Our Starting Five

[T.J.]

Could this be the final starting five for the season?

Jordan
MeMe
Diamond
Jaime
Mercedes

I've notice in our 5 game win streak, Alexa is first off the bench, then Qui comes in.

In very limited minutes or none at all for Kortney and Kamera.

The coaching staff must be on pins and needles regarding maintaining the health of the team.

I'm curious on everyone's thought on our starting five. I think and hope that five stays the course. No more lineup changes would be a very good thing for the LVs.

I'm all for keeping that Starting Five.

GOLadyVols!

 

[ATLVolFan06]

I like this starting 5. I think Qui will need more mins especially against MSU and SC. So happy she seems to be getting back in shape. She was really productive last night.

 

[RollerVol]

works for me...good chemistry...bench will be big factor for success of team...all...of...the...bench...

GO LADY VOLS!

 

[wtorange]

Could this be the final starting five for the season?

Jordan
MeMe
Diamond
Jaime
Mercedes

I've notice in our 5 game win streak, Alexa is first off the bench, then Qui comes in.

In very limited minutes or none at all for Kortney and Kamera.

The coaching staff must be on pins and needles regarding maintaining the health of the team.

I'm curious on everyone's thought on our starting five. I think and hope that five stays the course. No more lineup changes would be a very good thing for the LVs.

I'm all for keeping that Starting Five.

GOLadyVols!

In all honesty Harris is not an SEC level player and a few minutes a game is probably her ceiling.

 

[T.J.]

I like this starting 5. I think Qui will need more mins especially against MSU and SC. So happy she seems to be getting back in shape. She was really productive last night.

Qui was a pleasant surprise! If she's spelling Cedes minutes or if she's in the game with her the team is better with the rebounding because she battles in the paint.

More minutes for her, indeed.

 

[T.J.]

works for me...good chemistry...bench will be big factor for success of team...all...of...the...bench...

GO LADY VOLS!

We think alike. And yeah the bench will be big. Right now our bench is Alexa and Qui. They appear to be enough.

Now we wait for Kortney and Kamera to contribute a lot more.

 

[T.J.]

Kamera Harris is a Lady Vol so she's an SEC player.

We'll need her eventually. You know how the LVs are injury prone. Just imagine if Cedes or Qui get injured? Enter Kamera. So she needs to get into every single game. The coaching staff should coach her for 1 - 5 a game. Give her a role and a quota. Gives us 2 rebounds, 1 block shot and has many points as she can. Don't wait and put her into the fire because another player can't play.

 

[mlindsay]

Kamera Harris is a Lady Vol so she's an SEC player.

We'll need her eventually. You know how the LVs are injury prone. Just imagine if Cedes or Qui get injured? Enter Kamera. So she needs to get into every single game. The coaching staff should coach her for 1 - 5 a game. Give her a role and a quota. Gives us 2 rebounds, 1 block shot and has many points as she can. Don't wait and put her into the fire because another player can't play.

Exactly which we have done in the past and how has that panned out (Moore when Izzy went down, Middleton last season when Reynolds couldn't go against Syracuse, Reynolds when Ariel Massengale was hurt)

 

[madtownvol]

Realistically, there aren't many other options are there? In no sane world, would you start Nunn over Russell or Dunbar over Nared and Harris is clearly not ready for many minutes right now. So, the only legitimate option is Middleton over Jackson. In general, it makes sense to start Jackson because she is the better defender but there will be nights (as we have seen) where the team needs the shooting spark and ball control of Middleton. The starting players plus Middleton and Nunn have been the core of the team and barring injury, there is no reason to expect much change.

From a speculative standpoint, I think the team could withstand missing Nared or Diamond (as we saw over the holiday break) but not both in the same; and if anything happens to Mercedes, that could be a death blow. Nunn is coming around and against some teams could do the job (if the others step up) but the LVs would not have much chance sans M.R., if they had to play an opponent with a strong post.

