How is no one talking about Bearden!?

[Jesus Is Lord]

Nobody outside of Bearden High School and their fans will be rooting for the bull dogs. They are arrogant and really have zero class. They have ran up the score on too many people over the last two years to get any respect from other East Tennessee basketball fans. I saw Blake Jenkins get into a verbal altercation with the Oak Ridge coach the other night. It was completely initiated by Jenkins too. It's really sad that Blevins lets this kind of behavior go on. Looks like the indians are running that reservation, not the chief. I hope White Station or Ridgeway drops the hammer on them.

[Tnbreakers]

What goes around comes around! These things have a way of working themselves out! I agree with ETCoach, how could they struggle with Farragut. Long and tough road, capable and hopefully not reading their headlines!

[rebelpride007]

I agree that Blevins doesn't really have any control over his players this year, but if he wins this way then I bet he'll take it bc he's never won state being the control nazi he usually is. Ppl who think Blevins doesn't care about how his kids act are ignorant, he might be the most controlling coach in the state. It doesn't matter who you are, if you get T'd up, get in trouble in school, or have a lazy practice he'll sit ur a ss.

[tennessee22]

bearden is going to win state!! hands down!! nobody has the depth of them. they have all the right mixtures. coach b is hard on his players, like he sit Jenkins in the first quarter of farragut region semi final game. also bearden struggled with farragut because they previously beat them by 43 and 20. that game wasnt a rivalry game to them anymore. but when bearden focuses like they did oak ridge, first farragut, and austin east game then noone in state can beat them!!!!

[tennessee22]

Bearden might not have the best guards but they're good and can play defense unlike any Memphis players.

[coachinhoops]

Have you seen any Memphis teams play defense? Do you know how good Joe Jackson is? He is rated as one of the top 10 players in the country as a Junior. Nobody can guard him. Not just nobody from Bearden...NOBODY! I hope you are right about the bulldogs being that good, but don't make statements that Bearden defends and Memphis teams don't. That is just asinine.

[HOOPSGURU]

Bearden might not have the best guards but they're good and can play defense unlike any Memphis players.

 

 

 

You're being silly!

[watsontn]

I agree with ETCoach, how could they struggle with Farragut.

 

Because Farragut finally figured out they had to play zone and has the size and enough quickness to match up. They played them even the last 3 quarters of the second game and finally realized they could play with them. Farragut beat Science Hill in the beginning of the year (before they got "coached up") and gave Walker Valley their only loss so they were a pretty good balanced team when their bigs weren't in constant foul trouble.

 

It's all about matchups. Is there a Memphis team that has enough size to match up with Simpson, Parker, Craig, and has superior quickness? Plus what are the odds that Blevins will have another melt down like last years DB sectional loss? In the Farragut game Bearden was definitely better when they played the big 5 more.

[JodyJoe]

.....Foolishness! Melrose and Whtie Station have enough size to compete with Bearden. No one on Bearden can stop Joe Jackson. Hollins won't be an easy match up either. Melrose is the most talented team in the State, but they might not even MAKE IT! Why? Because they face Raleigh who's not the biggest, but the quickest and one of the most exprienced teams in the State. Raleigh has excellent Coaching and Anthony Jones is the best player you don't know. Tank Brown is no slouch either.

 

How dare you say Memphis teams can't defend! Melrose probably has the best press around. Jackson, Hollins, Green, Coleman, and Burton form a very sound perimeter defensive unit. Ferrakhon, Marvin, and another 6'9 player know how to keep someone out of the paint.

 

Keep in mind, this is the same Bulldog team that only beat Briarcrest by 3? BCS isn't even a top 10 team in Memphis this year.

 

Fear you better come in here and get your allies!

[MidTennFootball]

.....Foolishness! Melrose and Whtie Station have enough size to compete with Bearden. No one on Bearden can stop Joe Jackson. Hollins won't be an easy match up either. Melrose is the most talented team in the State, but they might not even MAKE IT! Why? Because they face Raleigh who's not the biggest, but the quickest and one of the most exprienced teams in the State. Raleigh has excellent Coaching and Anthony Jones is the best player you don't know. Tank Brown is no slouch either.

 

How dare you say Memphis teams can't defend! Melrose probably has the best press around. Jackson, Hollins, Green, Coleman, and Burton form a very sound perimeter defensive unit. Ferrakhon, Marvin, and another 6'9 player know how to keep someone out of the paint.

 

Keep in mind, this is the same Bulldog team that only beat Briarcrest by 3? BCS isn't even a top 10 team in Memphis this year.

 

Fear you better come in here and get your allies!

 

 

By no means am I saying that Memphis teams cant defend, but the ability to press and the ability to defend are 2 enitrely different things. Alot of teams can press well and use it as their defacto offense, but when they come up against a team that is prepared for it, they can be exposed. Again, I am not saying Memphis follows under this, but there is a difference.

[JodyJoe]

From what I've seen Melrose is the only team that really just presses. White Station and Raleigh will be able to defend in the half-court. Too much speed, quickness, and athleticism not to be able to.

[MidTennFootball]

From what I've seen Melrose is the only team that really just presses. White Station and Raleigh will be able to defend in the half-court. Too much speed, quickness, and athleticism not to be able to.

 

 

Those are greats things to have on the defensive end, but for a team to be good-great on the defensive they most importantly have to show some discipline. Ive seen teams that are pretty quick, but use bad form, just trying to rely on their athleticism to make a stop. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.