A small ray of sunshine.

[StrangeVol]

We jumped up 14 spots to #28 in the Massey index. Playing quality teams helps your RPI even when you lose.

We are still getting hammered in the rankings by Holly's "save my job" OOC schedule. We can overcome some of it, but it will take some more wins over quality opponents.

 

[lvocd]

I'll take it!

I'll be honest. When this game was announced, and then again after Zaay Green was lost for the season, in my mind I had this game potentially ending in the biggest point gap in the history of the two programs playing one another. Instead, we had a lead at the half and it was our lack of composure, NOT lack of potential (talent-wise) to win such games, that ushered in a ("mere") 15-point loss. So, all in all, I'm not as upset about the loss as most are, because for months I'd envisioned a much more humiliating beat-down. That did NOT happen. Auriemma actually had to scramble a bit, taking a chance on Aubrey Griffin, who stepped up and showed out. Unfortunately, yesterday when I said that "sometimes games like this bring out the best in someone unexpected," well, it happened for CT in Griffin's performance. Good for her, bad for us.

 

[Spook1]

I'll take it!

I'll be honest. When this game was announced, and then again after Zaay Green was lost for the season, in my mind I had this game potentially ending in the biggest point gap in the history of the two programs playing one another. Instead, we had a lead at the half and it was our lack of composure, NOT lack of potential (talent-wise) to win such games, that ushered in a ("mere") 15-point loss. So, all in all, I'm not as upset about the loss as most are, because for months I'd envisioned a much more humiliating beat-down. That did NOT happen. Auriemma actually had to scramble a bit, taking a chance on Aubrey Griffin, who stepped up and showed out. Unfortunately, yesterday when I said that "sometimes games like this bring out the best in someone unexpected," well, it happened for CT in Griffin's performance. Good for her, bad for us.

Ball security and 27 turnovers in the game sure did not help our efforts either.

 

[lvocd]

Ball security and 27 turnovers in the game sure did not help our efforts either.

Of course not. That was THE difference. I hope when the team watches the film of the game that they see how obviously easy it is for quicker opponents to take advantage of weak passers/receivers. We are way too soft in our passing, and way too passive in our receiving. If our posts would make an effort to take even a half-step toward the passes coming to them, defenders wouldn't find it so easy to disrupt them. (Jon, what say you?!) If ALL our players could put just a tad more oomph behind their passes, our team would be much better for it. It takes a lot of hard work for teams to become consistently good at crisp passing, and that is actually something players can practice on their own time. It's a strength-type movement that has to become a habit through thousands of repetitions. Hint, hint.

 

[creekdipper]

Not saying that Emily is ready for the big stage, but she does to seem to have the ability to post up strongly, ask for the ball, and catch it without bringing it down.

I'd like to watch a scrimmage and see her go up against Kasi.

 

[VolBall09]

Not saying that Emily is ready for the big stage, but she does to seem to have the ability to post up strongly, ask for the ball, and catch it without bringing it down.

I'd like to watch a scrimmage and see her go up against Kasi.

I agree. More and more I’m thinking she has some kind of mild injury keeping her out of the game.

 

[VolBall09]

We jumped up 14 spots to #28 in the Massey index. Playing quality teams helps your RPI even when you lose.

We are still getting hammered in the rankings by Holly's "save my job" OOC schedule. We can overcome some of it, but it will take some more wins over quality opponents.

If we clean up the turnovers and o-boards I see no reason we can’t beat MSST, Texas A&M and Arkansas. I think those are all winnable games for us. MSST has better discipline but we’re more athletic and our defense looks better. They have a very young team as well.

I think we can keep it competitive with SC but their guard play is going to be tough for us to contend with. I don’t have high hopes for that game.

 

[CTVolsfan14]

As a lifelong Vol fan born and raised in CT, even without a major interest in womens hoops this is a special game.

Yeah, we had waaay too many turnovers, a lot of them unforced. But they played hard, punched first early and played inspired. I'm excited to see what the future holds for this program, and last night did nothing but reinforce that belief for me.

 

[mike099]

Has Emily played too many games to qualify for a redshirt?

 

[Coach Jumper]

Not saying that Emily is ready for the big stage, but she does to seem to have the ability to post up strongly, ask for the ball, and catch it without bringing it down.

I'd like to watch a scrimmage and see her go up against Kasi.

Emily has to work on getting position and posting up before she can be considered for extended play

 

[VolBall09]

Has Emily played too many games to qualify for a redshirt?

