Will the Lady Vols be Improved next Season?

#77
#77
When projecting forward to next year, it is useful to think back to the first half of the 2021-2022 when the LVs went 20-1 and steam rolled everyone except Stanford. Back in those magical days, the general tenor was nothing but praise for Kellie; I love this team; we found the right coach, etc. etc.

In that stretch, the LVs were not a great offensive team but they were a great defensive team. And so in hindsight, its not surprising that the loss of Keyen Green upset care more the Burrell early season injuries. Kellies teams are built from the inside- out and perimeter defense is everything.

The Key and Hollingshead combo will give the LVs that defensive solidity (I think they still find a #2 post in the portal to be Key's backup and heir apparent). And this team will have a bonafide scorer in Jackson, plus Wells adding some additional spark. Just as the 2021-22 exceeded expectations in those first 20 games, I think next's year team can do much the same but hopefully stay healthier and sustain the run longer.
 
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#78
#78
Lawdawg said:
But why? In the days of “play for someone who looks like me”
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You mean a team consisting of Amoore, Bueckers, Van Lith, Clark, Holmes, Berger, Siegrest, Brink, Duhaz, Mabrey, and Kitley?

Then again, Brooks, Auriemma, Walz, Schaeffer, and other non-feminine types are going to have trouble assembling any team.
 
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#79
#79
creekdipper said:
Considering that the top two teams were both in the Final Four and featured the eventual champion, a close third wasn't the disaster posters pretend it to be.
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It was those two and then everyone else in a down year for the league. We just happen to be the better of everyone to claim the title of 3rd.
 
#82
#82
Majors said:
And yet they have they big trophy while we got a runner up SEC as our shining moment. Splits are great and all, I’m sure Mississippi State is saying the same thing at 9-7. They all count
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I mean South Carolina and LSU COMBINED for 3 losses this season and spent the majority of the season in the top 5, Tennessee had 12 losses and spent the majority of the season unranked. South Carolina and LSU made the Final Four, Tennessee got spanked in the Sweet 16, again.

so-close-jim-halpert.gif
 
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#83
#83
Looking at the roster as of today, knowing there will still likely be a portal player or two added and also possibly another transfer out, the team will be pretty much the same next year.

Harper has been fine. Not stellar or outstanding but the program is back on solid footing after year 4. Next year will be a make or break year. I posted earlier Harper painted herself into a corner this year with a win now roster. The gauntlet schedule was even tougher than expected and a couple of the transfers didn't perform as expected and hoped, but SEC runner up and S16 isn't a bad year by any stretch.

What will have to improve is recruiting. The LVs have struck out twice other than Pissot on high school recruits even after staff changes. Portal recruiting is now part of the role but she needs to be able to draw in some top high school talent to have a remote chance to improve the program to the level fans want and expect.

Next year I suspect will be another top 3/4 SEC finish along with at least a S16 if everyone is healthy and performs.
 
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#84
#84
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#85
#85
Maybe Harper should have played Miles more for her defense this year and Darby less. I did not see enough of Miles to get a sense
of her offensive capabilities, which were obviously modest at best since she hardly played. But I don't think Darby scored enough to compensate
for her defensive issues, which were a problem. She does not have the quickness to stay with opposing shooting guards. She averaged 7 points a game. Is there a metric that offers a net rating for players--weighs points scored versus points allowed along with turnovers, etc. Isn't that the efficiency number? Whatever, my guess is that if you netted out Darby's offense vs.
defense it would not be a good number. And defense was a problem for this team this year. It seems like 'efficiency' should be metric included with individual stats.
 
#86
#86
MsSportsGuy said:
Next year will be a make or break year.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what we were saying a year ago at this time.

MsSportsGuy said:
Next year I suspect will be another top 3/4 SEC finish along with at least a S16 if everyone is healthy and performs.
Click to expand...

I agree, another season that's "fine." And we'll once again be talking about how Kellie needs to improve recruiting and really prove something next season. And the dance continues...
 
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#87
#87
turbovol said:
Maybe Harper should have played Miles more for her defense this year and Darby less. I did not see enough of Miles to get a sense
of her offensive capabilities, which were obviously modest at best since she hardly played. But I don't think Darby scored enough to compensate
for her defensive issues, which were a problem. She does not have the quickness to stay with opposing shooting guards. She averaged 7 points a game. Is there a metric that offers a net rating for players--weighs points scored versus points allowed along with turnovers, etc. Isn't that the efficiency number? Whatever, my guess is that if you netted out Darby's offense vs.
defense it would not be a good number. And defense was a problem for this team this year. It seems like 'efficiency' should be metric included with individual stats.
Click to expand...

