It is Time to Put A Fork in The LV Season

#1

teacherdean

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#1
This has been a frustrating season watching the Lady Vols, however, those of us that love them refused to jump ship. Yes some of us complained and prayed for better results, and the Ladies made some remarkable improvements in the last 9 games, however, they fell short of their original expectations as well as other teams, i.e. USC, Baylor & ND.

Some will use the failures of others to justify our erratic season, if that makes you happy, then so be it. To me the expectation should always be number one. The expectation should not be to just make the NCAA's, make the Sweet 16, the Elite 8 but to make the final four and eventually become a national champion. We should recruit that way, coach that way and expect no less. When we start accepting small victories, that is all they are. When we lower the bar, we will get exactly what we expect.

UCONN has set the bar and the LV goal should be to reach that bar and reset the bar. We did it before, and with the proper expectations, coaching and recruiting we can once again be at the top of the food chain. Once we accept second best, or less, that is exactly what we will become.

Hang in there fellow Lady Vol fans stay on the bandwagon and hope for much brighter days to come. :dance2:
 
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#5
#5
Starters for next year or is it too early????

Russell, Diamond and Jaime are all but guaranteed. Probably Jordan as well.

Bashaara's open spot should be up for grabs. The best case scenario is to get a solid JUCO who can fill the role immediately and provide enough scoring and rebounding to make up for Bashaara's absence. If they can't get recruits, then this is a great opportunity for Kortney to come in as a stretch 4. If Cooper learns to play under control during the off-season, she would be a viable option to either play with Jordan, or ultimately replace her in the starting lineup.

The biggest mistake would be to make Andraya the fifth starter, thus bringing Tennessee back to a non-scoring backcourt.

Middleton and Jackson just need to get better. Alexa in particular has been a huge disappointment that she can barely get on the court during the tournaments. As a sophomore, she needs to show more improvement than that.
 
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#6
#6
I'm really concerned that Holly and her staff have not signed anybody for next year. Not one girl. Either they can't recruit or the girls just don't want to play for Holly. Most of the best high school girls have already committed to other schools. I can't understand why a school like Tennessee can't get new talent?
 
#9
#9
Russell, Diamond and Jaime are all but guaranteed. Probably Jordan as well.

Bashaara's open spot should be up for grabs. The best case scenario is to get a solid JUCO who can fill the role immediately and provide enough scoring and rebounding to make up for Bashaara's absence. If they can't get recruits, then this is a great opportunity for Kortney to come in as a stretch 4. If Cooper learns to play under control during the off-season, she would be a viable option to either play with Jordan, or ultimately replace her in the starting lineup.

The biggest mistake would be to make Andraya the fifth starter, thus bringing Tennessee back to a non-scoring backcourt.

Middleton and Jackson just need to get better. Alexa in particular has been a huge disappointment that she can barely get on the court during the tournaments. As a sophomore, she needs to show more improvement than that.

i`m with you on Russell, Diamond and Jaime, note i think the if all other option fail move Nared to the 4 she rebounds very well also she should be able to stretch the defense. As for the back court. Tennessee need a pair of guards that can defend and get on the offense. If Holly or who ever is coach go with Reynolds at one guard spot they must work with her on the offensive end this summer. As for Cooper ? is there any guards left from the 2016 class ? if so please step forward.
 
#10
#10
I think there will be as many as three that will leave the program. Two should leave because they will never get to play in close games. ever..........
 
#11
#11
Jordan Semeka Diamond Jaime and Mercedes



Russell, Diamond and Jaime are all but guaranteed. Probably Jordan as well.

Bashaara's open spot should be up for grabs. The best case scenario is to get a solid JUCO who can fill the role immediately and provide enough scoring and rebounding to make up for Bashaara's absence. If they can't get recruits, then this is a great opportunity for Kortney to come in as a stretch 4. If Cooper learns to play under control during the off-season, she would be a viable option to either play with Jordan, or ultimately replace her in the starting lineup.

The biggest mistake would be to make Andraya the fifth starter, thus bringing Tennessee back to a non-scoring backcourt.

Middleton and Jackson just need to get better. Alexa in particular has been a huge disappointment that she can barely get on the court during the tournaments. As a sophomore, she needs to show more improvement than that.
 
#12
#12
I'm really concerned that Holly and her staff have not signed anybody for next year. Not one girl. Either they can't recruit or the girls just don't want to play for Holly. Most of the best high school girls have already committed to other schools. I can't understand why a school like Tennessee can't get new talent?

Answer; Holly can't coach and she can't recruit, only in the women's game would a school allow to happen what is happening to the Lady Vols. Can you imagine what would happen if the men's basketball or football team failed to land a single recruit? Holly failed to recruit one 2016 recruit but claims she is so committed to the Lady Vols, if that was really true, she would realize how inept she is as a head coach and resign, however, as is, she stands a chance to receive, not earn because that is very questionable, approximately, counting this year, a little over 2 million dollars. Why in the world would she quit when being inept pays so well?

