Tucker and Dunbar

#1

RedDirtRoadVol

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#1
It was nice to see Jannah finally get on the floor yesterday. But with nine players already in the rotation (some who got a few extra minutes yesterday after Jones left the game), whose minutes are going to be reduced to find Tucker more playing time?

Also, poor Kortney Dunbar, I know it's early but is she the second coming of Sydney Smallbone who only plays during mop up time? She was recruited as a wing player and 3-point specialist; yet esterday they had her playing in the post. I know she is 6'2" but like Nia Moore she doesn't have any meat on her bones to mix it up down low. The team is obviously in need of some consistent three-point shooting...at 40% (10-25) she is 2nd on the team in this category to Ariel at 45% (22-49). I am guessing that it is her defense that is preventing her from getting more playing time -- too weak to play in the post, and too slow to stick close to the guards. With that being said, I would at least like to she her play whenever we are playing zone D or being zoned on O.

Overall, with a Net +1 joining the team next season (ADDING Mercedes, DD, Te'a, MeMe; LOSING: Izzy, Cierra, Ariel), playing time is only going to get tighter. IN short, someone's playing time outlook is going to be even worse next season. So unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me to see someone VOLUNTEER to leave the team.
 
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#2
#2
It was nice to see Jannah finally get on the floor yesterday. But with nine players already in the rotation (some who got a few extra minutes yesterday after Jones left the game), whose minutes are going to be reduced to find Tucker more playing time?

Also, poor Kortney Dunbar, I know it's early but is she the second coming of Sydney Smallbone who only plays during mop up time? She was recruited as a wing player and 3-point specialist; yet esterday they had her playing in the post. I know she is 6'2" but like Nia Moore she doesn't have any meat on her bones to mix it up down low. The team is obviously in need of some consistent three-point shooting...at 40% (10-25) she is 2nd on the team in this category to Ariel at 45% (22-49). I am guessing that it is her defense that is preventing her from getting more playing time -- too weak to play in the post, and too slow to stick close to the guards. With that being said, I would at least like to she her play whenever we are playing zone D or being zoned on O.

Overall, with a Net +1 joining the team next season (ADDING Mercedes, DD, Te'a, MeMe; LOSING: Izzy, Cierra, Ariel), playing time is only going to get tighter. IN short, someone's playing time outlook is going to be even worse next season. So unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me to see someone VOLUNTEER to leave the team.

If it happens it happens but hopefully playing time will be granted on performance and not some arbitrary notion. Also, I could easily see Dunbar transitioning to a 4 with her height. We need 4 and 5's.
 
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#3
#3
Also, I could easily see Dunbar transitioning to a 4 with her height.

If the coaching staff can not develop post players who were recruited as post players, what makes you think that could transform a player recruited as a wing to a post player?
 
#7
#7
Why force a square peg into a round hole? Besides, the team has a desperate need for a consistent three-point shooter. Either give her a chance or cut bait!

There are a lot of 4's in the game like a Stewart for UCONN who can post up and also go outside and knock down a three. I think Dunbar can post up because we saw her do it in a couple of games. Also, she was recruited as a guard but grew 4 inches from junior year in HS to now. We need a good passing, outside shooting, smart 4.
 
#8
#8
The thing that kills me about Holly sometimes is you have a player like Carter who is giving us nothing right now. You could sit her and give Dunbar or Tucker her minutes and get more productivity.
 
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#9
#9
It is hard to understand what is going on with Carter. Coming into this season she was a career 45 percent shooter. She is shooting 30 this year and several of her shots haven't even hit the rim. I need to see Tucker play defense before I determine her value to the team. Dunbar is definitely a great offensive shooter her defense is very bad.
Carter does a good job on defense she creates a lot of possessions for us with her steals and deflections. She leads the team in steals.
 
#10
#10
There are twelve members of the Lady Vols which ones of them are performing up to your expectation game in and game out? each five minute period, each possession.

For every compliment a player gets from many of you there are many, many more negative responses on your opinion of their play. I wonder if any of you such posters ever raised young children, or adult children using the same approach.

Dunbar is a freshman needing to be able to defend the wing, stop baseline penetration. If you noticed that Stanford had their posts attempting threes from the wings and if Dunbar has time in the post she will present a play option we've not seen from that position.

Go LVs and happy holidays
 
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#11
#11
I must admit, I did not watch the second half...so boring. However, I am sorry I missed Jannah's appearance. However, today, I did happen to turn on SEC and just so happened, the second half of the game was well underway. When Jannah entered the game, much applause was given, as should be. After seeing her run the court, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She is not ready for primetime. She limps down the court and lateral movement is nill. Bless your heart, young lady, I only hope your future is brighter.
 
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#12
#12
The thing that kills me about Holly sometimes is you have a player like Carter who is giving us nothing right now. You could sit her and give Dunbar or Tucker her minutes and get more productivity.

Carter is giving us great defense. Even though her offense has been horrible, she is one of our best defenders. Dunbar should get more minutes because we need someone to shoot the 3ball but she can't defend.
 
#13
#13
Carter is giving us great defense. Even though her offense has been horrible, she is one of our best defenders. Dunbar should get more minutes because we need someone to shoot the 3ball but she can't defend.

