Ruby Whitehorn, the newest Lady Vol

[lvocd]

It also is important to remember that not all players who are super desirable for what they can do on a basketball court are also super desirable for how dedicated they are to performing well in the classroom, too.

Over the years we have been highly blessed to have coaching/support staffs at Tennessee who made it EXTREMELY important that they sign players whom they wouldn't have to worry about as far as academic performance was concerned. Pat, Holly AND Kellie were amazing stewards of maintaining the proud tradition of having a strong academic culture. Hopefully Kim will do the same. Hell, she'd BETTER, else I have a feeling she'd have to suffer the wrath of every Lady Vol to have ever played! lol

Anyway, back to my main, obvious point: None of us know for sure which amazing players we might THINK our staff should be going after might actually be kids who aren't showing the necessary signs of being ready to handle the responsibility of doing their part to carry on the HUGE responsibility of maintaining the 100% graduation rate.

IMO, that's Pat's greatest legacy. Gotta make sure who ever wears the Lady Vol jersey gets that. Not all will, and we'll always have to take a hard pass on those kids, no matter how special they are on the court.

 

[Volsfan2018]

I definitely agree with the "culture gamble." She has bounced around quite a lot. I do still feel a bit hurt (for the LV program) by some of what I heard went down years ago when Tennessee was super interested in her, so it wouldn't disappoint me if she weren't on our list of hopefuls now.

That said, sometimes two or three years can make a world of difference in maturity levels of kids this age, so we never know. Her next stop may be where she goes and gives her all in being a great player and teammate.

Still ...

What did she say and do

 

[Volsfan2018]

It also is important to remember that not all players who are super desirable for what they can do on a basketball court are also super desirable for how dedicated they are to performing well in the classroom, too.

Over the years we have been highly blessed to have coaching/support staffs at Tennessee who made it EXTREMELY important that they sign players whom they wouldn't have to worry about as far as academic performance was concerned. Pat, Holly AND Kellie were amazing stewards of maintaining the proud tradition of having a strong academic culture. Hopefully Kim will do the same. Hell, she'd BETTER, else I have a feeling she'd have to suffer the wrath of every Lady Vol to have ever played! lol

Anyway, back to my main, obvious point: None of us know for sure which amazing players we might THINK our staff should be going after might actually be kids who aren't showing the necessary signs of being ready to handle the responsibility of doing their part to carry on the HUGE responsibility of maintaining the 100% graduation rate.

IMO, that's Pat's greatest legacy. Gotta make sure who ever wears the Lady Vol jersey gets that. Not all will, and we'll always have to take a hard pass on those kids, no matter how special they are on the court.

Will the transfer portal…. The era of kids staying all four years has changed. Only a few schools have done so in the last 5 years.

 

[lvocd]

What did she say and do

I see no reason to re-air details at this point. It's ancient history. Hopefully she'll land well and finish her career strong.

 

[J-Dog 1313]

Difference is none of our coaches are following her. I’m sure she’d love to come back to UT now, but again, I’d say no thanks. We have no use for a player like her at the moment.

If we’re taking anyone else it needs to be a big with eligibility or who can play immediately. Hunt would be a waste of a roster spot and a culture gamble imo.

She and her family said LOTS about Tennessee during her initial recruitment. Folks haven’t forgotten, just because we have an exciting new coach doesn’t mean we suddenly want her. They trashed UT plenty and now wanna come back. Nah, no thanks, have fun at Chattanooga or MTSU.

I agree Treasure would not be a fit. In addition, Treasure's family's trashing of the LVs' program, in my view, would be troublesome. GBO.

 

[madtownvol]

Late to the party on this news.

Seems like CKC is doing pretty good in the new job.....

PS.

I am note sure that any LV team has ever had this much guard depth and talent--Ruby, Jewell, Samantha, Talaysia, Destinee, Kaiya, Kaniya, and Tess. Of course, Destinee is coming back from an ACL and Kaniya from some unspecified knee injury, so one or both might be brought along slowly. In any event, it will be fascinating to see how CKC deploys this guard dominant line-up and how the rotations look.

