Kellie Harper discussion/debate thread [merged]

[Darth_Vol]

And into the year before as well. Then Rickea came back and it changed to this year. Then Rickea got hurt and it changed to . . .

For sure the goalposts keep moving given circumstances. But I really do think next yr is it. And with the obvious dropoff, which we've had a terrifying preview of already, it does not look good. Serious discussion will begin then.

Great... until Spear tears an ACL next season. Or Puckett suddenly decides she wants to transfer. Or Cooper has a medical situation come up. Or whatever unfortunate and unforeseen but inevitable attrition that crops up every season for just about every program.

Then we wait for the 25-26 season, that will REALLY be Kellie's last chance...

 

[LadyVol1908]

In the end only one guy makes the decision and I can accept what he decides either way. Hopefully however it turns out we don't lose the players coming in next year and 2025 as those are three of the best players she has ever recruited definitely the best other than Rickea Jackson and Horston.

Between next year and 2025, we only have 2 players. Who is the 3rd?

 

[Coach Jumper]

Between next year and 2025, we only have 2 players. Who is the 3rd?

Talaysia Cooper

 

[madtownvol]

And into the year before as well. Then Rickea came back and it changed to this year. Then Rickea got hurt and it changed to . . .

For sure the goalposts keep moving given circumstances. But I really do think next yr is it. And with the obvious dropoff, which we've had a terrifying preview of already, it does not look good. Serious discussion will begin then.

When I say 100% KJH is back, I'm not talking about should happen, or what fans call for. Unless she resigns, there's 0% chance KJH is not the LV coach next year. She will not be fired after this season no matter what.

All good points but we don't know what next year's team will look like with Cooper and more adjusted Spear, freshman Boyd, and improved returners and of course, we have to await the transfer portal magic, where finding another PG becomes a priority.

 

[Volfan2012]

Between next year and 2025, we only have 2 players. Who is the 3rd?

I'm adding Cooper cause she is sitting out a year she could still use her free transfer.

 

[LadyVol1908]

I'm adding Cooper cause she is sitting out a year she could still use her free transfer.

I keep forgetting we have Cooper on the sidelines!

 

[Darth_Vol]

Unless she resigns, there's 0% chance KJH is not the LV coach next year. She will not be fired after this season no matter what.

Completely disagree. If this season craters and the LV's miss the tournament -- an unlikely scenario but certainly not impossible based on what we've seen -- White's hand will be forced...

 

[Volfan2012]

Back, no matter what. No matter who likes it or not (except ADDW).

Next year though, will be the tell.

I tend to agree that making the tournament would bring her back. I can't see her being allowed to comeback if we don't get in. That would be a huge surprise as we have never missed and I am still very fearful we could miss this season.

 

[glv98]

Completely disagree. If this season craters and the LV's miss the tournament -- an unlikely scenario but certainly not impossible based on what we've seen -- White's hand will be forced...

I tend to agree that making the tournament would bring her back. I can't see her being allowed to comeback if we don't get in. That would be a huge surprise as we have never missed and I am still very fearful we could miss this season.

Agree to disagree. I think they make the tourney. But even if not, I don't think they're ready to hire a new coach in a few months. I think the process would begin, but I'd bet the house she gets another year.

Better to get the next hire right than to get it quick.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Completely disagree. If this season craters and the LV's miss the tournament -- an unlikely scenario but certainly not impossible based on what we've seen -- White's hand will be forced...

that's what was said about Fulmer's hand in Holly's year 5,,,two year's later it was a Holly Jolly departure

 

[Darth_Vol]

Agree to disagree. I think they make the tourney. But even if not, I don't think they're ready to hire a new coach in a few months. I think the process would begin, but I'd bet the house she gets another year.

Better to get the next hire right than to get it quick.

Your logic makes 0 sense. What makes you think the hiring process would be any less thorough after this season than it would be in another year?

Any halfway competent AD - which I believe White is - should already have a list of names to start with regardless of what happens…

 

[DarkPhoenix]

All good points but we don't know what next year's team will look like with Cooper and more adjusted Spear, freshman Boyd, and improved returners and of course, we have to await the transfer portal magic, where finding another PG becomes a priority.

We need at least 1 elite player through the portal but preferably 2.

 

[madtownvol]

Completely disagree. If this season craters and the LV's miss the tournament -- an unlikely scenario but certainly not impossible based on what we've seen -- White's hand will be forced...

I hope Satan has a sweater handy because hell has frozen over.

I ag, agg, agg...ree with you. Not making the NCAA tournament is the line in the sand that can not be crossed. If the LVs were to limp into the tourney as a relatively low seed and get bounced in the opening rounds, that would probably be a death blow too.

Holly got an extra year because she had a top 3 recruiting class coming in and it was like, let's see what she can do with the horses she is bringing in. Kellie does not have that lifeline.

 

[KrazyVolFan]

I feel like she needs to make a sweet sixteen. I am fully behind these ladies but this is year 5 and my expectations were higher for this year.

