Mercedes Russell?

[tonybologna]

Is she not the worst performing top recruit ever to play at UT? I mean she's huge. She's got length. She's got the skills. But, she doesn't do much of anything. I mean with a player her size & skillset she should absolutely dominate not only under the basket but in the paint as well. She's been the most disappointing Lady Vol that I can remember coming in here as the top recruit out of high school. I know she has 2 more years to get better but I just don't see it.

What do you guys think it is about her that limits her? Is it coaching or just actually her personality to not want to dominate or what? There's no way a girl her size & skills should be playing this poorly. She should be a walking double-double every single game. She gets pushed around. She commits silly fouls. She gets beat by players nowhere near her skillset.

I'm just baffled at this. I'm beginning to think that she's not getting coached up good enough. It also might be just her & her lack of desire as well. She's certainly not helping her chances for what I thought would be a lock as the 1st pick in the WNBA draft when she came into Knoxville right out of high school.

I would like all of your thoughts & opinions on this topic. I mean the proof is in the pudding. Thanks!

 

[Volfan2012]

I think she is mentally immature as far as basketball intensity. She seems to not be concerned with how things are going on the court. She doesn't have an attitude when she plays or demand the ball. Her movement in the post needs a lot of work. Second she is not physically coordinated for her body yet and may take another couple years to get there. Takes her a long time to change from one direction to another and this is why people score on her so easily when they get past their defender for a layup. I do think she will be a better player as a junior and if still here could be a really terrific player as a senior.

 

[tonybologna]

I do not believe she will turn out to be a terrific player by her senior season. Look at the other top recruits we've had in the past coming out of high school. Take Parker for example, she was tall & skinny but very athletic unlike Russell but she was supposed to be a sure fire WNBA top pick. That's exactly what she turned out to be.

Yes, this was under the coaching of Pat Summitt but she did turn out to be a top player. Russell is big like Parker but with even more weight. She should get almost every single rebound that comes off the board. She gets 10 every once in a blue moon. I'm sorry but I don't have the same outlook as you on Russell. I hope that I'm wrong though.

 

[Jax_Vol]

This Mercedes is driving in a school zone

 

[BigOrangeD]

She needs to take lessons from BREANNA STEWART from UCONN who is only 6' 4" and plays much bigger and faster than Russell.

 

[T.J.]

It's coaching. And there is proof that Mercedes can play with assertiveness and skill. During last summer she played for team USA and led the team in scoring and rebounding. I watched her perform in 3 games and she was great! Go back to her McDonald All American game she with the MVP. That's two different coaches that had her playing to her potential.

It is frustrating to see Cedes following ANY ONE out to the perimeter she should be in the paint at all times because she's SIX'SIX. CHW don't care and it's her team therefore the Lady Vols are going to keep losing.

 

[armchair]

Russell had a double-double last night--10 points and 12 board, or vice versa, I forget. She's not the force I and others expected her to be. She works hard establishing position in the low post, but she lacks the strength needed to really score in tight spaces with defenders around her--and with teams consistently playing zone against us (though Ky did not), there are usually defenders around. And she misses easy shots--missed at least three very easy shots last night. I like that she was decisive going up for shots a few times after catching the ball in the paint--but she couldn't finish. Needs to get stronger and finish better. And, yes, she needs a bit more intensity.

I really find her defense disappointing. She follows her cover too far outside all the time, leaving the paint area open for opposing guards to take the ball to the basket. What is the point of having a 6'6" center if the coaches let her drift way outside all the time? It is STUPID, because her cover is not going to making 20-foot jump shots. She should not leave the paint. Her defensive awareness is also lacking: Last night on a few occasions she stood looking at her cover--oblivious to where the ball was and not moving over toward the basket to help out. That is inexcusable and yet another lack of fundamentals by this team. This team makes a RAFT of fundamental mistakes every game--coaching.

 

[armchair]

She needs to take lessons from BREANNA STEWART from UCONN who is only 6' 4" and plays much bigger and faster than Russell.

Stewart is a forward--and the best player in the country. Is she actually 6'4"? She moves and shoots like someone much smaller, which is why she is so great. Russell is an entirely different player--not just taller but also much wider...and yes, slower. Our entire teams not only lacks intensity--individually and as a group--but they have no passion. Where is the joy, the fire? When is the last time we saw anyone on our team actually show some real emotion on the court! I have not seen it ONCE this year--from anybody! Unbelievable. Basketball is hard work but should also be fun. I see no indication that our players are enjoying themselves on the court.

 

[tonybologna]

This Mercedes is driving in a school zone

Now, that one was hilarious!

She needs to take lessons from BREANNA STEWART from UCONN who is only 6' 4" and plays much bigger and faster than Russell.

You're right. Stewart & Russell are probably along the same lines in terms of athletic ability too. Stewart though is a way way better player.

It's coaching. And there is proof that Mercedes can play with assertiveness and skill. During last summer she played for team USA and led the team in scoring and rebounding. I watched her perform in 3 games and she was great! Go back to her McDonald All American game she with the MVP. That's two different coaches that had her playing to her potential.

