Kellie Harper discussion/debate thread [merged]

[teacherdean]

So Holly, was always a top one to three recruiter, Dean taught Glory to stay in a game, and Mercedes. Kellie's staff can't keep Key in game. Kellie can't recruit point guards, or coach one up, that can bring the ball up court. I'm sorry but no, they suck, Miles has promise, but Horston, a Holly recruit, is only one who can. She's a point guard Hall of famer, and she has nobody but, what Holly left her who can actually bring the ball up, Horston. I love Kelly.Kelly, I think she's a good coach. I think she needs to fire herw entire staff!
One they can't recruit! We are Auburn after what Holly left us, and the second they just can't coach.
But, what the hell was this game tonight? Frankly, no Holly team looked this bad, at this point, ever, granted she was arguably one of the top two best recruiters in the country, but seriously what the heck was what we saw on the court today? I don't think we even deserve to host sweet 16 games! I don't think we're going to win our first game in the SSC tournament with what I saw tonight. Ray Burrell is a great player, but she need to be rained in as I've always said, she plays a different tempo from the rest of the team, and that's not on Holly, she brought in a great talent ( including Horston to Key to Burrell, Hayes, Green, and Westbrook). Not on Ray, she's brilliant. And we cannot ask Jordan Horton, to bring the ball up everytime, and do something. And what has Kelly recruited... A bunch of guards, she hasn't coached up, and she was an all American Guard, that can't bring the ball up yet... This is a guard that used to face against Latte from North Carolina, but she can't teach a guard to bring the ball up court? I don't know where we're going with this team, we could be going up... we could go down. This is the lowest point in her coaching career, she appears list, her staff inadequate. I point this out, because, this team is way better than what doing, then their going to be ranked. I doubt we win two games in the SEC tournament. If we beat UConn, and , seriously, there's no reason we shouldn't, unless Kelly can't out coach, Gino who's lost it and a team that just didn't know how to play together, kind of like what we've got right now, bad and we got better disenfranchised don't know how to play together aren't coached well. Together aren't coached well. Missing something? Just combobulated talent, that holly left us mind you, and Uconn sucks, we might stay in the top 16.. We don't deserve to be, we really don't. We were such an inferior team on the court as tonight. Holly, regularly beat Miss St and SC at this time of season. we get what we wish for...this team is lost, Key is lost Rae is half way gone, and after Jordan...Holly level talent is a dteam

This is the worst case of rambling I have ever seen. Yes we did get behind by 17 or 18 points but we came back in the second half and righted the ship. Was I disappointed in how we played the first half, like any Lady Vol fan, yes I was. But what I loved about these ladies is they fought back. I don’t necessarily believe in moral victories but they did hold their own. Somehow we have to start from the git and not have to be a team which has to make second half comebacks.

As to the question can KJH recruit, I must see what she does this year to solve present issues on the team. I have to see how well she works the portal, junior college ranks and how she and her staff recruits the 23-24 class. I will also see how they work with players addressing turnovers and post moves of their post players. KJH has a lot of work to do and I am willing to give her a chance.

 

[mlindsay]

Mulkey is a great coach but Fargas left her a stacked roster. These super seniors went 21-10 as juniors and were already excellent defenders and battle tested in the SEC. Mulkey knows she walked into an excellent situation. She has been telling folks to enjoy this team because she knows she has her work cut out for her next season with a complete roster overhaul.

And a schedule that will not challenge them

 

[Nute Gunray]

Kellie is not far from becoming a coach of Mulkey's stature with 3 NCs. The LVs would have won the game yesterday with Horston in the lineup and Kellie's coaching. Sometimes though, she doubts her leadership/coaching skills. This is the "X" factor that causes her problems.

 

[vettefool]

This is the worst case of rambling I have ever seen. Yes we did get behind by 17 or 18 points but we came back in the second half and righted the ship. Was I disappointed in how we played the first half, like any Lady Vol fan, yes I was. But what I loved about these ladies is they fought back. I don’t necessarily believe in moral victories but they did hold their own. Somehow we have to start from the git and not have to be a team which has to make second half comebacks.

