Diamond is Day to Day for Lady Vols

[JoePgh]

Just because Baylor's OOC schedule does not include an away game and includes such powerhouses as a Grambling team that was #336 of 349 teams last year, it's a very wee bit unfair to call it b.s. First, the bulls may be offended that their useful product is being put to such a derogatory purpose, and also Baylor did at least get one preseason ranked team on the slate, though at #24, MSU is barely so. And look at the hopeful side, the Bears' OOC can only get better next year -- unless of course Kim decides that playing Grambling 10 times in a row is the fashion.

And HF21, nice of you to volunteer the Huskies players for an unremittingly tough and absurd OOC schedule that is twice as tough as their current true-grit blockbuster. Thought the goal was to win an NC instead of putting the team through ridiculous meat grinders in the fall. And if you are pushing the craziness, why does it have to be limited to the teams that are preseason top 10? Why not another UT team (Texas) at #11 that hasn't sh-a-t on the Huskies' reputation in the past?

When you say "I want to play and beat every top 10 team," do remember it is not you who are playing these games but college players who have a lot of pressures on them and maybe don't need a totally ridiculous schedule that no team in even professional sports play. I mean, if you want to go challenge yourself to play a schedule of daily one-on-ones against a 7-foot dead-eye 3-point-shooting magic-handle opponent, by all means, but trying to push even more grit on the Huskies even than the super coarse sandpaper slate that Geno has lined up is a bit nervy.

From everything that Geno has said and everything that I have heard, the UConn players would be in heaven if they could play an entire schedule made up of Sweet-16 caliber teams. They might even prefer to play the entire schedule against Final Four level teams. I think any competitor would feel that way. Part of the sales pitch for coming to UConn is that "You will play with the best, and against the best." It's the best way to develop their skills. At some point 40-point blowouts become a little tedious.

And certainly, from the standpoint of both fan interest and TV exposure and revenue, it is in UConn's interest to play the toughest schedule it can play.

Back when the Big East provided a lot of capable opponents, it made some sense to play lower-caliber opponents on the OOC schedule. But now that UConn is constrained to have 18 regular season games in the AAC, at least 16 of which will be completely non-competitive, they should put together the toughest OOC schedule that they possible can. I think Geno recognizes that. To his great credit, this year's OOC schedule includes only one "cupcake" (Colgate), and that is because Syracuse refused to provided a homecoming for Stewie.

If Baylor, Duke, or Stanford had been willing to play this year, I'm sure that Geno would have scheduled them. That is not the case with Tennessee, a fact which I consider deplorable, and I will bet that Stewie and Moriah don't really understand it either.

 

[Zorro]

Duck ? Hardly. Choose another verb.

Yeah! Why a duck?

 

[stwainfan]

She is in the game.

 

[BreckenJ05]

Diamond is having a good game so far, but Tea Cooper is having an awesome game. Dunbar is shooting well too. They have been rotating 6 players, Diamond did not start but Mercedes is having a good game too.

 

[DobbsRover2]

From everything that Geno has said and everything that I have heard, the UConn players would be in heaven if they could play an entire schedule made up of Sweet-16 caliber teams. They might even prefer to play the entire schedule against Final Four level teams. I think any competitor would feel that way. Part of the sales pitch for coming to UConn is that "You will play with the best, and against the best." It's the best way to develop their skills. At some point 40-point blowouts become a little tedious.

And certainly, from the standpoint of both fan interest and TV exposure and revenue, it is in UConn's interest to play the toughest schedule it can play.

Back when the Big East provided a lot of capable opponents, it made some sense to play lower-caliber opponents on the OOC schedule. But now that UConn is constrained to have 18 regular season games in the AAC, at least 16 of which will be completely non-competitive, they should put together the toughest OOC schedule that they possible can. I think Geno recognizes that. To his great credit, this year's OOC schedule includes only one "cupcake" (Colgate), and that is because Syracuse refused to provided a homecoming for Stewie.