It wasn't just a lack of offense that plagued Miles. Her lack of height was easily exploited on defense, too.
 
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#91
#91
Darth_Vol said:
I mean South Carolina and LSU COMBINED for 3 losses this season and spent the majority of the season in the top 5, Tennessee had 12 losses and spent the majority of the season unranked. South Carolina and LSU made the Final Four, Tennessee got spanked in the Sweet 16, again.

so-close-jim-halpert.gif
Click to expand...
I mostly agree with what you said but UT was down 1 in the 4th quarter and wasn't spanked by Virginia Tech.
 
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#92
#92
Going over the roster with 5 juniors and 4 seniors this team should be ready to roll with plenty of experience. With Pissott being the only underclassmen. And could have 10 or 11 upperclassmen depending on more transfers. That's crazy to have so many but should be a huge positive next season.
 
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#96
#96
madtownvol said:
I know this assessment is a bit early since the transfer window is not yet finished but, Kellie's roster is still mostly set, so we can start to envision what next year’s team might be.

It is easier now because the last two seasons have shown how Kellie will set up her team and the specific roles each player has to fit into (even when facing the square peg round hole problem). No reason to waste any more time imagining different configurations that Kellie could or should use because she has her system and, as we know, "she does not like change."

Conventional post slot: Kellie wants the old skool back to the basket, protect the rim post player who occasionally slides out for pick and roll action. Having Key back will be a huge upgrade over the triad who filled in during her absence. None of them really fit that role, though Hollingshead came the closest. The open question is who will be the back-up since Key will probably only average between 25 to maybe 30 minutes a game. Right now, it would be Hollingshead which I will argue is not a good use of her talents so, a #2 post in the transfer would seem to be a high priority. In lieu of that, I would rather Striplin than Hollingshead in the role for reasons listed below:

The power forward slot: Two years ago, Alexus Dye was the perfect fit for this role. She was an excellent rebounder, good finisher around the rim, and a strong defensive presence in the paint. This season square peg Rickea was put into this round hole and it worked okay, except that Rickea could not be the linebacker in the paint that Dye had been. Couple that deficiency with Key’s absence and no shock that the LVs interior defense seriously declined.

Next season (assuming Kellie recruits a number two post), Hollingshead is the perfect fit with Puckett and Striplin being good next options. When you consider this role in the broader defensive scheme and not just point production, I think Hollingshead will be an overall improvement. As with Rickea, I would keep Holllingshead on the floor as much as possible (in this role) and so I would not use her in the suboptimal role of Key's back-up unless forced to by circumstances.

The “I can do everything” Jordan Horston slot: We come to the “bacon saving” decision from Rickea to use her covid year. She will slot in here and it will be a big offensive upgrade. Rickea could put up Caitlin Clark numbers in this role. Rickea showed she can be a very good perimeter defender. I do expect a little defensive drop off from Jordan simply because JH is a super elite defender but overall Rickea is an upgrade in the spot. Who backs up Rickea is the question. Wynn has the athleticism for the role but has to take a big step forward in her all round game this offseason. I am not sure Puckett has the necessary athleticism but I suppose she could be an option as well.

Point Guard- Short answer: Destiny Wells and a year more experienced Jaz Powell will be an upgrade over Walker and this year’s version of Powell. I think Miles, also with an extra year of development, will be a solid contributor when needed to fill in.

Shooting guard—Tess and Justine. I am actually very pro-Tess and I expect her game to jump another level but I think LVs best chance to become a legit title contender is for Justine to make a Rae Burrell caliber jump from her freshman to sophomore season and become the primary option in that slot. Regardless of who starts, though I think next year's tandem will also be an upgrade from this year's.

Conclusion. The 2023-24 team will be a better team at each position than the 2022-23 team. I believe that they will also gel much faster than last year's team.

But what is their ceiling?

If we go back to 2021-22 before the injuries, the LVs were a top 5 team who hung their identity on defense. This year’s team was better offensively but was nowhere near as dominating on defense. I think next year will be a best of both worlds. The LVs will be a top ten team who will give everyone fits due to their defense. They also will be playing the same style as SC and LSU and it is hard to see the LVs beating those teams at their own game but on the right night, it could happen, as we saw in the SEC tournament vs. LSU.

I think they will be in the hunt for the SEC title and should certainly be able to get the elite 8, after which it becomes anybody’s game.
Click to expand...
Madtownvol, I wish I had your wisdom, insight, perception, acuity and discernment!
 
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#97
#97
madtownvol said:
I know this assessment is a bit early since the transfer window is not yet finished but, Kellie's roster is still mostly set, so we can start to envision what next year’s team might be.

It is easier now because the last two seasons have shown how Kellie will set up her team and the specific roles each player has to fit into (even when facing the square peg round hole problem). No reason to waste any more time imagining different configurations that Kellie could or should use because she has her system and, as we know, "she does not like change."

Conventional post slot: Kellie wants the old skool back to the basket, protect the rim post player who occasionally slides out for pick and roll action. Having Key back will be a huge upgrade over the triad who filled in during her absence. None of them really fit that role, though Hollingshead came the closest. The open question is who will be the back-up since Key will probably only average between 25 to maybe 30 minutes a game. Right now, it would be Hollingshead which I will argue is not a good use of her talents so, a #2 post in the transfer would seem to be a high priority. In lieu of that, I would rather Striplin than Hollingshead in the role for reasons listed below:

The power forward slot: Two years ago, Alexus Dye was the perfect fit for this role. She was an excellent rebounder, good finisher around the rim, and a strong defensive presence in the paint. This season square peg Rickea was put into this round hole and it worked okay, except that Rickea could not be the linebacker in the paint that Dye had been. Couple that deficiency with Key’s absence and no shock that the LVs interior defense seriously declined.

Next season (assuming Kellie recruits a number two post), Hollingshead is the perfect fit with Puckett and Striplin being good next options. When you consider this role in the broader defensive scheme and not just point production, I think Hollingshead will be an overall improvement. As with Rickea, I would keep Holllingshead on the floor as much as possible (in this role) and so I would not use her in the suboptimal role of Key's back-up unless forced to by circumstances.

The “I can do everything” Jordan Horston slot: We come to the “bacon saving” decision from Rickea to use her covid year. She will slot in here and it will be a big offensive upgrade. Rickea could put up Caitlin Clark numbers in this role. Rickea showed she can be a very good perimeter defender. I do expect a little defensive drop off from Jordan simply because JH is a super elite defender but overall Rickea is an upgrade in the spot. Who backs up Rickea is the question. Wynn has the athleticism for the role but has to take a big step forward in her all round game this offseason. I am not sure Puckett has the necessary athleticism but I suppose she could be an option as well.

Point Guard- Short answer: Destiny Wells and a year more experienced Jaz Powell will be an upgrade over Walker and this year’s version of Powell. I think Miles, also with an extra year of development, will be a solid contributor when needed to fill in.

Shooting guard—Tess and Justine. I am actually very pro-Tess and I expect her game to jump another level but I think LVs best chance to become a legit title contender is for Justine to make a Rae Burrell caliber jump from her freshman to sophomore season and become the primary option in that slot. Regardless of who starts, though I think next year's tandem will also be an upgrade from this year's.

Conclusion. The 2023-24 team will be a better team at each position than the 2022-23 team. I believe that they will also gel much faster than last year's team.

But what is their ceiling?

If we go back to 2021-22 before the injuries, the LVs were a top 5 team who hung their identity on defense. This year’s team was better offensively but was nowhere near as dominating on defense. I think next year will be a best of both worlds. The LVs will be a top ten team who will give everyone fits due to their defense. They also will be playing the same style as SC and LSU and it is hard to see the LVs beating those teams at their own game but on the right night, it could happen, as we saw in the SEC tournament vs. LSU.

I think they will be in the hunt for the SEC title and should certainly be able to get the elite 8, after which it becomes anybody’s game.
Click to expand...

I’m not going through all the points but let me say, if this is the final roster we will be in trouble. We might be one and done in the tournament at best. This roster is very flawed and needs some elite pieces, if we don’t get them it will be a tough season.
 
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#100
#100
Vol4lifejbone said:
Does nobody think Justine makes a a sophomore jump? I think she could be a x factor for our offense. Jump up to 15 points a game and be a game changer for us. All that was really missing for her was confidence this year it seemed to me
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Expecting a player to jump from virtually no points per game to 15 per game is a pipe dream. I could see her having a similar jump as Striplin did from freshman to soph year into the 6-8 pts / 5 reb per game range and I would call that a huge improvement.
 
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