Hoping Tennessee Wins

[meyers7]

Yes if only to tell him to FOAD . He caused my Bruins much pain back in the day.

I will tell you this- the only Montreal players I've ever respected are the late Jean Belliveau and Saku Koivu. Talk about two pearls cast before swine....

Maybe you can bury the hatchett. Deep.

 

[willtalk]

---------------------------to hear Deb Antonelli yap on Saturday and again tonight about how it is tough to replicate what Pat did and it may not be possible to do so in today's game.....

I think she (Deb) may well be right. In reality the decline in the Tenn program from where it was didn't just happen once Holly became coach. The decline began to happen under Pat Summit. How much of this was a result of her being affected by Alzheimers is conjecture. I do feel that it is much harder today than it was in the past to establish a dominant program like Summit and Gino did. The talent level of WCBB in respect to players and coaches has increased drastically. The dominate programs in the past attracted the best of a limited player pool, because of the general lack of top level coaching in women's basketball. I think that the decline under Summit affected the perception of the quality of the Tenn program and removed a lot of the luster that was established over the years. This has not happened with UConn. The program still maintains the reputation as the best program in the country so Geno still has his choice of the cream of the crop each year. Parity has not affected Uconn as much as it has Tenn. The larger high school talent pool along with more good coach's in WCBB makes it harder for teams like Tenn to maintain continued dominance because today's circumstances produce more quality teams that can compete both on the court and for recuits. I feel that Geno was the prototype of the new wave of coach's coming into WCBB. They ( Geno exemplified this) presented a threat to the established old vanguard which consisted of a few good coaches who because they were operating in a field of mediocrity had every advantage. The coming influx of new talent portended their decline and that is the underlying issue that Summit had with Geno. She didn't like the handwriting she saw on the wall. The raising of the bar was changing WCBB and ending the dominance of the old established vanguard.

 

[Bayareahusky]

I think she (Deb) may well be right. In reality the decline in the Tenn program from where it was didn't just happen once Holly became coach. The decline began to happen under Pat Summit. How much of this was a result of her being affected by Alzheimers is conjecture. I do feel that it is much harder today than it was in the past to establish a dominant program like Summit and Gino did. The talent level of WCBB in respect to players and coaches has increased drastically. The dominate programs in the past attracted the best of a limited player pool, because of the general lack of top level coaching in women's basketball. I think that the decline under Summit affected the perception of the quality of the Tenn program and removed a lot of the luster that was established over the years. This has not happened with UConn. The program still maintains the reputation as the best program in the country so Geno still has his choice of the cream of the crop each year. Parity has not affected Uconn as much as it has Tenn. The larger high school talent pool along with more good coach's in WCBB makes it harder for teams like Tenn to maintain continued dominance because today's circumstances produce more quality teams that can compete both on the court and for recuits. I feel that Geno was the prototype of the new wave of coach's coming into WCBB. They ( Geno exemplified this) presented a threat to the established old vanguard which consisted of a few good coaches who because they were operating in a field of mediocrity had every advantage. The coming influx of new talent portended their decline and that is the underlying issue that Summit had with Geno. She didn't like the handwriting she saw on the wall. The raising of the bar was changing WCBB and ending the dominance of the old established vanguard.

Great post here..... yes, Deb actually repeated her Saturday words last night, and I thought about it again..... with Geno raising the bar so high and surpassing Pat's accomplishments, what business does Deb have suggesting that Holly does not have a snowball's chance in hell of replicating what Pat did...... to be technical.... perhaps she was referring to the era Pat operated in..... but I took from her comments that Holly did not have a chance to match Pat's success in the form of aggregate accomplishment..... so do not hold her to that standard.....

It can also be interpreted in a sexist way..... in that an upstart Italian immigrant male can achieve and surpass a level of excellence that a female inheriting a legend's program cannot hope to attain..... The comments on Holly that Deb voiced last night came between 5 and 6 minutes left in the first half......

 

[Bayareahusky]

I think she (Deb) may well be right. In reality the decline in the Tenn program from where it was didn't just happen once Holly became coach. The decline began to happen under Pat Summit. How much of this was a result of her being affected by Alzheimers is conjecture. I do feel that it is much harder today than it was in the past to establish a dominant program like Summit and Gino did. The talent level of WCBB in respect to players and coaches has increased drastically. The dominate programs in the past attracted the best of a limited player pool, because of the general lack of top level coaching in women's basketball. I think that the decline under Summit affected the perception of the quality of the Tenn program and removed a lot of the luster that was established over the years. This has not happened with UConn. The program still maintains the reputation as the best program in the country so Geno still has his choice of the cream of the crop each year. Parity has not affected Uconn as much as it has Tenn. The larger high school talent pool along with more good coach's in WCBB makes it harder for teams like Tenn to maintain continued dominance because today's circumstances produce more quality teams that can compete both on the court and for recuits. I feel that Geno was the prototype of the new wave of coach's coming into WCBB. They ( Geno exemplified this) presented a threat to the established old vanguard which consisted of a few good coaches who because they were operating in a field of mediocrity had every advantage. The coming influx of new talent portended their decline and that is the underlying issue that Summit had with Geno. She didn't like the handwriting she saw on the wall. The raising of the bar was changing WCBB and ending the dominance of the old established vanguard.

and to be more clear..... with Deb's comments.... i would have felt much better for Holly's sake if she said it just may not be possible to achieve the success that Pat OR GENO achieved in today's WCBB game..... to me it came off as "Pat could achieve success , but you do not stand a chance"

 

[VFLfan]

You know, you make it difficult for me because I really cannot disagree with any of your points... Hah!!! Despite fact I have always spoken for the obvious talent on the roster, there is no question - to support your point - that injuries have hurt you badly on a positional level..... to have posts out, especially vs. Gonzaga and MD with existing trees in the paint, is a lot to overcome.... and your point about Burdick and Graves to improvise and play other positions is certainly well received..... we have that to a lesser degree with Tuck and Stewart .... who has the height but is not a natural post.....

