Caldwell shares comments about portal, signees

#1

kamoshika

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#1
"We had to do it quickly," Caldwell said of her staff's portal recruiting. "I am really pleased with the work that we put in over three weeks. We wanted to make sure that we constructed our roster in a way that balanced each other, that we had players that could fit in multiple roles and could shoot the ball. The biggest thing is we wanted to recruit heart and people that wanted to work hard and people that knew what was at stake. We really tried to hammer that home in our visits of how hard it was going to be and see if they were up to the challenge, and they all were."

"I think it's pretty clear that we chased production and players that produced, and obviously some things translate better when you jump in levels," Caldwell said. "When you look at three-point shooting, the three-point line doesn't move back. You obviously check out the film, numbers, stats across the board."

* HARISSOUM COULIBALY (5-10, So., G, Paris, France/S3 Academy (Va.)/Auburn)
"Harissoum Coulibaly is an extreme athlete who will thrive in our defensive system. She is a downhill player who will push pace for us, offensively, and she joins us with proven scoring ability in the SEC."

* ZHEN CRAFT (6-2, So., F, Waldorf, Md./Bishop McNamara H.S./Georgia)
"Zhen Craft is a passionate player with a huge upside. With the freedom she will have here, offensively, I know she will grow tremendously. She is a proven player in the SEC, and I cannot wait to coach her."

* JADA EADS (5-7, Jr., G, Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep H.S./Seton Hall)
"Jada Eads is a dynamic playmaker who is ready to lead us on the offensive and defensive ends. Her defensive presence will be challenging for our opponents. She is hungry to get back on the court and will work relentlessly to get there."

* KENNEDY FAUNTLEROY (5-7, R-Sr., G, Upper Marlboro, Md./New Hope Academy/Georgetown/Okla. St./Ariz. St./ECU)
"Kennedy Fauntleroy brings tenacity and fire to our point guard position. Her pace and pressure will impact us immediately. She will fill up the stat sheet on both ends of the floor by finding shooters in transition and getting steals in the full court."

* FATMATA "FATS" JANNEH (6-2, Sr., F, London, England/Barking Abbey Sixth Form/St. Peter's/Texas A&M)
"Fatmata Janneh brings a huge personality and a blue-collar mentality to Tennessee. She is one of the best rebounders in the country, and our fans will absolutely love her."

* RILEY MAKALUSKY (6-2, Sr., F, Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern H.S./Butler/West Virginia)
"Riley Makalusky is an efficient scorer with great shooting ability. Her length and size paired with her NCAA Tournament experience will propel us forward immediately."

* AVERY MILLS (5-9, Jr., G, Lynchburg, Va./Lynchburg H.S./Liberty)
"Avery Mills brings toughness, leadership and sharp shooting that will translate to the SEC immediately. She is a great player and an even better person. Her impact on our team will be great, both on and off the floor."

* GABBY MINUS (6-1, Fr., G/F, Dacula, Ga./Hebron Christian Academy)
"Gabby Minus is a tough-nosed, hard-working player who will come in as a freshman and have a lasting impact. Her passion and love for the University of Tennessee are contagious. I am really excited about coaching Gabby."

* AALIYAH MOORE (6-1, R-Sr., F, Moore, Okla./Moore H.S./Texas)
"Aaliyah Moore has a grit and toughness about her that are invaluable. Her experience playing in the SEC as well as having history with the NCAA Tournament will be huge for us once we get into conference play. I'm excited for her to take a huge step this season."

* IRENE OBOAVWODUO (5-10, Fr., G, Manchester, England/Trinity Church of England H.S.)
"Irene Oboavwoduo brings professional basketball experience and is considered a rising star of basketball at the national level in Great Britain. We are excited for her to get here. Her play-making ability and size on the perimeter will serve her well in the SEC."

* HARPER PETERSON (6-3, R-So., F, Rocklin, Calif./Whitney H.S./Stanford)
"Harper Peterson is a player who will affect the ball on both ends of the floor. Her shot making ability paired with her length on the defensive end will be a huge value for us."

