The Moratorium Thread: No talk about Kim or "the system" allowed

#1
L

lvocd

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#1
Let's get this Positivity Party started! Please, everyone. Try to refrain from backsliding into forbidden territory when the entire rest of the Lady Vols forum is open for all that. Let's try to keep this thread about any good news or thoughts we might be having or hearing about our team and our new staff members we haven't gotten to know yet.

Like I said earlier today, I'm feeling like the wait to see how our new team is going to look come November is going to be a heckuva grind for us all, but I'm hopeful they'll hold their own.

GO LADY VOLS!
 
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#7
#7
I'm always excited about our incoming freshmen, including this year. But, I'm most excited to see the players we've signed who have experience in the SEC or, alternatively, who excelled in their own conferences. They've proven that they can compete, both at the high school level and a next step beyond that, and they've also proven that they will work hard. We have players who have excelled in real time, college level competition situations. And. We have some real SHOOTERS!

Even more important for us, we have players that will fit and buy in to what we are trying to do and have also been chosen because they are competitors and good teammates who will contribute to rebuilding a strong culture. Everybody is going into this eyes completely open and that's a huge positive.

Lastly, we have people that don't run from or duck the smoke, they run to it! Every one of these players signed at a time when our program needed them most. No fear over here...

Excited to see them hit the court! Let's go BIG orange! 🍊 🧡
 
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#8
#8
SummittSoul said:
I'm always excited about our incoming freshmen, including this year. But, I'm most excited to see the players we've signed who have experience in the SEC or, alternatively, who excelled in their own conferences. They've proven that they can compete, both at the high school level and a next step beyond that, and they've also proven that they will work hard. We have players who have excelled in real time, college level competition situations. And. We have some real SHOOTERS!

Even more important for us, we have players that will fit and buy in to what we are trying to do and have also been chosen because they are competitors and good teammates who will contribute to rebuilding a strong culture. Everybody is going into this eyes completely open and that's a huge positive.

Lastly, we have people that don't run from or duck the smoke, they run to it! Every one of these players signed at a time when our program needed them most. No fear over here...

Excited to see them hit the court! Let's go BIG orange! 🍊 🧡
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Very well said!!!
 
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#9
#9
SummittSoul said:
I'm always excited about our incoming freshmen, including this year. But, I'm most excited to see the players we've signed who have experience in the SEC or, alternatively, who excelled in their own conferences. They've proven that they can compete, both at the high school level and a next step beyond that, and they've also proven that they will work hard. We have players who have excelled in real time, college level competition situations. And. We have some real SHOOTERS!

Even more important for us, we have players that will fit and buy in to what we are trying to do and have also been chosen because they are competitors and good teammates who will contribute to rebuilding a strong culture. Everybody is going into this eyes completely open and that's a huge positive.

Lastly, we have people that don't run from or duck the smoke, they run to it! Every one of these players signed at a time when our program needed them most. No fear over here...

Excited to see them hit the court! Let's go BIG orange! 🍊 🧡
Click to expand...
Amen! It does feel nice to know that our team is made up of women bold and confident enough to be willing to take on the challenge of starting from scratch. Unless they'd been living in an underground bunker with no communication devices for the last few months before suddenly emerging feeling compelled to move to Knoxville, it says a heckuva lot about what they are made of that they are Lady Vols now. 👍🏻👍🏻

All of our players will need to put the work in to get into tip-top aerobic condition so that their good shooting can STAY good. If you’re gasping for air it’s harder to focus.

Another thing I’m hoping can happen is for our players to get more practices/free throw shooting reps in, at the big arena, the Food City Center, instead of just at Pratt Pavilion practice facility. I understand that the FCC isn’t always available, but I think it may be particularly important for our new players to get used to the feeling of that space. If anyone reading this has ever taken shots in a small gym (like Pratt) and then in FCC, you know what I mean. It just feels different, and can throw off depth perception just enough to matter.

Anyway, I hope someone on staff is thinking the same way. 🤞🏻

One more thing for now. I’m really liking the energy Bill Ferrara is giving off. I wonder: Does he sleep? 😁
 
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#15
#15
Kudos to Coach Kim and staff for the work and effort they are putting forth to land this very talented bunch of athletes. Going to be pretty deep and very competitive it appears!!! Now if I could just talk her into not subbing quite so quickly. At least go five minutes between substitutions and turn this bunch loose on our opponents!!!!👩‍🔬😎
 
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#16
#16
VolBall09 said:
I think staying mum on the whole issue was the wise way to go. Always better to show people than to tell people.
Click to expand...

There needed to be at least one thread for people who've been turned off by the rest of board lately to go if they don't want to be bombarded with a steady stream of criticisms and concerns. I understand and appreciate honesty and openness, but I also see trmendous value in focusing on positives in life. We CAN have both on this forum if we try. 😀

If anyone sees anything elsewhere on this forum that is positive news feel free to post it again in this particular thread for the handful of folks who may wish to stick with only this thread to avoid any stress. 🥹
 
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#18
#18
I also liked this review of current recruits by Page Dauer:



Here's part of what Page says:

Some of the latest additions are especially interesting—not just because they’re international players, but because they’re young and bring more experience than you might expect.

Take sophomore guard Harissoum Coulibaly. She’s from Auburn but originally from France. Then there’s freshman guard Irene Oboavwoduo, added to the high school class, who comes from Great Britain. Coulibaly, from Paris, has national team experience and previously played at S3 Academy in [Bristol] Virginia, where she averaged 16 points, four assists, and five rebounds per game. At Auburn last season as a freshman, she averaged over 10 points and nearly two steals per game.

