GAME THREAD: Texas A&M in Knoxville, Thursday, 2/19, 6:30 pm EST, SECN+

[OldNSlow]

Unless we don't win another game, I think CKC gets another year (and she still probably will anyway). But I do think it will be with an understanding that changes have to be made and I think she may be forced to get rid of some assistants - probably like Angel Rizor and Lexie Barrier. Maybe even a new S&C coach...

This is the issue now. No coaches with the experience to pull this off or with enough backbone to push back on a middle school system. You can have one coach without a lot of experience but that coach cant be the head coach. The assistants now have done what? Let me help you. You are witnessing what this staff has done first hand. Don't look for some behind the scenes stories, its playing our right before your eyes if you can understand the scoreboard. You see that's what determines the Wins and Losses. Ultimately this rests on the head coach and the AD who hired the head coach. This was a failed experiment from day 1. I said it then and now you see.

 

[vols90]

I will get grief from some posters for this statement but a rigid, "my way or the highway" and "its everybody else fault" stances are often the marks of insecurity.

I've recently wondered about insecurity as well and I think she has probably herself thought that she is in over a head a little this year. I've noticed some nervous tics when she's in pressers also. One is that she often leans down and scratches her leg while answering questions. I know she's really not used to the PR side of it, so it could just be anxiousness about that.

 

[OldNSlow]

And while I am at it:

Both times this job has came open alot here were told do not hire outside of Pats tree( what kind of logic is this?). Do not hire a man( what kind of logic is this?). I dont like this person they said something bad about us in a press conference years ago...see the pattern? We better hire someone that can get the job done. Pat is gone. There was only one Pat.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Something else that has always stuck out to me about CKC is that she has no emotion on the sideline. She just always looks pissed. I get being locked in or whatever, but as a player, I would want my coach to show at least some emotion. We can be building momentum and the crowd is getting excited and loud, and she’s just standing there with her arms folded like she’s bored I know she has a different personality, but how do you not get at least a little excited?

Even on the very few occasions a player gets excited in front of her, she just ignores it.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Oh, yeah. Kim's going to face some tough conversations with both remaining '26 recruits and portal prospects for next year.

Only 2 things can save her, and that’s her telling them she’s going to stop these mass substitutions and just sub normally, and implement some type of modern offense. If none of that changes, we’ll be back here next year calling for her job.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Not a lot we need to keep anyway. Hurst probably not leaving she is close to home should see her time upped a lot next season. Civil and Prawl who knows neither have been that effective thus far I think they both have a lot of potential. The twins probably won't leave probably more NIL here for them than elsewhere. Two incoming freshmen still coming at least for next season. Latham seems to like it here win or not. That is eight and all that should come back anyway. If a couple more of these leave then we should have enough NIL money to get six in the portal. May have to look at the MId Majors some probably even those players give more than we've got out of these bad portal selections of last year.

As far as coaches plenty that will come not some of the big names that are established. Plenty that have done well and have a great record.

I think Civil is the player schools will want to take from us, and she’s the one I want to stay the most.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Danny made a bad decision extending Kim contract 29-30 and 1 million year salary. She is not leaving. What ever her buyout is the big donors needs to buy her out at the end of sec tournament. If they make the ncaa tournament UT will be a embarrassment to the program.

They need to wait until April 1st, so it’s only 2 million, otherwise it’s 4 million.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I think the twins transfer to Ole Miss. That’s my prediction anyway.

Nah, the twins already said no team wanted them both as small guards, they will go down a level.

 

[alexvol]

I wonder if KC’s lack of cred is starting to really work against her. It’s all good on paper and in a sales pitch but when things aren’t working the first people you can’t fool are the players. Have they “checked out”? That would be the worst indictment possible.

I asked that same question to myself just prior to the Missouri game and the team responded...I said then ....to myself .....hope this is proof that she has not lost the locker room....This last game vs A&M brings that to the forefront again. If I were her I would play those who want to compete and be dammed the line substitution .Then ,hopefully you would get a real effort in the half court defense ....that would be a huge improvement. Surely if she has lost some of the locker room, she at least knows who they are by this point.