I am hoping that luck finally falls the LVs way and they can stay healthy because I think this core line-up has potential to make a run.

 

[Pat4life]

Our best lineup!

Since ya'll love Geno so much, when do you see him coaching for things that might happen. Not never! When have ever seen a coach, coach to prevent injuries.

Coaches play their stars or players, they feel will give them the best opportunity to win, and ride then til the end, and its only after a player goes down can you make then necessary adjustment. Hey team, let's practice just in case Nared goes down, talking about a downer. wtf wuteva?

We have seven players, Dunbar and Harris plays, only if something happen to two or three players. Kamera will have an opportunity to help this team, but it prolly won't happen til she has a full summer.

No injuries 2017, Te'a and Green count for this year,

Our starting five has the potential to be one of the four top starting five in WCBB, with three potential 1st team ALL SEC performers and All Americans.

I back Pat and roll wit Holly!

 

[T.J.]

Exactly which we have done in the past and how has that panned out (Moore when Izzy went down, Middleton last season when Reynolds couldn't go against Syracuse, Reynolds when Ariel Massengale was hurt)

Thanks for the examples. Prior to preseason CHW stated that everyone has a chance to play because of our small bench. For whatever reason Kamera has not been given too many opportunities for reasonable playing time.

Lack of development of player(s) will again be the LVs downfall for sure.

 

[T.J.]

Realistically, there aren't many other options are there? In no sane world, would you start Nunn over Russell or Dunbar over Nared and Harris is clearly not ready for many minutes right now. So, the only legitimate option is Middleton over Jackson. In general, it makes sense to start Jackson because she is the better defender but there will be nights (as we have seen) where the team needs the shooting spark and ball control of Middleton. The starting players plus Middleton and Nunn have been the core of the team and barring injury, there is no reason to expect much change.

From a speculative standpoint, I think the team could withstand missing Nared or Diamond (as we saw over the holiday break) but not both in the same; and if anything happens to Mercedes, that could be a death blow. Nunn is coming around and against some teams could do the job (if the others step up) but the LVs would not have much chance sans M.R., if they had to play an opponent with a strong post.

I am hoping that luck finally falls the LVs way and they can stay healthy because I think this core line-up has potential to make a run.

Yes it will take luck to get away with not getting Kamera Harris ready to contribute if one or two of our post players get injured.

I am liking that we have settled in with this core starting five. The more playing time together the better. I can see the potential between Cedes and MeMe working a two man game with Cedes passing off to a cutting MeMe for a layup. That has happen a few times but it needs to happen a lot more though. Also, MeMe gives us another 3pt shooter which is a bonus.

 

[Pat4life]

Nice post! And would like Meme to use her speed and attack the rim more.

 

[armchair]

The coaches were DUMB not to redshirt Moore. She hardly played at all her first two years, was rail thin (still is)--but when she finally got to play showed pretty quickly that she had offensive skills; she could put the ball in the basket. She would have been a significant help this year had she been RS'd.

 

[FrozenLVFan]

Maybe Nia decided that after she'd gotten her degree she'd rather play professionally on a winning Eurobasket team than stay in Knoxville for another year.

 

[LadyVol1908]

The coaches were DUMB not to redshirt Moore. She hardly played at all her first two years, was rail thin (still is)--but when she finally got to play showed pretty quickly that she had offensive skills; she could put the ball in the basket. She would have been a significant help this year had she been RS'd.

No.....the coaches aren't DUMB!!! Nia did not want to redshirt, you can't FORCE a kid to give up an extra year of their life for someone else's agenda. Holly isnt selfish like that!

 

[Coach Jumper]

Realistically, there aren't many other options are there? In no sane world, would you start Nunn over Russell or Dunbar over Nared and Harris is clearly not ready for many minutes right now. So, the only legitimate option is Middleton over Jackson. In general, it makes sense to start Jackson because she is the better defender but there will be nights (as we have seen) where the team needs the shooting spark and ball control of Middleton. The starting players plus Middleton and Nunn have been the core of the team and barring injury, there is no reason to expect much change.

