looks like Jazmine is leaving

[Darth_Vol]

But, you take EVERY opportunity to tell us the latest about your boy, Walz. We get it!

Fair, I've accepted I'm going to hear about every Louisville loss for as long as he's coaching, which is fine, and I'll work on cutting down my barbs when he beats Tennessee for a recruit. And I'm still in therapy over that joke of a "coaching search" a year ago.

But the irony is, here in the offseason his name actually gets brought up far more often by my fan club in their efforts to needle me. Even when the conversation has nothing to do with him or Louisville...

 

[Darth_Vol]

KY won by 4 points the first time we played them last season. The other two times.....we were not playing well.

A team's improvement over the course of the season is a reflection of the coaching. If Kellie wants players to stick around and elite prospects to start coming, give them a reason...

 

[glv98]

You all are too busy fighting among yourself to see the big picture. From the looks of it there has been some behind the scenes tampering going on........think about this.....what has transpired and who all is now at Kentucky. This aint hard.

Greetings from the black helicopter!

Seriously tho, what exactly are the tampering rules? This is going to become very important if we get the katie bar the door rule. Reasonable to think any player going thru a coaching change, espec an excruciating one like ours, is ripe for the picking. So could, oh just say, a Kyra Elzy reach out to a disenchanted player? When? I'm assuming once announced in the portal?

 

[LadyOrange]

A team's improvement over the course of the season is a reflection of the coaching. If Kellie wants players to stick around and elite prospects to start coming, give them a reason...

Not necessarily. If a player won’t or can’t be coached, a coach has no control. Our roster was (is) not Kellie’s roster. She has different expectations than Holly did, and coaches, to get the best out of players, choose players they click with and know they can help improve. Jazz should have left before the season started because no team needs a half-way committed player, which is what she was based on her comment that she “gave Kellie a chance.”

 

[LadyOrange]

WTeverlovingF? She actually did give Kellie and staff a chance. She stayed and played last year right? Everyone who stayed, unlike Mimi and Evina, did. Jaz gave them a fair chance, they gave her one, they parted on good terms. For saying so Jaz is a bad guy?

This is almost as long a stretch as the vilification of Evina for the mumbled answer to a question designed to get her to say something controversial. Holy Cow, these kids have zero chance around here.

Jazz was hanging around “ to give Kellie a chance.” She was not committed, and we don’t need a player like that.

 

[LadyOrange]

Greetings from the black helicopter!

Seriously tho, what exactly are the tampering rules? This is going to become very important if we get the katie bar the door rule. Reasonable to think any player going thru a coaching change, espec an excruciating one like ours, is ripe for the picking. So could, oh just say, a Kyra Elzy reach out to a disenchanted player? When? I'm assuming once announced in the portal?

Players can contact other players any time they want. A coach can talk to his or her own players and suggest the player offer to that player for the other team. Geno does this. One reason Pat ended it with UConn. Hate to see former Lady Vols and firmer Pat assistants go down this road.

 

[LadyOrange]

She was easily our best talent when she was here, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't scare me to think what Geno can do with her. But it's fair to call her listing in the top 10 premature until we see if she's recovered physically, and more importantly what's going on between her ears (which is really what's held her back)...

I disagree. Rennia finally has the space to show how good she is, better than Westbrook.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

I disagree. Rennia finally has the space to show how good she is, better than Westbrook.

I don’t think Westbrook was our best talent and I said that while she was still a LV and it has nothing to do with her leaving either. Rennia since Day 1 has been talked about with Holdsclaw like potential by more than 1 person and the constant knock was her willingness to be great. Westbrook came in Day 1 and was promised the PG spot and to her credit played with that confidence.

Davis took an incredible step forward this year and most of all got more ok with being a leader and a vocal one at that. How many times did we see her pull Jordan aside and take her under her wing?

Westbrook could well be the next UConn all American she has the potential for sure.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Not necessarily. If a player won’t or can’t be coached, a coach has no control. Our roster was (is) not Kellie’s roster. She has different expectations than Holly did, and coaches, to get the best out of players, choose players they click with and know they can help improve. Jazz should have left before the season started because no team needs a half-way committed player, which is what she was based on her comment that she “gave Kellie a chance.”

If I have an uncoachable on my squad and it isn't on me, their butt is sitting on my bench, in street clothes and being made an example of. . . Period!

On the other hand, if I have an athlete that wants to stay and wants to play, it is up to me to figure out what button to push to get her to play fully committed.

This is the difference between coaches like me and most other coaches,,,I push the envelope...None of that passive-aggressive battle of wills...We are going to work this out imediately or "your a$$ is grass and I'm a lawnmower"

Athletes don't give me a chance,
I give them one and only one...Commit and do what is asked of you or ride my pine.

Coaching is not a democracy, it is a dictatorship...Once you give equal power to your charge, you are on a path of failure

 

[Prophet1]

I don’t think Westbrook was our best talent and I said that while she was still a LV and it has nothing to do with her leaving either. Rennia since Day 1 has been talked about with Holdsclaw like potential by more than 1 person and the constant knock was her willingness to be great. Westbrook came in Day 1 and was promised the PG spot and to her credit played with that confidence.

