The problem is NOT EFFORT

[madtownvol]

That mantra about effort is Holly's biggest blindspot. The problem is that the players are uncertain about what to do.

You see this same dynamic all the time in other programs across all sports. Poorly performing teams tend to invoke debates about whether it is the coach or some moral failing in the players, who for some inexplicable reason, lack drive, determination, or a willingness to give effort.

Once a better coach comes in, voila! suddenly these players seem to find their missing moral virtue. But it was never about some psychological block or character shortcoming. Rather, the problem was a structural flaw in how the team was being organized and prepared to play--Bad game plans and lack of coaching makes players tentative, uncertain and he/she who hesitates always looks lost.

Currently, how do LVs give effort on the offense?- you saw it last night, take the ball to the rim! But, when defenses adjust, they have was no Plan B, leading to charges and turnovers.
Currently, how do the LVs give effort on defense?- they chase ghosts because they are always out of position and leave gaping wide open lanes to the rim. There is no clear understanding of how to play defense as a team, possession after possession.

In this game and others, the LVs played hard but not smart. As these losing games wear on, the team's effort does tend to decline mainly out of frustration and futility-- the players are human and they get discouraged too.

In sum, the players are fine; the system is bad. Change the coach; change the system.

I had hoped that Holly would find a way to do things differently and alter the negative trajectory of the program. Sadly, it is now undeniably clear that such a positive transformation will not happen under her stewardship.

 

[lvocd]

That mantra about effort is Holly's biggest blindspot. The problem is that the players are uncertain about about what to do.

You see this same dynamic all the time in other programs across all sports. Poorly performing teams tend to invoke debates about whether it is the coach or some moral failing in the players, who lack drive, determination, or a willingness to give effort. Once a better coach comes in, suddenly these players seem find their moral virtue. But it was never about some psychological block. Rather, the problem was a structural flaw in how the team was being organized and prepared to play,. Bad game plans and lack of coaching makes players tentative, uncertain and he/she who hesitates always looks lost.

How do LVs give effort on the offense?- you saw it last night, take the ball to the rim; But , when the defenses adjust, they have was no Plan B leading to charges and turnovers.
How do the LVs give effort on defense?- they chase ghosts because they are always out of position and leave gaping wide open lanes to the rim.

In this game and others, they LVs playing hard but not smart and as these losing games wear on, the team's effort does tend to decline out of frustration and futility-- the players are human and they get discouraged too.

In sum, the players are fine; the system is bad. Change the coach; change the system. I had hoped that Holly would find a way to do things differently to change the trajectory of the program but it is clear that transformation is not happening.

YES to all of this.

 

[Dudleys87]

Players react to coaching, good coaching

Holly needs that leadership to make good coaching decisions. When we lost Pat she lost that support and I don’t think she ever recovered from her passing to start with

 

[cwbytruckers]

Same mistakes game in and game out with no improvement. Thats coaching 101. Very frustrating to watch. And im to the point when they show Holly on tv i turn away.

 

[Creekdog]

That mantra about effort is Holly's biggest blindspot. The problem is that the players are uncertain about what to do.

You see this same dynamic all the time in other programs across all sports. Poorly performing teams tend to invoke debates about whether it is the coach or some moral failing in the players, who for some inexplicable reason, lack drive, determination, or a willingness to give effort.

Once a better coach comes in, voila! suddenly these players seem to find their missing moral virtue. But it was never about some psychological block or shortcoming. Rather, the problem was a structural flaw in how the team was being organized and prepared to play,. Bad game plans and lack of coaching makes players tentative, uncertain and he/she who hesitates always looks lost.

Currently, how do LVs give effort on the offense?- you saw it last night, take the ball to the rim! But, when defenses adjust, they have was no Plan B, leading to charges and turnovers.
Currently, how do the LVs give effort on defense?- they chase ghosts because they are always out of position and leave gaping wide open lanes to the rim. There is no clear understanding of how to play defense as a team, possession after possession.

In this game and others, the LVs played hard but not smart. As these losing games wear on, the team's effort does tend to decline mainly out of frustration and futility-- the players are human and they get discouraged too.