It is frustrating to see Cedes following ANY ONE out to the perimeter she should be in the paint at all times because she's SIX'SIX. CHW don't care and it's her team therefore the Lady Vols are going to keep losing.

That certainly does prove coaching has an awful lot to do with it.

 

[tonybologna]

Stewart is a forward--and the best player in the country. Is she actually 6'4"? She moves and shoots like someone much smaller, which is why she is so great. Russell is an entirely different player--not just taller but also much wider...and yes, slower. Our entire teams not only lacks intensity--individually and as a group--but they have no passion. Where is the joy, the fire? When is the last time we saw anyone on our team actually show some real emotion on the court! I have not seen it ONCE this year--from anybody! Unbelievable. Basketball is hard work but should also be fun. I see no indication that our players are enjoying themselves on the court.

I agree with you totally. DeShields is our best player but as times she's even our worst player. There are no emotions from anyone on the team. Holly has to be gone after this season if not before it's over.

 

[GameTime]

She does not live up to the expectations her name envisions...

Plays no bigger than a 6'2" player....Last night she was just a casual observer when help was needed to stop the rim driving KY player....She just glanced at them, if even that much.

 

[BigOrangeD]

She does not live up to the expectations her name envisions...

Plays no bigger than a 6'2" player....Last night she was just a casual observer when help was needed to stop the rim driving KY player....She just glanced at them, if even that much.

Yep. She plays way too slow and weak. Stewart is smaller and plays much bigger and stronger and I bet Geno would get more out of Russell than Holly ever could.

 

[Hoya Saxa]

She needs to take lessons from BREANNA STEWART from UCONN who is only 6' 4" and plays much bigger and faster than Russell.

Forget about Stewart. 5"11"" Nina Davis at Baylor plays bigger and faster than Russell. That girl is an amazing post player and rebounder. She was also in the same high school graduating class as Russell. Which player has developed better over the past three years?

Let's not forget she is from Memphis, Tennessee. Another recruiting success story for Holly.

 

[BigOrangeD]

Forget about Stewart. 5"11"" Nina Davis at Baylor plays bigger and faster than Russell. That girl is an amazing post player and rebounder. She was also in the same high school graduating class as Russell. Which player has developed better over the past three years?

Let's not forget she is from Memphis, Tennessee. Another recruiting success story for Holly.

:good!:

 

[gladiator06]

send her to UCONN. I'm sure she would be dominating. This team is an extension of their coach...SOFT. Pat's teams were an extension of her...competitive and hard nosed. Geno's teams are an extension of him...etc, etc.

 

[teacherdean]

I also believe it is coach. She was player of the game when she played in the game of freshman 5 stars. She played well in one of the world games last summer. I agree with most of the mistakes mentioned in this post, however, aren't the coaches seeing the same thing? Carolyn Peck has mentioned several times that Russell needs to be more aggressive, keep the ball up high, be more demanding in the paint and she plays a lot out of position. If Peck and other announcers can see all these things where are the coaches' heads, up their butt.

Not only Russell, but look at this team. We have seven 5 stars, two national freshmen of the year (Graves by Full Court and Diamond D.), we have three 5 stars that were players of the game in the all star game featuring incoming freshman (Russell, Nared and Cooper(co-player of the game)). Not a single one of these women are playing up to their capabilities. I can't believe that we have a collection of bad 5 stars, that is BS. If you were the parent of a 5 star player why, without orange colored glasses, in your right mind would you advise your child to play for a coach who cannot coach the talent she has. Holly's skill set, or lack there of, is adversely affecting this program. Maybe she needs to call Jeff Walz and find out how he has used a group of freshmen and sophomore players and turned Louisville into a top 15 program. He has a good recruiting class coming in. Maybe he can also teach Holly how to recruit.

 

[boxerpupsrcool]

Seeing that Mercedes was the top recruit for the 2013 class, I'm at a loss for how much of a mediocre player she is. I blame some of this on the coaches..where is the player development, not only for Russell, but all the other players? Like others have said, she's extremely timid, soft, constantly plays out of position, and has trouble handling even simple passes into the post. Misses a bunch of easy shots as well. I saw a lot of this mediocrity during her freshman year, but when it was revealed she had foot issues, I just attributed her lackluster freshman year to that.

 

[boxerpupsrcool]

I also believe it is coach. She was player of the game when she played in the game of freshman 5 stars. She played well in one of the world games last summer. I agree with most of the mistakes mentioned in this post, however, aren't the coaches seeing the same thing? Carolyn Peck has mentioned several times that Russell needs to be more aggressive, keep the ball up high, be more demanding in the paint and she plays a lot out of position. If Peck and other announcers can see all these things where are the coaches' heads, up their butt.

