Mercedes Russell

#51
#51
Sandvol said:
You guys aren't remembering Candace too well who is probably one of the greatest women players of all time. It took her almost all of her redshirt freshman year to adjust to Division 1. Davis for GT looks better but I think it is easier for shorter players to adjust. The taller players like Russell have to strengthen their bodies. That's why little women gymnasts do better than taller initially.
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No I believe you are the one who doesn't remember .Candace was a star the minute she stepped on the court that year . Her first seven games she averaged a double double 16.57 pts and 10 boards a game and that included 4 games against ranked teams ( Maryland , MSU , Stanford and Texas ) and here is she did the rest of the year ..copy and pasted below

amed a Kodak/WBCA All-American...Named a second team All-American by the Associated Press...Named to the NCAA Cleveland Regional All-Region Team...The only Lady Vol to start every game last season, she led the team in scoring 18 times and in rebounding 22 times...Through her first four career NCAA Tournament games, led all tournament participants in free throw attempts, ranked second in blocked shots and fifth in points scored...Finished her freshman season ranked second in points by a rookie and third in rebounds in the UT record books...Against Army, became the first female to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in any game...Nominated for the ESPY's GMC Professional Grade Play Award for her dunks...Named one of 18 finalists for the Wooden Award...Hit the game-winning shot in the SEC Championship game against LSU...Named the SEC Tournament MVP, just the second SEC Freshman of the Year to ever garner both awards...Earned a double-double in all three games against Georgia this year...Against Georgia in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament, she earned her 10th double-double of the season, which moved her past Tamika Catchings for third place in most double-doubles by a rookie...Named the SEC Freshman of the Year, a first-team All-SEC selection and an SEC All-Freshman Team choice by the coaches...The unanimous SEC Rookie of the Year according to the Associated Press...Also a second-team All-SEC selection in the media poll...Had a career-high 34 points and 15 rebounds against the Gators...On Feb. 20, Parker was named to the Naismith Award Midseason List, comprised of the nation's top-30 players...Charted her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds at Georgia, despite playing on a sprained left ankle...A finalist for the 2006 V Foundation Comeback Player of the Year Award...On Feb. 2, Parker was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Watch List...She was one of 20 collegiate women's basketball players in the country on the list and one of only two freshmen...Named the Philips Player of the Game on eight occasions (Georgia, LSU, Kentucky, Duke, Mississippi State, Georgia, Stanford and Stetson), the SEC Freshman of the Week four times (12/5, 12/19, 1/10 and 1/16), the SEC Player of the Week on Jan. 16, the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week twice (1/16, 11/28) and January's Lady Vol Athlete of the Month...Hampered by a hip flexor injury against Mississippi, Parker failed to either score in double figures or grab at least 10 rebounds in a game for the first and only time all season...Named the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week and the SEC Player and Freshman of the Week on Jan. 16 after back-to-back double-doubles in SEC play...Named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team and garnered Most Valuable Player honors as well...Stuffed seven Michigan State attempts - the most ever by a Lady Vol freshman and the second most ever by a Lady Vol basketball player...Posted a double-double against Stetson in her first collegiate game (19 points, 10 rebounds)...Became just the 10th Lady Vol to start the first game of the year as a freshman...Earned SEC All-Academic honors.

I would say CP adjusted just fine , though it isn't fair to judge Mercedes with Candace , that's what happens when you come in as the #1 player in the country
 
#52
#52
soda23 said:
No I believe you are the one who doesn't remember .Candace was a star the minute she stepped on the court that year . Her first seven games she averaged a double double 16.57 pts and 10 boards a game and that included 4 games against ranked teams ( Maryland , MSU , Stanford and Texas ) and here is she did the rest of the year ..copy and pasted below

