POLL: Expectations for 2024/2025

[LVsinceJV]

I think for this first season, making it to the second round is a reasonable goal, Sweet 16 is a resounding success. If we finish between 5th and 8th in the SEC, I'd consider that a goal met, with 2nd through 4th as a success. Next season my expectations would be higher by one tournament round and one SEC ranking. I might totally be placing too much on our new coach, but I'm excited for the season either way!

 

[Mafiaboss]

speculate implies that you are reasoning about something based on insufficient evidence, while "guess" means you are forming an opinion based on little or no evidence:

Exactly.

 

[lvocd]

I think for this first season, making it to the second round is a reasonable goal, Sweet 16 is a resounding success. If we finish between 5th and 8th in the SEC, I'd consider that a goal met, with 2nd through 4th as a success. Next season my expectations would be higher by one tournament round and one SEC ranking. I might totally be placing too much on our new coach, but I'm excited for the season either way!

Yes, if our coach gets her very first D1 team to the second round, that would be something a heckuva lot of initial worriers thought could be even remotely possible. With the talent I've seen in these early videos, that is definitely a reasonable expectation.

 

[madtownvol]

I will go into broken record mode, but the pressure is on CKC to show that she can indeed do win at this level. With the SEC being tougher this year, I think a 4th place conference finish-- something like 1)SC, 2) TX, 3) LSU, and 4) LVs-- is not just a nice goal but kind of essential.
That finish would put Tennessee in the conference's elite tier and ahead of the other strivers like OK, Ole Miss, Bama, and KY riding the Brooks wave

Several preseason polls have the LVs finishing 7 or 8. If the team exceeds those expectations and gets in the top 4 and at least makes it to the S16, CKC will be on her way and and allay any doubts among high school recruits. Such a debut season would be regarded as a glowing success and CKC would be in coach of the year running.

Conversely, a mid pack or lower finish makes her job a lot harder in terms of recruiting and we don't know how much leash White is willing to give her. He set high expectations and designed her contract for an easy coaching change if needed. I think anything lower than a top 6 finish in conference would put CKC on a very hot seat.

Don't mean to skew negative, I am cautiously optimistic but we have to realize that CKC is a high risk-high reward hire, with no track record at this level. Consequently, her first season status will be quite precarious.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Being objective with the things we do know right now...
that we have a new system that takes time to learn, that we have some players new to the team, and that the staff expects to play at least 10 players in each game...

I'd say the safest prediction is that we will be improving steadily throughout the season, so we will be playing our best at the end of our season. That bodes well for a decent run through the NCAA tournament, IF we've improved enough--early enough--to accumulate enough wins to qualify for it.

 

[glv98]

I will go into broken record mode, but the pressure is on CKC to show that she can indeed do win at this level. With the SEC being tougher this year, I think a 4th place conference finish-- something like 1)SC, 2) TX, 3) LSU, and 4) LVs-- is not just a nice goal but kind of essential.
That finish would put Tennessee in the conference's elite tier and ahead of the other strivers like OK, Ole Miss, Bama, and KY riding the Brooks wave

Several preseason polls have the LVs finishing 7 or 8. If the team exceeds those expectations and gets in the top 4 and at least makes it to the S16, CKC will be on her way and and allay any doubts among high school recruits. Such a debut season would be regarded as a glowing success and CKC would be in coach of the year running.

Conversely, a mid pack or lower finish makes her job a lot harder in terms of recruiting and we don't know how much leash White is willing to give her. He set high expectations and designed her contract for an easy coaching change if needed. I think anything lower than a top 6 finish in conference would put CKC on a very hot seat.

Don't mean to skew negative, I am cautiously optimistic but we have to realize that CKC is a high risk-high reward hire, with no track record at this level. Consequently, her first season status will be quite precarious.

Whew that's brutal! 4th place essential in this SEC? Meaning finishing ahead of all of Okla, Ala, Ky, and Ole Miss. IMO that's COY material and a very high tourney seed. This is the best SEC we've seen in a long time.

I don't think there's any case, even heaven forbid missing the tourney, that gets CKC canned after one year. But I also thought KJH would get another yr so who knows.

I think for this first season, making it to the second round is a reasonable goal, Sweet 16 is a resounding success. If we finish between 5th and 8th in the SEC, I'd consider that a goal met, with 2nd through 4th as a success. Next season my expectations would be higher by one tournament round and one SEC ranking. I might totally be placing too much on our new coach, but I'm excited for the season either way!

I'd say the safest prediction is that we will be improving steadily throughout the season, so we will be playing our best at the end of our season. That bodes well for a decent run through the NCAA tournament, IF we've improved enough--early enough--to accumulate enough wins to qualify for it.