As to the question can KJH recruit, I must see what she does this year to solve present issues on the team. I have to see how well she works the portal, junior college ranks and how she and her staff recruits the 23-24 class. I will also see how they work with players addressing turnovers and post moves of their post players. KJH has a lot of work to do and I am willing to give her a chance.

That’s fair. Hopefully she can improve recruiting, which should improve the team. Yep she has a couple of years to “prove it”. Of course so many on here loved our previous head coach till the end. Expect the same this go around. Love Kellie since forever and really hope she is ultra-successful. Sometime in the future most people will know if she is the answer.

 

[vettefool]

Kellie is not far from becoming a coach of Mulkey's stature with 3 NCs. The LVs would have won the game yesterday with Horston in the lineup and Kellie's coaching. Sometimes though, she doubts her leadership/coaching skills. This is the "X" factor that causes her problems.

I’d say she is a long, long way from Mulkey’s stature.a darn long way.it may workout.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I’d say she is a long, long way from Mulkey’s stature.a darn long way.it may workout.

She has plenty of time to catch up.

 

[Mr.Vol2U]

Does anyone think LSU had the second most talent in the SEC? For reference, they were picked to finish 8th in the SEC. Now they're 8th in the COUNTRY.

Coaching, and investing in coaching, matters...

Umm I would say so or one of the top. They have a bunch of upperclassmen with transfers. Khayla Pointer arguably one of the best point guards in the SEC (5th year senior), Autumn Newby transfer Vanderbilt (Graduate Student), Alexis Morris transfer from Texas A&M fifth year senior, Jailin Cherry graduate student, Faustine Aifuwa graduate student. That's their starting 5 and I can keep going but I would rather not. Don't just look at rankings but look at the experience as well. I will take upperclassmen's any day over a freshman 5 star

 

[chuckiepoo]

Umm I would say so or one of the top. They have a bunch of upperclassmen with transfers. Khayla Pointer arguably one of the best point guards in the SEC (5th year senior), Autumn Newby transfer Vanderbilt (Graduate Student), Alexis Morris transfer from Texas A&M fifth year senior, Jailin Cherry graduate student, Faustine Aifuwa graduate student. That's their starting 5 and I can keep going but I would rather not. Don't just look at rankings but look at the experience as well. I will take upperclassmen's any day over a freshman 5 star

Yer making barf look like an idiot. Your post will be reported and removed.

 

[teacherdean]

That’s fair. Hopefully she can improve recruiting, which should improve the team. Yep she has a couple of years to “prove it”. Of course so many on here loved our previous head coach till the end. Expect the same this go around. Love Kellie since forever and really hope she is ultra-successful. Sometime in the future most people will know if she is the answer.

I am with you, if KJH can’t do it, or trend that way in the next two years, it is time to consider cutting bait and heading in another direction. I assure you that KJH realizes that she needs to show some serious progress.

 

[Coach Jumper]

I am with you, if KJH can’t do it, or trend that way in the next two years, it is time to consider cutting bait and heading in another direction. I assure you that KJH realizes that she needs to show some serious progress.

what player has not shown progress?
Jordan H?
Snoop?
Tamari?
Rae? (I can't count her in this bc of her longer-injury)
Darby?
Others????

Has Coach K not openly stated that she wants to get our turnovers to 13 or less?

Let me tell you something,folks, Pat Summitt said "
Surround yourself with people who are better than you are. Seek out quality people,
acknowledge their talents, and let them do their jobs. You win with people. "...Coach K has shown she isn't afraid to hire people who have strengths in where she may have weaknesses

Keep looking for flaws
me
I will keep looking for strengths

 

[Memvol44]

what player has not shown progress?
Jordan H?
Snoop?
Tamari?
Rae? (I can't count her in this bc of her longer-injury)
Darby?
Others????

