Tennessee Lady Vol News

worried about Ole Miss and LSU who brought back everyone although Ole Miss lost veteran PG Valarie Nesbitt who went pro but had some nice wins from the transfer portal

Good post: Old Miss do have a cupcake out of conference schedule, But at the end of the day this team is gonna be a matchup problem for teams in the SEC they have some very good weapons up front and on the wing.
 
Our bench last season scored 306 points on 311 shot attempts. That is why I think the four incoming freshmen move well ahead of any returnees other than Green. Rennie, Darby, and Saunders went 17 of 59 from the field. I'm fairly confident that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn and Miles will do better. We've also had a few post about Striplin couldn't match KK's production which was 169 points in 25 games and 24 minutes a game. Also 47 percent from the free throw line 21 of 47. Were talking about a player that averaged almost 30 ppg in a 32 minute game, as they only play 8 minute quarters in high school. Of course the competition is a lot stronger. She has played against top talent before in AAU and All Star games and has always been a top player. I'm not saying she will be a superstar as a freshman, but she doesn't have to be able to do much to match last years production at the four. I expect her to play both the four and the five about 20 minutes per game. Green was putting up some really good offensive numbers in the four games she played 27 points on 19 shot attempts so she will also be a huge factor in making that position stronger.

You look at the team and analyze how you think next year could be successful and three things keep becoming the determining factors.

1- Same season as last from Burrell and Dye. Green same production rate in an extended season. This meaning what Dye did at Troy last year same production at Tennessee. Seems capable she was better in her two games against SEC teams than against some of the teams in her own conference.
2-Key, Horston, and Walker have to be way more effective on offense than they were last season. Key just seems to need more shot attempts which certainly means ability to play more minutes. Key has been questionable as far an endurance in her first two seasons was seemingly getting a lot stronger and tired less as the season progressed.
3-Better bench play which almost seems certain since the bench was terrible both offensively and defensively. I don't think there is anyway that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn, and probably Suarez are not a far better bench than last season.

If all three of these happen I think we win over 20 games and if not looking a lot like last season with a couple more conference losses. I think it is possible to win 12 conference games. I don't see how we don't win at least 8 conference games.

I still can't decide where players like Suarez, Saunders, Rennie, and even Darby fit into the every game mix.

I think Key, Green, Dye, Burrell, and Walker or Horston will be the starters and top six. I think you then come in with Striplin, Puckett, and Wynn. I think they will also want to get some playing time for Miles early against easier teams. How she plays certainly determines what will happen to her in SEC play.

Having fourteen players seems to be more of a problem than a blessing. Someone is going to do a lot of sitting when SEC play starts. Certainly don't know who that will be. I do think I know which nine of current roster players will be playing a lot of minutes. If there is a 10 or 11 I don't think there will be a lot of playing time left for either of them. After eleven I see next to nothing maybe an entrance in a game were winning by 20 with two minutes left. I wouldn't expect that will happen very often in SEC play.
 
Our bench last season scored 306 points on 311 shot attempts. That is why I think the four incoming freshmen move well ahead of any returnees other than Green. Rennie, Darby, and Saunders went 17 of 59 from the field. I'm fairly confident that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn and Miles will do better. We've also had a few post about Striplin couldn't match KK's production which was 169 points in 25 games and 24 minutes a game. Also 47 percent from the free throw line 21 of 47. Were talking about a player that averaged almost 30 ppg in a 32 minute game, as they only play 8 minute quarters in high school. Of course the competition is a lot stronger. She has played against top talent before in AAU and All Star games and has always been a top player. I'm not saying she will be a superstar as a freshman, but she doesn't have to be able to do much to match last years production at the four. I expect her to play both the four and the five about 20 minutes per game. Green was putting up some really good offensive numbers in the four games she played 27 points on 19 shot attempts so she will also be a huge factor in making that position stronger.

You look at the team and analyze how you think next year could be successful and three things keep becoming the determining factors.

1- Same season as last from Burrell and Dye. Green same production rate in an extended season. This meaning what Dye did at Troy last year same production at Tennessee. Seems capable she was better in her two games against SEC teams than against some of the teams in her own conference.
2-Key, Horston, and Walker have to be way more effective on offense than they were last season. Key just seems to need more shot attempts which certainly means ability to play more minutes. Key has been questionable as far an endurance in her first two seasons was seemingly getting a lot stronger and tired less as the season progressed.
3-Better bench play which almost seems certain since the bench was terrible both offensively and defensively. I don't think there is anyway that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn, and probably Suarez are not a far better bench than last season.

