Tennessee Lady Vol News

[lvocd]

OR NOT!

Could be our opponents won’t know what hit them in a scheme dedicated to getting the best shot as quick as possible. Yeah, there will be lightning transition induced turnovers, hopefully offset by lots of 90% shots at the rim and quality 3’s before their 5 gets below the key.

Yep will give up some bunnies when over frantically playing the passing lanes, but if that generates more turnovers, that can net a winner too.

If we can’t master it working on it every day, how can the enemy be prepared with just some film study? Not unlike the CJH TEMPO game down the street. Will win some and loose some, ratio TBD!

Hey, I hope you're right and they come out from Game One and trounce the crap out of every opponent! I would love nothing more.

You must know they are NOT currently "practicing every day." They had a decent workout period that ended, but I'm pretty sure actual practice won't start for quite a while yet. The players (hopefully) will be taking care of themselves in the meantime, but they aren't, and by NCAA rules will never be, constantly in the gym practicing as a team to get all this down. Like every year they will have to work together through some pretty tight time limits. That's why teams often look like they're still trying to figurevthings out at the beginning of the season. 'Cause they are!

My hope for you is that in the totally (*ahem*) unlikely event they do take a number of games to get rolling, that you won't then come in here talking about how sorry they are and what a huge mistake it was to hire Caldwell. It's truly unreasonable to expect near perfection right out of the gate.

 

[chuckiepoo]

It's truly unreasonable to expect near perfection right out of the gate.

…sigh.

 

[glv98]

how can the enemy be prepared with just some film study?

because they are experienced, master scouts and also have been preparing for Arkansas for years in the SEC. They won't be unprepared. The whole ball of wax will be which team is able to control the tempo. That won't always be the LVs, esp against the better teams. We have to have a back up plan for a solid half court game when we get forced into that, which we will at times.

It's truly unreasonable to expect near perfection right out of the gate.

If only the AD hadn't oversold near instant success . . .

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

because they are experienced, master scouts and also have been preparing for Arkansas for years in the SEC. They won't be unprepared. The whole ball of wax will be which team is able to control the tempo. That won't always be the LVs, esp against the better teams. We have to have a back up plan for a solid half court game when we get forced into that, which we will at times.

If only the AD hadn't oversold near instant success . . .

The question was why would it be harder to learn than to defend? How do they simulate the athleticism and quickness she has stressed in player acquisition. I THINK it will be reactive and frenetic on the defensive end, that will have some risk and reward opportunities, which are more common each game will be key.

Gameplaning and prepping for that will be tough. Just like we will have problems emulating strong bigs. That will be the key, can we keep the ball out top late in the clock or cause turnovers to limit their touches where they want to receive the ball.

Hoping our smaller thinner more athletic bigs have plenty of vertical. For sure the plan is to beat them to our end using that to create early good open looks and rebound advantages.

We are going to see more conventional game plans a lot, not as many with our proposed schemes.

 

[glv98]

How do they simulate the athleticism and quickness she has stressed in player acquisition.

There's lots of athleticism and quickness in the SEC, esp among the better teams. Plus plenty of male practice players with those attributes. That's why they're there.

No question it will be different prep but I wouldn't count on the good teams being too bothered by it. Again, controlling tempo will be key. When we do, and are hitting 3s, it will be fine. If not, not so much.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

I believe everyone should wait until the season starts to make definitive claims about the teams outlook. It is ironic how for years the main liability of the Lady Vols team was athleticism. Next in line was free throw shooting. The biggest obstacle in the way of manufacturing success in the start of the season was injuries.
The talent and athleticism has been increase greatly with bigger guards in Ruby Whitehorn and Talaysia Cooper and more athletic post players with the ability to run and jump in Lazaria Spearman and Alyssa Latham. I never expected Samara Spencer to enter the portal and for this coaching staff to land her after spending three years as a starter and former SEC Freshman of the Year was huge.
Here already in the off-season we are seeing intentional focus on strength and conditioning to improve players physical fitness.
The depth on this team is going to be an asset. All of these new players have experience as starters. Staying healthy is the key. If they stay healthy, they can and will easily compete for one of the top spots in the SEC. Every year there is projection of how the Lady Vols have fallen behind. Each year that myth is debunked.

 

[lvocd]

There's lots of athleticism and quickness in the SEC, esp among the better teams. Plus plenty of male practice players with those attributes. That's why they're there.

