New players

[KnoxLikeUs]

Don’t know where this topic went wrong but this is the reality version.

Lady Vols rise inside top 10 of ESPN's 'Way-Too-Early' 2026 rankings

Already in ESPN's top 10, the Lady Vols continued to rise in the publication's 'Way-Too-Early' rankings.

tennessee.rivals.com

 

[Volfan2012]

So many people have unrealistic expectations cast to teams rather than wait and see how things mature. Same thing happened to the baseball team. And look what happened to TA&M baseball team ranked no.1 and never made the tournament.i have high hopes but let's see how all the pieces work and come together.

Could definitely all blow up has happened before like you say baseball although the team lacked speed and needed another top starting pitcher. Still a successful season for them still think he needs to get some speed and obp type players at the top of the lineup for the power hitters to follow. The solo homerun was just to prevalent for us this past season.

Women's basketball just presenting the most talent and depth than over a decade. Could all go bad of course cause were talking about on paper now still have to play the games.

 

[AllVols3]

Look like Hurst is not 6'3" in height. Prawl was listed as 6'1" in high school may be a little taller than that but looks same height as Hurst.

She looked bigger than Prawl to me.

 

[DeerPark12]

I’m sorry, I’m just not buying it. I appreciate the conversation though. Pressing, shooting 3s and one on one play isn’t a complex concept in basketball. I have a feeling Kim is going to have a tough OOC schedule this year, and as a fan, I hope so.

Last year's schedule finished in the top 10 of SOS. The schedules that you're dreaming about from years past are long gone.

Tennessee has NC State, Louisville, Stanford, MTSU and UConn all on the road or neutral site. Unfortunately, that means you're not going to see a major out of conference game at home.

 

[GameTime]

No worries....

 

[BruisedOrange]

Just for context in the comparisons...

2024-25 Lady Vols had zero true freshmen, one redshirt freshman.
Last year's team began to falter physically before reaching the end of regular season.

This year we have five true freshmen.
That's five who have the skills, yes, but who've yet to begin training in college-level strength and conditioning.
Also, accurate shooting takes mental focus, and freshmen are necessarily adjusting to so many new demands on and off the court. Expect adjustments to take time.

There's nothing good to be gained by setting high expectations--nothing good in it for us fans, nothing good in it for the players. So why not just let it play out, and enjoy each chapter as the season's story unfolds.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Jersey numbers for some of the new LVs:

#7 Lauren Hurst
#8 Jersey Wolfenbarger
#12 Mya Pauldo
#13 Mia Pauldo
#15 Jaida Civil
#25 Deniya Prawl

 

[Rickster]

Just for context in the comparisons...

2024-25 Lady Vols had zero true freshmen, one redshirt freshman.
Last year's team began to falter physically before reaching the end of regular season.

This year we have five true freshmen.
That's five who have the skills, yes, but who've yet to begin training in college-level strength and conditioning.
Also, accurate shooting takes mental focus, and freshmen are necessarily adjusting to so many new demands on and off the court. Expect adjustments to take time.

There's nothing good to be gained by setting high expectations--nothing good in it for us fans, nothing good in it for the players. So why not just let it play out, and enjoy each chapter as the season's story unfolds.

Exactly.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Watching some highlights of our incoming transfers and freshmen, right now Jersey Wolfenbarger is one of the most underrated transfers in WBB. She had some impressive performances last season at LSU. Former McDonalds All-American F 6’5 5-star & #7 recruit in the 2021 class. She’s improved her inside game. Would be an absolute steal for the Lady Vols if she continues to play at the rim with this level of skill and versatility.

 

[Rickster]

Prawl looks more like a player that can play the 3-4 position than Hurst she looks more like a two guard. I think they are both 6'2" and Prawl looks like she has gotten bigger and stronger since the last time I saw her. Hurst needs some weight training.

They're going to be running a lot for cardio as well......

 

[Rickster]

Easy guys, the season is months away yet.....

Holy crap GT. That's dark, but an effective training video from an Indian perspective.

GT, of the incoming players, who are your two picks to make the biggest impact this fall? What's intriguing to you about this bunch?

 

[lvocd]

So many people have unrealistic expectations cast to teams rather than wait and see how things mature. Same thing happened to the baseball team. And look what happened to TA&M baseball team ranked no.1 and never made the tournament.i have high hopes but let's see how all the pieces work and come together.

I guess we do that because fan forums are unserious gathering places meant for fanatics for their team to have fun "talking" with others about their team. Fanatics are often spending a lot of time hoping and wishing and getting excited about their team's next season, and so that ends up a lot of time becoming exuberant rah-rahs and wildest-dreams-posting that hurts noone. Because this isn't serious business in here. It's kinda fun once a person stops worrying whether the hopes and dreams of others are realistic or not. If we had to wait to see how it all worked out, there'd be no reason to have these fan forums.

 

[volsagain]

I guess we do that because fan forums are unserious gathering places meant for fanatics for their team to have fun "talking" with others about their team. Fanatics are often spending a lot of time hoping and wishing and getting excited about their team's next season, and so that ends up a lot of time becoming exuberant rah-rahs and wildest-dreams-posting that hurts noone. Because this isn't serious business in here. It's kinda fun once a person stops worrying whether the hopes and dreams of others are realistic or not. If we had to wait to see how it all worked out, there'd be no reason to have these fan forums.

My bad. Guess I just hate having to skip past all the moaning , groaning and crying because we don't have a 20 point lead after the 1st quarter. These ladies on paper have a shot at beating anyone but I'm thinking there will be a few bumps in the road. Wish the negative bunch had there on threads.

 

[Jax_Vol]

How tall are the new additions?


Can't teach tall

 

[GameTime]

Holy crap GT. That's dark, but an effective training video from an Indian perspective.