 

[RAVOL]

Why is coach Caldwell not being given time to build her Lady Vol program as she wants to. Shea Ralph at Vandy in first two seasons was 16-19 and 12-19 second year and yes when building your footprint of your program 2nd year is worse because of young players recruited and sometimes older players checking out. Every proven great coach all struggled early and Kim is now experiencing this. But I see a tenacity and look from her that once she has her time and her foundation laid with experience players in system for years you will see Lady Vols back up there at the top she has to much passion to fail. I for one look forward to the future and how she does evolve while holding true to who she is at Core. Peace unto all you. “In CHRIST Alone “

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Her 5 out offense has also been ineffective against SEC Teams.She needs to ....imo....to have some set plays with screens to get the ball to the best shooters ....not everyone firing away from 3 point land when they are open.....the opposition has learned who to let shoot the three ball. That offense is ok in transition if they get the defensive rebounds and get the ball out quickly and either get uncontested path to the basket or have a "good " 3 point shooter wide open in the corners .When this doesn't happen this offense is abysmal .

How can you run 5 out, with no shooters?

 

[RetroVol]

Why is coach Caldwell not being given time to build her Lady Vol program as she wants to. Shea Ralph at Vandy in first two seasons was 16-19 and 12-19 second year and yes when building your footprint of your program 2nd year is worse because of young players recruited and sometimes older players checking out. Every proven great coach all struggled early and Kim is now experiencing this. But I see a tenacity and look from her that once she has her time and her foundation laid with experience players in system for years you will see Lady Vols back up there at the top she has to much passion to fail. I for one look forward to the future and how she does evolve while holding true to who she is at Core. Peace unto all you. “In CHRIST Alone “

I think Kim will get another year, and if things look up, another one or two beyond that. But you make a good point. In Ralph's third season, Vandy had to play their way into the NCAA tournament, then lost their first round game. They also lost their first round game last year. And if Kaniya Boyd hadn't slipped receiving an in-bounds pass, we beat them even in our "down" stretch.

Maybe Kim would have been better off to have struggled last year? Then it could have been, "Not her players." And this year would have been, "The talent is in her recruits and the portal players didn't really pan out." On the other hand, does she sign this freshman class if she didn't overperform in 2024-25?

 

[JKZ]

I really think this is the biggest problem. Players just getting settled in to the game and get replaced even though they are doing well. Subbing without cause is the underlying problem and getting into the headspace of the players. Last year'sy team embrace the opportunity to make it work and had better fundamentals also. This team doesn't like it and are aggravated by it . Also when trailing in the game you can't just put the end of the bench in just to dig a bigger hole.

First of all, I'm a Texas fan who has always had great admiration and respect for Tennessee. I adored Pat Summit and her no nonsense style. I've always pulled for Tennessee when not playing Texas.

Utilizing depth is a good thing...and Tennessee has some good, quality depth. But you have to make substitutions in a way that doesn't disrupt continuity. You can't have a revolving door at the scorer's table and run people in and out just because analytics is telling you to.

Artificial intelligence is good for analytics, but depending on that alone is ridiculous. Only human can get a true "feel" for the game. Kim needs to coach the team or let It go to someone who can. The Lady Vols program is one of the most storied in the history of the sport and it deserves better. But, as someone else already said, better costs big $$$$$.

 

[LVBB_Legacy]

Why is coach Caldwell not being given time to build her Lady Vol program as she wants to. Shea Ralph at Vandy in first two seasons was 16-19 and 12-19 second year and yes when building your footprint of your program 2nd year is worse because of young players recruited and sometimes older players checking out. Every proven great coach all struggled early and Kim is now experiencing this. But I see a tenacity and look from her that once she has her time and her foundation laid with experience players in system for years you will see Lady Vols back up there at the top she has to much passion to fail. I for one look forward to the future and how she does evolve while holding true to who she is at Core. Peace unto all you. “In CHRIST Alone “

A multi-year 'rebuilding program' was not the plan.

