Jannah

#26
#26
What are we forgetting when we dream about Izzy and Janah taking us to the promise land? Yes that is right Holly is not any where close to being Moses. Remember that Massengale will still be running the point and Burdick will still get her 29 plus screwup minutes. This is a final 4 team with a final 8 coach. It is no way with what we have on the floor that Holly's screwed up coaching can equal a final 4 unless the team buys tickets to attend. :)
 
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#27
#27
Amb3096 said:
I'm not going to read too much into what happens in games where Izzy isn't there. No reasonable person would think that Tennessee would beat Texas without an inside presence for offense and defense. If they continued to stink it up once Izzy was back, then that's a different story.

And it's a sprained knee, not an ACL...not a concussion. I'll play the doom and gloom game if the team continues to suck once they are complete.
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Yes, i thought we would win that game, but after the debacle at UTC, I had my doubts, I think we would be much hungrier after a loss, aggressive, playing with a zest not wanting to lose again. We didn't, one player doesn't make a team, it take the right group of five players defending, rebounding, running the floor, and getting the best shot, we have no patience on either side of the ball.

Izzy is another option, but the girl still have to give her the ball in position to score.

The players around her have to get better, cos right now against average or real competition there is no fight in us til 15 minutes left in the game, then the players are complaining about being tired. Are you freakin' kidd me?

We are not a team we are five individual parts that have to find a way to gel on both sides of the ball. I was exhausted, I couldn't make free throws, who says dat???? smh

A teams is a reflection sometimes of its coach, Holly says the right thing but don't do it and the players are the same way. She looks rushed, timid, impatient, and confused, just like our players on the floor.
 
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#28
#28
And anybody still playing Burdick and Ariel, as a player I would be questioning em, I wouldn't listen to them cos to me you ain't trying to win. I hope the Freshmen don't start to feel this way. Cos it looks like this team still doesn't trust Holly, and what she is telling em to do is not translating to the floor. Holly dont understand ain't no better teacher like the bench, pine.

Holly prolly feels the pressure to win, which is prolly why she play players that shouldn't be playing rather rolling the dice with those who may be younger or might not be as athletic but damn good players, competitive, smart players, they'll figure it out.

Trust em Holly, cos right now your team doesn't trust you.
 
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#29
#29
if she doesn't want to play this year(izzy) then take her bennies. No living the life if ya don't put in the effort. my $0.02
 
#31
#31
volcrazy89 said:
If Izzy is the only difference between us and UTC, then we're up sh*t creek.
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I think that reading too much into the losses...even UTC...is misleading at this point. 1.) it's early in the season 2.) the team is adjusting to playing without their leading scorer from last year, Simmons 3.) the team is playing without their returning best player and only inside presence.

I think Holly should have found a way to win that game, even with the pieces that she had. She muffed it up by taking Moore out of the game. Her presence would have deterred some of UTC's dribble penetration. I would bet money that if the teams played again in March, Izzy or no Izzy, then Tennessee would steamroll them.

It's obvious that team chemistry and finding players to fit certain roles is lacking right now. If the team still looks like this come halfway through conference play, then I will pound the panic button. But for me, I'm willing to give the team (and Holly) the benefit of a doubt once I see how they learn to come together.
 
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#32
#32
Amb3096 said:
I think that reading too much into the losses...even UTC...is misleading at this point. 1.) it's early in the season 2.) the team is adjusting to playing without their leading scorer from last year, Simmons 3.) the team is playing without their returning best player and only inside presence.
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1: It is early in the season for everyone.

2: Every team has to adjust to new lineups every year or nearly every year. That should be easier at a place with resources like UT's.

3: And yeah, we are up **** creek without Izzy.
 
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#33
#33
Voluble2 said:
1: It is early in the season for everyone.

2: Every team has to adjust to new lineups every year or nearly every year. That should be easier at a place with resources like UT's.

3: And yeah, we are up **** creek without Izzy.
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Last year, Tennessee ran all of their plays for either Simmons or Izzy. Both of those players are absent, and there is not a single player on the team (except sometimes Ariel) who has shown the ability to create their own shot. They are big time struggling with their identify waiting for either Izzy to come back, or someone (or multiple people) to replace Simmons by committee.

