Can We Give Diamond D. Credit

[Voldon18]

Kudos to Holly for getting out of the way and letting her best player PLAY!

DD is dynamite when properly motivated (hey, it is what it is ... she's moody and emotional). She has her mother's speed, father's grit and temperament of Madonna. We (LV fans) need to let Diamond do Diamond and dazzle us with her special athletic ability and quit worrying about what her teammates may or may NOT think of her status.

I don't need Nel Fortner or anyone else to tell me how wonderful a talent DD is. Anyone who has watched women's basketball can see the greatness. Has she been inconsistent, injured and frustrated this year? Yes. Is she showing us what she can do when it counts most? Definitely.

Do I all of a sudden think Holly is a great coach. Absolutely not. She continues to have substitution issues. She can't get Mercedes to play like a 6-6 woman should (who would ever think Nia Moore is a better player at this point?), and pine-riding time for longer stretches is needed to hopefully motivate some energy, urgency and passion.

Please play Dunbar more ... and press on D when you do in order to help shield her defensive flaws. Kortney's offensive prowess is needed against the zone.

Go Lady Vols!

 

[orangeluvr]

Our ladies play better together when allowed to run and gun. Driving and dishing to the bigs or stoping and popping keeps everyone involved in the game. It's more interesting and exciting to watch. We must keep miss st off the offensive boards today. We may just win this thing. :dance:

 

[bobkitten]

What I liked was the support I saw ALL the players give each other. That in itself is a big change. And, of course, as you feel more positive it feeds a feeling of enjoyment.

 

[Smallvol#1]

...(who would ever think Nia Moore is a better player at this point?)...

Go Lady Vols!

Just a thought. Remember how much Izzy improved? And Nikki? And Glory? Candace has mentioned how much Dean helped her. I think Dean is an excellent post coach. Maybe Nia has made better use (listening, effort, health issues, years with team?) of her opportunity to learn from Dean.

 

[Volfan2012]

When I saw her out run the entire Texas A&M a couple times with the basketball in her hands I knew what her game should be. Get the rebound and take off. She is a mid-range shooter that can get to the basket. That is how she has to play to be successful. She can't be stationery on the perimeter trying to throw a pass into a crowded lane to a post player. We have tried Holly's way now it is time for the players to keep playing their style which is to run and take the first open shot. You probably want get a better one in any possession.

 

[Smallvol#1]

If you had watched the game ,you would know that Reynolds was injured and sat out the 2nd half.....groin or thigh injury .

Alexvol makes the steal, full speed to the basket, he twists, turns, MAKES THE DUNK,!! And one!

 

[madtownvol]

Just a thought, maybe people who have not watched the game should not post so authoritatively about who did or did not play well or bash Holly for coaching "mistakes" like you know, not playing someone who is injured.

PS,

Any updates on Jordan's status; she looked very gimpy last night.

 

[alexvol]

Did you watch her play earlier in the year.... She played horribly.... When she decides she wants to play then she can dominate anyone.

I have seen every game this yearand stand by my statement and if you have been reading this board then you would be aware of my posts which have consistently said the same thing.Coaching or lack thereof has been the problem ....course that is jmo.

 

[teacherdean]

I agree with this post with some reservations. Holly and Diamond need help from Cooper, Nared, Jackson and Russell.

Right now, looking in the future, Russell has to be the fear factor in the post or we need to find a JUCO recruit that plays at least the way Nia is playing now. Right now her like of aggression and standing around watching the game takes away from the team. The coaches have to see this on video. I think a lot of that falls in the hands of the coaches. Cooper just needs to stop being a wreckless knot head and committing unforced turnovers. She, like several of the girls, need to spend a little time in the gym practicing their shooting skills. I think, from reviewing videos, that MeMe is excitement waiting to happen.

In addition, we need to find at least 3 JUCO players, for 2016, that have strong role playing ability, especially at the 3,4, or 5 positions. It would not hurt if we could find 2 good grad students that had eligibility. Injuries could also play a major factor. Right now we all see the positives possibilities of this team. A lot will depend upon coaching and recruiting.

