007 8:55:02 PM

Quote :

"Phipps (atlanta) "

thats the first time I have seen it

10/24/2007 8:58:38 PM

Damn, gotta read. Forgot all about Phillips. At least it's not the whole side.

10/24/2007 10:08:56 PM

ESPN/USA Today poll is out:

#1 UNC, #7 Tennessee, #11 Duke, #24 NC State

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankingsindex

[Edited on October 26, 2007 at 11:36 AM. Reason : ut]

10/26/2007 11:34:45 AM

I.Can.Not.Wait.For.HOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPSS!

10/26/2007 11:40:47 AM

Overrated

UNC: They are talented but I think it will take a while to get the guys who were role players last year into the groove. At the end of the year this team very well may be #1 but to start off I think they are a bit highly rated.

Georgetown: While JTIII has done a fantastic job recruiting, the loss of Jeff Green will be too much to overcome. Top 15, but not Top 5.

Wazzou: Low is awesome and impossible to root against but I'm not sure this team didn't have a charmed season last year. Maybe it's East Coast bias but I just don't see them as a Top 10 team.

Pittsburgh: Losing Gray, as goofy a bitch as he was, will hurt and Pitt ALWAYS underachieves.

Underrated

Louisville: I really think they are a Top 3 team. They are talented, young and clearly the class of the Big East.

Kansas: Hard to say the #4 team is underrated, but I really do feel this is the preseason #1.

These last two might sound like I'm a homer but here it goes anyway...

NC State: The only question is at 1. Can Degand be an energy leader and keep the turnovers down. We know he can FLY and finish, but can he make his teammates better the way Atsur did. Time will tell, but if he can this is a Top 15 team talent wise and with depth, can finish 2nd in a VERY tough conference.

UConn: I'll get a lot of flak from this but as someone who follows the team VERY closely, they will be a VASTLY improved team. Every single player is back and nearly everyone says the biggest improvement occurs b/t frosh and soph years. Well 4 of their 5 starters are 2nd year players and Jerome Dyson is on the verge of becoming an absolute star. I can see them be a Sweet 16 team if everything falls right, but definitely a Top 25 team...

10/26/2007 11:50:05 AM

I don't see how unc iris as good as they were last year. they had the worst recruiting class in the country, lost a lot and may i remind you how "dominant" they were last year anyway.

1st in the acc is where i would put them because theres no justification to put any other team there but i wouldn't say everybody else is playing for 2nd the way most writers have.

10/26/2007 11:51:46 AM

Don't be surprised if 6-foot-11 Ralph Sampson III of Duluth (Ga.) Northview High School commits to the Gophers within 48 hours. If that happens, coach Tubby Smith's inaugural recruiting class at Minnesota could jump into the top 10 nationally

i can not believe that Ralph Sampson III would commit to Minnesota

My top 2 teams would be
1 - UCLA
2 - Kansas

UCLA has been to back to back final fours

10/26/2007 12:39:04 PM

^^ I agree

My thoughts from the previous page:

Quote :

"I'm not sure why everyone in the media is so willing to concede that Carolina is going to be #1 in the ACC. Are they the best team top to bottom? Yes probably, but the best team doesn't always finish first. And as Carolina fans love to lament, they get everyone's best shot. I can see them losing one to us, one to duke, and probably two other ones they shouldn't lose to someone else in the league. I mean they are Carolina, aka the team that loves to choke. And if we're going by what Gavin Grant promised, we aren't going to lose more than four games all year. I say that w/ tongue in cheek, but still it's not that unbelievable that we or Duke would edge Carolina out in the end. They didn't take first last year, and what have they gained/lost since then? They've gained a walk-on and a transfer and lost a lottery pick, a solid second rounder, and a good 3 point shooter. I don't see one year's worth of experience as making them that much better. I mean Tyler Hansborough was an All-American last year and the year before, so I don't see him being that much better than he already is. And maybe Wayne Ellington will actually play up to his potential this year, but then again maybe not. The same thing could be said about Courtney Fells. Thompson and Stephenson will provide quality minutes inside, but so did Wright and Terry. Basically I see UNC being a little better than last year, and IMO it's going to take more than being a little better to sweep through the conference like all of the sports commentators are predicting. What about the intangibles needed to have a winning team? Does Carolina have those? We weren't the second most talented team (at least in terms of depth) last year in the ACC, yet we took second in the tournament. More goes into a pick than just total team talent. Otherwise Connecticut should have won the tourney two years ago instead of Florida. Here's to hoping State lives up to our own lofty predictions this year. "