amed a Kodak/WBCA All-American...Named a second team All-American by the Associated Press...Named to the NCAA Cleveland Regional All-Region Team...The only Lady Vol to start every game last season, she led the team in scoring 18 times and in rebounding 22 times...Through her first four career NCAA Tournament games, led all tournament participants in free throw attempts, ranked second in blocked shots and fifth in points scored...Finished her freshman season ranked second in points by a rookie and third in rebounds in the UT record books...Against Army, became the first female to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in any game...Nominated for the ESPY's GMC Professional Grade Play Award for her dunks...Named one of 18 finalists for the Wooden Award...Hit the game-winning shot in the SEC Championship game against LSU...Named the SEC Tournament MVP, just the second SEC Freshman of the Year to ever garner both awards...Earned a double-double in all three games against Georgia this year...Against Georgia in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament, she earned her 10th double-double of the season, which moved her past Tamika Catchings for third place in most double-doubles by a rookie...Named the SEC Freshman of the Year, a first-team All-SEC selection and an SEC All-Freshman Team choice by the coaches...The unanimous SEC Rookie of the Year according to the Associated Press...Also a second-team All-SEC selection in the media poll...Had a career-high 34 points and 15 rebounds against the Gators...On Feb. 20, Parker was named to the Naismith Award Midseason List, comprised of the nation's top-30 players...Charted her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds at Georgia, despite playing on a sprained left ankle...A finalist for the 2006 V Foundation Comeback Player of the Year Award...On Feb. 2, Parker was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Watch List...She was one of 20 collegiate women's basketball players in the country on the list and one of only two freshmen...Named the Philips Player of the Game on eight occasions (Georgia, LSU, Kentucky, Duke, Mississippi State, Georgia, Stanford and Stetson), the SEC Freshman of the Week four times (12/5, 12/19, 1/10 and 1/16), the SEC Player of the Week on Jan. 16, the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week twice (1/16, 11/28) and January's Lady Vol Athlete of the Month...Hampered by a hip flexor injury against Mississippi, Parker failed to either score in double figures or grab at least 10 rebounds in a game for the first and only time all season...Named the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week and the SEC Player and Freshman of the Week on Jan. 16 after back-to-back double-doubles in SEC play...Named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team and garnered Most Valuable Player honors as well...Stuffed seven Michigan State attempts - the most ever by a Lady Vol freshman and the second most ever by a Lady Vol basketball player...Posted a double-double against Stetson in her first collegiate game (19 points, 10 rebounds)...Became just the 10th Lady Vol to start the first game of the year as a freshman...Earned SEC All-Academic honors.

I would say CP adjusted just fine , though it isn't fair to judge Mercedes with Candace , that's what happens when you come in as the #1 player in the country
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Candace was decent.
OK, OK,..... she was un-freaking-believable!
 
#53
#53
soda23 said:
No I believe you are the one who doesn't remember .Candace was a star the minute she stepped on the court that year . Her first seven games she averaged a double double 16.57 pts and 10 boards a game and that included 4 games against ranked teams ( Maryland , MSU , Stanford and Texas ) and here is she did the rest of the year ..copy and pasted below

