Tennessee Lady Vol News

[Hoosier_Vol]

With the growing popularity of women's basketball, the NCAA is moving the 2028 Final Four to Lucas Oil Stadium from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, allowing for an additional 13,000 seats.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

Been away for the summer and in football mode…how we feeling about these ladies and the upcoming season? Cautiously optimistic or expectations off the chart? Lots of youth with a nucleus of returners and experienced transfers. Seems like no reason they shouldn’t be better than last year.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Been away for the summer and in football mode…how we feeling about these ladies and the upcoming season? Cautiously optimistic or expectations off the chart? Lots of youth with a nucleus of returners and experienced transfers. Seems like no reason they shouldn’t be better than last year.

Always cautiously optimistic is my vote. Helps to keep the BVS from flaring up…

We’ll need three point shooters to step up to fill those roles. Historically, Kim and Jenna seem to have facilitated this transition annually with a high degree of success.

 

[lvocd]

Always cautiously optimistic is my vote. Helps to keep the BVS from flaring up…

We’ll need three pointshooters to step up to fill those roles. Historically, Kim and Jenna seem to have facilitated this transition annually with a high degree of success.

Agreed. Kim has been forthcoming in saying she still needs some players to take on the extremely important role of being dead-eye long-range shooters. I admit I'm a little worried about it. Thing is, becoming a reliably consistent dead-eye shooter usually requires players to have exhorbitant extra free time to get in the gym on their own to put up thousands of shots until muscle memory takes over.

That worries me a bit because several of the players she may be hoping will take on that role are first-year players, and first-years at Tennessee are tough and don't typically leave a heckuva lot of free time to get in extra shooting practice. There are some programs that seem to be able to get their players LOTS of extra opportunities to put up countless muscle-memory-building shots, but Tennessee has never appeared to be one of those. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[glv98]

Agreed. Kim has been forthcoming in saying she still needs some players to take on the extremely important role of being dead-eye long-range shooters. I admit I'm a little worried about it. Thing is, becoming a reliably consistent dead-eye shooter usually requires players to have exhorbitant extra free time to get in the gym on their own to put up thousands of shots until muscle memory takes over.

That worries me a bit because several of the players she may be hoping will take on that role are first-year players, and first-years at Tennessee are tough and don't typically leave a heckuva lot of free time to get in extra shooting practice. There are some programs that seem to be able to get their players LOTS of extra opportunities to put up countless muscle-memory-building shots, but Tennessee has never appeared to be one of those. Maybe I'm wrong.

Agree completely. Once again, the challenge is going to be dead eye three point shooting, especially achieving it consistently on a game to game basis. No amount of speed or athleticism will fix that problem. Hopefully someone will step up.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

Agree completely. Once again, the challenge is going to be dead eye three point shooting, especially achieving it consistently on a game to game basis. No amount of speed or athleticism will fix that problem. Hopefully someone will step up.

Compared to last season, is it hard to imagine this team will at least match what they did from 3? The "dead-eye" shooters were highly inconsistent if I'm remembering correctly.

 

[glv98]

Compared to last season, is it hard to imagine this team will at least match what they did from 3? The "dead-eye" shooters were highly inconsistent if I'm remembering correctly.

Thats what I remember. That’s why they had a disappointing SEC season.

My hope is one of the younguns becomes that consistent 3 pt shooter so the outcome is better this year.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Thats what I remember. That’s why they had a disappointing SEC season.

My hope is one of the younguns becomes that consistent 3 pt shooter so the outcome is better this year.

I have to believe we have several who could step up if Coach told them that is part of their role.

 

[37620VOL]

What 3p % did the twins shoot in HS?

 

[lvocd]

I have to believe we have several who could step up if Coach told them that is part of their role.

I'm sure 75% of the team would absolutely LOVE to become our consistently successful three-point shooter. I mean, who WOULDN'T enjoy hearing the thunderous crowd reaction every 3-pt make gets the shooter? There are plenty of great reasons they'd all enjoy having a rep as the one everybody fears getting hot from outside.

