Kellie Harper discussion/debate thread [merged]

[TJVol95]

Holly Jr losing with top talent again

 

[GBOTango]

Harper will have to change her coaching style (if she can) to be successful. For now UT is stuck with her. Wish her the best.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Holly Jr losing with top talent again

CKH is a whole whole whole lot better than Holly

 

[Jax_Vol]

I'm just glad Rae was a senior no way she passes that ball to anyone as a freshman. She is going straight for the basket whatever will be will be.

It was a very common in bounds RTO designed play that was executed perfectly in a clutch situation.

This year, if we draw up a similar play in same situation...who gets the ball in place of Rae?

 

[Coach Jumper]

First thing I'd address to curb turnovers is to have a better offensive system. Many of our turnovers are the result of panic decision making bc players get caught with the hot potato ball as the shot clock is winding down bc we have a haphazard offense. Same thing that makes us throw up so many crazy, desperation prayers in traffic in the lane hoping for a foul.

I'd also work like hell on a better system of breaking full court pressure. I'd incorporate lots of film study (which I'm sure they do already) of turnovers and how and why they happen. Work on poise and cool headed decision making! This is so much easier when you have an actual offense. Passing in general is a huge area of improvement for us.

Some of the problem also is simply that we have a few players whose skill set is a little lacking. Sounds harsh, but having more talented, quicker, more "complete" players would help cut turnovers.

The last thing I'd worry about is "attitude" "caring" and resulting punishment. Do you really, really think the problem is that players don't care if they make a million turnovers, lose the game, and look awful on national TV? If that is the cause of any turnover, simply not giving a damn, not only would I punish that, that player would have a hard time ever getting out of my doghouse. But obviously, no one makes turnovers on purpose as a naughty act so focusing on punishment is silly, juvenile, wasted time.

Turnovers are result of limited skills, lacking poise, and an outdated, laughably predictable system that enables poor decision making.

Panic decisions yes and sometimes a cry for help. This is why I set my run meter at 7. 7 Is a punch but not a knockout blow. And my number goes down with each time out (eg 5 pt run = TO). Timeouts are not only a "life preservers",,,they are for teaching moments and momentum stoppers. They give your girls a moment to not be "reeling". . . .They are a "coaching" tool.

I often put the LV turnovers into a table and rewatch them to see if forced/unforced/X=shoulda been a no call. In our 29 TO debacle 16 unforced, 8 forced and 5 questionable calls.

At one point we had 8 unforced in 8 minutes,,,and the score went from 41-37 us,,to 54-69 them.
Sometimes a timeout's not for stopping momentum,,,sometimes its just a timeout.

And I don't mean do laps for TO's,,,What I do mean is for a "give a damn" look from someone on the bench...""That turnover just took point-opportunities from this team"". We lost 29 scoring opportunities. Possessions matter.

Passing in the wrong direction, too high, too low,,,wrong type of entry,,,etc will clean up with time in-game and familiarity within the players

 

[Jax_Vol]

Panic decisions yes and sometimes a cry for help. This is why I set my run meter at 7. 7 Is a punch but not a knockout blow. And my number goes down with each time out (eg 5 pt run = TO). Timeouts are not only a "life preservers",,,they are for teaching moments and momentum stoppers. They give your girls a moment to not be "reeling". . . .They are a "coaching" tool.

I often put the LV turnovers into a table and rewatch them to see if forced/unforced/X=shoulda been a no call. In our 29 TO debacle 16 unforced, 8 forced and 5 questionable calls.

At one point we had 8 unforced in 8 minutes,,,and the score went from 41-37 us,,to 54-69 them.
Sometimes a timeout's not for stopping momentum,,,sometimes its just a timeout.

And I don't mean do laps for TO's,,,What I do mean is for a "give a damn" look from someone on the bench...""That turnover just took point-opportunities from this team"". We lost 29 scoring opportunities. Possessions matter.

Passing in the wrong direction, too high, too low,,,wrong type of entry,,,etc will clean up with time in-game and familiarity within the players

Is it time to move away from Walker as PG?

 

[Coach Jumper]

Is it time to move away from Walker as PG?

I'm gonna shock you and say,,,let Miles play a little and she can learn to shoot,,,she KNOWS how to drive. She is a weapon.

Walker, to me is "Vinnie the microwave" Johnson of the Detroit bad boys...Once in the game, he was either fire, or ice. and What he was immediately, he was for that game,,,that seems to be Walker.

 

[Jax_Vol]

I'm gonna shock you and say,,,let Miles play a little and she can learn to shoot,,,she KNOWS how to drive. She is a weapon.

Walker, to me is "Vinnie the microwave" Johnson of the Detroit bad boys...Once in the game, he was either fire, or ice. and What he was immediately, he was for that game,,,that seems to be Walker.

I remember microwave....he could "heat up".

I can see that comparison. Isn't Walker from the Detroit area? She is fire and ice...lately, more on cold side of things.

