Can we hire an offensive minded assistant coach?

[utkCREW]

As the title says. We bank on talent, and since CP we've not had that 'create their own shot phenom' player to basically direct the course of a game.

We need an assistant coach that can bring some actual offensive sets to the half court offense. We presently pass-pass-pass-pass-oh s**t 5 seconds-JUMP SHOT.

 

[VolBricks]

I have had the same thought about bringing in an assistant coach who can do the X & O's and improve the offense. If a coach is good at X & O's then he is probably coaching somewhere at a smaller school being head coach.

 

[JackHVFL]

The mens and womens team could both use an offensive minded assistant coach. Bad.

 

[WVU05UT09]

I was hoping an offensive guru would be added to the current staff or replace one of the existing assistants (Lockwood or Law) with someone but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.

Interesting to note that to our north Matthew Mitchell cleaned house housing firing House and Pillow after the program seems to have stalled the last few years.

 

[Volfan2012]

Who would like to see Dean move on. He talks a good game but we never see results on the floor. He was talking about passing and turnovers at mid-season and never got it corrected. if you look at the turnover stats the players he controls committed a large amount of turnovers.
Other than Izzy I don't see a lot of improvement in the post play. I think the reason she got better was on her on time with Jarnell. I think if you not gonna change coaches the next thing you do is find some Assistants that can make a difference one way or another. That is what Kentucky did we probably need to do the same.

 

[Amb3096]

Who would like to see Dean move on. He talks a good game but we never see results on the floor. He was talking about passing and turnovers at mid-season and never got it corrected. if you look at the turnover stats the players he controls committed a large amount of turnovers.
Other than Izzy I don't see a lot of improvement in the post play. I think the reason she got better was on her on time with Jarnell. I think if you not gonna change coaches the next thing you do is find some Assistants that can make a difference one way or another. That is what Kentucky did we probably need to do the same.

Glory Johnson and Kelley Cain as well. He also seems to have taught Alicia Manning some post moves. Brewer was playing well before she got hurt.

Glory was a perfect example of a raw talent that learned to become a great post player. Hopefully he can do the same with Russell.

Whoever is in charge of passing and offensive execution needs to hit the road. That's where they aren't getting it done!

 

[brassie]

As long as UT remains focused on offense they will be another also ran team. Defense is where WCBB games are won. Don't take my word for it - just look at the NCAA stats.

UT has been an good but not great offensive team. They are a terrible team on defense.

Why is UConn so good - look at their defensive stats for the last ten years and then compare them to UT.

 

[armchair]

Glory Johnson became a "great post player"? I must have missed that. She was just like Graves--a good athlete, an excellent rebounder with a tremendous (admirable) work ethic--but not much offensive game. I have never been impressed by Dean. I didn't see Russell try one shot that wasn't a layup all year. Did I miss a few? Maybe, but i also watched a lot of games too--and in those game she did not take ONE shot that wasn't an layup (mostly uncontested). I find that bizarre. You've got the biggest player on the floor, no. 1 recruit, and you can't get her to try some contested 6-foot turnarounds as part of an effort to built a little offensive repertoire, to develop some moves and develop some confidence. I do not get it.

It is true: While Tennessee's offensive execution has been weak for 20 years, the defense has fallen off a lot too. We can't play the tough man we use to play. The offensive issue is coaching. The defensive issue is recruiting--not getting players with quickness; not getting good guards. PS in her last several years recruited a LOT of slow players. A bit of improvement recently, but not enough, which is why we've seen the Vols play quite a bit of zone the last three years.

 

[Vols4life]

If you look around the womens game a lot of the offenses are the same....Stanford runs the Triangle don't know what ND runs but those two schools seem to have the only truely different playing styles than everyone else....Most schools run 4 out 1 in....shoot a ton of 3s...Play through the post and kick out...press and run

 

[Amb3096]

Glory Johnson became a "great post player"? I must have missed that. She was just like Graves--a good athlete, an excellent rebounder with a tremendous (admirable) work ethic--but not much offensive game. I have never been impressed by Dean. I didn't see Russell try one shot that wasn't a layup all year. Did I miss a few? Maybe, but i also watched a lot of games too--and in those game she did not take ONE shot that wasn't an layup (mostly uncontested). I find that bizarre. You've got the biggest player on the floor, no. 1 recruit, and you can't get her to try some contested 6-foot turnarounds as part of an effort to built a little offensive repertoire, to develop some moves and develop some confidence. I do not get it.