If Baylor, Duke, or Stanford had been willing to play this year, I'm sure that Geno would have scheduled them. That is not the case with Tennessee, a fact which I consider deplorable, and I will bet that Stewie and Moriah don't really understand it either.

Um, yeah but point is that UConn is already playing one of if not the toughest schedules in WCBB history and has already done about as much as it can to "play the toughest schedule it can play." We all have our theories about how much good it does to play the type of killer schedules that Summitt would line up for the Vols in the 2000s that were so much beloved by the Summiteers and had very mixed success. How much good running yourself ragged in the fall (lots of injuries seem to happen in those high pressure games too) does for your play in late March is open to debate. I'm sure Geno wouldn't mind having another good OOC slot in Jan-Feb besides the one for USCar, but with USF now a top team and Temple, Tulane, and ECU on the way up, the AAC is starting to toughen up.

And on the other point of this thread but keeping to the competition issue, Central Arkansas was rated #280 by Sagarin last year. Although their 13-14 record didn't look that bad for a D1 school, they play teams like Hendrix, Crowleys Ridge, Central Baptist, Jarvis Christian, Lyon, and Williams Baptist that are at least one division below them, and it's nice to have four schools in the Southland Conference rated on the bad end of the 300s in Sags to give you a decent chance for conference wins. One of those teams UTenn should be embarrassed to play.

 

[Bestiarius]

From everything that Geno has said and everything that I have heard, the UConn players would be in heaven if they could play an entire schedule made up of Sweet-16 caliber teams. They might even prefer to play the entire schedule against Final Four level teams. I think any competitor would feel that way. Part of the sales pitch for coming to UConn is that "You will play with the best, and against the best." It's the best way to develop their skills. At some point 40-point blowouts become a little tedious.

And certainly, from the standpoint of both fan interest and TV exposure and revenue, it is in UConn's interest to play the toughest schedule it can play.

Back when the Big East provided a lot of capable opponents, it made some sense to play lower-caliber opponents on the OOC schedule. But now that UConn is constrained to have 18 regular season games in the AAC, at least 16 of which will be completely non-competitive, they should put together the toughest OOC schedule that they possible can. I think Geno recognizes that. To his great credit, this year's OOC schedule includes only one "cupcake" (Colgate), and that is because Syracuse refused to provided a homecoming for Stewie.

If Baylor, Duke, or Stanford had been willing to play this year, I'm sure that Geno would have scheduled them. That is not the case with Tennessee, a fact which I consider deplorable, and I will bet that Stewie and Moriah don't really understand it either.

I'm in agreement with most of what you are saying, but when it comes to playing Tennessee, that's where the agreement ends. I'm not going to opine on what Stewie and Moriah think about the situation, since I don't know, as neither has included me in their their inner circle.

First, when Holly made the first overture to Geno regarding playing UConn, and Geno didn't respond favorably, Holly sort of retracted her offer by saying she would not play UConn in respect to Pat Summitt. Why she made the overture in the first place is an interesting question if she never intended to follow through. To me, she was just trying to save face after being rebuked. But, in the final analysis, neither coach is willing to play the game. So it's not all on Geno.

Second, Tennessee continues to cast aspersions on Geno by making no attempt to stop or even moderate the untruths uttered by TN fans. Now the criticism has morphed into the reason why TN hasn't had any success recruiting this year. They say Holly won't cheat and all the other coaches will do what they need to do to get the recruits.

Perhaps if this kind of stuff ceased, some progress can be made.

 

[msf22b]

"Second, Tennessee continues to cast aspersions on Geno by making no attempt to stop or even moderate the untruths uttered by TN fans.
Perhaps if this kind of stuff ceased, some progress can be made.[/I]

So now its the fans derision which is preventing the resumption of the series....the fans for gods sake?
This is getting really ridiculous.

 

[DobbsRover2]

So now its the fans derision which is preventing the resumption of the series....the fans for gods sake?
This is getting really ridiculous.

Where in freak did that comment come from? As if anything that some fans yack about can affect anything.

