Draya and Bashaara's press conference

[madtownvol]

I feel bad for these players and team. It is clear from their comments and body language that this team has lost all confidence. Draya and Bashaara say it outright, that once they started missing some shots, they got tense (which led to more missed shots and bad plays).

That is is the pattern of a losing team; once a little adversity creeps in, doubts and anxiety start to dominate everyone's thoughts. Early and mid season, the team had ups and downs but now its locked in what looks like a death spiral. I am hoping that they will be able to mentally turn over a new page once the post-season starts but it is hard to see that happening.

I know the conventional wisdom had been that Holly needed to be less optimistic and more critical of the team; well, that is what we have now; her presser sounded as though she is totally pissed at her team. But, for a team with shattered confidence, I don't think a "you suck, now make some damn plays" mantra is really going to help either.

No easy fix exists and at this point, the players, if the season is going to turn around, are going to have to do it themselves. I have no confidence that Holly and company can push the right buttons or make the right adjustments at this point in the season. This is a very sad day in the history of LV basketball.

University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site - Video

 

[Amb3096]

I feel bad for these players and team. It is clear from their comments and body language that this team has lost all confidence. Draya and Bashaara say it outright, that once they started missing some shots, they got tense (which led to more missed shots and bad plays).

That is is the pattern of a losing team; once a little adversity creeps in, doubts and anxiety start to dominate everyone's thoughts. Early and mid season, the team had ups and downs but now its locked in what looks like a death spiral. I am hoping that they will be able to mentally turn over a new page once the post-season starts but it is hard to see that happening.

I know the conventional wisdom had been that Holly need to be less optimistic and more critical of the team; well, that is what we have now; her presser sounded as though she is totally pissed at her team. But, for a team with shattered confidence, I don't think a "you suck, now make some damn plays" is really going to help either.

No easy fix exists and at this point, the players, if the season is going to turn around, are going to have to do it themselves. I have no confidence that Holly and company can push the right buttons or make the right adjustments at this point in the season. This is a very sad day in the history of LV basketball.

University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site - Video

Holly had no time for that "tense" comment. She seemed really pissed about that.

Bashaara looked really down. I feel sorry for her. Surely not the way she wanted her senior season to go down. She deserves much more than this.

 

[LadyVol1908]

What was interesting was Holly's disbelief in Carter saying they were "tense". I believe Holly knows she's lost this team deep down. I feel bad for her cause she BLEEDS Orange. I mean damn, over 30 years at UT. I feel this season hasn't hurt her heart, rather her soul! Holly and thus team has been completely consumed by negative energy this whole season. It's gotten to the point where you can see it physically in their demeanor.

 

[madtownvol]

What was interesting was Holly's disbelief in Carter saying they were "tense". I believe Holly knows she's lost this team deep down. I feel bad for her cause she BLEEDS Orange. I mean damn, over 30 years at UT. I feel this season hasn't hurt her heart, rather her soul! Holly and thus team has been completely consumed by negative energy this whole season. It's gotten to the point where you can see it physically in their demeanor.

I agree with everything you said.

 

[Tenacguy50]

HW scratched her head, face, or somewhere else 12 times and sniffed a couple times as well during the 5 minute post game presser. I wanted to crawl through my computer screen and tell her to effin stop the BS. Throwing the players under the bus once again. She makes me wanna...fill in the blank. God I hope Dave Hart fires he arse tonight!

 

[Catbone]

What was interesting was Holly's disbelief in Carter saying they were "tense". I believe Holly knows she's lost this team deep down. I feel bad for her cause she BLEEDS Orange. I mean damn, over 30 years at UT. I feel this season hasn't hurt her heart, rather her soul! Holly and thus team has been completely consumed by negative energy this whole season. It's gotten to the point where you can see it physically in their demeanor.

She needs to go. We need a change

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

Holly had no time for that "tense" comment. She seemed really pissed about that.