Danny promised us at her hiring that she would compete for championships IMMEDIATELY. Otherwise, why fire the LVFL coach that was on the cusp of doing that without the massive NIL funds that Caldwell was given?

The LVBB basketball program is now in danger of dropping to historic lows.

 

[lvocd]

No it is not anymore. Tennessee is a rebuild. They are not primetime anymore and any coach is going to have a hard time. I would tell you no too coach will come unless you are paying top money

I have a different take on that. I actually think Tennessee IS still primetime — some of our games still rank amid the most-watched year after year — BUT that that is precisely why some coaches won’t want the job.

Everyone with eyes and brains can still see that Tennessee remains one of the most talked about programs in the country. That has always been the case, and that was one thing that didn’t change when Pat died.

But here’s the thing. The program is still important to the game, but because of the Final Four drought any coach who takes the job comes in to one of THE most storied programs in history with more pressure to get to the FF than any coach has ever had in history.

Who in the world wants to start this new job already behind the 8-ball? The Tennessee Pressure Cooker is only real because we ARE still primetime as in all eyes are always scrutinizing every up and down and in between. If we weren’t still “primetime” there’d be no pressure.

 

[TNRazor]

Why is coach Caldwell not being given time to build her Lady Vol program as she wants to. Shea Ralph at Vandy in first two seasons was 16-19 and 12-19 second year and yes when building your footprint of your program 2nd year is worse because of young players recruited and sometimes older players checking out. Every proven great coach all struggled early and Kim is now experiencing this. But I see a tenacity and look from her that once she has her time and her foundation laid with experience players in system for years you will see Lady Vols back up there at the top she has to much passion to fail. I for one look forward to the future and how she does evolve while holding true to who she is at Core. Peace unto all you. “In CHRIST Alone “

Good points but everybody knew it would take Shea awhile. We spent NIL like crazy in HS recruiting and the portal, returned a lot of talent, were ranked in the top 10 preseason, and we look like one of the worst teams in the league. I think thats why a lot of us are frustrated.

 

[lvocd]

You can literally feel the barrier between CKC and her players at times. You can see players, when they are randomly subbed out. sitting on the bench a demoralized look on their faces, like "I don't understand what is going on..."

Your entire post was spot on but I wanted to add that I have noticed many times players avoiding looking at Kim at all. I have commented to friends that a couple of players may actually loathe her.

 

[AllVols3]

I have a different take on that. I actually think Tennessee IS still primetime — some of our games still rank amid the most-watched year after year — BUT that that is precisely why some coaches won’t want the job.

Everyone with eyes and brains can still see that Tennessee remains one of the most talked about programs in the country. That has always been the case, and that was one thing that didn’t change when Pat died.

But here’s the thing. The program is still important to the game, but because of the Final Four drought any coach who takes the job comes in to one of THE most storied programs in history with more pressure to get to the FF than any coach has ever had in history.

Who in the world wants to start a new job already behind the 8-ball? The Tennessee Pressure Cooker is only real because we ARE still primetime as in all eyes are always scrutinizing every up and down and in between. If we weren’t still “primetime” there’d be no pressure.

Mulkey is that person. That challenge might be the key to getting her. That and of course $$$.

 

[madtownvol]

I think Kim will get another year, and if things look up, another one or two beyond that. But you make a good point. In Ralph's third season, Vandy had to play their way into the NCAA tournament, then lost their first round game. They also lost their first round game last year. And if Kaniya Boyd hadn't slipped receiving an in-bounds pass, we beat them even in our "down" stretch.

Maybe Kim would have been better off to have struggled last year? Then it could have been, "Not her players." And this year would have been, "The talent is in her recruits and the portal players didn't really pan out." On the other hand, does she sign this freshman class if she didn't overperform in 2024-25?

These historical comparisons without context can be quite misleading. When Ralph took over as Vandy coach in 21-22, the program had not been to an NCAA tournament since 2014. And over that seven year stretch, Vandy's talent cupboard had gotten very, very bare. SR had a full-on rebuilding job. CKC walked into a very different situation.