In case you weren't attuned to what went on back in 2006 and after, the UTenn administration made slanderous attacks against Geno and UConn that they have never backed off on in any way except to say that all maybe should now be peaceable since their coach of the time is facing a tragic illness. This is simply about the fact that Geno has requested a minimal amount of courtesy from UTenn before any interactions between the teams resume, in case he gets stabbed in the back again. Is that so hard to understand?

 

[ricky]

From everything that Geno has said and everything that I have heard, the UConn players would be in heaven if they could play an entire schedule made up of Sweet-16 caliber teams. They might even prefer to play the entire schedule against Final Four level teams. I think any competitor would feel that way. Part of the sales pitch for coming to UConn is that "You will play with the best, and against the best." It's the best way to develop their skills. At some point 40-point blowouts become a little tedious.

And certainly, from the standpoint of both fan interest and TV exposure and revenue, it is in UConn's interest to play the toughest schedule it can play.

Back when the Big East provided a lot of capable opponents, it made some sense to play lower-caliber opponents on the OOC schedule. But now that UConn is constrained to have 18 regular season games in the AAC, at least 16 of which will be completely non-competitive, they should put together the toughest OOC schedule that they possible can. I think Geno recognizes that. To his great credit, this year's OOC schedule includes only one "cupcake" (Colgate), and that is because Syracuse refused to provided a homecoming for Stewie.

If Baylor, Duke, or Stanford had been willing to play this year, I'm sure that Geno would have scheduled them. That is not the case with Tennessee, a fact which I consider deplorable, and I will bet that Stewie and Moriah don't really understand it either.

Please recall, that ship has sailed. Let's move on from this pipe dream.

 

[msf22b]

Where in freak did that comment come from? As if anything that some fans yack about can affect anything.

In case you weren't attuned to what went on back in 2006 and after, the UTenn administration made slanderous attacks against Geno and UConn that they have never backed off on in any way except to say that all maybe should now be peaceable since their coach of the time is facing a tragic illness. This is simply about the fact that Geno has requested a minimal amount of courtesy from UTenn before any interactions between the teams resume, in case he gets stabbed in the back again. Is that so hard to understand?

one post up from mine...I got the reply mech slightly messed up

 

[DobbsRover2]

one post up from mine...I got the reply mech slightly messed up

Okay, but fans and the BY take their actions much too seriously about any effects they usually have. Of course, if it was what the Summitteers cobbled together back in 2006, then yeah, occasionally there can be a huge cataclysmic effect, but it takes a coach and AD ready and willing to buy into it.

 

[jsloanjr]

Let it go..........It really does not matter who they all play until Marc or April if they get there.....

 

[msf22b]

I actually don't believe that who plays whom should be a coaches fiefdom in any case
Not ready to propose an alternate
But noses out of joint...I know, I know...they tried to destroy our program
but they failed...and now there's a new coach and new AD.
And its like punishing today's kids for ancient history...like punishing our men's team for the failings of their predecessors, the same argument for the current athletes of that shyster U that begins with North...
Ms.DeShields is right
Play Ball.

 

[Eggman]

'Why a duck?', zorrow
Why not a horse?, Chico Marx

 

[alexrgct]

Well Diamond played and had 12 points against...the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears..

Is the UCA WBB team known as the "Lady Sugar Bears"????

 

[stwainfan]

Well Diamond played

I have waited for over a year for those words. 12 points sand 7 assists today.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Well Diamond played and had 12 points against...the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears..

Is the UCA WBB team known as the "Lady Sugar Bears"????

 

[Alydar]

Well Diamond played and had 12 points against...the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears..

Is the UCA WBB team known as the "Lady Sugar Bears"????

No, just the "Sugar Bears" The men are "Bears", a gender neutral name. If they wanted to distinguish them then the men should have been changed to "The Boars" and the women to "The Sows". Bears share those gender-identifying names with pigs.

"Sugar Bears" sell cereal, don't they?