Bashaara looked really down. I feel sorry for her. Surely not the way she wanted her senior season to go down. She deserves much more than this.

Holly's postgame interviews are looking more and more like this relic from the past...

Very hard to decipher what she is saying or means. She tells you what she needs to do, not how she is going to do it!

 

[Bah Humbug]

I feel bad for these players and team. It is clear from their comments and body language that this team has lost all confidence. Draya and Bashaara say it outright, that once they started missing some shots, they got tense (which led to more missed shots and bad plays).

That is is the pattern of a losing team; once a little adversity creeps in, doubts and anxiety start to dominate everyone's thoughts. Early and mid season, the team had ups and downs but now its locked in what looks like a death spiral. I am hoping that they will be able to mentally turn over a new page once the post-season starts but it is hard to see that happening.

I know the conventional wisdom had been that Holly needed to be less optimistic and more critical of the team; well, that is what we have now; her presser sounded as though she is totally pissed at her team. But, for a team with shattered confidence, I don't think a "you suck, now make some damn plays" mantra is really going to help either.

No easy fix exists and at this point, the players, if the season is going to turn around, are going to have to do it themselves. I have no confidence that Holly and company can push the right buttons or make the right adjustments at this point in the season. This is a very sad day in the history of LV basketball.

University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site - Video

There is an easy fix. A new coaching staff!!!!

 

[Hoya Saxa]

Bashaara looked really down. I feel sorry for her. Surely not the way she wanted her senior season to go down. She deserves much more than this.

How much will this season affect her draft status? Which teams in the W are looking at her?

 

[Amb3096]

How much will this season affect her draft status? Which teams in the W are looking at her?

I think Bashaara could go late in the first round, but likely a 2nd round pick. I don't think this clunker of a season for the team will negatively affect her draft status.

 

[dapeak]

I think Bashaara could go late in the first round, but likely a 2nd round pick. I don't think this clunker of a season for the team will negatively affect her draft status.

If a team like San Antonio(needs a forward), Chicago(next to Delle Donne could play a role similar to Little next to LJ), Indy(Needs post help), Seattle(play alongside Stewart), Washington(to play next to Folsom) gets her she will flourish and truly show people what she has always been capable of unfortunately this staff has failed a lot of girls that have come through the last 4/5 years

 

[mlindsay]

I think Bashaara could go late in the first round, but likely a 2nd round pick. I don't think this clunker of a season for the team will negatively affect her draft status.

I agree! She will be spared because of Holly's poor coaching ability and I could see her going late first early second to these teams;

San Antonio-Sophia Malcolm-Young retired and they need post bad at 6'2" she is an inch taller than Malcolm Young and Dan Reeves loves undersized post who can rebound at the 4 spot.

Minny-They are getting older in the post and would love a young rookie contract and to have someone they can groom to replace Rebekkah Brunson

Indy-They need help at the 4 spot (Peters and Achownwa are undersized 5's and they have Kizer and Larkins who also plays the 5) the only person they have who plays the 4 is Catchings and she is retiring this year. I could see her in Indy

Seattle-They need Post help, even with the addition of Stewie (Who I think will play more of the 3 in the W than the 4) graves will play a great roles there backing up Langhore for a year

Chicago-They need help at the 4 spot, They Have Jessica Breeland and Cheyenne Parker but Parker is more of a 4 than a 5 (although she is their back up center) Graves could get a lot of time there and with Pokey Chatman having coached in the SEC (LSU) she knows what she would be getting from a Tennessee Post Player

NY-This is where I think she lands, She does everything Bill Lambeir likes and should she be there when his team picks in the first round, she would no doubt be selected by him. She would be a backup to Tina Charles and learn a lot.

 

[Sandvol]

The problem with Holly is that she felt entitled to the head coaching position because she served as an assistant for 30 years. That type of entitlement thinking almost never works in sports or anywhere else in the real world. You have to go out into the world and see if you can create something on your own and not be handed something. If she had she might have learned to handle all the vagaries of being a head coach and would have known how to motivate and coach this team. She can't go soon enough.

