Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2025-26

#43,703
#43,703
dapeak said:
Maryland without McDaniel or Smikle…
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Yeah totally different team without those players. Wonder how long they’re out?

Looked like Brenda was trying a lot of combinations and not really in it to win it. Their minutes were spread a lot more.

Also, insane to me that Saylor P is still eligible lol. She’s been in college forever, I swear.
 
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#43,708
#43,708
There was a really interesting article about LSU WBB and Kim Mulkey in the NYT today. Rather than your typical slam piece, it examined what makes her successful. As a LSU alum but LV fan (and UT alum), I have felt at best mixed about her. However, I have never subscribed to the notion that she is a complete fake and/or an all-around horrible person. You just can't build up and sustain great programs if you are a complete sham and horrible person. Look no farther then LSU football coach Brian Kelley as an example of what goes wrong when you are the latter. Anyway, I will link the article below though I imagine it is behind a paywall. The gist of it is that the way she practices is way more effective than the norm per Bob Starkey who has coached with 6 great coaches and her players. The other thing that stood out is that she is actually the opposite of what she seems that she is during games: Unusually authentic and open and wants her players to be their authentic selves. That is one of the reasons why Flau'jae and some others have gone to LSU. I am sure there are still plenty of things negative about her and I will never like her on court dramatics. So, I will not be defending her if others comment negatively here about her. I just think the popular narrative that she is a piece of crap doesn't account for her success.
www.nytimes.com

How LSU coach Kim Mulkey built a brand, a program and perennial title contenders

“She ain't for the weak. She's not in it to break you. She's in it to make you better.”
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
 
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#43,709
#43,709
LV renaissance said:
There was a really interesting article about LSU WBB and Kim Mulkey in the NYT today. Rather than your typical slam piece, it examined what makes her successful. As a LSU alum but LV fan (and UT alum), I have felt at best mixed about her. However, I have never subscribed to the notion that she is a complete fake and/or an all-around horrible person. You just can't build up and sustain great programs if you are a complete sham and horrible person. Look no farther then LSU football coach Brian Kelley as an example of what goes wrong when you are the latter. Anyway, I will link the article below though I imagine it is behind a paywall. The gist of it is that the way she practices is way more effective than the norm per Bob Starkey who has coached with 6 great coaches and her players. The other thing that stood out is that she is actually the opposite of what she seems that she is during games: Unusually authentic and open and wants her players to be their authentic selves. That is one of the reasons why Flau'jae and some others have gone to LSU. I am sure there are still plenty of things negative about her and I will never like her on court dramatics. So, I will not be defending her if others comment negatively here about her. I just think the popular narrative that she is a piece of crap doesn't account for her success.
www.nytimes.com

How LSU coach Kim Mulkey built a brand, a program and perennial title contenders

“She ain't for the weak. She's not in it to break you. She's in it to make you better.”
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
Click to expand...
Good article. Thanks for posting. I'm an admirer of Kim Mulkey. She's a great basketball coach.
 
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#43,710
#43,710
LV renaissance said:
There was a really interesting article about LSU WBB and Kim Mulkey in the NYT today. Rather than your typical slam piece, it examined what makes her successful. As a LSU alum but LV fan (and UT alum), I have felt at best mixed about her. However, I have never subscribed to the notion that she is a complete fake and/or an all-around horrible person. You just can't build up and sustain great programs if you are a complete sham and horrible person. Look no farther then LSU football coach Brian Kelley as an example of what goes wrong when you are the latter. Anyway, I will link the article below though I imagine it is behind a paywall. The gist of it is that the way she practices is way more effective than the norm per Bob Starkey who has coached with 6 great coaches and her players. The other thing that stood out is that she is actually the opposite of what she seems that she is during games: Unusually authentic and open and wants her players to be their authentic selves. That is one of the reasons why Flau'jae and some others have gone to LSU. I am sure there are still plenty of things negative about her and I will never like her on court dramatics. So, I will not be defending her if others comment negatively here about her. I just think the popular narrative that she is a piece of crap doesn't account for her success.
www.nytimes.com

How LSU coach Kim Mulkey built a brand, a program and perennial title contenders

“She ain't for the weak. She's not in it to break you. She's in it to make you better.”
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
Click to expand...
Great article! I’ve always admired Mulkey’s unique wardrobe as a big middle finger to established norms of dress. Her behavior on the bench? Not so much. But there is no denying she’s a winner and has deep roots having been raised up from her youth in programs steeped in winning tradition.
 
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#43,711
#43,711
I had the pleasure (?) of seeing the Syracuse WBB team play an exhibition game tonight against D2 team Daemen University. Despite the final score (98-62, Orange) things were not looking great for Syracuse for most of the game. They seem to be allergic to running plays and relied primarily on a combination of fast break points and players dribbling out the clock on the perimeter then chucking up a shot/attempting to drive it into the crowded paint. Shot selection was mediocre at best. Defense was difficult to measure but it wasn't anything to write home about.