Jackson is gifted, but uses speed to catch back up to her quarry instead of using it to corral her quarry. Maybe I can get the chance to work with her this off season, if she learns defensive footwork and learns how to use her speed as more of a weapon than simply an attribute, she will be a phenom. . . .And I agree with bringing in "Vinnie the microwave-Middleton, off the bench as a spark to change a stalled flow or as a dagger to finish off a good start for the starters. This is a role A\M has to to relish.


From a speculative standpoint, I think the team could withstand missing Nared or Diamond (as we saw over the holiday break) but not both in the same; and if anything happens to Mercedes, that could be a death blow. Nunn is coming around and against some teams could do the job (if the others step up) but the LVs would not have much chance sans M.R., if they had to play an opponent with a strong post.

Imagine if Jaime and DD ever get on the same page in the same game and then do it for a full seadon... Full effort, every night, bad games notwithstanding and become a Jordan-Pippen combo. . .


I am hoping that luck finally falls the LVs way and they can stay healthy because I think this core line-up has potential to make a run.

This is where the wisdom of the coaching plays in. You may need to find a better motivator than exhausting them in longer practices and threatening to wake them up at 5AM for practice....The girls all have individual motivators. Figure out what motivates them and push that button.

Like Diamond. I know her motivator, it is to impress everyone....."She can't impress me....Until I see a a grown up and better version of what I saw for three years in Atlanta, I can't be impressed. She was a stud folks.

A 40 point outing...yawn.

But, playing EVERY game, like she played the Kentucky game...Now, you are talking about a better version of the one I saw years ago.

 

[T.J.]

Maybe Nia decided that after she'd gotten her degree she'd rather play professionally on a winning Eurobasket team than stay in Knoxville for another year.

I've forgotten about Nia playing in Europe. Do you know where and how is she performing?

Thanks in advance.

 

[T.J.]

I don't know about y'all but I am about READY for Diamond to have a game where she's just dominating!

20 - 30 points a game with some spectacular playmaking. She's been doing ok don't get me wrong. I'm just hoping for her to take over a game. Just like Alexis Jones of Baylor did for her team.

 

[teacherdean]

In all honesty Harris is not an SEC level player and a few minutes a game is probably her ceiling.

Watching Harris, when she is on the floor, she does not have natural post skills or the intensity required to play the position. She will need a lot of work. She almost looks lost. In my estimation, she is very raw, which makes her just a warm body with size. To bring her skills up to D1 post play will take a lot of coaching.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Watching Harris, when she is on the floor, she does not have natural post skills or the intensity required to play the position. She will need a lot of work. She almost looks lost. In my estimation, she is very raw, which makes her just a warm body with size. To bring her skills up to D1 post play will take a lot of coaching.

Look closer.
Tonight is no contest for her, tho.
But She has grown better (Goes left or right very well) and doesn't seem to be shying away from opponents bodying up, nearly as much. She just has to be coached to understand that the paint is not a neighborhood, its a house. Control the house at both ends and control the neighborhood...Its an attitude.

The flip is switched right now. . . For five games it has gone semi-perfect. Tonight should be no indicator of what we will face, but a definite indicator of if they're ready to bring


:blink:

 

[FrozenLVFan]

I've forgotten about Nia playing in Europe. Do you know where and how is she performing?

Thanks in advance.

Last I knew, she was playing on the same Polish team as Kelley Cain.

 

[T.J.]

Last I knew, she was playing on the same Polish team as Kelley Cain.

Energa Torun is the name of the team. I can't find any info if she made the team or not as there are 25 players listed for that roster. So that can't be the final roster for a team? Thanks and by the way Kelly Cain is their leading scorer and she won player of the week.