What stands out about Coulibalyis her fit. She’s not a perimeter-heavy guard—she only took four three-point shots last season. Instead, she brings a mid-range rhythm, the ability to get downhill, and finishing at the rim. Those are elements Kim Caldwell’s offense lacked last season.

Irene Oboavwoduo is also highly intriguing—easily one of my top three favorite additions. She’s been involved with Great Britain’s national teams throughout her high school career and even captained the U16 team to a bronze medal in 2024. That should resonate with Lady Vol fans, because it points to something Caldwell was missing last season.

Her former coach described her as long, versatile, smooth in the mid-range, a strong rebounder, and someone who plays with maturity. That likely ties back to her leadership experience at the national level. Both international players bring what you might call “culture multiplier” qualities—something Tennessee clearly needs.
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#19
#19
Also, for those who want to focus on a more appreciative approach to next year's team, I'll start posting the updated list of announced commitments here as well:

NamePosHtClassPlayer Card
Gabby MinusG6-1FrHebron Christian (GA). Four-star. No. 3 player in Georgia. 22.0 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.0 rpg. Big guard. Transition fit. Competitive.
Avery MillsG5-9JrLiberty. 2 years left. First-Team All-CUSA; CUSA All-Freshman Team. 15.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 42.7% 3PT. Proven shooter. Volume scorer. Spacing guard.
Naomi WhiteG5-9R-SoNorthern Arizona. Big Sky Freshman of the Year; First-Team All-Conference. 20.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 37.2% 3PT. Explosive scorer. Volume shooter. Instant-offense guard.
Harper PetersonF6-3JrStanford. Rocklin, CA (Whitney HS). Four-star; ESPN HoopGurlz No. 87 (Class of 2024). 2025-26: 1.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.1 apg, 33.3% FG, 37.5% 3PT in 9 games. Stretch forward. Developmental upside.
Zhen CraftF6-2SoGeorgia. Waldorf, MD (Bishop McNamara HS). Four-star; ESPN HoopGurlz No. 64 (Class of 2025). 2025-26: 5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 apg, 46.9% FG in 27 games. Physical forward. Rebounding upside. Frontcourt depth.
Rylie TheuerkaufG5-9SrGeorgia (Wake Forest transfer). 2025-26: 11.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 42.4% FG, 40.6% 3PT, 86.2% FT. Elite shooter. Floor spacer. Off-ball scoring threat. Proven SEC production.
Irene OboavwoduoG5-9FrEngland (Manchester Mystics / GB). Stats from 28 games in FIBA U16 and U18 tournaments 2022-2025: 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg. Wing. Smooth mid-game. Relentless rebounder.
Harissoum CoulibalyG5-10SoAuburn. Paris, France. 2025-26: 10.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 45.0% FG. Physical guard. Downhill scorer. 2 for 4 on 3PA last year. Only 55% on free throws.
 
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#20
#20
As long as the mid-range transitions to downhill and layups, it's gold. Midrange jumpers are not really a part of this offense.

I am excited and hopeful that the vibe will be different. A hungry, fun team that can knock down 3's and make layups.

Go Lady Vols.
 
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#22
#22
Ding!

NamePosHtClassPlayer Card
Gabby MinusG6-1FrHebron Christian (GA). Four-star. No. 3 player in Georgia. 22.0 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.0 rpg. Big guard. Transition fit. Competitive.
Avery MillsG5-9JrLiberty. 2 years left. First-Team All-CUSA; CUSA All-Freshman Team. 15.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 42.7% 3PT. Proven shooter. Volume scorer. Spacing guard.
Naomi WhiteG5-9R-SoNorthern Arizona. Big Sky Freshman of the Year; First-Team All-Conference. 20.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 37.2% 3PT. Explosive scorer. Volume shooter. Instant-offense guard.
Harper PetersonF6-3JrStanford. Rocklin, CA (Whitney HS). Four-star; ESPN HoopGurlz No. 87 (Class of 2024). 2025-26: 1.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.1 apg, 33.3% FG, 37.5% 3PT in 9 games. Stretch forward. Developmental upside.
Zhen CraftF6-2SoGeorgia. Waldorf, MD (Bishop McNamara HS). Four-star; ESPN HoopGurlz No. 64 (Class of 2025). 2025-26: 5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 apg, 46.9% FG in 27 games. Physical forward. Rebounding upside. Frontcourt depth.
Rylie TheuerkaufG5-9SrGeorgia (Wake Forest transfer). 2025-26: 11.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 42.4% FG, 40.6% 3PT, 86.2% FT. Elite shooter. Floor spacer. Off-ball scoring threat. Proven SEC production.
Irene OboavwoduoG5-9FrEngland (Manchester Mystics / GB). Stats from 28 games in FIBA U16 and U18 tournaments 2022-2025: 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg. Wing. Smooth mid-game. Relentless rebounder.
Harissoum CoulibalyG5-10SoAuburn. Paris, France. 2025-26: 10.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 45.0% FG. Physical guard. Downhill scorer. 2 for 4 on 3PA last year. Only 55% on free throws.
Fatmata JannehF6-2SrTexas A&M (Saint Peter’s transfer). London, England. 2025-26: 11.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 43.3% FG. 3P% jumped from <29% to 33% on 88 attempts, FT% went from 64% to 74.6% to 83.8% on 88 attempts last year. High-motor forward. Double-double threat.
 
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