Diamond out!!

[madtownvol]

IF we go back to the end of the 2016-2017 season, the worry was that both Diamond and Mercedes would opt for the WNBA. If at that point, Diamond had said I am going pro and Mercedes stayed, the result would have created a lot of optimism. Hey, we still have Mercedes, that is a big plus!.

So, that is the situation we have now but it feels like more of a loss because we Diamond had factored into the equation.

On paper, ignoring personality dynamics, this team would have been better with Diamond and Te'a but if even 25% of the information conveyed on this board is true regarding their circumstances, the gain in team cohesion might just about balance out the talent loss.

 

[Smallvol#1]

All these posts about someone who left the Lady Vols let's put some more love into the Catch thread that was started ! She deserves the love and attention!

So true👍.

 

[1CHATTVOL]

If Diamond chose to stay at Tennessee because she wanted to play with Te'a (and it's sure looking like that was the case), then it wasn't a smart decision on her part. Her prerogative, but still not a smart decision. Probably once Te'a left, then she realized her mistake.

Well, definitely not smart since TC was in trouble with the team most of last year. Once there was the fight, chances of playing with TC went from slim to none.

Besides, what about all that other, more positive, realistic stuff she quoted publicly to the world? You know, improve my LV legacy & get the program back where it belongs & mentor the freshmen...?


Edit: just treat my question as rhetorical. I replied before reading the entire thread. It's been discussed plenty already.

Seems like more than anything those of us that really follow and care about the program are just disappointed about what a positive, stable, talented team with DD would've likely meant. Chemistry aside, she's the best player in the game. There has been a big price paid (two horrible seasons, lost players, hits to recruiting and reputation) hoping for a F4/NC payoff.

I don't begrudge a player for turning pro or transferring if unhappy. I was a little sad but proud when Parker went pro.

This latest DD move just felt like a sucker punch to the gut.

 

[1CHATTVOL]

not like you?

Besti pulled a gule. I likey.

 

[T_Vol376]

Well, definitely not smart since TC was in trouble with the team most of last year. Once there was the fight, chances of playing with TC went from slim to none.

Besides, what about all that other, more positive, realistic stuff she quoted publicly to the world? You know, improve my LV legacy & get the program back where it belongs & mentor the freshmen...?

She has proven they don't need her mentoring. LOL

 

[1CHATTVOL]

She has proven they don't need her mentoring. LOL

I tried to catch my post before anyone answered. But thanks, TVol. You make a good point.

 

[T_Vol376]

I tried to catch my post before anyone answered. But thanks, TVol. You make a good point.

I'm sorry....it seems we're often on the same page....but you are probably nicer than me. 😁

 

[1CHATTVOL]

Just never seem to be on when others are on. I'm always replying 2 days late. I'm still in a mode of reading not replying. Takes a big time commitment to reply as I'd like.

 

[Amb3096]

Well, definitely not smart since TC was in trouble with the team most of last year. Once there was the fight, chances of playing with TC went from slim to none.

Besides, what about all that other, more positive, realistic stuff she quoted publicly to the world? You know, improve my LV legacy & get the program back where it belongs & mentor the freshmen...?

I know that this is a rhetorical post, but for the part in bold...she said the right thing about why she was staying at Tennessee because IF she was staying to play with Te'a (and since her family was financially secure enough that she could afford to bypass professional salaries), she couldn't come right out and say what the truth was and instead gave a statement to justify (possibly to herself) why she was staying. Once Te'a got das boot, then she saw no point in kidding herself (or others) and decided to hit the road.

 

[BMvol27]

I know that this is a rhetorical post, but for the part in bold...she said the right thing about why she was staying at Tennessee because IF she was staying to play with Te'a (and since her family was financially secure enough that she could afford to bypass professional salaries), she couldn't come right out and say what the truth was and instead gave a statement to justify (possibly to herself) why she was staying. Once Te'a got das boot, then she saw no point in kidding herself (or others) and decided to hit the road.

How was that the right thing to say when it obviously wasn't true? And why couldn't she say that she was staying to play with Te'a if it was the truth? Is there something wrong with that? It would have been much better than writing that long post about how she wanted to stay and be a leader to the freshman, how much she loves Tennessee and blah blah blah, then turning around and proving it was all a bunch of crap.

 

[Amb3096]

How was that the right thing to say when it obviously wasn't true? And why couldn't she say that she was staying to play with Te'a if it was the truth? Is there something wrong with that? It would have been much better than writing that long post about how she wanted to stay and be a leader to the freshman, how much she loves Tennessee and blah blah blah, then turning around and proving it was all a bunch of crap.

