Nothing but heart-healing thoughts from me

[cwbytruckers]

This turned very negative. Look Harper is a good coach. But the issue is she doesnt seem to be doing anything about the problems with these girls. But im starting to feel its a talent issue or brain trama. How many times do they dribble off their feet? Drive into traffic and force shots off balance over girls bigger and stronger. Or how many air balls per game? Missed bunnies? The only reason they lead the nation in rebounds is because they miss so many shots per game. This team needs a true point guard and a true back up point guard. Key is 6’6 and thats about it. She cant stay out if her own head to be a force. And Rae that poor girl is trying to force everything and her wnba stock has to be suffering. I was hoping when they got to the number 4 ranking they were back. But something happened before that Auburn game. And somehow they won against Arkansas or it would be a 4 game losing streak. I just hope the season can be salvaged or its going to be a quick post season.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Feelings???? Its about winning at this level. This isnt pee wee girls bball. Feelings have plunged this once proud program into the abyss. But we'll keep "staying positive" and "supportive" as the Lady Vols continue to flounder. It makes zero sense. But, but... Holly is a LV!! But... KJH is a LV... None of that matters. Winning and competing for championships should be the goal. And in 3 years, this team is no closer than they were in year 1. Thats the issue. If yall cant see that, there is nothing else to say.

She's 19-4 in her third year. What was she after 23 games in years one and two?

Were you competing with the best in the nation at your profession in year three on the job?

 

[creekdipper]

If yall cant see that, there is nothing else to say.

We can live with that.

 

[glv98]

This turned very negative. Look Harper is a good coach. But the issue is she doesnt seem to be doing anything about the problems with these girls. But im starting to feel its a talent issue or brain trama.

Not to turn it negative or anything, but I'm feeling the brain trama for sure.

 

[glv98]

But patting these athletes on the back and giving them a pass for horrible performances doesn't help them a bit.

I'm still not clear how as a fan I can avoid being supportive of mediocrity. I'm not patting any of them on the back, because I'm pretty sure I'd get arrested, and I'm not sure how to go about giving them a pass or not. So maybe I should go to games, but carry a sign showing my displeasure at their recent horrible performances?

Truthfully, you and I don't have the slightest idea what coaching, discipline, and accountability have gone on. True it hasn't worked yet but I don't doubt exactly no one is happy with or settling for the current situation. Everyone wants it to be better. It seemed to be getting better and it is disheartening for the bottom to suddenly fall out. We'll see if they can pick it back up, hopefully they will and things will continue to move forward.

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

In an attempt to put todays loss in perspective, we are 19-4. We have lost to Stanford (top five team)
UCONN (top five team)
Florida (top 20 team. Will be ranked this week with wins over LSU, Tenn, and Georgia.)
Auburn (disappointing, but explainable with being our first game after losing Green.)

Several posters have asked why are we losing now after starting so strong.

Just my opinion, but I will borrow words from Coach Barnes. (Paraphrased) Every game played in the SEC is on film and every coaching staff has numerous staffers to break the film down.

So after going 18-1 and being ranked as high as #4, you better believe Auburn and Florida burned the midnight oil to have a scouting report that was fool proof.

We are very good not great. We have guards who have ball handling flaws. We don't shoot contested threes very well. There are other issues.
Florida and Auburn used film study to identify our weaknesses and take advantage of those flaws.
We didn't respond very well.

Because of film study and how it helps preparation, you must continue to improve or you will get beat. With Key, and Burrell's injuries and the loss of two other players we have not gotten better on offense. We have regressed some. On defense, we are currently lost, at least playing man to man. There are several players on our team that are currently struggling with the simplest of defensive concepts. Coach Harper said last week that she and staff had to simplify the game plan this week. So, she recognizes several players are overthinking a simple game.

To the idea of changing our offensive scheme, in a short period of time, to me, is just crazy talk. The staff probably took three months to install this offense. Changing in three days for the next game is not reality.

