Baylor @ Tennessee, Sun. 2:00 pm ET

[eebmg]

One of the betters posts in a while. Well done!

Excellent analysis of the incoming Tennessee class. I would move #3 to #1. I do think the grits part is underappreciated.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Players Post Game Press Conference:



Holly's Press Conference:

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

I really only have one thing to say; was that home attendance pitiful, or what? You have the #4 team coming into your house on national television on for a special occasion game, and you sell 9,244 tickets for a 21k+ arena? Frankly, I'd guesstimate actual attendance to be closer to 5k. I'm not sure which was the more embarrassing performance; the play of the Lady Vols or the lackadaisical fanbase.

 

[Vowelguy]

Wow, Nared pretty brutal in her assessment, calling out everyone except Russell for lack of heart and effort.

 

[Vowelguy]

I really only have one thing to say; was that home attendance pitiful, or what? You have the #4 team coming into your house on national television on for a special occasion game, and you sell 9,244 tickets for a 21k+ arena? Frankly, I'd guesstimate actual attendance to be closer to 5k. I'm not sure which was the more embarrassing performance; the play of the Lady Vols or the lackadaisical fanbase.

You're joking right. 9000 tickets for any WCBB game is very good.

 

[baggerbob]

Too many times in the game Mercedes Russell would get a rebound, pass to a guard, and before she could get to half court, someone on Tennessee would throw up a bad shot, miss, and the ball would be coming back down the court. You need to let your players who do the dirty work in defending, and rebounding, a chance to be part of the offense.

 

[Vowelguy]

but if I were a Tenn fan, with the exception of Russell's 50% shooting from the floor, there is nothing good you can take away from the game.

Well this might dispel their fears of DD leaving early?

 

[msf22b]

I know there's an awful lot of Tenn hatred on our board, a hatred in which I do not share...just consider it outdated, and their program is no longer worthy of our spending the energy. But the utter deterioration of their program, and the apparent willingness of the administration to "let it go,"
is a very bad development for WCBB. I don't care who they recruit. Holly cannot deliver.

I must say Tuna
At least for a few games, one gets a perverse pleasure in how 4 or 5 Big-Macs can be so discombobulated.

Later one feels for the kids who got themselves into that (present day) morass of a program.
A whole lot of terrible, terrible losses to come.

But you bring in a Becky Hammon, give her a five-year contract and reasonable bucks
And next season, we'll have another fierce competitor on our hands.

 

[eebmg]

I really only have one thing to say; was that home attendance pitiful, or what? You have the #4 team coming into your house on national television on for a special occasion game, and you sell 9,244 tickets for a 21k+ arena? Frankly, I'd guesstimate actual attendance to be closer to 5k. I'm not sure which was the more embarrassing performance; the play of the Lady Vols or the lackadaisical fanbase.

Huh? Why watch an underachieving and selfish team? If I was a tennessee fan, I would hide in my house about now. Everyone knew this was going to be a blowout.

 

[Zorro]

Hey, if the Huskies had been playing the way the LV have, a lot of y'all would be pretty damn lackadaisical about busting your butts to get to a game!

 

[donalddoowop]

I agree. That was not a great performance. Way too missed shots around the basket. Mompremier wants to spin 3 times every time she gets the ball. JUST TURN AND SHOOT! And Brown is starting to copy her.

I believe they missed at least ten lay ups and put backs. Also, Cox did not hit her close in shots. She is playing as if she needs a lot of work. I wonder where her confidence level is.

 

[j66kicker]

You're joking right. 9000 tickets for any WCBB game is very good.

I've been to TBA twice for regular season WBB games and both times it was sold out at 21,000

 

[Vowelguy]

I've been to TBA twice for regular season WBB games and both times it was sold out at 21,000

Yeah, and I had a turkey sandwich for lunch. Not sure why either matters.

9k is more than 95% of D1
And given the product they're putting on the floor, pretty darn good.

 

[Bestiarius]

Deshields does seem to be lost out there and it's actually sad because you can still see her talent even when she is unproductive. Also for those in the know, arent the stands unusually empty for such a big game? Or is this the new normal for them?