No question it will be different prep but I wouldn't count on the good teams being too bothered by it. Again, controlling tempo will be key. When we do, and are hitting 3s, it will be fine. If not, not so much.

My hope is, like with Heupel's sped-up offense, that even though every opponent knows exactly what they'll face when they meet Tennessee and have at least a full week to focus in preparation for it, it's still just a week's worth of adequate simulation. In reality, I don't think that has often been enough time to adequately override long-practiced instincts and reactions, and that's why the football team has succeeded..

Our biggest advantage could be if we are a LOT faster and more frenetic- seeming to our top, also-fast SEC opponents that having only a few days to focus in preparation for our specific style may not be enough. When we get rolling and (hopefully) they miss an assignment here and there, we will hope they will start tightening up. We'll need to be especially good shooters, too, against the TOP opponents, because the key (I think) may be in demoralizing them in filling their minds with thoughts of, "Crap! They're barreling down the court and throwing shots every five damn seconds, and making them! Do they EVER slow down?!"

I guess we have to hope our style is simply too different and too much to truly be 100% ready for in just the time they'll have to practice specifically to beat us.

 

[glv98]

I believe everyone should wait until the season starts to make definitive claims about the teams outlook

If I felt that way I wouldn't waste time on a fan forum in the off season. Making claims about teams outlook is literally what they're for. And none of it is definitive, of course.

Every year there is projection of how the Lady Vols have fallen behind. Each year that myth is debunked.

How is that a myth and how has it been debunked? The"myth" got bunked in about as hard as possible in the cursed 1.1 second. Falling behind, no longer seriously challenging for SEC championships is why we got a new coach. Now the new coach is here to stop the slide and start a new myth. Did you miss all that?

IMO a realistic expectation is that CKC stabilize the bus this season. That's a big enough challenge with everything new and untried at the same time the league gets way harder. If she can hang in that tier 2 pack, which I expect to be Alabama, Ole Miss, the LVs, and possibly KY somewhere 5-8, IMO she makes the tourney easily. Of course any upsets along the way would be most welcome and a finish in the top 4 of the SEC would be COY material. I'll wear my jacket 2 sizes too small in honor of DW if that happens.

I'd love to just see steady improvement over the course of the season. Seems like the last couple of teams couldn't get on a real run, always capable of a really sh*tty game (Texas A&M last year) and devestating loss out of the blue. Consistent progress would be nice.

 

[glv98]

We'll need to be especially good shooters, too

That right there. Live by the 3, die by the 3. Maria (yeah I know) said in an interview she talked to CKC after the last round of practices and she said a big concern was shooting 3s. Said "It has to get better". We need Jewel and Sara to be on point from the get go. I believe they can and it would be so fun to see.

I guess we have to hope our style is simply too different and too much to truly be 100% ready for in just the time they'll have to practice specifically to beat us.

Agree to disagree. I don't think we can count on getting much out of an element of surprise or lack of preparedness. CKC did not invent this out of the dust. I'm sure they've all toyed with it during coaching clinics, etc. They've gameplanned Arky's O and Auburn's D for years. Most of the players will have played against it somewhere in AAU, etc.

IMO the difference is 100% going to be the talent level, the players, period. Whose athletes can impose their will in tempo and style of play. Who can slow us down? Who can nail the most 3s?

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

My hope is, like with Heupel's sped-up offense, that even though every opponent knows exactly what they'll face when they meet Tennessee and have at least a full week to focus in preparation for it, it's still just a week's worth of adequate simulation. In reality, I don't think that has often been enough time to adequately override long-practiced instincts and reactions, and that's why the football team has succeeded..

Our biggest advantage could be if we are a LOT faster and more frenetic- seeming to our top, also-fast SEC opponents that having only a few days to focus in preparation for our specific style may not be enough. When we get rolling and (hopefully) they miss an assignment here and there, we will hope they will start tightening up. We'll need to be especially good shooters, too, against the TOP opponents, because the key (I think) may be in demoralizing them in filling their minds with thoughts of, "Crap! They're barreling down the court and throwing shots every five damn seconds, and making them! Do they EVER slow down?!"

I guess we have to hope our style is simply too different and too much to truly be 100% ready for in just the time they'll have to practice specifically to beat us.

