Players most essential to step up next season?

#1

LV renaissance

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#1
For me, I am curious about how each and every one of them will do individually as well in relation to the other players. We do have several Power 4 players who have been successful already and who will be critical to our team's success next year. They don't necessarily need to step up other than those who have been injured. The two I most hope can step are two that have done great in mid-major conferences:

Naomi White - It is amazing what she did in her freshman year at Northern Arizona. Yes, she was at a mid-major team, but to lead the all-other Freshmen in scoring (20.7) while still maintaining an excellent three-point shooting percentage (37.2) on an otherwise horrible team is remarkable. We played several mid-major teams last year and none of our freshman were close to shining like this across all of those games. Interestingly, her stats would have been even much better but the last handful games she lost her effectiveness. I imagine this was a case of the tendency for freshmen to lose their legs at the end of the season, which I would think would be even more extreme when you are carrying your team alone. Some mid major stars don't translate well because they just aren't as athletic as the power 4 athletes, but her video suggests that she has more than ample speed and a quick release. The LVs definitely will need a successful guard volume shooter, and she seems to be by far the most likely candidate.
Kennedy Fauntleroy - This team desperately needs someone who is already comfortable in the point guard position, and she is the only one who is besides the injured Eeds. We are also need someone who can defend well and create steals now that we have lost Cooper, which she excelled at during her career. While I don't expect her to match her 3 SPG average at ECU, it would still be great if she could match Cooper's 2 SPG here.

Kelly had some limited success with mid-major transfers of similar accolades even though most of them had some type of recent injuries or physical issues. Both of the above players are apparently healthy and hopefully will translate even better to the SEC. We sure do need them!
What player(s) are you the most intrigued with?
 
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#2
#2
Who knows? I mean, you never know how players who have just come in are going to do. But I have a feeling they won't have to do much to be leaps and bounds better that what we would have had with last years team. Not making fun of them, but they were probably the worst performing bunch ever. And when Kim said they quit on her? Well they did. It was the truth.

 
#3
#3
Read another article about the new players and it said White could be the sleeper player of all the recruits. Kim also took chances on a couple of good players coming off serious injuries and the article addressed how their recovery would impact the season. Kim needs some breaks to go her way this coming season so hoping the injured players to do come back strong.
 
#4
#4
Read another article about the new players and it said White could be the sleeper player of all the recruits. Kim also took chances on a couple of good players coming off serious injuries and the article addressed how their recovery would impact the season. Kim needs some breaks to go her way this coming season so hoping the injured players to do come back strong.
I also think it's going to be how the schedule shakes out. We know we win have the home and home series that were already established and the SEC vs ACC challenge which will likely give us a tournament team from last season.

Is the rest of the schedule competitive so that we are able to see what the team will really look like or will it be a bunch of cupcake teams to ensure we almost go as close to undefeated in non-conference play (I believe she said her teams don't really begin to gel/understand the system until late in December).
 
#5
#5
As a team we just need to get those percentages up across the board and the coaches need to give this team more opportunity to succeed on defense. Need to see that 30 percent from the three rise to 35 percent and that 64 percent from the line rise to 75 percent. Both are possible if you consider the background of each player. As a group last season where they played they went for 37.7 percent so the hope is they can do somewhere close to that at Tennessee. They were also above 75 percent at the line close to 78 percent so again hope they can as a group do that for Tennessee.

I See Fountleroy as the starting point guard with White and Smikle as the starting wings. Janneh and Craft seem to have the best shot at starting at the other two positions. The five best after them seem to be Mills, Riley T, Moore, Coulibaly and Minus. Don't know enough of how Irene O will react to American basketball she is a top player in their Super League and also Fiba.

That leaves us with Makalusky, Peterson, Steele, and Eads. Some of these players could take the backup roles. I don't see any of them starting. Eads may end up redshirting even though Coach Caldwell says she is way ahead of schedule from her ACL injury.
 
#8
#8
I completely agree with RUSTON on what he has said repeatedly about the LADY VOLS. I have repeated RUSTON in these forums many times. I thought I would let you hear what he has said from the horses mouth so to speak. So I posted it for you

 
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#9
#9
Who knows? I mean, you never know how players who have just come in are going to do. But I have a feeling they won't have to do much to be leaps and bounds better that what we would have had with last years team. Not making fun of them, but they were probably the worst performing bunch ever. And when Kim said they quit on her? Well they did. It was the truth.


Great movie segment....then Jack had an oopsy..
 
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#12
#12
Moore from Texas, I think it is essential she is back to form to help Fats in the paint. Lord knows the LV’s have a deep roster of three point shooters already. If Moore is healthy this team will be better than many expect imo. The big girl from Stanford is a decent shooter from outside, but it’s hard for me to see her banging in the paint.
 
#15
#15
One of the things in basketball no matter if it's mens or womens is during a game if a team is struggling offensively. You've seen the this before. It starts when it seems you miss a layup or two, then you miss multiple trips to the basket and put up outside shots which are missed and look up and you're down 12 or 14. Good coaches call a timeout earlier but you find yourself down by double digits. Coming out of the timeout the team still appears disjointed out of sync and misses their next shot.

Exasperating!!!! Coming out of that timeout when there has been a lid on the rim really good coaches run a set play that has a high percentage of scoring. Some of those coaches draw it up right there in front of everybody. You can see how they set it up and gain confidence when they make the shot. Just going back doing same ol same ol should not cut it when struggling offensively. Dean Smith was one of the best at this imo.
 
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