We have the pieces...

#26
#26
Carter is just fun to watch.....she may be playing her way into starting. I just hope she doesn't get hurt! Simmons is just so fast....but is just always out of control. Izzy has a great touch. And we need to get Graves the ball more. Russell will be fine. Just needs to relax and hopefully grow into big time basketball. We have a very deep team with alot of talent. Should be a fun year....and just hope they are ready to go back to the final 4.
 
#29
#29
Warlick needs to make a statement with this team, this year. We've fritzed away our national title lead, had some very mediocre years, let UConn take some (a lot?) of our program mojo. Fact is, Geno is a damn good coach--and we can't afford to have anything more than excellent coaching. Not ok coaching, good coaching. We have the talent and the players to be final four team. I think the pressure now is on Warlick and the staff to make this group the best they can be--and build some mental toughness. We can't have another gag job like last year against Louisville, which was almost inexcusable. It's OK to get beat by a superior team, but to see a veteran team choke like we did--all nerves and panicky before the game is 8 minutes old...not excusable. It is time to bring it--and I would love to play Ct. when it matters. I hope the players feel the same way.
 
#30
#30
The problem for this team will be Simmons. She has the energy and speed to be great, but she has too many cold streaks and plays wild. Kills the team. With this roster she needs to play under control and be selective in her shots. if not Holly needs to bench her. LVs rebounded very poorly in this game. Not the UNC teams we've seen over the past few years. Easy win on the road.
 
#31
#31
Orange Maniac said:
I agree with most of this except for the Holly not being the answer. I don't think we have seen enough to know yet. We will have a lot clearer picture at the end of this year. I've not seen any team have a great game yet this year but UCONN seems to be the closest to playing as they should. I just hope the Lady Vols settle down and get it together.
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It looks like we'll find out who is right regarding Holly since it appears she is liked by the administration. Tenn athletics is about 3 million $ in the red per year, they aren't going to go out and hire an expensive, quality woman's basketball coach.

Uconn lost Mosqueda Lewis to injury early in the 2nd half of the Stamford game. Stuart was in early foul trouble and hardly played. It didn't make much difference. The bench came in and walked away from the 3rd ranked Cardinals. They are short (11 players), but the second team could probably make the final 4.
 
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#32
#32
Convoluted said:
Nice post. NC has top 12 talent, but is not a top 12 team. The game did not make Tennessee look good. If Massengale didn't hit 5 3s, it could have been a loss.

Simmons is a mess. Seemed like she and Diamond were having a personal contest to see who could jack up the most ill conceived shots. How Simmons could have been chosen as all american is beyond me. She shouldn't even be starting.

I'm surprised that Graves hasn't transferred to another school. She works very hard on offense, but the guards rarely get the ball to her. Why do all that work and not get rewarded for it?

Tennessee is not ready to handle the top teams. Although uconn handled Stanford easily, they are well coached and the Frosh looked like they are going to be good. I wouldn't count on Tennessee beating them without significant improvement before the game. Assist to turnover ratio must improve significantly. Same with in game coaching. Holly is not the answer.
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Same old convoluted negativism. Such an amateur coach at heart.:birgits_giggle:
 
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#33
#33
If this team does not make Final 4 then i will feel it did not live up to it's potential. Will the blame falls on the Coach, players or chemistry. I hope not.
This is the most talent since Parker left. But talent alone does not win championships.

We have a dominant player who could lead us there but can she be ready by tournament time? That is the question.

In my opinion what needs to happen is:
Russell gets stronger, more confident and gets playing time.

Carter gets significant minutes and Simmons minutes decrease.
We get the ball into the post and they finish.

Graves needs to develop a nice jumper in low and not just bull to the basket.

Harrison continues to improve. Massengale continues to hit decent 3 point shot and gets the ball to the bigs. Jordan Reynolds and Jones improve and provide good solid help off the Bench. Burdick gets better shot selection.

Finally Holly matures as a head coach and we finally install an offense that has been missing for years and We get better development for our Posts.

It's going to be a long year this year in WBB as the new rules will make watching game a pain as fouls mount up.
I am not sure we have the team that will benefit from the rule change.

I am the most excited I have been in a long time about our chances but there are still a lot of things that need to happen before expectation becomes reality.
 
#34
#34
I don't understand all the Simmons hate. Do you all think she just lucked her way into SEC player of the year and getting on the All American watch list? Simmons has been a solid contributor since her first game as a Freshman when she was the game high scorer through her Senior year now.

You have to learn to take the good with the bad. She has good shooting nights more than she has bad ones. She is in control more than she's not. Her defense has steadily improved every year.

One of the most encouraging things just two games in is that Simmons has not had great games and it didn't matter because other players stepped up. In year's past, that often didn't happen and we would lose. Hopefully that will be one consistent area this year: players step up. And, to beat UCONN or Duke or Stanford, we may need everyone to have a good game and hopefully we will, but we definitely NEED Simmons.

Why would we not want the quickest player on the team arguable quickest in the country? Last year, Simmons shot 36.5% from 3 virtually tied for best on the team, 85% from the FT line, 2nd on the team in steals with 50 over 35 games, 3rd on the team in assists with 73, not to mention our leading scorer with 16 ppg. I want that player in the game playing and playing often.

