Game Thread Lady Vols vs South Carolina in the SEC Tournament

[Sportslady]

Russell just ducked to avoid the rebound. Lol

I was at the game and it really looked like she ducked. We were all talking about it in my section.

 

[xanamanax]

The Lady Vols missed 63 shots tonight IMO because they had no legs tonight and were gassed because they were dog tired from last night's struggle with Auburn. They were dog tired because they only go 6 deep on the roster for significant playing time. They only go 6 deep because their coach doesn't develop players to a point where they can be trusted in important win or go home games.

I've beat this dead horse before in years past but I'm going to the whip one more time for old times sake. Why in the world are there only 10 players total on this roster when they are allowed to have 15 on scholarship.

No bench equals no accountability for the 5 on the floor. They can play as half-assed as they care to without any fear of going to the pine for a little recalibration. You also end up with players taking multiple posessions off to rest while out there. How does the biggest player on the floor not get one defensive reboud the entire game? I know that Pat never used all of her scholarships but she made it work because she developed the players she did have. Holly is just monkey see monkey doing in that aspect but she aint Pat. What if Nared's injury was more serious last night and she wasn't available for a couple of weeks. Where would this team be? I'm not even opening up the can of worms about X's & O's during gametime. There isn't any light at the end of this dark tunnel under Holly's guidance.

Our bench is one 1/2 (Annie), one 4 (Kortney), and three 4/5s (London, Kasi, and Kamera). And we generally play with only one big on the floor so that's why those last four don't get much time.

As for ten players, we were looking to have Alexa, Te'a, and Diamond on the roster this season as well, until they left. That's where our guard depth went.

 

[wildorange]

Holly isn't the answer that much we know. No excuse for Tennessee not to be able to attract a top coach here. But please, nothing against Holly she just isn't cut out to be a head coach at a major university. GBO!

 

[Tnphil]

That photo of Holly walking off the court says a lot to me....I coached the game of football for 30 years and if we had a performance like the LVs did tonight my players would have gotten as far as they could get from me. We had some bad games....and most of the time afterwards my players were in the field house hiding in their lockers worrying about what tomorrow would bring them.

 

[clkou]

That photo of Holly walking off the court says a lot to me....I coached the game of football for 30 years and if we had a performance like the LVs did tonight my players would have gotten as far as they could get from me. We had some bad games....and most of the time afterwards my players were in the field house hiding in their lockers worrying about what tomorrow would bring them.

From 1981–1983 (2 years), she was an assistant coach @ Virginia Tech
From 1983–1985 (2 years), she was an assistant coach @ Nebraska
From 1985–2012 (28 years), she was an assistant coach @ Tennessee

That's 32 years of being an assistant coach. She doesn't know how to be an effective head coach because the 32 years of being an assistant coach won't allow it. If she was going to be a head coach it should have happened by 1990 at the latest. If you can't or don't want to be promoted to a head coaching position after 10 years of being an assistant, you weren't cut out for it. And, the LAST place she should have attempted it was at the #1 program in the history of women's college basketball.

 

[BreatheUT]

The Lady Vols missed 63 shots tonight IMO because they had no legs tonight and were gassed because they were dog tired from last night's struggle with Auburn. They were dog tired because they only go 6 deep on the roster for significant playing time. They only go 6 deep because their coach doesn't develop players to a point where they can be trusted in important win or go home games.

I've beat this dead horse before in years past but I'm going to the whip one more time for old times sake. Why in the world are there only 10 players total on this roster when they are allowed to have 15 on scholarship.

No bench equals no accountability for the 5 on the floor. They can play as half-assed as they care to without any fear of going to the pine for a little recalibration. You also end up with players taking multiple posessions off to rest while out there. How does the biggest player on the floor not get one defensive reboud the entire game? I know that Pat never used all of her scholarships but she made it work because she developed the players she did have. Holly is just monkey see monkey doing in that aspect but she aint Pat. What if Nared's injury was more serious last night and she wasn't available for a couple of weeks. Where would this team be? I'm not even opening up the can of worms about X's & O's during gametime. There isn't any light at the end of this dark tunnel under Holly's guidance.

It is literally roster management malpractice and deserves its own thread. Should we surprised though with a roster with only one Center on it. Roster management has been awful her entire tenure including the heavy reliance on a freshman, not as depth but the main cogs. Unlike Parker's last year it's not like they are coming off a championship that featured 5 senior starters.

 

[T_Vol376]

That photo of Holly walking off the court says a lot to me....I coached the game of football for 30 years and if we had a performance like the LVs did tonight my players would have gotten as far as they could get from me. We had some bad games....and most of the time afterwards my players were in the field house hiding in their lockers worrying about what tomorrow would bring them.