GT, of the incoming players, who are your two picks to make the biggest impact this fall? What's intriguing to you about this bunch?

Rickster my man, an immediate impact will be brought forth by an intangible entity known as speed, and more speed....No longer will the Lady Vols have slow players (one in particular) to be exploited by their opponents...This fallacy slowed down their offensive attack and failed their defensive schemes....

The full court defensive press will become legendary.....The girls will be able to point to this pressure point philosophy proudly....Steal and steal again....Don't get caught short...Keep the back door closed...

The twins will be remesent of the swift cheetahs of the Serengeti...

 

[GameTime]

When the LVs have their famous line change, imagine the dread their opponents will be feeling....Fresh fast legs coming in.

 

[ttharp]

Just for context in the comparisons...

2024-25 Lady Vols had zero true freshmen, one redshirt freshman.
Last year's team began to falter physically before reaching the end of regular season.

This year we have five true freshmen.
That's five who have the skills, yes, but who've yet to begin training in college-level strength and conditioning.
Also, accurate shooting takes mental focus, and freshmen are necessarily adjusting to so many new demands on and off the court. Expect adjustments to take time.

There's nothing good to be gained by setting high expectations--nothing good in it for us fans, nothing good in it for the players. So why not just let it play out, and enjoy each chapter as the season's story unfolds.

I mostly agree here.

I also think the returners, who are very talented, need more guidance/work to develop winning habits on a *consistent* basis. Transfers too, tbh.

We have a few players who are turnover prone. In big games, it's all about executing the details especially late in games. You can out-talent and out-athlete your way to a S16 but once you get to the E8, it's all about habits, details, execution, how you play when shots aren't falling, navigating foul trouble, adversity, etc.

At times, last years team had long stretches of low IQ hoops. There's a lot of grace due it being year one, not having a roster built for system, etc, but I hope this changes in year 2.

 

[BruisedOrange]

[...]
We have a few players who are turnover prone. In big games, it's all about executing the details especially late in games. You can out-talent and out-athlete your way to a S16 but once you get to the E8, it's all about habits, details, execution, how you play when shots aren't falling, navigating foul trouble, adversity, etc.

At times, last years team had long stretches of low IQ hoops. There's a lot of grace due it being year one, not having a roster built for system, etc, but I hope this changes in year 2.

This!

Girls grow up playing so much more of each year today, spend so much more time under coaching today, but it still seems like it isn't producing widespread basketball (on-court) IQ. Is this because they're running set plays, then learning another coach's plays, and another coach's plays?

Kirby Schepp's approach has always rung true to me. But I know my personality is high in Intuition and Perception. Maybe this doesn't work for players who are high in Sensing and Judging (using Meyer-Briggs terminology). But CKC's philosophy and priorities (equipping the players to figure it out on the court rather than depend on coaching timeouts) make me think that she and Schepp would have a very genial conversation.

 

[RAVOL]

I may be over expecting, but I see this team as top five in the country in talent. Sure we have a tough SEC road schedule. I think we can still get 12 to 14 SEC wins. I think the sweet sixteen this season is the minimal. I can see us elite 8 final four and even winning the title. We have explosive talent this season all the way through the lineup some are young, but they should be locked in and ready by the time the NCAA tourney rolls around. No reason to lose very many that inside game and perimeter game is stacked with elite players. We should be ready to play to the level of any team in the country.

I have High expectations. We do have a final 4 roster as does 6 or 7 other teams. Top 10 rosters are loaded. It will come down to health and teams that play there best in Tournament. In CHRIST Alone

 

[LadyVol1908]

Last year's schedule finished in the top 10 of SOS. The schedules that you're dreaming about from years past are long gone.

Tennessee has NC State, Louisville, Stanford, MTSU and UConn all on the road or neutral site. Unfortunately, that means you're not going to see a major out of conference game at home.

Are they……because South Carolina dreams that schedule right on up damn near every year.

 

[LadyVol1908]

Just for context in the comparisons...

2024-25 Lady Vols had zero true freshmen, one redshirt freshman.
Last year's team began to falter physically before reaching the end of regular season.

This year we have five true freshmen.
That's five who have the skills, yes, but who've yet to begin training in college-level strength and conditioning.
Also, accurate shooting takes mental focus, and freshmen are necessarily adjusting to so many new demands on and off the court. Expect adjustments to take time.

There's nothing good to be gained by setting high expectations--nothing good in it for us fans, nothing good in it for the players. So why not just let it play out, and enjoy each chapter as the season's story unfolds.

We have no choice but to let it play out, but it’s a message board so……we’re going to set as many expectations, share as many opinions, and argue as much as we want to and still let the season unfold!

 

[Volfan2012]

Watching some highlights of our incoming transfers and freshmen, right now Jersey Wolfenbarger is one of the most underrated transfers in WBB. She had some impressive performances last season at LSU. Former McDonalds All-American F 6’5 5-star & #7 recruit in the 2021 class. She’s improved her inside game. Would be an absolute steal for the Lady Vols if she continues to play at the rim with this level of skill and versatility.

I expect her to have a huge year for us. She will get more playing time per game than she got there and she is a terrific defender under the basket.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

We have no choice but to let it play out, but it’s a message board so……we’re going to set as many expectations, share as many opinions, and argue as much as we want to and still let the season unfold!

Thankfully this board has several nearly infallible fan/poster evaluators to provide analysis on the extraordinarily profusive arrogant contributors so visitors will recognize them as THE EVERY BOARD HAS THEM segment. Just another beautiful byproduct of this free speech thing.

The grace with which the offenders accept the reviews is astounding ………NOT. The cyber backslapping with justifications among our new LOMS causes serious vision problems due to extensive eye rolling.