For a true red shirt (like one planned in advance) you can not play at all, not even one minute. Otherwise you forfeit that entire year of eligibility.

For a medical hardship you can receive a red shirt year in the case of a serious injury. To qualify you can not have played in more than two contests or 20% of the teams scheduled games. I think for basketball it’s the 20% rule. So Zaay would qualify this season, Emily would not. She’s played in almost a third of our games at this point.

 

[OldLofter]

Of course not. That was THE difference. I hope when the team watches the film of the game that they see how obviously easy it is for quicker opponents to take advantage of weak passers/receivers. We are way too soft in our passing, and way too passive in our receiving. If our posts would make an effort to take even a half-step toward the passes coming to them, defenders wouldn't find it so easy to disrupt them. (Jon, what say you?!) If ALL our players could put just a tad more oomph behind their passes, our team would be much better for it. It takes a lot of hard work for teams to become consistently good at crisp passing, and that is actually something players can practice on their own time. It's a strength-type movement that has to become a habit through thousands of repetitions. Hint, hint.

Well, you helped this non-basketball person understand a little about the turnover problem. Is the turnover problem (which has existed all season) something that can be solved thru coaching or will it require a recruiting solution? The women have obviously seen this problem on video and I'm sure CKH harps on it at every practice. Where is the solution?

 

[Putbacks]

The turnover problem can be improved vastly via coaching. Upon witnessing careless, unnecessary turnovers, coaches can redirect players to the sideline from playing surface and provide serious, passionate “counseling“ to player before welcoming player to role of observant from sideline.

Later in practices, coaches can facilitate intense, repetitive activities of bodily movements (that sometimes produce heavy breathing, perspiring, and even gagging) in order to inspire memory. (By products of weight reduction have also been known to occur.) Additionally, uninterrupted concerted film studies can also be meaningful and productive.

One of the biggest enablers of contagious turnovers is a long leash.

It is late January, and we are behind in this area. Understandably, this was going to be a tremendous challenge to reshape mindsets from individualism to better team unity and organized play. Finally holding players (who are accustomed to basically free play) accountable is a tenuous challenge. We have made strides in organization, but the turnover bug is still preventing this team from leveling up.

Overall pride in this program’s accomplishments is still elusive to this team.

 

[StrangeVol]

Well, you helped this non-basketball person understand a little about the turnover problem. Is the turnover problem (which has existed all season) something that can be solved thru coaching or will it require a recruiting solution? The women have obviously seen this problem on video and I'm sure CKH harps on it at every practice. Where is the solution?

Since you asked, I think that Kellie needs to impress upon the players how EVERY SINGLE turnover affects the final score. I would like to see Kellie require, during film study, that each player writes down their individual turnovers, who recovered or stole the ball from them and what the outcome of the turnover was. Did they score? How many points?

At the end of the film study, each player with a turnover totals all the points scored off of her turnovers and goes out to the court and runs the same number of baseline to baseline sprints as the number of points their turnovers allowed the other team to score.
I think that would be a very effective means of impressing on players what carelessness costs the team. Do that after every film study until total turnovers per game are under 15 and no individual has more than 3. Some lessons have to be taught the hard way.

 

[OldLofter]

As a follow up question, has anyone seen a list of unforced turnovers by player? I’ll hang up and listen.

 

[lvocd]

Strangevol, do you know what’s even MORE effective than a player having to run leg-aching sprints for each of her turnovers???? Sitting and watching while your teammates, huffing and puffing, run all of them for her/him. I mean, if we’re gonna go the punitive route, that would be the way to go. It’s pure evil. lol But seriously, as awful as that sounds — and I’m not suggesting the staff do it — the guilt of putting your teammates through a grueling workout while you rest really is a more effective method than just taking the punishment oneself.

 

[Franklin Pierce]

Here are the Clouds:

1-26-20 LSU (4-3 road record) Have wins against three Ranked teams.

1-30 AT Vanderbilt (8-4 home record).

2-2 AT South Carolina (9-0 home record)

2-6 Mississippi State (6-1 road record)

2-13 AT LSU

2-16 Texas A&M

2-20 AT Arkansas

There can be a combined 140 or more UT turnovers in those seven games.

 

[creekdipper]

Strangevol, do you know what’s even MORE effective than a player having to run leg-aching sprints for each of her turnovers???? Sitting and watching while your teammates, huffing and puffing, run all of them for her/him. I mean, if we’re gonna go the punitive route, that would be the way to go. It’s pure evil. lol But seriously, as awful as that sounds — and I’m not suggesting the staff do it — the guilt of putting your teammates through a grueling workout while you rest really is a more effective method than just taking the punishment oneself.

