Happy New Years….
Holiday Tony B Schedule:
Thursday…Tony Basilio Show live Today 11a Eastern til?
Friday….Tony Basilio Blog featuring Special Communique from Orange Throat on the machinations with Pruitt & Co….No Tony Basilio Show.
Saturday….Garza Law Tennessee Basketball Overtime after Tennessee/Alabama.
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Good Or Bad Sign? 
Tennessee’s upper level brass hasn't said a word to Jeremy Pruitt about his status. Pruitt 'enjoyed' his second day back from his Covid-19 break with the haunting sound of silence from Tennessee's administration. Some assumed that by now (and I think I’m one of them) that Pruitt would've either heard something or would have a meeting set up with Tennessee's higher ups (by now). Neither has occurred as you read this. Is this good news or bad news? I guess if you’re somebody that wants Pruitt to stay (because you like bad football, or you’re a personal friend or whatever the reason) another day of silence could be seen as a good thing. I’m operating under the premise that until I see it I believe Tennessee triumverate of Boyd, Haslam and Plowman aren’t big fans of this goofy coach.
My 10 Day Prediction Isn't Looking Too Good: The inactivity can’t be a good sign for fitting in my window of 10 days from my December 23rd birthday as a point of resolution on this deal. Oh well. As I told you at the time I was shooting in the dark on that one. Back to the drawing board for me. The important thing here for Tennessee is my alleged mind if for Tennessee to be done with this guy at the end of this process. If it drags on past the new year….then Happy New Year!!!
Terrence Lewis ... Not A Take For Tennessee The five star linebacker made news with the word that he’s not coming to Tennessee but instead appears bound for Florida. In all fairness to Tennessee I don’t think Lewis was going to be a take for Tennessee because he’s not worth the risk. That’s the word I’m getting here and I don’t think it’s sour grapes.
Up next is a message from our very own Beano ‘Jeff’ Henderson
On the last several shows some interesting questions about the stability -or lack thereof- of Jeremy Pruitt’s program have been raised. A couple piqued my interest enough to actually do some research.
1-STAFF TURNOVER: I guess for any first-time head coach staff turnover is to be expected but not at the level it’s been seen here. Here’s the breakdown:
LOST FROM 2018 STAFF Tyson Helton: Offensive Coordinator/QBs
Charles Kelly: Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties
Terry Fair: Cornerbacks
LOST FROM 2019 STAFF Chris Rumph: Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside LBs
Kevin Scherrer: Special Teams Coordinator/Inside LBs
David Johnson: Running Backs
Tracy Rocker: Defensive Line
Craig Fitzgerald: Strength and Conditioning
LOST FROM 2020 STAFF Jimmy Brumbaugh: Defensive Line
Will Friend: Offensive Line
The only members of Pruitt’s initial staff that are still employed here are Chris Wienke and Brian Niedermeyer
2. PRUITT NEEDS TIME TO GET HIS OWN PLAYERS. This is a frequent defense of the Pro-Pruitt faction that would like to see him get more time as Tennessee’s Head Football Coach. I looked at the latest depth chart released by the UTAD prior to the Texas A&M game. I think the results refute the above argument.
OFFENSE -25 players listed
-19 recruited by Jeremy Pruitt
-6 recruited by Butch Jones
-4 starters inherited from Butch Jones (TE-Princeton Fant; LT-Jahmir Johnson; LG-Trey Smith; WR-Josh Palmer)
DEFENSE -25 players listed
-20 recruited by Jeremy Pruitt
-5 recruited by Butch Jones
-3 starters inherited from Butch Jones (DE Matthew Butler; Jack LB Deandre Johnson; Star Theo Jackson)
I think the above proves that what we’ve just witnessed IS Pruitt’s program and another recruiting class is unlikely to improve it significantly.
Love you and all the listeners Tony.
Happy New Year
Beano
Beano…That’s awesome stuff…Happy New Year to you….You make this so much fun to be a part of …..On your thoughts on this moribund era of UT football, It should be pointed out that of the original 10 assistants, Chris Wienke has a foot on the way out the door while Brian Niedermeyer is now lawyered up pending this investigation.
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Tennessee Basketball Live Blog/Thoughts….
Early in the game Tennessee flexed on Mizzou going 5-5 from the field at the first TV timeout. Hitting these shots allowed the Vols to stifle Mizzou with a smothering full court press. It was 12-4 early and Mizzou was in trouble.
Keon and Springer go back to back on mid range J’s and it’s 16-4….Gaww…
The first 7 minutes of this game I the best basketball Pons has played since he’s been here.
Springer, Keon, Fulky, Pons & Triple J can really defend when they’re on the floor together. Advanced metrics say that they are one of the most advanced rotations to take the floor since they’ve been tracking this sort of thing.
8:30 to go in the first half and the Vols are up 24-8…Unless Mizzou starts hitting 3’s they might be in real danger of getting run out of the gym.
5:56 to go in first half Fulkerson stings a 3 pointer after his wrist injury was nails. Of course they didn't count it but that's the way it goes in the SEC.
Springer is as impressive as a freshman as we've seen here in a long time. He's a very good two way player for a 17 year old.
Credit Mizzou for hanging around at halftime. If they didn't play hard they could easily be getting run out of the gym in this one.
That was a great offensive first half for the Vols full of great sets.
Second Half: Tennessee with a 7-2 run to start the second half that they're just about pulled the plug on Mizzou. The Tigers are overmatched by Tennessee's numbers. Kudos to Rick Barnes and staff for designing an attack that allowed Tennessee to flourish in the half court. The pressing after baskets was right on time. It's 45-27 with 18 minutes left and Tennessee is about to get on cruise control.
Triple J didn't score until 16:15 to go in the game and the Vols were up 47-31.
If there are 7 teams in America better than these Vols more power to you college hoops.
When Pons goes baseline and jams on people it makes me smile.
Smith's hard pick on Keon Johnson was borderline dirty. Mizzou is beyond frustrated. 13 minutes left and the Vols are up 58-33. Smith's foul would be a fine in the NBA. Interesting seeing Mizzou frustrated and lose their composure like this.
Springer hits a 3 and boom it's 61-33.
Garza Law 5th Quarter Tennessee Basketball Gonna Be Fun Tonight!!!
Pons block after Tennessee's turnover is Rick Barnes hoops in a nutshell ...
I love this team!!!!
T Mail….Choice Voice…. Today is John in Nashville.
Tony B
2020 brought Dark times for me and All of us . Back in March , Baskeball Vols were told No SEC Tourney and your scheduled watch party was done as well . Obviously you had serious health concerns within your family as did I . Covid Stole time from us ! It stole time with family and friends. It also stole sports for a time from us as fans. However, the TB daily show got A lot of us through dark times. Sports, the callers, characters and a sense of community was a Beacon for us all . Thank you Tony and Go Vols !
Thanks John
John:
Great hearing from you…The way I look at this is that this is all reciprocal. Getting through 2020 would’ve been really rough on me if I didn’t have the show and this wonderful audience. I’ll never forget the fun times we had just kicking it back in the summer of 2020 when the entire sports world ceased to exist. It appeared for a while that we weren’t going have football or anything else for that matter from sports. What a strange time.
Happy New YEAR
Tone
