Most Improved LV basketball player next year and why?

#27
#27
Hexad Vol said:
Coach said she is going to put emphasis on rebounding this year.
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When a team dominates on the boards it not only means more possessions/chances to score, but it is also extremely frustrating and mentally deflating for the opponent. Great rebounding teams can get in the heads of their opponents, making them panic inside because they can't seem to catch a break.

So, I am always happy to hear the Lady Vols are going to be great rebounders. Also, great rebounders stand a LOT better chance of being drafted, and then making a final roster, in the WNBA. You will never, ever find a coach willing to cut a player who is a rebound hound who routinely boxes out and snags a lot of rebounds. Those players are prized.
 
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#28
#28
I’m putting my money on Tamari Key. Why? I suspect her having lost the ability to play will be a driver for her to work even harder and improve her game offensively. She’s in her last year on The Hill and I think she will show up and show out.
 
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#29
#29
VolFuture said:
I’m going Karo and Puckett. Not going to count out Kaiya too I think as her role is defined more she can be a great asset for this team. Karo is a beast and I think her shooting will go under the radar. If Puckett provides energy and rebounding she’ll break out on offense this year
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I’m with you VolFuture. Puckett and Striplin. Both have great basketball IQ and and CKH will have them all in basketball shape. They need that Lady transition game available.
 
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#31
#31
creekdipper said:
Most improved?

Edie.

Granted that the Euro competition isn't anywhere near the level the team will face this season, but she looks cat-quick in the videos and is creating her own shots (and drilling them).
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She's a real go-getter and I love that type of player -- especially when they are home-grown Tennessee girls with orange blood coursing through their veins. 🧡

Being a walk-on, though, makes it kinda hard for Kellie to give her many minutes, but it's a sad reality of the walk-on dynamic with rare exceptions. I hate it, though, because I can see her being a major contributor at a great number of other programs.

But I think that family ties, and the honor of being a Tennessee Lady Vol, must be way more important to Edie at this point in her life than game minutes, and I respect the hell out of that. I hope she sticks it out so she can forever come back "home" to Knoxville and have a lifetime of good times with all her Lady Vol sisters.
 
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#32
#32
lvocd said:
She's a real go-getter and I love that type of player -- especially when they are home-grown Tennessee girls with orange blood coursing through their veins. 🧡

Being a walk-on, though, makes it kinda hard for Kellie to give her many minutes, but it's a sad reality of the walk-on dynamic with rare exceptions. I hate it, though, because I can see her being a major contributor at a great number of other programs.

But I think that family ties, and the honor of being a Tennessee Lady Vol, must be way more important to Edie at this point in her life than game minutes, and I respect the hell out of that. I hope she sticks it out so she can forever come back "home" to Knoxville and have a lifetime of good times with all her Lady Vol sisters.
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I totally agree with every word
 
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#33
#33
lvocd said:
When a team dominates on the boards it not only means more possessions/chances to score, but it is also extremely frustrating and mentally deflating for the opponent. Great rebounding teams can get in the heads of their opponents, making them panic inside because they can't seem to catch a break.

So, I am always happy to hear the Lady Vols are going to be great rebounders. Also, great rebounders stand a LOT better chance of being drafted, and then making a final roster, in the WNBA. You will never, ever find a coach willing to cut a player who is a rebound hound who routinely boxes out and snags a lot of rebounds. Those players are prized.
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Candice Parker stated rebounding wins games just as much as offense and defense.If Candice spoke it you know it's true😁
 
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#35
#35
knoxvol52 said:
Candice Parker stated rebounding wins games just as much as offense and defense.If Candice spoke it you know it's true😁
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It may happen from time to time, but off the top of my head I can't remember any instances when a team dominated the boards but lost the game. You've got to have a strong will to win to be a good rebounding team because it's hard dang work making the extra effort to box out strongly and then go get it. Also, these days most players shoot and immediately start running back downcourt to pick up defense instead of following their shots. That's one of my many frustrations about the modern game:
1. Missing out on too many rebounding opportunities by not following shots to snag misses.
2. Not shooting driving layups with the proper hand depending on the side the player is shooting from. No matter which side, most players today use their dominant hand -- and often get blocked or at least have their shot altered.
3. Not utilizing the bounce pass enough
4. Not using the backboard enough. We'd miss a LOT fewer layups if we used the backboard at close range instead of trying to soft-touch it over the front rim.
5. And maaaanyyyyy mooooooore... lol

Oh, and GET OFF MY LAWN!
 
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#39
#39
creekdipper said:
I'm hoping that Kaiya will be one of the most, if not the most improved. If she has developed a consistent mid-range jumper to match her defensive skills, Kaiya can be a real asset.
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Creek, I remember a big deal being made of Kaiya's track-star speed before she got to Tennessee, and she definitely IS quick. But for whatever reasons -- maybe just not enough court time? -- we haven't gotten to see her leading very many fast breaks. So I would love to see Wynn beating opponents in a lot of fast-break sprint races this season. I feel like maybe this particular group will be good at moving the ball quickly up the floor and get a lot of points in transition. I also suspect this group will be above-average full-court pressers. It takes a lot of leg stamina, and a heckuva lot of mental will, to be a good pressing team, but I feel like this group has the ability to be one if they really want to be. It's a big ask for any coach of her/his players to put it all out there like that instead of conserving energy for the next offensive play, but if they make that sacrifice it'll pay huge dividends. But again, a strong press isn't something a lot of teams can do. I truly believe our team will be able to this coming season.
 
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#40
#40
Preferred walkon @lvocd she only have one year edia without tess. tess will stay five years 99% beting she gets more mins this year than last. i know she may never start but she better than the average walkon. if tenn presses alot in a game edia could get few mins . not leave out her 3 point shooting . games i have seen on youtube she passes good.
 