If all three of these happen I think we win over 20 games and if not looking a lot like last season with a couple more conference losses. I think it is possible to win 12 conference games. I don't see how we don't win at least 8 conference games.

I still can't decide where players like Suarez, Saunders, Rennie, and even Darby fit into the every game mix.

I think Key, Green, Dye, Burrell, and Walker or Horston will be the starters and top six. I think you then come in with Striplin, Puckett, and Wynn. I think they will also want to get some playing time for Miles early against easier teams. How she plays certainly determines what will happen to her in SEC play.

Having fourteen players seems to be more of a problem than a blessing. Someone is going to do a lot of sitting when SEC play starts. Certainly don't know who that will be. I do think I know which nine of current roster players will be playing a lot of minutes. If there is a 10 or 11 I don't think there will be a lot of playing time left for either of them. After eleven I see next to nothing maybe an entrance in a game were winning by 20 with two minutes left. I wouldn't expect that will happen very often in SEC play.

Agree with a lot of your post. I don't know that I would assume that last years reserves will not significantly improve and the freshmen will show up and relegate them to the bottom of the substitution ladder. Experience means a lot to a team so Marta (who was a starter until her injury), Tess, Jessie and Emily will have a lot of "system" time and that will help them contribute early vs. the freshmen. Kellie will get minutes for the freshmen and the team will greatly benefit from their talent but the allocation of minutes will most likely be development driven vs. needing immediate and efficient scoring. IMHO, the biggest opportunity for the newcomers will be in the post and as effective backup scorers.
 
By the third game Striplin starts and does not relinquish the 4 spot.
Puckett will not be denied and by the 5th game is a starter.....
Wynn and Miles will battle for starting positions....They will see lots of minutes....

If we are to reach the top again, it will take points, lots of points. It's going to be an exciting ride for all of us.
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Our bench last season scored 306 points on 311 shot attempts. That is why I think the four incoming freshmen move well ahead of any returnees other than Green. Rennie, Darby, and Saunders went 17 of 59 from the field. I'm fairly confident that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn and Miles will do better. We've also had a few post about Striplin couldn't match KK's production which was 169 points in 25 games and 24 minutes a game. Also 47 percent from the free throw line 21 of 47. Were talking about a player that averaged almost 30 ppg in a 32 minute game, as they only play 8 minute quarters in high school. Of course the competition is a lot stronger. She has played against top talent before in AAU and All Star games and has always been a top player. I'm not saying she will be a superstar as a freshman, but she doesn't have to be able to do much to match last years production at the four. I expect her to play both the four and the five about 20 minutes per game. Green was putting up some really good offensive numbers in the four games she played 27 points on 19 shot attempts so she will also be a huge factor in making that position stronger.

You look at the team and analyze how you think next year could be successful and three things keep becoming the determining factors.

1- Same season as last from Burrell and Dye. Green same production rate in an extended season. This meaning what Dye did at Troy last year same production at Tennessee. Seems capable she was better in her two games against SEC teams than against some of the teams in her own conference.
2-Key, Horston, and Walker have to be way more effective on offense than they were last season. Key just seems to need more shot attempts which certainly means ability to play more minutes. Key has been questionable as far an endurance in her first two seasons was seemingly getting a lot stronger and tired less as the season progressed.
3-Better bench play which almost seems certain since the bench was terrible both offensively and defensively. I don't think there is anyway that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn, and probably Suarez are not a far better bench than last season.

If all three of these happen I think we win over 20 games and if not looking a lot like last season with a couple more conference losses. I think it is possible to win 12 conference games. I don't see how we don't win at least 8 conference games.

I still can't decide where players like Suarez, Saunders, Rennie, and even Darby fit into the every game mix.

I think Key, Green, Dye, Burrell, and Walker or Horston will be the starters and top six. I think you then come in with Striplin, Puckett, and Wynn. I think they will also want to get some playing time for Miles early against easier teams. How she plays certainly determines what will happen to her in SEC play.

Having fourteen players seems to be more of a problem than a blessing. Someone is going to do a lot of sitting when SEC play starts. Certainly don't know who that will be. I do think I know which nine of current roster players will be playing a lot of minutes. If there is a 10 or 11 I don't think there will be a lot of playing time left for either of them. After eleven I see next to nothing maybe an entrance in a game were winning by 20 with two minutes left. I wouldn't expect that will happen very often in SEC play.