Hopefully, a great home crowd for our next game will help this team rebound from a tough week. Some of our issues need to be mitigated or hidden, don't think they are fixable in a few days.

LVOCD, if this needs to be moved please do.

 

[LUVMESUMVOL]

I made one mistake concerning this forum I catered to the feelings of the people.it's things I wanted to say when we were winning that still didn't look right but I felt people would say why you saying this when they are winning but then if you say something when they are losing then people get negative with you and swear you are not a true fan and there are some trolls who just want to be messy but to the real fans if you got a critique even if its not a popular one don't hold it back whether anyone like it or not stand on it I will from here on out.

 

[cwbytruckers]

I made one mistake concerning this forum I catered to the feelings of the people.it's things I wanted to say when we were winning that still didn't look right but I felt people would say why you saying this when they are winning but then if you say something when they are losing then people get negative with you and swear you are not a true fan and there are some trolls who just want to be messy but to the real fans if you got a critique even if its not a popular one don't hold it back whether anyone like it or not stand on it I will from here on out.

I believe this Lady Vols team can be very good if they go back to the way they were playing two weeks ago and clean up some of the issues. Green out of the rotation is bigger than most expected. She hustled and could score. Rae is in her own head. She needs to let the game come to her. Walker needs to be more consistent. And Horston needs to take it to another level if sbe is capable with her leadership. Her body language at times will tell you what the game is gonna be like. Ball security and ball control need to be the focus in practice.

 

[Lucy]

I made one mistake concerning this forum I catered to the feelings of the people.it's things I wanted to say when we were winning that still didn't look right but I felt people would say why you saying this when they are winning but then if you say something when they are losing then people get negative with you and swear you are not a true fan and there are some trolls who just want to be messy but to the real fans if you got a critique even if its not a popular one don't hold it back whether anyone like it or not stand on it I will from here on out.

I’m not sure I totally follow your whole post but I would like to point out the difference between , IMO, reasonable criticism and just nastiness.
So and so is just lazy, so and so needs to transfer, she’s a bust, this team is awful, why don’t the coaches run them until they puke. We have no talent at all, our coaches are idiots for recruiting these kids. Pat would throw all of them out of the locker room. On and on and on.
Or, we as a team need to get our turnovers down. I wish Coach would work on Miles not picking her dribble up when she gets pressure.
Key has not been enough shots up. Is she not dealing her defender off. When the defense collapses on her she needs to be ready to kick it out to a three point shooter.
We don’t seem to be getting our spacing right when pressured.
So I think the discussions regarding tactics, improvements to be made, positions we need to recruit for etc make for a good discussion. The other, just mindless and cruel bitching, the my life sucks and these 19-20 year olds are personally disappointing to me is just juvenile.
So.. I know you weren’t asking for this particular epistle but one can be a fan and recognize and discuss weaknesses, strategy mistakes etc without being an a$$(not meaning you at all).

 

[Volfan2012]

I think that the team has been suffering from road fatigue since the Vanderbilt game. Seven of the last nine games have been road games and we've won the two we played at home and 4 and 3 on the road. We played a very bad game at Vandy but won by 14 because of their poor shooting. It wasn't our defense either they had as many open looks as UConn yesterday just couldn't make them like UConn. Next two games at home are huge we need to be 21 and 4 when we go on the road again. Team has time to cure a lot of problem in the next several days. I'll be interested to see how we come out against Missouri defense has to be a lot better cause we can't always depend on our offense. We have to get back to dominating the boards everyone has to step up and I think this team will.

 

[vol05]

THIS^^^^^^

I am 52 and been watching the Lady Vols since before the tv days. And this crap we are seeing isnt Lady Vols basketball. The record is pretty to look at. But they have a long way to go to ever get to another Final Four. So say im pooping on anything you want. But that smell is coming from the play and coaching we have been seeing.

your tenure watching the Lady Vols doesnt mean crap. It’s a process and there will be highs and lows. If you can’t grasp that then stop watching and/or complaining.

