NCAA Women's Tournament Selection Show Thread - Tennessee Lady Volunteers, No. 5 seed in Birmingham Region 3

[KnoxLikeUs]

And I know y’all like to get on here and condescend, but I’m letting yall know now, no matter how deep you don’t think it is or in case anyone wants to write an essay…..it won’t change the fact that recruits are watching and our watch party looked boring/dull as hell on National TV!

How many recruits were signed following the previous… lets say 4-5 watch parties before Coach Caldwell era with all the bells & whistles you say HS recruits are watching for… I know it’s a rhetorical question but I won’t to hear the answer?
GBO.

 

[Majors]

The stuff that gets attention from a certain crowd through social media and used as controversial with the LV WBB is just ridiculous at this point.

GBO!

Then they noticed the big plush chairs each player had and the illuminated Tennessee sign and big Lady Vols Power T

Didn’t see many programs branding like Tennessee

 

[LV renaissance]

I hear everyone's concerns about Tennessee's reaction not being amazing or anything, but Caldwell strikes me as exactly the kind of coach who doesn't give a damn about cheering for ESPN's marketing on a TV broadcast.

Again, not saying if it's good or bad. Just. She's to the point on the microphone, and doesn't seem to be taken much by PR. So. Eh.

And, I may be wrong, but I feel like we got our fair share of muted Tennessee reactions in the past. Even with Pat in the room. They were all business.

Yes, and I imagine that the players started fantasizing about being a possible #4 seed like many of us did as the reveal showed that teams like Bama, Ole Miss, and KSU were #5 seeds.

 

[LadyVol1908]

How many recruits were signed following the previous… lets say 4-5 watch parties before Coach Caldwell era with all the bells & whistles you say HS recruits are watching for… I know it’s a rhetorical question but I won’t to hear the answer?
GBO.

Listen, I know you may not *want* to hear this Knox, but I’ve been influenced to believe Kellie was hindered by lack of NIL funds, so recruiting during these past 4-5 years is nulled for me.

She was handcuffed and I know people don’t want to admit that NIL makes a difference, but it seems as if it does.

 

[LadyVol1908]

Yes, and I imagine that the players started fantasizing about being a possible #4 seed like many of us did as the reveal showed that teams like Bama, Ole Miss, and KSU were #5 seeds.

Hell at the reveal, I thought we were going to be a 3 seed, which would have been a HUGE overachievement for Kim in her first year.

 

[ttharp]

Congratulations to CKC and staff for keeping the tournament streak alive and leading the team to a 5 seed in year one.

I know the late season collapse still looms, but I definitely didn't expect this when she was hired. The streak is in good hands with her. We have the #2 recruiting class on the way.

I'm wishing our girls good health next weekend. Let's send them positive energy.

GLV!

 

[alexvol]

Has a time been announced for the game vs South Florida Sunday ,3/23 ?

 

[glv98]

This is concerning because something happened to this team the last two weeks of the season.....do not know what it was or is . If this team were playing like it did a month ago ,they should at least go to Sweet 16 but playing lethargically in last two weeks and showing up with no emotion tonite is concerning.....a quick exit could definitely be in the cards.

Exactly. When they’ve self identified the problem as fatigue, this was notable for its absolute lack of energy.

Then they noticed the big plush chairs each player had and the illuminated Tennessee sign and big Lady Vols Power T

Those chairs were so big it looked like COVID era social distancing. No one was near anyone else, no one interacted. That whole set was really sterile.

Selection Day always makes me think back to the down home family feel of the gatherings at Pats house with her cooking. A couple of yrs ago they had a really cool set up at the WBB HoF. Everyone, including coaches, hung around and danced afterwards. I was just kinda shocked this was so low key compared to those.

That said, it exactly fits the Mad Chipmunks all biz no frills persona. Also, I’d be very surprised if recruits gave a tinkers damn, esp if our NIL bag is truly up.

 

[glv98]

Has a time been announced for the game vs South Florida Sunday ,3/23 ?

Believe that’s Friday. 2nd round Sunday. No times set, probably in a couple of days

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

#1 recruiting class according to 247Sports.
Jaida Civil is a McDonald’s AA and ranked #32 on ESPN. I can’t take ESPN rankings seriously. Too much bias.

Congratulations to CKC and staff for keeping the tournament streak alive and leading the team to a 5 seed in year one.

I know the late season collapse still looms, but I definitely didn't expect this when she was hired. The streak is in good hands with her. We have the #2 recruiting class on the way.

I'm wishing our girls good health next weekend. Let's send them positive energy.

GLV!

 

[alexvol]

Exactly. When they’ve self identified the problem as fatigue, this was notable for its absolute lack of energy.

Those chairs were so big it looked like COVID era social distancing. No one was near anyone else, no one interacted. That whole set was really sterile.

Selection Day always makes me think back to the down home family feel of the gatherings at Pats house with her cooking. A couple of yrs ago they had a really cool set up at the WBB HoF. Everyone, including coaches, hung around and danced afterwards. I was just kinda shocked this was so low key compared to those.

That said, it exactly fits the Mad Chipmunks all biz no frills persona. Also, I’d be very surprised if recruits gave a tinkers damn, esp if our NIL bag is truly up.

Coach identified it as fatigue .......I hope that was the problem and not a personnel/chemistry problem .

 

[glv98]

Coach identified it as fatigue .......I hope that was the problem and not a personnel/chemistry problem .

I’ve said before I think they were both tired and tired of it. Lots of mental intensity spent as well as physical. That’s may be the hardest part to get back. We’ll see.

 

[Dak1219]

Dawn on ESPN2 complaining about not getting the overall #1 seed. Here's why they didn't get it..... UConn boat-raced them in humiliating fashion. Simple as that.