I know it's just an exhibition game but .... so close to the start of the season, it did not inspire any great feelings. The team looks as lackluster as last season, even with some new additions.

Sitting around some Syracuse fans, we chatted quite a bit. Here are some consensus opinions that I agree with:

1. Syracuse lacks an identity and is coasting on past athletic success. They are content for basketball (especially WBB) to languish it mediocrity.
2. Syracuse athletics have been going downhill since they left the Big East. The "big sports" struggle to stay out of the bottom half of the conference, which breeds indifference/disinterest with the fanbase.
3. Coach Jack was a "safe" hire after the scandal with Q. Although she is a "local girl" who is well-liked by the players, the team looks lost under her leadership.
3a. She also seems unable to recruit. However it's unclear if part of this is lack of NIL and/or support from leadership.
3b. If Syracuse fails to make the NCAA tourney again this year, a new coach should be brought in. If Coach Jack stays on indefinitely, look to Syracuse to become even more irrelevant.

We also chatted about conferences and other teams, some of which is just normal fan gossip about players leaving certain programs and why ... one thing we also all agreed on is that the SEC is the best WBB conference in terms of strength and number of quality teams.
 
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#43,712
#43,712
Missouri women's basketball team just lost exhibition game to a Division III college from metro-St. Louis. Even though it does not count, and is exhibition only, against a DIII team it is not a great start for Kellie Harper.
 
#43,713
#43,713
AurantiacoFan said:
Missouri women's basketball team just lost exhibition game to a Division III college from metro-St. Louis. Even though it does not count, and is exhibition only, against a DIII team it is not a great start for Kellie Harper.
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According to Maryville University's website, they are Division II. (Not that it makes it any less painful for Kellie and the Tigers.)
 
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#43,714
#43,714
Maryville is the number 84 ranked Division two team by Massey. Looks like Missouri is in for a long season. If you look at the SEC it is Tennessee, Sc, Texas, LSu, Miss, and Oklahoma definitely the top six. Then comes Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Alabama, and Miss St., then Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri are teams you should not lose a game to.
 
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#43,715
#43,715
Volfan2012 said:
Maryville is the number 84 ranked Division two team by Massey. Looks like Missouri is in for a long season. If you look at the SEC it is Tennessee, Sc, Texas, LSu, Miss, and Oklahoma definitely the top six. Then comes Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Alabama, and Miss St., then Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri are teams you should not lose a game to.
Click to expand...

Yeah they’re cooked. People on twitter kept saying they were a “very good Division II” team.

They were barely over .500 last season.

Makes me sad for Harper. She’s clinging to something that just isn’t going to happen. I think it was too soon to take another job, especially in the same conference. Mid-major is truly her fit based on coaching stops.
 
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#43,716
#43,716
VolBall09 said:
Yeah they’re cooked. People on twitter kept saying they were a “very good Division II” team.

They were barely over .500 last season.

Makes me sad for Harper. She’s clinging to something that just isn’t going to happen. I think it was too soon to take another job, especially in the same conference. Mid-major is truly her fit based on coaching stops.
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The only positive is she is doing fairly well in recruiting so the team should be improved. AD there not overly hyper about the womens program would like to finish in the top six in the SEC and make the NCAA eventually. I think she has three four seasons to do it. Really terrible how bare the last coach left the team big rebuilding job.
 
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#43,717
#43,717
Volfan2012 said:
The only positive is she is doing fairly well in recruiting so the team should be improved. AD there not overly hyper about the womens program would like to finish in the top six in the SEC and make the NCAA eventually. I think she has three four seasons to do it. Really terrible how bare the last coach left the team big rebuilding job.
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Missouri is a 3 or 4 year rebuild.... In year 4 if no progress is made then Harper is cooked...
 
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#43,721
#43,721
Volfan2012 said:
She should be in solid financial shape if it were to end in three of four more seasons. If not Jon can get a job.
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I don't think this was ever about money. They have plenty. Apparently, and somewhat admirably, she just wants to coach no matter the outcome. But obviously outcomes are not gonna include winning to any degree at least not for a long long time.

Like you said, the outcomes are not just going to include losing, they're going to include losing by thirty or forty points frequently. including to tennessee. But again she knew the deal when she took it.
 
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#43,723
#43,723
herdvol said:
According to Maryville University's website, they are Division II. (Not that it makes it any less painful for Kellie and the Tigers.)
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Disappointing, but if anyone can make this team improve, it is Kellie. MO will get better, they had 3 players out, which included the probable starting point guard Saniah Tyler from Kentucky, and Mains, a 3 point shooter. From this exhibition game, so far, it looks like they have 3 good players plus Tyler, will have to see which other players can step up, I am cheering for them.
 
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