Zhen Craft! Just announced Commitment!

[BruisedOrange]

All of us have the option to either be the kind of fans we choose to be, or to be the fans that circumstances--good or bad--manipulate us to be.

The second choice leaves our happiness and satisfaction under the control of what others (including lots of teenagers) do.

The former puts control over our feelings and actions with ourselves. For all the responsibilities, sometimes being an adult has its advantages.

 

[UTLadyvolsfan]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but for real? I mean as diehard Tennessee fans, we need to support these players and I hope they have a great season. but let's be honest. Kim was hired in April 2024. Boyd was already on board so her first class was 2025 of ALL her own players. Pauldo twins, Civil, Prawl and Hurst. she also landed transfer portal players of Barker, Robertson, and Wolfenbarger to join the team for 2025-2026 (i think that's correct. Cooper, Latham, and Spearman came the prior year I think?).

Anyway, that is a total of 8 players who supposedly should have been well aware of her coaching style and philosophy. 8 out of the roster of 12 were her kids. And yet it went so wrong. so now we are starting from scratch, literally. So far we have: Naomi White (NAU) and Avery Mills (Liberty), Zhen Craft (Georgia) and Harper Peterson (Stanford). And while I'm glad we seem to be adding some kids who seem good, this is ESPN's list of the top portal transfers available:

1. Audi Crooks, 6-3, C, Jr.
2. Jordan Lee, 6-0, G, So.
3. Kymora Johnson, 5-7, G, Jr.
4. Liv McGill, 5-9, G, So.
5. Talaysia Cooper, 6-0, G, Jr.
6. Dani Carnegie, 5-9, G, So.
7. Zamareya Jones, 5-7, G, So.
8. Addy Brown, 6-2, F, Jr.
9. Taryn Barbot, 5-10, G, Jr.
10. Jada Williams, 5-8, PG, Jr.
11. Nunu Agara, 6-2, F, Jr.
12. Aaliyah Crump, 6-1, F, Fr.
13. Tilda Trygger, 6-6, F, So.
14. Mia Pauldo, 5-6, G, Fr.
15. Madison St. Rose, 5-10, G, Sr.
16. Kiyomi McMiller, 5-8, G, So.
17. Mia Woolfolk, 6-3, F, So.
18. Lara Somfai, 6-3, F, Fr.
19. Justice Carlton, 6-1, F, So.
20. Kaylene Smikle, 6-0, G, Sr.

Also considered:

Elina Aarnisalo, North Carolina; Achol Akot, Oklahoma State; Carys Baker, Virginia Tech; Jaida Civil, Tennessee; Essence Cody, Alabama; Skylar Forbes, Marquette; Lanie Grant, North Carolina; Gracie Merkle, Penn State; Zahirah Walton, George Mason; Jadyn Wooten, Oklahoma State

So not a single kid so far was listed in ESPN's top 30 (granted 3 of the 30 were our kids leaving but...) So... I'm trying to be excited. and I'm not trying to be a jerk. Please help me understand how "good" these kids are that we are adding so far...

 

[papatomany]

Then why does the UGA site say 4 star? You would think they would know what they recruited and if she were a 5 star they would have 'bragged' about that.

They changed it when she entered the portal.

 

[papatomany]

She has decent height and can rebound. Her 4.2 rebounds per game would have been 4th on our team last year. Craft’s per 40 rebounding rate would have been only behind Janiah this past year. I’m probably happier with this commitment than any other because she’s put up decent numbers against tough competition.

She had a really nice six game stretch on the boards in SEC play. Nearly 11 per 40 during those games, including 7 against LSU in 20 minutes and 8 against South Carolina (although that was in 29 minutes).
Then she only averaged 9 minutes a game over the next 6. After the February 19th game, they shut her down for the rest of the year. So, it really looks like a nagging injury that finally got her.

 

[1reVOLver]

So not a single kid so far was listed in ESPN's top 30 (granted 3 of the 30 were our kids leaving but...) So... I'm trying to be excited. and I'm not trying to be a jerk. Please help me understand how "good" these kids are that we are adding so far...

Lacking facts, I speculate.
KC & Co. very likely have fewer NIL greenbacks to use as chum than they had a year ago. Early signees—good kids all—were not among the very most talented nor very most expensive items on the shelf. KC & Co. are in “my bag's bigger than your bag” competition for some few of the players you listed. Agents are quietly drooling.

