Will the Lady Vols be Improved next Season?

[glv98]

I have been away from the board,. Has there been some negative news on Tamari?

Nah it's us speculating and also the news we're not hearing or seeing. No word yet that TK has been officially cleared. Yesterday they posted a video with some scenes from spring practice wrap up. No TK in that video. Pretty sure everyone else was shown. However, later there was an outdoor video of KJH getting a cookie cake for her bday and TK was in that and in practice clothes. Pretty sure she's still in the "no contact" phase of her rehab.

Also contributing is a lack of TK being anywhere near playing shape which several posters have noticed. I saw her in person a couple of weeks ago and I can confirm she is much bigger than she's ever been while playing. I was really hoping she'd be able to do the pre trip practices KJH mentioned, then be able to play in Europe. Very much doubt that now.

 

[chuckiepoo]

One photo that may indicate she’s put some weight on during her recovery. Not necessarily a bad thing. One other thing I’ve noticed in recent photos is she has her nails trimmed….

She gonna be a bad ass…

 

[VolFuture]

Let's play!
Wells/Powell - splitting time at first, mins tilting toward Wells later in season
Spear/Darby - best 3 pt shooting guards in the SEC
Jackson/Puckett/Darby
Jill/Karo/Puckett
Key/Karo/Jill - would def take a youngun to watch, learn, and spot play at post.
(If Key can't play, as I'm starting to fear, Jill and Karo both start)
Wynn - possible spot duty as defensive specialist
Edie/Strickland - great teammates and trusty scout squad players

That's a solid squad, especially offensively. Now the ball is back in KJH court, literally, to make it all work. Got a mulligan last year, hopefully has learned and will do that much better this time. Bet a mil the preseason sched is easier.

Extra practice and Europe trip is a real advantage. Harder SEC sched and much better SEC overall are challenges.

yawn

 

[VolFuture]

The fact u think a scholarship player who averaged nearly 6.5ppg and 8.5ppg 2.5 rebs on 43% from the 3 in her last 10 ACC games isn’t gonna compete for time is hilarious

yawn x2

 

[chuckiepoo]

The fact u think a scholarship player who averaged nearly 6.5ppg and 8.5ppg 2.5 rebs on 43% from the 3 in her last 10 ACC games isn’t gonna compete for time is hilarious

Relax. Let her prove it on the court. The above is purely speculation.

 

[Voltopia]

One photo that may indicate she’s put some weight on during her recovery. Not necessarily a bad thing. One other thing I’ve noticed in recent photos is she has her nails trimmed….

All the people clucking about her supposed weight gain make me laugh. If there's one thing I've learned training alongside professional bodybuilders, football players, and other assorted athletes, it's that they can shed pounds almost at will. Lucky SOBs, except it's not luck, it's work and hungry hungry muscles which they have to feed to maintain or grow. Now, can a competitor pull a Zion Williamson? Sure. And some do. But if a competitive athlete has the willpower and the underlying muscle tissue - and most athletes of have a hefty chunk of each - then they can reshape their body as they desire. Grr - lucky SOBs.

Now hey, if she (or anyone really) shows up in the preseason with conditioning issues, that's a different story, but "oh no, she's carrying some weight" in May? That just makes me laugh. Whatever.

 

[VolFuture]

Relax. Let her prove it on the court. The above is purely speculation.

I agree I just don’t understand the constant negativity. And I will fight for our players. Not gonna let them win and just say whatever

 

[chuckiepoo]

I agree I just don’t understand the constant negativity. And I will fight for our players. Not gonna let them win and just say whatever

Trust me. I get your protective and nurturing spirit. Ever play for Pat? Not that it matters… She has a full two years to get completely back on track for the W. May only take this next year. I hope the best for TK. She’s paid her dues.

Another thing. “….not gonna let them win”. Them? The negas? F them. We some real LV fans. They will disperse shortly, to only get face time following an occasional loss.

 

[Vol67]

In answer will they be better......nope

 

[VolFuture]

Trust me. I get your protective and nurturing spirit. Ever play for Pat? Not that it matters… She has a full two years to get completely back on track for the W. May only take this next year. I hope the best for TK. She’s paid her dues.

Another thing. “….not gonna let them win”. Them? The negas? F them. We some real LV fans. They will disperse shortly, to only get face time following an occasional loss.

True just gonna focus on actually providing content to this forum. Less opinions

 

[chuckiepoo]

In answer will they be better......nope

I’ll keep that receipt…

 

[DarkPhoenix]

The only issue I can see right now is our bench, I don’t know where the points will come from, against weak competition things might work, but not in the big games.

 

[chuckiepoo]

The only issue I can see right now is our bench, I don’t know where the points will come from, against weak competition things might work, but not in the big games.

Wtf? You got pretty much what you were bitching about, now the bench isn’t sufficient…. 😉

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Wtf? You got pretty much what you were bitching about, now the bench isn’t sufficient…. 😉

I said that’s the only issue I can see coming up, that’s not really complaining, I know we can’t have it all.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I said that’s the only issue I can see coming up, that’s not really complaining, I know we can’t have it all.

