Chemistry has emerged as one of Lady Vols' biggest strengths

#1
kamoshika

kamoshika

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#1
Last season’s Tennessee women’s basketball team didn’t lack talent. What it didn’t seem to have much of — at least not consistently — was chemistry. Coming off their worst season in the modern era, the No. 24 Lady Vols insist things are different now. “It’s just fun playing for a group of people who put the team before themselves,” junior Rennia Davis said. “I think that’s the biggest thing to us — this team and where this team is trying to go — not anything individual.”
With Florida on deck, chemistry has emerged as one of Lady Vols' biggest strengths
 
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#3
#3
From Rennia:

“It’s big that Kellie mentions to us every so often — in case anybody does decide to step outside their box — nobody is bigger than this program,” Davis said. “We’re here for our four years and then, after that, someone else is going to come in and replace us with the hopes of keeping the same energy we had while we were here.

“It’s all about the program.”


Coach Kellie is so right, Tennessee Lady Vols is a most special name to be, and in playing here, these players will be remembered, and some will be famous, but they must be Team first.
 
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#7
#7
VA_VOLFAN said:
Is it me or does it seem like when they are asked these questions the girls think about certain players that were maybe for themselves instead of the team ?
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That seems to be the implication.
Looking back over the past few seasons, though, I got the feeling that certain players weren’t so much being selfish as they were being willing to put the failing program on their shoulders and try to make something happen. I saw a number of players hoping, in the absence of any working offensive plan from the staff, that they could try to save the team from the next loss themselves. That’s not the same thing as being selfish, even if it can look that way sometimes.

It was actually heartbreaking to see one after another player, in successive seasons, trying her best to help. But it could never be enough. :confused:

This year the players respect and trust their paid leadership. It has made ALL the difference.
 
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#8
#8
First, you can see clear improvements in the team, particularly in the defensive side and now the offensive is starting to show some new spark. Effort levels are up across the board.

But, I take all this chemistry "talk" with a grain of salt. If you go back any number of seasons, at this still early stage coaches and players are always talking about "improved chemistry."

Even last season, before the season really hit the skids, there was talk about the improved chemistry (and many people going see, the problem was Diamond!) This season is a repeat of that narrative.

It is an easy thing to identity as a "difference" and the media usually leads the players in that direction --

Reporter: "So, it seems like this team has improved chemistry and that the improved chemistry is why the team is playing so much better so do you think the improved chemistry has made a difference in how the team is playing so much better, you know with the improved chemistry and all ,

Rennia?: "Uh, yeah."


It is just easier to say, "we have improved chemistry" than "Well, least season we weren't buying into what the coach wanted us to do last year and our team discipline had gone to hell
 
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#9
#9
And we would hope that the more they buy into the TEAM, this team, the less they will be concerned about who in the past was selfish and who was not. This is the only team that can win anything now. The more they want each other to play better, with guidance, the better they all will be (hopefully lol).
 
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#10
#10
Another positive is that we have not lost to but one team we were supposed to beat and last year we had lost three at this point. Going forward home games must not be lost for us to keep on the right track. We must take over the home court and make it impossible for teams to come in and get a win.
 
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#12
#12
madtownvol said:
First, you can see clear improvements in the team, particularly in the defensive side and now the offensive is starting to show some new spark. Effort levels are up across the board.

But, I take all this chemistry "talk" with a grain of salt. If you go back any number of seasons, at this still early stage coaches and players are always talking about "improved chemistry."

Even last season, before the season really hit the skids, there was talk about the improved chemistry (and many people going see, the problem was Diamond!) This season is a repeat of that narrative.

It is an easy thing to identity as a "difference" and the media usually leads the players in that direction --

Reporter: "So, it seems like this team has improved chemistry and that the improved chemistry is why the team is playing so much better so do you think the improved chemistry has made a difference in how the team is playing so much better, you know with the improved chemistry and all ,

Rennia?: "Uh, yeah."