10/26/2007 1:37:46 PM

It isn't surprising that sportswriters are picking UNC to finish first in the conference. It is the easy pick, more often then not the easy pick is the way they go because nobody questions it and even if UNC doesn't finish first they'll most likely be 2nd or 3rd, so the writer can just say " see I wasn't that off." Compared to say picking NC State, who could finish first or could finish 10th.

Seems these days more often then not sportswriters just make the easy pick, and don't go out on a limb ever. Almost every preseason sportswriter's football pick was USC vs. Michigan or Oklahoma in the NC game. Nobody calls them out for being way off because they are obvious/logical picks.

10/26/2007 2:02:27 PM

we're going undefeated into the unc game. the buildup's going to be huge. (yeah that includes a win over number 8 michigan state)

i can't wait for this season to get started. shoot, i cant wait for the red-white game!

10/26/2007 3:03:09 PM

UNC lost Wright and Terry

two of their biggest players last year.

Wright beat us that 2nd game by himself, i was at the game and saw it...he was a HUGE piece for them and now he is gone, his fg% is what made them so good, he was clutch.

Terry is gone who was a leader when he was in the zone, when he was on a scoring binge they couldnt be stopped...he was the spark for them no doubt.



I dont see you losing 2 of the most important role players and still being #1, im tempted to say they dont even finish top 3 in the ACC.

10/26/2007 3:09:13 PM

if we dont beat the spread in the national championship this year i'm gonna be pissed

10/26/2007 4:43:03 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

So if this was for real how do you see that bracket turning out. Fearless prediction says NC State meets UCLA and North Carolina meets Tennessee in the Final Four. All of the local press splooges themselves over possible Tobacco Road meeting for the National Championship. Tennessee then goes on to whip North Carolina. NC State hangs around UCLA long enough and eerily beats them in overtime in the Semifinal game just like in 1974. State plays Tennessee in the National Championship game. State wins the national championship by a 9 point margin b/c Tennessee has to foul in the final minute. Everyone shits, figuratively speaking, on Jaybee for a whole year as a result.

Along the way State beats the following teams
Rd. 1 - Vermont (closer then the experts believe due to hot 3 pt shooting by the Catamounts)
Rd. 2 - Syracuse (close for 2/3 of the game but the Orangemen's (i refuse to call them the Orange) only lead comes in the opening minute of the game)
Sweet 16 - Michigan State in a rematch of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (State exacts revenge b/c we have more PG depth than before)
Elite 8 - Louisville (Sid builds a woodshed out back and takes Pitino there to lay a beating on him and his team who escaped a couple of near upsets along the way)

[Edited on October 26, 2007 at 8:41 PM. Reason : ]

10/26/2007 8:32:43 PM

if State played Tennessee in the NC game this place would explode

10/26/2007 8:51:03 PM

if State played Tennessee Carolina in the NC game this place would explode

10/26/2007 9:13:31 PM

ooohhh shit! you showeded me!

10/26/2007 9:18:00 PM

you sir, just got showed.

10/26/2007 10:09:52 PM

Quote :

"if State played Tennessee in the NC game this place would explode "

Fixed it for you.

10/26/2007 10:29:42 PM

Quote :

"if State played Tennessee in the NC game this place would explode"

fixed it for yall

10/27/2007 1:59:34 AM

Wait, what?

I don't think that's fixed.

10/27/2007 2:23:37 AM

.

[Edited on October 27, 2007 at 10:15 AM. Reason : .]