Davis took an incredible step forward this year and most of all got more ok with being a leader and a vocal one at that. How many times did we see her pull Jordan aside and take her under her wing?

Westbrook could well be the next UConn all American she has the potential for sure.

Would you say Rennia now has a ' willingness to be great ' consciousness?

 

[Prophet1]

If I have an uncoachable on my squad and it isn't on me, their butt is sitting on my bench, in street clothes and being made an example of. . . Period!

On the other hand, if I have an athlete that wants to stay and wants to play, it is up to me to figure out what button to push to get her to play fully committed.

This is the difference between coaches like me and most other coaches,,,I push the envelope...None of that passive-aggressive battle of wills...We are going to work this out imediately or "your a$$ is grass and I'm a lawnmower"

Athletes don't give me a chance,
I give them one and only one...Commit and do what is asked of you or ride my pine.

Coaching is not a democracy, it is a dictatorship...Once you give equal power to your charge, you are on a path of failure

Hey Coach, at what period of the season did you notice that Jas had plateaued out.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Would you say Rennia now has a ' willingness to be great ' consciousness?

I sure hope so. I think her stepping up and taking the big shot in games was a step in the right direction. I also saw more passion out of her which was refreshing and she talked to her teammates.

 

[Darth_Vol]

Not necessarily. If a player won’t or can’t be coached, a coach has no control. Our roster was (is) not Kellie’s roster. She has different expectations than Holly did, and coaches, to get the best out of players, choose players they click with and know they can help improve. Jazz should have left before the season started because no team needs a half-way committed player, which is what she was based on her comment that she “gave Kellie a chance.”

The team clearly got worse as the season went on, so Jaz is the reason? You're really reaching. A coach has no control? Ever heard of this thing called the bench? Jordan found it toward the end of the season. If you're correct, and I don't think you are, it doesn't say much for Kellie as a leader if she let one player sabotage your season.

As for the rest of the roster, I don't see any evidence the team didn't buy in. Jaz was the only player to leave voluntarily, which is ironic as she was the player who clearly improved the most individually under Kellie's coaching. Now is beyond the time Kellie would have "advised" other players to spend the remainder of their careers elsewhere...

 

[sccshortstop]

Would you say Rennia now has a ' willingness to be great ' consciousness?

Not my question but I will give the ole opinion. NO! If she had not been so talented she would have been shown the door. I really liked and still like her but she will always be moody, look uninterested most of the time and no only a degree of laziness but slow as well. I thought EW was going to be the cats meow but it did not take long for her to get moody and pouty ! RD has the most talent in that class and will still do well I think but not to the degree she could have.

 

[Darth_Vol]

I disagree. Rennia finally has the space to show how good she is, better than Westbrook.

"Better" and "more talented" are different arguments...

 

[sccshortstop]

I think the butthead at UConn will fire up Evina pretty early and see if she has the moxey to develop and be a contributor which either way I could care less. I am way old school and I think a quitter is a quitter . If anyone on our team that I would have though had a chance to be quitter it was Rae. Came in without any fanfare and I think has been our best shooter and will be and works her tail off. Best looking shot of any LV ever in my thinking. I look for her to do well hear on out.

 

[FrozenLVFan]

Not my question but I will give the ole opinion. NO! If she had not been so talented she would have been shown the door. I really liked and still like her but she will always be moody, look uninterested most of the time and no only a degree of laziness but slow as well. I thought EW was going to be the cats meow but it did not take long for her to get moody and pouty ! RD has the most talent in that class and will still do well I think but not to the degree she could have.

Rennia won't be great until she stops taking plays off on offense and until she decides to play defense. Her defensive effort is the worst on the team...she gets beat on play after play and ends up waving her arms ineffectively as her man heads toward the basket. She is not slow but she doesn't run. She is only going to be as good as she wants to be.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Hey Coach, at what period of the season did you notice that Jas had plateaued out.

I can't pinpoint a spot at this setting, but somewhere in late January I began to take notice of what seemed to me to be holding back. I don't consider she plateaued out, I think it became a battle of wills.

Also,
a note to ALL posters...,
understand!!,, I post as a coach,
not a fan,
so nothing I say is personal, it is my read as a coach per situation,
I read players' body-english, facial reads and what they do once play resumes when they are on the bench
I read effort displayed and reactions from players not involved in the action
I watch the bench as much as I watch the game

I often center on a player and watch them and only them during spans of time during games
I look for dissensions, attitudes, effort, etc.

I do not watch a game as a fan sees is, I watch it from a coaches eyes
and I usually go home and rewatch it a second time and dissect it

 

[Coach Jumper]

I think the butthead at UConn will fire up Evina pretty early and see if she has the moxey to develop and be a contributor which either way I could care less. I am way old school and I think a quitter is a quitter . If anyone on our team that I would have though had a chance to be quitter it was Rae. Came in without any fanfare and I think has been our best shooter and will be and works her tail off. Best looking shot of any LV ever in my thinking. I look for her to do well hear on out.

