B.O. Caravan interview: CKC talks about changes she has made since last season

[BruisedOrange]

 

[Voltopia]

On the new players transferring in-
"When people invest in you, when things aren't so great, you know what their intentions are ... and we brought in players that are very hungry, that have a chip on their shoulder and have something to prove, which really matches my mindset."

On the players leaving at the end of the year -
"I think we could see it coming, and we started to mentally prepare. We knew this period would be a grind."

What the "right way" to construct her roster was -
"I think you need players who fit what we do, in the sense of being able to score the ball from outside and the inside. And the biggest thing for us, and we told everyone, was heart. We wanted heart and mentality, and having some grit, and having some stuff to you. And again having something to prove, and playing like you have something to prove."

Then some questions about the inflated NCAA tournament and individual players, along with one more about how daunting it was to face a complete rebuild in the manner they did.

 

[volsagain]

On the new players transferring in-
"When people invest in you, when things aren't so great, you know what their intentions are ... and we brought in players that are very hungry, that have a chip on their shoulder and have something to prove, which really matches my mindset."

On the players leaving at the end of the year -
"I think we could see it coming, and we started to mentally prepare. We knew this period would be a grind."

What the "right way" to construct her roster was -
"I think you need players who fit what we do, in the sense of being able to score the ball from outside and the inside. And the biggest for us, and we told everyone, was heart. We wanted heart and mentality, and having some grit, and having some stuff to you. And again having something to prove, and playing like you have something to prove."

Then some questions about the inflated NCAA tournament and individual players, along with one more about how daunting it was to face a complete rebuild in the manner they did.

When you heard her talking about the breath of fresh air you could see the relief in her face. You could tell as the season progressed she was getting more and more frustrated. That more than likely was because she was getting push back and probably not from just players. I wish her success this season not only for her but the true vol fans.

 

[Orange007]

Yeah, she looks relieved to have a team of players who don't have question marks beside the word "effort."

 

[HerdLVol]

She also told the team that practice would be tough. I liked it when the ‘24-25 team would talk about conditioning in interviews

 

[BruisedOrange]

"A breath of fresh air" is a phrase I've heard her use a few times since the season concluded.

During the season, some "more experienced" coaches chided her for publicly questioning her players' effort.
In retrospect, that may have been a filter... her way of hastening the exit of anyone who would not respond to that accusation with hurt pride, a chip on their shoulder, and determination to prove her wrong.

It looked like Nya responded positively, and maybe Alyssa.

Last year was CKC's first up close coaching encounter with top level players. It's easy to imagine that she figured they would be like her (effort, pride, work ethic, driven) as a player, except with greater size, ability, and better developed skills.

If we remember how Barnes always described Nate Ament, it was everything beyond his size and skills that set him apart. Maybe the intangibles are a bigger part of the best players DNA than we fans realize, and CKC got her coaching education on that last season.

 

[greenwolfe@gmail.com Ran]

I thought the most important thing in the interview was when she placed her hand over her HEART.

 

[chuckiepoo]

She also told the team that practice would be tough. I liked it when the ‘24-25 team would talk about conditioning in interviews

 

[madtownvol]

On the new players transferring in-
"When people invest in you, when things aren't so great, you know what their intentions are ... and we brought in players that are very hungry, that have a chip on their shoulder and have something to prove, which really matches my mindset."

On the players leaving at the end of the year -
"I think we could see it coming, and we started to mentally prepare. We knew this period would be a grind."

What the "right way" to construct her roster was -
"I think you need players who fit what we do, in the sense of being able to score the ball from outside and the inside. And the biggest thing for us, and we told everyone, was heart. We wanted heart and mentality, and having some grit, and having some stuff to you. And again having something to prove, and playing like you have something to prove."

Then some questions about the inflated NCAA tournament and individual players, along with one more about how daunting it was to face a complete rebuild in the manner they did.

