Big O Breaks Silence..

[lvocd]

The Kim haters aren't gonna like this

A lot has happened since Nov. 2025.

 

[madtownvol]

Wasn't that video from a year ago?

Time works differently on this board apparently.......

 

[volbeast33]

There is a good chance she becomes as frustrated as Cooper was this year - just saying.

There is also a decent chance she has a ballers mentality. She becomes a great leader and other players want to follow her. I know which one I am choosing.

 

[Volfan2012]

Is this confirmation that she is staying looks like it

All indications is yes she is staying. Was going to take a big deal to beat her Adidas deal and she can't go SEC having already signed without sitting out. So looks like she will be a Lady Vol for at least one season.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

I would like to point out it’s worth noting there’s nothing to even suggest her plan has ever been to play anywhere else other than Tennessee or leave following 1 season.
She canceled recruiting visits to LSU and SC.
She committed on her official visit to Tennessee in person.
She stated in an interview during McDAAG week that she wants to dominate and carry on the legacy at Tennessee.
Of course, the thought of any player transferring can apply to every single player in collegiate sports.
Sarah Strong can decide to transfer from UConn for her junior year. Would make for a great story.

All indications is yes she is staying. Was going to take a big deal to beat her Adidas deal and she can't go SEC having already signed without sitting out. So looks like she will be a Lady Vol for at least one season.

 

[glv98]

There is a good chance she becomes as frustrated as Cooper was this year - just saying.

If that happens, too bad. But decisions have consequences. I have no sympathy for anyone who signs with Kim Caldwell now and gets mad over how she plays.She hides nothing. She’s been very honest that there will be one approach only and that will be her full out Grinnell system with hockey subbing. And they all saw what they saw this year. They have been warned.

So if it goes bad, which is highly likely, they need to grit their teeth, bash their head harder against the wall and ride it out until they can transfer. The rebellion got quashed.

 

[spojo13]

If that happens, too bad. But decisions have consequences. I have no sympathy for anyone who signs with Kim Caldwell and gets mad over how she plays.She hides nothing. She’s been very honest that there will be one approach only and that will be her full out Grinnell system with hockey subbing. And they all saw what they saw this year. They have been warned.

So if it goes bad, which is highly likely, they need to grit their teeth, bash their head harder against the wall and ride it out until they can transfer. The rebellion got quashed.

Yeah, I can’t fault Kim if players act surprised or blindsided by what she does or her system. She has been very forthright that is what she does and was hired to do. However, since some are saying Kim had no control over who was chosen to come play for us, maybe they didn’t hear it directly from her.

 

[Volfan2012]

I would like to point out it’s worth noting there’s nothing to even suggest her plan has ever been to play anywhere else other than Tennessee or leave following 1 season.
She canceled recruiting visits to LSU and SC.
She committed on her official visit to Tennessee in person.
She stated in an interview during McDAAG week that she wants to dominate and carry on the legacy at Tennessee.
Of course, the thought of any player transferring can be apply to every single player in collegiate sports.
Sarah Strong can decide to transfer from UConn for her junior year. Would make for a great story.

I agree but without conspiracy theories and the utmost concern were going to fail no matter what we wouldn't have much of a board to post on. I am beginning to feel were solid with the current six left on the roster now let's see what Ferrara can do to replace the graduates and transfers. If he is any good at all shouldn't be a hard job to replace each and everyone with a better player.

 

[glv98]

Yeah, I can’t fault Kim if players act surprised or blindsided by what she does or her system. She has been very forthright that is what she does and was hired to do. However, since some are saying Kim had no control over who was chosen to come play for us, maybe they didn’t hear it directly from her.

Balderdash. If they have eyes to see and ears to hear and have not been in a coma the last nine months, Kim did not have to tell them anything. They know, they can’t possibly not know.

 

[ChelseaVol]

Yeah, I can’t fault Kim if players act surprised or blindsided by what she does or her system. She has been very forthright that is what she does and was hired to do. However, since some are saying Kim had no control over who was chosen to come play for us, maybe they didn’t hear it directly from her.

This is reason number 1 I sympathize with Kim over how things went down this year. Every single player who signed on knew exactly how she played. It doesn’t matter if she sat them down and explained to them what to expect - the games spoke for themselves.

 

[volbeast33]

If that happens, too bad. But decisions have consequences. I have no sympathy for anyone who signs with Kim Caldwell now and gets mad over how she plays.She hides nothing. She’s been very honest that there will be one approach only and that will be her full out Grinnell system with hockey subbing. And they all saw what they saw this year. They have been warned.

So if it goes bad, which is highly likely, they need to grit their teeth, bash their head harder against the wall and ride it out until they can transfer. The rebellion got quashed.

None of the players that have chosen to come here have been upset about the system. They may use it as an excuse but they are upset about the turmoil inside the locker room and losing games. The rent wasn’t much issue last season amongst the team. Every girl knows what is required of her when she comes to Tennessee.

I love the Grinnell system which is based off Paul Westheads run and gun system. I agree that I doubt that Kim can get together the roster necessary to win big.

 

[volfan102455]

None of the players that have chosen to come here have been upset about the system. They may use it as an excuse but they are upset about the turmoil inside the locker room and losing games. The rent wasn’t much issue last season amongst the team. Every girl knows what is required of her when she comes to Tennessee.

I love the Grinnell system which is based off Paul Westheads run and gun system. I agree that I doubt that Kim can get together the roster necessary to win big.