In sum, the players are fine; the system is bad. Change the coach; change the system.

I had hoped that Holly would find a way to do things differently and alter the negative trajectory of the program. Sadly, it is now undeniably clear that such a positive transformation will not happen under her stewardship.

Spot on.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Tennessee falls out of espnW’s bracketology projection. That is the title, do not know how to give link. Charlie Creme, today

 

[Eastknox865]

This will be the first time since I've been alive that the lady vols don't make the tournament. Will she just step down already.

 

[Nute Gunray]

That mantra about effort is Holly's biggest blindspot. The problem is that the players are uncertain about what to do.

You see this same dynamic all the time in other programs across all sports. Poorly performing teams tend to invoke debates about whether it is the coach or some moral failing in the players, who for some inexplicable reason, lack drive, determination, or a willingness to give effort.

Once a better coach comes in, voila! suddenly these players seem to find their missing moral virtue. But it was never about some psychological block or shortcoming. Rather, the problem was a structural flaw in how the team was being organized and prepared to play,. Bad game plans and lack of coaching makes players tentative, uncertain and he/she who hesitates always looks lost.

Currently, how do LVs give effort on the offense?- you saw it last night, take the ball to the rim! But, when defenses adjust, they have was no Plan B, leading to charges and turnovers.
Currently, how do the LVs give effort on defense?- they chase ghosts because they are always out of position and leave gaping wide open lanes to the rim. There is no clear understanding of how to play defense as a team, possession after possession.

In this game and others, the LVs played hard but not smart. As these losing games wear on, the team's effort does tend to decline mainly out of frustration and futility-- the players are human and they get discouraged too.

In sum, the players are fine; the system is bad. Change the coach; change the system.

I had hoped that Holly would find a way to do things differently and alter the negative trajectory of the program. Sadly, it is now undeniably clear that such a positive transformation will not happen under her stewardship.

Madtownvol, this is an amazingly brilliant and intuitive analysis.

 

[Coach Jumper]

This will be the first time since I've been alive that the lady vols don't make the tournament. Will she just step down already.

They will turn it around
I know this because I know that
"losing
is exhausting"

This team is capable of a Final Four run on talent alone
Certainly an elite 8

I aim much higher than most because I see what we have,
not what they've become

 

[Coach Jumper]

That mantra about effort is Holly's biggest blindspot. The problem is that the players are uncertain about what to do.

You see this same dynamic all the time in other programs across all sports. Poorly performing teams tend to invoke debates about whether it is the coach or some moral failing in the players, who for some inexplicable reason, lack drive, determination, or a willingness to give effort.

Once a better coach comes in, voila! suddenly these players seem to find their missing moral virtue. But it was never about some psychological block or shortcoming. Rather, the problem was a structural flaw in how the team was being organized and prepared to play,. Bad game plans and lack of coaching makes players tentative, uncertain and he/she who hesitates always looks lost.

Currently, how do LVs give effort on the offense?- you saw it last night, take the ball to the rim! But, when defenses adjust, they have was no Plan B, leading to charges and turnovers.
Currently, how do the LVs give effort on defense?- they chase ghosts because they are always out of position and leave gaping wide open lanes to the rim. There is no clear understanding of how to play defense as a team, possession after possession.

In this game and others, the LVs played hard but not smart. As these losing games wear on, the team's effort does tend to decline mainly out of frustration and futility-- the players are human and they get discouraged too.

In sum, the players are fine; the system is bad. Change the coach; change the system.

I had hoped that Holly would find a way to do things differently and alter the negative trajectory of the program. Sadly, it is now undeniably clear that such a positive transformation will not happen under her stewardship.

No plan b is exactly right. Evina went out and the offense stalled. . . . Jazzmine came and and wanted to direct the floor instead of just reading it like Evi did...Her teammates can't make that transition that quickly, so she has to...

A different PG is a different QB....
If you sub in a new QB, most often a different Wideout starts to "get hot"
They didn't miraculously get better
Chemistry.
Same in BB
If I HAVE TO sub a PG, I sub a complimentary sub to go with her.