 

[Golfteacher]

It also is important to remember that not all players who are super desirable for what they can do on a basketball court are also super desirable for how dedicated they are to performing well in the classroom, too.

Over the years we have been highly blessed to have coaching/support staffs at Tennessee who made it EXTREMELY important that they sign players whom they wouldn't have to worry about as far as academic performance was concerned. Pat, Holly AND Kellie were amazing stewards of maintaining the proud tradition of having a strong academic culture. Hopefully Kim will do the same. Hell, she'd BETTER, else I have a feeling she'd have to suffer the wrath of every Lady Vol to have ever played! lol

Anyway, back to my main, obvious point: None of us know for sure which amazing players we might THINK our staff should be going after might actually be kids who aren't showing the necessary signs of being ready to handle the responsibility of doing their part to carry on the HUGE responsibility of maintaining the 100% graduation rate.

IMO, that's Pat's greatest legacy. Gotta make sure who ever wears the Lady Vol jersey gets that. Not all will, and we'll always have to take a hard pass on those kids, no matter how special they are on the court.

I agree because an education is forever even when you no longer are able to play sports.

 

[Lucy]

Late to the party on this news.

Seems like CKC is doing pretty good in the new job.....

PS.

I am note sure that any LV team has ever had this much guard depth and talent--Ruby, Jewell, Samantha, Talaysia, Destinee, Kaiya, Kaniya, and Tess. Of course, Destinee is coming back from an ACL and Kaniya from some unspecified knee injury, so one or both might be brought along slowly. In any event, it will be fascinating to see how CKC deploys this guard dominant line-up and how the rotations look.

Heard a really interesting discussion on a morning news show today concerning the NBA playoffs ( I don’t follow the NBA at all) and the death of the back to the basket center. The primary point being that centers were now expected to dribble the ball and shoot three pointers. This seems to be the direction CKC is headed too?

 

[volbeast33]

Heard a really interesting discussion on a morning news show today concerning the NBA playoffs ( I don’t follow the NBA at all) and the death of the back to the basket center. The primary point being that centers were now expected to dribble the ball and shoot three pointers. This seems to be the direction CKC is headed too?

Yes…. part of the reason I was so excited about the CKC hire. The game is all about spacing now.

 

[glv98]

Heard a really interesting discussion on a morning news show today concerning the NBA playoffs ( I don’t follow the NBA at all) and the death of the back to the basket center. The primary point being that centers were now expected to dribble the ball and shoot three pointers. This seems to be the direction CKC is headed too?

Not surprised we watch the same morning show Lucy. I heard that discussion about centers.

It's not that there won't be posts or that anyone will actually field a team of 5 guards. It's basketball so height will always be a thing. It's just that like overall across the game, the post position has gotten way faster, more mobile and athletic. And as skilled as they are big, as they talked about this morning with Wemby. There won't be too many more "aircraft carriers" unless they're freaky big like Zack Edy.

 

[Lucy]

Not surprised we watch the same morning show Lucy. I heard that discussion about centers.

It's not that there won't be posts or that anyone will actually field a team of 5 guards. It's basketball so height will always be a thing. It's just that like overall across the game, the post position has gotten way faster, more mobile and athletic. And as skilled as they are big, as they talked about this morning with Wemby. There won't be too many more "aircraft carriers" unless they're freaky big like Zack Edy.

Lol, cat out of bag! Yes, did they actually say Shaq wouldn’t play now? I was brushing my teeth through the discussion.

 

[glv98]

Lol, cat out of bag! Yes, did they actually say Shaq wouldn’t play now? I was brushing my teeth through the discussion.

I didn't hear that part, I'm making coffee at that point. But if they said that it was dumb. That kind of extreme big is always going to play. Having a player that much bigger than everyone else is always going to have value. Most would slow their game down to accomodate him, just like Edy at Purdue the last few years. But that will be the exception and the more mobile big will be the rule.

 

[madtownvol]

Heard a really interesting discussion on a morning news show today concerning the NBA playoffs ( I don’t follow the NBA at all) and the death of the back to the basket center. The primary point being that centers were now expected to dribble the ball and shoot three pointers. This seems to be the direction CKC is headed too?

NBA fan here!!! I think this new shows discussion oversimplified matters a bit.

