Holly Goes To School

[j'adorevol89]

This season feels like 2005–200 Candace Parker's first year as a college athlete. After being redshirted the previous year she was recovered from her injuries and became a starter. During the season, the Lady Vols dropped three games to SEC foes LSU, Florida, and Kentucky, their worst SEC season since the 1996–1997 season. The Lady Vols also suffered a bad loss to Duke. However they won their second straight game against Connecticut and rebounded from the poor SEC season to win the tournament for the second year in a row. In the tournament, Tennessee controversially received a two seed instead of the one seed Summitt believed her team deserved, and in the regional finals played North Carolina. Parker tied Ivory Latta for leading scorer with 20 points, but it was not enough. Tennessee trailed from the beginning, falling behind by as many as 16. Late in the second half, the Lady Vols were able to cut the lead down to five, but ultimately fell, 75–63. This loss meant that for the first time in five years Summitt would not be appearing in the Final Four.... we might be one season away!

If this team played hard every possession, we might be playing in Final 4 this year.

I back Pat and roll with Holly.

Ugh that's the year they gave the 1 seed to Ohio State and they got embarrassed by Boston College in the second round.. Only thing with that if Tennessee got the 1 seed could they have beat eventual champion Maryland... Tenn lost because Parker got into foul trouble and North Carolina had a small but very fast front court Tenn had yet to see forwards that fast

 

[teacherdean]

IMO the biggest reason that it's been a bad year in recruiting is because the roster is heavily laden with good sophomores and freshman. There's only what, one senior?

UCONN, Baylor and Notre Dame have some good underclass players and this did not stop recruits from signing up. We fool ourselves if we believe that recruits are scared to come to Tennessee because we have so many good underclass players. For 4 years post players have been scared because they would not get enough playing time, really. Now all of the 2016 recruits are in fear of coming to Tennessee, not. We have a recruiting issue and it has nothing to do with all our great underclass players. That is only an excuse for the root of the problem and that is with coaches who are responsible for recruiting.

For some unknown reason some of us want to blame the players and the recruits but refuse to believe that we have coaching issues.lol:

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

UCONN, Baylor and Notre Dame have some good underclass players and this did not stop recruits from signing up. We fool ourselves if we believe that recruits are scared to come to Tennessee because we have so many good underclass players. For 4 years post players have been scared because they would not get enough playing time, really. Now all of the 2016 recruits are in fear of coming to Tennessee, not. We have a recruiting issue and it has nothing to do with all our great underclass players. That is only an excuse for the root of the problem and that is with coaches who are responsible for recruiting.

For some unknown reason some of us want to blame the players and the recruits but refuse to believe that we have coaching issues.lol:

It's not just the quality of the underclass women, it's the numbers too. There are very few rotating off this year and next. Players with experience have a decided edge at garnering playing time.

It's a new landscape too. It used to be that the quality programs were concentrated in the SEC (TN, Auburn, Mississippi, Georgia, even Vandy and Bama) with a handful of quality programs rotating from other places (USCw, Texas, La Tech, Stanford). UConn, Baylor, Notre Dame, the ACC and several others are recent big dogs. Kentucky and USCe weren't very good not all that long ago.

The season is still young.

 

[gule]

the BIGGEST recruiting problem for the Lady Vols is Dave Hart & Jimmy the booger muncher Cheek's fault! They have tried to kill the program.

 

[Pat4life]

Problem is there is no Parker talent on this team. Not even Deshields.

Nope there was no, Bobbitt or Alberta on this team. We fa damn sho no guard like Alexis Hornbuckle.

Guards were weak, Parker first year.

 

[Trixietrouble]

We're just a very bad offensive team and a middling defensive team.

I actually think we're a very respectable defensive team, but yes, you're correct, a bad offensive team.

The defense will allow victories against most of the SEC, but I fear the outcome of the ND game - a team that knows and fully understands offense.