Both of these are my predictions exactly. Finish on the high side of mid pack SEC, 5-7ish, improve steadily (something KJH struggled to do), win at least one tourney game. Anything more is gravy and IMO would be a big success and a great start. This team could actually be better than last year and have this finish. The SEC is just that much better.

 

[madtownvol]

Whew that's brutal! 4th place essential in this SEC? Meaning finishing ahead of all of Okla, Ala, Ky, and Ole Miss. IMO that's COY material and a very high tourney seed. This is the best SEC we've seen in a long time.

I don't think there's any case, even heaven forbid missing the tourney, that gets CKC canned after one year. But I also thought KJH would get another yr so who knows.



Both of these are my predictions exactly. Finish on the high side of mid pack SEC, 5-7ish, improve steadily (something KJH struggled to do), win at least one tourney game. Anything more is gravy and IMO would be a big success and a great start. This team could actually be better than last year and have this finish. The SEC is just that much better.

It is a brutal set of circumstances that CKC is facing. I am taking White at his press conference word. He made the coaching change because "the good is the enemy of the great" and it might be hard for him to accept the team if does not do better than last season (or at least as well). If you are an AD who believes this team should be in the mix for an NC, the fact that two good teams have been added to the conference is a weak excuse.

I think the bare minimum for CKC next year is top 6 and a first round in the NCAA tournament.

It is hard to gauge this roster vis a vis last season with the loss of a certified superstar but top to bottom it will be more athletic roster and Ruby should fill some of the gap left by Rickea. There is reason for cautious optimism ,

 

[Chippo]

Voted Sweet 16 as I think that is the ceiling for this coming season. Hope I'm wrong.

I did also

 

[lvocd]

Whew that's brutal! 4th place essential in this SEC? Meaning finishing ahead of all of Okla, Ala, Ky, and Ole Miss. IMO that's COY material and a very high tourney seed. This is the best SEC we've seen in a long time.

I don't think there's any case, even heaven forbid missing the tourney, that gets CKC canned after one year. But I also thought KJH would get another yr so who knows.



Both of these are my predictions exactly. Finish on the high side of mid pack SEC, 5-7ish, improve steadily (something KJH struggled to do), win at least one tourney game. Anything more is gravy and IMO would be a big success and a great start. This team could actually be better than last year and have this finish. The SEC is just that much better.

Unfortunately, with as many players as we'll lose after this season, I'm thinking that if they don't perform better than last season, then we could be looking at a couple more years of waiting. This almost has to be a very good year IMO. I mean, EIGHT seniors? I don't recall ever seeing a roster -- anybody's roster -- with 8 seniors on it. At least for college ball it's now or never for those women.

LET'S GET IT!

 

[chuckiepoo]

Unfortunately, with as many players as we'll lose after this season, I'm thinking that if they don't perform better than last season, then we could be looking at a couple more years of waiting. This almost has to be a very good year IMO. I mean, EIGHT seniors? I don't recall ever seeing a roster -- anybody's roster -- with 8 seniors on it. At least for college ball it's now or never for those women.

LET'S GET IT!

bUt TheY iZ nOt rAnkEd!

 

[Vunhopper]

Hello, I just wanted to let all the Lady Vols fans know that Kim Caldwell has a better record than Pat Summitt. Kim's win % is 87.6 while Pat Summitt was less than 85%, Caldwell's Marshall team was projected to finish 9th place last year and finished 1st. RPI projected Marshall to go 13-17 last year against Division I opponents. This is my 1st post and I just wanted to give you all some facts from a Marshall fan. I've reading this board for months and decided to join to give you all some facts. I mean no disrespect to Pat Summitt by mentioning that Caldwell has a better record.

 

[Majors]

Hello, I just wanted to let all the Lady Vols fans know that Kim Caldwell has a better record than Pat Summitt. Kim's win % is 87.6 while Pat Summitt was less than 85%, Caldwell's Marshall team was projected to finish 9th place last year and finished 1st. RPI projected Marshall to go 13-17 last year against Division I opponents. This is my 1st post and I just wanted to give you all some facts from a Marshall fan. I've reading this board for months and decided to join to give you all some facts. I mean no disrespect to Pat Summitt by mentioning that Caldwell has a better record.

Hello, if you meant no disrespect you wouldn’t compare the two. If you want circle back when Kim hits 8 National Titles then we can pick this back up.

 

[Hooper22]

Hello, I just wanted to let all the Lady Vols fans know that Kim Caldwell has a better record than Pat Summitt. Kim's win % is 87.6 while Pat Summitt was less than 85%, Caldwell's Marshall team was projected to finish 9th place last year and finished 1st. RPI projected Marshall to go 13-17 last year against Division I opponents. This is my 1st post and I just wanted to give you all some facts from a Marshall fan. I've reading this board for months and decided to join to give you all some facts. I mean no disrespect to Pat Summitt by mentioning that Caldwell has a better record.

