Gabe Lazo Out

[Volfaninfl2]

Thanks, Captain Obvious.

You’re welcome, didn’t see the previous post.

 

[VintageFan]

This was not the most talented team in a decade, because it had no shooting talent and making shots is the name of the game.

This team couldn’t shoot a lick.

They lost jewel, Tess, Sara, and Samara, and they didn’t replace any of that shooting.

Thats not a defense of KC because roster construction is her job. But the narrative that we wasted a talented team is not factual IMO.

That a talented team was "wasted" is not a narrative. It seems much more like a fact. You can't argue about the team's failure. So your thesis must be that the team members were not talented, despite their past successes, high ratings from scores of WBB experts, top 10 pre-season ranking, and the pre-season opinion of most everyone posting on this board.
You CAN argue that the team members were not motivated, had bad attitudes, seemed unsure of their roles, didn't adjust to Kim's system, whose fault it all was, etc. But that doesn't mean that their talent wasn't wasted.

 

[glv98]

I’m curious if Gabe is driving the Lamborghini Cheetah Wagon to Baton Rouge. Guess we won’t be needing it around here anymore since we’re back to hoping for less talented plow horses instead of those good for nothing elite cheetahs.

I guess a Jeep would be more appropriate now.

What a difference a year makes on a fan forum.

 

[vols90]

She might get a lot of credit for breaking "the longest losing streak" in LVs history next season. As they say, a coaches first job is managing expectations and not letting them get too high. On that dimension, CKC has excelled.

I sincerely hope our season opener is against a cupcake or our losing streak will continue

 

[brittannica]

You’re welcome, didn’t see the previous post.

Oh, I was saying that to Talia's comment not you!!! You're great

 

[glv98]

That a talented team was "wasted" is not a narrative. It seems much more like a fact. You can't argue about the team's failure. So your thesis must be that the team members were not talented, despite their past successes, high ratings from scores of WBB experts, top 10 pre-season ranking, and the pre-season opinion of most everyone posting on this board.
You CAN argue that the team members were not motivated, had bad attitudes, seemed unsure of their roles, didn't adjust to Kim's system, whose fault it all was, etc. But that doesn't mean that their talent wasn't wasted.

If it were just one or two of the highly rated high school and portal recruits who didn’t pan out it probably is a matter of being over ranked. But when it’s all of them? Probably means they were under developed.

 

[0311]

I teach this in my college business comm class. It's a "new social contract" that I think @brittannica alluded to earlier. We live in a world of "I owe you nothing" from both an organizational and employee perspective. If we see 2 years of work history that's actually viewed as a positive right now. In his case, he's leveled up everywhere he's been. I suspect he would have been a head coach somewhere next season had it not been for the end of season losing streak at TN. Within 2 years at LSU, I expect he will rebound and land as a HC somewhere.

It’s also a good way to build two years of experience max over a 10 or 20 year career. What can you do for me today, only goes so far! In this case, I’m a super recruiter is his resume so far.

 

[VintageFan]

His work ethic is seemingly outstanding. That man grinds.

Here's what Kim Mulkey said:

“Gabe will be an outstanding addition to our staff, he has been an invaluable member of two SEC staffs with an unbelievable ability to teach the game and recruit the best players in the country. Gabe will impact our program at the highest level, and his unmatched work ethic will lead to great results on the court and on the recruiting trail. It doesn’t matter if Gabe is out recruiting or coaching on the floor because the contributions he will make toward our program will be significant.”

Does anyone here believe that Mulkey knows more about coaching in the SEC than Caldwell?

 

[madtownvol]

LSU got sent home in the Sweet 16.. how did they just miss the Final 4 smh..

You got me there. If they had not lost to Duke on the rolling, rolling, rolling buzzer beater, I think they would have defeated UCLA but that was a big projection, I admit. But please remind me, how did the LVs' S16 game go..... (in other words, the point still stands)..

 

[Volstylexx]

It’s also a good way to build two years of experience max over a 10 or 20 year career. What can you do for me today, only goes so far! In this case, I’m a super recruiter is his resume so far.

That’s just not how it works.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

The difference it makes in your mind and your mind only. LSU signed 1 HS recruit in 2026 with a recruiting coordinator that was offered a head coaching job.
Signed 1 HS recruit in 2024 as well.
Tennessee will as always have options via the portal and has the #2 prospect in 2026 Oliviyah Edwards incoming that just competed in an all-star game dunk contest (and is still trending across social media as I type) plus was the winner of the Queen of the Court in JamFest.
A state champion Top 50 4-star signee in Gabby Minus who was Atlanta Metro Player of the Year.
Sit down with the failed attempts at gaslighting. For every post you make, I can attach a social media post of what people are saying about Tennessee incoming talent right now and it would discredit your entire argument. And when you have talent like this incoming it WILL attract other talented players to Knoxville.
I don’t see what your purpose is in posting this stuff.

I’m curious if Gabe is driving the Lamborghini Cheetah Wagon to Baton Rouge. Guess we won’t be needing it around here anymore since we’re back to hoping for less talented plow horses instead of those good for nothing elite cheetahs.

I guess a Jeep would be more appropriate now.

What a difference a year makes on a fan forum.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Oh, I was saying that to Talia's comment not you!!! You're great

’Preciate that. I got back from taking my dog to the vet, sweet Leah, and the GL news was new to me, saw it on X first, so looked back a few pages here and didn’t see that particular post, but I should have known better. Volnation posters are fast!