CKC had more resources at the outset, inherited a good stock of talent (and credit to her for keeping them on board) and brought in quality portal players to fill gaps (people now realize how good a PG Sam Spencer actually was and how she kept the offense from going off the rails).

And CKC was definitely ahead of Ralph in terms of her first high school recruiting class but that recruiting success also raises expectations.

Also, with Ralph, everyone could see what she was trying to do and the team identity she was trying to build. They felt good about the vision and direction. I think that was mostly the case for CKC last season but that goodwill has greatly diminished.

I don't follow Vandy that closely but to my knowledge, in those first two years, there was no speculation about Ralph "losing the team" and she handled losses with an admirable degree of professionalism that inspired confidence that she would be able to turn things around.

 

[AllVols3]

I didn’t say his job was in danger. What do you think his approval rating is with Vol fans now? It’s changed dramatically in a short period of time. The first 4 years he could do no wrong. Tony Vitello leaving on his watch hit hard. KC was a huge gamble that looks like a poor decision.

TV left to take a Pro job. He was the 2nd highest paid coach in College baseball. Kim will get at least year 3. Her job is to hit it out of the park in the portal. Great character girls , who are hungry and can flat out play. She has a great nucleus , just has to add the RIGHT player , Character wise. It can be done.

 

[mudcat1973]

They need to wait until April 1st, so it’s only 2 million, otherwise it’s 4 million.

If UT fired Helped without cause before dec 15, 2025 Tennessee wood owe full amount.

Drop to 75% fired Dec 15 2027

Drop 50% Jan 31 2030

Guess the bull has it better than the cow contact wise.

Don't seeing top coach getting stuck with a contract like Tennessee women's basketball if they have good job where at.

 

[th2421]

Nah, the twins already said no team wanted them both as small guards, they will go down a level.

You're forgetting that the only point guard Yo was able to recruit this year was Denim DeShields transferring from UAB/Mississippi State...

 

[alexvol]

How can you run 5 out, with no shooters?

Have you been watching this year ?

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

TV left to take a Pro job. He was the 2nd highest paid coach in College baseball. Kim will get at least year 3. Her job is to hit it out of the park in the portal. Great character girls , who are hungry and can flat out play. She has a great nucleus , just has to add the RIGHT player , Character wise. It can be done.

No matter the reason, TV leaving happened on DW's watch and he was by far the most popular coach on campus with the highest achievement. There was plenty of talk about disagreements over NIL allocation. Maybe TV leaves anyway even if he was given everything he wanted. If JE works out then this easily becomes DW's biggest success at UT. My point was simply to say that a CEO is only as good as his most recent annual report to shareholders. Danny's annual report has some red flags on it.

 

[1reVOLver]

These historical comparisons can be quite misleading. When Ralph took over as Vandy coach in 21-22, the program had not been to an NCAA tournament since 2014. And over that seven year stretch, Vandy's talent cupboard had gotten very, very bare. SR had a full-on rebuilding job. CKC walked into a very different situation.

CKC had more resources at the outset, inherited a good stock of talent (and credit to her for keeping them on board) and brought in quality portal players to fill gaps (people now realize how good a PG Sam Spencer actually was and how she kept the offense from going off the rails).

And CKC was definitely ahead of Ralph in terms of her first high school recruiting class but that recruiting success also raises expectations.

Also, with Ralph, everyone could see what she was trying to do and the team identity she was trying to build. They felt good about the vision and direction. I think that was mostly the case for CKC last season but that goodwill has greatly diminished.

I don't follow Vandy that closely but to my knowledge, in those first two years, there was no speculation about Ralph "losing the team" and she handled losses with an admirable degree of professionalism that inspired confidence that she would be able to turn things around.

You have given an astute analysis of some major differences between Ralph and CKC.

Another that matters is Ralph's 12+ yrs.' apprenticeship with a highly successful head coach. She had had lots of practice playing and coaching vs. top level competition.