Their bench is strong. Relax. We deserve a relatively chill off season. The bidness starts on the floor in a few weeks, in Europe!
How huge is that? Hitting the centers of Euro roundy ball?

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Their bench is strong. Relax. We deserve a relatively chill off season. The bidness starts on the floor in a few weeks, in Europe!

I’m lookin forward to watching if we can.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I said that’s the only issue I can see coming up, that’s not really complaining, I know we can’t have it all.

You will really blow ectoplasm if we sign a rebounder, wouldn’tcha.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I’m lookin forward to watching if we can.

There should be someone astute enough to you tube the games. If not, our broadcast journalism department is worthless.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

There should be someone astute enough to you tube the games. If not, our broadcast journalism department is worthless.

Hope it’s changed, but I don’t remember being able to watch the games on our last trip to Europe.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

With the news that Jewel is a LV and Key has been back at practice, I feel that this is the most complete team we have had under KJH. This will especially be true on offense: Imagine teams having to prepare for a possible starting 5 of Jewel, Wells, Key, Rickea, and Jill. All 5 players are capable of scoring in double digits in most games. Both guards can shoot the lights out from the three-point line. Wells can drive and penetrate to score or assist. Defense may not be elite, but if Key can be in decent form by the SEC season this will help immensely. I don't necessarily think this will be a Final 4 team, but I do think it could be a super early pick as a possible Elite 8 team and if they made it that far you are in possible reach of the Final 4. I lot of people have portrayed the Lady Vols as being shallow in talent beyond the top 2 or 3: However, if you look at the current roster for next year the data suggests differently:
Rickea - First team all SEC
Key - Projected first or second team SEC. Contention for defensive POY in SEC.
Jill - Top 30 high school player who shows all the signs of eventually being an all-SEC type of player.
Jewel - First team All ACC and top scorer in ACC as a true Sophomore.
Wells - Consistent all conference and conference tourney first teams every year and one of the highest offensive
efficiency ratings in the country.
Powell - 2nd team All Big Ten team as a sophomore.
Puckett - All Freshman team.
Tess- Second highest three point shooter percentage and 3-point shots made in the SEC if memory serves me.
I realize the latter Puckett and Powell were subpar last year but they have been recognized for their talent and achievements and there is no reason to think they can't excel again!

Great post, but don’t forget Ace. As a Freshman, Ace has better scoring stats than Sara, as a Freshman or Sophomore. Ace also excelled in track and field, she is a runner and she is strong. Ace can create her shot, something neither Sara nor Tess can do. Both Sara and Tess have experience with Kellie, but it will be interesting to see what role Ace will play, she’s not a Freshman.

 

[Weezer]

Until now, I felt we had lost more than we had gained. The addition of Spear may have tilted that in the other direction. If nothing else, it at least balances it out. Still a lot that needs to come together for this team. At least now I feel they can be improved. Just has to happen.

Also think we need at least one more player from the portal.

 

[glv98]

I agree I just don’t understand the constant negativity. And I will fight for our players. Not gonna let them win and just say whatever

Less opinions

Speculating, giving opinion, and saying whatever is the very nature of this and 99% of sports fan forums. That will not change. And there is no "winning". Fight if you must, but in the end, it's fruitless to come into someone else's house and announce you're here to change all the furniture. Especially when there's another house where everything is just the way you want it to be here. Try Maria's house (forum) you (and we) will be much happier.

Some of us never, ever take any of this personally for or against a player and do not overinflate our importance into having an actual impact on players or the program. All opinions welcome, including yours, and please fight for them. Just not to change the nature of board.

 

[ReignSupreme]

Wtf? You got pretty much what you were bitching about, now the bench isn’t sufficient…. 😉

Some folks will never be satisfied

 

[glv98]

ow hey, if she (or anyone really) shows up in the preseason with conditioning issues, that's a different story, but "oh no, she's carrying some weight" in May? That just makes me laugh. Whatever.

Disagree. This is the preseason, especially for someone who hasn't played or conditioned since last Dec. Squad just completed on court spring practice and conditioning is ongoing. Additional practices and then the Europe trip are about a month away. A player who is trying to get back into game shape should ideally be a big part of all this. I think we'll know alot by TK's level of participation there.

I could be overworrying bc I want TK back in great shape for us, but mostly for her. She deserves a great year on the court. I don't think she gets that by trying to work into shape in August.

 

[glv98]

Also think we need at least one more player from the portal.

I'm really split on this. I would love a young post for the future and in case TK is not able to come back. I really want Jill free to play the 4 where I think she will be a force. I also believe Karo is better helping at the 4 spot.

However, another player gives us an unlucky 13 player squad. More seriously, it gives KJH too many toys to play with. We've seen the rotation and lineup continuity problems this has caused in the past. Now that she has assembled a really solid squad, I want her to figure out the 8 or possibly 9 player core and stick with it. She eventually does this anyway; how bout we don't wait till tourney time this year.

I want this year's team lean, hard, and hungry. Crisp and tight. Workmanlike and solid.