 

[brittannica]

‘Preciate that. I got back from taking my dog to the vet, sweet Leah, and the GL news was new to me, saw it on X first, so looked back a few pages here and didn’t see that particular post, but I should have known better. Volnation posters are fast!

Leah! I hope her visit went well.

That happens to me when I get out of class too. Last night I think I had close to twenty pages of unread posts I was just irked because, while I am sure Talia meant well and is just a kid herself, it did feel kind of obvious. Or maybe I am just a little bitter, ha!

 

[creekdipper]

A cynical person might imagine that Mulkey hopes that Lazo might lure a few previous recruits to canoe down the bayou.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Leah! I hope her visit went well.

That happens to me when I get out of class too. Last night I think I had close to twenty pages of unread posts I was just irked because, while I am sure Talia meant well and is just a kid herself, it did feel kind of obvious. Or maybe I am just a little bitter, ha!

Leah is hanging in there, she’s a 14 year old Catahoula wearing a head wrap for her ear, and it’s driving her nuts. Thanks for asking. I don’t know how everyone can keep up with all the posts, and yes, we have good reason to be bitter. You’re great, too.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

A cynical person might imagine that Mulkey hopes that Lazo might lure a few previous recruits to canoe down the bayou.

She can take the twins, and promise rhem guaranteed playing time

 

[1reVOLver]

She can take the twins, and promise rhem guaranteed playing time

Nah…only a dummy, a desperate deetwo type dummy would do something like that.

 

[mike099]

He will do well there. BTW, love the shirt he is wearing. The purple and gray go good together.
The wording should have said welcome to the Mulkey show.

 

[volfan102455]

I sincerely hope our season opener is against a cupcake or our losing streak will continue

It is sad commentary on the state of a program when fans are hoping for a few "cupcakes" so the team has a chance to win some games and feel good about it.

This program has fallen so far in 2 years - unbelievable.

 

[volfan102455]

And also want to add that the best coached game of the first season, while we didn't win, it was the best coached game was the one CKC did not coach.

 

[mackievol]

Is the head coach related to Butch or Dools?

 

[vols90]

It is sad commentary on the state of a program when fans are hoping for a few "cupcakes" so the team has a chance to win some games and feel good about it.

This program has fallen so far in 2 years - unbelievable.

PREACH

 

[StepCross]

So your thesis must be that the team members were not talented, despite their past successes, high ratings from scores of WBB experts, top 10 pre-season ranking, and the pre-season opinion of most everyone posting on this board.

There are a lot of versions of talent.

-There is “talented in HS but can’t find their game at the college level.”

-there is “talented but young and developing.”

-there is “thought they were talented but looks like a missed evaluation.”

-there is “talented but limited.”

-there is “talented but what on earth is going on with that player.”

-and of course there’s “just good, period”

We had a mix of those. A LOT were young and might develop into something special still. Some were talented but limited. Some were confusing.

But (a) this year, at this stage of everyone’s development, it was not a loaded team. In the SEC—which *is* loaded—we often didn’t have the more talented player at any position at all. (At least not yet; it’s way too early to give up on the freshmen.) And (b) no matter how talented the individuals, the roster as a whole had gaps. Outside shooting in particular was just not there at all. And reliable bigs were hard to find most of the time.

This is not a defense of the coach. In the portal era, it’s absolutely possible to build a good team quickly, and that falls on the HC, and this year’s team was not well built.

Can she turn it around? I think we will know in a month, give or take.

 

[Volstylexx]

There are a lot of versions of talent.

-There is “talented in HS but can’t find their game at the college level.”

-there is “talented but young and developing.”

-there is “thought they were talented but looks like a missed evaluation.”

-there is “talented but limited.”

-there is “talented but what on earth is going on with that player.”

-and of course there’s “just good, period”

We had a mix of those. A LOT were young and might develop into something special still. Some were talented but limited. Some were confusing.

But (a) this year, at this stage of everyone’s development, it was not a loaded team. In the SEC—which *is* loaded—we often didn’t have the more talented player at any position at all. (At least not yet; it’s way too early to give up on the freshmen.) And (b) no matter how talented the individuals, the roster as a whole had gaps. Outside shooting in particular was just not there at all. And reliable bigs were hard to find most of the time.

This is not a defense of the coach. In the portal era, it’s absolutely possible to build a good team quickly, and that falls on the HC, and this year’s team was not well built.

Can she turn it around? I think we will know in a month, give or take.

Ok. I’ll bite. Say… you’re correct that our absolutely loaded (on paper) freshman class turned out to be duds….

How do we spin transfers like Latham and Barker regressing? Barker was Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year (2025 and SEC All-Freshman Team (2023). Latham was ACC freshman of the year.

When everyone on the team doesn’t either (a) live up to their recruiting rankings and/or (b) regress from where they were, in an otherwise successful career, then hear me out…. It might NOT be the players fault.

 

[BBallNut]

And (b) no matter how talented the individuals, the roster as a whole had gaps. Outside shooting in particular was just not there at all. And reliable bigs were hard to find most of the time.

Shooters need to be ‘in rhythm’ to make three pointers. It’s impossible to get in rhythm when you are being run in and out of the game every two minutes. It’s twice as difficult when almost everything you are doing goes against how you have played the game your whole life.