Another nail in the UT recruiting coffin?

[vtcwbuff]

How many top tier 2013/14 recruits are going to be looking at UTenn given the coaching uncertainty and continued decline of the program? I have to believe that recruiting just got a lot tougher after last nights debacle and all the questions about why top players don't develope at UT.

 

[doggydaddy]

How many top tier 2013/14 recruits are going to be looking at UTenn given the coaching uncertainty and continued decline of the program? I have to believe that recruiting just got a lot tougher after last nights debacle and all the questions about why top players don't develope at UT.

I don't think there is any doubt about this. I'm sure that Waltz watched and felt sad for Summit but excited about his chances with Mercedes Russell.

And if DeShields is down to UConn and Tennessee, I'm certainly feeling better about UConn's chances.

 

[dtbtbtb]

Well, young players (HS AA) can think that if they would have been on the court, something like that would have not happen but the reality is that those players on the court were basically all HS AA with 2 of them strong candidates to be AA this season so it's not the players....it's the coaches who are under performing and not giving the players the right tools for success.

 

[dtbtbtb]

I wonder what does a player like K. Davis thinks after a game like this....it's like she got a ticket for the Titanic and than saw the movie

 

[Wbbfan1]

Its too early to say that Tenn recruiting efforts will fail. The 2013 players that have indicated they will play for Tenn have long dreamed of attending and/or are very close friends with players already going there or will attend starting next year. These players are being recruited to get Tenn back to where it was in its Glory Days and they have the nucleus coming in for that to happen. Pat and the existing coaches are the ones that are recruiting them so I don't see that changing for 2013.

Now if Pat does retire and they hire a coach not on the existing staff, then they might lose some 2013 recruits as I suspect most of the Tenn assistant coaches would not be retained. If however, Tenn hires a high profile coach with a proven track record then they probably don't lose any recruits. I think Tenn will have a good if not great 2013 class.

 

[alexrgct]

I think the current coacing configuration is absolutely going to impact their recruiting. The Tennessee brand is strong enough that they'll get good players, but not in the numbers they're used to. If you're 16 years old right now and being recruited for the class of 2014, you don't even know what the coaching staff is going to look like by the time you're there, much less by the time you graduate.

They still have the aforementioned brand, well attended games, a lot of perks many other WBB programs don't, etc. They're also close to Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia, so they have a good chance at landing kids in a talent-rich region who want to stay close to home. But they are going to lose more head-to-heads with a select few other programs than they're used to.

 

[rington]

The assistant coaches, who seem to be running the show, are not doing a respectable job; not with the talent which was recruited on that team.
With the exception of Simmons, they also look out of shape.

 

[vtcwbuff]

I don't follow recruiting closely but I believe that UTenn has a weak 2012 class with only one top player coming in. They have one commit (verbal) for 2013. IMO unless UT resolves the coaching situation soon it is going to be very difficult to convince players to join a program in such obvious turmoil.

Many players came to UT to play for a legendary program but many more came to play for the legend. With that off the table top players are probably going to look elsewhere.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Tenn has the 5th ranked class for 2012 with three signees. Hoopgurlz - link

Bashara Graves is a very good player who played on the U17 World Championship team. She's similar to Cierra Burdick and will compete with her for playing time. Andraya Carter was a top guard coming out of Georgia and Tenn will have to see how she recovers from her injuries. I haven't seen Jasmine Jones play.

Tenn in 2013 will need guards and a post player of size. Kaela Davis can play the 2 guard, but IMHO she's a more natural wing player.

Tenn may sign a couple of JUCO players this year and that could impact their needs in 2013

I don't follow recruiting closely but I believe that UTenn has a weak 2012 class with only one top player coming in. They have one commit (verbal) for 2013. IMO unless UT resolves the coaching situation soon it is going to be very difficult to convince players to join a program in such obvious turmoil.

Many players came to UT to play for a legendary program but many more came to play for the legend. With that off the table top players are probably going to look elsewhere.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Like I said - I don't follow recruiting. I didn't realize that the UT class rank was so high. I also didn't consider Carter and Jones as top players.

 

[doggydaddy]

Its too early to say that Tenn recruiting efforts will fail. The 2013 players that have indicated they will play for Tenn have long dreamed of attending and/or are very close friends with players already going there or will attend starting next year. These players are being recruited to get Tenn back to where it was in its Glory Days and they have the nucleus coming in for that to happen. Pat and the existing coaches are the ones that are recruiting them so I don't see that changing for 2013.

