Holly Warlick should step down after this season

#176
#176
While I'm not pleased with the level of play I have witnessed, this is not the time to discuss replacing Holly. She needs to be evaluated at the end of the year and base her future on what she gets done. It's too early but the coaching does look weak up to this point. Let it play out and go from there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#177
#177
Orange Maniac said:
While I'm not pleased with the level of play I have witnessed, this is not the time to discuss replacing Holly. She needs to be evaluated at the end of the year and base her future on what she gets done. It's too early but the coaching does look weak up to this point. Let it play out and go from there.
Click to expand...

This team needs time to develop chemistry and to learn to play team ball together. The fact is, many of those playing the most minutes are playing together in game situations for the first time. Holly and her staff have to find a way to develop that chemistry, but a lot of that is also on the players themselves. Cooper is going to be special, but she's making a lot of freshman mistakes right now, which isn't unexpected. DeShields will be spectacular, but she isn't fully healed, and there is no doubt that this is affecting her game. Add to that that this is the first time Mercedes is seeing extended minutes in college-level play and, although this is technically her third year with the program, she's also on a learning curve. Carter is coming off of a leg injury. Nared, who will be a key piece to this team's success going forward (especially if Jones is out for an extended amount of time), hasn't yet been able to play.

They need time and a little patience and understanding from fans who are completely unwilling to offer either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#178
#178
The talent everyone says the players possess isn't visible to me. Deshields is legit, Cooper and Russell may prove to be good ones yet, but the others just don't strike me as being that skilled, in spite of their initial rankings.

What concerns me more than the current squad is the fact no recruit in the top 100 of 2016 has committed to the Lady Vols. It wasn't that long ago almost every top talent would have given anything to play for the team. Even without Pat, few programs in the nation have the fan base, resources, and reputation of the Lady Vols. Other programs besides UConn have enjoyed success lately and brought some positive attention their way, but the leadership should really be concerned when not one top flight recruit or even mid ranked player wants to play for the team.

I am not convinced this team wins 20 games unless their play improves significantly. It could, but Russell must become a demanding post player, Deshields must get healthy, Cooper must progress quickly, and Graves, Carter and Reynolds must show more than they did yesterday. Nared should help some when she is healthy and hopefully Jones and Middleton can put in some solid minutes and not be a detriment to the team.

I want this program and squad to be successful. Women's basketball needs a strong program at UT to draw positive attention to the game. No one should envy the job Holly took over in 2011 with almost no warning, but this was 4 years ago and this team is hers now. The fans are patient to a degree but expect more than they are seeing now.
 
#179
#179
Orange Maniac said:
While I'm not pleased with the level of play I have witnessed, this is not the time to discuss replacing Holly. She needs to be evaluated at the end of the year and base her future on what she gets done. It's too early but the coaching does look weak up to this point. Let it play out and go from there.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% about the evaluation of Holly at the end of the year. In reality, she still has a chance to at least reach the final four. I also agree that the fan base have a right to question the direction the most storied program is going. Pat created a game changer in women's basketball. She provided the blue print for what we are seeing today in women's basketball.

When you place this program for what it is, one of the more powerful women's program, look on the men's side like Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, etc., there are expectations from their fans. If a men's program had four year issues in which they could not recruit their needs, or failing to recruit any players, their heads would be on the chopping block. If they have difficulty winning against teams with far less talent than they have, there would be questions. Saying that these three and no stars are well coached is simply no more than an excuse to justify lack of playing to a team's potential. I am sure that many of the three and no star teams played by other top five teams are well coached but it does not take long to figure out which team has the better players.

This team needs a lot of work and not excuses. It took many years to build this program to what it is today, however, there are chinks in the armor that need to be fixed. We can't just say it is going to be fixed without any evidence that it will be. Calling each other names will not fix the issues this program has. It is only fair to give Holly to the end of the year to show that the program is headed in the right direction. Let us be fair and treat the women's storied programs the way we treat the men's storied programs.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#180
#180
MsSportsGuy said:
The talent everyone says the players possess isn't visible to me. Deshields is legit, Cooper and Russell may prove to be good ones yet, but the others just don't strike me as being that skilled, in spite of their initial rankings.

What concerns me more than the current squad is the fact no recruit in the top 100 of 2016 has committed to the Lady Vols. It wasn't that long ago almost every top talent would have given anything to play for the team. Even without Pat, few programs in the nation have the fan base, resources, and reputation of the Lady Vols. Other programs besides UConn have enjoyed success lately and brought some positive attention their way, but the leadership should really be concerned when not one top flight recruit or even mid ranked player wants to play for the team.

I am not convinced this team wins 20 games unless their play improves significantly. It could, but Russell must become a demanding post player, Deshields must get healthy, Cooper must progress quickly, and Graves, Carter and Reynolds must show more than they did yesterday. Nared should help some when she is healthy and hopefully Jones and Middleton can put in some solid minutes and not be a detriment to the team.

I want this program and squad to be successful. Women's basketball needs a strong program at UT to draw positive attention to the game. No one should envy the job Holly took over in 2011 with almost no warning, but this was 4 years ago and this team is hers now. The fans are patient to a degree but expect more than they are seeing now.
Click to expand...

They will get more than they are seeing now. By SEC play, I expect the team to be clicking far better than it is now. They are working out the kinks now and learning to play together. Some players are trying to do too much (Cooper), others aren't doing quite enough to shine the way they should (Reynolds, Middleton), some are finding their way (Russell, DeShields), some are healing and/or learning to play after being out for an extended period of time (Jones, Russell, DeShields, Carter), some are off the court with injuries currently (Nared, Dunbar, and likely Jones) and some are just inexperienced at the college level (Jackson, Cooper).

