What's Changed? Two Observations

[mlindsay]

Tired of people wondering why Courtney doesn't get more playing time. She seems like a great teammate and person, but shes a total defensive liability.

Her 36% 3 point shooting clip doesn't make up for her total inability to keep her player in front on defense. Better defense = more minutes.

A possible 1 or 2 more three pointers per game isn't going to make up for what she gives up in terms of defensive quickness and effort.

I think the issue is other coaches have found ways to hide their players liability. She is a 3PT specialist and is an advantage to us when she is in the game if we draw up a plan/plays to utilize her correctly.

Geno has had a few the past few years that have been defensive liabilities but they are shooters so he find ways to mask their defensive struggles one found her way in the Top 5 of the draft and she could barely put the ball on the floor nor play defense but boy could she shoot.

 

[T.J.]

Holly doesn't need excuses. She's a coach with 5 years of head coaching experience, and she's had a lot of success.

I'm not betting my house on anyone winning a title because those are bad odds for any team, even UConn.

But yes, I believe Holly and TN are in the top 10 most likely teams in any given year.

I don't believe you.

The facts & truths are important.
And making sense is essential in getting your point across. Your post made no sense.

The Lady Vols are not in the top 10 in the national rankings. They played themselves in and out of it this season. They are at nr. 12 in AP and ESPN rankings. Also The LVs were not even in the top 25 last season (Holly's success in bringing the Tennessee program into becoming LOSERS!) It is going on 3 consecutive seasons that Holly has coached them out of the top 10.

Believe what you want. The facts & truth remains.

 

[Nuyoika]

I think the issue is other coaches have found ways to hide their players liability. She is a 3PT specialist and is an advantage to us when she is in the game if we draw up a plan/plays to utilize her correctly.

Geno has had a few the past few years that have been defensive liabilities but they are shooters so he find ways to mask their defensive struggles one found her way in the Top 5 of the draft and she could barely put the ball on the floor nor play defense but boy could she shoot.

There are 3 problems with this comparison:

1. The LV are still working on being better team defenders. UConn has sort of had that in the bag for years. If you got blown by over the past 10 or so years you were met by Stewie, Or Dolson, or Stokes, or McLaren, or Charles. They have almost always had a rim protector up until recently. Someone who you knew would knock you on your a** if need be.

Russell is that sometimes but not all the time. More often than not she can easily be pulled away from the basket with a simple screen. Getting help side defense consistently is still hard for them I would say about 65% of the time. You can take risks when you know someone will be there. At this point I don't think the staff is willing to take that risk. However, I see what you are saying, they might as well since it's not like either of them are gonna be there next year.

2. It's sort of like comparing apples to oranges. The offense for both teams are structured completely different, especially in the half court set. UConn's offense is meant to be equal opportunity and Tennessee's isn't. You don't know who is going to be taking the shot for UConn at any given point. Tennessee's goes in a very specific pattern. Post player first, if not then look for a drive, if nothing else 3 or jumper.

3. I'm assuming you were referencing KML and again that is like comparing apples and oranges and I can understand why the staff wouldn't take the risk. KML broke the NCAA career 3 point shooting record. I'm pretty sure she was top 5 or so coming out of HS. I think she made over 400 by the time she graduated or close to it. Dunbar shoots 36% which when compared to the rest of her team really isn't much better than Jackson, Westbrook, or Davis.

If her only strength that they can capitalize on is shooting the 3, and it's only marginally better than someone who plays better defense, and also has other moves or skills, and the offense isn't even built for 3 pointers anyway then why play her? Now if she was shooting 45% or better from the 3 & had proven she could use her length to play in the post some or help out on trapping or pressing defense then I say give her the minutes but based on the decisions the staff has made regarding her minutes when healthy I would say they don't see the benefit in giving her more minutes because of her stats.

 

[Amb3096]

Geno has had a few the past few years that have been defensive liabilities but they are shooters so he find ways to mask their defensive struggles one found her way in the Top 5 of the draft and she could barely put the ball on the floor nor play defense but boy could she shoot.

Curiously, who was this? Most UConn players have been pretty good defensively, if at the team rather than individual level.

 

[leejoek]

Curiously, who was this? Most UConn players have been pretty good defensively, if at the team rather than individual level.

Switch Holly to UCONN, we would be ranked in the top 10 right now!

 

[1reVOLver]

:thud:

Switch Holly to UCONN, we would be ranked in the top 10 right now!

If I understand you correctly, we would go from 12 to 10 by exporting Holly?

OK, I'll chip in a few bucks towards her bus fare.


I back truth.
I roll with reality.

 

[Darth_Vol]

I don't believe you.

The facts & truths are important.
And making sense is essential in getting your point across. Your post made no sense.

The Lady Vols are not in the top 10 in the national rankings. They played themselves in and out of it this season. They are at nr. 12 in AP and ESPN rankings. Also The LVs were not even in the top 25 last season (Holly's success in bringing the Tennessee program into becoming LOSERS!) It is going on 3 consecutive seasons that Holly has coached them out of the top 10.

Believe what you want. The facts & truth remains.

Maybe she meant top 10 in the SEC. She did finish 7th....

 

[1CHATTVOL]

I don't believe you.

The facts & truths are important.
And making sense is essential in getting your point across. Your post made no sense.

The Lady Vols are not in the top 10 in the national rankings. They played themselves in and out of it this season. They are at nr. 12 in AP and ESPN rankings. Also The LVs were not even in the top 25 last season (Holly's success in bringing the Tennessee program into becoming LOSERS!) It is going on 3 consecutive seasons that Holly has coached them out of the top 10.

Believe what you want. The facts & truth remains.

My post made plenty of sense. And it was truth. I could bring in relevant facts, but I've stated those many times before.

