Cooper is a Lady Gamecock

#76
#76
Why are Moriah Jefferson and Crystal Dangerfield the measuring sticks for college freshmen point guards?

Ever heard of Dena Head? Tonya Edwards?
 
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#77
#77
Besti said:
She hurt the program because she was an experienced player who would have been valuable in bringing along the freshmen. Even the two highly ranked point guards
Moriah Jefferson and Dangerfield had problems their first year. Dangerfield didn't even do so well the second year for such a highly rated player.

It's not unusual for freshmen to struggle their first year. Very few come right into college playing like all stars, It it could happen even though the odds are slim.

Second, with two players now gone, depth with experience becomes an issue. Recruiting will become much more important with the big 3 graduating next year.

The recruits coming in will probably be happy since they will get more minutes thereby making them more valuable the following year, although they will probably hit some bumps their first year. Unfortunately, first year experience might make them more likely a transfer possibility with 3 years eligibility left a la Destiny Slocum. If the big 3 can be replaced for the following season, it would minimize the chance of transfers, which seem to be a big problem in recent years.

It's good to be optimistic, but playing last year without Cooper was a bad example to use. Look at the record. Imagine what might have been achieved with a good point guard.

No reason not to be optimistic about next year, but it will be the big 3 that make it happen IMO.
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How do we know that last years record isn't indicative of her (Te'a) being on the team? Maybe this incident and when it occured alongside others things that lead to her dismissal (or transfer) from the university was part of the reason we performed the way we did.

She was a freshman when she last played and then spent last season rehabbing an injury. She (imo) would still be a freshman (getting herself back into game shape and etc.) the first half of the season. Could we have liked to not throw the freshman in so soon, sure but we don't have that luxury and there may be an adjustment period but there could also be a Destiny Slocum like performance that would make folk forget about Te'a and forget that Hayes or Westbrook are in fact freshman.
 
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#78
#78
armchair said:
Honesty is the best policy--and it would appear that there has not been honesty about the reason that Cooper has left the program. If she was kicked off the team or expelled, WHY has there been secrecy about it? The university or program should say that she was expelled or asked to leave the team because of a violation of school (or team) policy. Players get kicked off of teams regularly, and it is usually announced as such. The university and the basketball program owe Cooper nothing, it seems to me, regardless of whether she chose to transfer (doubtful) or whether she was expelled or forced to leave. Cooper has created difficulties for the program. Why create the impression that SHE was dissatisfied at UT and chose to transfer--to our conference rival, no less--if that is not actually case? That's bad PR for UT, as I see it, and why create bad PR for yourself when the player's conduct was the issue?
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Why must you assume DISHONESTY? Some matters and details of matters are not public information.

You seem to have this attitude of undue privilege. Did you spend a lot of time in the North?
 
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#79
#79
mlindsay said:
How do we know that last years record isn't indicative of her (Te'a) being on the team? Maybe this incident and when it occured alongside others things that lead to her dismissal (or transfer) from the university was part of the reason we performed the way we did.

She was a freshman when she last played and then spent last season rehabbing an injury. She (imo) would still be a freshman (getting herself back into game shape and etc.) the first half of the season. Could we have liked to not throw the freshman in so soon, sure but we don't have that luxury and there may be an adjustment period but there could also be a Destiny Slocum like performance that would make folk forget about Te'a and forget that Hayes or Westbrook are in fact freshman.
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You've got some good points. Hayes & Westbrook, from their High School reputations certainly could have Slocum like capability from the get go. And, I agree one bad apple....

The coming season should be interesting and critical for future success.
 
#80
#80
I want the real story on why te'a is leaving because in April she posted pics of her and diamond on twitter saying that they will be reunited this season then all of a sudden she is transfering. I don't have a problem with it I think she will more become a better player and learn more from dawn staley.
 
#81
#81
armchair said:
Honesty is the best policy--and it would appear that there has not been honesty about the reason that Cooper has left the program. If she was kicked off the team or expelled, WHY has there been secrecy about it? The university or program should say that she was expelled or asked to leave the team because of a violation of school (or team) policy. Players get kicked off of teams regularly, and it is usually announced as such. The university and the basketball program owe Cooper nothing, it seems to me, regardless of whether she chose to transfer (doubtful) or whether she was expelled or forced to leave. Cooper has created difficulties for the program. Why create the impression that SHE was dissatisfied at UT and chose to transfer--to our conference rival, no less--if that is not actually case? That's bad PR for UT, as I see it, and why create bad PR for yourself when the player's conduct was the issue?
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One item of clarification:
The University used the term "suspension".

One item of curiosity:
Cooper is granted release to any school she chooses. Middleton is granted release to any school except any school in the SEC.
 
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#82
#82
Prophet1 said:
Actually, Cooper got the short-end of this mess. Kudos to her,she's going to miss being a part of what's about to go down. And it's going to be Awesome.
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I'm positive about what lies ahead for this program as well. This is not a big loss relative to what we have coming in. Actually, the track record of players who have transferred out of this program is not great in their new locales. Pat Summitt mentioned this fact several times when players such as Teresa Geter, April McDivitt, Michelle Munoz and Sade Wiley-Gatewood left.