But the obvious reason everyone can't fill that glorious role is because it takes way, Way, WAY more monotonously grinding alone time in the gym while everyone else is finally taking a break from classes and team practice. Getting players to fill that role is a huge ask, frankly, when what that means is they'll probably have to miss out on a lot of typical college activities with friends because they'll need to be getting up shots instead of having normal college-aged kids' lives. And like I said, it's hard enough for freshmen in particular to find all that extra time when it can be tough adjusting to the demands of college course work.

But, maybe we'll be lucky and a couple of players WILL be able to make the time. I sure hope so.

 

[VolBall09]

Compared to last season, is it hard to imagine this team will at least match what they did from 3? The "dead-eye" shooters were highly inconsistent if I'm remembering correctly.

You are correct. I expect three point shooting with this group to be the same or better. Big difference is this group will be able to get to the rim at will so should get more space from three.

We had some players last season like Puckett and Darby who couldn’t do anything off the dribble so it was much harder for them to find space at times.

Our spacing should be a lot better with 5 players who are triple threat on the perimeter.

 

[Volfan2012]

Compared to last season, is it hard to imagine this team will at least match what they did from 3? The "dead-eye" shooters were highly inconsistent if I'm remembering correctly.

Coach says she wants 34 percent last year it was 32.5 percent so were hoping for 1.5 percent better performance. We had two very good shooters Spear 38 percent and Spencer 37 percent after that came the huge fall off. We have some players that were really great in high school Mia Pauldo 41 percent and Mya 39. Don't know if that will relate to the SEC should be able to get close to those numbers all comes down to open looks. The main thing that needs to happen to reach that 34 percent goal is that the non shooters need to quit shooting them. We had a lot of players that shot 26 to 30 percent that took way more attempts than they should've been taking. Designated three point shooters is the best way to have a decent percentage. If you have players firing up 80 to 100 that shoot 26 percent you can see where the problem would come from.

We easily make 34 percent last season if three players take more and three players take way less.

 

[37620VOL]

Coach says she wants 34 percent last year it was 32.5 percent so were hoping for 1.5 percent better performance. We had two very good shooters Spear 38 percent and Spencer 37 percent after that came the huge fall off. We have some players that were really great in high school Mia Pauldo 41 percent and Mya 39. Don't know if that will relate to the SEC should be able to get close to those numbers all comes down to open looks. The main thing that needs to happen to reach that 34 percent goal is that the non shooters need to quit shooting them. We had a lot of players that shot 26 to 30 percent that took way more attempts than they should've been taking. Designated three point shooters is the best way to have a decent percentage. If you have players firing up 80 to 100 that shoot 26 percent you can see where the problem would come from.

We easily make 34 percent last season if three players take more and three players take way less.

It's not that simple. Let's say you tell Cooper, Ruby, and Zee, no more 3s -- what is the response of the defense? The defense sags off, now you don't get high percentage layups, your post entry passes turn into turnovers, your other 3-point shooters have less space, and the whole offense gums up. Fact is, everyone that stands outside the 3-point line needs to be enough of a 3-point threat that the defense has to guard them with respect, and that means they have to be willing 3-point shooters.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

I agree and that’s why I respect Coach Caldwell because she’s going to challenge them to step up and when they meet the mark she’s going to continue to push them for consistency.
You’ll see certain posters talk about percentages… when you are surrounded with talent your game goes up a notch or two.
This team will have players that are highly ranked that will no longer have to carry a team or be the primary playmaker/ball handler, they will get good sometimes great open 3pt shot looks that they typically haven’t gotten consistently due to being the focus of the defense.
CKC just knows that she has to raise the bar and keep them locked in on making improvements overall as basketball players.
GBO.

I have to believe we have several who could step up if Coach told them that is part of their role.

 

[glv98]

I don’t think it’s so much a certain percentage number as it is consistency. We need someone who’s pretty reliable game to game so we don’t have so many games where we couldn’t throw it in the ocean from a boat.

Our best percentage shooters last year unfortunately were prone to either hit everything or nothing.

