Tennessee Lady Vol News

[djtee]

Suarez is going to get a lot of minutes and be a crucial piece for us.

Yes she will get a lot of minutes do to Davis departure no disrespect to her or any of the the other players. But remember other the Rae this team don`t have a ton of fire power on the offensive end this season. And to note i think most of her minutes will come from the 3 not the 4.

 

[Volfan2012]

Marta goes for 6 points and 6 rebounds today against France. France won a close one 65 to 61

 

[youcancallmeAl]

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.

Good points, all. So, let's look at it closer. Key is gonna be the 5 starter at the beginning of the season no matter what. And Burrell is gonna be a wing starter. That leaves three positiions TBD. If we need more speed, I believe Horston is faster than Walker at the 1 (I'm gonna ignore Miles as a potential starter early). And Wynn would like be the fastest 3 of all options, but I'm leaving her out as a starter on opening night because of lack of time in the program. And Dye would be the fastest 4 and probably the best rebounder? But again she has very limited service time in the program. I'm guessing neither Striplin or Puckett are faster than Suarez or Green, and they're both freshmen so very unlikely to start the first game. I'm just trying to guess the opening night starters, nothing more. i might modify it to put Dye at the three instead of Suarez, but she has no outside shot.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

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.

Yep, you are correct. Only reason I didn't put her into my opening night starting five is her inexperience in the program. But if that is a non-issue, then I see her as the three instead of Suarez.

 

[Voluble2]

I'm guessing neither Striplin or Puckett are faster than Suarez or Green.

I think they almost have to be faster. Striplin is the only player we have who is built like a true 4 so I expect her to play a lot at both the 4 and 5 spot. Dye and Suarez are built like 3's but will have to play under the basket. That suits Dye apparently, but not Marta who had zero post moves last year. And I wasn't really impressed with Green. I think she will have a lot of trouble matching up in SEC play and will be coming off a serious injury. But she didn't play enough to really know.

Wynn will likely backup Rae to start the season. Horston and Walker will swap out for each other. I am not sure where Puckett fits in since I have not seen her play, but if she can hit a three at even an average rate she has to play a lot because outside of Rae our percentage is horrific and will absolutely get us beat.

This is a team that you feel better about until you start having to put together a lineup, and then it is really hard to get a set of pieces that fit together. Too many tweener players. Too many players with holes in their games. And there is a logjam at certain positions while there is a shortage of good options at others.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I think they almost have to be faster. Striplin is the only player we have who is built like a true 4 so I expect her to play a lot at both the 4 and 5 spot. Dye and Suarez are built like 3's but will have to play under the basket. That suits Dye apparently, but not Marta who had zero post moves last year. And I wasn't really impressed with Green. I think she will have a lot of trouble matching up in SEC play and will be coming off a serious injury. But she didn't play enough to really know.

Wynn will likely backup Rae to start the season. Horston and Walker will swap out for each other. I am not sure where Puckett fits in since I have not seen her play, but if she can hit a three at even an average rate she has to play a lot because outside of Rae our percentage is horrific and will absolutely get us beat.

This is a team that you feel better about until you start having to put together a lineup, and then it is really hard to get a set of pieces that fit together. Too many tweener players. Too many players with holes in their games. And there is a logjam at certain positions while there is a shortage of good options at others.

Suarez shot 30 % from three last year when healthy, so that isn't terrible. That can put her somewhere in the rotation as a 3. She has been used by team Spain this summer as a post, but she sure hasn't dominated, even against teams that Spain has squashed. I don't see here as a post player here, I see her as a three and I am assuming that's why she lost so much weight over the summer, because I think Kellie sees it that way too, and asked her to lose the weight. I really have no idea how fast Striplin or Puckett are relative to Marta or Keyen. Marta was running the floor pretty well in her games with Spain, but she isn't fast. I've heard tha Puckett is a 3/4, another tweener as you would say.

I think your last paragraph is spot on. Looks hope the abundance of versatility works to our favor this season.

 

[djtee]

Marta goes for 6 points and 6 rebounds today against France. France won a close one 65 to 61

Hmmm !

 

[djtee]

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.

Key must stay on the floor no if and or but it is what it is.