This is...ummm...one interesting take. I even feel the disrespect in the fact you would even mention the two in the same sentence regarding records and winning %.

 

[lvocd]

Hello, I just wanted to let all the Lady Vols fans know that Kim Caldwell has a better record than Pat Summitt. Kim's win % is 87.6 while Pat Summitt was less than 85%, Caldwell's Marshall team was projected to finish 9th place last year and finished 1st. RPI projected Marshall to go 13-17 last year against Division I opponents. This is my 1st post and I just wanted to give you all some facts from a Marshall fan. I've reading this board for months and decided to join to give you all some facts. I mean no disrespect to Pat Summitt by mentioning that Caldwell has a better record.

Glad you've decided to join in. Gotta say, though, that it's kinduva tough sell to compare results of a 7-year span and 149 games with those from a 38-year, 1,098-game span. I mean, if a rookie in the NBA makes his first ten free throws of a season and has a ft percentage of 100, and a tenth-year pro missed his first 10 but he eventually retires with a ft percentage of 95, which is better?

Time will tell!

I'm so happy Kim Caldwell is our bright, young coach, and am excited to watch her succeed. I have a really good feeling about her and hope that, someday, folks still alive at the end of her long career as the Lady Vols coach will compare them favorably.

 

[Vunhopper]

This is...ummm...one interesting take. I even feel the disrespect in the fact you would even mention the two in the same sentence regarding records and winning %.

It is a fact that Kim Caldwell has a better record than Pat Summitt and did it with less resources than her peers. Pat Summitt had every advantage a coach could have and still has a lower win % than Kim Caldwell. I'm just stating a fact.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I've reading this board for months and decided to join to give you all some facts.

Generally when I come across a new account I’ll give a warm welcome and a shout out, so welcome.

If you’ve actually been following the forum for “months” you would understand the LV fans here are well aware of the win % statistics. What you clearly don’t understand is the definition of blasphemy.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Pat Summitt had every advantage a coach could have

You apparently have done little research into the Pat Head years. You are well on the way toward major troll status.

 

[the_great_pumpkin]

How can anyone vote in a poll when none of us have any clue what the team is like. We can't even go back to last year to speculate.

Just vote and hush

 

[lvocd]

It is a fact that Kim Caldwell has a better record than Pat Summitt and did it with less resources than her peers. Pat Summitt had every advantage a coach could have and still has a lower win % than Kim Caldwell. I'm just stating a fact.

Oh, lord.

Just curious. How old are you if you don't mind saying?

 

[the_great_pumpkin]

Hello, if you meant no disrespect you wouldn’t compare the two. If you want circle back when Kim hits 8 National Titles then we can pick this back up.

I think he was showing respect to both coaches.

 

[Majors]

I think he was showing respect to both coaches.

Me too.

 

[Ladyvols4ever!]

Glad you've decided to join in. Gotta say, though, that it's kinduva tough sell to compare results of a 7-year span and 149 games with those from a 38-year, 1,098-game span. I mean, if a rookie in the NBA makes his first ten free throws of a season and has a ft percentage of 100, and a tenth-year pro missed his first 10 but he eventually retires with a ft percentage of 95, which is better?

Time will tell!

I'm so happy Kim Caldwell is our bright, young coach, and am excited to watch her succeed. I have a really good feeling about her and hope that, someday, folks still alive at the end of her long career as the Lady Vols coach will compare them favorably.

Not to mention playing the toughest schedule year in and year out against the top teams in the country.

 

[YankeeVol]

AT LEAST the 2nd round

 

[Majors]

It is a fact that Kim Caldwell has a better record than Pat Summitt and did it with less resources than her peers. Pat Summitt had every advantage a coach could have and still has a lower win % than Kim Caldwell. I'm just stating a fact.

Now you’re trolling, the good ones wait at least a few months to build a little equity. Please tell us of these advantages Pat had? She drove the bus, washed the uniforms, no NIL, no national games, very little recruiting budget. Just a fact, no matter how many times one says fact, doesn’t make it true to the stance if you can’t make the connections. Kim just needs to be better than CKH right now.

 

[Mafiaboss]

Hello, I just wanted to let all the Lady Vols fans know that Kim Caldwell has a better record than Pat Summitt. Kim's win % is 87.6 while Pat Summitt was less than 85%, Caldwell's Marshall team was projected to finish 9th place last year and finished 1st. RPI projected Marshall to go 13-17 last year against Division I opponents. This is my 1st post and I just wanted to give you all some facts from a Marshall fan. I've reading this board for months and decided to join to give you all some facts. I mean no disrespect to Pat Summitt by mentioning that Caldwell has a better record.

Well, technically, yes.