10/27/2007 9:53:33 AM

UNC is overrated because Lawson is too small to play defense, their 2, 3, and 4 are inexperienced, and Hansbrough won't have wright there to cleanup his offensive game. Thompson is alright, but he's not the freakish athlete that Wright was.

They always say that you have to have 3 ridiculous, NBA-type players on your team to go far. Even if you shut down two, the third will break your back. Last year it was Lawson, Wright, and Hansbrough. Who are the 3 this year?

10/27/2007 12:40:43 PM

^well everybody that thinks unc is #1 thinks wayne ellington is one of the best shooting guards in the country

10/27/2007 12:42:16 PM

You know what the State athletic department needs to do? They need to release a DVD box set of some of the greatest State games ever for fans that want to remember or just see those amazing games for the first time. They could have one for football and one for basketball. Perhaps have volumes with the early years (50s and 60s), the 70s, the 80s, the 90s, and 2000s.

I'd love to have the 1974 ACC Final, the 1983 ACC Semifinal against UNC, the 1983 NCAA Final, the game against Wake a few years ago where we came back from the largest deficit in State history to win, the "No. 1 Stunna" game against Duke at home I think the same year as that Wake game, the game in the Dean Dome where CC Harrison goes unconscious from the 3 pt line, and of course the 2007 game against Carolina at home, just to name a few for the basketball collection.

For football I'd want the 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2006 FSU games, the 2003 UVA game, the 2000 GT game, the 2006 BC game, the 1986 South Carolina game, the 1986? game at UNC, the 1967 game against #2 Houston in the Astrodome. Those are just a few.

10/28/2007 8:27:53 PM

when Wright was at UNC most of you said he was horrible, overrated, god awful etc... but now that hes gone "they will miss him"

10/28/2007 8:42:38 PM

prove it.

10/28/2007 8:44:25 PM

Quote :

"well everybody that thinks unc is #1 thinks wayne ellington is one of the best shooting guards in the country"

i don't think anyone with a brain is saying that, and some fairly intelligent people are picking unc first. he has the potential maybe, but he's got a long way to go

10/28/2007 8:46:17 PM

Quote :

"Hansbrough won't have wright there to cleanup his offensive game"

Quote :

"he's not the freakish athlete that Wright was"

10/28/2007 8:47:03 PM

Quote :

"when Wright was at UNC most of you said he was horrible, overrated, god awful etc... but now that hes gone "they will miss him""

I know I didn't think he was horrible. I was always relieved when Roy was a dumbass and took him out, especially when he was hot. Wright could just sit there a few feet from the basket and drop it in b/c of his freakishly long wingspan.

10/28/2007 8:53:08 PM

I agree

10/28/2007 8:53:53 PM

but really... hickson's better =P

10/28/2007 8:57:24 PM

check out the roster for Barton's basketball team

http://www.barton.edu/clint/sports/0.5/display.php?whichsport=3

10/29/2007 1:13:15 AM

hahahaha

10/10.

10/29/2007 1:16:42 AM

God it sucks that my boot camp is gonna be 8 weeks starting on Dec. 19th, no papers, letters, TV, or radio for the whole of the ACC slate

10/29/2007 4:14:00 AM

^^^hahahaha wonder if it was someone on tww

10/29/2007 7:49:16 AM

I thought Wright looked lazy and unmotivated when he was there, as well as being fairly weak for a post player.

But his hook shot was freaking unstoppable.

10/29/2007 3:29:59 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3084568&name=ncbexperts

Top 25? I'm not so sure ...
by: Doug Gottlieb
posted: Monday, October 29, 2007 | Print Entry

We all know that unlike football, college basketball is a game where it will all work itself out on the floor. It should also be noted that last season, the Final Four came from teams ranked in the top eight in the preseason. On the down side, five of the preseason top 20 did not make the Dance.

With that in mind, here are my thoughts on this preseason's Top 25 (with last season's overall record):

1. North Carolina (31-7)
Deon Thompson will never be a top-five NBA pick, but like Tyler Hansbrough, he will be one heck of a college post. But can they shoot the 3? Wayne Ellington seems to be more of a mid-range guy. Ty Lawson is not a quality shooter, but he picks his spots. And Marcus Ginyard is an athlete first, shooter second. Will Bobby Frazor's health stand up and his game reappear from a year hiatus?