My guess is she chose to write what she did because of optics. Saying that she was staying to play with Te'a would have looked ridiculous IMO. And we've all probably said things for the sake of appearances, so I have a hard time faulting her. If Te'a hadn't gotten herself booted from the team, then none of it would have mattered in the end.

 

[madtownvol]

How was that the right thing to say when it obviously wasn't true? And why couldn't she say that she was staying to play with Te'a if it was the truth? Is there something wrong with that? It would have been much better than writing that long post about how she wanted to stay and be a leader to the freshman, how much she loves Tennessee and blah blah blah, then turning around and proving it was all a bunch of crap.

I truly understand the frustration but these not be an either-or situation People tend to support their friends and see issues from their perspective. So, it is very possible Diamond believed that Te'a received a bad deal from the University and may have held some teammates accountable for how things turned (videoing the fight on so on). So, she may have cooled toward the LV program, feeling that they had wronged Te'a in some way.

Now, I am saying that is the correct way for Diamond to have responded but just that it would have been understandable. Emotions are not subject to rational evaluation and her feelings about the LVs may have been fundamentally changed by Cooper's dismissal.

 

[T_Vol376]

My guess is she chose to write what she did because of optics. Saying that she was staying to play with Te'a would have looked ridiculous IMO. And we've all probably said things for the sake of appearances, so I have a hard time faulting her. If Te'a hadn't gotten herself booted from the team, then none of it would have mattered in the end.

Trust me, she has no idea of anything making her look ridiculous. That thought never enters her mind. I think it looks bad to go back on your word, period. At any rate, the way she left was comepletely without integrity. But.... I've lamented and wasted enough energy over it. That video they just released got me hyped!

 

[BMvol27]

My guess is she chose to write what she did because of optics. Saying that she was staying to play with Te'a would have looked ridiculous IMO. And we've all probably said things for the sake of appearances, so I have a hard time faulting her. If Te'a hadn't gotten herself booted from the team, then none of it would have mattered in the end.

Even if she was too embarrassed to say she was staying to play with Te'a, she didn't have to say anything at all. No explanation was required. Staying for your full eligibility is the standard thing to do for women's college basketball players. Doing what she did makes her look a lot worse.

 

[LadyVol1908]

Trust me, she has no idea of anything making her look ridiculous. That thought never enters her mind. I think it looks bad to go back on your word, period. At any rate, the way she left was comepletely without integrity. But.... I've lamented and wasted enough energy over it. That video they just released got me hyped!

What video

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

What video

https://mobile.twitter.com/LadyVol_Hoops/status/879465462240772099/video/1

 

[T_Vol376]

What video

https://www.facebook.com/BallWithTheLadyVols/videos/1589081024460003/

 

[1CHATTVOL]

I know that this is a rhetorical post, but for the part in bold...she said the right thing about why she was staying at Tennessee because IF she was staying to play with Te'a (and since her family was financially secure enough that she could afford to bypass professional salaries), she couldn't come right out and say what the truth was and instead gave a statement to justify (possibly to herself) why she was staying. Once Te'a got das boot, then she saw no point in kidding herself (or others) and decided to hit the road.

I lol'ed at "das boot" and then said it aloud with a bad German accent.

Like the "convince herself" angle. Maybe. Assume the leadership role by adopting a higher purpose.

I just think NONE of that Gram post was needed if she didn't mean it. And she should've meant it, because it was the most clarity she'd displayed since arriving at TN.

And if she really had no reason to be a LV other than to be with her BFF, then it's the biggest slap of all the DD slaps in the face. Isn't it?

Such a shame.

 

[1CHATTVOL]

My guess is she chose to write what she did because of optics. Saying that she was staying to play with Te'a would have looked ridiculous IMO. And we've all probably said things for the sake of appearances, so I have a hard time faulting her. If Te'a hadn't gotten herself booted from the team, then none of it would have mattered in the end.

DD didn't have to say anything at all. *shrugs*

 

[1CHATTVOL]

I truly understand the frustration but these not be an either-or situation People tend to support their friends and see issues from their perspective. So, it is very possible Diamond believed that Te'a received a bad deal from the University and may have held some teammates accountable for how things turned (videoing the fight on so on). So, she may have cooled toward the LV program, feeling that they had wronged Te'a in some way.

Now, I am saying that is the correct way for Diamond to have responded but just that it would have been understandable. Emotions are not subject to rational evaluation and her feelings about the LVs may have been fundamentally changed by Cooper's dismissal.

Great points. But yet again, this is the best player in America? Our senior leader?

 

[1CHATTVOL]

Trust me, she has no idea of anything making her look ridiculous. That thought never enters her mind. I think it looks bad to go back on your word, period. At any rate, the way she left was comepletely without integrity. But.... I've lamented and wasted enough energy over it. That video they just released got me hyped!

For a second, I thought I saw DD on the field in that video. Had to watch it again. Whew.