 

[j'adorevol89]

Nope there was no, Bobbitt or Alberta on this team. We fa damn sho no guard like Alexis Hornbuckle.

Guards were weak, Parker first year.

I wouldn't say the guards were weak Parker's first year versus lack there of.... Tenn had a strong 3 guard line-up with SWG Zolman and Hornbuckle.. SWG was pretty good but she wasn't the focal point, Zolman did her job which was get open and shoot the 3 Hornbuckle played d got blocks and steals and made shots when she needed to... when SWG left the girls had to shuffle around... Tenn 06 beat some pretty good guard heavy teams i.e Rutgers with Pondexter Ajavon and Carson also Georgia with Baker Kendrick and Chambers

 

[Trixietrouble]

UCONN, Baylor and Notre Dame have some good underclass players and this did not stop recruits from signing up. We fool ourselves if we believe that recruits are scared to come to Tennessee because we have so many good underclass players.

Well said. UT can get whomever they want when things are going well. When things are going not so well...not so much...

 

[teacherdean]

the BIGGEST recruiting problem for the Lady Vols is Dave Hart & Jimmy the booger muncher Cheek's fault! They have tried to kill the program.

If Dave and Jimmy are the total issue, you would think that the Board would be hell bent on getting rid of these guys rather than see a storied program destroyed. I still wonder how these two stop coaches from selling the program to 4 and 5 stars. I would think that Title 9 would come into play if it as an open effort to destroy any women's program, especially like the Lady Vols. I do something needs to change. By the way how are you feeling health wise?

 

[kvol1987]

People women's basketball has changed but most of you have not. You still live off the PS legacy of winning which ended in 2008. HW has been head coach for 3 years. The program was already in decline when she took over and for those of us old enough, we had some quality talent in state that always came to TN. Because of PS the game is now huge and girls have an array of choices to pick from with UConn being the top choice. Like when we grow up and the Lady Vols were the team you wanted to play for because they won and now that spotlight is on UConn but also we don't have the same homegrown talent we have in the 80s and 90s. Look at the recruiting rankings and TX is producing so much talent and now they can stay close to home and still be seen.on tv or they are doing like the guys and going as a group to a school. We have to hope that the rumored recruits of 2017 and 2018 decide on TN and you will see HW .800 percentage winning record will continue and will include some national championships but you people will have to exercise something it seems very few of you have .... PATIENCE!!!

You guys are writing off this season with basically only one / two returning starter, Graves / Carter. This team has to learn to play together so by the time the SEC and NCAA tourneys are starting, they will be ready to make their run.

 

[Rickster]

We have to hope that the rumored recruits of 2017 and 2018 decide on TN and you will see HW .800 percentage winning record will continue and will include some national championships but you people will have to exercise something it seems very few of you have .... PATIENCE!!!

You guys are writing off this season with basically only one / two returning starter, Graves / Carter. This team has to learn to play together so by the time the SEC and NCAA tourneys are starting, they will be ready to make their run.

That is my assessment as well. There is just too much doom and gloom on this site.

 

[meekfan]

Well said. UT can get whomever they want when things are going well. When things are going not so well...not so much...

But that is a major component of the head coach's job - to orchestrate the recruiting process and get the desired recruits. It may seem like another age ago but your pal Geno took over a WBB program that had a total of ONE winning season before he got there. He seems to have found a way.

Holly, on the other hand, inherited a premier program that Pat built. How's she doin' so far?

 

[Rickster]

It may seem like another age ago but your pal Geno took over a WBB program that had a total of ONE winning season before he got there. He seems to have found a way.

I think Geno had some very significant media help in getting the spotlight shining on Connecticut that other coaches nationwide did not have. No doubt he is a good coach….not saying he isn't….but if the Lady Vols had a nationwide media outlet championing them, things would be different.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I think Geno had some very significant media help in getting the spotlight shining on Connecticut that other coaches nationwide did not have. No doubt he is a good coach….not saying he isn't….but if the Lady Vols had a nationwide media outlet championing them, things would be different.

