[Lefty Noob]

Vols head coach Bruce Pearl has been named the 2006 Coach of the Year by The Sporting News. The award was one of the publication's year-end hoops honors, as determined by the writers and editors of The Sporting News, that was announced yesterday.

Pearl was named Coach of the Year after guiding his squad to an SEC East title, (12-4, 21-6 overall) and its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2001. With Pearl at the helm, the Volunteers led the conference in six statistical categories, including points (81.7), 3-point field goal percentage (.394), steals (10.26), assist/turnover ratio (1.37), turnover margin (+5.89) and 3-pointers made (8.81).

Source: The Sporting News / Scout.com

[rmjvol]

Wow, wasn't expecting that. Maybe see him as close to the "Coach of the Regular Season Year" but not this.

I think UT basketball is definitely looking up with the way the team did this year. Chris Lofton was named to the same poll's 2nd team list. Let's hope we can win a couple games in the tournament and end up pretty high in the final NCAA basketball rankings when everything is said and done. 2006-2007 season should be a great one for the UT roundball team.

[Who Dey]

He would have had my vote without question if it wasn't for that bright orange jaket. Man, can someone do something about that jacket? I'm still seeing spots from Tennessee's game against Kentucky.

[cjg11582]

Matta, Pearl, and Roy Williams are all in some way deserving. As long as the title was awarded to one of them there really shouldn't be much debate over this. Maybe you can include the guy from UCLA.