Daherdboy here. First time poster. Big Marshall fan and especially Olympic Sports fan. Always sat on the first row behind the WBB bench during games.
Just want to pass on some info. about what the Tennessee fans have to look forward to with Kim Caldwell as the new coach. She's the real deal, a hard
worker and treats her players right. Now, it will take some time to get this new offense and defense in place and running smooth.
First is conditioning the team. Players would be ahead of the game to start before the fall to get in shape, and I mean the best shape of their lives.
Kim will tell the players that they will hate her in the beginning of the season but love her at the end of the season. Once in shape learning the
"Organized Confusion" style of defense and "Helter Skelter" offense will look a little odd at first but when its right, it will all make sense.
The fans will need Patience with this new team. I know Tennessee fans want to win every game but the first few games will be a "Work in Progress" until
it all starts to click with the players. Now, the substitution pattern of 2-3 minutes on and off the court may seem a little odd for basketball but after the
players "Buy In" to the style and are giving 110% effort for that 2-3 minutes, they will be ready for a quick catch your breath, sip of water, towel to the face
and back into the game. That's how Kim's team can keep a fresh 5 on the court all the time.
Marshall had only one player 6' 1"....,, the rest were shorter (What Kim was delt with), every team was taller and Kim had to deal with it in her defense, but
she did. Should not be a problem at UT. She made average 3 point shooters good 3 point shooters, good 3 point shooters better 3 point shooters, and
better 3 point shooters great 3 point shooters.
Once the team "Gets It" in the new Offense and Defense, you will know it. No opponent will be use to this style of play and they will try to prepare for it
in a few days, but it's easier said than done. No one will be in better shape than Tennessee. By the middle of the 3rd quarter most team will start to wilt
and will have to sub in second line players. UT will still be fresh with their Race Horse Style of Basketball. It's an enjoyable game to watch when it run
correctly. Now, if teams start moving out and guarding the 3 point shooters, that leaves a lot of open space inside for the bigs to be able to work.
Having at least 2 good ball handling guards is a must to run this offense and to start the trapping defense and of course 3 point shooters.
So, there's a quick and dirty overview of Marshall's last year offense and defense.
I will be looking for UT to be on TV so I can watch them run teams off the floor like The Herd did.
www.thenexthoops.com
