Kellie Harper discussion/debate thread [merged]

[chuckiepoo]

That’s been day to day for the last half million years.

I knew Kellie was involved…

 

[madtownvol]

I knew Kellie was involved…

Her recruiting during the Pleistocene era was pretty substandard too. She only could sign Neanderthals from the high school ranks and had to rely on the transfer portal for homo sapiens. Just not sustainable.

 

[VolFuture]

Since we don't play again until a week from today, and I'm assuming we will pretty much be back a full strength then we should win our next two games without issue. So my question is, if we're 7-5 going into SEC play, how many SEC wins will we need to make The NCAA tournament and if we're on the bubble, will the committee factor in Rickea's early season injury?

Finish in the top 6 and it’s not a question really

 

[1reVOLver]

Her recruiting during the Pleistocene era was pretty substandard too. She only could sign Neanderthals from the high school ranks and had to rely on the transfer portal for homo sapiens. Just not sustainable.

And we have it on good authority that the Fighting Gastropods had an insurmountable NIL collective. Some naïve fans didn't want to accept it, but the slime trail…

I could have been there yesterday.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Finish in the top 6 and it’s not a question really

They real question is can we perform well enough to make the five line.

 

[pasadenavol]

They real question is can we perform well enough to make the five line.

Chuckie, the REAL question is actually can we make the tournament at all? If RJ can't come back at full strength, history could be made and not in a good way...

 

[chuckiepoo]

Chuckie, the REAL question is actually can we make the tournament at all? If RJ can't come back at full strength, history could be made and not in a good way...

Nah. If Charlie ain’t worried, I’m not worried. Does getting through the SEC schedule worry me? Not so much.

 

[Coach Jumper]

And we have it on good authority that the Fighting Gastropods had an insurmountable NIL collective. Some naïve fans didn't want to accept it, but the slime trail…

I could have been there yesterday.

glad you weren't

 

[Coach Jumper]

Chuckie, the REAL question is actually can we make the tournament at all? If RJ can't come back at full strength, history could be made and not in a good way...

Nah. If Charlie ain’t worried, I’m not worried. Does getting through the SEC schedule worry me? Not so much.

Rickea is set up for just such a challenge
This IS the opportunity that was predicted over a year ago
To join the likes of Chamique and Candace, Kea has to do something to equal their legend
This door is fully open now
Don't expect a shutdown, expect an explosion

 

[chuckiepoo]

Rickea is set up for just such a challenge
This IS the opportunity that was predicted over a year ago
To join the likes of Chamique and Candace, Kea has to do something to equal their legend
This door is fully open now
Don't expect a shutdown, expect an explosion

If there is one aspect of coaching Kellie has managed well, it is coaching around deficiencies created by injury.

 

[Harpethriverkid63]

If there is one aspect of coaching Kellie has managed well, it is coaching around deficiencies created by injury.

And the good coaches opposing such players coaches to attack those deficiencies.

 

[chuckiepoo]

And the good coaches, opposing such players, coaches to attack those deficiencies.

Fyp…

 

[Dak1219]

Seeing this tweet hurts. Neither Texas or LSU were going to make the ncaa tournament the last year of their previous coaches' tenure. The ADs at Texas and LSU had not extended Karen Aniston's and Nikki Caldwell Vargus' contracts. Those ADs went out and gotten proven coaches and now, in less than 4 years, each is a real national championship contender. (Mulkey won her second year). Oh, I wish our new coach had performed as well. It hurts to be a Tennessee Lady Vol fan and watch how our team performs.

You say this however Kellie has beaten 3 of the 4 teams over the last 4 years, which means in Head to Head matchups she's beaten three out of the four coaches here. If she doesn't know how to coach how did this happen? Beat Vic Shafer, beat Dawn Staley, and beat kim Mulkey. How can this be?

 

[SGMVols]

At least see a second round NCAA tournament game in this team future. But time will tell. No reason why they don't win one NCAA tournament game with JACKSON back around SEC season.

This team has many other problems besides not having RJ. I am not optimistic that just getting her back fixes everything.

 

[Coach Jumper]

This team has many other problems besides not having RJ. I am not optimistic that just getting her back fixes everything.

its not "just getting her back" that will fix things,,,it's the fact that the "something missing" reappears...A leader

 

[Majors]

its not "just getting her back" that will fix things,,,it's the fact that the "something missing" reappears...A leader

Because others can’t take a game over.
Striplin showed up for 29 but can she do that against better competition when RJ is double teamed?