Right now I really do not want to be negative, because we are on a positive run that deserves a positive attitude.😇

 

[alexvol]

Right now, looking in the future, Russell has to be the fear factor in the post or we need to find a JUCO recruit that plays at least the way Nia is playing now. Right now her like of aggression and standing around watching the game takes away from the team. The coaches have to see this on video. I think a lot of that falls in the hands of the coaches. Cooper just needs to stop being a wreckless knot head and committing unforced turnovers. She, like several of the girls, need to spend a little time in the gym practicing their shooting skills. I think, from reviewing videos, that MeMe is excitement waiting to happen.

In addition, we need to find at least 3 JUCO players, for 2016, that have strong role playing ability, especially at the 3,4, or 5 positions. It would not hurt if we could find 2 good grad students that had eligibility. Injuries could also play a major factor. Right now we all see the positives possibilities of this team. A lot will depend upon coaching and recruiting.

Right now I really do not want to be negative, because we are on a positive run that deserves a positive attitude.😇

Agree with acquisition of players and concurrently in this off season they need to feed Mercedes constantly ,keep her in the weight room lifting ,run her through a specially designed program to toughen her up so she can push someone off the block,establish a low post and stay there ,strengthen her hands so she can catch the passes from Diamond and others,teach her to keep the ball high ( not bring it down after a rebound to the level of the small people) ,and in general establish a mean streak in her so she becomes a force in rebounding,defending and even in scoring the ball when being roughed up.I have been disappointed in her development ( I fully understand she was out all last year due to foot operations ) but there has been little evidence of strength or player development in this her third year.

 

[Sandvol]

If you had watched the game ,you would know that Reynolds was injured and sat out the 2nd half.....groin or thigh injury .Stats do not win games ....players with heart,energy and savvy win games.

Concur but turnovers will lose games.

 

[Amb3096]

Concur but turnovers will lose games.

As will not being able to score.

You can take the girl out of UNC, but can't take the UNC out of the girl. She's going to have turnovers, but she will also make plays that no one else can. It's a matter of seeing if the positives can outweigh the negatives.

I'd rather have the ball in Diamond's hands looking to make a play than have Carter dribble for 25 seconds then pass to a teammate who has to throw up a prayer.

 

[Amb3096]

Agree with acquisition of players and concurrently in this off season they need to feed Mercedes constantly ,keep her in the weight room lifting ,run her through a specially designed program to toughen her up so she can push someone off the block,establish a low post and stay there ,strengthen her hands so she can catch the passes from Diamond and others,teach her to keep the ball high ( not bring it down after a rebound to the level of the small people) ,and in general establish a mean streak in her so she becomes a force in rebounding,defending and even in scoring the ball when being roughed up.I have been disappointed in her development ( I fully understand she was out all last year due to foot operations ) but there has been little evidence of strength or player development in this her third year.

It maddens me that she's 6'6, but doesn't protect the paint. Whenever there was a battle for a rebound, especially at tAMu's basket, she would just stroll under the basket, assume t-rex position, and watch Bashaara try to fight with two Aggies for the ball.

 

[madtownvol]

As will not being able to score.

You can take the girl out of UNC, but can't take the UNC out of the girl. She's going to have turnovers, but she will also make plays that no one else can. It's a matter of seeing if the positives can outweigh the negatives.

I'd rather have the ball in Diamond's hands looking to make a play than have Carter dribble for 25 seconds then pass to a teammate who has to throw up a prayer.

And not all turnovers are created equal; if a turnover leads to a fast break basket; that one hurts. If it results in a team in bounding the ball or getting into a set offensive play, then its much difference than loosing an offensive rebound.

It is true that you can't afford to give the team lots of extra possessions via turnover and offensive boards, but if say Diamond makes 4-5 scoring players per a turnover, that is not a bad ratio.

On that note, it is really amazing in some ways that the LVs won the game given the disparity in total # of possessions and shots.

 

[gule]

sign Emily Schubert, problem solved.

 

[madtownvol]

sign Emily Schubert, problem solved.

Did you mean sign Emily S. and have another problem to solve?

In Mercedes behalf, she has come a long way from her freshman season. She is likely to remain more of a finesse player than a banger and that brings a certain mix of pros and cons.

But, she does not to work on agility (being to get down for low passes) and improve her upper body strength. Her biggest need is getting better at claiming her post position. On the other side, she is 6'6 and maybe the entry passes should be lobs rather than low bounce passes.