Comparing freshman years, Bashaara was way above Glory. Glory came to Tennessee with no offensive moves and could barely hit free throws. However, she was a completely different player her last two years compared to her first two. By the time she graduated, she was a force down low...not just the throw it up at the basket and pray for a foul that we got from Graves all year. She improved enough that she was a top 5 WNBA draft pick and has had a very good career so far. I don't see Graves getting the same post-college success unless she totally revamps her game, and even then, she may not be athletic enough to make the pros.

Agree with your comments about Russell. However, I wouldn't be so quick to pin it all on Lockwood. Russell is no more talented than Nia Moore is...just taller. Expecting Lockwood to work miracles with her after just one year is a bit much to ask. Russell was a paper #1, unfortunately. That became painfully clear as the season went on, especially when you see Diamond Deshields become a Wooden Award finalist and Alaina Coates running away with CFOY in the SEC. Russell has all spring/summer to develop some game, so hopefully she comes in next year as a contributor, not a compromise.

 

[Amb3096]

It is true: While Tennessee's offensive execution has been weak for 20 years, the defense has fallen off a lot too. We can't play the tough man we use to play. The offensive issue is coaching. The defensive issue is recruiting--not getting players with quickness; not getting good guards. PS in her last several years recruited a LOT of slow players. A bit of improvement recently, but not enough, which is why we've seen the Vols play quite a bit of zone the last three years.

I don't buy it. KML and Dolson are slow as molasses, yet they are part of an unbeatable UConn team. From a speed/athleticism perspective, Carter/Simmons/ Reynolds/Jones/Harrison were very good, Graves/Moore/Massengale were par for the course, Burdick was serviceable, and Russell was below average (in line with Dolson). That's not a team lacking in athleticism.

The problem was playing with composure, sticking to the game plan, and general skill level...especially when it comes to passing. Massengale was the only competent passer on the team.

 

[djtee]

Comparing freshman years, Bashaara was way above Glory. Glory came to Tennessee with no offensive moves and could barely hit free throws. However, she was a completely different player her last two years compared to her first two. By the time she graduated, she was a force down low...not just the throw it up at the basket and pray for a foul that we got from Graves all year. She improved enough that she was a top 5 WNBA draft pick and has had a very good career so far. I don't see Graves getting the same post-college success unless she totally revamps her game, and even then, she may not be athletic enough to make the pros.

Agree with your comments about Russell. However, I wouldn't be so quick to pin it all on Lockwood. Russell is no more talented than Nia Moore is...just taller. Expecting Lockwood to work miracles with her after just one year is a bit much to ask. Russell was a paper #1, unfortunately. That became painfully clear as the season went on, especially when you see Diamond Deshields become a Wooden Award finalist and Alaina Coates running away with CFOY in the SEC. Russell has all spring/summer to develop some game, so hopefully she comes in next year as a contributor, not a compromise.

Amb3096 ! i agree with you on Graves and some what on Russell, lets make no mistake Russell is very talented and can be a force on the offensive end like she was on the defensive end. As me and you said many times Holly decided to put all her marbles behind Graves, Burdick, Jones and backed fired. If Russell played more we would not be conversation. Russell at the 5 and Izzy at the 4. As for Graves she will be a non factor against a team like South Carolina.

 

[armchair]

UT needs better coaches--that's the bottom line. Is there anybody who doesn't think that we'd have been MUCH better with a coach like McGraw? Our half-court offensive execution is terrible, and the coaches are slow to develop players. We are not a smart team--coaches aren't smart, players aren't smart. This is why we have 14 turnovers in the first half against maryland. Watch Ct. play half-court offense, or ND--they know what they're doing, they have a purpose; they can make three or more passes without anyone dribbling the ball. They move the ball around crisply and get easy shots--and make them. Then watch us. We stand around, we dribble too much, players get confused and make bad passes. We've had the same problem for more than a decade.

 

[Sandvol]

UT needs better coaches--that's the bottom line. Is there anybody who doesn't think that we'd have been MUCH better with a coach like McGraw? Our half-court offensive execution is terrible, and the coaches are slow to develop players. We are not a smart team--coaches aren't smart, players aren't smart. This is why we have 14 turnovers in the first half against maryland. Watch Ct. play half-court offense, or ND--they know what they're doing, they have a purpose; they can make three or more passes without anyone dribbling the ball. They move the ball around crisply and get easy shots--and make them. Then watch us. We stand around, we dribble too much, players get confused and make bad passes. We've had the same problem for more than a decade.

I agree but my contention is Holly can develop into a better coach. McGraw wasn't a great coach right off the bat at ND but has developed over the years. We need to give Holly some time.

P.S.-They're not paying Holly great coach salary so UT didn't want a great coach.