Players are allowed to have bad games, though, imo.
 
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#35
#35
clkou said:
I don't understand all the Simmons hate. Do you all think she just lucked her way into SEC player of the year and getting on the All American watch list? Simmons has been a solid contributor since her first game as a Freshman when she was the game high scorer through her Senior year now.

You have to learn to take the good with the bad. She has good shooting nights more than she has bad ones. She is in control more than she's not. Her defense has steadily improved every year.

One of the most encouraging things just two games in is that Simmons has not had great games and it didn't matter because other players stepped up. In year's past, that often didn't happen and we would lose. Hopefully that will be one consistent area this year: players step up. And, to beat UCONN or Duke or Stanford, we may need everyone to have a good game and hopefully we will, but we definitely NEED Simmons.

Why would we not want the quickest player on the team arguable quickest in the country? Last year, Simmons shot 36.5% from 3 virtually tied for best on the team, 85% from the FT line, 2nd on the team in steals with 50 over 35 games, 3rd on the team in assists with 73, not to mention our leading scorer with 16 ppg. I want that player in the game playing and playing often.

Players are allowed to have bad games, though, imo.
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toughest opponents last year. I think she has had a marked tendency to shoot poorly in big games. That is a big problem with someone who likes to shoot. I think she and Spani both both had bad nights against Louisville.
 
#36
#36
wbbfan52 said:
If this team does not make Final 4 then i will feel it did not live up to it's potential. Will the blame falls on the Coach, players or chemistry. I hope not.
This is the most talent since Parker left. But talent alone does not win championships.

We have a dominant player who could lead us there but can she be ready by tournament time? That is the question.

In my opinion what needs to happen is:
Russell gets stronger, more confident and gets playing time.

Carter gets significant minutes and Simmons minutes decrease.
We get the ball into the post and they finish.

Graves needs to develop a nice jumper in low and not just bull to the basket.

Harrison continues to improve. Massengale continues to hit decent 3 point shot and gets the ball to the bigs. Jordan Reynolds and Jones improve and provide good solid help off the Bench. Burdick gets better shot selection.

Finally Holly matures as a head coach and we finally install an offense that has been missing for years and We get better development for our Posts.

It's going to be a long year this year in WBB as the new rules will make watching game a pain as fouls mount up.
I am not sure we have the team that will benefit from the rule change.

I am the most excited I have been in a long time about our chances but there are still a lot of things that need to happen before expectation becomes reality.
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I disagree. This team does NOT have a dominant player. What it does have is a very nice mix of good players. PS could rarely get the most out of teams like this because she wasn't a great offensive coach--UT has long been pretty sloppy offensively. Still, this team should make the Final Four, and if it doesn't 't the blame rightly will fall on the coach and the coaching. It is a better team than last year--and that team should have been in the final four.
 
#37
#37
AllforTenn said:
Same old convoluted negativism. Such an amateur coach at heart.:birgits_giggle:
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For the health of this board, someone has to counteract the irrational exuberance. For those who don't like rationality, The Summitt is available (at a price). BTW, I'm not a coach - I'm a high priced consultant.:yes:
 
#38
#38
Convoluted said:
For the health of this board, someone has to counteract the irrational exuberance. For those who don't like rationality, The Summitt is available (at a price). BTW, I'm not a coach - I'm a high priced consultant.:yes:
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"Coach at heart" does not mean actual coach; rather a wannabe coach.
 
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#39
#39
armchair said:
I disagree. This team does NOT have a dominant player. What it does have is a very nice mix of good players. PS could rarely get the most out of teams like this because she wasn't a great offensive coach--UT has long been pretty sloppy offensively. Still, this team should make the Final Four, and if it doesn't 't the blame rightly will fall on the coach and the coaching. It is a better team than last year--and that team should have been in the final four.
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Agree with you on that the team does not have a dominant player. I mean who knows further along the season but from what I can see they are a group of girls who are all talented in their own right. If they manage to gel together and work with what they have then the ladies can make a good run for a championship.
 
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#40
#40
AllforTenn said:
"Coach at heart" does not mean actual coach; rather a wannabe coach.
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all of us fans are wanna be coaches,from the luxury of being arm chair coaches :)

there does seem to be a lot of Simmons hate though,she is a streaky player on the offensive side,as long as she improves her defense this year she will be fine

remember it is just a few games into the season,the whole team needs some playing time together and then we will see how good they are and where they end up at
 
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#41
#41
governmentmule said:
all of us fans are wanna be coaches,from the luxury of being arm chair coaches :)

there does seem to be a lot of Simmons hate though,she is a streaky player on the offensive side,as long as she improves her defense this year she will be fine

remember it is just a few games into the season,the whole team needs some playing time together and then we will see how good they are and where they end up at
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I don't hate Simmons, I'm just critical of her play.
 