This may not be quite the flex she thinks it is:

"that have a chip on their shoulder and have something to prove, which really matches my mindset."

Fine if that means driven, determined and so on. More problematic if it means defensive and insecure. If year one pointed toward the former implication, year 2 sure looked more like the latter. I guess year 3 might be the tie breaker.

 

[glv98]

This may not be quite the flex she thinks it is:



Fine if that means driven, determined and so on. More problematic if it means defensive and insecure. If year one pointed toward the former implication, year 2 sure looked more like the latter. I guess year 3 might be the tie breaker.

I understand something to prove but totally don't get chip on the shoulder; in fact, I find it an embarrassing use of sports cliche when applied to this situation. Who are they mad at? Every single thing that happened last year happened internally. No one outside the program did anything to any of them.

 

[Voltopia]

I understand something to prove but totally don't get chip on the shoulder; in fact, I find it an embarrassing use of sports cliche when applied to this situation. Who are they mad at? Every single thing that happened last year happened internally. No one outside the program did anything to any of them.

I don't think it's a mystery. She's talking about the players coming into the program - and to an extent, her and anyone on her staff.

The usage is probably focused on the idea of proving one's worth. Being doubted, being viewed as inferior, not being as highly prized as other players, all kinds of motivators could drive it. And I'm sure the coaches feel they have things to prove as well. Which is a lot better than coming into the next season thinking they don't have anything to prove, frankly.

 

[glv98]

I don't think it's a mystery. She's talking about the players coming into the program - and to an extent, her and anyone on her staff.

The usage is probably focused on the idea of proving one's worth. Being doubted, being viewed as inferior, not being as highly prized as other players, all kinds of motivators could drive it. And I'm sure the coaches feel they have things to prove as well. Which is a lot better than coming into the next season thinking they don't have anything to prove, frankly.

Again having something to prove is certainly understandable. Chip on the shoulder is silly.

 

[KTrain]

"A breath of fresh air" is a phrase I've heard her use a few times since the season concluded.

During the season, some "more experienced" coaches chided her for publicly questioning her players' effort.
In retrospect, that may have been a filter... her way of hastening the exit of anyone who would not respond to that accusation with hurt pride, a chip on their shoulder, and determination to prove her wrong.

It looked like Nya responded positively, and maybe Alyssa.

Last year was CKC's first up close coaching encounter with top level players. It's easy to imagine that she figured they would be like her (effort, pride, work ethic, driven) as a player, except with greater size, ability, and better developed skills.

If we remember how Barnes always described Nate Ament, it was everything beyond his size and skills that set him apart. Maybe the intangibles are a bigger part of the best players DNA than we fans realize, and CKC got her coaching education on that last season.

Yep, I thought Nya was giving her all but she was just not an SEC player but I do think she was one of the few that put it out there but her shooting those high arc 3s it was either a hit on about 20% or a long caromed rebound that the other team took the other way while our rebounders stood flat footed and watched.

 

[madtownvol]

Again having something to prove is certainly understandable. Chip on the shoulder is silly.

The overall narrative is "loser talk".

Winners strive for excellence, playing with confidence, utilizing our strengths, reaching potential, we can compete with anybody and so on.

Don't get me wrong, we got chips on shoulders, we will prove our doubters wrong can be a motivational narrative. We are the underdogs; no one believes in us, let's go show em!!!!.

But, that ethos can lead to a fragile locker room, if it starts to look like the doubters had a point.

 

[RAVOL]

When you heard her talking about the breath of fresh air you could see the relief in her face. You could tell as the season progressed she was getting more and more frustrated. That more than likely was because she was getting push back and probably not from just players. I wish her success this season not only for her but the true vol fans.