Jazz is a "take you off the dribble with "moves" guard...That is the mindset of a SF not a PG
This was solveable...
Timeout or sub her,,,
tell her what the job of a PG is and send her back out there

 

[glv98]

Great post madtown. I've never understood the assertion that the players don't try (or give "effort") to play well. If there's one thing these kids do not want to do, its look bad in front of a crowd on TV. Who wants to suck out loud at the thing you're famous for? For reasons of personal ego alone, much less team and school, I think they mostly try their best.

I totally agree that what many see as lack of effort others see as kind of shellshock.. A total lack of poise, focus and confidence just sweeps over them, the classic sports yips set in, and no one seems to have a clue how to stop it. They get so unbelievably inept sometimes it seems like they've quit, but I really think its just panic, frustration, and consternation.

Its so sad and ironic that the thing Pat believed in so strongly - mental toughness - is the thing Holly has turned out to be totally unable to establish in her teams.

 

[papatomany]

I agree with most of what you say here, but running back on the break IS effort, getting after loose balls IS effort, and with sufficient effort on those two things we still win this one by double figures. In fact, we probably have 3 more wins. Having said that, it's the coach's job to get effort from the players.

 

[Eastknox865]

They will turn it around
I know this because I know that
"losing
is exhausting"

This team is capable of a Final Four run on talent alone
Certainly an elite 8

I aim much higher than most because I see what we have,
not what they've become

I truly don't believe they are capable of a turn around under this coaching staff.

 

[DonDiego]

That mantra about effort is Holly's biggest blindspot. The problem is that the players are uncertain about what to do.

You see this same dynamic all the time in other programs across all sports. Poorly performing teams tend to invoke debates about whether it is the coach or some moral failing in the players, who for some inexplicable reason, lack drive, determination, or a willingness to give effort.

Once a better coach comes in, voila! suddenly these players seem to find their missing moral virtue. But it was never about some psychological block or shortcoming. Rather, the problem was a structural flaw in how the team was being organized and prepared to play,. Bad game plans and lack of coaching makes players tentative, uncertain and he/she who hesitates always looks lost.

Currently, how do LVs give effort on the offense?- you saw it last night, take the ball to the rim! But, when defenses adjust, they have was no Plan B, leading to charges and turnovers.
Currently, how do the LVs give effort on defense?- they chase ghosts because they are always out of position and leave gaping wide open lanes to the rim. There is no clear understanding of how to play defense as a team, possession after possession.

In this game and others, the LVs played hard but not smart. As these losing games wear on, the team's effort does tend to decline mainly out of frustration and futility-- the players are human and they get discouraged too.

In sum, the players are fine; the system is bad. Change the coach; change the system.

I had hoped that Holly would find a way to do things differently and alter the negative trajectory of the program. Sadly, it is now undeniably clear that such a positive transformation will not happen under her stewardship.

This analysis is one of the best I've read on the LV problems.

 

[lvocd]

I agree with most of what you say here, but running back on the break IS effort, getting after loose balls IS effort, and with sufficient effort on those two things we still win this one by double figures. In fact, we probably have 3 more wins. Having said that, it's the coach's job to get effort from the players.

The players are visibly broken in spirit. In the Holly era EVERY. SINGLE. PLAYER. SHE. HAS. RECRUITED has received effusive praises coming into their freshman seasons for how dedicated and hard-working and excited they each were to get the great Tennessee back on top. EVERY SINGLE PLAYER is said to have busted her tail putting in the work to be the very best Lady Vol she can be. EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. we hear this about the latest class of McDonald’s All-Americans.

And then what happens? Well, EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. those once-praised for, AT LONG LAST, being the type of players who finally get what being a Lady Vol is all about, somehow magically turn into players who are “lackadaisical” and “don’t care.”

Well, that’s clearly a load of horse-sh!t. It’s the broken record we’ve been hearing over and over for way too long and I, for one, am freaking SICK AND TIRED of the players going into interviews convinced that it’s their job to make sure nobody blames Holly. I’m sick of how she turns confident young women into head-hanging losers practically apologizing for existing. SICK!!!!!!