amed a Kodak/WBCA All-American...Named a second team All-American by the Associated Press...Named to the NCAA Cleveland Regional All-Region Team...The only Lady Vol to start every game last season, she led the team in scoring 18 times and in rebounding 22 times...Through her first four career NCAA Tournament games, led all tournament participants in free throw attempts, ranked second in blocked shots and fifth in points scored...Finished her freshman season ranked second in points by a rookie and third in rebounds in the UT record books...Against Army, became the first female to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in any game...Nominated for the ESPY's GMC Professional Grade Play Award for her dunks...Named one of 18 finalists for the Wooden Award...Hit the game-winning shot in the SEC Championship game against LSU...Named the SEC Tournament MVP, just the second SEC Freshman of the Year to ever garner both awards...Earned a double-double in all three games against Georgia this year...Against Georgia in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament, she earned her 10th double-double of the season, which moved her past Tamika Catchings for third place in most double-doubles by a rookie...Named the SEC Freshman of the Year, a first-team All-SEC selection and an SEC All-Freshman Team choice by the coaches...The unanimous SEC Rookie of the Year according to the Associated Press...Also a second-team All-SEC selection in the media poll...Had a career-high 34 points and 15 rebounds against the Gators...On Feb. 20, Parker was named to the Naismith Award Midseason List, comprised of the nation's top-30 players...Charted her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds at Georgia, despite playing on a sprained left ankle...A finalist for the 2006 V Foundation Comeback Player of the Year Award...On Feb. 2, Parker was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Watch List...She was one of 20 collegiate women's basketball players in the country on the list and one of only two freshmen...Named the Philips Player of the Game on eight occasions (Georgia, LSU, Kentucky, Duke, Mississippi State, Georgia, Stanford and Stetson), the SEC Freshman of the Week four times (12/5, 12/19, 1/10 and 1/16), the SEC Player of the Week on Jan. 16, the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week twice (1/16, 11/28) and January's Lady Vol Athlete of the Month...Hampered by a hip flexor injury against Mississippi, Parker failed to either score in double figures or grab at least 10 rebounds in a game for the first and only time all season...Named the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week and the SEC Player and Freshman of the Week on Jan. 16 after back-to-back double-doubles in SEC play...Named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team and garnered Most Valuable Player honors as well...Stuffed seven Michigan State attempts - the most ever by a Lady Vol freshman and the second most ever by a Lady Vol basketball player...Posted a double-double against Stetson in her first collegiate game (19 points, 10 rebounds)...Became just the 10th Lady Vol to start the first game of the year as a freshman...Earned SEC All-Academic honors.

I would say CP adjusted just fine , though it isn't fair to judge Mercedes with Candace , that's what happens when you come in as the #1 player in the country
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It is certain that Mercedes is not as good a player as Candace and probably never will be. Candace was far more along physically and skill wise at this point. In all fairness however Coach Summit and rightfully so made Candace the number one option in the offense. She demanded that Candace get the ball and of course Candace responded from day one. Mercedes is way down the list when it comes to this offense. It seems to be Simmons who has taken 198 shots, Harrison 136, then either Graves or Massengale. I think Holly should take note of the Candace years and make the post players the number one options in the offense. Izzy is averaging 1.61 points per shot attempt, Graves 1.45, and Mercedes 1.30. The number one option is at 1.14 per shot attempt. If Summit was running this team the ball would be going to the players who are producing more points per attempt. Holly seems ok with her present strategy.
 
#55
#55
don't rain on their diss Russell parade, CLKOU, by using them ole true facts....
 
#56
#56
no one was dissing Mercedes they were just saying she hadn't played up to expectations so far ... all I did was point out that the person who said it took Candace most of the year to adjust to NCAA Division 1 basketball was totally wrong
 
#58
#58
apples to apples and redshirt freshmen to freshmen? nah, something is not like de udder!
 
#59
#59
All of this #1 class is a joke,along with the classes 3-4 years back. Other teams have had freshman come in and make a immediate impact. Maybe that's why Gino and other coaches didn't want them.
 
#60
#60
well to be fair the op compared what she was doing to what Deshields at UNC and Davis at GT were doing , who are both true freshman so that was apples to apples .

I took Sandvol to school on posting this

You guys aren't remembering Candace too well who is probably one of the greatest women players of all time. It took her almost all of her redshirt freshman year to adjust to Division 1.

Which was utter BS .........come on gule, clean those glasses off and read
 
#61
#61
Russell currently is one up on wins over DD & KD.... though with a little help from her teammates. jus sayin!
 
#62
#62
Really, your going to use that we have won more games than GT as your defense ? Actually she is two up on Davis and one behind Deshields ... here is a better argument

Deshields 15.9 ppg 5.1 rpg

Davis 17.8 ppg 6.0 rpg

Russell 7.7 ppg 5.3 rpg

who isn't playing up to the number 1 player ranking .... just sayin
 
#63
#63
If I was Coach, I'd put my 5 against the other 5 in practice every day, no substitutions allowed and the practice winners start the next game. miss your ft's? you run the bleachers for an hour.