2. UCLA (30-6)
As in love with Kevin Love as I am, the loss of Aaron Afflalo -- who seemingly carried this team offensively -- leaves a tremendous burden on Darren Collison, Love and the constantly injured Josh Shipp. No. 2 may be a bit high. If Collison and Love stay and play with Jrue Holiday in 2008, add another banner to Pauley.

3. Memphis (33-4)
Could be No. 1; No. 3 is fine. Do not underestimate the loss of Jeremy Hunt, or the addition of Derrick Rose. But can they stretch the defense? Does it matter?

4. Kansas (33-5)
Brandon Rush may feel like Shelly Long when she came back to Cheers for a guest appearance -- the show did not need her and by January, maybe KU won't need Rush.

5. Georgetown (30-7)
Perfect.

6. Louisville (24-10)
If Chris Berman was blogging about L'ville, he would say that Derrick "No Longer Questionable" Caracter is the key.

7. Tennessee (24-11)
Like the Hoyas, the coaches got the vote right again.

8. Michigan State (23-12)
I love the Spartans' guards but am not yet sold on their posts. No. 8 seems too high.

9. Indiana (21-11)
And Bruce Pearl thought Illinois fans hated him. Wait 'til the Hoosiers (and Eric Gordon) travel there now.

10. Washington State (26-8)
The Cougs will probably be in the top five by Jan. 1 with their only two early-season tests at Baylor and at Gonzaga. But they start Pac-10 play at UW, USC and UCLA. Can you say 0-3? They are recruiting well and Tony Bennett has done a tremendous job, but they are not the 10th-best team in the country.

11. Duke (22-11)
Yes, floor slappers, Kyle Singler is that good. But Duke still has issues at the point and no scoring inside.

12. Marquette (24-10)
We all forget that Jerel McNeal was hurt in last season's NCAA Tournament, and that was why Marquette did not score for the first 14 minutes in the loss to Michigan State. Tom Crean's guards are good if they can make shots, but isn't that the same for everyone?

13. Oregon (29-8)
Bryce Taylor should break out this season, and the Ducks return a ton from last season. But Aaron Brooks hit all the big shots for them last season. With Brooks gone, who will lead? Also, Malik Hairston's "I am going to Carmelo-ize the Pac-10" prediction should be taken as a lesson for all -- it isn't as easy as it looks.

14. (tie) Gonzaga (23-11)
The Zags should be good this season, as should the razing on the road of Josh Heytvelt.

14. (tie) Texas A&M (27-7)
Same problem as Oregon, except the Aggies also lost Antanas Kavaliauskas at the 4. No worries though. Freshman DeAndre Jordan has ridiculous upside.

16. Texas (25-10)
This seems to be the most underrated team to me, especially is Gary Johnson plays. D.J. Augustin is the best (yes, UCLA fans) PG in the land, and Damion James is not too shabby to boot.

17. Arizona (20-11)
It will be really difficult to tell how good this team is because their schedule is sick: five true road games outside of conference play and a stretch of six of eight games on the road in January. Jerryd Bayless and Chase Budinger are the real deal. Will they guard and get some help from others?

18. Southern California (25-12)
Yes, the Trojans lost two draft picks, but Tim Floyd gained two with Davon Jefferson and O.J. Mayo. I think SC may be a little better than this spot by mid-season.

19. Arkansas (21-14)
Patrick Beverley">Patrick Beverley is one of those guys who plays with what we used to call the "foam" -- he plays so hard and fast that he gets a little foam on his mouth like a rabid dog. Love him, and love the Hogs with John Pelphrey.

20. Pittsburgh (29-8)
Let me predict Pitt's season: 25+ wins, a couple of questionable losses, good team, well-coached, second round or Sweet 16.

21. Stanford (18-13)
As long as the Lopez boys don't keep getting in trouble, and no one presses like Louisville did in that first-round blowout loss last season (if I were Trent Johnson, I would destroy all records of that game), the Tree and Co. should be fine.