 

[Coach Jumper]

Because others can’t take a game over.
Striplin showed up for 29 but can she do that against better competition when RJ is double teamed?

It's not about "taking the game over" that makes you a leader. It's about "presence".
We have all seen Jillian, Jazzy, Jewel, Sara, and even brief moments of the others "take the game over" for a moment or even a span,,,but did it last? And more so was it continual. And even more importantly, was it contagious? Did it spread and permeate through the others?

Once Rickea got beyond her friction with Kellie, she didn't take her foot off the gas and led the team, she led them game to game. Meeting and exceeding expectations. More importantly, inspiring the troops to get the best out of them. Take Michael out of the Bulls lineup and they were a whole different team. Phil coached them but Michael was their leader,,,their inspiration to play better.

 

[Majors]

It's not about "taking the gameover" that makes you a leader. It's about "presence".
We have all seen Jillian, Jazzy, Jewel, Sara, and even brief moments of the others "take the game over" for a moment or even a span,,,but did it last? And more so was it continual.

Once Rickea got beyond her friction with Kellie, she didn't take her foot off the gas and led the team, she lead them game to game. Meeting and exceeding expectations. More importantly, inspiring the troops to get the best out of them. Take Michael out of the Bulls lineup and they were a whole different team. Phil coached them but Michael was their leader

Not sure we view RJ the same in regards to leader. Outstanding basketball player yes, leader I’ve yet to see it. Her time on the bench has been down at the end with very little interaction almost disinterested when the camera pans to her. We have a small sample size early in the year of what she brings out in this team.

 

[Jep]

I think by using the term 'inbred' arky meant from the Pat coaching tree. Kellie will always be a LVFL!

She is so loyal to her " recruiting guru's" that it's destroying this great tradition of women's basketball. They CAN'T recruit High school players and that is a PROVEN FACT. If she isn't willing to make changes she HAS to go. Dragging this Great legacy through the mud.

 

[Go aeiou]

She is so loyal to her " recruiting guru's" that it's destroying this great tradition of women's basketball. They CAN'T recruit High school players and that is a PROVEN FACT. If she isn't willing to make changes she HAS to go. Dragging this Great legacy through the mud.

Who are her "recruiting gurus"?

 

[glv98]

Not sure we view RJ the same in regards to leader. Outstanding basketball player yes, leader I’ve yet to see it. Her time on the bench has been down at the end with very little interaction almost disinterested when the camera pans to her. We have a small sample size early in the year of what she brings out in this team.

This is not a demonstrative team. They are not yellers and screamers. They cheer appropriately, were pretty fired up after the OK game, including RJ. They cheer comebacks from the bench appropriately. They just don't show big emotions outwardly very often. This is true of the team in general and both KJH and RJ specifically.

Many have the kneejerk response that THIS is the problem - lack of passion. If only someone would jump up and down and scream we'd feel alot better. But not showing big emotion does not mean they don't have them. We have no idea how things play out behind the scenes or who leads who where. All that crap about no effort, no passion, lack a leader, call a meeting, is just stuff frustrated fans write. If fixing technical problems were as easy as all that, it would have been done long ago.

RJ specifically is very much a focus player. She'll certainly let a ref know if she's unhappy and definitely have a quick word or so with an opponent. But generally she's is very even and dialed in on the court. W scouts have mentioned that as an asset. So if you're looking for a theatrical display of "leadership" fm her, you are unlikely to get it. Right now, it's a tricky situation trying to "lead" when you're not practicing or playing.

We're so into facial expression and body language parsing these days. Could what you see as "disinterested" possibly be "sad" instead? Like it's kinda hard watching your team get a mudhole stomped in them and nothing you can do sad? And each loss bringing more and more pressure for when you do get back sad? Bet you if she was dancing and laughing during some of these losses there would be stuff said. Ain't too happy over there right now.

Bottom line, you can play hard and work hard without making a show of it. You can care and try hard wo pointing it out. You can "lead" without a public audience. And we have zero real idea what goes on with any of it.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Not sure we view RJ the same in regards to leader. Outstanding basketball player yes, leader I’ve yet to see it. Her time on the bench has been down at the end with very little interaction almost disinterested when the camera pans to her. We have a small sample size early in the year of what she brings out in this team.

And that is the very problem. Kellie has put the leadership of this team in the hands of Darby. #4 in minutes played. Striplin, the most consistent one this season is 6th...figure that out.