 

[tbones0711]

I made one mistake concerning this forum I catered to the feelings of the people.it's things I wanted to say when we were winning that still didn't look right but I felt people would say why you saying this when they are winning but then if you say something when they are losing then people get negative with you and swear you are not a true fan and there are some trolls who just want to be messy but to the real fans if you got a critique even if its not a popular one don't hold it back whether anyone like it or not stand on it I will from here on out.

Thanks for the good post. IMO fans posting negative comments aren't going to fix any of these girls' game performance. As a coach there's a time for a stern approach but much more is developed by encouragement and patience. CKJH referenced Green's absence after the game and my position is the LV's will win more games down the stretch but how far they can go is simply up to them when they operate as an unselfish unit. They don't like losing anymore than us. Also being humbled can be a great teacher.

 

[Special Ed]

That third quarter was ROUGH.. they tried and I’m sending positive energy to them

Not Covid-positive, I hope.

 

[jeff1vol]

She's 19-4 in her third year. What was she after 23 games in years one and two?

Were you competing with the best in the nation at your profession in year three on the job?

I see what you're saying. The record is an abberation. Has this team gotten any better against the better competition? The simple answer is no. We aren't gaining ground with SC or UCoon or Stanford. And we should be at this point in KJH's tenure.

 

[jeff1vol]

I take it that you're among the elites in the nation at your profession, and that's why you expect it of her?

We should ALL expect it! It's Lady Vols Basketball!!!! What are ya'll talking about??? It's not like we're some up and coming program. Good Lord.

 

[mcannon1]

I'm still not clear how as a fan I can avoid being supportive of mediocrity. I'm not patting any of them on the back, because I'm pretty sure I'd get arrested, and I'm not sure how to go about giving them a pass or not. So maybe I should go to games, but carry a sign showing my displeasure at their recent horrible performances?

Haha glv. Thanks for the laugh this sad morning! Will you make a sign for me, too?

 

[mcannon1]

Aladywhovolunteer wrote:
"you better believe Auburn and Florida burned the midnight oil to have a scouting report that was fool proof."

Did Tennessee burn the midnight oil to have a scouting report that was fool proof? The final score would indicate otherwise.

 

[glv98]

Haha glv. Thanks for the laugh this sad morning! Will you make a sign for me, too?

For sure, verbiage of your choice on your sign. Just as long as you let them know you're there under protest and will NOT pat any snowflakes on the back!

 

[Hallie]

I can feel their pain all the way from here. It was obviously not the result they (or us) wanted, but they're my team and I love and support them no matter what. Hopefully they'll get their mojo back soon.

Hope others will join me in being the segment of the fanbase that is able to resist piling on.

Come on .. LV are getting outcoached, out hustled ...they struggle fundamentally .. passing, shooting .. dribbling .. etc etc .. coaches need to take a hard line..

 

[Majors]

In an attempt to put todays loss in perspective, we are 19-4. We have lost to Stanford (top five team)
UCONN (top five team)
Florida (top 20 team. Will be ranked this week with wins over LSU, Tenn, and Georgia.)
Auburn (disappointing, but explainable with being our first game after losing Green.)

Several posters have asked why are we losing now after starting so strong.

Just my opinion, but I will borrow words from Coach Barnes. (Paraphrased) Every game played in the SEC is on film and every coaching staff has numerous staffers to break the film down.

So after going 18-1 and being ranked as high as #4, you better believe Auburn and Florida burned the midnight oil to have a scouting report that was fool proof.

We are very good not great. We have guards who have ball handling flaws. We don't shoot contested threes very well. There are other issues.
Florida and Auburn used film study to identify our weaknesses and take advantage of those flaws.
We didn't respond very well.

Because of film study and how it helps preparation, you must continue to improve or you will get beat. With Key, and Burrell's injuries and the loss of two other players we have not gotten better on offense. We have regressed some. On defense, we are currently lost, at least playing man to man. There are several players on our team that are currently struggling with the simplest of defensive concepts. Coach Harper said last week that she and staff had to simplify the game plan this week. So, she recognizes several players are overthinking a simple game.