You ask why can't Holly recruit the girls we need? Have you seen Holly during an interview? If you have not it is a really sad situation. She scratches nearly every part of her body, steadily plays with the back of her hair, seems nervous, looks real uncomfortable and insecure and stumbles a lot when she answers questions. She might be a little better when talking to recruits but I seriously doubt it.
 
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#13
#13
Answer; Holly can't coach and she can't recruit, only in the women's game would a school allow to happen what is happening to the Lady Vols. Can you imagine what would happen if the men's basketball or football team failed to land a single recruit? Holly failed to recruit one 2016 recruit but claims she is so committed to the Lady Vols, if that was really true, she would realize how inept she is as a head coach and resign, however, as is, she stands a chance to receive, not earn because that is very questionable, approximately, counting this year, a little over 2 million dollars. Why in the world would she quit when being inept pays so well.

Recall how everyone keeps saying the LVs have seven McDonald AA on the roster. They were all recruited by Holly. So, the blanket statement that Holly can't recruit is factually false.

Goose eggs for 2016 is not good but even CPS had off years recruiting--which for example, led the mass influx of freshman after the Candace parker group graduated,.

You have been hammering and hammering on this failure to sign a player for 2016 all season long. I would imagine most everyone agrees that this is a worrisome occurrence. okay? But one year does not make a pattern. If Holly and staff have dismal recruitng results for 2017, then it really is time to sound the alarm. But, one off year (particularly when UT athletics has been mired in controversy) is not definitive evidence of anything.

Going into next season, the LVs roster would actually be in decent shape if Jasmine Jones had not her career ended by concussions. When Mercedes was off the court, they would have still had a decent sized, small ball team. Without her, there are going to be some match-up problems to be redressed.
 
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#14
#14
Recall how everyone keeps saying the LVs have seven McDonald AA on the roster. They were all recruited by Holly. So, the blanket statement that Holly can't recruit is factually false.

Goose eggs for 2016 is not good but even CPS had off years recruiting--which for example, led the mass influx of freshman after the Candace parker group graduated,.

You have been hammering and hammering on this failure to sign a player for 2016 all season long. I would imagine most everyone agrees that this is a worrisome occurrence. okay? But one year does not make a pattern. If Holly and staff have dismal recruitng results for 2017, then it really is time to sound the alarm. But, one off year (particularly when UT athletics has been mired in controversy) is not definitive evidence of anything.

Going into next season, the LVs roster would actually be in decent shape if Jasmine Jones had not her career ended by concussions. When Mercedes was off the court, they would have still had a decent sized, small ball team. Without her, there are going to be some match-up problems to be redressed.

Hope lives eternally but Pat never had a donut recruit year and somehow, she or someone coached up the players. So if Holly is the greatest recruiter in the world, the inability to coach what you have is going to bite her in the butt. She also has the glaring inability to make in game changes. Remember she has been unable to find a big for the last three years or to fill all of her available scholarships. Failure to recruit or one bad recruiting year can and will have some negative effects upon any athletic program, so the 2016 donut is a major issue. Holly is simply not the coach to take the program to the top five level. If she is that person, she needs to change at least a major portion of her coaching philosophy. Unless there is a change in what we seen this year, this is as good as it is going to get. I will still support the LV's but the program is in need of some major changes. It has to start with the coaching.
 
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#15
#15
When asked in post-game pressers about this problem or that issue, Holly has reiterated her strategy and finished with: "That's what I was taught" or "That's all I know to do."

Holly's staying, but I wish we could bring in someone who would offer a fresh perspective. The staff needs new blood, new ideas-- the we've-always-done-things-this-way approach is stale. We need to try some different things and see if we can't maximize the potential of the players we have-- since we may not be getting any more for a while.
 
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#16
#16
I just wished we could bring back the UCONN game. Blow out or not. They are the bar. That game will always let us know where we stand. They didn't blow out South Carolina. We hung with Carolina. So maybe our talent isn't that far off. Just need a couple good freshmen post. And a couple deadly shooters.
 
#17
#17
I just wished we could bring back the UCONN game. Blow out or not. They are the bar. That game will always let us know where we stand. They didn't blow out South Carolina. We hung with Carolina. So maybe our talent isn't that far off. Just need a couple good freshmen post. And a couple deadly shooters.

Not meant toward you, but what is it about this season that makes it unclear where the LV's stand?

For the 2015 season (Massengale, Harrison, and Burdick's last season) the LV's shot as a team 42.5% and 33.9% from three. The opponents percentages were 37.4% and 30.7%.

For the 2016 season just concluded, here the numbers: 40.8% and 25.4% from three. The opponents numbers were 37.9% and 31.1%.

All four shooting stats got worse from 2015 to 2016. For me, this is the only storyline that matters.
 
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#18
#18
Not meant toward you, but what is it about this season that makes it unclear where the LV's stand?

For the 2015 season (Massengale, Harrison, and Burdick's last season) the LV's shot as a team 42.5% and 33.9% from three. The opponents percentages were 37.4% and 30.7%.

For the 2016 season just concluded, here the numbers: 40.8% and 25.4% from three. The opponents numbers were 37.9% and 31.1%.

All four shooting stats got worse from 2015 to 2016. For me, this is the only storyline that matters.