Generally speaking, I'd say that it's easier for Tennessee to incorporate new players while others leave, but this was a bit much. Still...no excuse for UTC. That was a game that should've been won. But I'm not prepared to throw the season away because of a pair of stinkbombs early in the season while missing their best player.
 
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#34
#34
armchair said:
If Izzy had a sprained knee, she should be fine once the injury has healed. The idea that she should redshirt is crazy. The season just started. She will help--but nothing will truly fix this team except a completely new coaching staff.

RE Tucker: Anybody who thinks she will contribute significantly this year is whistling Dixie. She hasn't played in two years. Next year.
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My understanding is that this is another MCL sprain in the same knee that she injured with the same injury as a sophomore. She was out several games then, and struggled when she came back.

I agree about Tucker. If she's a difference-maker when she returns to play, I will be very pleasantly surprised.

teacherdean said:
... This is a final 4 team with a final 8 coach...
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This is our situation in a nutshell.

Amb3096 said:
...They are big time struggling with their identify waiting for either Izzy to come back, or someone (or multiple people) to replace Simmons by committee...
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It seems to me that our Committee of Outside Threats is composed of our mostly unplayed freshmen.
 
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#35
#35
I see a team that, that don't trust each other and no defined roles. 3 point shooting is not the problem or outside threats, its trusting you gonna get the ball back in scoring before someone jack up an ill advised shot. The players look rushed to make something happen cos everyone want to be the star rather than work as a team to get the best shot.

Offense is all about patience.
 
#36
#36
Per Maria M. Cornelius on twitter

Jannah Tucker serving second game suspension for missed classes. Can play Sunday.
 
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#37
#37
FrozenLVFan said:
It seems to me that our Committee of Outside Threats is composed of our mostly unplayed freshmen.
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As it should be. That's what they were recruited for. Ariel can score, but she's not like Simmons. This team needs scorers, whether freshmen or upperclassmen.
 
#40
#40
Holly confirmed that she was cleared to play before the TX game in her press conference after the game tonight but said she may be serving more game suspensions for missing more classes. So Sunday isn't looking so good for seeing her play finally. I was encouraged to hear Holly say that Jannah looks good and the 2 years off from playing hasn't affected her ability to score! Hope to see her on the court sooner than later!!
 
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#44
#44
Amb3096 said:
I think that reading too much into the losses...even UTC...is misleading at this point. 1.) it's early in the season 2.) the team is adjusting to playing without their leading scorer from last year, Simmons 3.) the team is playing without their returning best player and only inside presence.

I think Holly should have found a way to win that game, even with the pieces that she had. She muffed it up by taking Moore out of the game. Her presence would have deterred some of UTC's dribble penetration. I would bet money that if the teams played again in March, Izzy or no Izzy, then Tennessee would steamroll them.

It's obvious that team chemistry and finding players to fit certain roles is lacking right now. If the team still looks like this come halfway through conference play, then I will pound the panic button. But for me, I'm willing to give the team (and Holly) the benefit of a doubt once I see how they learn to come together.
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I seriously cannot believe anyone would make an excuse to losing to mothereffin UT-Chattanooga. Lowly, Jim Foster-coached, lost-to-Arkansas-State-after-beating-UT, UT-Chattanooga.
 
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#47
#47
Warlick a top 8 coach? That's funny: She's not even a top 64 coach--SERIOUSLY. Have you watched this team the last few years? We lose to every decent team we play--and really good teams embarrass us. We looked pathetic in the first half against texas--PATHETIC; our players had no idea what they were doing on offense. As usually, the astute Warlick attributed the loss to "not playing hard" and not playing good defense--her usual, simplistic mantra after losses. We played plenty hard against Texas; the problem was, we played badly. You can play hard and play badly in basketball--it happens a lot, especially with UT.

UT's offense seems to rely on getting the ball to certain players--starting with Harrison inside--and hoping they can score. This type of 1v1--beat your defender and score--scheme does not work for us against quality opponents because 1) we do not have great players who can beat defenders off the dribble. We have a collection of good players with individual talents that must be meshed. And 2) Quality teams play good team, help defense. Look at Jones now: She is showing some offensive confidence with the ball now--but she gets the ball 20 feet from the basket and wants to beat her defender and score. That didn't work against texas--and it's not going to work against any quality opponent. She will lose the ball or force shots. This is why why our turnover number is consistently high and our assist number is typically low. We had 3--repeat 3--assists against texas, according to the stats. That is almost unheard of.

