Post by kaygee on Mar 28, 2005 14:00:57 GMT -6
Pearl thinks trapping style will work in SECBy Andy Katz, ESPN.com
Andy Katz Archive
Coach Bruce Pearl, who led Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the Sweet 16, took the Tennessee job because he's convinced the SEC hasn't seen the likes of his pressing and trapping style.
Pearl told ESPN.com over the weekend that he could bring a different element to the SEC – one that was successful for him in the Horizon League.
The last coach to run something similar was former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson. Pearl's style isn't 40 minutes of hell, but he does offer a unique style compared to the rest of the league.
The key question is, can he orchestrate it at Tennessee? The Vols need a style that will get the attention of fans and fill a spacious arena.
Tennessee is banking on Pearl's recent success to win people over. It's not a bad idea, considering Pearl got plenty of play during the Panthers' run to the Sweet 16.
Pearl had the backing of former Tennessee great Ernie Grunfeld, with whom he became good friends while Grunfeld was the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks (he's now the Washington Wizards' general manager). Pearl also got a push from David and Dana Pump, who were part of a consulting group that helped Tennessee in the search, as well as former NCAA president Cedric Dempsey.
The last SEC team to hire a hot hand from the NCAA Tournament was Arkansas. The Razorbacks tabbed Stan Heath after he took Kent State to the Elite Eight in his first season there three years ago.
The difference is that Heath had only been a head coach for one season. Heath is getting close to turning Arkansas around and needs to get into the NCAA Tournament next year. Meanwhile, Pearl has been a longtime successful coach at D-II Southern Indiana and most recently with UWM, reaching the NCAAs in two of the past three seasons.
When Tennessee went with Pearl, they decided to leave Charlotte's Bobby Lutz at the altar. But that's Charlotte's gain as much as Tennessee's loss. Lutz has been a major hit at Charlotte and should continue to take the 49ers to the NCAAs, but this time out of the Atlantic 10 instead of Conference USA.
Lutz didn't politic for the job, and he shouldn't have had to, considering he's one of the best coaches in the country who maximizes his talent.
Andy Katz Archive
Coach Bruce Pearl, who led Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the Sweet 16, took the Tennessee job because he's convinced the SEC hasn't seen the likes of his pressing and trapping style.
Pearl told ESPN.com over the weekend that he could bring a different element to the SEC – one that was successful for him in the Horizon League.
The last coach to run something similar was former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson. Pearl's style isn't 40 minutes of hell, but he does offer a unique style compared to the rest of the league.
The key question is, can he orchestrate it at Tennessee? The Vols need a style that will get the attention of fans and fill a spacious arena.
Tennessee is banking on Pearl's recent success to win people over. It's not a bad idea, considering Pearl got plenty of play during the Panthers' run to the Sweet 16.
Pearl had the backing of former Tennessee great Ernie Grunfeld, with whom he became good friends while Grunfeld was the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks (he's now the Washington Wizards' general manager). Pearl also got a push from David and Dana Pump, who were part of a consulting group that helped Tennessee in the search, as well as former NCAA president Cedric Dempsey.
The last SEC team to hire a hot hand from the NCAA Tournament was Arkansas. The Razorbacks tabbed Stan Heath after he took Kent State to the Elite Eight in his first season there three years ago.
The difference is that Heath had only been a head coach for one season. Heath is getting close to turning Arkansas around and needs to get into the NCAA Tournament next year. Meanwhile, Pearl has been a longtime successful coach at D-II Southern Indiana and most recently with UWM, reaching the NCAAs in two of the past three seasons.
When Tennessee went with Pearl, they decided to leave Charlotte's Bobby Lutz at the altar. But that's Charlotte's gain as much as Tennessee's loss. Lutz has been a major hit at Charlotte and should continue to take the 49ers to the NCAAs, but this time out of the Atlantic 10 instead of Conference USA.
Lutz didn't politic for the job, and he shouldn't have had to, considering he's one of the best coaches in the country who maximizes his talent.