 

[stwainfan]

A after game quote by Diamond.
(On racking up seven assists)
"I wanted to send a message that I am a team player. The points will come. Yeah, I had [12 points] tonight, but they'll come. I'm not worried about that. But getting my teammates involved, it's not about me. The fact that I was able to have a Kortney Dunbar, a Mercedes Russell, a Te'a [Cooper], Andraya [Carter], Alexa [Middleton], I think that you have to utilize those assets and I'm going to do that. I'm very capable. I'm going to utilize my vision at all times."

 

[connboy77]

A after game quote by Diamond.
(On racking up seven assists)
"I wanted to send a message that I am a team player. The points will come. Yeah, I had [12 points] tonight, but they'll come. I'm not worried about that. But getting my teammates involved, it's not about me. The fact that I was able to have a Kortney Dunbar, a Mercedes Russell, a Te'a [Cooper], Andraya [Carter], Alexa [Middleton], I think that you have to utilize those assets and I'm going to do that. I'm very capable. I'm going to utilize my vision at all times."

This is good for the lady vols if true. Only time will tell.

 

[Ctpaul0825]

A after game quote by Diamond.
(On racking up seven assists)
"I wanted to send a message that I am a team player. The points will come. Yeah, I had [12 points] tonight, but they'll come. I'm not worried about that. But getting my teammates involved, it's not about me. The fact that I was able to have a Kortney Dunbar, a Mercedes Russell, a Te'a [Cooper], Andraya [Carter], Alexa [Middleton], I think that you have to utilize those assets and I'm going to do that. I'm very capable. I'm going to utilize my vision at all times."

Like I said, I really like Diamond but that quote concerns me, "I'm going to utilize my vision at all times". I hope she can utilize coaches vision and not supersede it with her own.

 

[j66kicker]

A after game quote by Diamond.
(On racking up seven assists)
"I wanted to send a message that I am a team player. The points will come. Yeah, I had [12 points] tonight, but they'll come. I'm not worried about that. But getting my teammates involved, it's not about me. The fact that I was able to have a Kortney Dunbar, a Mercedes Russell, a Te'a [Cooper], Andraya [Carter], Alexa [Middleton], I think that you have to utilize those assets and I'm going to do that. I'm very capable. I'm going to utilize my vision at all times."

Translation: "It's all about me." She used "I" or "I'm" 9 times in that short statement, plus a couple "my's" and a "me." Basically apologizing for only scoring 12 and promising it's not gonna always be like that. Do team players usually have to announce that they are team players?? Anyway, it's good to know she's very capable and is going to utilize her assets.

 

[Beemer]

I used to drill those barrels and rifle them, as well.

I learned to shoot pistol with a Ruger 45/22. I liked it so much I bought one!

 

[stwainfan]

(On Diamond DeShields' assists)
"You saw why Diamond came to Tennessee, to have the opportunity to play with a team. That is not saying anything to slam North Carolina. I just think she wanted to have the opportunity to play a solid game. She is an unbelievable passer. I will say this about Diamond DeShields. Not too many people have a feel for the game. She has an unbelievable feel for the game. She sees the floor. That is hard to teach. Players like that can see things develop two to three plays before they happen, and that is one solid thing that Diamond has. I told her before she went in, `Enjoy this. You have been out for a year and couple months. This is what you wanted. This is why you came to Tennessee. Have fun.' She has. Her attitude here has been unbelievable. We haven't had any problems whatsoever. She loves the game, and her getting back on the court was the most important thing for her."

 

[Orangutan]

(On Diamond DeShields' assists)
"You saw why Diamond came to Tennessee, to have the opportunity to play with a team. That is not saying anything to slam North Carolina. I just think she wanted to have the opportunity to play a solid game. She is an unbelievable passer. I will say this about Diamond DeShields. Not too many people have a feel for the game. She has an unbelievable feel for the game. She sees the floor. That is hard to teach. Players like that can see things develop two to three plays before they happen, and that is one solid thing that Diamond has. I told her before she went in, `Enjoy this. You have been out for a year and couple months. This is what you wanted. This is why you came to Tennessee. Have fun.' She has. Her attitude here has been unbelievable. We haven't had any problems whatsoever. She loves the game, and her getting back on the court was the most important thing for her."