Holly's problem isn't figuring out how to coach; she already knows how to coach. She and her staff have to find a way to make these players play as a cohesive unit. What many fans see as bad play is, in fact, more likely the result of a team with several new pieces trying to find its way. They will get there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#181
#181
VolFootballnut said:
Pat Summitt coached that team and they were young in 2008-2009 having lost Candace Parker and Shannon Bobbitt off of the National Champion 2007-2008 team

Players graduated off of the 2007-2008 team

Candace Parker 1st round draft pick
Alexis Hornbuckle 1st round draft pick
Shannon Bobbitt 2nd round draft pick
Nicky Anosike 2nd round draft pick
Alberta Auguste 3rd round draft pick
Click to expand...
but she had 6 Mcdonald all americans and they never really got much better. Did they? But who was the coach? Just saying the slide we have started right there. After this even Pat was having a hard time getting top recruits. Before anyone starts I am a big CPHSE fan. Just saying Holly can't be solely blamed for the decline.
 
#182
#182
MsSportsGuy said:
The talent everyone says the players possess isn't visible to me. Deshields is legit, Cooper and Russell may prove to be good ones yet, but the others just don't strike me as being that skilled, in spite of their initial rankings...
Click to expand...

Interesting. There is physical talent (being able to run fast, jump high, etc) and basketball talent (hand-eye coordination, peripheral vision, muscle-memory, etc).

I have thought the current LV team lacks chemistry because the various skills the players possess do not mesh well. The easy example being that Carter and Reynolds neither one can shoot or score so having them on the court together creates a gap.

I think you said the same thing more succinctly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#184
#184
Franklin Pierce said:
What, exactly, was Tea giving us?
Click to expand...
At least she tried to make something happen vs Reynolds who stood at the top of the key dribbling the ball. Sure Cooper has her errors but at that moment they were clicking. Poor Carter. I love her but her shooting has gotten worse. Tell me what guard is a better option right now?
 
#185
#185
The score of the UConn/Chattanooga game just shows how far away from the top we have fallen. We can barely beat them in our own house and UConn is beating them by 50 in Chattanooga. I hope Holly is there and is taking some notes. At this point I wish the big announcement next week would be that Pat was coming back and taking over as head coach. Unfortunately even in her diminished state, she would be an improvement over the mess we have now. I back Pat, and we are all rolling with Holly. Rolling right into the ditch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#188
#188
I am still amazed that Holly is not making an effort to sign one of the 4 remaining three star post. We are going to have a very short bench.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#189
#189
casetopia said:
Uconn 79 Chattanooga 31

wow

we had to hold on to beat them by 2.
Click to expand...

You know it's because everyone plays their hardest when they play TN. That seems to be the excuse we hear often around here for teams with lesser talent playing us closer than they should.
 
#191
#191
Decker Moss said:
The score of the UConn/Chattanooga game just shows how far away from the top we have fallen. We can barely beat them in our own house and UConn is beating them by 50 in Chattanooga.
Click to expand...

I just checked UConn's schedule. They had a game in Connecticut on Saturday, flew to Tennessee on Sunday, and played today without a chance to practice. And they still put a beat-down on Chattanooga. We have got to find a new coach!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#193
#193
Martic said:
At least she tried to make something happen vs Reynolds who stood at the top of the key dribbling the ball. Sure Cooper has her errors but at that moment they were clicking. Poor Carter. I love her but her shooting has gotten worse. Tell me what guard is a better option right now?
Click to expand...

Cooper is a ROOKIE. She plays out of control. She turns the ball over and commits fouls. Cooper can't shoot any better than Carter or Reynolds. Cooper has a lot to learn, the first thing being that what worked for her in high school is not going to work in college.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#194
#194
Hoya Saxa said:
I just checked UConn's schedule. They had a game in Connecticut on Saturday, flew to Tennessee on Sunday, and played today without a chance to practice. And they still put a beat-down on Chattanooga. We have got to find a new coach!
Click to expand...

If I'm not mistaken you are a UCONN fan not a TN fan. What are you trying to fool.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#195
#195
Hoya Saxa said:
I just checked UConn's schedule. They had a game in Connecticut on Saturday, flew to Tennessee on Sunday, and played today without a chance to practice. And they still put a beat-down on Chattanooga. We have got to find a new coach!
Click to expand...

C'mon, Hoya. You bring a lot of good information to the discussion, and you have a lot of basketball knowledge, but the whole faking it as a Lady Vol fan makes you seem deceptive and lacking in integrity.

Just be honest about your team affiliation, and if you don't "spike the football", I think your point of view can add to the discussion.

Otherwise you just look silly because you're fooling no one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#196
#196
I do agree with Hoya on the point that as well as playing Lady Vols with its best effort, teams do the same for ND and UC..... that is just natural.....

Hopefully luck will change soon.... injuries will clear up and we get some type of offensive plan
 
#197
#197
LasVegasBill23 said:
I do agree with Hoya on the point that as well as playing Lady Vols with its best effort, teams do the same for ND and UC..... that is just natural.....

Hopefully luck will change soon.... injuries will clear up and we get some type of offensive plan
Click to expand...

Is luck another word for coach?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#200
#200
Hart needs to send Jody Adams a friend request. Then a few private messages. Take it slow and see what happens.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top