#42
#42
it's the arm chair syndrome kev :) I'm critical of all of them lol she will come around and win the Lady Vols a lot of games this year,hide and watch

It is a new year and us home coaches will have to wait and see how it plays out this year,which is going to be a lot of fun,I do love me some Lady Vols Basketball
 
#43
#43
Kev415 said:
Agree with you on that the team does not have a dominant player. I mean who knows further along the season but from what I can see they are a group of girls who are all talented in their own right. If they manage to gel together and work with what they have then the ladies can make a good run for a championship.
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You put your finger on it. I haven't seen the chemistry with this team quite yet. Too many new faces and new roles. But it should be building. That will determine how far they go.

It is very rare though that a team will win it all in women's basketball without having one of the premier women's players, if not THE premier player, on the roster. We have a lot of talent but I don't think any of them are top five level at this point. There is no one who can carry us by dent of their will and skill when the chips are down against top level competition.

Holly has her work cut out for her.
 
#44
#44
governmentmule said:
it's the arm chair syndrome kev :) I'm critical of all of them lol she will come around and win the Lady Vols a lot of games this year,hide and watch

It is a new year and us home coaches will have to wait and see how it plays out this year,which is going to be a lot of fun,I do love me some Lady Vols Basketball
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Yeah I hear ya, we're all here cuz we're Lad Volsters! (I hope)

From what I have seen from Simmons, in the past cpl seasons I really don't think she will change her ways now.
I hope I am proved wrong because with her talent she can be a real asset but on the other hand she can be a harp to the team.
 
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#46
#46
Kev415 said:
Yeah I hear ya, we're all here cuz we're Lad Volsters! (I hope)

From what I have seen from Simmons, in the past cpl seasons I really don't think she will change her ways now.
I hope I am proved wrong because with her talent she can be a real asset but on the other hand she can be a harp to the team.
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This year is different from past years in that Simmons has a much shorter leash than she used to have. If she goes out there jacking up to many quick shots she goes to the bench and Reynolds or Carter comes in. I want her to have a great season she still trying to learn to play in the team concept hard for a player that shot it 30 times a game in high school.
 
#47
#47
I really, really think Mercedes is key for us to make a deep run in March. Right now she's looking like a typical freshmen but I just really feel like she will be improved come conf play we will be that more dangerous.
With her talent and her size she needs to be the presence downlow.
 
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#48
#48
I agree about Russell: if she can become a force in the paint the Vols will be tough, and she will free up Harrison to play the 4--a position where she with her length and athleticism and nice short jumper could really excel. Russell she help Burdick, too.

Jones is a bit of a dilemma for the coaches. She is said to be the best athlete on the team--excellent size and excellent one-on-one defender. But her offensive game is fairly weak. She needs to work on her offense and ball-handling and find an offensive role so that she can play more. We will need her in big games to play the opponents top wings.

RE Simmons: Her shot selection isn't bad, really--she is quick and fast and gets free for shots. Problem is, she just doesn't make enough of them. She HAS to be on a short leash because she has hurt the team in big games consistently with her poor shooting, and we cannot afford that anymore. Love her attitude and her passion but might be better coming off the bench ultimately with Carter playing the 2.
 
#49
#49
Looking at the offensive stats after two games some players are playing in the stratosphere while others are way below where they should be:

Massengale 48 points on 28 shots attempts 1.71 points per attempt is just awesome. If she averages 1.30 for the season she should be first team all SEC and certainly in line for All America honors.

Harrison 33 points on 18 shot attempts 1.83 per shot attempt. She is starting the season out super has been a little foul prone and has lost playing time but she has played super when she is in the game.

Russell 28 points on 23 shot attempts 1.22 per shot attempt. She has played well thus far it is evident that she needs more body strength but she is certainly a quality backup this season.

Simmons 27 points on 33 shot attempts. 0.82 points per attempt. This is an unacceptable average and this has been the story of her career here. She has never had a season where she finished above 1.20 per attempt. I was hoping this would be the one it hasn't thus far.

Carter 25 points on 8 shot attempts. Wow 3.125 points per attempt is out of this world. No way she can keep this up but she certainly needs to put up a few more shots four a game is not enough for her.

Burdick 14 points on 30 attempts is really awful. 0.46 points per attempt is just really bad to her credit she has played great defense and rebounded. She will have to be a lot more effective offensively to keep her minutes.

Reynolds 14 points on 13 shot attempts. I think she is gonna be a good offensive and defensive player for us 1.08 points per shot attempt she has done ok in her first two games.

Moore 4 points on 3 shots hope she gets more time see what she can do. 1.33 points per shot attempt.

Jones 12 points on 15 shots not good. I was hoping she would have a better offensive game this year. 0.80 points per attempt but she is a great defender.

On defense Massengale is a plus 2 with 10 rebounds and 8 steals while committing 6 personal fouls and 10 turnovers. Overall she has been an awesome point guard in the first two games.

Harrison plus 8
Russell plus 12
Simmons minus 7
Carter plus 2
Burdick plus 5
Reynolds plus 2
Moore plus 3
Jones minus 4
 
#50
#50
Very good post. I assume these figures do not include free throws. But how can Carter average over 3 points per shot attempt unless she is fouled on made 3 pointers and converts some of those free throws?
 
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