Well that ought to be all the motivation Allisha Gray needs while she sits out.

 

[TitleTown]

Tennessee is a damn good team. Deshields is as gifted a scorer as there is in the game and Russell looks like a completely different player. She is moving way better than she was prior to her surgeries on her feet and now looks like a player deserving of the title of #1 rated recruit. Cooper and Dunbar are both solid players as well and will only get better with more playing time. The only question I have about Tennessee is their bench. They only played 6 players in the opener due to injury so their bench is limited.

 

[mtsuraider06]

Tennessee is a damn good team. Deshields is as gifted a scorer as there is in the game and Russell looks like a completely different player. She is moving way better than she was prior to her surgeries on her feet and now looks like a player deserving of the title of #1 rated recruit. Cooper and Dunbar are both solid players as well and will only get better with more playing time. The only question I have about Tennessee is their bench. They only played 6 players in the opener due to injury so their bench is limited.

Nia Moore, Meme Jackson, and Jasmine Jones should all be ready by Wednesday.
Jaime Nared is out for about two more weeks.
Jordan Reynolds missed a class she thought was cancelled, and the punishment for missing class is sitting out. Graves violated a team rule and didn't play. Both are playing on Wednesday.

 

[Alydar]

It's nice to see both Russell and DeShields playing again. But Tenn just played a team that like C-N has one 6'1" player and two 6' players. If the LV's didn't look dominant there would be serious reason for concern. Their next 3 games are against Penn St, Syracuse and Chattanooga, all at TBA. While not top 20 teams, at least one of them beat Tenn. I still suspect that DeShields is going to have to "take over" a lot of games this season and that can wear a player down.

Tenn won't have a real test until they finally go on the road in mid-December and then in mid-January when they go to South Bend. To me the teat of a team happens when they play a really good team on the road.

Deshields can talk all she wants about being part of a team but she has already abandoned one that was filled with her friends. And it may be a small point but I noticed that the entire LV team wears orange shoes with one exception. DeShields has shoes that are some pretty shade of violet. What's with that. She may talk convincingly about a "team" commitment but those shoes say something different, something like "look at me" Does she have a secret shoe contract? Should we be writing to the NCAA?

 

[Bestiarius]

Like I said, I really like Diamond but that quote concerns me, "I'm going to utilize my vision at all times". I hope she can utilize coaches vision and not supersede it with her own.

"I'm going to utilize my vision at all times". But enough about me. Let's talk about you - what do you think of my game?

 

[Justavisitor]

It's nice to see both Russell and DeShields playing again. But Tenn just played a team that like C-N has one 6'1" player and two 6' players. If the LV's didn't look dominant there would be serious reason for concern. Their next 3 games are against Penn St, Syracuse and Chattanooga, all at TBA. While not top 20 teams, at least one of them beat Tenn. I still suspect that DeShields is going to have to "take over" a lot of games this season and that can wear a player down.

Tenn won't have a real test until they finally go on the road in mid-December and then in mid-January when they go to South Bend. To me the teat of a team happens when they play a really good team on the road.

Deshields can talk all she wants about being part of a team but she has already abandoned one that was filled with her friends. And it may be a small point but I noticed that the entire LV team wears orange shoes with one exception. DeShields has shoes that are some pretty shade of violet. What's with that. She may talk convincingly about a "team" commitment but those shoes say something different, something like "look at me" Does she have a secret shoe contract? Should we be writing to the NCAA?

Diamond wasn't the only one wearing the blue shade gym shoe, so you would be wrong about that point. Unfortunately, you can't use that inaccurate analysis to attack her character. As for taking over a game, she will have help in that department. However, it won't be any different than the times when Stewie will need to take over. The difference in great and good is having a great player with the ability to take a game over...something TN hasn't had since 2008.