I will be more interested in her movement.
She labored when moving laterally and ran with her knees moving forward instead of with lift.
If her movement improves through treatment, we will see a more fluid player ergo, vast improvement

 

[Coach Jumper]

Rennia won't be great until she stops taking plays off on offense and until she decides to play defense. Her defensive effort is the worst on the team...she gets beat on play after play and ends up waving her arms ineffectively as her man heads toward the basket. She is not slow but she doesn't run. She is only going to be as good as she wants to be.

I have to say "was" regarding defense
The efforts of Jordan, influenced Rennia and Ren became much better and much more focused on defense
per my opinion

I do however agree with taking plays off.
This is something the staff has to get hold of
Holly allowed it
Coach K has to re-instill (using one of her favorite words...) urgency, in playing every play at full tilt

 

[creekdipper]

I'm going to miss Jaz's steady hand at the point and seeing more improvement with penetration and mid-range jumpers. Her hesitation at times may have been frustration with the offensive schemes. I certainly don't think she was trying to deliberately sabotage anything. The team's hitting the wall midseason and/or feeling of regression or at least failing to progress rapidly may have led her to start longing for greener pastures. The added bonus of playing with her former teammates may have been tbe final determiner.

Maybe she was frustrated with tbe high turnover rate among other starters, and maybe she was counting on Zaay's help until she learned that Zaay wasn't coming back. She was probably well aware of tbat fact in advance of her own announcement.

It's understandable to read her "give Kellue a chance" statement as half-hearted and not buying in. On the other hand, it could simpky mean that she wasn't immediately jumping ship as many do when coaching changes are made. Whether she was disappointed in her own role or just expected more rapid improvement, only she could say. She likely sees KY as a step up in competition and, as she said, "is doing what's best for me." (At least she didn't refer to herself in tbird person). Anyway, I think she should get tbe benefit of the doubt. She didn't thumb her nose at the program like another recent departure.

I wish we had a fully-commiited Westbrook, a happy Massengill and Collins, and a problem-free, physically-recuperated Z. Green playing together in a disciplined, efficient offense. Maybe if the coaching change had been made a year sooner (which would have eliminated Kellie if her hiring was largely based upon her teams '19 tournament run).

But, to wear out the cliche, it is what it is. The uphill climb is steeper, but now is not the time for faint of heart fans. If we want our athletes to be fully committed, how can we do less and call ourselves fans?

I

 

[LadyOrange]

"Better" and "more talented" are different arguments...

Sure they are. But if you’re talented but don’t work hard and listen to the coach, then, pffft.

 

[LadyOrange]

The team clearly got worse as the season went on, so Jaz is the reason? You're really reaching. A coach has no control? Ever heard of this thing called the bench? Jordan found it toward the end of the season. If you're correct, and I don't think you are, it doesn't say much for Kellie as a leader if she let one player sabotage your season.

As for the rest of the roster, I don't see any evidence the team didn't buy in. Jaz was the only player to leave voluntarily, which is ironic as she was the player who clearly improved the most individually under Kellie's coaching. Now is beyond the time Kellie would have "advised" other players to spend the remainder of their careers elsewhere...

First, the team didn’t get worse; we played tougher teams. Second, no, Jazz is not the reason we lost the games. We had a very short bench of guards. Kellie did her best with what she had. But if a player is not fully committed and following the coach’s instructions, and the player in question is overrated, then, yeah, we’re better off without her.

 

[LadyOrange]

If I have an uncoachable on my squad and it isn't on me, their butt is sitting on my bench, in street clothes and being made an example of. . . Period!

On the other hand, if I have an athlete that wants to stay and wants to play, it is up to me to figure out what button to push to get her to play fully committed.

This is the difference between coaches like me and most other coaches,,,I push the envelope...None of that passive-aggressive battle of wills...We are going to work this out imediately or "your a$$ is grass and I'm a lawnmower"

Athletes don't give me a chance,
I give them one and only one...Commit and do what is asked of you or ride my pine.

Coaching is not a democracy, it is a dictatorship...Once you give equal power to your charge, you are on a path of failure

I’m not sure it’s that black and white all of the time. I think Jazz is overrated. Second, I think she also is immature. Third, in think she didn’t aggressively or assertively challenge Kellie; I think she could have passively resisted instruction at some points. Again, Re said in a presser that the team was good when they did what Kellie told them to do.

 

[LadyOrange]

I don’t think Westbrook was our best talent and I said that while she was still a LV and it has nothing to do with her leaving either. Rennia since Day 1 has been talked about with Holdsclaw like potential by more than 1 person and the constant knock was her willingness to be great. Westbrook came in Day 1 and was promised the PG spot and to her credit played with that confidence.

Davis took an incredible step forward this year and most of all got more ok with being a leader and a vocal one at that. How many times did we see her pull Jordan aside and take her under her wing?

Westbrook could well be the next UConn all American she has the potential for sure.

I’m not impressed with her.