Holly needs a show on the Food Network.

 

[UT-Greg]

Hopefully Hart gives her a year or two to turn things around and to rebuild the program.

She has had 3 years & that's 3 years to long!

 

[Pat4life]

I wouldn't say the guards were weak Parker's first year versus lack there of.... Tenn had a strong 3 guard line-up with SWG Zolman and Hornbuckle.. SWG was pretty good but she wasn't the focal point, Zolman did her job which was get open and shoot the 3 Hornbuckle played d got blocks and steals and made shots when she needed to... when SWG left the girls had to shuffle around... Tenn 06 beat some pretty good guard heavy teams i.e Rutgers with Pondexter Ajavon and Carson also Georgia with Baker Kendrick and Chambers

None of those teams had bigs tho. ijs. I would take those guards over our guards right now, yes. UNC showed the glaring need for athletic, tough guards. But SWG and Zolman wasn't better than Alberta and Bobbitt to me, so to me that was a upgrade. Hornbuckle, I just loved the way she played the game.

I made the reference to that season, cos this what this season feels like to me. Our guard play might be one year away from being able to play, championship basketball, our team might be one year away. Once again guard play.

See, we don't even know what good guards look like if you think those guards were better than Shannon, Alberta, Hornbuckle, they would run circle around our current guards.

Holly can go to the school by looking at film of past good or great lady vols teams. How I spend my holidays... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0x2e_HQT-JvuCByppzjYAg

 

[Chitownvol1129]

As I am blood relation to Holly, I seldom respond to the absolutely assine comments about her and her coaching. I will give you several reasons, number one, you all seem to think their is a Pat Summitt quality coach out there, let me just tell you, nope, they come along, one in a life time. You people seem to think Holly was handed a championship program, ahh, nope she wasn't, but she has over achieved each of the three ears she has been her, not by your ignorant judgement, but by those who know. Holly has not made the final 4, but in all reality, when did she have a team that should of made it? Last year, hell yes, give her Jones and Harrison back, the would have strolled in! This year, well you people have given up, not the team, or the coaches, so stop your nastiness, let them jell. I love recruiting but I have never seen as big a bunch of negative nancy's for UT to recruit against. Screw yo if you don't think you have a negative impact, people read boards, and yes, your comments are stupid, ignorant, and deserve to be ignored, but some recruits will view your moronic, as if you have a voice, condemnation of the coaching staff as trouble. Truth is, look at Pat's record after Parker, and Holly's, blind. Holly has got it done, no responsible AD would fire her, or even consider looking elsewhere. Who do you want? Mulkey? Never would happen, why give up the texas recruiting base? Muffet, ***** please, she is at the top, how cold she do better? Nope, on paper, you would say get us Holly!

 

[Rickster]

...so stop your nastiness, let them jell.

Amen!

 

[T.J.]

CHW coaching is lacking. Why is Mercedes Russell setting picks out on the perimeter resulting in no rolls? No recruits for 2016. There are a laundry list of negatives showcasing the lack of leadership and coaching by Holly. As long as she remains the coach Tennessee will go the way of Old Dominion and LaTech.

If Tennessee gets by Stetson and scores less than 59 pts?

If Tennessee loses to Missouri?

Maybe then the AD will see the writing on the wall.

 

[cwbytruckers]