22. Kentucky (22-12)
Not as good as Stanford? Arizona? Arkansas? UK brings in a proven winner as a coach, Patrick Patterson, Alex Legion and returns Jodie Meeks, Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford. If UK was in the Big Ten, the Wildcats would win the league.

23. Southern Illinois (29-7)
No Jamal Tatum and no Tony Young and still 23rd in the country? Meet the (Randal) Falker is not that good.

24. North Carolina State (20-16)
Anyone else remember how much Engin Atsur did for this team? Seems like lofty expectations considering he is not longer with them.

25. Villanova (22-11)
No Curtis Sumpter, Mike Nardi and Will Sheridan and the Wildcats are still ranked? That just means more shots for Scottie Reynolds, if that is even possible. (bolded b/c we could see them in the OSC)



So what teams are contenders and what teams are pretenders? Here's mine:

ESPN/USA Today Poll
1. North Carolina - contender
2. UCLA - contender
3. Memphis - contender
4. Kansas - contender
5. Georgetown - pretender
6. Louisville - contender
7. Tennessee - contender
8. Michigan State - contender
9. Indiana - pretender
10. Washington State - pretender
11. Duke - pretender
12. Marquette - pretender
13. Oregon - pretender (no more Aaron Brooks)
14. Gonzaga - pretender (get these fucks out of the top 25 )
14. Texas A&M - pretender (no more do everything Acie Law IV and PF Antanas Kavaliauskas)
16. Texas - contender
17. Arizona - pretender
18. USC - pretender
19. Arkansas - pretender
20. Pittsburgh - pretender (I think a lot of people are going off of what they did last year
21. Stanford - pretender (perhaps the biggest pretender of them all; how they even got into the tournament with only 18 wins is beyond me)
22. Kentucky - pretender (next year they may be a contender)
23. Southern Illinois - pretender (good team for a mid-major, but still a mid-major)
24. North Carolina State - dare I say contender
25. Villanova - pretender

[Edited on October 29, 2007 at 6:48 PM. Reason : ]

10/29/2007 6:47:59 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1eSkh973Nc&NR=1

WHEN WE HONGRY WE EAT!

10/29/2007 7:55:00 PM

10/29/2007 8:16:25 PM

^ After the video if you click over on the video menu there's a video about Tennessee men's basketball titled "We're Back" to the tune of Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack". I think Tennessee is a great team this year, but how can one be "back" when the program was never there. You have to have been at or near the top to claim that you are back to being a great program. When State basketball fans claim "The Pack is back" while perhaps not being completely justified (we need to win the ACC, get into the top 10, make a Final Four, etc. to claim being "back"), they at least can claim that State was once there on top. I pull for Tennessee, but I've got to call out the fan that titled that video "We're Back". Has Tennessee ever even won the SEC? I know they claimed the 2005-2006 SEC East Title, but that isn't a huge accomplishment like winning the SEC Tournament.

10/29/2007 8:44:00 PM

haha, I almost posted that one... was going to say the same thing... I guess back from Ernie and Bernie show in the mid to late 70s

10/29/2007 8:52:15 PM

Quote :

"Yes, floor slappers, Kyle Singler is that good."

Sweet, another goofy looking white combo. Color me impressed. He may be awesome but I just can't get McFloperts out of my head. Honestly, how does Duke do it? How do they, year after year, bring in guys that are just so easy to hate on? Even if I tried to be "fair and balanced" when I watch them they are just so unlikable.

I don't think I'll like Singler as much as McSoberts unless he balls his eyes out after a loss IN THE REGULAR SEASON on the bench.

[Edited on October 30, 2007 at 12:36 PM. Reason : x]

10/30/2007 12:35:36 PM

Quote :

"Anyone else remember how much Engin Atsur did for this team"

what an idiot. atsur was healthy 8 games and even then, its not like he was a chris paul/steve nash. Anytime somebody is the only pg and almost only guard on a team he is going to be vital.

10/30/2007 12:46:46 PM