 

[mudcat1973]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but for real? I mean as diehard Tennessee fans, we need to support these players and I hope they have a great season. but let's be honest. Kim was hired in April 2024. Boyd was already on board so her first class was 2025 of ALL her own players. Pauldo twins, Civil, Prawl and Hurst. she also landed transfer portal players of Barker, Robertson, and Wolfenbarger to join the team for 2025-2026 (i think that's correct. Cooper, Latham, and Spearman came the prior year I think?).

Anyway, that is a total of 8 players who supposedly should have been well aware of her coaching style and philosophy. 8 out of the roster of 12 were her kids. And yet it went so wrong. so now we are starting from scratch, literally. So far we have: Naomi White (NAU) and Avery Mills (Liberty), Zhen Craft (Georgia) and Harper Peterson (Stanford). And while I'm glad we seem to be adding some kids who seem good, this is ESPN's list of the top portal transfers available:

1. Audi Crooks, 6-3, C, Jr.
2. Jordan Lee, 6-0, G, So.
3. Kymora Johnson, 5-7, G, Jr.
4. Liv McGill, 5-9, G, So.
5. Talaysia Cooper, 6-0, G, Jr.
6. Dani Carnegie, 5-9, G, So.
7. Zamareya Jones, 5-7, G, So.
8. Addy Brown, 6-2, F, Jr.
9. Taryn Barbot, 5-10, G, Jr.
10. Jada Williams, 5-8, PG, Jr.
11. Nunu Agara, 6-2, F, Jr.
12. Aaliyah Crump, 6-1, F, Fr.
13. Tilda Trygger, 6-6, F, So.
14. Mia Pauldo, 5-6, G, Fr.
15. Madison St. Rose, 5-10, G, Sr.
16. Kiyomi McMiller, 5-8, G, So.
17. Mia Woolfolk, 6-3, F, So.
18. Lara Somfai, 6-3, F, Fr.
19. Justice Carlton, 6-1, F, So.
20. Kaylene Smikle, 6-0, G, Sr.

Also considered:

Elina Aarnisalo, North Carolina; Achol Akot, Oklahoma State; Carys Baker, Virginia Tech; Jaida Civil, Tennessee; Essence Cody, Alabama; Skylar Forbes, Marquette; Lanie Grant, North Carolina; Gracie Merkle, Penn State; Zahirah Walton, George Mason; Jadyn Wooten, Oklahoma State

So not a single kid so far was listed in ESPN's top 30 (granted 3 of the 30 were our kids leaving but...) So... I'm trying to be excited. and I'm not trying to be a jerk. Please help me understand how "good" these kids are that we are adding so far...

Latham Spearman were Kim's recuits out of the transfer portal

Cooper came to play for Kellie but didn't get out of South Carolina on time had to sit a year. But she practice that year could not play.

Kim sign good point guard out of the portal her first year here not sure what her name is but she started Kim first year on rocky top.

 

[mudcat1973]

Lacking facts, I speculate.
KC & Co. very likely have fewer NIL greenbacks to use as chum than they had a year ago. Early signees—good kids all—were not among the very most talented nor very most expensive items on the shelf. KC & Co. are in “my bag's bigger than your bag” competition for some few of the players you listed. Agents are quietly drooling.

View attachment 826305

Several universities said they front load signed players for Kim Caldwell first year season getting NL before the review board and house settlement. Some universities without boosters strong support now can spend revenue sharing if a University puts it in there revenue sharing plan to share a little of revenue sharing with women's basketball.

More women's basketball universities are at the auction site transfer portal even if there not a 5% + big boosters spending university which the majority isn't.
Even some of big boosters universities have to be more wiser with there dollars.
I say majority universities aren't sharing 5% women's basketball revenue sharing.
But 2/3 % revenue sharing women's basketball universities from the mid class spenders add up.
At least for everyone for isn't spending top dollars which is a smallest amount of universities that are spending highest percentage of women's basketball universities.
On signing/ paying for women's basketball players.

 

[1reVOLver]

Several universities said they front load signed players for Kim Caldwell first year season getting NL before the review board and house settlement. Some universities without boosters strong support now can spend revenue sharing if a University puts it in there revenue sharing plan to share a little of revenue sharing with women's basketball.

More women's basketball universities are at the auction site transfer portal even if there not a 5% + big boosters spending university which the majority isn't.
Even some of big boosters universities have to be more wiser with there dollars.
I say majority universities aren't sharing 5% women's basketball revenue sharing.
But 2/3 % revenue sharing women's basketball universities from the mid class spenders add up.
At least for everyone for isn't spending top dollars which is a smallest amount of universities that are spending highest percentage of women's basketball universities.
On signing/ paying for women's basketball players.