She was not walking off the court in that picture. She was walking back to the bench after chewing on the ref’s asses. Re was walking her back because she was livid.

 

[vol-un-tear]

Don’t know what to make of this team. It’s a shame how far backwards they went. We need a new coach next year. Just a lot of the same.

 

[gule]

A picture is worth a thousand words,

We need better from the HWBC (head women's basketball coach)

 

[feathersax]

From 1981–1983 (2 years), she was an assistant coach @ Virginia Tech
From 1983–1985 (2 years), she was an assistant coach @ Nebraska
From 1985–2012 (28 years), she was an assistant coach @ Tennessee

That's 32 years of being an assistant coach. She doesn't know how to be an effective head coach because the 32 years of being an assistant coach won't allow it. If she was going to be a head coach it should have happened by 1990 at the latest. If you can't or don't want to be promoted to a head coaching position after 10 years of being an assistant, you weren't cut out for it. And, the LAST place she should have attempted it was at the #1 program in the history of women's college basketball.

Spot on, yet the Holly-worship continues. How long, oh how long...as the program expires. :whistling:

 

[1985Vols]

We stink tonight, this team looks as though it has not been coached or if they have, then poorly. There seems to be no adjustments being made to confront SC’s offense. We pretty much run the same defense and offense every game. Hard to understand!

Sounds like a broken record. This coach won't get past the Sweet 16 with a team that's as talented as any in the country outside of UConn.

 

[1985Vols]

People on here keep defending the sh1tshow. "If you don't like terribly played, discombobulated, street ball with no emphasis on passing and teamwork then don't watch, and don't make fun of Holly's blouse!"

Well ok.

Except for the blouse thing. I believe in constructive criticism, and truly believe Holly's sense of style, however woeful, still has some potential for salvation and reclamation. Most likely "What Not to Wear" would have to be resurrected and then dedicate an entire season or two to Holly Warlick.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for her coaching ability or the play of the Lady Vols.

Nothing and no one can work that miracle.

And to be fair the blouse was easier on the eyes than anything the lady vols show us on the court under the shaky and aimless guidance of Pat Summit's rah rah, good cop assistant.

I'm not even completely certain Holly is aware she is in charge of the team, and responsible for their play.

Every interview she gives, every time she speaks or reacts, she comes across as if she is simply a passionate fan or spectator, futile reactions and impotent gestures more fitting for someone with nothing more invested than cost of admittance.

"Wow! We're missing too many layups! You gotta stop that! Quit turning it over! No more 3's, We need to get the ball inside to Mercedes. I thought the defense played good. At least we fought hard."

Are we really payimg her $650,000 to be an overly dedicated cheerleader type fan with the best seat in the house?

Or am I missing something.

Couldn't have said it any better myself. You nailed it! Will Fulmer do anything about it? Nope. Will Holly sacrifice her $650,000 salary for the sake of our program? Nope. So we are stuck in mediocrity with great talent that is poorly coached. Oh well, at least we have the Men's team that is just the opposite. Barnes has taken 3* players and instead of trying to be their friend , he coaches them and holds them accountable every single play of the game and is about to win a conference title. Go Vols!

 

[Volfan2012]

I can certainly agree Holly is not a top level coach but I also question the talent level. Other than Davis I think some of the girls were way overrated in last years class. We'll have to see what the next group looks like. This one can't make free throws, are turnovers machines and can't make a layup or ten foot jumper. That does not include Davis who does have skills to bad she stayed on the bench all night in foul trouble.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Andy Landers Basically Smirked at Holly during the Post Auburn Interview. HE KNOWS The Deal. Holly Is NOT HC Material! She can't even put a cognitive sentence together. THAT indicates a total disconnect. If you can't answer a simple question about the Game YOU just "Coached" and at least Watched, you have A Brain Malfunction.

 

[LasVegasBill23]

I can certainly agree Holly is not a top level coach but I also question the talent level. Other than Davis I think some of the girls were way overrated in last years class. We'll have to see what the next group looks like. This one can't make free throws, are turnovers machines and can't make a layup or ten foot jumper. That does not include Davis who does have skills to bad she stayed on the bench all night in foul trouble.

I certainly agree that on occasion one can be overrated coming out of prep school.... but geez Hayes and Westbrook were both top 10 in entire country.... how far overrated were they? If Westbrook isnt #2 and is more like 42.... ok if Hayes isnt #9 plays more like 59.... how can this team almost lose to Auburn who does not have a single player on their roster about #70 nationally.... Why do we miss 30 layups in a game... why cant we box out at all? It all is just so frustrating....