On Holly, I have been a longtime skeptic.... and I do not have a dog in the fight. but I just get honestly frustrated for my Tenn friends ( yes, and i do have these!!) when I see her operational strategy..... I honestly feel guilty a bit busting on her.... but sometimes... my opinions get the best of me. i saw yesterday either on the Summit or Volnation someone suggest "well name someone who can do job better than Holly"..... to which I thought many can..... but she is getting a bit better if one looks at the record..... and next year will be a litmus test I think with how she handles DD (or as conjecture goes, how DD will handle Holly!) My wish for her is that .... at a minimum..... she gets some coaching help offensively. and let her focus on where she is comfortable.... the defensive side of the ball....

A couple of misc comments ..... I really feel for the seniors.... Burdick Massengale and Harrison..... they committed before Pat's illness announcement.... they all stood tall and honored commitments..... and their fortunes could have been better..... they all seem like fine young ladies and I am sure their experiences have been good in KVille. and next year. I have been on the record as a UConn fan..... 2 people I am rooting for in orange are Jannah Tucker..... bless her heart she has been through so much..... and Mercedes..... surgery like that is hard to come back from all the way..... and I hope she is able to run the floor and have full mobility in everything..... I hope she has a good career for the Lady Vols. Also as I have said before..... I appreciate the Tennessee posters here and the flavor they bring the forum here..... you and your army of orange invaders ..... it is always a breath of fresh air to exchange honest opinions about a game so great.

Agree with your comments on many things, especially the need for an offensive-minded assistant. And we all are rooting for Jannah...she's now going on almost 3 years without playing the game. Who knows if she will ever get back to the level she was. For her sake, regardless of TN's benefit, I hope she does. She deserves it for everything she has been thru. And as much ragging as I endure here over the team I just happen to grow up loving (I do realize I must be a glutton for punishment as this is a UCONN board), I appreciate those of you who I can engage in honest discussions over this sport we all love. Best of luck to you guys in the FF. I may pull for someone other than you guys, but I'm sure that's no surprise.

 

[Beemer]

Maybe you can bury the hatchett. Deep.

Yes right into his forehead.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Agree with your comments on many things, especially the need for an offensive-minded assistant. And we all are rooting for Jannah...she's now going on almost 3 years without playing the game. Who knows if she will ever get back to the level she was. For her sake, regardless of TN's benefit, I hope she does. She deserves it for everything she has been thru. And as much ragging as I endure here over the team I just happen to grow up loving (I do realize I must be a glutton for punishment as this is a UCONN board), I appreciate those of you who I can engage in honest discussions over this sport we all love. Best of luck to you guys in the FF. I may pull for someone other than you guys, but I'm sure that's no surprise.

Thank you VFLfan..... and for the record..... I do not expect, nor want, you to morph into a UConn fan!!! You will be defrocked, decommissioned, and stripped of many of your orange victories..... (sorry that was Boeheim)..... Again, I love the diversity you guys bring to the board here.,.... and enjoy my meetings with Tenn fans at away games and at random other places.... met a nice family from Johnson City just last month in a Chilis in Phoenix.... could not mistake them.... father mother and 10 yr old girl .... all bedecked in orange.... it was worth 2 beers .... an extra half hour, and lively discussion about all things WCBB!

 

[housekeys]

Ironic. In the end, the Lady Vols really did "back Pat". Pat did not want to play UConn, and the Lady Vols obliged.

 

[Geno-ista]

It's not about the current team, it's about the brand!

Well we all know Holly hasn't proven much...but I can't say we lost because of her tonight. We just can't shoot...at all...period...the end. We need consistent shooters.

Moriah Jefferson & Kiah Nurse weren't 3 point shooters in high school when they got here. They shoot 50% from 3 now. Mo Jef shot 1500-2000 3's daily in the off season in 3-4 sessions daily. That's the biggest difference between our kids and mostl everyone else. I could be wrong.

 

[Geno-ista]

Tennessee has absolutely ZERO business complaining about officials favoring anyone. The ball was out on Burdick-clearly. Then Burdick pushes Walker-Kimbrough on the other end with no call!!!

When u r used to getting the calls forever, all your way, everything else becomes a problem.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

When Tennessee beat Gonzaga, I was reminded of a quote by Geno that he made to UCONN fans following the victory against then #1 South Carolina..... "Act like you have been there before"
Tennessee, as ESPN will point out has a "storied history" in the NCAA with 8 titles. Yet the reaction to beating Gonzaga really made me think... It is a Sweet Sixteen victory where you had to come from behind to win.... and it took overtime to do it in...

So as for Tennessee winning the game, I am glad they didn't.