It was from both players and few coaches. Kim mistake was not putting her foot down and saying you all signed up and got paid so toughen up buttercup. I blame more of the assistants who coddled their recruits. But Kim has blame as well. The players don't get me started in how many just quit on the court. Just a horrible year. But this next team is truly believe will make us all happy with how hard they play leaving it all out on the court each game. In CHRIST Alone

 

[volsagain]

It was from both players and few coaches. Kim mistake was not putting her foot down and saying you all signed up and got paid so toughen up buttercup. I blame more of the assistants who coddled their recruits. But Kim has blame as well. The players don't get me started in how many just quit on the court. Just a horrible year. But this next team is truly believe will make us all happy with how hard they play leaving it all out on the court each game. In CHRIST Alone

Yeah when that snowball started down the hill she didn't know how to stop it. It was her job but sometimes you just can't find the right answers to fix it. We seen how it all began with the actions from players coming to the bench and ignoring coaches. I'm not going to spell it all out we all watched the games. Hopefully she is successful with this new team. GBO

 

[glv98]

We seen how it all began with the actions from players coming to the bench and ignoring coaches.

We don't know at all that that's how it all began. That may have been the first thing we saw publically,but that doesn't mean that plenty wasn't going on behind the scenes. There's a lot more we don't see than we do see.

 

[volsagain]

We don't know at all that that's how it all began. That may have been the first thing we saw publically,but that doesn't mean that plenty wasn't going on behind the scenes. There's a lot more we don't see than we do see.

Yes I could have stated it better. That's when I knew the wheels were about to come off if certain players weren't disciplined correctly. That was on the coach . Like I said she got hit with something she hadn't dealt with before my opinion. She tried the to much quit approach it didn't work but she was telling the truth. Hate the coach all you want but I think she's a good person and wish her the best. I don't think she will be here much longer because I'm not sure the subbing patterns will get to the championship. Now that's my opinion and hope she proves me wrong because she already been Geno and many close games with top 10 teams her having less talent. I've been around coaches and coached I've seen what can happen.

 

[glv98]

Hate the coach all you want but I think she's a good person and wish her the best.

That's silly. I don't hate the coach and I think she's a good person and I wish her the best. I just think there's so much we don't know about what happened and we're so convinced we've got the whole story, chapter and verse. We don't.

 

[volsagain]

That's silly. I don't hate the coach and I think she's a good person and I wish her the best. I just think there's so much we don't know about what happened and we're so convinced we've got the whole story, chapter and verse. We don't.

We're probably never going to hear the whole story. I know she's been successful in all her previous jobs and something happened she couldn't get control of. Any one that can't see that something out of normal happened inside this team that was devastating and frustrating to the head coach is not paying attention. I could be wrong but I know where I think the problem began.

 

[RAVOL]

Yeah when that snowball started down the hill she didn't know how to stop it. It was her job but sometimes you just can't find the right answers to fix it. We seen how it all began with the actions from players coming to the bench and ignoring coaches. I'm not going to spell it all out we all watched the games. Hopefully she is successful with this new team. GBO

The dilemma was the streak of always making the tournament and trying to keep team engaged without quitting completely. It was just completely embarrassing by the players to pout and quit during games. This team will be completely different. No this roster want compete for championship but it will play inspired ball and will surprise many. In CHRIST Alone

 

[RetroVol]

While Kim was caravaning...

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[Dak1219]

While Kim was caravaning...

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So glad Kim hired much more experienced, high-level assistant coaches. I also hope Isoken Uzamere is utilized to help with the defense as much as Ferrera will be on the offensive side. 14 years of coaching under Coach Abe, she has to know her X's and O's on that end of the court. Coach Abe's defenses were consistently really good over the years.

 

[Volfan2012]

What I am getting from all this is were actually going to let three point shooters shoot threes and post players do what they do inside. What she is saying is actual defined roles on a team no more free lancing. What a absolutely exceptional idea. Glad they thought of it in year three.

 

[56Jeff]

O My, I read this headline to my wife, a huge BO fan. and her reaction was " Ya, her entire team quit her, that was her change!"