 

[37620VOL]

This is a team that you feel better about until you start having to put together a lineup, and then it is really hard to get a set of pieces that fit together. Too many tweener players. Too many players with holes in their games. And there is a logjam at certain positions while there is a shortage of good options at others.

Nail on the head. We won't ever have our best 5 on the floor if we use a traditional lineup. Except for Key and Saunders at the traditional 5 spot, we need to abandon traditional roles to be our best team. I'm a big fan of the point forward trend. Look at how dangerous the USMNT was with KD as the primary ballhandler.

So in building my best line up we start with Key & Burrell and we build off of them. I want one of them touching the ball every possession. I also don't want them both out of the game at the same time. Saunders will need to spell Key for 2 minutes each quarter. Horston will need to take the reigns from Burrell for 3 minutes each half.

To build off Key & Burrell, I want a corner 3 point shooter and a top of the key 3 point shooter, and a bruising rebounder / elbow presence that can also step out for a wide-open 3 if needed.
Corner 3 point shooter: Darby & Marta
Top of the key 3 point shooter: Horston & Walker/Wynn
Bruising rebounder / elbow presence: Dye & Striplin/Green

I have a feeling this team will have us pulling our hair out in Dec and Jan but I could really see them coming together around the SECT time.

 

[volnationnj]

Key must stay on the floor no if and or but it is what it is.

This.
For the team to be their most effective. Key will have to play close to 30 minutes a game.

 

[lfvol]

Key must stay on the floor no if and or but it is what it is.

Agreed, but you don’t have to run the other two out there with her. Hopefully the freshman is ready for meaningful minutes at the 4/5.

 

[djtee]

This.
For the team to be their most effective. Key will have to play close to 30 minutes a game.

True. And as i said to before on this board the SEC is loaded now with good 3, 4 and 5 players now. Emily will need to play as Key backup she stands at 6-5 and should able to keep the middle in check while Key rest.

 

[Rickster]

All these assumptions are plausible but until we see the progress the players have made since last season, we really won't know who will play the important minutes. I don't see any scenario (barring injury) that Key, Horston, Burrell are not the three that this team will be built around. I also think Walker is a lock for a starting position. What will be interesting is who fills the spot Kasi had. Our bench will be improved....how much will be determined on the floor by game 8.

 

[Dak1219]

Good points, all. So, let's look at it closer. Key is gonna be the 5 starter at the beginning of the season no matter what. And Burrell is gonna be a wing starter. That leaves three positiions TBD. If we need more speed, I believe Horston is faster than Walker at the 1 (I'm gonna ignore Miles as a potential starter early). And Wynn would like be the fastest 3 of all options, but I'm leaving her out as a starter on opening night because of lack of time in the program. And Dye would be the fastest 4 and probably the best rebounder? But again she has very limited service time in the program. I'm guessing neither Striplin or Puckett are faster than Suarez or Green, and they're both freshmen so very unlikely to start the first game. I'm just trying to guess the opening night starters, nothing more. i might modify it to put Dye at the three instead of Suarez, but she has no outside shot.

You are talking about leaving people out of starting lineup due to lack of time in the program. If I remember right, Keyan Green had no time in the program and came in and started last year as did Marta Suarez. I don't think Coach Harper is one to think about time a player has been in a program in regard to starting or playing time. She seems to be a coach that is going to put the 5 best players she has in practice on the court and work from there. If you look at that team from Missouri state that went to the sweet 16, it was comprised of a whole lot of freshmen and she played them a lot. I think whoever is showing up in practice and playing well is going to get the starting positions should that be a transfer or a freshman is yet to be seen. I have a feeling Dye is going to find her way to the starting lineup the same way Rae Burell did. She is apparently a hard worker and seems to be really high energy. Two things coach "K" seems to really like in a player.