You realize that system has only worked in the lower divisions don't you?

And losing games is probably going to happen next year, so if that causes disjoints and turmoil it will continue.

 

[volfan102455]

This is reason number 1 I sympathize with Kim over how things went down this year. Every single player who signed on knew exactly how she played. It doesn’t matter if she sat them down and explained to them what to expect - the games spoke for themselves.

Knowing what the system is and actually experiencing it is two very different things.

 

[JL1231]

Knowing what the system is and actually experiencing it is two very different things.

Samara always seemed happy with it last year. Tess even recently spoke highly of playing for Kim. Zee was happy with it last year; not soo much this year. Jewel seemed happy. I think everyone was happy last year except for Sara. This year no one seems happy. Maybe that's just winning and losing.

 

[volbeast33]

You realize that system has only worked in the lower divisions don't you?

And losing games is probably going to happen next year, so if that causes disjoints and turmoil it will continue.

Paul Westhead made an Elite eight in men’s college basketball utilizing a fast break offense/press system. He also won a WNBA championship utilizing his system although he did dial back on the press some. His team led the WNBA in scoring. I have doubts Kim make it work though.

 

[lvocd]

Samara always seemed happy with it last year. Tess even recently spoke highly of playing for Kim. Zee was happy with it last year; not soo much this year. Jewel seemed happy. I think everyone was happy last year except for Sara. This year no one seems happy. Maybe that's just winning and losing.

I sensed that Kim Caldwell was a way different person this season. Maybe it was the added pressure going into Year 2 plus the early team turmoil. I don’t know. But JC certainly came across as less likable and more angry than she was in her first season. The team didn’t appear to like her at all by the end of Year 2.

 

[Volfan2012]

Paul Westhead made an Elite eight in men’s college basketball utilizing a fast break offense/press system. He also won a WNBA championship utilizing his system although he did dial back on the press some. His team led the WNBA in scoring. I have doubts Kim make it work though.

The big difference I see in other coaches using it is they did not sub like she does. They never did a five for five and she does it four or more times a game. They still had a minimal rotation eight to nine they didn't play twelve. They didn't all out press on every possession or trap that much in the backcourt only when the team had to inbounds. We try to do it on misses and rebounds. It could work for her if she knew how to run it at this level. You have to be a lot more selective with these type athletes your playing against when and how to press and defend.

 

[spojo13]

The big difference I see in other coaches using it is they did not sub like she does. They never did a five for five and she does it four or more times a game. They still had a minimal rotation eight to nine they didn't play twelve. They didn't all out press on every possession or trap that much in the backcourt only when the team had to inbounds. We try to do it on misses and rebounds. It could work for her if she knew how to run it at this level. You have to be a lot more selective with these type athletes your playing against when and how to press and defend.

Yeah, I was looking at the Loyola Elite 8 season. Westhead had 4 players average over 30 minutes on that team. For the Mercury, their stars like Taurasi and Taylor barely came off the floor. I don’t think Westhead ever cared too much for defense, so his players didn’t have to exert a lot of energy with a full court press.

 

[JL1231]

I sensed that Kim Caldwell was a way different person this season. Maybe it was the added pressure going into Year 2 plus the early team turmoil. I don’t know. But JC certainly came across as less likable and more angry than she was in her first season. The team didn’t appear to like her at all by the end of Year 2.

That's fair. A lot more stressers this year and she certainly didn't handle some of them very well. We would all like to know the "behind the scenes" happenings that possibly could explain some of the anger.

 

[mike099]

Based on the competition Edward’s has played will she have a big learning curve on offense and defense? Hoping she will get good coaching here.

 

[th2421]

Samara always seemed happy with it last year. Tess even recently spoke highly of playing for Kim. Zee was happy with it last year; not soo much this year. Jewel seemed happy. I think everyone was happy last year except for Sara. This year no one seems happy. Maybe that's just winning and losing.

I think there was also a difference of having a bunch of mature seniors/5th-years (especially guards) leading the team vs. a very young and seemingly immature team this year. You could argue that that was because last year's team bought in more, or that they had more experience in a traditional system, or that many had played for years under Kellie's culture, etc.

 

[TnVolsX4]

I think there was also a difference of having a bunch of mature seniors/5th-years (especially guards) leading the team vs. a very young and seemingly immature team this year. You could argue that that was because last year's team bought in more, or that they had more experience in a traditional system, or that many had played for years under Kellie's culture, etc.

Or they cared and bled orange.

 

[volfan102455]

The big difference I see in other coaches using it is they did not sub like she does. They never did a five for five and she does it four or more times a game. They still had a minimal rotation eight to nine they didn't play twelve. They didn't all out press on every possession or trap that much in the backcourt only when the team had to inbounds. We try to do it on misses and rebounds. It could work for her if she knew how to run it at this level. You have to be a lot more selective with these type athletes your playing against when and how to press and defend.

Agree there are significant differences between how CKC system works and general fast paced pressing offenses that others have deployed.

Many are grasping at straws to find an example where it has worked in D1. It hasn't. All the ones that have worked did not sub every two minutes and they actually used the press and fast pace with actual plays and structured basketball. She doesn't.

Just ask the question using google are AI and it will tell you none of these are the same as the Grinnell system or what CKC runs.

 

[volfan102455]

Or they cared and bled orange.

I think it was more this and they had been coached up thus were smarter players who would have did their best to succeed in any system.