Coach Caldwell is bringing an innovative system and philosophy to the most historic WBB program of all-time so this topic of how it translates will remain a talking point for the foreseeable future. I believe the Lady Vols needed a fresh start and with a proven and successful AD the change has come at an ideal time as the new era of collegiate sports post Covid-19 is in full swing. The transfer portal and NIL are both key contributors to what has been a remarkable transition for Coach Caldwell during the off-season. For the last four years signing top high school prospects had evaded this program, now in mere months the youngest high school players to ever sign an NIL deal and future projected 2025 HS All-Americans are committed to CKC prior to her first game in Knoxville. Time will tell. Enjoy the year and hopefully we will revisit these discussions at a later date.

 

[Scotty4lvs]

I'll wear my jacket 2 sizes too small in honor of DW if that happens.

This gave me a good laugh!

And I agree with your outlook. So many questions and so much change, a stable and climbing up the ladder year for the program would be great.

 

[glv98]

Coach Caldwell is bringing an innovative system and philosophy to the most historic WBB program of all-time so this topic of how it translates will remain a talking point for the foreseeable future. I believe the Lady Vols needed a fresh start and with a proven and successful AD the change has come at an ideal time as the new era of collegiate sports post Covid-19 is in full swing. The transfer portal and NIL are both key contributors to what has been a remarkable transition for Coach Caldwell during the off-season. For the last four years signing top high school prospects had evaded this program, now in mere months the youngest high school players to ever sign an NIL deal and future projected 2025 HS All-Americans are committed to CKC prior to her first game in Knoxville. Time will tell. Enjoy the year and hopefully we will revisit these discussions at a later date.

Isn't this part of the pattern? The seemingly sincere, perfectly logical post, and then, the slippery slope to Rocky Top Crazy Town? Fool me once . . .

we will revisit these discussions at a later date.

That we can all agree on.

Also agree fresh air and a new start can be a very positive thing. Can't wait for the official schedule to come out.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

The question was why would it be harder to learn than to defend? How do they simulate the athleticism and quickness she has stressed in player acquisition. I THINK it will be reactive and frenetic on the defensive end, that will have some risk and reward opportunities, which are more common each game will be key.

Gameplaning and prepping for that will be tough. Just like we will have problems emulating strong bigs. That will be the key, can we keep the ball out top late in the clock or cause turnovers to limit their touches where they want to receive the ball.

Hoping our smaller thinner more athletic bigs have plenty of vertical. For sure the plan is to beat them to our end using that to create early good open looks and rebound advantages.

We are going to see more conventional game plans a lot, not as many with our proposed schemes.

Some good points made in your post. I would add that the Lady Vols post players are not small. Take a look at majority of the WBB team rosters, Tennessee has fairly good size. Seeing the teams on the court in a few months will give everyone a clearer picture. Many teams have players 6’4 and taller that are not part of their regular rotation. On the other hand, many 6’4 and taller players we’ve seen over the years don’t always have an advantage despite their height over post players standing at 6’2 or even 6’0 like former LV Alexus Dye!

 

[Orange007]

frankly, us having the "one of the tallest teams in LV history" (as we have heard so many times in past years) has done nothing to move the needle. we need speed and some tall players. we have that now. excited to see a lighting fast team in orange.

 

[ttharp]

frankly, us having the "one of the tallest teams in LV history" (as we have heard so many times in past years) has done nothing to move the needle. we need speed and some tall players. we have that now. excited to see a lighting fast team in orange.

Bingo!

We now have upgraded speed/athleticism at the five spot — and if our bigs (Zee and Jill) can shoot and put the ball on the floor like CKC said, we should be able to force opposing bigs to play/defend away from the basket.

This is exactly what a number of teams did to neutralize Tamari’s impact - even before her injury.

 

[volbeast33]

 

[chuckiepoo]

That crowd of yoots screaming and yelling has the blue hairs messing their depends.

 

[lvocd]

That crowd of yoots screaming and yelling has the blue hairs messing their depends.

Hey, if it weren't for the blue hairs the Lady Vols wouldn't have the far-reaching fanship that it does. They're the ones who spend money in donations, who are paying for season tickets, and are often spending money to travel far distances to support them. Just sayin'.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Hey, if it weren't for the blue hairs the Lady Vols wouldn't have the far-reaching fanship that it does. They're the ones who spend money in donations, who are paying for season tickets, and are often spending money to travel far distances to support them. Just sayin'.