 

[armchair]

Russell is neither a finesse player nor a banger, that's the problem. She definitely needs to get stronger and more aggressive. She is a big woman who doesn't move all that well--the type of old-school center that the game as moved /away/ from, to an extent. BB is hard game if you don't move well. That said, she does have some skills--she made a beautiful running left-handed shot on the first night of tourney--and if she can get more aggressive will store help this team significantly.

If Moore were 20 pounds stronger and a bit bigger, she'd be a helluva center/power forward. She DOES move very well of course, can score; her problem is that she doesn't have the heft to bang. Were our coaches a little smarter, she would have been redshirted either her freshman or sophomore year when she hardly set foot on the floor and was obviously someone who needed a year to build strength. They didn't do that and now we've got NO depth inside.

 

[alexvol]

My 2 Cents on Diamond's turnovers which I have expressed several times previously:
at least half of her turnovers were passes right in the hands of a Lady Vol ( Mercedes mainly ) and fumbled away; another bushel basketful however were made trying to make a spectacular pass when a simple pass would have sufficed; and,finally the rest were made trying to fit into the system by getting it into the post even though the post was being tripled teamed.....a few are unexplainable .

 

[Franklin Pierce]

Hooray Diamond! She played like a female version Larry Bird yesterday!

 

[Amb3096]

And not all turnovers are created equal; if a turnover leads to a fast break basket; that one hurts. If it results in a team in bounding the ball or getting into a set offensive play, then its much difference than loosing an offensive rebound.

It is true that you can't afford to give the team lots of extra possessions via turnover and offensive boards, but if say Diamond makes 4-5 scoring players per a turnover, that is not a bad ratio.

On that note, it is really amazing in some ways that the LVs won the game given the disparity in total # of possessions and shots.

There was one NC game where Tennessee killed UConn on the boards, but still lost. I think it was Lawson/Jackson's senior year.

Tennessee had more shots go up, but UConn made more out of their fewer attempts. It was much the same yesterday. Half of tAMu's offensive boards were off point blank misses on layups...sometimes 2-3 times in row. They got more shot attempts up, but they were multiple shots on the same possession that usually ended with no basket.

 

[LVJeff]

Russell has more minutes than Moore in this tournament 49 to 21. And the LV's won both games solidly. I don't think the minutes will change.

 

[teacherdean]

Did you mean sign Emily S. and have another problem to solve?

In Mercedes behalf, she has come a long way from her freshman season. She is likely to remain more of a finesse player than a banger and that brings a certain mix of pros and cons.

But, she does not to work on agility (being to get down for low passes) and improve her upper body strength. Her biggest need is getting better at claiming her post position. On the other side, she is 6'6 and maybe the entry passes should be lobs rather than low bounce passes.

Russell spends too much time out of position, allowing others to do the dirty work while she watches, refusing to bang(Even with people smaller than her), likes to head to the other end before shots hit the rim, etc. I would at least like to see Graves or Diamond D. try to talk to her on the floor. She sure played well in the one world tournament last summer. The ability is there maybe she needs constant directions. Whatever it takes, she needs to be a main piece in this team going forward.

 

[Volfan2012]

For us to move to another level Russell must at least dominate the boards. She was letting A&M take to many rebounds inside just lucky they couldn't make anything after they got it two or three times. She wasn't the only one couple other players were not boxing out either. I thought Moore did a good job on the boards in her 8 minutes of play.

 

[gule]

seemed like tn played bat the ball instead of grab the ball when rebounding yesterday. especially Nared & Carter.

 

[armchair]

We rather desperately need Nared to get better and become more of a consistent scorer for us. And we need to start making a higher percentage of our threes. The difference between our program and that of ND and UConn is offense--which is something I've been pointing out for, oh, a decade. While we sometimes struggle to get to 50, and scoring 60-65 is a very good offensive performance for us, those two teams score in the 80s consistently. They pass and shoot the ball very well--two things we've struggled to do for ages. And we need multiple scorers--we don't want DD thinking she needs to do everything. That is a recipe for disaster. She needs to let the game come to her rather than forcing things, which was /one/ of her problems this year