My good friend, the great Steve Parker, asked me an interesting hypothetical question that I would like to kick around today and also on the air.

Here's the question....

In 2017-2108 I would like to see the Vols

A) Make A New Year's Day Six Bowl Game.

B) Make The School's First Ever Final Four In Men's Hoops.

You get one of two choices here..

Which way are you playing this?





It's not an easy question. Reason being that it's been proven that a healthy football program here feeds the entire sports program. Plus, UT football is UT football. Then again, landing in a New Year's Day Six Bowl Game would likely mean that Tennessee makes it to Atlanta in the SEC Title Game. Then again, Tennessee would've made a New Year's Day Six Game if they would've taken care of business at Vandy last season. Therefore, a UT berth in the SEC Championship Game isn't guaranteed under this hypothetical as part of this discussion.


In Support Of A Final Four Appearance: How amazing would it be to see UT have an out of nowhere run to the Final Four? I'm talking about a UT team in 2017-2018 that gets into the tourney, gets hot and makes the BEST RUN IN SCHOOL HISTORY. All this will be done in the greatest sports spectacle on the American sports calendar. Can you imagine how much fun this would be? I'm talking all time fun outside of 1998 in these parts.


In Support of A New Year's Day Six: Most people think like Dr. Sean Sinclair heading into next season. He thinks UT will be something like 8-4 or 7-5 next season. If I'm right and UT has a surprising season and perhaps lands in a New Year's Day Six Bowl Game, this will stabilize the program here. Whether we want to admit it or not, Butch Jones is a fledgling coach here. He will remain in this status absent of a strong and surprising 2017 season. If Tennessee can win this fall to a semi-loud clip this would allow this seemingly strong recruiting class to do it's thing. Sure, we don't consider New Year's Day Six Bowl games here the pinnacle of success, but it sure would stop some of the bleeding.


Conclusion: It's a tough question for me. On one hand I love hoops and this would selfishly be awesome to see UT open up the entire sports calendar to the fringe fan. A berth in one Final Four would put this program on a Florida like collision course. One Final Four berth would undoubtedly lead to another. In order for this to happen, Tennessee has to get a foot in the rung. Then again, UT Football is the big enchilada. We're talking Tennessee Football here. No easy answer to this one. I can't wait to hear what you have today on the radio and the reason why.









Another Item Up For Discussion Today: Should some professionals with conceal and carry permits be allowed to bring weapons to sporting events such as a football game in Neyland Stadium? Link



Tony Basilio Show Producer Brian Hartman has been SMOKIN' HOT with his Hoops & Harm Picks...




Brian...You've been smoking hot....I'm taking this stuff to MP3, Brian and Govbone and all my betting buddies. It's time to do some bidness!









Tee Mail:




Tony: Great hearing from you. The upgrade of coaches in this league continues. LSU broke with recent schools going for veteran coaches with either NBA resumes or CBBHOF credentials. Will Wade is an unknown commodity. I think LSU would've been better served hiring a veteran coach like a Kermit Davis at MTSU who was on John Brady's ultra successful staff there. Another guy that would've made more sense there was Eric Musselman who has recruited and coached Nevada back to relevance. Musselman was on a recent staff there as well and knows the lay of the land. Besides age and inexperience, my other issue with Wade is that he comes from VCU. The next coach that moves up from VCU and succeeds at his next stop will be the first.


Since 2004, VCU has been playing National level ball under Jeff Capel, Anthony Grant and Shaka Smart prior to Will Wade. None of those guys succeeded at their next stop. Now, the jury is still out on Smart but his second season at Texas was a losing campaign. The point is that success at VCU is a flimsy reason to hire a coach. To Wade's credit he was moderately successful at Chattanooga. It's going to be interesting with him there because you're right, his style is going to play with potential recruits in that region. Perry Clark had success and Tulane back in the day by pressing and running. I'll say this for VCU...They've been one of the funnest teams to watch for the past 10 years. Therefore LSU fans should be in for a real treat with Wade. Scott Rabalais is reaching for the moon in his comparison of Will Wade and Dale Brown. Link





I'm feeling you Mid-State Heath on the RIP to Chuck Barris. That guy was a true artist. The Gong Show brought camp to a high art form.

RIP Chuck Barris....


Now, to your compliment of me....are you trying to crack on me???

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