I see all of the comments from people using this as yet another opportunity to bash Holly (as if we don't already have enough threads for that) but we are in good shape going forward. I'm looking forward to next season.
 
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#83
#83
HoopDR said:
One item of clarification:
The University used the term "suspension".

One item of curiosity:
Cooper is granted release to any school she chooses. Middleton is granted release to any school except any school in the SEC.
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The University addressed Te'a's departure and discusssd that she had been suspended? If I'm understanding you correctly, I missed that.
 
#84
#84
1CHATTVOL said:
Why must you assume DISHONESTY? Some matters and details of matters are not public information.

You seem to have this attitude of undue privilege. Did you spend a lot of time in the North?
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I live in a trailer in rural Tennessee. I've got a rusty car and old tires sitting in my front yard. I like to listen to banjo music on Sundays after we handle snakes in the primitive fundamentalist church. I don't get my news from any fancy-dancy fake big-city newspaper but rather from a some fat guy sitting in his basement in Mobile. I send money to televangelists because they tell me I'll be saved if I do, though it means that I have to give up biscuits with gravy at Cracker Barrel a couple of times every month. We could be neighbors!
 
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#86
#86
armchair said:
I live in a trailer in rural Tennessee. I've got a rusty car and old tires sitting in my front yard. I like to listen to banjo music on Sundays after we handle snakes in the primitive fundamentalist church. I don't get my news from any fancy-dancy fake big-city newspaper but rather from a some fat guy sitting in his basement in Mobile. I send money to televangelists because they tell me I'll be saved if I do, though it means that I have to give up biscuits with gravy at Cracker Barrel a couple of times every month. We could be neighbors!
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I remember you,,,yes, banjo, toothless .... You were the kid on the porch, in "Deliverance"


HoopDR said:
One item of clarification:
The University used the term "suspension".

One item of curiosity:
Cooper is granted release to any school she chooses. Middleton is granted release to any school except any school in the SEC.
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You caught that too huh Doc?...I guess Alexa shoulda slugged someone so there would be no restrictions.
 
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#87
#87
Putbacks said:
Why are Moriah Jefferson and Crystal Dangerfield the measuring sticks for college freshmen point guards?

Ever heard of Dena Head? Tonya Edwards?
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Thought I'd use current players as examples, not old ladies. But if you want to use those players instead, I'm ok with that.
 
#88
#88
Technically, Jefferson isn't current either, and Dangerfield never led her team to a NC as a freshman point guard.

Edwards and Head did win NCs as freshmen respectively.
 
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#90
#90
Putbacks said:
Technically, Jefferson isn't current either, and Dangerfield never led her team to a NC as a freshman point guard.

Edwards and Head did win NCs as freshmen respectively.
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My point was that highly rated point guards don't often do well right out of the box. I didn't say none ever do.

I used current players to illustrate my point, one in college and one a neophyte WNBA player who is doing well at that level, bud struggled as a freshman.

You mention 2 players from 20 - 30 years ago and asked why I didn't use those as examples even though they weren't examples of what I was saying.
 
#92
#92
A lot of these kids in this generation have no loyalty. Why would you even want to go to South Carolina who is basically Tennessee rival at this point?
 
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#95
#95
stubbs9 said:
Why would you even want to go to South Carolina who is basically Tennessee rival at this point?
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Seriously? Remaining at Tennessee was not an option for Cooper according to all the posters on this sight. Where should she transfer to? South Carolina just won a national championship. Isn't that a more attractive choice for a WCBB player than ETSU, Austin Peay, Belmont, or Lipscomb?
 
#97
#97
Besti said:
I meant Jefferson. She didn't come on strong until near her 3rd year. My point was it's not so easy coming into college. It takes a while, particularly for point guards.

No doubt sitting out 2 years is not good. But if she hadn't left Tennessee, it would have been just 1 year.
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Yes, I agree with you!
 
#99
#99
BMvol27 said:
Ask Kevin Durant.
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I just heard about Cooper's new team. It makes one wonder if Dawn is not handing out welcome mats like the dude at Ohio State. I hate losing Cooper, because she has a lot of potential.

I know a lot of us buy into the ideology that Cooper left the Lady Vols because of the guards we have coming in next year, however, we have to consider other ideologies. Cooper may feel that, because of Staly's coaching style she has a better chance of winning a ring. Not only have posters questioned Holly's coach style but so have other outside sources. All of this may have convinced her to seek a program which has proven final four and championship potential. A lot of young players are only interested in proven results and not pie in the sky.

I wish Cooper all the best, however, I feel that the Lady Vols have more final four potential, in the upcoming year, than the Lady Gamecocks. I love Cooper and wish she had stayed, however, this may prove to be less of a major loss. Westbrook has a lot of potential and at 6 foot tall, she is a point guard in a wing body. Cooper could live to regret her decision.GO LADY VOLS!!!!!!
 
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