Is there ever a season Dawn Staley isn't complaining about something. Never ends. Her best one was two years ago after losing to Iowa talking about how unfair it was for her to to play on a later day than their opponent, rather than admitting she didn't make any in-game adjustments that may have helped her team win. It's always something.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

That’s fairy tale I don’t care what you believe. It doesn’t matter what you or I want to hear.. facts is the previous HC couldn’t recruit HS players. Jordan Horston, Rickea Jackson, all these former highly successful UT players are speaking highly of Coach Caldwell based on what they hear and see with the current players at UT because they respect CKC mindset as a leader. Coach Caldwell signed 5 Top 50 recruits in 7 months. Players ain’t signing to any school even with six figure NIL deals if the leader can’t sell them on the vision.

Listen, I know you may not *want* to hear this Knox, but I’ve been influenced to believe Kellie was hindered by lack of NIL funds, so recruiting during these past 4-5 years is nulled for me.

She was handcuffed and I know people don’t want to admit that NIL makes a difference, but it seems as if it does.

 

[LadyVol1908]

That’s fairy tale I don’t care what you believe. It doesn’t matter what you or I want to hear.. facts is the previous HC couldn’t recruit HS players. Jordan Horston, Rickea Jackson, all these former highly successful UT players are speaking highly of Coach Caldwell based on what they hear and see with the current players at UT because they respect CKC mindset as a leader. Coach Caldwell signed 5 Top 50 recruits in 7 months. Players ain’t signing to any school even with six figure NIL deals if the leader can’t sell them on the vision.

Not what you want to hear but just wanted to hear my answer! Please save me the dramatics and drivel that you’re so good at on this board! I said what I said!

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Contradicting post. You didn’t answer the question in your response, “ how many HS recruits were signed by the previous staff?”
Since you said that impacts HS recruiting, while stating your disapproval towards an even kneeled and amazing program selling display optics flashing the Tennessee logo in the backdrop at the watch party.
GBO!

Not what you want to hear but just wanted to hear my answer! Please save me the dramatics and drivel that you’re so good at on this board! I said what I said!

 

[lvocd]

Looked as though the coaches made it about the girls. No reason for coaches, support staff etc. to be on camera. It’s about the girls.

I agree that "it's about the girls" was obviously the idea behind the way Tennessee handled it, but nevertheless it did kinda fall flat considering general expectations of the format. Personally, I would have enjoyed seeing the players front and center, all sitting, and then all the coaches and support staff behind them cheering them on. The reaction of the players is always the main focus, but it's also fun to see the staff celebrating with them.

But hey, if that's the way they wanted to do it, it's all good! I love 'em all.

 

[alexvol]

Jmo but it is time to let go of previous coaching references about recruiting..... coaching X's and O's or whatever.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Let them chat.
Looks like smiles to me.
GBO!

 

[UTtoDC]

I read the comments before I saw the teams reactions and I expected to see some major disfunction!

Looked pretty normal to me. Different than the previous years with no staff, just players. They seem fine though. Completely overblown reactions by some posters as usual.

 

[Voltopia]

Why not change the title from selection show to Game Thread to capture all this info while at the same time starting the Game Thread?

Lol, you already beat me to it! But I also abhor hoarding responsibilities so whatever works for people.

I will say that I generally adhere to the belief that threads for games are best started about one or two days before the games. Hate seeing threads get gummed up with arguments 'cause folks have nothing better to do.

That and I don't like repurposing threads, because people may search for something later and struggle to find X thread when it's been renamed, etc. It's inconsistent. Sort of like changing the rules of a game after you've started playing. Just messy in terms of community management. In very small communities I can somewhat understand trying to promote engagement by compelling people to engage in one place, but for larger and active communities I think it can distort or even discourage engagement. And, purely anecdotally, when I see repurposed threads I think "oh, that forum isn't active enough to support individual threads." It's not always fair, but it is what I think.

Anyway. No biggie.

 

[Ladyvols4ever!]

 

[Voltopia]

Let them chat.
Looks like smiles to me.
GBO!

I wonder just how strict a set of rules ESPN gives the schools for what they can or cannot do for these video feeds. Feels like young people today without rules would turn these into fun little skits or whatever to mug for the camera. They're certainly cliche now, and it's been done to death. Seems like a good chance to play around. I know I would want to do that. Dress up like a bunch of scientists in lab coats pointing at a giant whiteboard with an NCAA bracket filled with team names and little "scientific notation" notes. Percentages, statistics, the like. Everyone nodding seriously and going "ooooh, ahaaa, good point."

Which is why I suspect the rules are very strict, of course.

 

[Lucy]

Contradicting post. You didn’t answer the question in your response, “ how many HS recruits were signed by the previous staff?”
Since you said that impacts HS recruiting, while stating your disapproval towards an even kneeled and amazing program selling display optics flashing the Tennessee logo in the backdrop at the watch party.
GBO!

Your act is really getting old. I’m not sure what color the sky is in your world but NIL is probably top priority for 90% of recruits.
Saying a lack of NIL hindered Kellie is a fact. It does not diminish the recruiting prowess of CKC and her staff. Nor does it diminish what a great freshman class we have coming in. If, however, I have to hear one more time about them being the #2 class (or really 1 in your nsho ) I am going to stop even looking at this recruiting thread. They are freshmen! They will have an adjustment period! They will show glimpses of being great one game and stink it up the next. Overhyping these young ladies is really unfair to them!
Solid, whatever!

 

[Chippo]

The lady vols should make it at least to the sweet 16 no doubt. Round of 32 game vs Ohio State? Give me Tennessee.

Only if we are well rested. Also we have to be
Good defensively.