An Idea To Fix Our Lady Vols

[Volfan2012]

Driving to the basket is a huge weakness of the Lady Vols. Getting driven by the other team is another huge weakness. Players that should take it to the basket are Nared, Carter, and Jones. They are all good athletes and can finish. Players that should never take it to the basket are Massengale and Burdick. They will either fall down or turn it over for two points the other way.

 

[volcrazy89]

I really like Carter's hustle and I think she has good basketball IQ. Just like offense, defense is not always a 1-1 game.

She's a good hustle player and she's athletic. That's about it. I really think she is overrated, skills-wise. The way some people talk her up you'd think she was an AA. But she has more tools to work with compared to every other guard on the roster, but she refuses to use them. She has great form on her shot and great elevation, but obviously she's wasn't blessed in the department of mental toughness, because it's blatantly obvious she is scared to death of missing a shot. I can't stand when she plays PG because it's obvious that she's overwhelmed by it.

We have players like JJ, who can't shoot, trying to take too many shots, and players like Carter, who can shoot, who won't shoot. That's one reason why we suck on offense. And that's coaching.

 

[UCMiami]

I do think there is a generational issue with recruits today vs. 10-15 years ago, but it is more to do with their training than a me first attitude. The modern recruit spends so much time playing in games with their travel AAU team that they spend a lot less time actually practicing - which means they generally have less 'team skills' though they may be individually more skilled players - the big AAU teams may have a half hour practice before a game and that is the extent of their team time outside the actual game. That means college coaches have to spend a lot more time developing team concepts and complementary play with their recruits than they ever had to. And that means good coaches have a greater effect on the development of their players than they used to because they are teaching more.
Add to that the pressure to get a scholarship and the professional career possibility and personal trainers and players are more individually motivated vs. team motivated. The best coaches do not recruit every talented kid out there - but if they are smart they look for the ones that they actually want to coach and have good team skills even if their individual skills are not quite as good.
On the Uconn stuff - the player that has spent the most time on campus since graduation has been Sue Bird, but that is because she has also had the most injuries - she shows up to work with the training staff on her rehab and on occasions when the team is practicing has included that in her rehab process. Taurasi also did a rehab stint there. Beyond that very few players spend any significant time on campus - they may show up for a special event or a big game but otherwise it is very infrequent and not in any way associated with recruiting. I think the advantage Uconn has on that score is location - 2 hours from Boston and 2.5 from New York makes it an easy stop-over on a players trip to either city or a delay en route to or from a European season. Add in the Liberty in NY, the Sun in Uncasville and ESPN headquarters in Bristol as well as all the NYC media outlets and just the high population density in the NE and chances are many more former players are in or through the area frequently than pass in or around Knoxville.
The last thing is that for at least the last 15 years Geno has thrown a party at the final four each year for any former players that are attending or are in the area - not a big deal but it keeps a collegial connection across generations of players.