To the idea of changing our offensive scheme, in a short period of time, to me, is just crazy talk. The staff probably took three months to install this offense. Changing in three days for the next game is not reality.

Hopefully, a great home crowd for our next game will help this team rebound from a tough week. Some of our issues need to be mitigated or hidden, don't think they are fixable in a few days.

LVOCD, if this needs to be moved please do.

Looking back and correct me if I'm wrong on the quality of opponent but it was a soft front loaded schedule. Best win early was in OT against Texas , but is now (15-6, 5-5). Yesterday was a benchmark game on where this team is after 3 years of Coach Harper. Lost by 19 in a game where UConn was without Bueckers and Ducharme and still found a way to blow the game open. It's a mentality thing of expect to win vs. hope to win and those roles are defined in this rivalry until it changes on the score board. Those 19 wins don't tell the accurate story, easy wins with bad losses and not competitive in games that matter Stanford and UConn. All of this and USC is coming up. If the LV can compete in that game it'll give hopefully a boost heading into tournament time. If they get blown out like Stanford and UConn it might be an early exit in the SEC and NCAA.

Scouting reports work both ways. So did our coaches get complacent thinking they arrived?

 

[savannahfan]

I can feel their pain all the way from here. It was obviously not the result they (or us) wanted, but they're my team and I love and support them no matter what. Hopefully they'll get their mojo back soon.

Hope others will join me in being the segment of the fanbase that is able to resist piling on.

I know this is a hard analogy but:
I bet you and the "likes" are the people that stand in front of a coffin and tell the family member suffering along side just how lifelike and wonderful their loved one looks when being told this is BS. No one looks lifelike when lying in a coffin and that's what this team is beginning to take on the look of. Not very lifelike. I have not seen as much standing and WALKING around as I saw in the 3&4 qtrs. maybe ever.

 

[creekdipper]

I know this is a hard analogy but:
I bet you and the "likes" are the people that stand in front of a coffin and tell the family member suffering along side just how lifelike and wonderful their loved one looks when being told this is BS.

Your observation doesn't acknowledge the difference between valid criticisms and piling on...which is the term lvocd used.

I haven't read a single poster who said that he/she wan't disappointed or hasn't identified weaknesses that needed improvement (going back to the start of the season). There's a big difference in expressing that and posting way over-the-top insults (which several have done), just as there's a big difference between staying optimistic and supportive and saying that all has been wonderful the past two weeks (which no one has done).

 

[glv98]

I can feel their pain all the way from here. It was obviously not the result they (or us) wanted, but they're my team and I love and support them no matter what. Hopefully they'll get their mojo back soon.

Hope others will join me in being the segment of the fanbase that is able to resist piling on.

Come on .. LV are getting outcoached, out hustled ...they struggle fundamentally .. passing, shooting .. dribbling .. etc etc .. coaches need to take a hard line..

Thing is, some keep confusing coaches taking a hard line with fans taking one. Doesn't matter one bit whether Vol Nation posters stomp away all outraged and fuming (until they start winning again) or hang on til the bitter end. Fans gonna do what fans gonna do and moral outrage over "patting a snowflake on the back" on an old school message board is an absurd concept. What we say or do has no impact on the team, the rest of the season, or the culture at large. So get through this however it works for you.

 

[NeedOrange]

A perspective on what went wrong and what can be fixed:
Reality check: Analyzing Tennessee after UConn loss

 

[Hallie]

Thing is, some keep confusing coaches taking a hard line with fans taking one. Doesn't matter one bit whether Vol Nation posters stomp away all outraged and fuming (until they start winning again) or hang on til the bitter end. Fans gonna do what fans gonna do and moral outrage over "patting a snowflake on the back" on an old school message board is an absurd concept. What we say or do has no impact on the team, the rest of the season, or the culture at large. So get through this however it works for you.