Lady Vols Uphill Climb..............

#1
volfan2024

volfan2024

“Wanna play ball scarecrow “
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#1
Writings on the wall to remain relevant, a key competitor in the game.
 
#2
#2
So losing two seniors off an Elite 8 team and replacing them with the top overall recruit and others in the top 20 equals an "uphill climb to remain relevant?"

I can't believe this is a serious post.
 
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#4
#4
utfantilidie said:
Writings on the wall to remain relevant, a key competitor in the game.
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I am not in the least bit worried! I have seen this team have a 10 loss season, then when we hit tournament play, we won the National Championship.

I have seen us lose to Ball State in the first round of the tournament one year.

Provided that we play hard and get good recruits, we will be fine.

It just seems that the program has slipped a bit, but it hasn't. When we first started, only La. Tech and USC were in the top with us. Now, other programs are really growing. Notre Dame, South Carolina, Kentucky, LSU, Stanford, and Baylor have all come of age. We aren't slipping but other programs are catching up with us.
 
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#6
#6
DeerPark12 said:
So losing two seniors off an Elite 8 team and replacing them with the top overall recruit and others in the top 20 equals an "uphill climb to remain relevant?"

I can't believe this is a serious post.
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Me either. They will be one of the best 4 teams in the country next year.
 
#7
#7
My concern last night wasn't with UT slipping into oblivion as much as wondering why we couldn't play any meaningful defense or why we couldn't box out and get the defensive rebounds. Louisville killed us on their offensive glass.
 
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#8
#8
This team has some talented players--it shot better than typical UT teams, at least until our big games when the shooters consistently choked. There is no other word for it. In every big game, Spani and Simmons played tight. This team was very weak defensively and on the boards--without Harrison, our rebounding was terrible. That should improve next year--but we need better, tougher, more athletic guards. We've got talent, but we've lost our toughness--that was evident last night when we came out and played like nervous school girls from the start and basically gave the game away. Getting beat is one thing, giving away an elite 8 game with panicky, horrible play is another. Coaching is a factor. UT hasn't had exceptional coaching for years. We're OK but not even close to Notre and Connecticut now--that's just a fact. Notre Dame has less overall talent than we do but they school us because they play very smart--and yea, Diggins is good, cool under pressure, unlike our players.
 
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#9
#9
The problem with this current version of the LVs, and what could be a program going forward, is that I don't see that fire in their eyes. I don't see the fire that I saw in the eyes of Candace Parker and Nicki Anosiki, that was a reflection of the fire that burned in their coach's steely blue eyes. Especially Nicki, who made her teammates sign a 'contract' committed to winning an NC.

Now don't get me wrong. I think Holly and the players exceeded what the outside world expected of the LVs this season. But I certainly hope that Holly and the players don't think they exceeded their own expectations as LVs, which is to play for national championships.

The problem with this team is that they rarely started any games angry, but rather would have to get behind before they would play with a sense of urgency.

Hate to say it, but the LVs are so far behind UConn right now it is not even close. And that is not because UConn is more talented, but rather because when I watch UConn, every single player on that team plays like they want to beat the opponent into dust. UConn always seems to start the games with an urgency and when they get a lead it only makes them play with an even greater sense of urgency. They put their foot on their opponents' throats and don't let up.

As much as I dislike UConn as a rival, I really wish the LVs would get back to wanting to beat their opponents brains out from the opening bell. It was that attitude, which was a reflection of Pat's character, as much as it was talent, that allowed the LVs to win 8 NCs. If the LVs expect to win another they need players with headhunter attitudes who will take losing personally and demand 100% commitment from her teammates.

There are way too many good teams in the women's game now to just expect to coast through on talent. Louisville made up for their lack of talent when compared to UT by playing with the fire that the LVs lacked.
 
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#10
#10
I think we have to put more consideration into the abilities of our recruits before we give them scholarships. We need players that are able to play both ends of the floor and have a consistent game. We get five star players but sometimes they do not play like five star players but I think next season could be the beginning of something special again.
 
#11
#11
Crazy Ivan said:
The problem with this current version of the LVs, and what could be a program going forward, is that I don't see that fire in their eyes. I don't see the fire that I saw in the eyes of Candace Parker and Nicki Anosiki, that was a reflection of the fire that burned in their coach's steely blue eyes. Especially Nicki, who made her teammates sign a 'contract' committed to winning an NC.