 

[Amb3096]

The players are visibly broken in spirit. In the Holly era EVERY. SINGLE. PLAYER. SHE. HAS. RECRUITED has received effusive praises coming into their freshman seasons for how dedicated and hard-working and excited they each were to get the great Tennessee back on top. EVERY SINGLE PLAYER is said to have busted her tail putting in the work to be the very best Lady Vol she can be. EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. we hear this about the latest class of McDonald’s All-Americans.

And then what happens? Well, EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. those once-praised for, AT LONG LAST, being the type of players who finally get what being a Lady Vol is all about, somehow magically turn into players who are “lackadaisical” and “don’t care.”

Well, that’s clearly a load of horse-sh!t. It’s the broken record we’ve been hearing over and over for way too long and I, for one, am freaking SICK AND TIRED of the players going into interviews convinced that it’s their job to make sure nobody blames Holly. I’m sick of how she turns confident young women into head-hanging losers practically apologizing for existing. SICK!!!!!!

These players have also all thrown away their basketball careers to keep Holly's checks coming...and she still throws them under the bus. You'd think she'd be grateful for their sacrifice to fund her bank account.

 

[papatomany]

The players are visibly broken in spirit. In the Holly era EVERY. SINGLE. PLAYER. SHE. HAS. RECRUITED has received effusive praises coming into their freshman seasons for how dedicated and hard-working and excited they each were to get the great Tennessee back on top. EVERY SINGLE PLAYER is said to have busted her tail putting in the work to be the very best Lady Vol she can be. EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. we hear this about the latest class of McDonald’s All-Americans.

And then what happens? Well, EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. those once-praised for, AT LONG LAST, being the type of players who finally get what being a Lady Vol is all about, somehow magically turn into players who are “lackadaisical” and “don’t care.”

Well, that’s clearly a load of horse-sh!t. It’s the broken record we’ve been hearing over and over for way too long and I, for one, am freaking SICK AND TIRED of the players going into interviews convinced that it’s their job to make sure nobody blames Holly. I’m sick of how she turns confident young women into head-hanging losers practically apologizing for existing. SICK!!!!!!

You ignored my actual post, but that's par for the course on here.

 

[lvocd]

These players have also all thrown away their basketball careers to keep Holly's checks coming...and she still throws them under the bus. You'd think she'd be grateful for their sacrifice to fund her bank account.

If she had even ONCE said, “Hey, this loss is on me. It’s my job to get these players ready and I didn’t get it done” instead of “I don’t know what to tell you” or some other coach-code phrase for “these players just aren’t understanding that it’s 100% up to them to get it done,” then I wouldn't be so upset.

Sweet buttery Jesus! I have lost all patience.

 

[lvocd]

You ignored my actual post, but that's par for the course on here.

I didn’t mean to do that at all. I’m truly sorry if my post felt like I was yelling at you.

I actually agree with most of your post, but then I ended up just going off on a rant that was only a small part of what your post sparked in me.

Seriously, I apologize. I DO agree that with more effort that Tennessee would have won handily. You are 100 percent correct. I’m just mad as hayull tonight. lol

 

[madtownvol]

I agree with most of what you say here, but running back on the break IS effort, getting after loose balls IS effort, and with sufficient effort on those two things we still win this one by double figures. In fact, we probably have 3 more wins. Having said that, it's the coach's job to get effort from the players.

I won't say rewatch the game because that would be cruel and inhumane punishment but, I assure you that the LVs were diving on the floor for loose balls. They did chase back on fast breaks. Cheridene Green, in particular put on a superhuman effort. Meme was the energizer bunny but running in circles to no avail. Rennia definitely upped her effort but, except for the first quarter, it actually worked against her effectiveness because she was forcing plays. She tried hard without a clear sense of what to do.

Could the LVs have given still more effort and somehow eeked out a close win against the worst team in the conference? Yeah sure, but think about what it means to be asking that question. The game should have never been close.