* KAYLENE SMIKLE (6-0, R-Sr., G, Bay Shore, N.Y./Westtown H.S./Rutgers/Maryland)
"Kaylene Smikle is an elite scorer and a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection. She can score in a variety of ways and will be a match-up problem for opponents."

* SHAELYN STEELE (5-6, Jr., G, Ashland, Ky./Russell H.S./Penn State)
"Shae Steele is an athletic guard and an elite defender. She will fit in perfectly in our press defense and will cause chaos all over the floor. She plays extremely hard, and our fans will love her."

* RYLIE THEUERKAUF (5-9, Sr., G, Tenafly, N.J./Tenafly H.S./Wake Forest/Georgia)
"Rylie Theuerkauf is a proven SEC player and one of the best shooters in the country. She has so much more to her game that I cannot wait for her to showcase this season. She brings an intense, competitive mindset that our fans will enjoy."

* NAOMI WHITE (5-9, R-So., G, Omaha, Neb./Bellevue West H.S./Grand Canyon/Northern Arizona)
"Naomi White was one of the most prolific scorers in the country as a freshman last season. She is able to score in a multitude of ways that will translate to our offensive scheme perfectly."

Caldwell Shares Comments About Portal, Lady Vol Signees - University of Tennessee Athletics
 
#2
#2
It's surreal to watch an entirely new team, essentialy, appear out of thin air. I really can't pin any emotions to it. Never really experienced it, not even in AAU (and AAU certainly can be transitional some years, but even then you normally have a few foundational players ... ).

Just - bam - here's the team.

At the same, I'm incredibly glad the coaches were able to assemble an entire roster considering where they were two months ago. Here's hoping they really are all up for the challenge. Nothing but opportunity ahead for them, from the coach's seat all the way to the end of the bench.
 
#4
#4
It's surreal to watch an entirely new team, essentialy, appear out of thin air. I really can't pin any emotions to it. Never really experienced it, not even in AAU (and AAU certainly can be transitional some years, but even then you normally have a few foundational players ... ).

Just - bam - here's the team.
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#8
#8
Serious question NOT to stir up stuff, but because I genuinely don’t know the answer:

Has any other program ever lost every single player from the previous season, or did the Tennessee Lady Vols program set a record? I know Fennely/Iowa State lost a lot this year.
Pepperdine last year, that I know of. In mens basketball Miami (FL) also last season. There may be other cases, idk.
 
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#9
#9
I don't think you can compare what happened to this year's LADY VOLS to anything that has ever happened before in COLLEGE BASKETBALL. Other teams have had drastic turnover before, but never like what happened, and the way it happened, to TENESSEE. Behind the scenes, this has been a remarkable transformation. The whole PSYCHOLOGY of the TEAM has been transformed in only three weeks. I know I have never seen this before.
 
#10
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Serious question NOT to stir up stuff, but because I genuinely don’t know the answer:

Has any other program ever lost every single player from the previous season, or did the Tennessee Lady Vols program set a record? I know Fennely/Iowa State lost a lot this year.

Syracuse had this happen when the Hillsman thing went down.
 
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#11
#11
....Behind the scenes, this has been a remarkable transformation. The whole PSYCHOLOGY of the TEAM has been transformed in only three weeks. I know I have never seen this before.
That's a great point. They've done a great job. I'm really excited for the new players/teammates.
 
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#12
There have been a few schools where the new coach got rid of pretty much everyone and rebuilt from scratch. But having a whole team leave after a season, when many still had eligibility? No, I’ve not heard of that.
 
#15
#15
Everyone seem to be under the belief that the players just left on their own. I'm not so sure Kim didn't meet them at the door with their bags packed along with a bus ticket home. Watching some games last year sure had me thinking, they can't really be this bad. Is someone paying them to play this bad... 🤷‍♂️
Someone finally said it
 
#16
#16
There's an old critique of event-oriented evangelistic spectacles that "what you win them with is what you win them to."

Last spring, CKC communicated to her new recruiting staff what she was looking for. Coach Lazo--a terrific personality with the SEC recruiting experience that CKC didn't have--went out and landed some of the top talent that matched the profile, in character, preferred playing style, on court capabilities, speed, length, etc. Looked like a dream team.

