Let's move on.....

[teacherdean]

I see that the 6' 7" center, Teaira McGowan has not signed with anyone. She was thought to be a sure lock for Baylor. Since Baylor has signed two top big ladies, she might be open. If Holly is any type of a recruiter, she is on the phone recruiting her ass off. Can you just think what a front line of 6'6" and 6'7" would mean for the Lady Vols inside?:good!:

 

[Chris89128]

Do people forget in 2013 we landed the #1 recruit in the country? Not to mention Tucker at 8. Oh and this year we got the #5 Nared, the top wing, and two other to 100 recruits. Finally in 2015 we land DeShields, Cooper, and Jackson. Think about this if DeShields came in 2013, we would have had #1, #3, #8, and #42. That would have been the number 1 recruiting class too. I have no doubt. Don't tell me Holly and the staff can't recruit.

 

[volfanIND]

Don't know if any of these are posts, which is now our area of greatest need, and don't quite know the purpose of the link, but per the ESPN rankings:

1. Katie Samuelson 98 Connecticut

2 Asia Durr 98 Louisville

3 Jessica Shepard 98 Nebraska

4 Cecilia Zandalasini 98 None

5 Angela Salvadores 98 Duke

6 Lashann Higgs 98 Texas

7 Napheesa Collier 98 Connecticut

8 Jordan Hosey 98 Texas

9 Kyra Lambert 98 Duke

10 Arike Ogunbowale 98 Notre Dame

Went back and checked; none of these are posts.

My apologies ... wrong link ... fixed it!
2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - espnW 100 - ESPN

My overall point, to throw Holly under the bus after not getting a post in ONE class is ridiculous. Also think its a blow to the two outstanding girls we do have coming in. Shameful people. Holly can recruit. EVERYBODY has bad seasons. Even Baylor, Stanford, and UCONN.

 

[armchair]

Who was the center on our '98 team that went up and down the court--a true running team? Anyone recall? We should have a team every year that plays up-tempo basketball; that is the idea with this year's team. That style of play negates the effectiveness of tall, not-very-mobile centers. What we really need is an athletic big--which could even be a power forward. Winning is the best recruiting tool, and that is what Warlick needs to do this year--not just beat auburn and mississippi state, but win some big games and get back some Tennessee swag.

 

[teacherdean]

There is another big left unsigned, Cecilla Zandalasin, so we might a chance to pick up at least one big.

 

[teacherdean]

Do people forget in 2013 we landed the #1 recruit in the country? Not to mention Tucker at 8. Oh and this year we got the #5 Nared, the top wing, and two other to 100 recruits. Finally in 2015 we land DeShields, Cooper, and Jackson. Think about this if DeShields came in 2013, we would have had #1, #3, #8, and #42. Don't tell me Holly and the staff can't recruit.

I hope and pray that you are correct in your assessment. I do not want the Lady Vols to go down the same road as Texas, La. Tech, Old Dominion, Stephen F. Austin and Texas Tech. Once you hit rock bottom, which I feel is not the case with the Lady Vols, it is hard to move onward and upward.

 

[Amb3096]

Who was the center on our '98 team that went up and down the court--a true running team? Anyone recall? We should have a team every year that plays up-tempo basketball; that is the idea with this year's team. That style of play negates the effectiveness of tall, not-very-mobile centers. What we really need is an athletic big--which could even be a power forward. Winning is the best recruiting tool, and that is what Warlick needs to do this year--not just beat auburn and mississippi state, but win some big games and get back some Tennessee swag.

Lashonda Stephens was the starter, IIRC. Teresa Geter was the backup, who transferred to SC.

 

[volfanIND]

I hope and pray that you are correct in your assessment. I do not want the Lady Vols to go down the same road as Texas, La. Tech, Old Dominion, Stephen F. Austin and Texas Tech. Once you hit rock bottom, which I feel is not the case with the Lady Vols, it is hard to move onward and upward.

The thing you have in common with all those schools... They stopped winning national championship. I FIRMLY believe, Holly wants to bring a national championship NOW, not in two years, not in three years, not when Brown and Mompreimer are juniors and seniors.

It is proven, if you win, they will come. We have to win. Holly has done a TERRIFIC job in setting up the pieces. IF we stay healthy we have a legit chance at a NC this year and a LEGIT season next year. Holly is playing for today, not for tomorrow. She knows what will happen if we don't bring home a NC.

This year will come down to defense.
UCONN - slow Stewie, don't give MKL open shots
ND - Control Lloyd
Outside of those two schools, I think TENN, DUKE, SCROLINA, STAN are all equal.

