Bench DeShields until she can learn to be a team player.

#51
#51
Pat4life said:
How many times have you visible seen a team or player take a play or possession or game off in the last 20 years for Uconn?

Our ladies don't play hard, they don't go hard all the time, to get tougher mentally and physically, you have to condition the mind and body to be able to do the things you need it to do.

Uconn won the last three Championship cos they have the best coach in the game and they have players that play hard on both sides of the ball for 40 minutes. Geno don't even have to call a play, they all just go play basketball cos he's know he's gonna get the effort. He coaches technique, not plays, he has the players.

wuteva
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Diana Taurasi was notorious for taking plays off on defense. And she left with 3 NCs.

UConn has been winning because Geno can flat out coach offense. They have the prettiest offense in the game. They have great passing, player movement, and can hurt you inside or outside. They take high quality shots, whether in the paint or beyond the arc. They don't play the same rigid, forced style that Holly is trying to force.

While Tennessee's guards are mostly a collection of head cases, even if they were as mentally tough as you wish they were, they still lack discipline. That's coaching. They still lack ability (i.e. ability to hit open shots, ability to stop opposing players from driving, ability to pass the ball efficiently). That's also coaching.

So "wuteva" yourself (Note: people above the age of 14 spell it 'whatever')
 
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#52
#52
Amb3096 said:
Diana Taurasi was notorious for taking plays off on defense. And she left with 3 NCs.

UConn has been winning because Geno can flat out coach offense. They have the prettiest offense in the game. They have great passing, player movement, and can hurt you inside or outside. They take high quality shots, whether in the paint or beyond the arc. They don't play the same rigid, forced style that Holly is trying to force.

While Tennessee's guards are mostly a collection of head cases, even if they were as mentally tough as you wish they were, they still lack discipline. That's coaching. They still lack ability (i.e. ability to hit open shots, ability to stop opposing players from driving, ability to pass the ball efficiently). That's also coaching.

So "wuteva" yourself (Note: people above the age of 14 spell it 'whatever')
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Are you a coach? You are making valid points. Its sad that a fan on a message board can see apparent issues, but a highly paid coaching staff act like they are totally lost. I hate UConn, but I must admit they have a very nice offense that is fun to watch. They can hurt you inside and out. I would add Notre Dame to that list also. With Jefferson and Stewart graduating, I look for Notre Dame to take over as #1 next season. The recruiting class they have coming in to go along with what they have plus a stellar staff that are experts of the Princeton offense, I wouldn't be suprise if they won it all next season.
 
#53
#53
Amb3096 said:
Diana Taurasi was notorious for taking plays off on defense. And she left with 3 NCs.

UConn has been winning because Geno can flat out coach offense. They have the prettiest offense in the game. They have great passing, player movement, and can hurt you inside or outside. They take high quality shots, whether in the paint or beyond the arc. They don't play the same rigid, forced style that Holly is trying to force.

While Tennessee's guards are mostly a collection of head cases, even if they were as mentally tough as you wish they were, they still lack discipline. That's coaching. They still lack ability (i.e. ability to hit open shots, ability to stop opposing players from driving, ability to pass the ball efficiently). That's also coaching.

So "wuteva" yourself (Note: people above the age of 14 spell it 'whatever')
Click to expand...

The buck stops with Holly, so no disagreement on your points. In the broader context, it is interesting that the LVs performed better last year despite losing the centerpiece of the team to an ACL injury and another key player, Jones to concussion. A lot of games came down to Burdick and Massengale delivering clutch performances at critical moments. In this season, you could take all of Tennessee's losses (with the exception of Stanford) and turn them into wins if one player had been able to step up and make a few clutch shots.

Right now, it is hard to see where that leadership will come from. DeShields is the most obvious candidate but she does not seem to be carrying that burden/pressure very well.
 
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#54
#54
Amb3096 said:
Diana Taurasi was notorious for taking plays off on defense. And she left with 3 NCs.