I've wondered in retrospect if where we missed on the "personal resiliency & grit" factor might have happened in the sales pitch... if maybe they were "sold" on a Tennessee Lady Vol experience, and a vision of what they could achieve by their sheer accumulation of talent?

I also wonder if CKC might have become more concerned with the question (also beyond her experience) of how that much individual talent could be unified into a close team while sharing so much playing time? I wonder if there might have been an (over-?) emphasis on "what y'all can achieve together" to encourage that team building.

For whatever reason, the starkest difference between now and this time last year appears to be the sales pitch.

The (surprisingly controversial) chip-on-the-shoulder internal motivation has been added to the LV character rubric. The opportunity to represent the Lady Vols was anti-sold this year. You've gotta want to prove who you are, and do whatever it takes to prove that you've earned the right to play on this stage.
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Yeah... I don't think there was a lot of "hang another banner and hang with Candace" in the sales pitch this year. ;)
 
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#18
#18
It's surreal to watch an entirely new team, essentialy, appear out of thin air. I really can't pin any emotions to it. Never really experienced it, not even in AAU (and AAU certainly can be transitional some years, but even then you normally have a few foundational players ... ).

Just - bam - here's the team.

At the same, I'm incredibly glad the coaches were able to assemble an entire roster considering where they were two months ago. Here's hoping they really are all up for the challenge. Nothing but opportunity ahead for them, from the coach's seat all the way to the end of the bench.
This is not meant as a criticism of your comment Voltopia, nor as a critique of CKC, but let’s not get too far ahead. CKC has done an incredible job of filling a complete roster with what seems like a fair amount of talent. But, I don’t think we can call this a TEAM yet. That will take time and chemistry and maybe the eye of a toad. The best of luck to all coaches, and players!
Go Vols!
 
#19
#19
This is not meant as a criticism of your comment Voltopia, nor as a critique of CKC, but let’s not get too far ahead. CKC has done an incredible job of filling a complete roster with what seems like a fair amount of talent. But, I don’t think we can call this a TEAM yet. That will take time and chemistry and maybe the eye of a toad. The best of luck to all coaches, and players!
Go Vols!
At least they were all targeted recently and MAY function as a team, for sure the last group could not.

Gotta believe all 15 ladies are bought in to the 94 feet for 40 minute gameplan. Could not be a secret. Lots of green lights I bet.

Projecting or posturing either way would be nuts.

Really looking forward to summer gatherings called by the squad. Love some leadership to be exhibited.
 
#21
#21
At least they were all targeted recently and MAY function as a team, for sure the last group could not.

Gotta believe all 15 ladies are bought in to the 94 feet for 40 minute gameplan. Could not be a secret. Lots of green lights I bet.

Projecting or posturing either way would be nuts.

Really looking forward to summer gatherings called by the squad. Love some leadership to be exhibited.
Hopefully there will be a few bonding trips into the hills. Nothing like a dip into a cold 🥶 holler stream to clear one’s mind.
 
#22
#22
The opportunity to represent the Lady Vols was anti-sold this year.
Not sure about this one aspect of your thoughtful post. Several talked about the Lady Vol history on their visit, and everyone is reading Sum It Up. Seems like representing the Tennessee tradition is still a significant aspect.
 
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#23
#23
Everyone seem to be under the belief that the players just left on their own. I'm not so sure Kim didn't meet them at the door with their bags packed along with a bus ticket home. Watching some games last year sure had me thinking, they can't really be this bad. Is someone paying them to play this bad... 🤷‍♂️

You have no idea. I don't either. But believe what you will.

It is time to stop blaming last years team.
 
#25
#25
Serious question NOT to stir up stuff, but because I genuinely don’t know the answer:

Has any other program ever lost every single player from the previous season, or did the Tennessee Lady Vols program set a record? I know Fennely/Iowa State lost a lot this year.
The LSU men's team lost their entire roster this year with their coaching change to Will Wade
 

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