Just teasing. Students create the best atmosphere on game day. The more, the merrier and I’m sure the team and staff feel the same way! Hopefully my parents get to a couple of games this year. They went last spring for the first time since Covid. They were season ticket holders for years.

 

[butchna]

Hey, if it weren't for the blue hairs the Lady Vols wouldn't have the far-reaching fanship that it does. They're the ones who spend money in donations, who are paying for season tickets, and are often spending money to travel far distances to support them. Just sayin'.

Drop the CONDITIONS of their “support” and they’re welcome. Acting like every move needs their approval has been a program drain.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

If I felt that way I wouldn't waste time on a fan forum in the off season. Making claims about teams outlook is literally what they're for. And none of it is definitive, of course.

How is that a myth and how has it been debunked? The"myth" got bunked in about as hard as possible in the cursed 1.1 second. Falling behind, no longer seriously challenging for SEC championships is why we got a new coach. Now the new coach is here to stop the slide and start a new myth. Did you miss all that?

IMO a realistic expectation is that CKC stabilize the bus this season. That's a big enough challenge with everything new and untried at the same time the league gets way harder. If she can hang in that tier 2 pack, which I expect to be Alabama, Ole Miss, the LVs, and possibly KY somewhere 5-8, IMO she makes the tourney easily. Of course any upsets along the way would be most welcome and a finish in the top 4 of the SEC would be COY material. I'll wear my jacket 2 sizes too small in honor of DW if that happens.

I'd love to just see steady improvement over the course of the season. Seems like the last couple of teams couldn't get on a real run, always capable of a really sh*tty game (Texas A&M last year) and devestating loss out of the blue. Consistent progress would be nice.

“no longer seriously challenging for SEC championships” ?

People say what they want to, or how they feel, but the facts should be remembered.

In the 2022-2023 SEC Tournament, TN beat LSU, who won the National Champoinship later that year, and TN lost in the SEC Finals to SC.

In the 2023-2024 SEC Tournament, TN lost to SC by one point in the semifinals, due to a no call on a double dribble by SC and a Hail Mary shot with a slow clock, who went on to an unbeaten season and a National Championship.

You can argue about losing other games, or why we didn’t win the game against SC in the SEC Tournament last season, but to say TN no longer seriously challenged for SEC Championships just isn’t true, imo.

 

[chuckiepoo]

“no longer seriously challenging for SEC championships” ?

People say what they want to, or how they feel, but the facts should be remembered.

In the 2022-2023 SEC Tournament, TN beat LSU, who won the National Champoinship later that year, and TN lost in the SEC Finals to SC.

In the 2023-2024 SEC Tournament, TN lost to SC by one point in the semifinals, due to a no call on a double dribble by SC and a Hail Mary shot, who went on to an unbeaten season and a National Championship.

You can argue about losing other games, or why we didn’t win the game against SC in the SEC Tournament last season, but to say TN no longer seriously challenged for SEC Championships just isn’t true, imo.

Don’t you know the sky is around our ankles?

 

[glv98]

“no longer seriously challenging for SEC championships” ?

People say what they want to, or how they feel, but the facts should be remembered.

In the 2022-2023 SEC Tournament, TN beat LSU, who won the National Champoinship later that year, and TN lost in the SEC Finals to SC.

In the 2023-2024 SEC Tournament, TN lost to SC by one point in the semifinals, due to a no call on a double dribble by SC and a Hail Mary shot with a slow clock, who went on to an unbeaten season and a National Championship.

You can argue about losing other games, or why we didn’t win the game against SC in the SEC Tournament last season, but to say TN no longer seriously challenged for SEC Championships just isn’t true, imo.

I was talking about regular season SEC championships.

But it doesn’t matter what I think. Apparently Danny White, the Master of the AD Universe thought we weren’t challenging for championships anymore either. Thus the change of coaches.

 

[butchna]

I was talking about regular season SEC championships.

But it doesn’t matter what I think. Apparently Danny White, the Master of the AD Universe thought we weren’t challenging for championships anymore either. Thus the change of coaches.

Thinking a SIXTH chance was going to yield a satisfactory product wasn’t part of his process…but his jacket was too tight.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Thinking a SIXTH chance was going to yield a satisfactory product wasn’t part of his process…but his jacket was too tight.

Looks much better in a creamsicle polo shirt: