Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2025-26

#5,332
#5,332
Nute Gunray said:
Don't sell the LVs short. I predict they will win 2 or 3 NCs under Kellie leadership. She understands and is implementing the coaching techniques that made Pat great.
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Bold statement. That would put her on par with the likes of Kim Mulkey and Muffet McGraw and above a number of great coaches who either won a single NC or weren't able to win the big trophy.

I think people also underestimate that what made Pat such a great coach was more her ability to motivate her players and leadership vs. any X's and O's implementation. Holly could whip out the same playbook and give the same speech, but without the same impact. Jury's still out whether Kellie is closer to Pat or Holly in this regard.

But this year? I see very little chance that the UConn vs. Tennessee game does NOT result in Tennessee's worst home loss in TBA history.
 
#5,333
#5,333
Amb3096 said:
Bold statement. That would put her on par with the likes of Kim Mulkey and Muffet McGraw and above a number of great coaches who either won a single NC or weren't able to win the big trophy.

I think people also underestimate that what made Pat such a great coach was more her ability to motivate her players and leadership vs. any X's and O's implementation. Holly could whip out the same playbook and give the same speech, but without the same impact. Jury's still out whether Kellie is closer to Pat or Holly in this regard.

But this year? I see very little chance that the UConn vs. Tennessee game does NOT result in Tennessee's worst home loss in TBA history.
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Pat was able to pass her steely eyed, strong willed and incredible determination to win to her players. She was something else. No one will come close to her in that regard.

And she did have some remarkable players.

I like your reverse psychology on the UConn game. I'll join in. UConn is going to win by 30, and the Lady Vols have NO chance.
 
#5,334
#5,334
Amb3096 said:
Bold statement. That would put her on par with the likes of Kim Mulkey and Muffet McGraw and above a number of great coaches who either won a single NC or weren't able to win the big trophy.
But this year? I see very little chance that the UConn vs. Tennessee game does NOT result in Tennessee's worst home loss in TBA history.
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I share your scepticism about KJH's prospects for greatness. She may grow into a very good coach, but hasn't yet earned the right to be in any NC discussion. Let's wait for some Elite 8 and Final Four appearances before getting too starry-eyed.

As to the likely margin of victory/loss in the coming UConn contest, I'm not that pessimistic. They have more raw talent, and are well better coached, but this is the first time I can remember Auriemma having to play so many freshmen. His system takes time to learn, unless you are Bueckers. Sui generis.
 
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#5,335
#5,335
1reVOLver said:
As to the likely margin of victory/loss in the coming UConn contest, I'm not that pessimistic. They have more raw talent, and are well better coached, but this is the first time I can remember Auriemma having to play so many freshmen. His system takes time to learn, unless you are Bueckers. Sui generis.
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2003 had Strothers and I think Turner as starters. Truthfully, Bueckers starting and Edwards off the bench are the only freshmen that UConn would need to play. Really just Bueckers if the starters aren't in foul trouble. The reason I give them such a big edge in this game is because this looks like UConn's strongest team since their last NC and is Tennessee's weakest team in quite some time. I don't think this will be a good outcome, unfortunately.
 
#5,336
#5,336
Amb3096 said:
2003 had Strothers and I think Turner as starters. Truthfully, Bueckers starting and Edwards off the bench are the only freshmen that UConn would need to play. Really just Bueckers if the starters aren't in foul trouble. The reason I give them such a big edge in this game is because this looks like UConn's strongest team since their last NC and is Tennessee's weakest team in quite some time. I don't think this will be a good outcome, unfortunately.
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Three new players in the rotation. Bueckers, Westbrook and Edwards. That is some crazy talent even if two of them are freshman. Bueckers is not your ordinary freshman and Edwards I believe was underrated in the HS rankings coming from Canada.

The other big difference is it looks like Nelson-Ododa and Williams have made a big jump in production in their Junior seasons.

Tough team this year. Not sure NC caliber but certainly in the conversation.

The matchups against Tennessee don't look good for the Lady Vols.
 