I really appreciate the time and effort put into a post like this one.. I especially appreciate the time taken to do the stats research and convey that to us. Thanks mucho.

I always go back to the fundamentals that great coaches like Pat have taught us: Defense and rebounding are the keys. The offense will be a resultant flow from those two things.

How will we be defensively? Key is a terrific lane defender and rim protector. Horston is a terrific defender. Burrell not bad. Other than that, who will play defense?
Who will rebound? Rennia was the best rebounder on the team, and Key and KK were next, but two of them are gone. Who will step up to help Key? Jordan walker is a good rebounder, and so is Marta.

That said, if discussing the offense, especially compared to last season, we need more production, as you so clearly show us. But we also need balance. Rae was the only outside shooter to try to keep the opponent defense honest last year. When Rennia wasn't hitting from the outside, the defense just sagged and suffocated our inside game. And we need more production from multiple positions, as you show. But we need more than one outside shooter on the floor to achieve the balance needed and keep the defense honest.
 
Agree with a lot of your post. I don't know that I would assume that last years reserves will not significantly improve and the freshmen will show up and relegate them to the bottom of the substitution ladder. Experience means a lot to a team so Marta (who was a starter until her injury), Tess, Jesse , and Emily will have a lot of "system" time and that will help them contribute early vs. the freshmen. Kellie will get minutes for the freshmen and the team will greatly benefit from their talent but the allocation of minutes will most likely be development driven vs. needing immediate and efficient scoring. IMHO, the biggest opportunity for the newcomers will be in the post and as effective backup scorers.

Agree mostly …. However, daily practices will allow the cream to rise to the top so to speak !
I can see battles with Saunders , Tess, and Renne, with the Freshmen! The others will be our main players …. That’s about half of the team with 7 major players. But of that seven , Dye , Green , have to figure out their rolls along with Marta ? Rae and the two Jordan’s and Key are the only constants I see for now.
Marta’s bb I-Q will get her playing time plus she does have a year experience (in the system) over the freshmen. Early playing time will happen in the beginning but as SEC starts I expect things to change …. With Dye and Green I think Stricklin and Puckett will have time to grow into big contributors. Wynn ( because of her athleticism) will over take Tess and Renne!
Miles will take longer to contribute because the PG position at this level is probably the most difficult to learn ! As usual just my opinions….
 
Our bench last season scored 306 points on 311 shot attempts. That is why I think the four incoming freshmen move well ahead of any returnees other than Green. Rennie, Darby, and Saunders went 17 of 59 from the field. I'm fairly confident that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn and Miles will do better. We've also had a few post about Striplin couldn't match KK's production which was 169 points in 25 games and 24 minutes a game. Also 47 percent from the free throw line 21 of 47. Were talking about a player that averaged almost 30 ppg in a 32 minute game, as they only play 8 minute quarters in high school. Of course the competition is a lot stronger. She has played against top talent before in AAU and All Star games and has always been a top player. I'm not saying she will be a superstar as a freshman, but she doesn't have to be able to do much to match last years production at the four. I expect her to play both the four and the five about 20 minutes per game. Green was putting up some really good offensive numbers in the four games she played 27 points on 19 shot attempts so she will also be a huge factor in making that position stronger.

You look at the team and analyze how you think next year could be successful and three things keep becoming the determining factors.

1- Same season as last from Burrell and Dye. Green same production rate in an extended season. This meaning what Dye did at Troy last year same production at Tennessee. Seems capable she was better in her two games against SEC teams than against some of the teams in her own conference.
2-Key, Horston, and Walker have to be way more effective on offense than they were last season. Key just seems to need more shot attempts which certainly means ability to play more minutes. Key has been questionable as far an endurance in her first two seasons was seemingly getting a lot stronger and tired less as the season progressed.
3-Better bench play which almost seems certain since the bench was terrible both offensively and defensively. I don't think there is anyway that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn, and probably Suarez are not a far better bench than last season.

If all three of these happen I think we win over 20 games and if not looking a lot like last season with a couple more conference losses. I think it is possible to win 12 conference games. I don't see how we don't win at least 8 conference games.

I still can't decide where players like Suarez, Saunders, Rennie, and even Darby fit into the every game mix.

I think Key, Green, Dye, Burrell, and Walker or Horston will be the starters and top six. I think you then come in with Striplin, Puckett, and Wynn. I think they will also want to get some playing time for Miles early against easier teams. How she plays certainly determines what will happen to her in SEC play.

