2024 Transfer Portal
- Thread starter Volfan2012
- Start date
- Status
Volfan2012
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2012
- Messages
- 33,616
- Likes
- 60,535
2023-24 women’s basketball transfer portal tracker - The Next
The transfer portal is here to stay in women's basketball. Keep track of everyone who enters and where they land.
www.thenexthoops.com
I think we are definitely in on Ruby Whitehorn and she is a player I would love to see in Knoxville. Already productive but has a ton of potential, very much reminds me of Horston. She and Cooper would make quite the duo from the guard spot.
Running Cooper, Spear, Whitehorn, Puckett/Hollingshed and TK would be a nice look. Whitehorn and Cooper would give us more speed on the perimeter than we have had in a long time.
Running Cooper, Spear, Whitehorn, Puckett/Hollingshed and TK would be a nice look. Whitehorn and Cooper would give us more speed on the perimeter than we have had in a long time.
So far there really isn’t a player like that in the portal outside of Scott from Arkansas. I don’t think we see as many P5 top players transferring this season.
What I would love to happen is for Silva to recommit from VT to Tennessee.
As I’ve mentioned I’m more a fan of balance. I do think with Jackson gone we see a more balanced scoring approach again. Kellie’s best teams at MO State had very balanced scoring. She went away from that the last couple seasons just due to personnel with Jackson being such a dominant scorer.
If we could get 12 a piece from each guard and 15 from Puckett I think we are in a good spot. I expect to see Puckett getting a lot of the shots Jackson got last season.
We could also stand to look for some defense in the portal and Whitehorn fits that bill also. She’s quick with a good motor.
Our defense this season was atrocious on the perimeter most of the time. We have got to have some quicker, healthier players on the perimeter who can keep their player in front.
After Powell’s injury was disclosed it made a lot of sense. I think other teams were well aware she wasn’t 100% because they attacked her off the bounce any chance they got. Her lateral quickness evaporated this season.
Our defense this season was atrocious on the perimeter most of the time. We have got to have some quicker, healthier players on the perimeter who can keep their player in front.
After Powell’s injury was disclosed it made a lot of sense. I think other teams were well aware she wasn’t 100% because they attacked her off the bounce any chance they got. Her lateral quickness evaporated this season.
Last edited:
Absolutely.
The goal was balance this year. No one would have turned down more help for RJ. Many think she actually should have gotten more shots. Problem was no one else proved to be able to consistently score against the best teams and that was never bc they were discouraged from trying. Either someone is going to have to develop into that kind of scorer or we're going to have to find one. Otherwise I see those dreaded long periods when we are unable to score. Espec against the best teams.
It is, of course, debatable but I maintain many of the guards struggles are due to poor coaching. We just do not have enough movement in our offense and they allow themselves to be guarded.
Spear in particular, that was the scout on her this season. If you just stand close to her and half deny her the ball she is NOT going to work to get open. That has to change for next season.
To me that’s something the coach has to address with the player, and maybe they were, but it sure doesn’t make it to the floor. So there is a disconnect there. Just like with the turnovers, we hear one thing and see another, it’s just not a priority for this staff or it would be better disciplined.
I think Coach Sam burns bridges with recruits too fast. I don’t like how she unfollows them on all socials as soon as they choose another school. In this day and age I think you just have to say congratulations and leave that door wide open.
With the transfer portal and coaching changes you can’t be burning bridges like that.
With the transfer portal and coaching changes you can’t be burning bridges like that.
However it happens, IMO if one or two current players don't develop into consistent scorers or we don't get one from the portal, we're going to struggle mightily next year. Looks like our D could be much better with the improved quickness, and it better be better. Hope I'm wrong, but our scoring potential against elite defenses does not look great to me.
Volfan2012
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2012
- Messages
- 33,616
- Likes
- 60,535
Certainly consistent scoring at all positions is the goal. But we don't have that really at any position on our current roster. Jewel is closest and we know how that turned out. Are Cooper and Whitehorn proven consistent scorers against elite defenses? Again, we can hope, and we better hope, but my kingdom for a proven elite scorer. Which I know doesn't grow on trees.
House|RockyTop
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2024
- Messages
- 684
- Likes
- 1,640
We were spolied by Rickea, that's for sure. In my opinion she was, by FAR, the best portal transfer in the history of portal transfers. And she was ours! OMG I sometimes still can't believe our good fortune there!
The thought of no longer having Rickea Jackson to depend on is going to ruin my whole dang summer because I'm not feeling good our chances of having another fantastic portal season. First of all, there's never going to be another Rickea Jackson in there. We've already been to the top of the mountain. I don't even have a "in a perfect world"-type player in mind.
I'm so depressed.
Oh yes makes sense. I didn’t really read their post. I don’t tend to engage with posters like that much. Especially when they have been banned and return under a new name. Just gets old.
Park-Lane and Scott are not the same AT ALL. Scott was putting up her numbers against quality competition. Park-Lane was never going to be able to compete at the same level in the SEC as she did in the Big East.
House|RockyTop
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2024
- Messages
- 684
- Likes
- 1,640
I played enough sports to know that systems (especially) offensively dictate how players perform. Some would be talking about how undisciplined a player Jewel and Sara was if they came out and shot themselves into rhythm as opposed to playing through the offense. Jewel Spear did not get to Tennessee and forget how to score points. Karoline Striplin started off the year shooting the 3pt shot over 40% and after a stretch of games where she mostly was stuck in the post loss her touch. Tennessee offense for over 3/4 of the season was to force the ball to the post as the #1 and #2 option without a true back to the basket post player. Nobody can deny it. Jewel was used 3/4 of the season as a spot up shooter. We keep talking about big games and limited offense well the scheme coming into every game was the same.. feed the post despite not having an advantage without a back to the basket post player. When the offense started moving players.. using post/post pick and roll and guard/post pick and roll sets it opened up the entire offense. They went away from that against NC State and Green Bay. Coaches with a philosophy that aren’t flexible in strategizing revert back to what makes them most comfortable not necessarily what fits best to the hand they are dealt. If Jewel and Sara were played to their strengths as the #2 and #3 option of the team having multiple double figure games late in the season as was solidly by big performances in the SEC tourney then the offense would’ve been more productive. More consistent. More fluid. Not playing either 100% to their strength is what led to inconsistency. Simple.
- Status
VN Store