The NBA's elite centers, like Jokic @ Denver of Embid @ Philly, do indeed often bring the ball up and run the half-court offense, much like a point center and shoot 3s at a 40% clip. But they still get most of their points in the paint. If a team throws single coverage at say Jokic or Embid, they will quickly back their defender down into the paint and shoot a turn around jumper or a jump hook etc. The irony is that these "unconventional" centers are the ones who score the most points in the most conventional old school way.

Most teams, though don't have that caliber of post,. What you see on many of these teams are 7 foot gazelles who are agile, fast, wirery strong but not bulky and can jump out of the gym. They almost never have plays run for them or post up,. They set screen constantly and then roll to the basket for offensive rebounds or alley oop dunks if a defender does not follow them to the rim. The Dallas Mavericks who are making a great playoff run have three interchangeable posts of this type.

I think CKC's team is going to be guard dominant and will probably look a bit like the Mavs in their offensive schemes.

 

[Orange.]

NBA fan here!!! I think this new shows discussion oversimplified matters a bit.

The NBA's elite centers, like Jokic @ Denver of Embid @ Philly, do indeed often bring the ball up and run the half-court offense, much like a point center and shoot 3s at a 40% clip. But they still get most of their points in the paint. If a team throws single coverage at say Jokic or Embid, they will quickly back their defender down into the paint and shoot a turn around jumper or a jump hook etc. The irony is that these "unconventional" centers are the ones who score the most points in the most conventional old school way.

Most teams, though don't have that caliber of post,. What you see on many of these teams are 7 foot gazelles who are agile, fast, wirery strong but not bulky and can jump out of the gym. They almost never have plays run for them or post up,. They set screen constantly and then roll to the basket for offensive rebounds or alley oop dunks if a defender does not follows them to the rim. The Dallas Mavericks who are making a great playoff run have three interchangeable posts of this type.

I think CKC's team is going to be guard dominant and will probably look a bit like the Mavs in their offensive schemes.

I will add that Caldwell is also placing emphasis on (nimble) bigs who can hold their ground in the paint. In the same interview that originated her oft-quoted line about "all guards," she also said that as far as on-court adjustments she intends in moving to the SEC, height is "absolutely" one of them.

"The height is a tremendous adjustment, so you need someone who can get in there, who can rebound, that can run, and that can play the post position a little bit differently but still have the size to where we’re not just getting pounded on the inside."

 

[BreatheUT]

Caldwell is on .

 

[Volnut]

 

[#1LVLS MAN 4 LIFE]

Welcome to Rocky Top Ms. Ruby, and greatest success to you. A wonderful pick up to solidify our backcourt, great job staff.

 

[JohnWardForever]

H U G E difference from our last coaching staff.... I'm really excited about Lady Vols Bball again. Been awhile.

GO LADY VOLS

Yep. Unfortunately, I just don't think either of UT's two Former LV Coaches had it upstairs. Too many "dense" moments.

 

[barrylee]

Yep. Unfortunately, I just don't think either of UT's two Former LV Coaches had it upstairs. Too many "dense" moments.

Not sure I’d go that far but I have to admit when I think of Kellie I automatically go to last seconds against SC and not guarding the ball or the shooter!

I really wanted Kellie to succeed but totally on CKC team now..

 

[Mafiaboss]

Heard a really interesting discussion on a morning news show today concerning the NBA playoffs ( I don’t follow the NBA at all) and the death of the back to the basket center. The primary point being that centers were now expected to dribble the ball and shoot three pointers. This seems to be the direction CKC is headed too?

This has been discussed. Or at least I’ve tried to discuss it here.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Not sure I’d go that far but I have to admit when I think of Kellie I automatically go to last seconds against SC and not guarding the ball or the shooter!

I really wanted Kellie to succeed but totally on CKC team now..

So did many of us. However, she had her opportunity and did not take advantage of it. I see a much improved basketball program with CKC. Seems to be a big step forward.

 

[gule]

Not sure I’d go that far but I have to admit when I think of Kellie I automatically go to last seconds against SC and not guarding the ball or the shooter!

I really wanted Kellie to succeed but totally on CKC team now..

This x 100%