Having fourteen players seems to be more of a problem than a blessing. Someone is going to do a lot of sitting when SEC play starts. Certainly don't know who that will be. I do think I know which nine of current roster players will be playing a lot of minutes. If there is a 10 or 11 I don't think there will be a lot of playing time left for either of them. After eleven I see next to nothing maybe an entrance in a game were winning by 20 with two minutes left. I wouldn't expect that will happen very often in SEC play.

A really good plan .. Seems to be a good starting five
 
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I agree that this is a really good plan but I think the starting five (at the start of the season) will be Walker, Horston, Burrell, Striplin, and Key.

When you put it like that it is easy to see why we are likely to struggle. Rae is the only one you have to guard at the three pt line so you can sag back on defense.

You are going to have to have more offensive firepower and ability to spread the court than that line-up provides unless Horston and Walker have an off-season like Rae's where they improve exponentially. Otherwise, you don't want those two on the court at the same time unless you are going for maximum defensive pressure. This is how Marta sneaks into the line-up. I imagine we will rotate Horston and Walker at one position, and Marta plus Puckett or Kaiya at the other depending on what we need and how we want to match-up.
 
Walker needs to make at least thirty percent of threes

Marta made 30% of threes last season. So did Tess Darby, in a limited sample. Horston was 28%, Walker 26.

I think I like this starting lineup to start the season:

1) Horston
2) Burrell
3) Suarez
4) Green
5) Key

But defensively that five might struggle against quicker players, unless they play good team help defense. Freshmen would then seek their proper levels as the season progressed
 
Marta made 30% of threes last season. So did Tess Darby, in a limited sample. Horston was 28%, Walker 26.

I think I like this starting lineup to start the season:

1) Horston
2) Burrell
3) Suarez
4) Green
5) Key

But defensively that five might struggle against quicker players, unless they play good team help defense. Freshmen would then seek their proper levels as the season progressed

If they have to play Green and Suarez along with Key, we are far too slow. It would mean freshmen are off to a disappointing start. I expect some will be ready for major minutes. Just don’t see more than 2 of those three (G, S and K) are ever on the floor together.
 
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I really appreciate the time and effort put into a post like this one.. I especially appreciate the time taken to do the stats research and convey that to us. Thanks mucho.

I always go back to the fundamentals that great coaches like Pat have taught us: Defense and rebounding are the keys. The offense will be a resultant flow from those two things.

How will we be defensively? Key is a terrific lane defender and rim protector. Horston is a terrific defender. Burrell not bad. Other than that, who will play defense?
Who will rebound? Rennia was the best rebounder on the team, and Key and KK were next, but two of them are gone. Who will step up to help Key? Jordan walker is a good rebounder, and so is Marta.

That said, if discussing the offense, especially compared to last season, we need more production, as you so clearly show us. But we also need balance. Rae was the only outside shooter to try to keep the opponent defense honest last year. When Rennia wasn't hitting from the outside, the defense just sagged and suffocated our inside game. And we need more production from multiple positions, as you show. But we need more than one outside shooter on the floor to achieve the balance needed and keep the defense honest.
As a rebounder, you completely missed Dye in this post who had 32 double-doubles in two shortened seasons. 30 in her last 40 games. Last season she averaged 16.6 points and 12.6 rebounds on 49.5% shooting. I am pretty sure she could be one of those ones that step up in the rebounding category. Great rebounders are born, have heart, and pursue the ball on every shot and Alexis Dye seems to embody those characteristics.
 
As a rebounder, you completely missed Dye in this post who had 32 double-doubles in two shortened seasons. 30 in her last 40 games. Last season she averaged 16.6 points and 12.6 rebounds on 49.5% shooting. I am pretty sure she could be one of those ones that step up in the rebounding category. Great rebounders are born, have heart, and pursue the ball on every shot and Alexis Dye seems to embody those characteristics.
The LVs should be stout at the 4 spot this upcoming season, with Dye and Striplin. Both are excellent at rebounding and can score.
 
I agree that this is a really good plan but I think the starting five (at the start of the season) will be Walker, Horston, Burrell, Striplin, and Key.

Not at the start …., 🤔. I think we go with experience. Green and Dye will take the starting minutes! Dye is probably a better option than Green ? I agree with Stripline coming on later because of her offense.
Tess and Wynn and Puckett will come on for Walker and Rae …. But I see Horston taking over at point and Walker coming back to give Horston a breather …. All of this is speculation! The first of the season will be a hodgepodge of trials and we are going to wonder if Kellie has lost her mind ! But she has a method to her madness…… 🤔
 
Marta made 30% of threes last season. So did Tess Darby, in a limited sample. Horston was 28%, Walker 26.