 

[mlindsay]

The problem with Holly is that she felt entitled to the head coaching position because she served as an assistant for 30 years. That type of entitlement thinking almost never works in sports or anywhere else in the real world. You have to go out into the world and see if you can create something on your own and not be handed something. If she had she might have learned to handle all the vagaries of being a head coach and would have known how to motivate and coach this team. She can't go soon enough.

I agree and the same sense of entitlement she feels she has is the same thing she is not wanting to play Diamond for.

 

[armchair]

I agree and the same sense of entitlement she feels she has is the same thing she is not wanting to play Diamond for.

I do not understand your comment.

When it is this bad it is a combination of things. We may never be well-coached with this staff--but it's also true that we've had much better teams and players who could play--how about last year? Certainly, our shooting is a terrible problem and has been all year. Hell, we've struggled with shooting for 20 years. You need to be confident when you shoot or it has no chance of going in.

Coaches are responsible for a team's psyche and overall confidence level, and in that sense HW is responsible. Yet she certainly has never seemed like someone who has put a lot of pressure on her team to play and shoot well--quite the opposite, in fact. She's always appeared to be a players' coach. Indeed, she has frustrated me because she has seemed SO UNCONCERNED about offense and shooting--always saying that it will come around, just need to practice, etc.

M. Simmons took a ton of shots and was NOT a particularly good shooter, and had a knack for bad, DD-like performances against good opponents--and yet HW always defended and lauded her scoring abilities. I WANTED her to demand better performances out of Simmons and everybody else instead of being so laissez-faire about our offense. But Simmons had a great attitude--was passionate about the game. That cannot be said about some players on this team, and has certainly been a factor in this meltdown. We play like wimps.It may be that HW's demeanor has changed as this bad year as unfolded, and instead of helping it has made things worse. Who knows. You have to put the ball in the basket--and our players have struggled to do that since the first game. I mean, DD has been missing basic jumpers from the first game. Russell has a 50 percent shooting percentage but nevertheless misses a lot of easy shots (she never shoots more than 6 feet from the basket). Cooper has missed shots all year--and has played too much. At some points players have to have the fortitude to win games.

 

[armchair]

Graves is a workhorse but I think she will struggle in the WNBA because of her weak offense. Her offensive game is extremely limited, and that will be a problem. If she gets on a team that has enough scoring and just needs a rebounder, a Dennis Rodman-like role when he was with the Pistons, she may be OK. But if she gets on a team that expects some offense from her--some scoring, good passing, etc.--I foresee difficulties. Wish her the best.

 

[Cooperlee33]

I do not understand your comment.

When it is this bad it is a combination of things. We may never be well-coached with this staff--but it's also true that we've had much better teams and players who could play--how about last year? Certainly, our shooting is a terrible problem and has been all year. Hell, we've struggled with shooting for 20 years. You need to be confident when you shoot or it has no chance of going in.

Coaches are responsible for a team's psyche and overall confidence level, and in that sense HW is responsible. Yet she certainly has never seemed like someone who has put a lot of pressure on her team to play and shoot well--quite the opposite, in fact. She's always appeared to be a players' coach. Indeed, she has frustrated me because she has seemed SO UNCONCERNED about offense and shooting--always saying that it will come around, just need to practice, etc.

M. Simmons took a ton of shots and was NOT a particularly good shooter, and had a knack for bad, DD-like performances against good opponents--and yet HW always defended and lauded her scoring abilities. I WANTED her to demand better performances out of Simmons and everybody else instead of being so laissez-faire about our offense. But Simmons had a great attitude--was passionate about the game. That cannot be said about some players on this team, and has certainly been a factor in this meltdown. We play like wimps.It may be that HW's demeanor has changed as this bad year as unfolded, and instead of helping it has made things worse. Who knows. You have to put the ball in the basket--and our players have struggled to do that since the first game. I mean, DD has been missing basic jumpers from the first game. Russell has a 50 percent shooting percentage but nevertheless misses a lot of easy shots (she never shoots more than 6 feet from the basket). Cooper has missed shots all year--and has played too much. At some points players have to have the fortitude to win games.

