GAME THREAD: @ #1 UCONN, Sunday, 1/30, 12:00 pm EST (Fox)

[DarkPhoenix]

Shouldn't be hard to do. I would never as a coach allowed Zee to shoot the three. She didn't shoot any at Miami and should've had the same role here. I think part of what got her here was she had freedom on the court and yes that is another part of our problem.

This is something Kim tells them to get them here, they can be free and do what they want, Zee shouldn’t shoot any 3’s or dribble more than once. The issue is she doesn’t want to bang on the paint, and can’t catch the ball.

 

[Volfan2012]

This is something Kim tells them to get them here, they can be free and do what they want, Zee shouldn’t shoot and 3’s or dribble more than once. The issue is she doesn’t want to bang on the paint, and can’t catch the ball.

The way we need her to play was the way she played the first half at UConn she didn't do anything else after halftime.

 

[Deebowbear]

She is definitely here next season even if we don't win but two more games or any actually.

And she should be here. Hopefully this freshman class, the next and the portal she will reload knowing what she’s got to have. If she don’t then her seat may get hot next year. I’m disappointed in the senior leadership.

 

[papatomany]

So which loss was worse the UTs 30 point loss on the road at UConn or

Dawn Staley's South Carolina's 29 point loss at home to UConn, with what some on here said was a worse team than this 2025 UConn, they finally got rid of Buecker's LOL

Ktrain. Just replying so your post will show up twice in this convoluted thread.

 

[1reVOLver]

…quit hitting on the chicks…

Chill, Brer Chuckles,

I am spliced and chronically monogamous, or monotonous…
or both. Back in my wastrel yoof, when, as my kids used to remind me,
TVs were black and white and dinosaurs stalked the Earth…
There was a bad joke, to which you are about to be subjected.

Definitions
Having multiple spouses-polygamy
Having two spouses-bigamy
Having a single spouse-monotony


You may now return to mocking sock puppets.

 

[madtownvol]

Ktrain. Just replying so your post will show up twice in this convoluted thread.

Okay, when SC got blown out, they were defending national champs and coming off an undefeated season. After the loss, they went on to win the SEC conference at 15-1 and made it to the NCAA final where they again (badly) lost to Uconn.

I am going out on a limb here but I would suggest that SC was in a very different situation last season than the LVs are now and that this comparison is pointless.

 

[brassie]

So which loss was worse the UTs 30 point loss on the road at UConn or

Dawn Staley's South Carolina's 29 point loss at home to UConn, with what some on here said was a worse team than this 2025 UConn, they finally got rid of Buecker's LOL

And now they have Strong for 2 more years.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Okay, when SC got blown out, they were defending national champs and coming off an undefeated season. After the loss, the went on to win the SEC conference at 15-1 and made it to the NCAA final where they again (badly) lost to Uconn.

I am going out on a limb here but I would suggest that SC was in a very different situation last season than the LVs are now and that this comparison is pointless.

.

 

[lvocd]

Kim and I are the same age, and one of the things I adore about her is how forthright she is. I think it really resonates with young people because it's authentic. It also sometimes illustrates that she has not had the media training that others in her position have. I will never forget when the program put out a video of her saying she would never sing Rocky Top because of her voice, and I both immediately related and cringed. They dirty deleted the clip quickly. I know I have been down on her lately, but I am really rooting for her to be successful. I think it is amazing for a younger woman to get an opportunity at a high profile job like this, and I just hope she can find the mentorship to help her be successful in this environment.

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely adore Kim’s forthright nature. It is refreshing in the era we’re living in now to encounter someone so honest.

But I think we’d probably agree that sometimes it’s best not to put ALL your inner thoughts on blast, because people tend to blow things way out of proportion. I’d like to see Kim reel it in just a tad, which I think she could do without totally compromising herself.

 

[RetroVol]

If Kellie was willing to play the same game that CKC played, she would likely have landed some of those top 10 kids also pre NIL era, but giving in to parents for package deals, allowing AAU coaches access to things they shouldn't have access to and etc isn't the game she was willing to play. Some coaches still have integrity.

I've called this kind of behavior out before and I'm going to do it again. Straight up character assassination against a woman where every thing we know about her just screams integrity and care for her players. Puking out such baseless accusations anonymously is just slimy.

Go away!