 

[Volfan2012]

It's not that simple. Let's say you tell Cooper, Ruby, and Zee, no more 3s -- what is the response of the defense? The defense sags off, now you don't get high percentage layups, your post entry passes turn into turnovers, your other 3-point shooters have less space, and the whole offense gums up. Fact is, everyone that stands outside the 3-point line needs to be enough of a 3-point threat that the defense has to guard them with respect, and that means they have to be willing 3-point shooters.

Certainly didn't mean no attempts, but close to 100 is a little extreme for a 26 percent shooter. Will any of the three you mention be better this season will need to happen to reach the 34 percent goal. I figure if they prove to not be better the defense will be proud to give them the shot. They all took several last season where we could've done something better.

 

[Volfan2012]

What I think is going to happen is a lot of possessions players are going to have some extremely open looks because Pauldo is a real smart driver and distributor of the basketball. Cooper can do it as well. Actually we have many that can, but Pauldo has that IQ to know where to go with the ball. She will get you the shot making a percentage will be up to any particular player.

Also no need to take as many threes this season as that inside game is much more dynamic than last season we should score a lot more inside.

 

[Coach Jumper]

...My hope is one of the younguns becomes that consistent 3 pt shooter so the outcome is better this year.

One of the old guns will emerge as a 40% 3 pt shooter this year

...But the obvious reason everyone can't fill that glorious role is because it takes way, Way, WAY more monotonously grinding alone time in the gym while everyone else is finally taking a break from classes and team practice. Getting players to fill that role is a huge ask,

But, maybe we'll be lucky and a couple of players WILL be able to make the time. I sure hope so.

Very true

The reason the 3 is as difficult as it is goes beyond "bc its further"
To understand this concept is to experience it...
The way I teach,,,"shooting a 3" :

Comfort range is the point at which you have to change something in the mechanics of your shot to make up for the extra distance.

Personally, as a shooter my "comfort range" is to the elbow (19 foot).
The arch is 21 foot
since the 3pt arc is beyond my comfort zone, my mechanics have to differ to give myself a chance at making it.

So if the female player I am working with has to change her mechanics in order to make a 3pt when it is beyond her comfort range...that takes getting in the gym and muscle-memorying" a whole new different shot

and as @lvocd said,,,that takes above and beyond,,,dedication...

 

[37620VOL]

Certainly didn't mean no attempts, but close to 100 is a little extreme for a 26 percent shooter. Will any of the three you mention be better this season will need to happen to reach the 34 percent goal. I figure if they prove to not be better the defense will be proud to give them the shot. They all took several last season where we could've done something better.

Good points, I would think that the coaches should talk to each player regularly and define what a good shot is for them. Last I played ball for real, coach defined it as a 3 you can make 1 out of 3 times, or a 2 you can make 1 out of 2 times. We were encouraged to self-eval, but coaches would give feedback if a player was out of line in either direction. With someone like Spear, it's if you can see the rim, shoot! With your weaker shooters, you might advise only shooting uncontested or soft defense 3s.

 

[Hexad Vol]

I think that instead of a couple of players in the high 30's and a bunch down near 30%, this year's team will have many players in the low to mid 30's, adding up to a similar or, hopefully, slightly higher net percentage. This will force defenses to get out to cover almost everyone at the arc and open the interior for driving and post play. This should result in cleaner shots for everyone.

 

[lfvol]

Agreed. Kim has been forthcoming in saying she still needs some players to take on the extremely important role of being dead-eye long-range shooters. I admit I'm a little worried about it. Thing is, becoming a reliably consistent dead-eye shooter usually requires players to have exhorbitant extra free time to get in the gym on their own to put up thousands of shots until muscle memory takes over.

That worries me a bit because several of the players she may be hoping will take on that role are first-year players, and first-years at Tennessee are tough and don't typically leave a heckuva lot of free time to get in extra shooting practice. There are some programs that seem to be able to get their players LOTS of extra opportunities to put up countless muscle-memory-building shots, but Tennessee has never appeared to be one of those. Maybe I'm wrong.