The bottom line is these are college players, and they play like a high school team. Centers missing lay ups (bunnies) and free throws (free for a reason), guards cannot adjust and create correct passing angles or knock down jump shots, and finally ATTITUDE. These girls are playing for the University of Tennessee, stop whining and go out and play the game of basketball. When it all over, they have no one to blame but themselves. HW has made coaching mistakes as well. I do agree Holly needs to get control of this team, but I am not sure she can now.

 

[Voldon18]

There are countless problems on The Hill right now, and I'm thinking the LV debacle of a season will be lost in the shuffle unless fans and contributors demand a change. Here's the real obstacle, however; both Cheek (will be gone by summer) and Hart (Jones and Barnes will fight to have him retained) are fighting for their lives. The trustees want both gone. The current SI article (actually well written) paints an ugly picture of Hart's career issues with women's athletics. A must read.

Will a new AD have the guts to fire a LV legend? I hope so. Will said legend have the common sense and decency to resign? No.

This leaves us, the fans and alumni, with a sinking ship ... and if it's the Titanic, Holly is the iceberg. Two players graduate and one has quit. One player could jump to play in Europe. At least two could transfer. What does this leave for next season?

Carter (no amount of work in the off season will return her confidence, and she has no shooting skill)

Russell (hopefully she gets stronger and has the honor of playing summer ball under a quality coach)

Middleton (real potential ... needs conditioning and fundamentals work during the off season)

Reynolds (work on fundamentals and shooting ... Love her athletic ability but still an overall liability on the floor)

Nared (stay healthy, get stronger and work on defensive game and shooting)

Dunbar (work on conditioning and defense ... get physically stronger and work on post game, will need it with no "bigs" joining the roster)

Cooper and Jackson could transfer, but if not both have miles to go to reach potential. Te'a is damaged goods and Meme probably feels like the neglected stepchild. Wouldn't blame either for jumping ship.

Anyone know of some decent walk-ons? We'll need a few.

This is one time no LV fan will be saying, "Wait until next year."

 

[BruisedOrange]

There is an easy fix. A new coaching staff!!!!

I think I'd have to rephrase, "There is a very difficult to successfully execute fix. A new coaching staff."

Cooler heads will have to ask, "Is there a baby about to be thrown out with this bath water?" Is there anything of substance left in the foundation laid by Pat Summitt? Are we truly starting from scratch?

Then the question becomes, "Who?" Among the top experienced coaches, all have proven to be sub-Geno unless they recruit a physical freak (basketball-wise; not talking gender stuff here). That's only a recipe for runner-up status.

So we better not pull the trigger on Holly until we have a bead on the next great one who's out there under the radar. Otherwise, in our frustration and impatience, we stand ready to flush the Lady Vols program straight down the kiffendooley.

 

[Volfan2012]

I think any player would tense up if the coach is telling you to get the ball inside and it is resulting in a lot of turnovers so you try to shoot and miss a few and well it all spirals out of control.

 

[LVJeff]

Good Lord Bashaara grow up. At least Carter sat up straight, spoke clearly, and tried to answer the questions.

 

[Amb3096]

Good Lord Bashaara grow up. At least Carter sat up straight, spoke clearly, and tried to answer the questions.

I would envision that Bashaara feels bad because she's the only Tennessee player out there who's playing to win.

 

[LVJeff]

I would envision that Bashaara feels bad because she's the only Tennessee player out there who's playing to win.

How she feels is her business. How she behaves in public with a Tennessee uniform on is a lot of other people's business.

 

[Franklin Pierce]

I really feel bad for Bashaara and Nia and Jasmine, that they all had to end their senior seasons in such an unpleasant way.