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#5,340
#5,340
Bballnut1952 said:
Three new players in the rotation. Bueckers, Westbrook and Edwards. That is some crazy talent even if two of them are freshman. Bueckers is not your ordinary freshman and Edwards I believe was underrated in the HS rankings coming from Canada.

The other big difference is it looks like Nelson-Ododa and Williams have made a big jump in production in their Junior seasons.

Tough team this year. Not sure NC caliber but certainly in the conversation.

The matchups against Tennessee don't look good for the Lady Vols.
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Curious to see if the series will continue. I believe TV will want it because it is still a draw specially for the casual fan. But do the coaches want it. If I were KJH I would continue, but I don't know about Geno. I am pretty sure that Louisville, Miss State, ND, Baylor, SC and an in state cupcake are on the OOC for next year. He was pretty snippy when Stanford wouldn't renew the series. If they come back there might not be room on the schedule the LV's.
 
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#5,341
#5,341
NeedOrange said:
Curious to see if the series will continue. I believe TV will want it because it is still a draw specially for the casual fan. But do the coaches want it. If I were KJH I would continue, but I don't know about Geno. I am pretty sure that Louisville, Miss State, ND, Baylor, SC and an in state cupcake are on the OOC for next year. He was pretty snippy when Stanford wouldn't renew the series. If they come back there might not be room on the schedule the LV's.
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If Notre Dame is out it could continue you won't see both on the schedule. I expect Stanford to return and there was talk of Indiana continuing. I think we'll continue with Texas as well. There might also be a home and home coming with Duke. I don't expect to play more than four top teams out of conference in any season. The rest will be the ones that everybody else plays so you can get more home games without having to go on a road game in return.
 
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#5,342
#5,342
NeedOrange said:
Curious to see if the series will continue. I believe TV will want it because it is still a draw specially for the casual fan. But do the coaches want it. If I were KJH I would continue, but I don't know about Geno. I am pretty sure that Louisville, Miss State, ND, Baylor, SC and an in state cupcake are on the OOC for next year. He was pretty snippy when Stanford wouldn't renew the series. If they come back there might not be room on the schedule the LV's.
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I personally don't want to see the series continue until Tennessee works their way back into the national picture and it becomes the classic "Battle of the Titans" it used to be. The last couple of matchups between them haven't been that great...first because of UConn falling off after DT graduated for the last few years of the original series, and then restarting after Holly had decimated the Tennessee program. UConn is going to be loaded for the next 5 years, and I'm in no hurry to see a matchup unless Tennessee is bringing a strong team to the court.
 
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#5,343
#5,343
Amb3096 said:
I personally don't want to see the series continue until Tennessee works their way back into the national picture and it becomes the classic "Battle of the Titans" it used to be. The last couple of matchups between them haven't been that great...first because of UConn falling off after DT graduated for the last few years of the original series, and then restarting after Holly had decimated the Tennessee program. UConn is going to be loaded for the next 5 years, and I'm in no hurry to see a matchup unless Tennessee is bringing a strong team to the court.
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So replace them with another team ranked in the 300’s?
 
#5,349
#5,349
1reVOLver said:
UNC, DePaul, USF would all be good, competitive and entertaining matchups.
Sadly, history suggests something with sprinkles and icing on top.
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I don't remember strength of schedule being an issue until Holly's last few years. It has carried over but I'm hoping that will change and we can add teams like those you listed. I would also like to see them schedule NC State, Florida State, Miami, an Oregon team, Oklahoma and UCLA.
 
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#5,350
#5,350
Volfan2012 said:
If Notre Dame is out it could continue you won't see both on the schedule. I expect Stanford to return and there was talk of Indiana continuing. I think we'll continue with Texas as well. There might also be a home and home coming with Duke. I don't expect to play more than four top teams out of conference in any season. The rest will be the ones that everybody else plays so you can get more home games without having to go on a road game in return.
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there's also the series with UNC that was supposed to start this season but got postponed to next season!!
 
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