Offensively you have to make shots though. That was the key with Stanford, they continued to make shots. Look at the 3 point percentages. UCONN shot 11/30!!! Stanford 7/14. I think that is telling when your team is putting up 30 3-pointers.

 

[volfanIND]

Lashonda Stephens was the starter, IIRC. Teresa Geter was the backup, who transferred to SC.

1997-1998 Stats Lady Vols
1997
Geter avg. 20.9 mins a game = 6.3ppg = 4.8 RPG
Stephens avg. 18.6 mins a game = 4.0 ppg = 3.4 RPG

Both played 39 games.

 

[teacherdean]

The thing you have in common with all those schools... They stopped winning national championship. I FIRMLY believe, Holly wants to bring a national championship NOW, not in two years, not in three years, not when Brown and Mompreimer are juniors and seniors.

It is proven, if you win, they will come. We have to win. Holly has done a TERRIFIC job in setting up the pieces. IF we stay healthy we have a legit chance at a NC this year and a LEGIT season next year. Holly is playing for today, not for tomorrow. She knows what will happen if we don't bring home a NC.

This year will come down to defense.
UCONN - slow Stewie, don't give MKL open shots
ND - Control Lloyd
Outside of those two schools, I think TENN, DUKE, SCROLINA, STAN are all equal.

Offensively you have to make shots though. That was the key with Stanford, they continued to make shots. Look at the 3 point percentages. UCONN shot 11/30!!! Stanford 7/14. I think that is telling when your team is putting up 30 3-pointers.

I agree with you that winning is the key. I believe we have final 4 talent right now. Nia Moore looks like the real deal, we just need Harrison to stay well. I believe that right now the Ladies have the D to play with any program. That being said we must recruit for the future. We have to keep up with the UCONN, Baylor, ND, South Carolina, Stanford and Louisville's of the world. By the way our three recruits appear to make the Lady Vols' future look great.

 

[Darth_Vol]

Your infatuation and admonishment of Darth only lowers you to the level you perceive in him.

Glad this irony is obvious to everyone else too....

 

[Darth_Vol]

My overall point, to throw Holly under the bus after not getting a post in ONE class is ridiculous.

Correction: TWO classes, and counting. Which is more significant than some are willing to admit. Everyone spouting off these irrelevant player recruiting rankings is completely missing the point....

 

[Amb3096]

Correction: TWO classes, and counting. Which is more significant than some are willing to admit. Everyone spouting off these irrelevant player recruiting rankings is completely missing the point....

And what about UConn, who is in even more dire recruiting shape RE: posts than Tennessee is? After this year, they just have that transfer from Georgetown. Stewart is not a low post player. They didn't get any post players from 2014 or 2015, but I don't see the end of the world for their program.

2016 is the year where they must recruit some quality posts. While it would have been nice to get quality posts of the caliber of Brown/Mompremier with 1 year college under their belt before Bashaara, Moore and Jones graduate, that was more of a "nice to have" than a "must have".

 

[Darth_Vol]

And what about UConn, who is in even more dire recruiting shape RE: posts than Tennessee is? After this year, they just have that transfer from Georgetown. Stewart is not a low post player. They didn't get any post players from 2014 or 2015, but I don't see the end of the world for their program.

2016 is the year where they must recruit some quality posts. While it would have been nice to get quality posts of the caliber of Brown/Mompremier with 1 year college under their belt before Bashaara, Moore and Jones graduate, that was more of a "nice to have" than a "must have".

I have no idea what Geno's plan is, but when Holly is coming off back to back national titles and a 47 game winning streak I'll be more inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. Also having the best player in the country in your frontcourt is a good way to mask some weaknesses.

But you bring up a good point that's more bad news for Holly. I haven't looked at UConn's roster in great detail but if what you say is true that means Holly will likely be battling Geno for the top posts in the next class. That rarely ends well for us....

 

[AllforTenn]

1997-1998 Stats Lady Vols
1997
Geter avg. 20.9 mins a game = 6.3ppg = 4.8 RPG
Stephens avg. 18.6 mins a game = 4.0 ppg = 3.4 RPG

Both played 39 games.

The difference was on defense. Geter was a very good defender. She came in and shut down La. Tech's inside game in the NC game, as she had in others.

 

[Amb3096]

I have no idea what Geno's plan is, but when Holly is coming off back to back national titles and a 47 game winning streak I'll be more inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. Also having the best player in the country in your frontcourt is a good way to mask some weaknesses.

But you bring up a good point that's more bad news for Holly. I haven't looked at UConn's roster in great detail but if what you say is true that means Holly will likely be battling Geno for the top posts in the next class. That rarely ends well for us....