Not only Russell, but look at this team. We have seven 5 stars, two national freshmen of the year (Graves by Full Court and Diamond D.), we have three 5 stars that were players of the game in the all star game featuring incoming freshman (Russell, Nared and Cooper(co-player of the game)). Not a single one of these women are playing up to their capabilities. I can't believe that we have a collection of bad 5 stars, that is BS. If you were the parent of a 5 star player why, without orange colored glasses, in your right mind would you advise your child to play for a coach who cannot coach the talent she has. Holly's skill set, or lack there of, is adversely affecting this program. Maybe she needs to call Jeff Walz and find out how he has used a group of freshmen and sophomore players and turned Louisville into a top 15 program. He has a good recruiting class coming in. Maybe he can also teach Holly how to recruit.

With this much talent playing as poorly as any other lady vol team in recent memory, it's a damning indictment of holly's coaching, or lack thereof.

 

[tonybologna]

Another thing is that since Holly took over as coach we don't get nearly as many as the top recruits anymore. If we still had Pat or another well known coach then that wouldn't be the case.

Right now, for the 2016 class we have a girl out of Blackman High School as the #3 overall recruit(ESPNW) but she's already signed with UConn so that's what I'm talking about. We can't seem to get any of the top recruits anymore. Russell was the last one & she's turning out to be a bust it appears.

The #44 recruit(ESPNW) for 2016 has already signed with Vandy out of Dickson County High School. We can't even get the top recruits from the state of Tennessee to come here anymore.

Te'a Cooper was the #12 recruit(ESPNW) for 2015 but we used to always get at least 1-2 of the top 10 recruits every single year. Ever since our Pat departed we just don't have much of a shot at getting any of the top recruits. Why is that? Coaching would be my main reason. It's certainly nothing to do with program tradition.

 

[k-town_king]

She is not playing that bad. Its all coaching not getting her the ball. She is 1.5 rbs from averaging a double double while shooting 57% from the field. She needs way more attempts.

 

[Bah Humbug]

Is she not the worst performing top recruit ever to play at UT? I mean she's huge. She's got length. She's got the skills. But, she doesn't do much of anything. I mean with a player her size & skillset she should absolutely dominate not only under the basket but in the paint as well. She's been the most disappointing Lady Vol that I can remember coming in here as the top recruit out of high school. I know she has 2 more years to get better but I just don't see it.

What do you guys think it is about her that limits her? Is it coaching or just actually her personality to not want to dominate or what? There's no way a girl her size & skills should be playing this poorly. She should be a walking double-double every single game. She gets pushed around. She commits silly fouls. She gets beat by players nowhere near her skillset.

I'm just baffled at this. I'm beginning to think that she's not getting coached up good enough. It also might be just her & her lack of desire as well. She's certainly not helping her chances for what I thought would be a lock as the 1st pick in the WNBA draft when she came into Knoxville right out of high school.

I would like all of your thoughts & opinions on this topic. I mean the proof is in the pudding. Thanks!

It's all coaching, just this summer she was MVP of the tourney with Holly being the assistant coach, Holly just can't coach!

 

[tonybologna]

She is not playing that bad. Its all coaching not getting her the ball. She is 1.5 rbs from averaging a double double while shooting 57% from the field. She needs way more attempts.

While I agree with you she's not playing that bad, she doesn't have any hustle or toughness out there on the court either. You say she needs way more attempts. Have you seen the poor work effort on the floor from her? Have you seen the missed easy putbacks right under the basket? She should get more attempts just by toughness alone & getting the rebounds + make the putbacks.

She just doesn't do that though! She's not coached up well enough it appears to me. I think it's more that than her alone. She wasn't the top recruit for nothing. If she was at UConn or Notre Dame or Maryland or Baylor then we can guarantee that she would be putting up way better numbers than she is in Knoxville.

 

[CAVPUT]

Her performance reminds me of....well....

 

[Ladyvolfan4ever]

Could you imagine Mercedes with the attitude of Mikala Epps ?

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

Is she not the worst performing top recruit ever to play at UT? I mean she's huge. She's got length. She's got the skills. But, she doesn't do much of anything. I mean with a player her size & skillset she should absolutely dominate not only under the basket but in the paint as well. She's been the most disappointing Lady Vol that I can remember coming in here as the top recruit out of high school. I know she has 2 more years to get better but I just don't see it.

What do you guys think it is about her that limits her? Is it coaching or just actually her personality to not want to dominate or what? There's no way a girl her size & skills should be playing this poorly. She should be a walking double-double every single game. She gets pushed around. She commits silly fouls. She gets beat by players nowhere near her skillset.

I'm just baffled at this. I'm beginning to think that she's not getting coached up good enough. It also might be just her & her lack of desire as well. She's certainly not helping her chances for what I thought would be a lock as the 1st pick in the WNBA draft when she came into Knoxville right out of high school.

I would like all of your thoughts & opinions on this topic. I mean the proof is in the pudding. Thanks!

Don't blame Mercedes play on Mercedes. The problem is lack of instruction. This is a problem all of these players have had once they start receiving instruction from our illustrious coaching staff. The buck stops at the top and the play of Mercedes is directly controlled by the coaching or lack thereof!
fyi...you do realize that Mercedes has parents who care and remarks like yours if read by these parents can not be a good thing for Mercedes or this program.