POLL: Expectations for 2024/2025

What is your expectation for this year?

  • Winning season

    Votes: 11 6.5%

  • WNIT

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • NCAA bid

    Votes: 35 20.7%

  • NCAA second round

    Votes: 37 21.9%

  • Sweet 16

    Votes: 55 32.5%

  • Elite 8

    Votes: 19 11.2%

  • Final Four

    Votes: 4 2.4%

  • Runner up

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • NCAA Champs

    Votes: 6 3.6%

  • Losing Record

    Votes: 2 1.2%
  • Total voters
    169
#77
#77
Tennessee will finish in the Top 4 of the SEC if the team stays healthy.

According to WER, the SEC Media Poll(Rankings) is shown below and has Tennessee at 7th. As expected, teams like Kentucky and Auburn are ranked behind Tennessee. I would not be surprised to see the LVs finish 2nd. Texas had some bad losses last season. LSU will take a step back without Angel Reese and Van Lith.

There is no separation between Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Tennessee with the portal additions added by Coach Caldwell as well as Cooper and Boyd coming off redshirt seasons. Tennessee embarrassed Alabama in the SEC tourney with Jewel Spear setting a record for 3pt field goals and added two players via the portal that nearly posted a triple double in wins with their former schools against Alabama. Tennessee beat Oklahoma without a lottery pick in Rickea Jackson and has built a formidable roster with more depth.
Are folks in the media/coaches voting for their friends or something now? Explain to me without all this nonsense how Alabama is better than Tennessee on paper?

 
#78
#78
Voluble2 said:
There are no superstars on this team. There are lots of good, solid players, but I don't think any of them are elite enough to get us extra wins like a Rickea or Horston could.

We always had at least one elite player on every team up to this point and still couldn't win the league or make noise in the tournament so middle of the pack in the SEC would be a good expectation based on talent. But I think Kim will do better than that.

Making the tournament and getting a first round win would be a solid goal for this bunch.

This is the first season in a long time where we have no clue who our bell cow will be. Anyone want to take a shot at guessing?
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We haven’t had an All American in a while, I’ve looked back at like the last 20 Champions and they all had at least 1 All American on their roster. I’m really high on Latham if she can put things together like I think she could, but that’s just my projection, I see the same tools I saw in Kiki coming into last season.
 
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#79
#79
KnoxLikeUs said:
Tennessee will finish in the Top 4 of the SEC if the team stays healthy.

According to WER, the SEC Media Poll(Rankings) is shown below and has Tennessee at 7th. As expected, teams like Kentucky and Auburn are ranked behind Tennessee. I would not be surprised to see the LVs finish 2nd. Texas had some bad losses last season. LSU will take a step back without Angel Reese and Van Lith.

There is no separation between Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Tennessee with the portal additions added by Coach Caldwell as well as Cooper and Boyd coming off redshirt seasons. Tennessee embarrassed Alabama in the SEC tourney with Jewel Spear setting a record for 3pt field goals and added two players via the portal that nearly posted a triple double in wins with their former schools against Alabama. Tennessee beat Oklahoma without a lottery pick in Rickea Jackson and has built a formidable roster with more depth.
Are folks in the media/coaches voting for their friends or something now? Explain to me without all this nonsense how Alabama is better than Tennessee on paper?

Click to expand...

I do think it’s possible for them to finish 2nd but I have Texas in first, no other team really worries me at all, only the refs when we play a certain team.
 
#80
#80
chuckiepoo said:
www.knoxnews.com

Unpacking Lady Vols writer Cora Hall's preseason ballot for All-SEC, Player of the Year

The SEC preseason media poll for women's basketball is out. Here's who Lady Vols writer Cora Hall voted for All-SEC and Player of the Year
www.knoxnews.com

Definitely can’t accuse her of being a homer beat reporter for the LVs.
Click to expand...

Her pick is basically, "I will put the LVs in the middle because no one knows how good or bad they will be."

I will be a beat reporter too!

MTV's insider predictions!!:
I predict that the LVs will finish somewhere between 39-0 and 0-33. They are a complete mystery team who could win many games or lose many games. One thing is for sure. A lot of people will be watching the final scores of LV games to assess how many games they are winning and how many they are losing.
Click to expand...
 
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#81
#81
DarkPhoenix said:
We haven’t had an All American in a while, I’ve looked back at like the last 20 Champions and they all had at least 1 All American on their roster. I’m really high on Latham if she can put things together like I think she could, but that’s just my projection, I see the same tools I saw in Kiki coming into last season.
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Part of that is the politics of collegiate sports. Tennessee has had four consecutive Top 10 WNBA draft picks. AA college selections are not based on selecting the best individual players as much as it focuses on measuring overall team success and individual statistics. The past LV non-conference schedules and injuries both hurt some Tennessee players chances to gain AA honors.
Going off recent results, without a doubt Rickea Jackson should’ve been an AA her final season at Tennessee. RJ was just named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.