Now don't get me wrong. I think Holly and the players exceeded what the outside world expected of the LVs this season. But I certainly hope that Holly and the players don't think they exceeded their own expectations as LVs, which is to play for national championships.

The problem with this team is that they rarely started any games angry, but rather would have to get behind before they would play with a sense of urgency.

Hate to say it, but the LVs are so far behind UConn right now it is not even close. And that is not because UConn is more talented, but rather because when I watch UConn, every single player on that team plays like they want to beat the opponent into dust. UConn always seems to start the games with an urgency and when they get a lead it only makes them play with an even greater sense of urgency. They put their foot on their opponents' throats and don't let up.

As much as I dislike UConn as a rival, I really wish the LVs would get back to wanting to beat their opponents brains out from the opening bell. It was that attitude, which was a reflection of Pat's character, as much as it was talent, that allowed the LVs to win 8 NCs. If the LVs expect to win another they need players with headhunter attitudes who will take losing personally and demand 100% commitment from her teammates.

There are way too many good teams in the women's game now to just expect to coast through on talent. Louisville made up for their lack of talent when compared to UT by playing with the fire that the LVs lacked.
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Quote of the century....THIS x1000000
 
#12
#12
Today, it takes more than fire and talent to win championships. It takes smarts. Today's game is much more technical. Quick thinking is a must. Mental ability can often overcome physical size or talent. For instance, in the L'ville game, those long inbound passes - they played smart. They led to baskets that required little physical skill. Complex defenses require quick thinking and concentration. Notre Dame doesn't have particularly superior size or inate talent, but they plays smart. Diggins isn't an imposing player but she's smart. Baylor should have beat L'ville, but talent and size wasn't enough. Kelly Faris of uconn isn't big or talented but she can shut the opponents best player down because she is very smart. Coaches have to figure out what the opposition is doing and quickly make adjustments. The LVs have the talent now lets fix the brain component.
 
#13
#13
The problem is not a Tennessee problem as much as it is an SEC problem. Although 7 SEC teams made it into the tournament, 8 Big East Teams made it in. And, 3 Big East made it to final 4. The level of competition is greater in the Big East and therefore play tougher more consistent defense. With LSU, Kentucky, SC and TAM we should see level of competition improve and more emphasis on defense. Two things both Geno and Muffet learned from Pat is the importance of defense and rebounds. Holly knows these too and we should see Lady Vols improve.
 
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#14
#14
The way I see next season we should dominate the boards against anybody. If that doesn't happen it will be a long season but I expect to see very few offensive rebounds per game from the other team no matter who we play. I look for Meredith, Bashaara, and Izzy to all be very close to double digit rebound averages.
 
#16
#16
Sandvol said:
The problem is not a Tennessee problem as much as it is an SEC problem. Although 7 SEC teams made it into the tournament, 8 Big East Teams made it in. And, 3 Big East made it to final 4. The level of competition is greater in the Big East and therefore play tougher more consistent defense. With LSU, Kentucky, SC and TAM we should see level of competition improve and more emphasis on defense. Two things both Geno and Muffet learned from Pat is the importance of defense and rebounds. Holly knows these too and we should see Lady Vols improve.
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And two of those three Big East schools won't even be in that conference in the next two years, so what's your point?
 
#17
#17
I think a better description of the LV state right now is - It's now or never.

No doubt Tennessee's reputation, despite the better than expected performance this year, has been slipping for several years now. There is relatively little talk of the LVs on other team's discussion boards, and this is one of the symptoms. We're lumped in with the also-rans. This trend needs to be stopped now.

The major criticism of the LV program is that we consistently get top players, but we don't get top results. Next year we have a great incoming class. They must perform spectacularly to stop the slide. If they don't, recruits will think twice about coming to Tennessee, and our talent pool will shrink to local players.

Tennessee's big draw has always been Pat. There are many schools with better academics, campuses, climate, and increasingly better facilities. With Pat no longer a factor, we need success to make Tennessee desirable.

So, unlike last year, where we weren't expected to accomplish much, with our new recruits, expectations are sky high. We must perform.... it's now or never.
 
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