UConn has been winning because Geno can flat out coach offense. They have the prettiest offense in the game. They have great passing, player movement, and can hurt you inside or outside. They take high quality shots, whether in the paint or beyond the arc. They don't play the same rigid, forced style that Holly is trying to force.

While Tennessee's guards are mostly a collection of head cases, even if they were as mentally tough as you wish they were, they still lack discipline. That's coaching. They still lack ability (i.e. ability to hit open shots, ability to stop opposing players from driving, ability to pass the ball efficiently). That's also coaching.

So "wuteva" yourself (Note: people above the age of 14 spell it 'whatever')
Click to expand...

When it comes to coaching Genno and Holly should not be mentioned together in the same sentence. He knows how to make his players play the way he instructs them to. Some of us would rather blame the players and give Holly excuses. We may have a bunch of mental midgets on this team, but who recruited most of them?
 
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#56
#56
I too am concerned about future recruiting. If I were a prospect, and a vocal segment of the fan base is calling for the jobs of the coaches and making disparaging remarks about the players, I would think twice about coming into a situation like that. I think fan response to this down cycle will have a bigger impact than some think. I am not necessarily a Holly fan as some have accused me of being but I am definitely a Lady Vol fan and i want what is best for the team. Albeit in my opinion, firing the coaches at this point in time would not have a positive effect on the program. Changing the way they play however would be a positive development whether it center on coaching philosophy, player development, or player mentality. It will take both the players and coaches to do that. At this point, I think no one is blameless but I believe in the team and tradition and expect there will be some positive developments…just not overnight…and this will tax the patience of some fans.
 
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#57
#57
madtownvol said:
The buck stops with Holly, so no disagreement on your points. In the broader context, it is interesting that the LVs performed better last year despite losing the centerpiece of the team to an ACL injury and another key player, Jones to concussion. A lot of games came down to Burdick and Massengale delivering clutch performances at critical moments. In this season, you could take all of Tennessee's losses (with the exception of Stanford) and turn them into wins if one player had been able to step up and make a few clutch shots.

Right now, it is hard to see where that leadership will come from. DeShields is the most obvious candidate but she does not seem to be carrying that burden/pressure very well.
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I knew that losing Massengale would be a huge blow...not just her outside shooting but her court vision. I was hooing Te'a could fill that void, but she is yet to demonstrate Ariel's shooting touch or bball IQ.

I was never a fan of Burdock until the 2nd half of the season last year when she got her emotions and game in check and finally became the leader she needed to be. Never in a million years would I guess that Diamond could not replace her.

Diamond needs to be a leader, but Holly needs to challenge this girls to become more rounded players, and that means really keying in on their offensive deficiencies.
 
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#58
#58
Rickster said:
I too am concerned about future recruiting. If I were a prospect, and a vocal segment of the fan base is calling for the jobs of the coaches and making disparaging remarks about the players, I would think twice about coming into a situation like that. I think fan response to this down cycle will have a bigger impact than some think. I am not necessarily a Holly fan as some have accused me of being but I am definitely a Lady Vol fan and i want what is best for the team. Albeit in my opinion, firing the coaches at this point in time would not have a positive effect on the program. Changing the way they play however would be a positive development whether it center on coaching philosophy, player development, or player mentality. It will take both the players and coaches to do that. At this point, I think no one is blameless but I believe in the team and tradition and expect there will be some positive developments…just not overnight…and this will tax the patience of some fans.
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A bigger concern more so than an unhappy fan base is risking playing for a program that doesn't make you a better player. With Holly's offensive scheme, what elite guard in their right mind would come to Tennessee if all they are expected to do is feed the post?

Cooper was a prize, but the question is will Holly make her a better player, or will she limit her potential?
 
#59
#59
Rickster said:
I too am concerned about future recruiting. If I were a prospect, and a vocal segment of the fan base is calling for the jobs of the coaches and making disparaging remarks about the players, I would think twice about coming into a situation like that. I think fan response to this down cycle will have a bigger impact than some think. I am not necessarily a Holly fan as some have accused me of being but I am definitely a Lady Vol fan and i want what is best for the team. Albeit in my opinion, firing the coaches at this point in time would not have a positive effect on the program. Changing the way they play however would be a positive development whether it center on coaching philosophy, player development, or player mentality. It will take both the players and coaches to do that. At this point, I think no one is blameless but I believe in the team and tradition and expect there will be some positive developments…just not overnight…and this will tax the patience of some fans.
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Nice post.