As for Latham, she had some big moments as a true freshman. Her performances against Notre Dame and Alabama among other games were outstanding. I just don’t see why certain folks are so high on Alabama on this forum
 
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#83
#83
KnoxLikeUs said:
A few posters on this VolNation forum and their alternate accounts put too much stock in sports media hype and coverage when these folks are only trying to sell them a piece of paper. Everyone who follows and watches collegiate sports know that teams like Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Alabama and others are not clear cut better teams than Tennessee right now. Why would I care about the preseason rankings of SEC coaches that Tennessee has beaten year in and year out all of a sudden? They could rank them last place and it wouldn’t matter.
Like most of the time, once the season starts and the hype disappears several of the media folks will be off those bandwagons and onto Tennessee like usual. This team has new players that led and contributed to their former schools success in the ACC and SEC for years. I’m glad that the new coach and players could not care less about the preseason polls and are right now having the time of their lives. The mental and physical strength of this group is amazing. I can’t wait to stand in Food City Center and watch the LVs this season. GBO!
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Member since July 23,2024 discussing alternate accounts.
 
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#85
#85
glv98 said:
Nah, that's not really fair. It will 100% get said if they finish 5th or 6th, which they almost certainly will. But this is not Holly or Kellie's SEC. The addition of Texas, top 5 in every poll, and Oklahoma, top 10 or 15 in every poll is enough to knock the LVs back a couple of notches. Then throw in the vast improvement of Alabama, Ole Miss, and KY, all in most top 25 polls, and it's the toughest the league has been in ages. Even teams like Vandy and Auburn look to be much better.

The LVs can easily be as good a team as last year and finish lower. If they finish 3rd or 4th in the league, CKC should be SEC COY and in the running for national awards.
Click to expand...

Again that is the bind facing CKC. I think most would understand if Texas finishes ahead of the LVs, along with SC and LSU. Those teams have been clear cut better for several seasons. OK is a little different. They were the one team that Kellie and company manged to beat in that dreaded no-Rickea stretch of the season. If KY jumps in front with Brooks, that is not a great look (again, not shocking in the sense that Brooks has the better track record) but White hyped CKC as "the very best coach for our team now in the present and certainly in the future." So losing ground to KY/Brooks in year one, would not be ideal. Same situation for Bama, Ole Miss, Vandy and Auburn. Finishing behind those teams would raise serious questions about what was really gained with the coaching change and if this is the right coach. In other words, you don't hire a new coach to fall behind the up and coming teams you had been staying ahead of (albeit just marginally so). CKC does not get graded on a curve.

No one wants those questions to become part of the conversation so much better for the LVS to finish in the top four (i.e., 4th) and in this expanded conference, that would give a sense of the program taking a step forward.
 
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#86
#86
Majors said:
Player stalking at another level now or bad wording.
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You misconstrued a basic sports analogy that’s what it is. The phrase “from inside the locker room” is repeated across all sports meaning simply the chemistry, camaraderie, and words spoken from players and coaches.
Not one person associated with the LV team has said they are setting low expectations for this season. Matter of fact, “there’s a practice video stating they are hunting something (to get back on top) and into the national spotlight. Comical to try to make that into something negative.
 
#87
#87
KnoxLikeUs said:
You misconstrued a basic sports analogy that’s what it is. The phrase “from inside the locker room” is repeated across all sports meaning simply the chemistry, camaraderie, and words spoken from players and coaches.
Not one person associated with the LV team has said they are setting low expectations for this season. Matter of fact, “there’s a practice video stating they are hunting something (to get back on top) and into the national spotlight. Comical to try to make that into something negative.
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Your words not mine. I gave you an out with bad wording, so you’re welcome.
 
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#88
#88
Majors said:
Your words not mine. I gave you an out with bad wording, so you’re welcome.
Click to expand...

Again, doubling down a second time makes you look worse. You’re displaying a severe deficit to infer basic speech. If you can’t comprehend that it defeats the purpose. Enjoy your day.
 
#89
#89
KnoxLikeUs said:
Again, doubling down a second time makes you look worse. You’re displaying a severe deficit to infer basic speech. If you can’t comprehend that it defeats the purpose. Enjoy your day.
Click to expand...
Oh, I’m enjoying it alright. So we will mark it down as bad wording for now with potential stalker down the road. Enjoy your day as well.
 
#90
#90
madtownvol said:
Again that is the bind facing CKC. I think most would understand if Texas finishes ahead of the LVs, along with SC and LSU. Those teams have been clear cut better for several seasons. OK is a little different. They were the one team that Kellie and company manged to beat in that dreaded no-Rickea stretch of the season. If KY jumps in front with Brooks, that is not a great look (again, not shocking in the sense that Brooks has the better track record) but White hyped CKC as "the very best coach for our team now in the present and certainly in the future." So losing ground to KY/Brooks in year one, would not be ideal. Same situation for Bama, Ole Miss, Vandy and Auburn. Finishing behind those teams would raise serious questions about what was really gained with the coaching change and if this is the right coach. In other words, you don't hire a new coach to fall behind the up and coming teams you had been staying ahead of (albeit just marginally so). CKC does not get graded on a curve.