 

[T_Vol376]

For a second, I thought I saw DD on the field in that video. Had to watch it again. Whew.

Hush yo mouth! Whew! I have watched it about 50 times... I love the way Jaime looks in it... and just watching it knowing the poison is gone. It gives me a good, happy feeling. ☺️

 

[MDVolFan14]

As much as we can armchair her decision as to the who's, the what's and the why's, this program has a problem and it doesn't sit at the feet of DD or any of the other players IMHO.

This is a coaching issue. And if you inherit talent as a result of your program you will win some games along the way to make the program look a certain way. But let's not forget that this program has looked nothing like Pat's teams even before DD got here.

UNC had the same problem in DD's freshman year. A very talented freshman class that without Hatchell at the helm played at a high level based on their talent alone and not anything that Calder and that staff did.

This is a coaching issue. You don't get this many HS AA's coming through your doors over the past 4-5 seasons and look as bad as this. Now, you are getting another top class coming in but the same core of the coaching staff in place that could not get the most out it's current roster.

There were rumors of internal strife amongst some of the players. True or not, this HC and her staff are being paid well to handle that and get these girls on the same page. Geno doesn't put up with it. Muffin, Tara, Dawn, etc., etc. don't put up with it and they are successful.

My only issue with DD is that IMHO, I don't think that she has been developed at the college level. A lot of the things that most of the folks here point out as flaws in her game, with the right "alpha" type coach that knows the game and knows how to develop players, she is just as good if not better than Parker, Catchings, Holdsclaw, Stewart, M.Moore, Taurasi, etc.

And part of is the current basketball systems in place starting from a young age. AAU basketball and the quest for wins is killing basketball a slow death. AAU is just "play as much as we can" all the time.

There is no development. I know AAU parents who have told me that their kid's schedules consist of 2-3 practices that are just scrimmages during the week and then playing in tournaments all weekend. And during those 2-3 practices per week, there is no development being done with these kids. No fundamentals being taught, just "playing". Kids will continue to have talent but it's how that talent is developed is what will be the difference between success and failure for both the kids and coaches.

 

[Martic]

Short answer - No.

Jim

why not? even though it's moot point now. She signed with Iowa State I believe. What about Diamond can she change her mind?

 

[volfanIND]

As much as we can armchair her decision as to the who's, the what's and the why's, this program has a problem and it doesn't sit at the feet of DD or any of the other players IMHO.

This is a coaching issue. And if you inherit talent as a result of your program you will win some games along the way to make the program look a certain way. But let's not forget that this program has looked nothing like Pat's teams even before DD got here.

UNC had the same problem in DD's freshman year. A very talented freshman class that without Hatchell at the helm played at a high level based on their talent alone and not anything that Calder and that staff did.

This is a coaching issue. You don't get this many HS AA's coming through your doors over the past 4-5 seasons and look as bad as this. Now, you are getting another top class coming in but the same core of the coaching staff in place that could not get the most out it's current roster.

There were rumors of internal strife amongst some of the players. True or not, this HC and her staff are being paid well to handle that and get these girls on the same page. Geno doesn't put up with it. Muffin, Tara, Dawn, etc., etc. don't put up with it and they are successful.

My only issue with DD is that IMHO, I don't think that she has been developed at the college level. A lot of the things that most of the folks here point out as flaws in her game, with the right "alpha" type coach that knows the game and knows how to develop players, she is just as good if not better than Parker, Catchings, Holdsclaw, Stewart, M.Moore, Taurasi, etc.

And part of is the current basketball systems in place starting from a young age. AAU basketball and the quest for wins is killing basketball a slow death. AAU is just "play as much as we can" all the time.

There is no development. I know AAU parents who have told me that their kid's schedules consist of 2-3 practices that are just scrimmages during the week and then playing in tournaments all weekend. And during those 2-3 practices per week, there is no development being done with these kids. No fundamentals being taught, just "playing". Kids will continue to have talent but it's how that talent is developed is what will be the difference between success and failure for both the kids and coaches.

I agree with what your saying. I think sometimes you also run into players that can't be coached because they don't want to be. And that stems from an early age. I think parents play a huge role in this as well. It's one thing to be confident, but there also comes a time when you have to self-reflect and know when to listen to someone. Sometimes you don't find out until they are on campus. UNC was a great fit for Diamond because of the very free/open run and gun style they play. I don't follow UNC very closely, but it's well known what system they run. Very loose and fast. Usually not polished. When you think of Tenn, UCONN, ND, now S.Car, it's very specific, formal, and a rolled out plan and some players just can't excel in that model, and when forced to do that, it's never a positive outcome for the player and school. I believe DD in her heart wanted to win at Tennessee, but following what game plan?