Love Miles energy and defense. Long term, unsure we can play man-to-man with her lack of height.

 

[Coach Jumper]

I remember microwave....he could "heat up".

I can see that comparison. Isn't Walker from the Detroit area? She is fire and ice...lately, more on cold side of things.

Love Miles energy and defense. Long term, unsure we can play man-to-man with her lack of height.

them "scat back PG's"
gotta know how to use em

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Listen, whatever floats your boat, I said what I said. It was SPECIFICALLY designed to drive to the basket. If that wasn’t there, she had an option to dish, but the play was “specifically” drawn up with the intent of Rae driving to the basket….not a 3 point shot. The 3 point shot was an OPTION of the SPECIFICALLY drawn out play of Rae…..driving to the basket.

Part of the specifically designed play was that all our players crash the boards after the shot. If Sara’s shot had not been included in the specifically designed play, she would not have stayed back.

The word specifically does not mean ‘only’. Several actions can be designed ‘specifically’.

Definition of specifically:

: in a specific manner : in a definite and exact way : with precision
instructed them specifically on how to proceed

“used to indicate the exact identity, purpose, or use of something
Specifically, the stores are lowering the height of store shelving, changing out signs, repainting some areas and … putting products”

Rae’s drive And Sara’s 3 point shot were both in the specifically designed play.

Personally, I was shocked when Rae passed it to Sara. To me, it was the best pass of her career.

 

[turbovol]

I'm gonna shock you and say,,,let Miles play a little and she can learn to shoot,,,she KNOWS how to drive. She is a weapon.

Walker, to me is "Vinnie the microwave" Johnson of the Detroit bad boys...Once in the game, he was either fire, or ice. and What he was immediately, he was for that game,,,that seems to be Walker.

Funny comment. Walker is never "on fire." Against Indiana she was 0-4 from the floor, 1-6 from the foul line I believe it was she who bad the bad inbounds pass late in the game that was costly. (Small players should not be inbounding the ball--bad coaching.) Our guard play--at best--is average, and sometime below average.

Our ball movement on offense is too slow--also a problem for years. Defensively, we don't work hard enough, we lack quickness in a lot of spots and don't communicate and help each other well enough. Also a problem for years. Still plenty of time to pull things together and get better, but we've said that before....

 

[Volfan2012]

Is it time to move away from Walker as PG?

Has been time for a while and also the minutes she is playing. She can be a great backup. but doesn't add much as a starter. She has been playing mostly two guard as a starter you need a scorer in that position and really I would like to see Jordan Horston playing there. I would like to see Powell, Jackson, Horston, Pissott, and Key play together for just 10 minutes then I would know whether they are our best five. I definitely think they are our best scoring five.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Has been time for a while and also the minutes she is playing. She can be a great backup. but doesn't add much as a starter. She has been playing mostly two guard as a starter you need a scorer in that position and really I would like to see Jordan Horston playing there. I would like to see Powell, Jackson, Horston, Pissott, and Key play together for just 10 minutes then I would know whether they are our best five. I definitely think they are our best scoring five.

I like the height of that grouping.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Funny comment. Walker is never "on fire." Against Indiana she was 0-4 from the floor, 1-6 from the foul line I believe it was she who bad the bad inbounds pass late in the game that was costly. (Small players should not be inbounding the ball--bad coaching.) Our guard play--at best--is average, and sometime below average.

Our ball movement on offense is too slow--also a problem for years. Defensively, we don't work hard enough, we lack quickness in a lot of spots and don't communicate and help each other well enough. Also a problem for years. Still plenty of time to pull things together and get better, but we've said that before....

I believe it was Miles who made the horrible crucial inbounds pass near the end of the last game. In one of the games before, Powell had 2 crucial turnovers near the end of the game. They came from passing the ball to our player too quick, and ignoring the nearby defender.

 

[Volfan2012]

I believe it was Miles who made the horrible crucial inbounds pass near the end of the last game. In one of the games before, Powell had 2 crucial turnovers near the end of the game. They came from passing the ball to our player too quick, and ignoring the nearby defender.

Miles passing the ball in I said what are we doing cause she should be receiving not passing in. So I blame the coaches for this error.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Funny comment. Walker is never "on fire." Against Indiana she was 0-4 from the floor, 1-6 from the foul line I believe it was she who bad the bad inbounds pass late in the game that was costly. (Small players should not be inbounding the ball--bad coaching.) Our guard play--at best--is average, and sometime below average.

Our ball movement on offense is too slow--also a problem for years. Defensively, we don't work hard enough, we lack quickness in a lot of spots and don't communicate and help each other well enough. Also a problem for years. Still plenty of time to pull things together and get better, but we've said that before....

Last year she could come in and hit 4 three's and the next week go 1-5,,,not just this year

 

[Jax_Vol]

Funny comment. Walker is never "on fire." Against Indiana she was 0-4 from the floor, 1-6 from the foul line I believe it was she who bad the bad inbounds pass late in the game that was costly. (Small players should not be inbounding the ball--bad coaching.) Our guard play--at best--is average, and sometime below average.