Now if Pat does retire and they hire a coach not on the existing staff, then they might lose some 2013 recruits as I suspect most of the Tenn assistant coaches would not be retained. If however, Tenn hires a high profile coach with a proven track record then they probably don't lose any recruits. I think Tenn will have a good if not great 2013 class.

Players that have indicated that they will play for Tennessese in the 2013 class?

Davis. So I don't know where you are getting playerS.

Every other 2013 recruit that Tennessee is going for still has to committ. And you can be sure that watching Pat not totally engaged in coaching the team will impact their decision.

With Davis, they already have a very good class. But she can't be totally happy with how things looked last night.

 

[doggydaddy]

Like I said - I don't follow recruiting. I didn't realize that the UT class rank was so high. I also didn't consider Carter and Jones as top players.

Carter has potential. As the 20th ranked recruit in that class, it can be hit or miss.

Jones is what she is. Will a 39th ranked recruit make an impact? Unless seriously under-ranked, probably not.

It's a good class. But with Manning, Baugh, Stricklen, Johnson and Bass leaving, it doesn't keep them at the same level, top 10.

 

[cferraro04]

Let's face it guys this class has underperformed. This was a highly regarded class coming in...and for one reason or another they just can't seem to get the job done.

2008-2009 22-11 Out in the first round with a 16 point loss to Ball State 71-55

2009-2012 32-3 (in a weakened SEC conference)...Out in the Sweet 16 with a 15 point loss to Baylor.

2010-2011 34-3 (Again in an uncharacteristicly weak SEC conference...Out in the Elite 8...with a 14 point loss to Notre Dame.

2011-2012 14-5 so far...28 point loss to Notre Dame and the fewest points scored since 1976. This team is looking at a number three seed and another sweet 16 or elite 8 exit in the NCAAs.

I do not see this team winning a national championship. With all the players leaving this program has a long way to go before it gets back to its glory days... With Pat sure to leave either at the end of this season or next... We may be witnessing another La Tech or Old Dominium type of decline.

 

[UcMiami]

Before we completely bury the future of TN lets get a grip - TN is a much bigger institution with much greater resources than LaTech or ODU so while they may be in for a down time, they are much more likely to similar to Texas in terms of a drop off. And if they get the transition corrrect, they may just experience a minor blip in their fortunes.

 

[speedoo]

Before we completely bury the future of TN lets get a grip - TN is a much bigger institution with much greater resources than LaTech or ODU so while they may be in for a down time, they are much more likely to similar to Texas in terms of a drop off. And if they get the transition corrrect, they may just experience a minor blip in their fortunes.

Not much chance of them getting the transition correct. They are already in the transition and it seem to be going poorly. And a drop off similar to Texas (not currently ranked, and not even getting a single vote) would be a disaster in Knoxville.

 

[EricLA]

Before we completely bury the future of TN lets get a grip - TN is a much bigger institution with much greater resources than LaTech or ODU so while they may be in for a down time, they are much more likely to similar to Texas in terms of a drop off. And if they get the transition corrrect, they may just experience a minor blip in their fortunes.

a couple of thoughts but i wanted to reply to this too. when people are talking about "nails in coffin", etc for tennessee, it's basically about them falling out of the top 10 on a semi-permanent basis, and no longer really vying for a final 4, never mind a NC. can you imagine the meltdown if tennessee falls out of the top 25, like texas has done many times in the past 5 years? i don't know the stats but when was the last time tennessee was out of the top 10? what about UCONN? how about the top 25?

anyhoo... with regards to Carter, she was a top 10 kid IIRC before her injury. and she's still #14 per blue star. but is she a superstar? does tennessee have a single super star on their team including the 2012 kids coming in? i'd say no. they have a bunch of solid kids but not enough to keep up with the UCONN's, Duke's, Baylor (next year at least), of the world.

depending on what they do in 2013 with Davis, their recruiting in 2009-2012 is no better than Maryland, aTm, Baylor, Rutgers, and maybe a few others. and given how the coaching has gone and how the players have improved (or in some cases not impropved), it doesn't bode well for teams who are on equal footing in recruiting with them.

obviously i have no idea what will happen. tennessee has a huge and rich history in WCBB, but it's not a destionation school like Duke, Cal, Stanford, UNC, and a bunch of other schools in better towns with better academics. i think it will be a huge accomplishment for the next coach to make the final 4 every few years and keep them in the top 10 on an annual basis. as long as Geno is around, Tennessee won't be winning another NC, which means a 6 year drought starting this year.