You seem to want your glass to be half full. Enjoy that.

 

[mlindsay]

There are 3 problems with this comparison:

1. The LV are still working on being better team defenders. UConn has sort of had that in the bag for years. If you got blown by over the past 10 or so years you were met by Stewie, Or Dolson, or Stokes, or McLaren, or Charles. They have almost always had a rim protector up until recently. Someone who you knew would knock you on your a** if need be.

Russell is that sometimes but not all the time. More often than not she can easily be pulled away from the basket with a simple screen. Getting help side defense consistently is still hard for them I would say about 65% of the time. You can take risks when you know someone will be there. At this point I don't think the staff is willing to take that risk. However, I see what you are saying, they might as well since it's not like either of them are gonna be there next year.

2. It's sort of like comparing apples to oranges. The offense for both teams are structured completely different, especially in the half court set. UConn's offense is meant to be equal opportunity and Tennessee's isn't. You don't know who is going to be taking the shot for UConn at any given point. Tennessee's goes in a very specific pattern. Post player first, if not then look for a drive, if nothing else 3 or jumper.

3. I'm assuming you were referencing KML and again that is like comparing apples and oranges and I can understand why the staff wouldn't take the risk. KML broke the NCAA career 3 point shooting record. I'm pretty sure she was top 5 or so coming out of HS. I think she made over 400 by the time she graduated or close to it. Dunbar shoots 36% which when compared to the rest of her team really isn't much better than Jackson, Westbrook, or Davis.

If her only strength that they can capitalize on is shooting the 3, and it's only marginally better than someone who plays better defense, and also has other moves or skills, and the offense isn't even built for 3 pointers anyway then why play her? Now if she was shooting 45% or better from the 3 & had proven she could use her length to play in the post some or help out on trapping or pressing defense then I say give her the minutes but based on the decisions the staff has made regarding her minutes when healthy I would say they don't see the benefit in giving her more minutes because of her stats.

In defense of Dunbar most of her 3's have come in the form of hero ball (when we're down 10 or less with 3 minutes to play in the 4th Holly puts her in and expects her to instantly be hot) my reasoning for saying what I said is we have the talent to play and equal opportunity offense we just choose to force it into Russell first which I understand but a lot of times I think she shouldn't always be the first option because she isn't always establishing herself on the block.

Also that was my point about Geno his post knew they needed to help so they rarely got stuck on a pick and roll or pick and pop. His players know when to go over or when to go under the screen. They also communicate defensively, you constantly hear whomever he has playing the 5 talking.

It's a willingness and a wanting to do so. When Russell wants to block a shot and throw it in the stands she cans but she is more concerned with picking up fouls and sitting instead of contesting shots and having players refuse to drive the lane.

 

[mlindsay]

Curiously, who was this? Most UConn players have been pretty good defensively, if at the team rather than individual level.

KML wasn't pretty good defensively she had the human eraser (Kiah Stokes) behind her most of the time when she was beat on defense.

 

[VolBall09]

There are 3 problems with this comparison:

1. The LV are still working on being better team defenders. UConn has sort of had that in the bag for years. If you got blown by over the past 10 or so years you were met by Stewie, Or Dolson, or Stokes, or McLaren, or Charles. They have almost always had a rim protector up until recently. Someone who you knew would knock you on your a** if need be.

Russell is that sometimes but not all the time. More often than not she can easily be pulled away from the basket with a simple screen. Getting help side defense consistently is still hard for them I would say about 65% of the time. You can take risks when you know someone will be there. At this point I don't think the staff is willing to take that risk. However, I see what you are saying, they might as well since it's not like either of them are gonna be there next year.

2. It's sort of like comparing apples to oranges. The offense for both teams are structured completely different, especially in the half court set. UConn's offense is meant to be equal opportunity and Tennessee's isn't. You don't know who is going to be taking the shot for UConn at any given point. Tennessee's goes in a very specific pattern. Post player first, if not then look for a drive, if nothing else 3 or jumper.

3. I'm assuming you were referencing KML and again that is like comparing apples and oranges and I can understand why the staff wouldn't take the risk. KML broke the NCAA career 3 point shooting record. I'm pretty sure she was top 5 or so coming out of HS. I think she made over 400 by the time she graduated or close to it. Dunbar shoots 36% which when compared to the rest of her team really isn't much better than Jackson, Westbrook, or Davis.

If her only strength that they can capitalize on is shooting the 3, and it's only marginally better than someone who plays better defense, and also has other moves or skills, and the offense isn't even built for 3 pointers anyway then why play her? Now if she was shooting 45% or better from the 3 & had proven she could use her length to play in the post some or help out on trapping or pressing defense then I say give her the minutes but based on the decisions the staff has made regarding her minutes when healthy I would say they don't see the benefit in giving her more minutes because of her stats.

My points exactly, excellent breakdown.

 

[Prophet1]

Let's put it this way, if Dunbar played for Missouri or any team which
offense specializes in the three ball
she would be a star.
On this team she neither has a green light to shoot or during her stay had playing time opportunities.
Three point shooter are a waste in this offense, ask Nared.

 

[Amb3096]

KML wasn't pretty good defensively she had the human eraser (Kiah Stokes) behind her most of the time when she was beat on defense.

I think you're selling her short. I remember her freshman year playing tough post defense on Nneke Ogwumike. Nneke didn't have anything easy in that game.

I think because UConn plays such good team defense it rubs off to their individual defense. They are all fundamentally sound even if not the fastest or most athletic player on the court.

Tennessee does not play great defense and that exposes their individual weaknesses. Dunbar wouldn't look so horrible on defense if she played for a more well-coached team.

 

[volmanNC]

Then she has be to given credit for the upturn:

Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
Holly
and
HOLLY

What up turn????????

Fire Holly Now!!