Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2024-25

I wonder why Kellie is there? Curious if this means that she's interviewing for coaching jobs for next season.

Kellie has been part of USA basketball for a few years. She had these commitments already outside of her UT job. She’s there coaching and representing herself which is great.

Actually glad CKC isn’t doing any of this at the moment. As you notice, last week was a big tourney week and our coaches were on the recruiting trail.

Previously our coaches would have been at USA basketball coaching a bunch of kids we had no chance at recruiting.
 
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Should we refer to Tennessee as UTjr? I mean Texas is the big UT is it not? This USCjr stuff is dumb. We will gladly be called South Carolina. Thanks.
Tennessee is the only UT, especially since we were a University before Texas(UTjr) was a state. He'll that'd be in Mexico if it wasn't for the Volunteer state. You'll always be USCjr, no matter how many women's championships you win. Now if you win a men's championship in the Big 3 , then and only then will I call Southern Cal(UTjr). If you don't like that ; take you A$$ to the USCjr board and get off ourd.
 
Kellie has been part of USA basketball for a few years. She had these commitments already outside of her UT job. She’s there coaching and representing herself which is great.

Actually glad CKC isn’t doing any of this at the moment. As you notice, last week was a big tourney week and our coaches were on the recruiting trail.

Previously our coaches would have been at USA basketball coaching a bunch of kids we had no chance at recruiting.
Gotta disagree there. Anytime your coach is a part of USA basketball it is a positive. Shows you are a premier program. You get a chance to establish relationships with top kids.
Also, Nyla and Finley are part of USA basketball I believe so yes, we did and can recruit those kids.
Hopefully CKC will get an opportunity to be a part of USA basketball soon.
 
Gotta disagree there. Anytime your coach is a part of USA basketball it is a positive. Shows you are a premier program. You get a chance to establish relationships with top kids.
Also, Nyla and Finley are part of USA basketball I believe so yes, we did and can recruit those kids.
Hopefully CKC will get an opportunity to be a part of USA basketball soon.

I think USA basketball is a joke and I could care less if any of our coaches ever participate again.

I also do not care whether it had any impact on Brooks or Chastain. The new staff are already proving they can and will recruit better.

If those two want to be part of it, great, come on, if not, their loss.

Nyla would definitely be a nice player for CKC and I do hope she comes to UT. Very dynamic player.

So far Chastain looks really one dimensional. Very good shooter with great percentage from 3 but that’s about all there is to her game. Reminds me a little of Pissott. Chastain is going to need to add to her game or she’ll drop significantly in the 2027 rankings. Right now she’s a really good set shooter from 3 and an OK passer. Reminds me of King from Virginia Tech tbh.
 
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For some of us the Team USA squads are still a source of national pride (from all sports, not just WBB), so I care about them unlike some here. It’s an amazing lifetime opportunity and honor for the athletes to represent their country and there is really nothing negative to say about these national teams. Have some pride in the Red, White and Blue everyone and put away any petty grievances.
 
For some of us the Team USA squads are still a source of national pride (from all sports, not just WBB), so I care about them unlike some here. It’s an amazing lifetime opportunity and honor for the athletes to represent their country and there is really nothing negative to say about these national teams. Have some pride in the Red, White and Blue everyone and put away any petty grievances.

Ok, check back when they leave A’Ja off the Olympic Team in favor of a 40 year old Tina Charles.
 
Ok, check back when they leave A’Ja off the Olympic Team in favor of a 40 year old Tina Charles.
Not gonna happen. And for those that want Taurasei (I know spelling is wrong) off the team, it’s up to a younger player to out play her. She is not a token player yet, believe she is still amongst the leagues statistical leaders even at age 41, more power to her if she can play like that at her age. I think she is top 3-4 in the WNBA in scoring this season already and tbh until she shows decline why would you leave her off If she is still playing at an elite level?
 
For some of us the Team USA squads are still a source of national pride (from all sports, not just WBB), so I care about them unlike some here. It’s an amazing lifetime opportunity and honor for the athletes to represent their country and there is really nothing negative to say about these national teams. Have some pride in the Red, White and Blue everyone and put away any petty grievances.
The picking of the team is a political. Has been for some time now. I'll take a hard pass on Team USA.
 
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Not gonna happen. And for those that want Taurasei (I know spelling is wrong) off the team, it’s up to a younger player to out play her. She is not a token player yet, believe she is still amongst the leagues statistical leaders even at age 41, more power to her if she can play like that at her age. I think she is top 3-4 in the WNBA in scoring this season already and tbh until she shows decline why would you leave her off If she is still playing at an elite level?
I agree Taurasi is still one of the best shooters in women's basketball, not as fast as she once was but she is crafty. I would take her any day on any team. She is still, at 41, one of the best women’s basketball players.
 