Our ball movement on offense is too slow--also a problem for years. Defensively, we don't work hard enough, we lack quickness in a lot of spots and don't communicate and help each other well enough. Also a problem for years. Still plenty of time to pull things together and get better, but we've said that before....

Last year, Walker was hot and cold.

This year, I think she is the one who feels the most threatened by the portal bunch. She is playing her way out of a job. Striplen is probably stuck on the bench. Hard to see a role for Marta.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Miles passing the ball in I said what are we doing cause she should be receiving not passing in. So I blame the coaches for this error.

It has to stop in practice, and after this, I’m guessing it will.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Has been time for a while and also the minutes she is playing. She can be a great backup. but doesn't add much as a starter. She has been playing mostly two guard as a starter you need a scorer in that position and really I would like to see Jordan Horston playing there. I would like to see Powell, Jackson, Horston, Pissott, and Key play together for just 10 minutes then I would know whether they are our best five. I definitely think they are our best scoring five.

I‘d love to see this. We may eventually work toward this. I think Justine may be fine on defense, will have to see, but I know she has quick reflexes and is a superior passer. She obviously has height and shooting ability. One thing Sara can do though, is she can block defenders under the basket, to give our player an open layup. She has also proven she can score under pressure.

I think Walker has been given the chance to be a starter without playing point. Now, we need to see Sara, Tess, and Justine given the chance.

 

[Volfan2012]

I‘d love to see this. We may eventually work toward this. I think Justine may be fine on defense, will have to see, but I know she has quick reflexes and is a superior passer. She obviously has height and shooting ability. One thing Sara can do though, is she can block defenders under the basket, to give our player an open layup. She has also proven she can score under pressure.

I think Walker has been given the chance to be a starter without playing point. Now, we need to see Sara, Tess, and Justine given the chance.

Justine at the three, Horston or Jackson at the two and the other at the four with Key and Powell is my dream team to see what they could do even if it is just for ten minutes. Powell is a decent three point shooter and Justine was elite in high school. The danger of those two on the perimeter with two slashers and a big post just makes sense on offense.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Justine at the three, Horston or Jackson at the two and the other at the four with Key and Powell is my dream team to see what they could do even if it is just for ten minutes. Powell is a decent three point shooter and Justine was elite in high school. The danger of those two on the perimeter with two slashers and a big post just makes sense on offense.

 

[And1]

I am hoping that at the minimum Kellie makes changes to the starting five for this tournament. Hopefully Horston is back and then replace Walker with Puckett or Pissott. If not that, then replace Walker with Franklin and shift the others around. If she doesn't make some change like this it would be disappointing. All I can say is she better put her money where her mouth is after saying you can't keep doing the same thing and expect different results. I would also like to see Striplin get some minutes.

 

[Voluble2]

Darth, Majors, et al narrative: "Fulmer lazy, Fulmer indifferent to WCBB, Fulmer takes easy way out, Fulmer hires who the blue hairs tell him to hire. Therefore, illegitimate coach hired.

Others say: "Prove it"

Darth, Majors, et al narrative: "This is settled science because we say so. Don't need to prove anything. We remember, whether we can find the smoking gun or not. Shut up and accept our word for it."

Because that was how it happened.

Blake Toppmeyer
May 11, 2021

USA TODAY NETWORK

“The girls” told Phillip Fulmer what to do.

Fulmer said in April 2019 after hiring Kellie Harper as Tennessee’s women’s basketball coach that he entered the search intent on hiring the best candidate possible – male or female, former Lady Vols player or not.

But Fulmer said three female athletics administrators, whom he initially referred to as “the girls" during a news conference, told him he needed to hire a candidate with Lady Vol ties.

“It was essential,” Fulmer said then.

Like I say, this was widely known and reported by multiple sources at the time. It's not something people just made up. You can disagree as to what Fulmer's motivations were, but just accepting him at his word, he was talked into limiting his candidate field. He wasn't going to expend any political capital on the women's program by getting in a pissing match with its supporters when football was bleeding out, and he took the path of least resistance.

 

[Voluble2]

You don't fit that category. You poor mouth every chance you get. You love confrontation and I have no patience for haters who throw out reason just to make their lies believable.

Who is lying Rick?

 

[Rickster]

I am hoping that at the minimum Kellie makes changes to the starting five for this tournament. Hopefully Horston is back and then replace Walker with Puckett or Pissott. If not that, then replace Walker with Franklin and shift the others around. If she doesn't make some change like this it would be disappointing. All I can say is she better put her money where her mouth is after saying you can't keep doing the same thing and expect different results. I would also like to see Striplin get some minutes.

I'd be just as happy with the same starters playing better together. I saw her presser where she said that. It could mean a personnel change or game plan change. We'll find out soon enough.