Has Coach K not openly stated that she wants to get our turnovers to 13 or less?

Let me tell you something,folks, Pat Summitt said "
Surround yourself with people who are better than you are. Seek out quality people,
acknowledge their talents, and let them do their jobs. You win with people. "...Coach K has shown she isn't afraid to hire people who have strengths in where she may have weaknesses

Keep looking for flaws
me
I will keep looking for strengths

I've often wondered does Kellie have a mentor .
Someone she can pick up the phone and talk with,bounce ideas off? If not,that's sad and a lonely position...

 

[chuckiepoo]

what player has not shown progress?
Jordan H?
Snoop?
Tamari?
Rae? (I can't count her in this bc of her longer-injury)
Darby?
Others????

Has Coach K not openly stated that she wants to get our turnovers to 13 or less?

Let me tell you something,folks, Pat Summitt said "
Surround yourself with people who are better than you are. Seek out quality people,
acknowledge their talents, and let them do their jobs. You win with people. "...Coach K has shown she isn't afraid to hire people who have strengths in where she may have weaknesses

Keep looking for flaws
me
I will keep looking for strengths

Two years out, that’s extension period. If she continues to make progress, extend her. If she regresses significantly, review the market at that time. I’m all behind Kellie. Give it minute, eh?
I would get more specific to examine her recent class signings but won’t. Pretty sure I’d offend someone. She’s currently front and center of numerous recruiting battles. The next couple of months will tell the tale.

 

[teacherdean]

what player has not shown progress?
Jordan H?
Snoop?
Tamari?
Rae? (I can't count her in this bc of her longer-injury)
Darby?
Others????

Has Coach K not openly stated that she wants to get our turnovers to 13 or less?

Let me tell you something,folks, Pat Summitt said "
Surround yourself with people who are better than you are. Seek out quality people,
acknowledge their talents, and let them do their jobs. You win with people. "...Coach K has shown she isn't afraid to hire people who have strengths in where she may have weaknesses

Keep looking for flaws
me
I will keep looking for strengths

The players you mentioned have shown progress but the job is not fully done. Each of the players you mentioned have room for improvement. It is great to look at improvements and make note of the strengths but you also have to pay attention to the flaws. Yes, KJH has said she is working on the turnovers but we are not completely there. There is still much work to do to get the team to the consistent top ten level. That also includes overcoming the injury bug which is somewhat out of the coach’s control. That is especially true with frick injuries.

 

[Coach Jumper]

The players you mentioned have shown progress but the job is not fully done. Each of the players you mentioned have room for improvement. It is great to look at improvements and make note of the strengths but you also have to pay attention to the flaws. Yes, KJH has said she is working on the turnovers but we are not completely there. There is still much work to do to get the team to the consistent top ten level. That also includes overcoming the injury bug which is somewhat out of the coach’s control. That is especially true with frick injuries.

I have often pointed out her weaknesses,,,,offensive flow,,not hard enough on turnovers, not using the first two timeouts for tactical or coaching moments, other things

I was the same way with Holly

The difference,,,I believe in and support Coach K as a hire
And will continue to
I will not consider another HC until she gives me reason to

 

[Coach Jumper]

I've often wondered does Kellie have a mentor .
Someone she can pick up the phone and talk with,bounce ideas off? If not,that's sad and a lonely position...

If she doesn't,,,She could have

 

[Memvol44]

If she doesn't,,,She could have

Other than Joe from Auburn,don't even know if he is still alive, wonder who she looks up to or admires. Kellie is a very together woman but everyone needs someone..

 

[NoBackBoard]

Other than Joe from Auburn,don't even know if he is still alive, wonder who she looks up to or admires. Kellie is a very together woman but everyone needs someone..

Joe is living and was color analyst for some of Auburn’s home games this season.