Because she has already experienced the Olympics FIVE FREAKING TIMES already and is about to experience her sixth? Couldn’t that be a good reason?
No it is not a good reason, the team should be built on players playing at the highest level. You can argue past discrepancies about who you wanted or would have chosen, but coaches build their teams based upon many factors and tbh, there are not many that are playing at the level DT is still playing at. So whether it’s her age or the number of times she has donned the USA jersey that bothers you most, she is still elite, she is not a token player, given the roster spot because of her past accomplishments, she is still one of the best. We should salute a 41 year old who is so dedicated she can still be one of the best. I’m no Uconn fan, but I know greatness when I see it, and she is still a great player and one of the best USA WBB players currently.
 
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No it is not a good reason, the team should be built on players playing at the highest level. You can argue past discrepancies about who you wanted or would have chosen, but coaches build their teams based upon many factors and tbh, there are not many that are playing at the level DT is still playing at. So whether it’s her age or the number of times she has donned the USA jersey that bothers you most, she is still elite, she is not a token player, given the roster spot because of her past accomplishments, she is still one of the best. We should salute a 41 year old who is so dedicated she can still be one of the best. I’m no Uconn fan, but I know greatness when I see it, and she is still a great player and one of the best USA WBB players currently.
Well first off I doubt she is one of the top 15. There are younger players who will be able to perform better over a lengthy tournament and secondly LV fans know that the best players are not always selected. Doesn’t make it right (Geno) but that is still our country’s team.
 
Well first off I doubt she is one of the top 15. There are younger players who will be able to perform better over a lengthy tournament and secondly LV fans know that the best players are not always selected. Doesn’t make it right (Geno) but that is still our country’s team.
Lucy, her stats say she is still one of the top 10 or so players in the WNBA. I agree with you on Team USA, it’s our country’s team.

 
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Lucy, her stats say she is still one of the top 10 or so players in the WNBA. I agree with you on Team USA, it’s our country’s team.

I understand stats but will she hold up through a rigorous schedule? I would also like to see some younger players on the team for development purposes. The USWNST had similar problems and finally moved on.
 
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Because she has already experienced the Olympics FIVE FREAKING TIMES already and is about to experience her sixth? Couldn’t that be a good reason?
If she is good enough, she should not be penalized because she is a mainstay on the Olympic Team. I know how I felt when Candance was left off the Olympic Team in 2016 and they took Stewie who just graduated from UCONN. Parker was one of the best players in the world in 2016.
 
Lucy, her stats say she is still one of the top 10 or so players in the WNBA. I agree with you on Team USA, it’s our country’s team.

Rooster I usually agree with you but I agree with Lucy. You can't call her A top 15 player with only 2 games played. Look at her 2022 & 2023 stats. Then look at her 2019 -23' GP too Injury prone . 2023 - 18th in pts on 40.3% & 34.2% . 2022 10th in pts on 37.3% & 33.7%.. she doesn't play defense her stats are no longer elite. still a great player but one dimensional. Being in the top 15 in pts scored doesn't mean your a top 10 or 15 player.

I can name quite a few guards who should be on team over her

Lloyd
Ionescu
KAHLEAH COPPER
J Young
Plum
Grey if healthy

CC
R Howar
Arike Ogunbowale

 
I think USA basketball is a joke and I could care less if any of our coaches ever participate again.

I also do not care whether it had any impact on Brooks or Chastain. The new staff are already proving they can and will recruit better.

If those two want to be part of it, great, come on, if not, their loss.

Nyla would definitely be a nice player for CKC and I do hope she comes to UT. Very dynamic player.

So far Chastain looks really one dimensional. Very good shooter with great percentage from 3 but that’s about all there is to her game. Reminds me a little of Pissott. Chastain is going to need to add to her game or she’ll drop significantly in the 2027 rankings. Right now she’s a really good set shooter from 3 and an OK passer. Reminds me of King from Virginia Tech tbh.
Nyla Brooks would be a great fit for the system. I was told at session 1 by a college scout that she has the chance to be a longer Rickea Jackson if she works on her midrange. Her length would be great on the press.

But no top player will commit until they see a change in sub patterns. Club coaches are all leery of sending their top players to a school who has a coach that wants to sub players every 90-120 seconds. They are open with their concerns. They believe it can change but until CKC lands an elite player and proves she’ll leave them on the court it will be a tough sell. She doesn’t have that type of player yet and needs one in the worst way to prove the adjustment.

As far as Finley Chastain goes, her 20+ offers before committing were all as a point guard playing way up in age. Watched her play top 17u at Run4theRoses 2 summers ago as a 7th grader. She averaged over 6 assists a game for the tournament. Rarely even shot back then. As well as she’s shooting now her best quality is still her point guard play. Supposedly got her Tennessee offer as a smallish point guard starting opposite Madison Booker in a gym full of coaches watching Booker. Now she’s grown and filled out. Scout last weekend said she’s a 6’ Sue Bird. Heard that before. She starts at point for the top Adidas team with Keeley Parks as the shooting guard. Parks has UT in her top 15, too.

Not sure either Chastain or Parks are a great fit in the new system. They would fit better on the other side. Using their IQ and passing to pick the press apart like Va Tech did.

ESPN has posted about all 3 girls being among the best players in the Nike (Brooks) and Adidas (Parks and Chastain) circuits through 2 sessions. I know CKC has talked a lot with Brooks and she was posted at Adidas trying to watch Parks and Chastain.
 

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