 

[Jonathan Husky]

My guess is Pat will (should) retire at the end of this year. Tn should then get a totally new coaching staff that can restore the program. If they make a good head coaching decision they will build the program back to the top levels in a couple of years. There is too much support for WCBB at Tn to allow the program to continue to erode.

 

[justML]

My guess is Pat will (should) retire at the end of this year. Tn should then get a totally new coaching staff that can restore the program. If they make a good head coaching decision they will build the program back to the top levels in a couple of years. There is too much support for WCBB at Tn to allow the program to continue to erode.

I would think that Pat and UT had this discussion already and plans have been put in place as to who will succeed her. Knowing what was coming I can't imagine she would not have wanted to be part of the decision.

 

[cferraro04]

Let's face it guys this class has underperformed. This was a highly regarded class coming in...and for one reason or another they just can't seem to get the job done.

2008-2009 22-11 Out in the first round with a 16 point loss to Ball State 71-55

2009-2012 32-3 (in a weakened SEC conference)...Out in the Sweet 16 with a 15 point loss to Baylor.

2010-2011 34-3 (Again in an uncharacteristicly weak SEC conference...Out in the Elite 8...with a 14 point loss to Notre Dame.

2011-2012 14-5 so far...28 point loss to Notre Dame and the fewest points scored since 1976. This team is looking at a number three seed and another sweet 16 or elite 8 exit in the NCAAs.

I do not see this team winning a national championship. With all the players leaving this program has a long way to go before it gets back to its glory days... With Pat sure to leave either at the end of this season or next... We may be witnessing another La Tech or Old Dominium type of decline.

Well, it looks like Holly Warwick agrees with me:

"When it comes down to it, you've got to play," Warlick said. "You've got to respect what's written across your chest. You have to respect yourself. We don't have a lot of trust in each other.
"(The players) can't use the excuse of Pat's situation. It comes down to playing hard with high energy. It's not a laid-back sport."
"If anything, you'd think (Pat's situation) would boost team effort. This has been a recurring situation for four years. I don't think we've played up to our ability for going on to four years."

 

[Icebear]

Of course, it is the coaches' jobs to bring this out in the kids, too.

 

[KGHoops]

Its too early to say that Tenn recruiting efforts will fail. The 2013 players that have indicated they will play for Tenn have long dreamed of attending and/or are very close friends with players already going there or will attend starting next year. These players are being recruited to get Tenn back to where it was in its Glory Days and they have the nucleus coming in for that to happen. Pat and the existing coaches are the ones that are recruiting them so I don't see that changing for 2013.

Now if Pat does retire and they hire a coach not on the existing staff, then they might lose some 2013 recruits as I suspect most of the Tenn assistant coaches would not be retained. If however, Tenn hires a high profile coach with a proven track record then they probably don't lose any recruits. I think Tenn will have a good if not great 2013 class.

I thought these were Tenn's "Glory Days!"

 

[Phil]

They still have the aforementioned brand, ....

Brands have value, but that value fades quicker than some might think. UCLA men were a bigger name than UConn is now, or the LadyVols in their heyday, and they went through years of not making the tournament, much less in the conversation for possible FF. I’m still wrapping my head about a UConn player asking who that was attending a practice (it was Jamelle). I don’t bring this up as a slight to the player, because when I was that age, I had almost no appreciation for the past, but we should remember that, while we seasoned fans have a deep respect for the rich history of the sport, many of the recruits don’t share that view. How many top ten players are signing on at Old Dominion because they were such an important part of the wbb legacy?

 

[VAUConnFan]

Tennessee will be just fine in the years ahead. They have been a top tier program since the NCAA took over WCBB. Nothing lasts forever. UConn went four years without a Final Four and they are far from dead. I really wish this board would spend less time gloating over the demise of top coaches and programs and remain concerned about the future of WCBB. the game does not grow without top, high-profile players, coaches and programs. If they die, so does the chances of growing the game; Especially of there are no up and coming programs making major moves to become consistently top-tier competitive.

 

[Phil]

Where is this gloating?

 

[MarieM]

Tennesee would never fire Pat Summit, the only way shes leaving the program is if she retires