 

[Majors]

what player has not shown progress?
Jordan H?
Snoop?
Tamari?
Rae? (I can't count her in this bc of her longer-injury)
Darby?
Others????

Has Coach K not openly stated that she wants to get our turnovers to 13 or less?

Let me tell you something,folks, Pat Summitt said "
Surround yourself with people who are better than you are. Seek out quality people,
acknowledge their talents, and let them do their jobs. You win with people. "...Coach K has shown she isn't afraid to hire people who have strengths in where she may have weaknesses

Keep looking for flaws
me
I will keep looking for strengths

Last 3 games since since Jordan went down, who has stepped up to fill the void of her points plus theirs? Mississippi State game provided a big jump in numbers for Key (10,23,12 with a 8 point season avg.), Darby (6,17,4 with a 5 point season avg) and Dye (6,13,10 with a 9 point season avg) but the other two games everyone is on par for their average in the two losses.

 

[LadyOrange]

Seems to me the basics of basketball are missing. Dribble, Shoot, Defend are missing. To much softness in this group, mentally, physically and emotionally. Not giving up on this team, just trying to understand these problems we are now having.

We are one of the top defensive teams in the country.

 

[LadyOrange]

Last 3 games since since Jordan went down, who has stepped up to fill the void of her points plus theirs? Mississippi State game provided a big jump in numbers for Key (10,23,12 with a 8 point season avg.), Darby (6,17,4 with a 5 point season avg) and Dye (6,13,10 with a 9 point season avg) but the other two games everyone is on par for their average in the two losses.

It’s incredible how well we play adversity after adversity.

Marta, a starter, out for the season.
Rae, a starter, out for most of the season and still trying to make up for a lack of live touches
Keyen, sometimes a starter, out for the season.
Jordy, leading scorer and defensive specialist, out for the season.
Dye, a starter, first season with the team.
Darby, starter, freshman year spent working through an injury
and this season finally having the health to grow her game.

We hung with SC playing with another new adjustment. We should have beat LSU, but we only played for 20 minutes.

 

[LadyOrange]

If you want to reference yourself as a Snowflake, I have no problem with your right to self-identify as such, but to be clear on what you have to say:

1. Yes, about two weeks ago this team looked like something really special. They had come from behind wins in all but a few games this season. That does show toughness and grit. After Keyen went down, and of course no one really knows why, but this team has not been the same. Stop trying to put words in other peoples' mouths (as I've seen you do on other threads) I NEVER called Kellie 'feckless'. Those are your vicious words, not mine. (You must get that skill from your fellow snowflakes..lol). Kellie does need to use her knowledge and experience as an 18 year HC to motivate these players to step up and turn things around. Part of that is teaching them how to break a press and how not to turn the ball over, using the backboard when you're 2 feet from the basket. That part is completely on her and her staff! Again, she was a point guard and has been a HC for 18 years, surely she has some press-breaking schemes up her sleeves, no?

2. If she needs to do some things to get this team's attention (such as benching turnover-prone players, or having them run a lap or two, or even removing their locker room privileges for a week), those are some recommendations that we've seen Pat institute herself in the past. I watched the meeting she held where she handed out the green keys to all the players when Keyen went down. That was so sweet and so soft...much like rainbows and unicorns. It was like watching Butch with some kitchy 'brick by brick' or 'five star hearts' motivation. If it works, great. But obviously it didn't because they got embarrassed by Auburn next time out. Maybe it is time to try some different motivational tactics!

3. Florida is on a hot streak, but even so, there's no excuse to be ranked in the Top 10 in the country and lose to an unranked team by 20+ points. You call timeouts to stop the bleeding, you shuffle the lineup and identify who to run the offense through, and a plethora of plays that you work out in practice. As for the Auburn game, they were not on a streak, are NOT a good team overall, and had not won a conference game in two years. No excuse to have the talent TN does and lose by more than 10 points.