Yes, even her airballs miss by a much bigger margin than anyone else.

Stands are even emptier than it appears because there is a large Baylor contingent there to fill the seats usually occupied by TN fans. In years past, attendance for a game like this would have drawn 8,000 more LV fans.

 

[JS]

You're joking right. 9000 tickets for any WCBB game is very good.

Yes, but it's not good by Tennessee's past standards, especially against a highly ranked opponent.

For many years, going back to 1999, TN mostly led the pack with average attendance ranging up to 5,000 or 6,000 more than that.

The games Kicker attended in a sold-out (21,000) TBA were no doubt UConn games. Other rivals a somewhat less impressive draw, but there's no doubt the fan base isn't turning out for big games like it used to.

Mostly it's the team's disappointing results in recent years finally beginning to drag down the inertia of enthusiasm from years past. Partly other factors operative everywhere, as well, that we've discussed at length.

Wouldn't call TN/Baylor attendance pitiful, as Hardhat did without the relativity context, but it was below even last year's average. There's no disputing it reflects a comedown in a stat that long was TN's justifiable pride.

 

[HuskyNan]

UConn played #14 DePaul in front of 6700 fans. We're no one to throw stones regarding attendance.

 

[Bestiarius]

Yeah, and I had a turkey sandwich for lunch. Not sure why either matters.

9k is more than 95% of D1
And given the product they're putting on the floor, pretty darn good.

Yes, turkey = Tennessee. I see the connection.

The point is, the drop in attendance from the old days that is a portent of things to come.

 

[triaddukefan]

Alexis shoots too much.
Takes away from her talented teammates.

 

[Bestiarius]

So Tennessee has the number recruiting class in the nation......more good players to run around without a clue of what to do on the court

But remember, essentially they are #1 in their own minds, the minds of their promoters, and Holly's mind.

 

[j66kicker]

Yeah, and I had a turkey sandwich for lunch. Not sure why either matters.

9k is more than 95% of D1
And given the product they're putting on the floor, pretty darn good.

Agree totally. My point was how many Voles have lost interest from the good old days (21K t0 9K = 57% decline). Though not to the extent that Knoxville has seen, the same phenomenon seems to be occurring nationally - especially in CT where mediocrity is NOT the cause. WBB needs someone else to step up and be good (someone with a personality who can hate Geno would be beneficial, heh heh). This was supposed to be the year. So far it's looking like business as usual - zzzzzz...

 

[easttexastrash]

I believe they missed at least ten lay ups and put backs. Also, Cox did not hit her close in shots. She is playing as if she needs a lot of work. I wonder where her confidence level is.

Cox has completely lost her confidence and as someone on the Baylor board said, she has a case of the "yips" on her shot now. Earlier in the year she would never miss an open shot and now she looks like she has never played before. I'm not sure when that started but it has gotten ugly.

Brown and Mompremier need to simplify their play in the post and just get the ball and go up strong. They are trying to be Nina Davis...and they are not. O

 

[hoophuskee]

Cox has completely lost her confidence and as someone on the Baylor board said, she has a case of the "yips" on her shot now. Earlier in the year she would never miss an open shot and now she looks like she has never played before. I'm not sure when that started but it has gotten ugly.

Brown and Mompremier need to simplify their play in the post and just get the ball and go up strong. They are trying to be Nina Davis...and they are not. O

I think the best player on your team is the pg. As you had said one time regarding Prince - she needs to be more. The bigs from Baylor don't impress too much. They're just big. I'm seeing another E8 unless Cox finders her groove or Prince really steps up or Jones becomes a beast. IMO Nina Davis seems to get smothered in a low post - non-speed game. Good luck. Maybe the two teams will meet again.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Tennessee showed last year that it could raise its game (sometimes) against superior competition. Can they do it this year?