You do know if Holly did this Mercedes would still be running
 
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#64
#64
You're comparing apples to oranges. DeShields and Davis are guards. Russell is a center. DeShields and Davis are on inferior teams and have to step up and be their best player for them to have a better chance to compete. Russell is on a better, contending team where she has to actively compete with her own teammates for playing time.
 
#65
#65
clkou said:
You're comparing apples to oranges. DeShields and Davis are guards. Russell is a center. DeShields and Davis are on inferior teams and have to step up and be their best player for them to have a better chance to compete. Russell is on a better, contending team where she has to actively compete with her own teammates for playing time.
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Really ...you must be oblivious to the fact that UNC is ranked ahead of us in both polls ... but nice try
 
#66
#66
clkou said:
You're comparing apples to oranges. DeShields and Davis are guards. Russell is a center. DeShields and Davis are on inferior teams and have to step up and be their best player for them to have a better chance to compete. Russell is on a better, contending team where she has to actively compete with her own teammates for playing time.
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The LVs were lucky to have played UNC in the second game of the season. At this point, UNC is a much improved team. Probably not a good idea to try making arguments using UNC for the next 4 years.
 
#67
#67
I don't care where North Carolina is ranked or how they do the next 4 years. I know right here and right now, the teammates that DeShields plays with are not in the same league as the ones Russell plays with. As I alluded, DeShields is North Carolina's best player because she has to be. Russell is not our best player because she doesn't have to be. Had she signed with us in 2008-2009, she may very well be our best player, but not in this place and time.

And, nice try trying to rewrite history. We beat North Carolina 81-65 in North Carolina's gym.
 
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#68
#68
Mercedes would have been the perfect player to red shirt if we had the players so that she could. She needs a year in the weight room can't do that much while playing during the season. She also needs to get more aggressive and intense when she is in the game that will eventually come but right now she is a little to relaxed when she is in there. I honestly believe she will average a double double next season and the improvement from this year to next will amaze Vol fans.
 
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#69
#69
I was talking about head to head, not total wins. Russell has wins against DD & KD.
 
#70
#70
if russell ran for an hour she'd still be on her 3rd lap... lol, she isn't eggzactly what ya could call fast... ;)
 
#71
#71
Russell will be fine,her game is improving,she does need a year of SEC strength and training program,that will help her more than anything
 
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#72
#72
governmentmule said:
Russell will be fine,her game is improving,she does need a year of SEC strength and training program,that will help her more than anything
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I think we need to start using her more especially in home games. Hard to play freshmen on the road they seem to get the jitters more. I think we got to get he more touches she is a big part of our future.
 
#73
#73
Volfan2012 said:
Mercedes would have been the perfect player to red shirt if we had the players so that she could. She needs a year in the weight room can't do that much while playing during the season. She also needs to get more aggressive and intense when she is in the game that will eventually come but right now she is a little to relaxed when she is in there. I honestly believe she will average a double double next season and the improvement from this year to next will amaze Vol fans.
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Everyone would benefit from redshirting especially someone like Mercedes who needs the time to develop. But, how many students want to spend an extra year in school suffering with the demands of academics plus the rigors of basketball? Only a select few go on to play pro after college.
 
#74
#74
Mercedes is getting better with every game. I watched the first couple of games that Dolson played for UCONN and I thought that Geno had lost his mind recruiting her. By the end of the year she looked like a different player. I suspect Mercedes will also.
 
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#75
#75
Convoluted said:
Everyone would benefit from redshirting especially someone like Mercedes who needs the time to develop. But, how many students want to spend an extra year in school suffering with the demands of academics plus the rigors of basketball? Only a select few go on to play pro after college.
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That is correct and everytime I look at her stats she is playing at a level as high as anyone else on the Tennessee roster except shooting free throws. For 19 minuted of playing time she is averaging 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds shooting 60 percent from the field. Hike that up to thirty she is almost a double double players. her main problem to me seems she is not aggressive doesn't play with authority on the court. She needs to get that pass and take it up strong very few players could stop her if she would get more aggressive and quit putting up those finesse weak shots.
 
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