It is just easier to say, "we have improved chemistry" than "Well, least season we weren't buying into what the coach wanted us to do last year and our team discipline had gone to hell
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Madtownvol, I agree with you. The Lady Vols have a monumental test in the next two games with Alabama and UConn. We shall see if the "improved chemistry" results in victories in these two games.
 
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#13
#13
Cees said:
And we would hope that the more they buy into the TEAM, this team, the less they will be concerned about who in the past was selfish and who was not. This is the only team that can win anything now. The more they want each other to play better, with guidance, the better they all will be (hopefully lol).
Click to expand...

Coach K and I agree on one very important thing,,"No one is bigger than the team"

For her,,,She can find equal talent in the HS talent pool or the transfer portals.

For me,,,I just create a better version,, to beat the other one.


Volfan2012 said:
Another positive is that we have not lost to but one team we were supposed to beat and last year we had lost three at this point. Going forward home games must not be lost for us to keep on the right track. We must take over the home court and make it impossible for teams to come in and get a win.
Click to expand...

This is Key
 
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#14
#14
It's kind of funny that the reason we are winning so many games this year is that the other teams aren't good enough. We had higher rated talent last year and managed to lose to multiple teams that weren't good enough. My glass is half full.
 
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#15
#15
When I was a boy I almost burned down our house with my chemistry set....Chemistry is way over rated...Heard that talk every year here....

As long as this team plays inside out ball on offense and hits the 3 ball they can beat anyone, yes anyone. On defense, play a pressing man to man, with an occasional full court press, and zone thrown in to mix things up, and get in the opponents face on the 3 ball, this team will be memorable.

Our only weakness is when Key is off the floor, I'll say no more.
 
#16
#16
GameTime said:
When I was a boy I almost burned down our house with my chemistry set....Chemistry is way over rated...Heard that talk every year here....

As long as this team plays inside out ball on offense and hits the 3 ball they can beat anyone, yes anyone. On defense, play a pressing man to man, with an occasional full court press, and zone thrown in to mix things up, and get in the opponents face on the 3 ball, this team will be memorable.

Our only weakness is when Key is off the floor, I'll say no more.
Click to expand...

Uhhhh🤔🤔🤔
 
#17
#17
GameTime said:
When I was a boy I almost burned down our house with my chemistry set....Chemistry is way over rated...Heard that talk every year here....

As long as this team plays inside out ball on offense and hits the 3 ball they can beat anyone, yes anyone. On defense, play a pressing man to man, with an occasional full court press, and zone thrown in to mix things up, and get in the opponents face on the 3 ball, this team will be memorable.

Our only weakness is when Key is off the floor, I'll say no more.
Click to expand...
There's good chemistry and bad chemistry. You had bad chemistry...
 
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#19
#19
GameTime said:
When I was a boy I almost burned down our house with my chemistry set....Chemistry is way over rated...Heard that talk every year here....

As long as this team plays inside out ball on offense and hits the 3 ball they can beat anyone, yes anyone. On defense, play a pressing man to man, with an occasional full court press, and zone thrown in to mix things up, and get in the opponents face on the 3 ball, this team will be memorable.

Our only weakness is when Key is off the floor, I'll say no more.
Click to expand...

Chemistry is overrated ? Hahaha... this has to be a joke or either you have

1. Never played a sport
2. Never coached a sport
3. Never played on a team that played for each other
4. Never coached a team that played for each other
5. Just played for fun not results
6. Just coached for fun not results

I have coached both boys and girls teams and I will tell you this... it is much harder to coach a team that doesn’t like each 😂
 
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#21
#21
lvocd said:
It’s all about the C. If a team wants to win Championships, both players and coaches need to hit the gym every day with Chemistry, Commitment, Competitiveness, Confidence.
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Can I use this for my team! This is LEGIT !!
 
#24
#24
I believe that this is a result of Kellie being able to channel what Coach Pat instilled in her when she was a player. This team is looking more like a Pat Summitt coached team then any since she was our coach. I'm liking what I am seeing so far.

GO LADY VOLS!
 
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