Diamond in the Rough

[Hoya Saxa]

I think that most coaching staffs with talent like this probably do more catering to them then coaching them out of fear of losing them (transferring out) and being firing for losing a lot of games.

There's a short Italian gentleman who doesn't promise recruits they will start, doesn't guarantee playing time (it is earned in practice), and makes it quite clear from day one that it is "my way or the highway." It is one reason that young ladies like Diamond decide not to play for him.

 

[Amb3096]

I wonder if she is open to being coached. When she chose UNC over Tennessee and UConn, she was quoted (and I paraphrase here) as saying that UNC would allow her to play her style of basketball, and the coaches at the other schools would not. From watching her play this year, it would appear that she would rather play a one-on-one style of basketball, rather than play within a team concept/system. In Holly's defense, it is impossible to coach a player who is not receptive to instruction.

Perhaps she didn't want to play for a team that insists on forcing the ball into the post, having players stand around and stare, and then run back to play defense. Can't say I blame her.

Holly doesn't care who her personnel is. She only knows one style. She's not like Geno, who adjusts his offense around the best player. If Diamond played for Geno, she would flourish because he would know how to maximize her potential.

 

[djohnnyg]

This from the News Observer in regards to last night's game:

"No. 24 Tennessee rallied to beat Ole Miss 57-51 after blowing a nine-point, fourth-quarter lead." This is like the umpteenth time this season the LV have either blown or almost blown a big 4th quarter lead. This latest collapse to hapless Ole Miss at home no less. Ole Miss who was 2-10 in the SEC coming into last night's game.

It's sad to see to watch this once proud program just fall into the crapper under the direction of a clueless, inept coach who has no business being in this position.

Yes..party up Holly after that crucial win. In Pat Summitt's day they would've won that game by 40 points...not have to stage a miracle comeback against a 2-10 team at home.

No, I don't expect Holly to be Pat, but I do expect the University to strive for that type of excellence and not settle for someone as clueless as Holly.

 

[chuck0303]

They really aren't, and I think that's why the team is as bad as they are. No one to get them the ball, no one to take open shots, no one to play defense.

Just bad all around...

It ALL goes back to COACHING. Does anyone REALLY think Geno would have had this problem? Absolutely not! And I'm certainly not a Geno fan, but you have to give the guy credit for being able to coach and mold his players. How can you sit next to Pat Summitt for 30 years and not pick that skill up unless that's what you did, sit on the bench next to her.

 

[Rixxx]

We heard a lot about both DD and Mercedes getting better and stronger last year, but it certainly didn't help DD's game. And while we rail at CHW's offensive system, I wonder what the asst coaches are doing in daily practice to help players work on things like footwork, boxing out, passing drills, etc. Complaints about coaching, or lack of same, fall on the whole staff.

Great point. Practices should be harder than games. Those that practice well should play. I too don't know what goes on at practices.

 

[jonson]

There's a short Italian gentleman who doesn't promise recruits they will start, doesn't guarantee playing time (it is earned in practice), and makes it quite clear from day one that it is "my way or the highway." It is one reason that young ladies like Diamond decide not to play for him.

I just bumped into an old article that describes that "gentleman's" methods. They are clearly not for everyone, but they certainly have worked. I'm not sure how this would fit with the current Lady Vols. Graves, for sure, I think, but I wonder about DD or Russell or Cooper.

Here's the link in case anyone is interested:


The swagger of UConn

 

[madtownvol]

I should just let this thread putter out but here is one last thought that might help to place my original post in context.

Last seasson, we had the same staff, the same system, the same coaching deficiencies. This team did not have Russell and lost two key linchpin players Harrison (the centerpiece of the team) and Jones to injuries. And there was no Diamond and no Tea; Middleton and Dunbar were freshman who made very little contributions. On the whole, that team was much weaker than this years team yet, they had far more success. No, they did not make the final 4 but they won 30 games, were SEC co-champs and made it to the regional final. For this years team, the first two achievements are not possible and decent run in the tourney seems unlikely.

What was the difference? In game after game, two players Massengale and/or Burdick came up big in clutch moments. They hit the killer shot that put the game out of reach or closed a gap to put pressure on the opponent. This season when the LVs have gotten out to leads (against KY to Texas AM) one or two shots down the stretch would have turned the game. If you put 4 to 5 of these losses in the win column, this season starts to look very different.

Now that is not to say that the LVs should not be playing better as a unit and getting more out of the players they have. But, the big difference this season has been someone to make the big shots down the stretch. The expectations coming in for this season were that Diamond and Russell would be the difference makers.

 

[alexvol]

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I should just let this thread putter out but here is one last thought that might help to place my original post in context.

Last seasson, we had the same staff, the same system, the same coaching deficiencies. This team did not have Russell and lost two key linchpin players Harrison (the centerpiece of the team) and Jones to injuries. And there was no Diamond and no Tea; Middleton and Dunbar were freshman who made very little contributions. On the whole, that team was much weaker than this years team yet, they had far more success. No, they did not make the final 4 but they won 30 games, were SEC co-champs and made it to the regional final. For this years team, the first two achievements are not possible and decent run in the tourney seems unlikely.

What was the difference? In game after game, two players Massengale and/or Burdick came up big in clutch moments. They hit the killer shot that put the game out of reach or closed a gap to put pressure on the opponent. This season when the LVs have gotten out to leads (against KY to Texas AM) one or two shots down the stretch would have turned the game. If you put 4 to 5 of these losses in the win column, this season starts to look very different.

Now that is not to say that the LVs should not be playing better as a unit and getting more out of the players they have. But, the big difference this season has been someone to make the big shots down the stretch. The expectations coming in for this season were that Diamond and Russell would be the difference makers.

Yep....am in total agreement with ^^^as I am with 99% of your posts if you are the same madtown who used to post on the Summitt.

 

[governmentmule]

I'm not sure what is going on with Diamond,I do wonder if she has been having problems with the shin splints or if there was a flare up and we don't know about it

it seems as if her confidence or what ever you want to call it,is at a low right now,I don't know if it is injury related or not,i assume not,she does get a lot of minutes

the year off may be part of the problem too,she and Russell haven't came back after the time off as good as I thought they would,I do believe she will come out of it and stop being a turn over machine too

as to why,I'm not sure at all what is going on with her,but she will come out out of it,it is just according to when