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#41
#41
Jill

She is figuring it out. She’s going to get some great experience with this euro trip and the 3x3. Her potential is through the roof and I think SHE is finally realizing that. Smooth jumper, beautiful finisher, rebounder, can take you out to the three. What’s not to like? She reminds me a great deal of Natasha Howard. Just super athletic and built to play basketball.
 
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#42
#42
volnationnj said:
Hollingshead.
I'm not sure how many minutes Key will play but I have a feeling it will be around 20 minutes a game. So between the center and power forward positions I expect Hollingshead to play 30 minutes a game. Enough for her stats to really jump.
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I’m thinking 20 will be TKs max toward the end of the season. I’m expecting to see her 10-15 minutes to start the season. Hope we see her go hard in those minutes.

If she is able to contribute more than that I’d be so happy, really hoping she can end her career healthy and showing out.
 
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#43
#43
VolBall09 said:
I’m thinking 20 will be TKs max toward the end of the season. I’m expecting to see her 10-15 minutes to start the season. Hope we see her go hard in those minutes.

If she is able to contribute more than that I’d be so happy, really hoping she can end her career healthy and showing out.
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I’m seeking to keep my expectations of Key’s contributions this year in perspective and reined in due to her health issue and recovery. ❤️‍🩹 🙏
 
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#44
#44
I mean it's a given that if the LVs are going to be a final 4 team, every player including Rickea will need to up their game.

But a team is more than a collection of individuals. Last years team never played the cohesive defense that we say during the LVs best stretch of the 21-22 season. Having Key back in the paint should help quite a bit but there simply needs to be a stronger commitment to playing defense as a team.

On the offensive side, Wells and I anticipate a much improved Powell, should be a significant upgrade in PG play. I will get on my soapbox but you can't go far in today's game without being able to 3's consistently. I expec that Tess will be better at getting her shot off under pressure but players like Sara are going to have to help carry the load. We have the players to kill teams if they LVs can spread the floor. Oh yeah, the LVs need a better alternative to a very stagnant half-court game. I think this is the "proof is in the pudding" season for Kellie. She has the players to have a very potent offensive team. Can she solve the puzzle?
 
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#45
#45
VolBall09 said:
I’m thinking 20 will be TKs max toward the end of the season. I’m expecting to see her 10-15 minutes to start the season. Hope we see her go hard in those minutes.

If she is able to contribute more than that I’d be so happy, really hoping she can end her career healthy and showing out.
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I do as well and hopefully, she ends her career in the 24-25 season rather than this upcoming season. She has 2 full years of eligibility left due to the medical waiver she received.
 
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#46
#46
Harper should be emphasizing 3-point shooting and scoring more than rebounding. We've been a bad 3-point
shooting team for years, and it's a problem. Of course rebounding is important, like everything else,
but at the end of the day point total trumps rebounding total.
 
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#47
#47
madtownvol said:
I mean it's a given that if the LVs are going to be a final 4 team, every player including Rickea will need to up their game.

But a team is more than a collection of individuals. Last years team never played the cohesive defense that we say during the LVs best stretch of the 21-22 season. Having Key back in the paint should help quite a bit but there simply needs to be a stronger commitment to playing defense as a team.

On the offensive side, Wells and I anticipate a much improved Powell, should be a significant upgrade in PG play. I will get on my soapbox but you can't go far in today's game without being able to 3's consistently. I expec that Tess will be better at getting her shot off under pressure but players like Sara are going to have to help carry the load. We have the players to kill teams if they LVs can spread the floor. Oh yeah, the LVs need a better alternative to a very stagnant half-court game. I think this is the "proof is in the pudding" season for Kellie. She has the players to have a very potent offensive team. Can she solve the puzzle?
Click to expand...

Ha: didn't see your post when I suggested much the same. Rebounding? Yea, fine--but this isn't 1980. The game has changed... a lot. Three-point shooting has been a serious problem for years. You're not going to beat anybody good nowadays making 3/4 3s. As for Darby, how many times last year did she come out and make 2/3 3s in the first quarter...and then none the rest of the game? That has to change.

Defensively, we have 3/4 players who played a lot last year who struggle to defend 1v1, to put it politely. That is a problem. When you have a team with quickness issues, and you nevertheless decide to play mostly man defense, you'd better teach your team how to play good help defense--which means teaching players to be more ball and situationally aware. Good defense is not just staring at the back of your mark. It's guarding your player AND knowing where the ball is, who's got the ball, and knowing that you may need to help--and help QUICKLY-- if another of our players gets beat. If one of our players gets beats and the opponent with the ball is streaking to the basket, you can't have your inside players being oblivious while the opponent makes a layup, as we've seen many times. It's rather lame. In this respect Key will help--but only if she stays in the paint.

Which brings up another issue: Why do slow bigs insist in following their marks out to the perimeter when that is precisely what your opponent wants you to do--so that they can have someone take the ball to the basket, and with no rim protector around, score. No big should be leaving the paint unless her mark proves she can make outside shots--and that tends not to be a strength of bigs. You've got to come out a little to help call out picks and such...but don't help the other team by clearing the paint yourself.
 
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#48
#48
mudcat1973 said:
Preferred walkon @lvocd she only have one year edia without tess. tess will stay five years 99% beting she gets more mins this year than last. i know she may never start but she better than the average walkon. if tenn presses alot in a game edia could get few mins . not leave out her 3 point shooting . games i have seen on youtube she passes good.
Click to expand...
I see Edie earning her scholarship this upcoming season. I agree with you that Edie is "better than the average walkon" and will earn more and more minutes as the season unfolds. GBO.
 
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