EXACTLY! It would be great if Carter found her shot (and that will be needed as the season goes on) but right now, this team is quite nicely building a new identity as a pressing, defensive and gritty team. Carter exemplifies that spirit. She can guard on the perimeter and crash the boards.

Sometimes, I wonder if the board critics are actually watching the game or thinking about the overall team chemistry mix when saying bench this player and let the freshman get seasoned!

If the board "coaches" had their way, Burdick would have seen no minutes in the last games and if anyone noticed, she has been crucial to these wins.

Why is everyone so concerned about freshman minutes? These players know when they come to the LVs program, that they may have to wait their turn to get major minutes. [i.e., Izzy did not see many minutes her freshman year but came back as much improved player in year 2]

The coaches see these players everyday in practice and the know who is ready to play defense and handle the pressure.

Dunbar needs development time. It is silly to start lamenting "oh where is she ever going to play." She could come back next season be an entirely different player. She might make significant before the season ends. But right now, she is not quite ready for prime time. She is a little behind the curve on Nared and Middleton (both who looked pretty tight against Stanford) but that can change.
 
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#14
#14
Carter is giving us great defense. Even though her offense has been horrible, she is one of our best defenders. Dunbar should get more minutes because we need someone to shoot the 3ball but she can't defend.

Carter is a good defender but I've watched Dunbar defend the few minutes she gets into games because I've seen people say that and she stays on her assignment well and no one seems to score on her. They don't dribble by her either. Don't see where the Dunbar can't defend comes from?
 
#15
#15
Also, I agree Dunbar is just a freshman but we need people to shoot threes in games. Ariel is the only one who is getting playing time who has shown she can shoot threes. I don't want Holly to coach three shooting out of these players.
 
#16
#16
I must admit, I did not watch the second half...so boring. However, I am sorry I missed Jannah's appearance. However, today, I did happen to turn on SEC and just so happened, the second half of the game was well underway. When Jannah entered the game, much applause was given, as should be. After seeing her run the court, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She is not ready for primetime. She limps down the court and lateral movement is nill. Bless your heart, young lady, I only hope your future is brighter.

Yeah, she is not there physically yet. Maybe another year. She must have had a pretty bad ACL.
 
#17
#17
Dunbar's defensive liabilities are due to her lack of lateral quickness. This is an area where players can improve. She is never going to be Shannon Bobbitt but she needs to get better or players will exploit her on the perimeter.

She is fine against Oral Roberts but againsts Stanford and Rutgers caliber players, it would have been ugly.

I agree that the lack of three point shooting is a problem. Middleton needs to get better. Uncontested air balls in big games are just not acceptable but she could grow into a Shanna Zolman role
 
#18
#18
It is tough for a girl who is 6-2 with her size to try to defend a guard. That is why I think put her at the 4. I think she would be a great 4. Superior ball skills and passing ability. And, can go outside and shoot.
 
#19
#19
Dunbar's defensive liabilities are due to her lack of lateral quickness. This is an area where players can improve. She is never going to be Shannon Bobbitt but she needs to get better or players will exploit her on the perimeter.

She is fine against Oral Roberts but againsts Stanford and Rutgers caliber players, it would have been ugly.

I agree that the lack of three point shooting is a problem. Middleton needs to get better. Uncontested air balls in big games are just not acceptable but she could grow into a Shanna Zolman role

Agree and that's y i said that Dunbar defense needs to improve bc of her lateral quickness. Nared has the same issue.
 
#20
#20
Nared plays better defense than most of the freshman and Burdick but she just young.
 
#21
#21
If it happens it happens but hopefully playing time will be granted on performance and not some arbitrary notion. Also, I could easily see Dunbar transitioning to a 4 with her height. We need 4 and 5's.

Exactly, like you can really play 14 players for 40 minutes, and it expect Holly to do so is crazy, Dunbar has two years to develop her game. Second cominh of Abby and Sidney.

Tucker looked anxious last night, she has to find her rhythm, but her one shot attempt looked nice.
96
 
#23
#23
Tucker hasn't played in two years. She didn't play her senior year of high school, did she? I don't think she is even close to ready for high-level collegiate basketball. She will need all this year just to get acclimated to the college game.

RE Dunbar: Warlick mentioned the other day during an interview that she was not ready defensively. I haven't seen her much but it looks like she might have some quickness issues. We do need outside shooting, but you've got to bring more to the table that shoot threes--although sometimes Massengale doesn't do much more than shoot threes, frankly. Zolman was a one-dimensional three-point shooter for us a few years back, but overall she was not a good basketball player--very limited athletically.
 
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#24
#24
RE Dunbar: Warlick mentioned the other day during an interview that she was not ready defensively. I haven't seen her much but it looks like she might have some quickness issues. We do need outside shooting, but you've got to bring more to the table that shoot threes--although sometimes Massengale doesn't do much more than shoot threes, frankly. Zolman was a one-dimensional three-point shooter for us a few years back, but overall she was not a good basketball player--very limited athletically.

So you're in agreement that most likely that Kortney Dunbar, is the second coming of Sydney Smallbone who only plays during mop up time? Posters who think speed and quickness are can be significantly improved are dreaming...you either have it or your don't.
 

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