As an analogy, imagine that the LVs are running on a treadmill and the bad coach keeps elevating the angle-- 5 degrees, 7 degrees, 9 degrees,. "Hey just run a little faster and try a little harder and you can keep up just fine with those folks over their running on the flat track."

12 degrees, come on work harder, you are starting to fall behind. "What is wrong with YOU!" Now, 15 degrees--and the LVs fly off treadmill - "You SLACKERS! I should not have to teach effort!"

If the LVs gave that same effort on a even running plane, however, they would be setting records.

 

[sechamp2012]

That mantra about effort is Holly's biggest blindspot. The problem is that the players are uncertain about what to do.

You see this same dynamic all the time in other programs across all sports. Poorly performing teams tend to invoke debates about whether it is the coach or some moral failing in the players, who for some inexplicable reason, lack drive, determination, or a willingness to give effort.

Once a better coach comes in, voila! suddenly these players seem to find their missing moral virtue. But it was never about some psychological block or character shortcoming. Rather, the problem was a structural flaw in how the team was being organized and prepared to play--Bad game plans and lack of coaching makes players tentative, uncertain and he/she who hesitates always looks lost.

Currently, how do LVs give effort on the offense?- you saw it last night, take the ball to the rim! But, when defenses adjust, they have was no Plan B, leading to charges and turnovers.
Currently, how do the LVs give effort on defense?- they chase ghosts because they are always out of position and leave gaping wide open lanes to the rim. There is no clear understanding of how to play defense as a team, possession after possession.

In this game and others, the LVs played hard but not smart. As these losing games wear on, the team's effort does tend to decline mainly out of frustration and futility-- the players are human and they get discouraged too.

In sum, the players are fine; the system is bad. Change the coach; change the system.

I had hoped that Holly would find a way to do things differently and alter the negative trajectory of the program. Sadly, it is now undeniably clear that such a positive transformation will not happen under her stewardship.

Nailed it..

 

[Jackjon90]

It’s possible that UT women do need a change. But I got news for you. Good players when games. If they had good players they would be winning more. I think a lot of folks on this site think we’ve got really good players. We don’t.

 

[savannahfan]

I agree with most of what you say here, but running back on the break IS effort, getting after loose balls IS effort, and with sufficient effort on those two things we still win this one by double figures. In fact, we probably have 3 more wins. Having said that, it's the coach's job to get effort from the players.

You can see this in their demeanor "WHAT'S THE USE"

 

[Amb3096]

It’s possible that UT women do need a change. But I got news for you. Good players when games. If they had good players they would be winning more. I think a lot of folks on this site think we’ve got really good players. We don’t.

Tennessee has really good high school players with the potential to be really good college players with proper coaching. It's unlikely that an uncoached random collection of high school players is going to beat a team with players of similar athletic ability and actual coaching. When the extent of coaching is, "Score more! Play defense! Rebound! Try more hardererrrrrrr!!!!", then they have no chance.

If Holly had players like Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu or Anriel Howard on her team, I would bet good money that she would have ruined their careers. She cannot coach, and players are worst off under her tutelage than they were beforehand.

 

[Kecky4LV]

The players are visibly broken in spirit. In the Holly era EVERY. SINGLE. PLAYER. SHE. HAS. RECRUITED has received effusive praises coming into their freshman seasons for how dedicated and hard-working and excited they each were to get the great Tennessee back on top. EVERY SINGLE PLAYER is said to have busted her tail putting in the work to be the very best Lady Vol she can be. EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. we hear this about the latest class of McDonald’s All-Americans.

And then what happens? Well, EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. those once-praised for, AT LONG LAST, being the type of players who finally get what being a Lady Vol is all about, somehow magically turn into players who are “lackadaisical” and “don’t care.”

Well, that’s clearly a load of horse-sh!t. It’s the broken record we’ve been hearing over and over for way too long and I, for one, am freaking SICK AND TIRED of the players going into interviews convinced that it’s their job to make sure nobody blames Holly. I’m sick of how she turns confident young women into head-hanging losers practically apologizing for existing. SICK!!!!!!

AMEN!!!!