No one wants those questions to become part of the conversation so much better for the LVS to finish in the top four (i.e., 4th) and in this expanded conference, that would give a sense of the program taking a step forward.
Click to expand...
LVs finished 5th in the conference last year. Insert Texas above, that puts a 6th place finish as an equivalent season. That’s giving the benefit of the doubt to the LVs regarding OU.

A top four finish would far exceed the position finish last year.

www.secsports.com

Standings - Women's Basketball - Southeastern Conference

Comprehensive coverage of SEC football, basketball, baseball and more, including live games, scores, schedules, standings and news
www.secsports.com www.secsports.com
 
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#91
#91
madtownvol said:
In other words, you don't hire a new coach to fall behind the up and coming teams you had been staying ahead of (albeit just marginally so). CKC does not get graded on a curve.
Click to expand...

Tennessee biggest factors to this season are staying healthy, building chemistry, and depth. The talent is good. The coaching is efficient. The offseason program seems to be showing improvements. I think this team is ready to compete any given night in the SEC.
 
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#93
#93
madtownvol said:
Her pick is basically, "I will put the LVs in the middle because no one knows how good or bad they will be."

I will be a beat reporter too!
Click to expand...
Nah, IMO Cora has earned the benefit of the doubt this time. Both bc the LVs have so thoroughly underwhelmed the predictions the last few years and bc as everyone has said, there's so much unknown about the LVs. CKC is definitely paying for some of Kellie's sins in these polls.
madtownvol said:
Again that is the bind facing CKC. I think most would understand if Texas finishes ahead of the LVs, along with SC and LSU. Those teams have been clear cut better for several seasons. OK is a little different. They were the one team that Kellie and company manged to beat in that dreaded no-Rickea stretch of the season. If KY jumps in front with Brooks, that is not a great look (again, not shocking in the sense that Brooks has the better track record) but White hyped CKC as "the very best coach for our team now in the present and certainly in the future." So losing ground to KY/Brooks in year one, would not be ideal. Same situation for Bama, Ole Miss, Vandy and Auburn. Finishing behind those teams would raise serious questions about what was really gained with the coaching change and if this is the right coach. In other words, you don't hire a new coach to fall behind the up and coming teams you had been staying ahead of (albeit just marginally so). CKC does not get graded on a curve.

No one wants those questions to become part of the conversation so much better for the LVS to finish in the top four (i.e., 4th) and in this expanded conference, that would give a sense of the program taking a step forward.
Click to expand...
I believe the consensus that OK, Ala, KY and OM (who I'm far fm convinced about) will be better than the LVs is based on returning roster and portal additions, and in KY's case also a big upgrade in coaching. The OK we barely beat in an early game last yr (which was embarrassingly sloppy on both sides) is not the same team they'll be rolling out this yr. for example.

And again, these predictions are also based on so much being unknown about the LVs roster. Voters Georare reasonably sure Georgia Amore, Reagan Beers, etc are going to be good in the SEC, but aren't as sure about our Cooper, Latham, etc. I think that's perfectly understandable. You said it best when you said the LVs are very high ceiling/low floor team. We all hope for the former.
chuckiepoo said:
LVs finished 5th in the conference last year. Insert Texas above, that puts a 6th place finish as an equivalent season. That’s giving the benefit of the doubt to the LVs regarding OU.

A top four finish would far exceed the position finish last year.

www.secsports.com

Standings - Women's Basketball - Southeastern Conference

Comprehensive coverage of SEC football, basketball, baseball and more, including live games, scores, schedules, standings and news
www.secsports.com www.secsports.com
Click to expand...
Exactly. I've said a thousand times, the LVs can finish mid pack SEC and actually be a better team than last year. IMO alot of folks around here are sleeping on several teams not named So Car, Texas, and LSU.
 
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#94
#94
KnoxLikeUs said:
Tennessee biggest factors to this season are staying healthy, building chemistry, and depth. The talent is good. The coaching is efficient. The offseason program seems to be showing improvements. I think this team is ready to compete any given night in the SEC.
Click to expand...
See! By golly, you can generate centered takes! 😉🤙🏼
 
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#97
#97
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#98
#98
newladyvolfan said:
She should be more for Lady Vols!!! recruits follow this stuff
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Cora Hall is a reporter, and a damn good one, not a cheerleader, a recruiter or a UTAD employee. We had Dan F carrying water for the program forever and it was miserable. Cora is terrific.

Do you really think if Cora picked the LVs to win the SEC while the rest of the world picks them mid pack it would fool recruits? I think recruits are way smarter than that.
 
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#100
#100
chuckiepoo said:
Cora has an AP poll vote she needs to protect as a centered neutral observer to consider, too.

Makes me curious where Maria has the Vols ranked in the SEC. 🧐
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Cora is also very transparent about how she votes and why. I really appreciate that.

LOL I wonder what Maria's level of access is now. That is likely to influence her vote. Her vote is far more malleable than Cora's.
 
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