Good points!

Let’s note the difference between NIL funds and revenue sharing for those who may be unclear about the sources.

Revenue sharing - According to the judicial ruling in the house v. NCAA case, Div. 1 universities can—but are not obligated to—give an amount to athletes. For last season, the total for all sports was a maximum of $20.5 million. Most schools gave most of that to football and men’s basketball. Schools providing some of what’s left to WBB often gave 5% of the total to women’s basketball, or approximately $1 million. If a school decided to give equal amounts to each player, that would be approximately $70,000 per player on a fifteen person team. None of this has anything to do with NIL. We will explain that below.

————————
NIL Payments can be made to athletes for services related to their name, image, and likeness. Supposedly such payments will reflect real market value for promotional actions. The money to pay for these arrangements comes from individuals and commercial or not for profit entities outside of the colleges and universities. The term rich donors is often heard to describe the sources of such funds.
There is no financial limit to the amount an athlete can earn by, for example, shilling for a footwear brand. This has nothing to do with Revenue Sharing.

How does the athletic department and/or coaching staff get mixed up with the distribution of NIL funds? There are no legal statutes governing this. The NCAA has been waiting for Congress or little green men and women from Mars to establish national and international-galactic standards. It is therefore probable and reasonable to assume that AD staff and coaching staff help coordinate and facilitate arrangements between the aforementioned
rich donors and recruiting prospects.

Now then, aren’t you sorry you asked?

 

[POLOinDC]

I would love for us to get McMiller. The only thing is she has been known to have an attitude problem, but I don't remember hearing anything negative about her from this past season...

 

[Raebo]

I am honestly too sad to talk about how I really feel, so I just do as someone suggested and say nothing at all. Hope I'm wrong!

Being a sports fan in the big picture is just a hobby, sometimes fun and sometimes not so fun. I cheer and holler when they win and have learned to shrug and say, “Wait until next year” when they lose.
Taking care of and watching my wife have Alzheimer’s and dying from a stoke while I was numb and in shock really put things in perspective for me. Thank goodness my daughter who is a nurse just happened to be home with me at the time.
It’s fine to be a fan but it’s nothing compared to being human (being nice to others and realizing what’s really important).

 

[knoxvol52]

Being a sports fan in the big picture is just a hobby, sometimes fun and sometimes not so fun. I cheer and holler when they win and have learned to shrug and say, “Wait until next year” when they lose.
Taking care of and watching my wife have Alzheimer’s and dying from a stoke while I was numb and in shock really put things in perspective for me. Thank goodness my daughter who is a nurse just happened to be home with me at the time.
It’s fine to be a fan but it’s nothing compared to being human (being nice to others and realizing what’s really important).

This is a true statement that some fans don't or want to realize.. sports are entertainment and we have to take the good with the bad.


Sports aren't life or death ..

 

[RetroVol]

Being a sports fan in the big picture is just a hobby, sometimes fun and sometimes not so fun. I cheer and holler when they win and have learned to shrug and say, “Wait until next year” when they lose.
Taking care of and watching my wife have Alzheimer’s and dying from a stoke while I was numb and in shock really put things in perspective for me. Thank goodness my daughter who is a nurse just happened to be home with me at the time.
It’s fine to be a fan but it’s nothing compared to being human (being nice to others and realizing what’s really important).

Thank you for sharing that, and I'm sorry for your experience. That you have gained wisdom and perspective from that difficulty is inspiring, and your words have brightened my day. Again, thank you.

 

[CobbWebb71]

All of us have the option to either be the kind of fans we choose to be, or to be the fans that circumstances--good or bad--manipulate us to be.

The second choice leaves our happiness and satisfaction under the control of what others (including lots of teenagers) do.

The former puts control over our feelings and actions with ourselves. For all the responsibilities, sometimes being an adult has its advantages.

 

[mudcat1973]

Good points!

Let’s note the difference between NIL funds and revenue sharing for those who may be unclear about the sources.

Revenue sharing - According to the judicial ruling in the house v. NCAA case, Div. 1 universities can—but are not obligated to—give an amount to athletes. For last season, the total for all sports was a maximum of $20.5 million. Most schools gave most of that to football and men’s basketball. Schools providing some of what’s left to WBB often gave 5% of the total to women’s basketball, or approximately $1 million. If a school decided to give equal amounts to each player, that would be approximately $70,000 per player on a fifteen person team. None of this has anything to do with NIL. We will explain that below.