 

[Volfan2012]

You are talking about leaving people out of starting lineup due to lack of time in the program. If I remember right, Keyan Green had no time in the program and came in and started last year as did Marta Suarez. I don't think Coach Harper is one to think about time a player has been in a program in regard to starting or playing time. She seems to be a coach that is going to put the 5 best players she has in practice on the court and work from there. If you look at that team from Missouri state that went to the sweet 16, it was comprised of a whole lot of freshmen and she played them a lot. I think whoever is showing up in practice and playing well is going to get the starting positions should that be a transfer or a freshman is yet to be seen. I have a feeling Dye is going to find her way to the starting lineup the same way Rae Burell did. She is apparently a hard worker and seems to be really high energy. Two things coach "K" seems to really like in a player.

First off I don't think there is anyway other than an injury that prevents Dye from playing at least 20 to 25 minutes a game. Second it is totally false that she doesn't have an outside shot she can drill it at a high percentage from 15 feet in. We don't know about her three range as she didn't take any last year.

 

[Rooster1]

First off I don't think there is anyway other than an injury that prevents Dye from playing at least 20 to 25 minutes a game. Second it is totally false that she doesn't have an outside shot she can drill it at a high percentage from 15 feet in. We don't know about her three range as she didn't take any last year.

I don't think there is any question that Dye will be a starter, likely Green will be as well at some point if not immediately. Those two are scorers.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

 

[gule]

I watched her gm early this morning. Frankly, it was not an impressive performance. Her teammates are some of the most dribble happy ball hogs I've ever seen, especially the skinny white PG. Marta's shot is WAY off. She missed point blank layups, The team offense is a mystery to me? That said, the refs made some very strange calls early against Marta. She was absolutely mugged by 2 girls and the ref called her for a walk? That is their favorite call to make. Strange indeed!. The USA should win by 30 on Friday.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I like 11 rebounds.

 

[gule]

btw, the ole Gule has been very busy trying to remodel an upstairs bathroom and trying to put more insulation into the attic, during this terrible Florida heat . Had a very close encounter with heat stroke a time or two so I'm taking it very slow. My bil is coming in from NJ today to help me finish up the projects. Thank God.

 

[Volfan2012]

I watched her gm early this morning. Frankly, it was not an impressive performance. Her teammates are some of the most dribble happy ball hogs I've ever seen, especially the skinny white PG. Marta's shot is WAY off. She missed point blank layups, The team offense is a mystery to me? That said, the refs made some very strange calls early against Marta. She was absolutely mugged by 2 girls and the ref called her for a walk? That is their favorite call to make. Strange indeed!. The USA should win by 30 on Friday.

Offensively she's had a bad tourney and missed a lot of free throws. Her rebounding and passing have been the best parts of her game.

 

[djtee]

I watched her gm early this morning. Frankly, it was not an impressive performance. Her teammates are some of the most dribble happy ball hogs I've ever seen, especially the skinny white PG. Marta's shot is WAY off. She missed point blank layups, The team offense is a mystery to me? That said, the refs made some very strange calls early against Marta. She was absolutely mugged by 2 girls and the ref called her for a walk? That is their favorite call to make. Strange indeed!. The USA should win by 30 on Friday.

Watch the first half just my opinion she was not impressive, She will need to step it up big time.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

alot of players even some highly ranked USA players have looked unimpressive in these FIBA U19 games

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Yes she will get a lot of minutes do to Davis departure no disrespect to her or any of the the other players. But remember other the Rae this team don`t have a ton of fire power on the offensive end this season. And to note i think most of her minutes will come from the 3 not the 4.

I believe our team will have fire power on offense. It’s obviously conjecture at this point, but top scorers may include: Rae, Alexus, Tamari, and Tess. All four of the new Freshmen were very high scorers in high school: Karoline, Sara, Kaiya, and Brooklyn. Other possible contributors to scoring are Marta, Keyen, and if improved, the 2 Jordans. Can’t wait to see them play. GO LADY VOLS!

 

[Volfan2012]

alot of players even some highly ranked USA players have looked unimpressive in this FIBA U19 games

They have and I hope that continues if they ever play us. The only post I have been impressed with is Betts. Fudd has stepped it up after a slow start at guard. The combo of Citron and Verhulst have played well, but I wonder why they rated as top 20 players and Puckett is not. She can play as well as either one of them. Wolfenbarger looks like a deer in headlights in every game and Deberry not doing much either. I see a lot of players that need offensive and defensive development. They all seem to have the talent but will need some seasoning when they get to college.