Great three point shooters are almost always at least solid three point shooters when they get to college. She has to recruit them or pay for them in the portal but they can’t be so lacking in other areas as to be huge liabilities like some that recently departed.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Good points, I would think that the coaches should talk to each player regularly and define what a good shot is for them. Last I played ball for real, coach defined it as a 3 you can make 1 out of 3 times, or a 2 you can make 1 out of 2 times. We were encouraged to self-eval, but coaches would give feedback if a player was out of line in either direction. With someone like Spear, it's if you can see the rim, shoot! With your weaker shooters, you might advise only shooting uncontested or soft defense 3s.

And something we heard from CKC since summer indicated that they track what each player shoots in practice, so they (the coaches and the players) know their production, range, and rate of improvement.

[...]
Comfort range is the point at which you have to change something in the mechanics of your shot to make up for the extra distance.

Personally, as a shooter my "comfort range" is to the elbow (19 foot).
The arch is 21 foot
since the 3pt arc is beyond my comfort zone, my mechanics have to differ to give myself a chance at making it.

So if the female player I am working with has to change her mechanics in order to make a 3pt when it is beyond her comfort range...that takes getting in the gym and muscle-memorying" a whole new different shot

and as @lvocd said,,,that takes above and beyond,,,dedication...

Wonderfully succinct explanation, and why shooting is both "feel" and mechanics.

 

[Rickster]

I'm pretty sure Kim will field a team that can shoot the 3. If their defense improves over last season, will the 3 ball be a critical offensive skill needed to win?

 

[BruisedOrange]

Been away for the summer and in football mode…how we feeling about these ladies and the upcoming season? Cautiously optimistic or expectations off the chart? Lots of youth with a nucleus of returners and experienced transfers. Seems like no reason they shouldn’t be better than last year.

I'd say we're maintaining "cautious optimism" ...but we're only a quarter of the way down Expectation Mountain and I can smell the brake linings already beginning to smoke. Thermal fade should set in by the third week of October, and by halftime of the exhibition game we'll be mentally measuring shelf space for the championship trophy. We is what we is!

As everyone has pointed out, CKC wants 3-point efficiency to improve to 34%, and the candidates to make that happen have not yet been (at least, publicly) identified.

But the 34% goal is better understood in context of her foundational goal for this season, which is to score 10 more points per game.

And that's where her philosophy shows its robustness and flexibility. Even if we don't have better 3-point shooters on this season's roster, we are--across the roster--well built to increase our margin of possessions and from that generate those extra points.

Our players are either taller or better (like the twins) at rebounding. Defensively (and especially in the press) we have greater quickness across the entire roster--which also possesses the offensive ability to get to the basket and score. Also, by January our roster could be deeper, with more players than last season able to contribute meaningful minutes, allowing our best 7-9 players to be better rested entering the 4th quarter (and March).

I'm not counting on this roster to reach that 34% from three goal (on my BVS therapist's advice). But I'm still confident that--if the whistles respect our dexterity and quickness on defense--we will find those extra 10 points in other ways.

And that might turn out to be an even more exciting style of basketball to watch.

 

[LV renaissance]

I imagine Coach will stick to her stated philosophy of wanting anyone to shoot a wide open 3. She did amend it a bit last year to say if someone has been cold from the three, then work more on drive and penetrate. I would be pleasantly surprised if this team hits 34% from the 3 line given that several Freshmen are likely to get significant minutes and the main 3-point shooter that is likely to play a lot is MIa, who will need to be focusing on being a Freshman point guard, I think that she will be a great one and may make a big splash even this year, but it is a lot to expect from her that she also needs to lead the team in 3 point shooting with all her other duties. It will be remarkable if we have anyone on the team who take several three pointers and hits 47+% of them like Jewell did last year against the SEC regular season, which is truly amazing and brought our overall number up substantially in SEC play. I do think it may be possible that against the very best teams our athleticism may help some players get more open for 3-pointers than last year, as at times this was hard for Jewell, Darby and Puckett to do so. So, this could be one area of improved shooting in the most critical games. I think if we even get close to last year's percentages, we will be greatly improved overall due to likely much better defense, better rebounding, and having a boat load of folks who can create off the dribble. I am ready!!