Ah...the ole "Full Metal Jacket" treatment.

Too bad R. Lee Ermey passed away not too long ego. He would have been an effective addition to the Strength & Conditioning staff.

 

[Coach Jumper]

As a follow up question, has anyone seen a list of unforced turnovers by player? I’ll hang up and listen.

Q1
8:54TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #0 Davis, Rennia at the outside right
8:06TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #25 Horston, Jordan at the inside left
5:12TENT-Travel Turnover by TEN #12 Burrell, Rae at the inside right
4:06TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #11 Kushkituah, Kasiyahna in the paint
2:34TENT-3sec Turnover by TEN #11 Kushkituah, Kasiyahna in the paint
0:33TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #25 Horston, Jordan at the inside right
0:00TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #25 Horston, Jordan at the outside left
Q2
7:55TENT-Offensive Turnover by TEN #13 Massengill, Jazmine under the basket
7:26TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #21 Brown, Lou at the inside left
5:31TENT-Lostball Turnover by TEN #21 Brown, Lou in the backcourt
3:48TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #21 Brown, Lou at the inside right
3:23CHELDBALL
3:10TENT-Shotclock Turnover by TEN at the inside right
1:28TENT-Lostball Turnover by TEN #12 Burrell, Rae at the inside right
1:08TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #12 Burrell, Rae in the backcourt
0:00TENT-Lostball Turnover by TEN #0 Davis, Rennia in the backcourt
Q3
9:09TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #25 Horston, Jordan in the backcourt
6:43TENT-Lostball Turnover by TEN #20 Key, Tamari at the inside left
5:38TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #11 Kushkituah, Kasiyahna in the paint
5:26TENT-Lostball Turnover by TEN #0 Davis, Rennia in the backcourt
4:58TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #25 Horston, Jordan at the inside right
4:27TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #5 Harris, Kamera in the backcourt
4:15TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #11 Kushkituah, Kasiyahna at the outside center
3:26TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #25 Horston, Jordan in the paint
2:00TENT-Offensive Turnover by TEN #5 Harris, Kamera under the basket
Q4
9:16TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #10 Rennie, Jessie at the outside center
5:19TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #0 Davis, Rennia at the outside center
3:35CHELDBALL0:24TENT-Badpass Turnover by TEN #13 Massengill, Jazmine in the paint


I haven't had the chance to look at each one yet though....

 

[TAD]

Of course not. That was THE difference. I hope when the team watches the film of the game that they see how obviously easy it is for quicker opponents to take advantage of weak passers/receivers. We are way too soft in our passing, and way too passive in our receiving. If our posts would make an effort to take even a half-step toward the passes coming to them, defenders wouldn't find it so easy to disrupt them. (Jon, what say you?!) If ALL our players could put just a tad more oomph behind their passes, our team would be much better for it. It takes a lot of hard work for teams to become consistently good at crisp passing, and that is actually something players can practice on their own time. It's a strength-type movement that has to become a habit through thousands of repetitions. Hint, hint.

It's happened every game . They dont have a single game under 11 TO's ... lots of time to practice.. crisp passes .. drills to meet the ball ... just alot of self inflicted .. non chalant passes .. trying to look pretty instead of being proficient .. Kelly needs to set the expectation now .. now now now.

 

[VolBall09]

It's happened every game . They dont have a single game under 11 TO's ... lots of time to practice.. crisp passes .. drills to meet the ball ... just alot of self inflicted .. non chalant passes .. trying to look pretty instead of being proficient .. Kelly needs to set the expectation now .. now now now.

And don’t forget to BALL FAKE. Gotta fake a pass to make a pass

 

[Nute Gunray]

Well, you helped this non-basketball person understand a little about the turnover problem. Is the turnover problem (which has existed all season) something that can be solved thru coaching or will it require a recruiting solution? The women have obviously seen this problem on video and I'm sure CKH harps on it at every practice. Where is the solution?

This is a good article on reducing turnovers: 6 Simple Ideas to Reduce Your Teams Turnovers

 

[creekdipper]

Great article and principles, Nute.

It's really not rocket science.

 

[Putbacks]

A good, durable screw still requires guidance and turning; a nail: hammering.

 

[Orange Maniac]

Emily has to work on getting position and posting up before she can be considered for extended play

In my opinion, she does this better than any post we have.