————————
NIL Payments can be made to athletes for services related to their name, image, and likeness. Supposedly such payments will reflect real market value for promotional actions. The money to pay for these arrangements comes from individuals and commercial or not for profit entities outside of the colleges and universities. The term rich donors is often heard to describe the sources of such funds.
There is no financial limit to the amount an athlete can earn by, for example, shilling for a footwear brand. This has nothing to do with Revenue Sharing.

How does the athletic department and/or coaching staff get mixed up with the distribution of NIL funds? There are no legal statutes governing this. The NCAA has been waiting for Congress or little green men and women from Mars to establish national and international-galactic standards. It is therefore probable and reasonable to assume that AD staff and coaching staff help coordinate and facilitate arrangements between the aforementioned
rich donors and recruiting prospects.

Now then, aren’t you sorry you asked?

While nil has some some rules now.. such as has be legitimate sponsorship of a player . Before nil was money the booster/ business could give a universities for a player without the player the expect to attend promotional events.
Before deals was could be money for play.
Now nil some Loosely guidelines..

Revenue sharing is equal money of straight pay..
Each university has choice of what sport to spend what percentage on each sport. No universities are required to spend any of 20 million dollars available to them.

Difference this year than last year in women's basketball.
Transfer portal.
universities didn't have revenue sharing available because house settlement revenue sharing agreement happened after women's basketball transfer portal close last year.
This year is the first women's basketball transfer portal where universities have revenue sharing as one of the source's available to buy players.

 

[glv98]

All of us have the option to either be the kind of fans we choose to be, or to be the fans that circumstances--good or bad--manipulate us to be.

The second choice leaves our happiness and satisfaction under the control of what others (including lots of teenagers) do.

The former puts control over our feelings and actions with ourselves. For all the responsibilities, sometimes being an adult has its advantages.
.

Being a sports fan in the big picture is just a hobby, sometimes fun and sometimes not so fun. I cheer and holler when they win and have learned to shrug and say, “Wait until next year” when they lose.

It's entirely possible to have a reaction to this situation beyond "oh well we'll get em next year", esp on a fan forum dedicated to discussing the current state of the program, and still be an adult in charge of your own feelings.

What sports fan isn't 'manipulated' by the current circumstances of their team? It's the very definition...

What a long strange trip this is

 

[glv98]

but for real?

but let's be honest.

Unwelcome basis for posts here at this point. We're doing this other odd thing...

Good post though thanks

 

[mudcat1973]

Good points!

Let’s note the difference between NIL funds and revenue sharing for those who may be unclear about the sources.

Revenue sharing - According to the judicial ruling in the house v. NCAA case, Div. 1 universities can—but are not obligated to—give an amount to athletes. For last season, the total for all sports was a maximum of $20.5 million. Most schools gave most of that to football and men’s basketball. Schools providing some of what’s left to WBB often gave 5% of the total to women’s basketball, or approximately $1 million. If a school decided to give equal amounts to each player, that would be approximately $70,000 per player on a fifteen person team. None of this has anything to do with NIL. We will explain that below.

————————
NIL Payments can be made to athletes for services related to their name, image, and likeness. Supposedly such payments will reflect real market value for promotional actions. The money to pay for these arrangements comes from individuals and commercial or not for profit entities outside of the colleges and universities. The term rich donors is often heard to describe the sources of such funds.
There is no financial limit to the amount an athlete can earn by, for example, shilling for a footwear brand. This has nothing to do with Revenue Sharing.

How does the athletic department and/or coaching staff get mixed up with the distribution of NIL funds? There are no legal statutes governing this. The NCAA has been waiting for Congress or little green men and women from Mars to establish national and international-galactic standards. It is therefore probable and reasonable to assume that AD staff and coaching staff help coordinate and facilitate arrangements between the aforementioned
rich donors and recruiting prospects.

Now then, aren’t you sorry you asked?

Just double checked the internet for the date of settlement
The house vs NCAA settlement was schedule to begin direct institutional revenue sharing with student athletes on July 1, 2025 approved on June 6, 2025
this deserved hits post.
Big boosters/ big business universities aren't the only teams with money this year more universities have money.

Which equals more players getting a share of some of the money being paid to players.

Which is better for women's basketball as a whole than few booster/ big business universities having all the buying power.

 

[volbeast33]

Just double checked the internet for the date of settlement
The house vs NCAA settlement was schedule to begin direct institutional revenue sharing with student athletes on July 1, 2025 approved on June 6, 2025
this deserved hits post.
Big boosters/ big business universities aren't the only teams with money this year more universities have money.