My point is that Geno struck out on post players for class of 2014/2015 as well, but that doesn't mean doom and gloom for UConn. There's no doubt that he will be going hard after some of the same targets as Tennessee...but no one is saying that he can't recruit because he didn't recruit a replacement for Stefanie Dolson yet, and she's already off in the WNBA. Maybe he will beat Holly to some targets...maybe not. However, it's too early to tell. But I'm willing to have some degree in confidence in Holly...especially since Holly managed to get Mercedes and Geno didn't (I think that recruiting story ended up working in Tennessee's favor).

 

[teacherdean]

Lauren is the real deal as the top player and big for 2016. If we want her or Holmes we will need to prove we can win and Holly can coach. We MUST reach the final 4 and we have an above average season to get Lauren Cox or Holmes. If we bite the bullet in round 16 or 8 and Baylor, ND, Louisville, Stanford are ahead of us we may have a difficult time recruiting either. Another thing that hurts the Lady Vols is that ESPN announcers, including Carol Lawson, say very few things about Holly. They are always talking about what good coaches Geno, Muffy, the coach of Stanford and Kim are. Even the other night very little was said about Tennessee during the UCONN vs. Stanford game. They all bragged about UCONN, ND, :lolabove:Baylor and Stanford current players. Recruits look at that and many times make decisions based on popularity as well as a winning team. Plain and simple Holly is behind the shadow of Pat and needs to break away by proving she can beat the big teams when it counts.

 

[Real Info]

Who was the center on our '98 team that went up and down the court--a true running team? Anyone recall? We should have a team every year that plays up-tempo basketball; that is the idea with this year's team. That style of play negates the effectiveness of tall, not-very-mobile centers. What we really need is an athletic big--which could even be a power forward. Winning is the best recruiting tool, and that is what Warlick needs to do this year--not just beat auburn and mississippi state, but win some big games and get back some Tennessee swag.

T. Geter

 

[Darth_Vol]

My point is that Geno struck out on post players for class of 2014/2015 as well, but that doesn't mean doom and gloom for UConn. There's no doubt that he will be going hard after some of the same targets as Tennessee...but no one is saying that he can't recruit because he didn't recruit a replacement for Stefanie Dolson yet, and she's already off in the WNBA.)

And my point is no one is saying he can't recruit because his teams have dominated the last two years and most of the last two decades. When Holly starts her own track record of Final Fours and championships you will find she gets second guessed far less often. But a significant percentage of the fans, myself included, are skeptical she can get to that point.

Maybe he will beat Holly to some targets...maybe not. However, it's too early to tell. But I'm willing to have some degree in confidence in Holly...especially since Holly managed to get Mercedes and Geno didn't (I think that recruiting story ended up working in Tennessee's favor).

The fact that Geno didn't recruit her might have had something to do with that....

 

[volfanIND]

The difference was on defense. Geter was a very good defender. She came in and shut down La. Tech's inside game in the NC game, as she had in others.

I appreciate the info. I first started following vols when tenn vs uconn was on CBS and we were playing there and holdsclaw was playing with the flu and we still beat them. Think that was midway season of 98'

 

[volfanIND]

The fact that Geno didn't recruit her might have had something to do with that....[/QUOTE]

No, but you know who did.... Baylor. They made her final list before she cut it down to us and Louisville.

 

[Sandvol]

The problem isn't rankings from recruiting services, the problem is Holly failed to get ANYONE at their biggest need. Even a lower rated projected role player/project would have been better than nothing. The fact that Holly couldn't convince ANY post player from this class to commit is an indictment on her recruiting....

I'm unofficially changing your name to Drama_Vol.

 

[Darth_Vol]

I'm unofficially changing your name to Drama_Vol.

Says the one who proclaimed Middleton the best player on the team after one game....

 

[Darth_Vol]

I appreciate the info. I first started following vols when tenn vs uconn was on CBS and we were playing there and holdsclaw was playing with the flu and we still beat them. Think that was midway season of 98'

It's interesting discussing this team with all the debate about our current posts. Tiffani Johnson, who was a quality center, was going to be the starter for that 98 team. But Pat kicked her off the team for rules violations prior to what would have been her senior year. No one knew what to expect with Stephens, who played little as a freshman, and true freshman Geter who was the least heralded of the class. As it turned out, the Meeks were so good it didn't really matter who was in the low post. Stephens got the starting spot due to seniority, but she was arguably the worst starting center in LV history. Geter got the majority of minutes due to her defense (she set a then LV record for block shots in her first year) and she was solid enough offensively to complement the Meeks.

 

[gule]

@ 8:21 am, Foxs & Friends is about to have a segment on the removal on "Lady" from the Vols name. Hope they get it right.