Also, quality coaches do not play offense liek we do: Their players MOVE WITHOUT the BALL, take advantage of screens, and they pass the ball well, so that somebody is getting open, getting the ball, and getting a good look at the basket. That is A1 Basketball Fundamentals. They do not have four players standing around watching one player try to beat her defender. This is why our offense SUX--goes in the toilet--just about EVERY time we play a quality opponent. What works against St. Francis and mississippi state does not work against Stanford and Notre Dame.

The problem is not that UT doesn't play hard, usually. It's that we are not well coached. Warlick and Co. do not know how to meld our individual player talents (which vary a lot), so that the whole is better than the sum of the parts--that's the essence of good coaching. They don't develop smart basketball players and a smart team with real chemistry. This is why we look like crap every time we play a quality team.

We do not have any great players on this team. But almost everybody we have is a good player, or has the potential to be good, and was highly recruited. ANY coach can say, "Pass the ball to C. Parker and let her do her thing." That's easy. Good coaches take good individual talent and build a good, smart, hard-nosed team out of it. That is more challenging--and most certainly what our coaches have not done and do not do.

In the end I sadly and cynically predict that this season will play out like several previous seasons. Into the NCAA tourney, two wins over easy opponents, and then we will get handled by the first tough, quality opponent we play. Hope I'm wrong! The Notre Dame game there will be a REAL window on the team. I can almost see Warlick shaking her head afterwards and complaining about lack of hard work and defense now...
 
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#48
#48
Although I'm frustrated as well I still have faith in this team. I know a lot of people are upset with the way Holly is coaching but in all honesty we have to get over it. She's not going in anywhere. We cant keep lingering on this every week or every time they lose. As stated above we don't have that one great player that can take over a game like Stewart or Lloyd so we have to play better team ball. Next year I think we will have that go to player. I also agree that we do not move without the ball. Notre Dame moves so well without the ball.
 
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#49
#49
volcrazy89 said:
I seriously cannot believe anyone would make an excuse to losing to mothereffin UT-Chattanooga. Lowly, Jim Foster-coached, lost-to-Arkansas-State-after-beating-UT, UT-Chattanooga.
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I'm not making excuses. They had no reason for losing this game, with or without Harrison. But at the same time, I'm not ready to write off the season because of one crappy loss. The pieces are there for this to be a very good team, as long as Holly uses the pieces correctly.
 
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#50
#50
armchair said:
In the end I sadly and cynically predict that this season will play out like several previous seasons. Into the NCAA tourney, two wins over easy opponents, and then we will get handled by the first tough, quality opponent we play. Hope I'm wrong! The Notre Dame game there will be a REAL window on the team. I can almost see Warlick shaking her head afterwards and complaining about lack of hard work and defense now...
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Sure that may happen, but it also seems like every year we have a slew of problems off the court related to injuries or losing key players. The first 1 to arguably 4 years AFTER our last national championship, which was LARGELY due to loading up so heavily on one class, it not only left us with a deficicency of talent but we ended up RELYING on Freshman the next several years to be leaders. That has cost us in many ways for many years because all those Freshman classes had to learn on the job the right way to play and lead and they likely developed bad habits. The ideal way to do

Think about it, this is the first year I can remember since our National Championship where we aren't looking to Freshman to be our "go to" players. Last year, we all wanted Mercedes to be the answer. The year before that, Graves was arguably one of our best players as a Freshman. When Ariel came in as a Freshman, we all breathed a sigh of relief that we had a TRUE point guard for the first time in a long time. The year before that "Speedy" IIRC was the leading high scorer in an early ranked game against Louisville.

Then, to add fuel to the fire, we have been so injury prone. Mercedes out for the year. Jannah out for the year. Ariel missed half the season (the second more important half) last year. Diamond isn't hurt but has to sit out due to transfer rules. Izzy goes down early this year. I'm sure there's other players I'm forgetting.

That's not to say that Holly is a good coach or isn't. I still think a coach needs a full 4 years of THEIR players and not a ton of injuries. But, it's worth remembering.
 
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