Said about Darby in the article:

https://www.utdailybeacon.com/sports/womens_basketball/tess-darby-s-defensive-growth-comes-at-a-crucial-time-for-tennessee/article_a426c5ba-9378-11ed-995e-972e95b8d0e1.html:

“I think we’ve found our niche with Tess defensively,” Harper said. “The end of the game we weren’t getting stops at Vanderbilt. We had to put Tess back in on the defensive end. Not because of her quickness and her lateral speed, but just her IQ. She’ll communicate, she understands where she needs to be. We’ve found what kind of works for her.”

I forget the article, but somewhere else Coach Harper said Tess Darby was calling the defensive movements.

If I was Kea and I was sitting on the bench, virtually ignored, I would sit back and let the so called leadership and designated leader show me that she can do what I do and instill it into the troops.

 

[glv98]

If I was Kea and I was sitting on the bench, virtually ignored, I would sit back and let the so called leadership and designated leader show me that she can do what I do and instill it into the troops.

That would be so effing childish and petty. The kind of middle school games you don't need on a team already under pressure. Virtually ignored? What do you want them to do, make a periodic pilgramage?

Aren't those quotes about Leader Tess from last year? Not the same situation now.

Again, ya'll have no idea who's looked to as "leader" and how that plays out on this team. Maybe they do need better "leadership" but I'm sure they'll fix any of that internally without our help.

 

[Majors]

This is not a demonstrative team. They are not yellers and screamers. They cheer appropriately, were pretty fired up after the OK game, including RJ. They cheer comebacks from the bench appropriately. They just don't show big emotions outwardly very often. This is true of the team in general and both KJH and RJ specifically.

Many have the kneejerk response that THIS is the problem - lack of passion. If only someone would jump up and down and scream we'd feel alot better. But not showing big emotion does not mean they don't have them. We have no idea how things play out behind the scenes or who leads who where. All that crap about no effort, no passion, lack a leader, call a meeting, is just stuff frustrated fans write. If fixing technical problems were as easy as all that, it would have been done long ago.

RJ specifically is very much a focus player. She'll certainly let a ref know if she's unhappy and definitely have a quick word or so with an opponent. But generally she's is very even and dialed in on the court. W scouts have mentioned that as an asset. So if you're looking for a theatrical display of "leadership" fm her, you are unlikely to get it. Right now, it's a tricky situation trying to "lead" when you're not practicing or playing.

We're so into facial expression and body language parsing these days. Could what you see as "disinterested" possibly be "sad" instead? Like it's kinda hard watching your team get a mudhole stomped in them and nothing you can do sad? And each loss bringing more and more pressure for when you do get back sad?

Bottom line, you can play hard and work hard without making a show of it. You can care and try hard wo pointing it out. You can "lead" without a public audience. And we have zero real idea what goes on with any of it.

You don’t have to be a yeller or screamer to be a leader. Don’t disagree about playing hard and making a show of it …kwahi leonard for example leads by example. As a team we are soft on tge court no other way to explain it from my view. I said weeks ago we lack intensity, diving on the floor for a loose ball (Ziegler for example for the men), tying up and making sure we have our hands in the ball last, not being pushed/bullied around like OSU did from the start.

In regards to the second paragraph, that’s lack of accountability. Banners hang because of the standard set decades before and if can play/practice under those banners and not feel you’ve disrespected the legacy then that player lacks accountability….just happy to be here and get the free swag and be a lady vol.

 

[glv98]

You don’t have to be a yeller or screamer to be a leader. Don’t disagree about playing hard and making a show of it …kwahi leonard for example leads by example. As a team we are soft on tge court no other way to explain it from my view. I said weeks ago we lack intensity, diving on the floor for a loose ball (Ziegler for example for the men), tying up and making sure we have our hands in the ball last, not being pushed/bullied around like OSU did from the start.

In regards to the second paragraph, that’s lack of accountability. Banners hang because of the standard set decades before and if can play/practice under those banners and not feel you’ve disrespected the legacy then that player lacks accountability….just happy to be here and get the free swag and be a lady vol.

Maybe they don't feel they've "disrespected the legacy" whatever that means? Accountable for what? Not being very good? Listen, too many of them are simply not quite players at a consistent level we need to compete for championships. Period. So they lose games. They are not happy about it, and it's not for "the swag".

That your default reason for bad play is that they're lazy and greedy probably says more about you Mr. Grinch.