 

[mudcat1973]

I hope we can get a couple sharp shooters.

We was supposed to have better than Darby and Spear
Coming in this according to one poster on here.

 

[LadyVolsDiehard]

Kim and I are the same age, and one of the things I adore about her is how forthright she is. I think it really resonates with young people because it's authentic. It also sometimes illustrates that she has not had the media training that others in her position have. I will never forget when the program put out a video of her saying she would never sing Rocky Top because of her voice, and I both immediately related and cringed. They dirty deleted the clip quickly. I know I have been down on her lately, but I am really rooting for her to be successful. I think it is amazing for a younger woman to get an opportunity at a high profile job like this, and I just hope she can find the mentorship to help her be successful in this environment.

Britt since I've been here you been so welcoming and positive.

Anyhow I agree Kim is 38 years old and won at real young age so in her 30 something's mind that early bovada of success does go up. It's like you can do anything and it's a positive serotonin to the brain and it feels fantastic!

I just hope she can pull it together, evolve, grow and mature too. You never truly stop growing up regardless of age. She's in a huge, impactful learning curve right now. She got married 2-3 years ago, made major turnarounds at Marshall and LV in span of a year, had a baby and now she has to deal with the criticism that her team has probably quit on her most of the season especially since Ruby's dismissal. It's a world wind.

If she's able to pull herself out of this and find a way to restore her team then I can have a lot of confidence in her again. Just right now it doesn't seem like there is much she can do but hope winning will the much needed elixir!

 

[RetroVol]

If she's able to pull herself out of this and find a way to restore her team then I can have a lot of confidence in her again

I think she is seriously lacking in quit!

 

[brittannica]

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely adore Kim’s forthright nature. It is refreshing in the era we’re living in now to encounter someone so honest.

But I think we’d probably agree that sometimes it’s best not to put ALL your inner thoughts on blast, because people tend to blow things way out of proportion. I’d like to see Kim reel it in just a tad, which I think she could do without totally compromising herself.

Oh totally. And I would hope a good mentor can help her find that balance between being authentic and saying things that people will take a type of way. It's hard when people have never run with things you've said before!

 

[Dak1219]

So it was the coaching that beat him? Not just better players?

Same coach, different players.....You tell me....

 

[JarFly]

Guys, what went wrong is we didn't run the picket fence at em...Of course, that requires team play and the LVs don't play team ball...Too often, just a group of individuals wearing the same color uniforms, but not functioning as a team like Uconn does....

And when we did run the picket fence......we got caught watching the paint dry!

 

[Volfaninfl2]

If only she would said don't foul
South Carolina couldn't get the ball up less three seconds.
after the Tennessee Miss free throw.
yes that Wide open shot
gave Danny White excuse for Kelly Be let go.

Don’t forget the ref who watched the SC player clearly double dribble, and didn’t call it.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

The tops ones chose to go elsewhere, she had them in for visits. They made other choices. Didn't stop her from pursuing them.

If memory serves me correctly Kellie did the following things:
1. She offered Ruby (and made the decision to no longer pursue her at some point),
2. Barker was also offered and Barker chose Georgia but then decommitted when Joni left and joined Joni at A&M.
3. Latham had an offer but it was conditional, she didn't want to wait to see if we landed others (and I don't blame her) so she chose Syracuse.
4.Jersey had an offer and she chose to stay at home (Arkansas).
5. She also offered Hurst.

The only players currently on the roster that she (Kellie) hadn't communicated with previously were Robertson and Spearman (Gabe recruits). Kellie never pursued the twins because of Dad (same reason none of the other top programs pursued them). I also don't know if she had communications with Prawl and Civil but I know their commitment was centered around playing with the twins and NIL $.

Lets see how the season plays out and if she is able to retain the current freshman class and how she is able to do in the portal. Hopefully she'll get the pieces she needs to help with chemistry, shooting, and all the other things that could be troubling this team/program.

I believe I read on the day that dw was letting Kellie go, Ruby was on her way in for a visit.

 

[1morevol]

Great post and i agree CKC needs to get players that fit her system and philosophy..... players who can SHOOT and fit into her visionary plan. i would like to see a bit more transfers and international talent..... that kid Geno has from Ecuador (who didnt play due to injury yesterday) is amazing.... and he has someone coming in next year from Croatia i think who is supposed to be good. Dawn just got an amazing player from afar.