 

[BreatheUT]

Sounds like a broken record. This coach won't get past the Sweet 16 with a team that's as talented as any in the country outside of UConn.

I feel like the Sweet 16 is a stretch goal for this squad. They finished 7th in the SEC. It's just the truth.

 

[Volfan2012]

Tennessee needs some type of skills development program in the off season. None of the players get a lot better. Jaime shot 37 percent as a freshman still the same as a senior. Russell did get bigger and stronger but never developed any ability to use it around the basket.
Players have to get better like they do under Barnes otherwise program won't win as it should regardless of All Americans on the roster.

 

[GameTime]

Coaching is pitiful for the LVs...

The product has become extremely difficult to watch....

Russell treated like a farm animal by the post players of SC....She has no fight.

The LVs have never met a lay up they like....

Wilson made our girls wet their pants...

Sad state of affairs at Lady Vol ball....It will not change...We all know the reason why.

 

[1reVOLver]

Look at the bright side. 2018 will be our tenth consecutive year without a final four appearance. We have adjusted our expectations. An elite 8 slot would be the height of glory, and making it to the sweet sixteen would be very, very good.

At this rate soon we will all rejoice when the Lady Vols are selected to play in the NIT tournament.

R.I.P., Pat.

 

[Orange Maniac]

Man, we have some real drama queens in here today.

 

[BreatheUT]

Coaching is pitiful for the LVs...

The product has become extremely difficult to watch....

Russell treated like a farm animal by the post players of SC....She has no fight.

The LVs have never met a lay up they like....

Wilson made our girls wet their pants...

Sad state of affairs at Lady Vol ball....It will not change...We all know the reason why.

I admit that I have watched very little over the last couple of years but it doesn't take long to see the difference in the skill or desire of the players.

For instance, Wilson is just so much quicker on the second reaction to the ball. She seems quick twitch and determined to finish a play until that play is over.

While Russell seems to have one shot at any given play. She quits after a good play on defense as we saw when she played good defense on Wilson but was standing around out of bounds as Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound, put back then 3 point play. Slow feet that hasn't gotten much better over the years. She does have better touch around the basket on offense.

I don't know if it's coaching or skill set differences.

 

[Amb3096]

Look at the bright side. 2018 will be our tenth consecutive year without a final four appearance. We have adjusted our expectations. An elite 8 slot would be the height of glory, and making it to the sweet sixteen would be very, very good.

At this rate soon we will all rejoice when the Lady Vols are selected to play in the NIT tournament.

R.I.P., Pat.

Someone here already said that the goal is to just make the NCAAT. I'd say expectations for the program have already been adjusted way downwards.

 

[LA Vol]

I can certainly agree Holly is not a top level coach but I also question the talent level. Other than Davis I think some of the girls were way overrated in last years class. We'll have to see what the next group looks like. This one can't make free throws, are turnovers machines and can't make a layup or ten foot jumper. That does not include Davis who does have skills to bad she stayed on the bench all night in foul trouble.

Davis continues to get better because she puts in the time. She works on her shots with Lockwood outside of practice and she studies film. Hayes still plays out of control, but she has cut down some on her wild passes and TOs. She's beginning to show more composure. Davis probably will be our best player next year, and if Hayes works on her ball control and outside shot, she can make great strides, too.

 

[Amb3096]

I admit that I have watched very little over the last couple of years but it doesn't take long to see the difference in the skill or desire of the players.

For instance, Wilson is just so much quicker on the second reaction to the ball. She seems quick twitch and determined to finish a play until that play is over.

While Russell seems to have one shot at any given play. She quits after a good play on defense as we saw when she played good defense on Wilson but was standing around out of bounds as Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound, put back then 3 point play. Slow feet that hasn't gotten much better over the years. She does have better touch around the basket on offense.

I don't know if it's coaching or skill set differences.

Russell is what she is. I think it's unfair to criticize her for not being as explosive as Wilson. I think her performance is a combination of her being slow and lumbering, not as athletic as some of the opposing posts, playing heavy minutes because Holly doesn't trust her bench, and not being held accountable for taking plays off. She's fine on offense. I think she shows a lot of poise, and she's a good straight up defender, but she sucks on hustle plays. If it's a 50-50 ball, I'd put my money on the other player.

 

[10cpride]

Andy Landers Basically Smirked at Holly during the Post Auburn Interview. HE KNOWS The Deal. Holly Is NOT HC Material! She can't even put a cognitive sentence together. THAT indicates a total disconnect. If you can't answer a simple question about the Game YOU just "Coached" and at least Watched, you have A Brain Malfunction.

Hire Andy. Anybody but Holly. Please!