Which equals more players getting a share of some of the money being paid to players.

Which is better for women's basketball as a whole than few booster/ big business universities having all the buying power.

Boosters/big business will still over pay to get sho they want.

 

[glv98]

Boosters/big business will still over pay to get sho they want.

Define overpay in a free market system. Especially in light of a court ruling (forced by the University of Tennessee by the way) that says NOTHING can impede the earning power of the athletes.

I think a lot of people forget it was our own beloved chancellor and Athletic departments federal lawsuit that forced down the last barricade to the current madness.

At least an attempt to control the situation via limiting transfers is probably coming soon. But in light of the Federal Court ruling I'm not sure even that stands a chance

 

[lvocd]

Unwelcome basis for posts here at this point. We're doing this other odd thing...

Good post though thanks

Being honest is never wrong, per se, but I think what has happened here is that we’ve reached the point of diminishing returns in it. So many of us are rightfully upset, disappointed and even kinda angry — and definitely hurt — that our beloved Lady Vols are in this much-talked-about predicament.

But there does come a point in every crisis when most folks involved in it need to start generating and sustaining feelings of hope and vision that they’re going to survive it, else they probably won’t.

I think this is where a lot of fans are right now. The truth of the crisis is still there, but they no longer want to, and possibly maybe even shouldn’t, dwell over and over on the hard truth if they hope to survive this. I think people are in the “if we can focus on the positives we can make it through this” phase.

You’re not wrong, glv98. Maybe you just don’t need positivity to pull yourself out of a mental crisis as much as a lot of others here.

 

[glv98]

Being honest is never wrong, per se, but I think what has happened here is that we’ve reached the point of diminishing returns in it. So many of us are rightfully upset, disappointed and even kinda angry — and definitely hurt — that our beloved Lady Vols are in this much-talked-about predicament.

But there does come a point in every crisis when most folks involved in it need to start generating and sustaining feelings of hope and vision that they’re going to survive it, else they probably won’t.

I think this is where a lot of fans are right now. The truth of the crisis is still there, but they no longer want to, and possibly maybe even shouldn’t, dwell over and over on the hard truth if they hope to survive this. I think people are in the “if we can focus on the positives we can make it through this” phase.

You’re not wrong, glv98. Maybe you just don’t need positivity to pull yourself out of a mental crisis as much as a lot of others here.

Would feel better if the positivity was more balanced. This board certainly has no problem with extreme personal negativity toward everyone who left and everything that would indicate a coaching or system problem in any way. Therefore the glazing and happy talk feels faux and extremely slanted toward one position.

Used to be you could honestly talk through where we are in the current crisis. But I understand that it's no longer the board culture.

 

[volbeast33]

Define overpay in a free market system. Especially in light of a court ruling (forced by the University of Tennessee by the way) that says NOTHING can impede the earning power of the athletes.

I think a lot of people forget it was our own beloved chancellor and Athletic departments federal lawsuit that forced down the last barricade to the current madness.

At least an attempt to control the situation via limiting transfers is probably coming soon. But in light of the Federal Court ruling I'm not sure even that stands a chance

The lawsuit was in response to the NCAA coming after Tennessee. I was just pointing out that revenue sharing doesn’t truly even things up bc schools with more financial backing will continue to have an advantage. We need a few billionaires on our side.

 

[mudcat1973]

Boosters/big business will still over pay to get sho they want.

But the clearinghouse has turned down some deals.
Bigger picture more players are getting some of the money.
Giving players who just want some money a choice of coaches/ universities.

Some players might be after the highest paying team.
While others just want decent amount.
That is up to each player.

On your will Big/business/ booster spending some universities won't be able to available to out spend in every sport.

 

[volbeast33]

But the clearinghouse has turned down some deals.
Bigger picture more players are getting some of the money.
Giving players who just want some money a choice of coaches/ universities.

Some players might be after the highest paying team.
While others just want decent amount.
That is up to each player.

On your will Big/business/ booster spending some universities won't be able to available to out spend in every sport.

If the NCAA doesn’t slow down what is going on at LSU and Texas Tech then it doesn’t have much teeth to it. Not all teams will put their resources as heavily into some sports and it will show on the playing field/court.

 

[1reVOLver]

The lawsuit was in response to the NCAA coming after Tennessee. I was just pointing out that revenue sharing doesn’t truly even things up bc schools with more financial backing will continue to have an advantage. We need a few billionaires on our side.

All that is true. Now consider the position of the mid-majors.
Compared to us they are __________(expletive deleted).