I think I like this starting lineup to start the season:

1) Horston
2) Burrell
3) Suarez
4) Green
5) Key

But defensively that five might struggle against quicker players, unless they play good team help defense. Freshmen would then seek their proper levels as the season progressed

I have know problem with the five, And as you said they struggle against quicker players. Out of that five only Key and Horston matches up well against all the top teams and SEC teams we will face i think.. Don`t get wrong I think Dye will start in place of Suarez because she to me is better on the offensive end and defensive end. But then again KJH might just start Suarez. Darby is a different story need to wait in see ?. At 6-0 without the foot speed or jumping ability where do you play her G or W ? We all know she can shoot the 3. But she will need to defend to.
 
I agree that this is a really good plan but I think the starting five (at the start of the season) will be Walker, Horston, Burrell, Striplin, and Key.
No reason to believe that Walker will not start as she started the last 20 games last season. Another off season and year of experience and probably better health wouldn't seem to eliminate her from a starting position. Last year they seemed to like to play Horston as the sixth man coming off the bench. Striplin definitely could win the starting job, but I am more inclined to think it will be Green even though Striplin may get the most minutes. I also am inclined to think Dye will start don't see her not being one of the top five players on the team. I really don't know what Marta's role will be as she did start at the beginning of the season last year. Based on her performance in U19 don't think she can start for us unless she steps it up. Only averaging 7 ppg against some competition far weaker than what the SEC has to offer. 1 of 4 from the free throw line. You really can't judge where she is on two games, but she should be doing more on that team JMO.
 
Our bench last season scored 306 points on 311 shot attempts. That is why I think the four incoming freshmen move well ahead of any returnees other than Green. Rennie, Darby, and Saunders went 17 of 59 from the field. I'm fairly confident that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn and Miles will do better. We've also had a few post about Striplin couldn't match KK's production which was 169 points in 25 games and 24 minutes a game. Also 47 percent from the free throw line 21 of 47. Were talking about a player that averaged almost 30 ppg in a 32 minute game, as they only play 8 minute quarters in high school. Of course the competition is a lot stronger. She has played against top talent before in AAU and All Star games and has always been a top player. I'm not saying she will be a superstar as a freshman, but she doesn't have to be able to do much to match last years production at the four. I expect her to play both the four and the five about 20 minutes per game. Green was putting up some really good offensive numbers in the four games she played 27 points on 19 shot attempts so she will also be a huge factor in making that position stronger.

You look at the team and analyze how you think next year could be successful and three things keep becoming the determining factors.

1- Same season as last from Burrell and Dye. Green same production rate in an extended season. This meaning what Dye did at Troy last year same production at Tennessee. Seems capable she was better in her two games against SEC teams than against some of the teams in her own conference.
2-Key, Horston, and Walker have to be way more effective on offense than they were last season. Key just seems to need more shot attempts which certainly means ability to play more minutes. Key has been questionable as far an endurance in her first two seasons was seemingly getting a lot stronger and tired less as the season progressed.
3-Better bench play which almost seems certain since the bench was terrible both offensively and defensively. I don't think there is anyway that Striplin, Puckett, Wynn, and probably Suarez are not a far better bench than last season.

If all three of these happen I think we win over 20 games and if not looking a lot like last season with a couple more conference losses. I think it is possible to win 12 conference games. I don't see how we don't win at least 8 conference games.

I still can't decide where players like Suarez, Saunders, Rennie, and even Darby fit into the every game mix.

I think Key, Green, Dye, Burrell, and Walker or Horston will be the starters and top six. I think you then come in with Striplin, Puckett, and Wynn. I think they will also want to get some playing time for Miles early against easier teams. How she plays certainly determines what will happen to her in SEC play.

Having fourteen players seems to be more of a problem than a blessing. Someone is going to do a lot of sitting when SEC play starts. Certainly don't know who that will be. I do think I know which nine of current roster players will be playing a lot of minutes. If there is a 10 or 11 I don't think there will be a lot of playing time left for either of them. After eleven I see next to nothing maybe an entrance in a game were winning by 20 with two minutes left. I wouldn't expect that will happen very often in SEC play.
Suarez is going to get a lot of minutes and be a crucial piece for us.
 

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