Meanwhile, any fan of WCBB will enjoy this conversation, from Knoxville, between Doris Burke and Kim Mulkey:

I can't even begin to say how much I loved this clip between Doris Burke and Kim Mulkey. It made a big difference in my perception of Kim Mulkey and humanized her for ME. I thought she was a little much on the sidelines and thought of her in terms that wouldn't be welcomed on this site but this really showed me a completely different person than I expected she was. Doris is so cool always but Kim talking about Pat Summit, the person actually gave me a much different impression of both of them (Pat and Kim). A very much more positive impression. I guess I'm more judgmental than I should be but even in my old age it's nice that given a little information and insight, I can be swayed in a more positive way. Thanks so much for this clip!

 

[Buzzyboy]

Its hard for me to give Tenn a chance in any game against any team because they continue to prove just that. Baylor should win by a landslide. Tenn continues to be an uncoachable team. Attitude problems on and off the court have ruined this group of very talented players. They just dont respond to their coaches. Tenn imo continues to be an assmebleage of talent that doesnt play as a team. They depend to much on one or two players while the rest just stand around and watch. Its sad. What was once is gone and alot of that has to do with not being tuff and thats tuff love from the coaching staff. JMO I know its a little harsh and it was ment to be. All that talent again this season and they continue to struggle and lose to lesser competition.

What amazes me is hearing their coach trying to communicate with the media. She doesn't seem to have great communication skills and it's hard for me to conceive that she's still the head coach there. She doesn't seem to be able to get anything remotely close to the best out of her team and that's shameful. I'm inclined to think she's probably a great person and it's obvious she had the respect of Pat Summit but she seems totally lost in getting her team to perform.

 

[rvwsleep]

Well this might dispel their fears of DD leaving early?

That fear would be misplaced. Tennessee should be fearful of DD deciding to return. What a role model for the incoming freshman class.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Holly needs to be a real coach, and sit DD on the bench, too much one on one, totally undisciplined play. If Geno can sit Stewie, and Tuck after 5 minutes to set an example, then Holly needs to do that with DD.

Geno sat them against a conference team... there's no way he'd try that against a Top 5 team

 

[Bayareahusky]

I saw Holly for what she was from the start..... I thought give her a year to get her feet under her..... but the same ills, the same mistakes, the same team performance..... and there are some in Vol Nation who think that she is about to come into her own..... after 35 years and 5 as HC..... not only is she ill equipped in the x's and o's....... the players do not respect her at a base level plain and simple..... it was easier being asst coach and ride the tailwind of, and be the counter to..... Pay's hardxxx style..... but making transition to being HC herself is so obviously outside her skillset..... do not blame TN for making the hire.... where i think they badly misjudged was at start of last season.... giving her the extension..... but i think the administration is happy with S16 or E8.....

 

[DaddyChoc]

Wow, Nared pretty brutal in her assessment, calling out everyone except Russell for lack of heart and effort.

Dan and Holly should have called out "Diamond"

 

[triaddukefan]

Agree totally. My point was how many Voles have lost interest from the good old days (21K t0 9K = 57% decline). Though not to the extent that Knoxville has seen, the same phenomenon seems to be occurring nationally - especially in CT where mediocrity is NOT the cause. WBB needs someone else to step up and be good (someone with a personality who can hate Geno would be beneficial, heh heh). This was supposed to be the year. So far it's looking like business as usual - zzzzzz...

Dont want to be mean or insensitive.... but those sellouts of 21-24K were some 15 years ago and alot of those fans may have either 1) died or 2) gotten up in the age where travel to and from games is no longer an option. Im in my early 40s.... and if Im still around in 15 years... I'll definitely still be going to Duke WCBB games .. health willing. But when i look in the Duke crowd.... there are alot of elderly fans who most likely wont be around in the year 2031

 

[Bayareahusky]

gotta show some kind of grit, hustle, effort..... Good Lord, these rating services for HS talent are not wrong..... YN just struggles with lifting the level and bringing out that talent.... and for the fans..... i think they can put up with losing if the effort shows..... Kim could have gotten her team to 100 yesterday..... 22 pts was not so bad a beating in the box score.... too many turnovers for TN not enough assists..... after these few yrs of CHW still seeking a potent offense, even a functional one