 

[glv98]

I still agree to disagree. It's still my opinion that only resignation or full blown scandal would cause KJH to be fired after this season. The injuries seal that. And yes that's an excuse and yes letting it go downhill another year wouldn't be helpful. But I still say the AD will give her at least another year. That's just how this works.

 

[Deebowbear]

I still agree to disagree. It's still my opinion that only resignation or full blown scandal would cause KJH to be fired after this season. The injuries seal that. And yes that's an excuse and yes letting it go downhill another year wouldn't be helpful. But I still say the AD will give her at least another year. That's just how this works.

If he does have no faith in DW just means they don’t care about lady VOLS basketball cause one more season way **** will be worse to get someone else. Look at the attendance it wo the story. Sec will be tough on her doubtful to win half the games

 

[YankeeVol]

I still agree to disagree. It's still my opinion that only resignation or full blown scandal would cause KJH to be fired after this season. The injuries seal that. And yes that's an excuse and yes letting it go downhill another year wouldn't be helpful. But I still say the AD will give her at least another year. That's just how this works.

IF the LV's miss the tourney, she should be 100% gone.

 

[madtownvol]

I still agree to disagree. It's still my opinion that only resignation or full blown scandal would cause KJH to be fired after this season. The injuries seal that. And yes that's an excuse and yes letting it go downhill another year wouldn't be helpful. But I still say the AD will give her at least another year. That's just how this works.

We are guessing here of course but the LVs missing the tournament would mean that they also tanked in SEC conference play. I don't think that kind of regression could be excused by injuries (the argument being that CKHJ should have built a more robust roster after 5 seasons).

But, this speculation is premature. I don't expect the LVs to tank in the conference schedule but the injury to Wells is an additional risk factor for sure.

 

[Rooster1]

I keep forgetting we have Cooper on the sidelines!

I’m curious what LV fans expect from Cooper right away. I know Earl said he has seen her in a few practices and he believes she looks the part, but I spent a year as a SC fan watching her, she is athletic as all can be, but she was considered a project that needed work to be polished, maybe this offseason she has reached that polished level, I’m just curious. Great person btw, and very competitive.

 

[knoxvol52]

I’m curious what LV fans expect from Cooper right away. I know Earl said he has seen her in a few practices and he believes she looks the part, but I spent a year as a SC fan watching her, she is athletic as all can be, but she was considered a project that needed work to be polished, maybe this offseason she has reached that polished level, I’m just curious. Great person btw, and very competitive.

TBD

 

[Coach Jumper]

I’m curious what LV fans expect from Cooper right away. I know Earl said he has seen her in a few practices and he believes she looks the part, but I spent a year as a SC fan watching her, she is athletic as all can be, but she was considered a project that needed work to be polished, maybe this offseason she has reached that polished level, I’m just curious. Great person btw, and very competitive.

I've been a fan of coop, since I saw her 2 years before she ever signed up for college basketball.

She will be the second coming of Jordan horston ... mark my words.t

 

[Rooster1]

TBD

An honest opinion here is I would not expect a stellar shooting percentage from Coop, not right away, but the rest of her game, defense, play making etc are probably close to elite at this point. She will likely be the most athletic player on the roster, and quickest, I think that is a given. She has a game already for getting to the rim slashing, her mid range shot needed a lot of work to be consistent last I saw and her 3 shot was a work in progress. Obviously has the talent to change all that but I would say initially she will be a great defender and facilitator out of the gate and the shooting touch will come with time. Hopefully.

 

[Coach Jumper]

An honest opinion here is I would not expect a stellar shooting percentage from Coop, not right away, but the rest of her game, defense, play making etc are probably close to elite at this point. She will likely be the most athletic player on the roster, and quickest, I think that is a given.

Agreed... But the shooting percentage we don't know how much she's improved and will be improving in the off season

 

[Rooster1]

Agreed... But the shooting percentage we don't know how much she's improved and will be improving in the off season

I've been a fan of coop, since I saw her 2 years before she ever signed up for college basketball.

She will be the second coming of Jordan horston ... mark my words.t

I see more Rivers in her game, those two actually are very similar in game skills, almost clones. Not a bad thing for Coop obviously if true. Rivers is coming into her own this season. Outside of the Uconn game, Rivers is still a facilitator first and her shooting touch has improved each season.

 

[glv98]

she should be 100% gone.

Again, I'm not talking "should". I'm talking what will happen, or in this case will not.

I still maintain there is almost zero chance KJH is replaced after this season. 2025 earliest.

Regarding Cooper, sounds like she's right in the mold of so many of our players, talented but raw and limited in some areas. Only I think Cooper may have more of an upside than alot of our other "projects". When I saw her practice I could immediately see from how she moved and reacted she has elite physical skills. She was playing with the scout team and was actually shooting well, has a nice looking stroke.

Be nice if Coop could play the 3 position. Next yr we have only Sara at forward and she'll be a Sr.