For me it's the lack of discipline and leadership from the top down. Holly at times just seemed lost and had no answers. Everyone talked about how Jordan was a calming influence when she ran the point. But where was the vocal leadership. Not one time this year did I see one player get into another players face. Sometimes you just have to get in their grill. Along with Holly. She needs to blast some of these players and let them know this is her goals for the team. Quit being so passive. As far as next year. The lack of shooters has me worried. We don't have that one deadly shooter. I know most people want to say Dunbar. But if she can't contribute defensively then she isn't going to play. And out offense. If we don't decide on one identity and stick to it. Then we will never be a cohesive group. Cooper was a freshman. Maturity will help her there. She can't go at 100 mph all the time. And of course recruiting. We all feel a little desperation on the Recruiting side.
 
#19
#19
For me it's the lack of discipline and leadership from the top down. Holly at times just seemed lost and had no answers. Everyone talked about how Jordan was a calming influence when she ran the point. But where was the vocal leadership. Not one time this year did I see one player get into another players face. Sometimes you just have to get in their grill. Along with Holly. She needs to blast some of these players and let them know this is her goals for the team. Quit being so passive. As far as next year. The lack of shooters has me worried. We don't have that one deadly shooter. I know most people want to say Dunbar. But if she can't contribute defensively then she isn't going to play. And out offense. If we don't decide on one identity and stick to it. Then we will never be a cohesive group. Cooper was a freshman. Maturity will help her there. She can't go at 100 mph all the time. And of course recruiting. We all feel a little desperation on the Recruiting side.

I almost wish Holly had only 5 players next season. As dumb as that sounds, it would stop her from her inexplicable tinkering with the lineups. Good grief why she cannot pick 7 players and go with them I don't know. She got better at this at the end of the season but her lineup and substitution patterns results in a noticeable lack of continuity.

I agree about Cooper, shooters, and Dunbar.

I came into this season energized as were others. Next season is depressing to contemplate.
 
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#20
#20
I almost wish Holly had only 5 players next season. As dumb as that sounds, it would stop her from her inexplicable tinkering with the lineups. Good grief why she cannot pick 7 players and go with them I don't know. She got better at this at the end of the season but her lineup and substitution patterns results in a noticeable lack of continuity.

I agree about Cooper, shooters, and Dunbar.

I came into this season energized as were others. Next season is depressing to contemplate.

Middleton in particular has more potential than she's showing thus far. Maybe it was the foot injury, but she has the skillset to contribute more. I don't think she's the answer to bringing the ball down against a press, but she is another perimeter passer with good court vision, is a smart defensive player, and can play the role of a spot up shooter if she stops looking to pass first. Her and Cooper have the potential to be a strong backcourt...certainly stronger than Jordan/Andraya who have been a liability for 2 years and counting now.

The problem is that I expect Holly to be loyal to her seniors, and fully expect to see Jordan/Andraya starting next season and picking up where they left off this year. Unless those two get WAY better (or 2 of the guards on the bench surpass them enough that Holly is forced to change the rotation), then there is no reason to think that next year will be any better.
 
#21
#21
I almost wish Holly had only 5 players next season. As dumb as that sounds, it would stop her from her inexplicable tinkering with the lineups. Good grief why she cannot pick 7 players and go with them I don't know. She got better at this at the end of the season but her lineup and substitution patterns results in a noticeable lack of continuity.

I agree about Cooper, shooters, and Dunbar.

I came into this season energized as were others. Next season is depressing to contemplate.

In the middle of the season, everyone was playing poorly. I can't fault her for tinkering with lineups to try to find one that worked. Unfortunately, none of them worked well.
 
#23
#23
In the middle of the season, everyone was playing poorly. I can't fault her for tinkering with lineups to try to find one that worked. Unfortunately, none of them worked well.

One reason they were playing poorly is because Holly kept yanking them in and out of the lineup. No continuity ever developed until she settled on Russell, Graves, Nared, DeShields, and Reynolds. Then they began playing half way decent.
 
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#24
#24
It's hard to figure out a correct description for the Vols this year other than erratic and puzzling. Anyone shown the results of just the two OSU (Oregon and Ohio), Arizona State and second Texas A&M games and asked how you they would rate the team that beat the Sagarin 6, 12, 18, 24 teams would say they must be a solid top 10 or 20 team. Anyone shown just the results of just the VTech, Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas losses to Sagarin 80, 85, 100, 102 teams and asked to pass judgment would say the team was very bad. Sure, Stanford and Oklahoma had even worse losses, but it's hard to think of any team in recent years that in so many games could beat some of the best and lose to some of the worst P5 teams.

So despite the perceived lack of coaching abilities and player issues on the team, there has to be some deep down well of great play that can be pulled out for 40 minutes. But Tennessee this season just too often seemed to be playing to the level of an opponent, because along with the above 8 games, there were a bunch of solidly close losses to South Carolina, ND, KY, and Miss St x 2 and a couple of late-season wins against bad teams that were way too close. All this points to a system that actually does have some pretty talented players but that is far too reactive to game conditions instead of having much of an overall plan.
 
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