4. I have absolutely nothing against Kellie. I enjoyed watching her play and watching her start rebuilding this program. I hope she ends up being the modern version of Pat Summitt. I want nothing more than to see her succeed and bring this once proud program back to the top of WBB. My two points of emphasis were to #1 instill some more accountability when the team isn't focused and disciplined (20+ turnovers in a game does not = focused or disciplined) and #2 pour as much effort as you can to bring top talent to the Hill.

That's it. So if you want to get all upset over a little criticism of the coaching staff and some recommendations for getting the team's attention, then so be it. No skin off my teeth. But PLEASE do not put words in my mouth to try to denigrate me...

“n Pat institute herself in the past. I watched the meeting she held where she handed out the green keys to all the players when Keyen went down. That was so sweet and so soft...much like rainbows and unicorns. It was like watching Butch with some kitchy 'brick by brick' or 'five star hearts' motivation. If it works, great. But obviously it didn't because they got embarrassed by Auburn next time out. Maybe it is time to try some different motivational tactics!”

Guess what? Projecting your own response to Kellie’s approach only reveals something about you. Our players are tough, but they also enjoy this kind of sweetness. That’s all that matters.

 

[Majors]

It’s incredible how well we play adversity after adversity.

Marta, a starter, out for the season.
Rae, a starter, out for most of the season and still trying to make up for a lack of live touches
Keyen, sometimes a starter, out for the season.
Jordy, leading scorer and defensive specialist, out for the season.
Dye, a starter, first season with the team.
Darby, starter, freshman year spent working through an injury
and this season finally having the health to grow her game.

We hung with SC playing with another new adjustment. We should have beat LSU, but we only played for 20 minutes.

Hasn't been ideal and Jordan's injury and timing is a major concern heading into postseason.

 

[LadyOrange]

Hasn't been ideal and Jordan's injury and timing is a major concern heading into postseason.

Yes! But I’m encouraged because Kellie knows how to get the most from her players. She took a mid-major to the Sweet 16. Those girls were 2 and 3 star. She’s guided our team to an overachieving season and we would be ranked higher and not have lost some games if we had a fully healthy team. So
Many variables.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Last 3 games since since Jordan went down, who has stepped up to fill the void of her points plus theirs? Mississippi State game provided a big jump in numbers for Key (10,23,12 with a 8 point season avg.), Darby (6,17,4 with a 5 point season avg) and Dye (6,13,10 with a 9 point season avg) but the other two games everyone is on par for their average in the two losses.

No one has aggressively taken that spot bc they were in essence told not to by saying everybody step up...I would have worked the heck out of that opportunity and stressed "next man up...who's it going to be?",,..,, but that is my philosophy, not Coach K's.

Darby is a streak shooter, which makes her a streak misser. Justine Pissott doesn't have that tendency. She is a consistent threat and rarely has extended slumps. And her range is unbelievable. I applaud Coach K for what she has gotten out of Darby. She had confidence in Tess when pretty much everybody had written Tess off...Kellie and staff made a then "non-factor" into a "legitimate threat". Helluva job coaching !

Dye is an enigma that this staff had one season to figure out, smooth as silk, able to be explosive, yet able to disappear for a game or a stretch.

This is a very diverse set of athletes and Coach K has done a good job. by my unscientific consideration on this team are 2 alpha, 2 Beta's and 9 Alpha/Beta's.

She had a tough year 2, but rebounded with a very good year 3
year 1 went 21-10 and no NCAA tourney
Year 2 went 17-8 NCAA 2nd round
Year 3 22-7 and still games to be played

 

[Majors]

No one has aggressively taken that spot bc they were in essence told not to by saying everybody step up...I would have worked the heck out of that opportunity and stressed "next man up...who's it going to be?",,..,, but that is my philosophy, not Coach K's.

And there to me and you is the problem. Because like you said "next man up" has not happened and it seems players are looking around on who is going to do it without realizing it could be them.

Fair assessment on the players. I would like Darby to not get lost in the big games.