As I am blood relation to Holly, I seldom respond to the absolutely assine comments about her and her coaching. I will give you several reasons, number one, you all seem to think their is a Pat Summitt quality coach out there, let me just tell you, nope, they come along, one in a life time. You people seem to think Holly was handed a championship program, ahh, nope she wasn't, but she has over achieved each of the three ears she has been her, not by your ignorant judgement, but by those who know. Holly has not made the final 4, but in all reality, when did she have a team that should of made it? Last year, hell yes, give her Jones and Harrison back, the would have strolled in! This year, well you people have given up, not the team, or the coaches, so stop your nastiness, let them jell. I love recruiting but I have never seen as big a bunch of negative nancy's for UT to recruit against. Screw yo if you don't think you have a negative impact, people read boards, and yes, your comments are stupid, ignorant, and deserve to be ignored, but some recruits will view your moronic, as if you have a voice, condemnation of the coaching staff as trouble. Truth is, look at Pat's record after Parker, and Holly's, blind. Holly has got it done, no responsible AD would fire her, or even consider looking elsewhere. Who do you want? Mulkey? Never would happen, why give up the texas recruiting base? Muffet, ***** please, she is at the top, how cold she do better? Nope, on paper, you would say get us Holly!

Then if she is your blood. Ask her why the heck she can't coach offense. Defense will keep the opponents from scoring. But if we can't out score them. Well you know what happens. Unless it runs in the family.

 

[teacherdean]

I don't want to pile on but we have to recruit our needs, no matter what the coach's record says. Sooner or later this will take its toll on the team. If Holly stays and has a bad 2017 recruitment year, do we still keep her? We have not recruited but one post in 4 years of trying and the 2016 recruitment speaks for itself. Because of questionable recruiting we have 10 players for next year. We have to pray that someone does not leave the team, have the injuries we have presently, pray that Russell finds herself, and that Holly can convince at least two JC players to attend Tennessee next year. Added to that, we find some offense some where.

Holly is one of the least impressive coaches I have ever seen interviewed. Does she talk the same way when recruiting? Recruiters have to sell their programs every time they have a chance, even when they are being interviewed. Holly has a great record but that has not exactly been a great recruitment tool. The State of Tennessee has 4 top recruits in the 2016 class, how many are headed to Tennessee? Don't look it up, the answer is zero.

 

[gule]

yes, I agree! Her public comments are abysmal. She never completes a thought before stumbling onto some other tangent. Drives me crazy to hear her speaking.

She needs to SLOW down, compose herself and just tell the true facts. Nothing to be nervous about if you tell the truth! imvvho

 

[Amb3096]

I made the reference to that season, cos this what this season feels like to me. Our guard play might be one year away from being able to play, championship basketball, our team might be one year away. Once again guard play.

See, we don't even know what good guards look like if you think those guards were better than Shannon, Alberta, Hornbuckle, they would run circle around our current guards.

The team loses Bashaara next year, with no legit player to replace her. That will hurt. They have the pieces this year, and need to play for this year. If they can't play to their potential with an upperclassman-heavy roster, then they sure as hell won't next year with a major gap in post depth.

They need to get it together now, because they have the pieces to win it all this year.

 

[Pat4life]

I agree, it will depends on the play of the guards if its this year or next year.

Bashaara, I think her production will be able to be absorb rather easily, if enough of the ladies improve this year mainly Nared and/or Jones, Dunbar. I feel Cooper will be a more efficient shooter next year, and so will most of the ladies on the team.

Yep, it can take some teams a longer time to jel, it's not always instant. Yes, I'm still looking for us to compete for the final 4 this year, especially being in the elite 8 two out of the last three years however, we shall se...

We are good guard play away from being a contender and that has been the case for the past five or six years.

 

[alexvol]

I agree, it will depends on the play of the guards if its this year or next year.

Bashaara, I think her production will be able to be absorb rather easily, if enough of the ladies improve this year mainly Nared and/or Jones, Dunbar. I feel Cooper will be a more efficient shooter next year, and so will most of the ladies on the team.

Yep, it can take some teams a longer time to jel, it's not always instant. Yes, I'm still looking for us to compete for the final 4 this year, especially being in the elite 8 two out of the last three years however, we shall se...

We are good guard play away from being a contender and that has been the case for the past five or six years.

Very optimistic view.On paper they are a Top 4 team but they certainly do not even play as a team like a Top 25 club .Hope that they work themselves into a Final 4 team because I have purchased Final 4 tickets but I hold out little hope that they will achieve that goal this year or next year.