None. We would crash and burn. The very thing they think is happening to our program would happen sooner.

Some fans don't have patience. If they think Holly don't care or can't coach. Hello, she has helped lay the bricks for our tradition which we have come to love so much, player to assistant, now to head coach. I mean really did she fux one of your wifes or husband...this seems more personal than based on facts. lol ijs

I just feel being a pupil of Pat, she will get better and do what it takes to get herself and her team better.

ARe you going to SECs? Rick?
 
#60
#60
Really, what is an offensive scheme? really? Enlightened us? I mean really break it down?

What is offense? What scheme do you think that would best fit this team? What will you do to make sure the players will execute it?

How do you make or motivate a player to go out to play their hardest every night as a coach?
 
#61
#61
I'm sorry, but I don't ever see the Lady Vols making the Final Four under this staff. I agree DeShields need to be pulled to the side and gathered together, but without her the number would be greater in the lost column. I don't know if its injury or frustration, but I must say she looked much better her Freshman season at UNC than now.
 
#62
#62
Oh well, take those losses but it should be HOlly's way or that highway. And that road to regain control of her team, is rocky at best, but if they keep losing, her controls tighten, cos no one hopefully don't like to lose, but with this team, Idk but if she wants to get them to where she knows the team can, she has to get tougher!

I think she will figure it out, it might not be this SEC, SEC Tournament , NCAA tournament, but I think she will figure it out! But as long as she is at the helm, she will have my support, the team will have my support.

Now I don't have to like or love their play (effort), but I will always support the Lady Vols. They are family, and that means you accept the good with the bad, and trust that Holly and her staff can right the ship for SIX games.

Enjoy the season.
 
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#63
#63
Pat4life said:
Really, what is an offensive scheme? really? Enlightened us? I mean really break it down?

What is offense? What scheme do you think that would best fit this team? What will you do to make sure the players will execute it?

How do you make or motivate a player to go out to play their hardest every night as a coach?
Click to expand...

Is this a joke? Didn't you claim to be a coach? Do you really think offense is nothing more than motivation and playing hard? Maybe if you're playing at the YMCA. I pity your team if that's the case. At Holly's level , one would expect a more sophisticated scheme that finds players open shots through player and ball movement...not playing hot potato around the perimeter and telegraphing entry passes while two players stand in the backcourt watching.

As a coach, she should see where the deficiencies are and work to improve them. She is doing her players a disservice if she doesn't help them become more skilled players.
 
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#64
#64
I'm not being mean or trying to bash Holly. I want to make that clear, but have you been watching Tennessee the last few years in the NCAA Tournament? We have look terrible. Tennessee struggled constantly with teams that should of been blown out. Its the same old sloppy, lost and turnover prone brand of basketball the past few seasons. I just don't see anything changing for the good under the staff. The fans need to be patient talk has been said since Holly been hired and has become old. There are no signs that have fans confident that Holly is the one to lead this program back to Final Fours or a NC.
 
#65
#65
Pat4life said:
Nice post.

None. We would crash and burn. The very thing they think is happening to our program would happen sooner.

Some fans don't have patience. If they think Holly don't care or can't coach. Hello, she has helped lay the bricks for our tradition which we have come to love so much, player to assistant, now to head coach. I mean really did she fux one of your wifes or husband...this seems more personal than based on facts. lol ijs

I just feel being a pupil of Pat, she will get better and do what it takes to get herself and her team better.

ARe you going to SECs? Rick?
Click to expand...

Not going to be able to. I live on the other side of the planet. Google my location and you will see where I live. Company wants me to stay there another couple of years then its retirement time and back to my home in Middle Tennessee.
 
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