The love that is shown for Kellie is admirable but misplaced. Do people really think we would be better off were she still here?

And on the subject of McDonald's All Americans..... there was a time ..... perhaps 10 years ago.... that we had more McDonald's All Americans on our roster than any other program and we could not get to any Final Fours...... basketball is a team game

The problem, as I see it, is to run her system effectively she will need at least 10 equally talented and skilled players. Two sets, each capable of starting. That's a difficult evaluation/recruiting task.

 

[KTrain]

Okay, when SC got blown out, they were defending national champs and coming off an undefeated season. After the loss, they went on to win the SEC conference at 15-1 and made it to the NCAA final where they again (badly) lost to Uconn.

I am going out on a limb here but I would suggest that SC was in a very different situation last season than the LVs are now and that this comparison is pointless.

Of course they were different, they had a seasoned P4 HC that had multiple older star players that had played in highly anticipated games and won recent championships. They under preformed at home by a long shot, versus a second year P4 HC that beat the same P4 team in 2024 at Home. To me and its just my opinion I could say Kim may or may not been overwhelmed by the atmosphere at UConn as a young P4 coach. Stalely should not having coached at Carolina since 2008, that's JMO of why its a worse loss. Nobody expected UT to win at Uconn or last year when we did win at home and most expected USC to win at home in 2024, to me that's the difference.
You laid out why it was a worse loss, all that talent at home and all the experience of winning big games. To clarify no loss is good they all count as 1 L but its still has to be looked at in context.

 

[LadyVolsDiehard]

The love that is shown for Kellie is admirable but misplaced. Do people really think we would be better off were she still here?

You might have opened the can of worms for some.
Besides that Kellie was able to beat SC, ND and another elite team in the first couple of seasons, she didn't beat Uc0nn ever. It's very hard to beat them let alone twice like Kim tried to do but this game along with the other disappointing and embarrassing losses this game should be humbling pie for both the coach and its players. Hopefully they'll can response after this one and get it together.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Yeah, I am not understanding the controversy with this picture either. It is a sports media convention for the losing coach to be shown in some state of displeasure. If I were a coach I would take this image of calm displeasure over say the image of Kellie having a complete emotional breakdown after losing the SC game. One coach is shown to be in control at least.

What would be the alternative anyway, showing CKC with a big smile? That choice would have been a much worse framing, conveying a lack of concern over a blow-out loss.

I think Uconn drubbing the LVs by 30 points in a single half, just like another Big East cupcake, is the more worrisome issue.

There is no comparison in those two games, one was inconsequential, and the other was in the SEC Tournament with TN, a huge underdog against unbeaten SC, our third time to play them that season.

I thought Kellie's reaction showed not only the shock of beating an unbeaten team, which no one thought was possible, only to not win, (and there were extenuating circumstances such as the uncalled double dribble by the SC player, and the unlikely shot in the longest 1.1 second), but also showed the caring she had for her players who had given their all, and not gotten their much deserved reward. I believe Rickea, who had played an outstanding game, which was forgotten because of the way it ended, fell to her knees at the end. It was heart wrenching, and I understood their emotions because I felt them, too. I would love to play for a Coach who cared like that.

 

[StorrsCentral]

I got called on Allie Ziebel and now I can't find the post. Ithought she was a red shirt freshman (ankle). Good catch, thanks.

Morgan Cheli is the player you are thinking of. Ancle problems last January, had surgery but has not returned. Geno says probably not coming back this year. I had high hopes for her, Naismith first team all-American as a senior in HS. She was the point guard on the Mitty team that won the HS Natty that year.

 

[1reVOLver]

They under preformed at home by a long shot,

That's an opinion that pre-supposes that So. Car. was a better team than the opponent.
One could easily argue that the better team won, so that the losing squad performed as one might have expected. Presenting opinions as if the were facts is ok for fan forums, as long as we don’t take them too seriously.

 

[ReignSupreme]

I believe I read on the day that dw was letting Kellie go, Ruby was on her way in for a visit.

Yes she was, but initially coming out of high school Kellie pulled the offer which led her to Clemson. After the time spent at Clemson, she entered the portal and Kellie reached back out to have her come in and see if she matured a little bit.