OBTW Tennessee Gone 1st Game SEC

[SVCBeercats]

What is going on with that team? They win some big games and lose subsequent games they should win by substantial margins. Charley Creme is now suggesting they should be a 7th seed in the NCAA tournament.

They should hope for a lousy seeding. They would have to play the really good teams ... the ones they beat. Thus avoiding the poor teams ... the one they lose to. Makes perfect sense if you are Holly and her players.

 

[Jimbo]

Is there an inside backstory I'm unaware of? What did Kibitzer have to do with the Tin Foil Hatters?

Here's the full version of the story, straight from the horse's, errr…Kibitzer's mouth: For the record. THE SIGN.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

DD 4/14, foulrd out. Only 3 to, tho.

But DD is supposed to go #1 in the WNBA draft? Seriously?

 

[Plebe]

Here's the full version of the story, straight from the horse's, errr…Kibitzer's mouth: For the record. THE SIGN.

Thank you for that link. Just one more question: Was this the complaint that led to the lone citation for the Maya ESPN visit?

 

[SCGamecock]

I for one am glad they were beaten, when Tennessee is bad they are BAD, but when they are good they are GOOD... Tennessee may not play great always but they are VERY consistent in elevating their play for higher level opponents. They definitely show up for those games.

I wouldn't want to see Tennessee in the NCAA tournament. Nope.

 

[cabbie191]

I watch the second half of the game, Alabama just flat out beat Tennessee. They were hitting shots, driving the lane and actually looked really good against the Vols. I'm not suggesting Alabama is a good team, but they were far better than their 5-11 conference record suggests. Or maybe they play up against the Vols. Props to them.

That said, Tennessee just played with no heart or smarts. Really bad boxing out, defensively the communication was horrible with switches and stopping players from getting in the lane. Bama hit 4-5 great looks from 3 in the second half too. The LVs will get decimated in round 1 if they bring a similar effort defensively.

On the offensive end, just a lot of careless play and poor shot selection. Deshields is as athletic as anyone and her ability to elevate and shoot midrange shots looks beautiful, but she just isn't a good shooter nor a good decision maker. She tried to take over late but should have gotten her teammates involved instead of trying to do it all herself. She can make great plays, but she always seems to be doing her own thing not in the flow of the offense. Skill wise she could be another Angel McCoughtry, but she doesn't bring the same intensity and effort that Angel does. I'll be shocked if she returns after the season. Everyone else was fine but just sort of a mediocre effort on all accounts.

Really tough way to enter the tournament. Last year the team at least made strides going into the NCAA tournament, where this year I'm guessing they will lose in round one.

BB90 - I want to give you a shout out for an honest post on what must have been a painful game for you to watch. And in general for your positive posts throughout the year.

 

[cabbie191]

Opening weekend is designed with two things in mind: minimizing travel and costs and maximizing attendance. TN would likely end up closer to home, i.e. at MD or OSU.

Yes, but think of the extra attendance and attention a UConn vs Tennessee match would engender! Though sadly, opening rounds don't get full tv coverage if I remember from past years.

 

[cabbie191]

For the players

For Holly, who seems like a nice person. She's just in over her head.

For the majority of LV fans that are good folks, who love their players and just want them to succeed.

For the Tin Foul Hat Brigade. Enjoy the karma for the pain you brought to an American hero, our Kibitzer.

Nan - an innocent typo or did you just pull off one of the best word puns of all time?

 

[oldude]

Yes, but think of the extra attendance and attention a UConn vs Tennessee match would engender! Though sadly, opening rounds don't get full tv coverage if I remember from past years.

Believe me, I would love to see it, but realistically there wouldn't be a lot of Vol fans that would make the trip from TN to Storrs just to see their team get buried by the Huskies.

 

[Carnac]

Is it just me or does Margo seem to be more philosophical about TN? The Vols appear to have broken her spirit.

Good obs. It would appear that reality has set in. I thought she have had been out of her mind after this loss, the way she was after the Alabama loss on Feb 26.

 

[Plebe]

Believe me, I would love to see it, but realistically there wouldn't be a lot of Vol fans that would make the trip from TN to Storrs just to see their team get buried by the Huskies.

I bet Margo would go!

 

[Wbbfan1]

Margo's Video from the Arena:

 

[trb123]

Tennessee lost. Must be Geno's fault for the upteenth time.

 

[Jimbo]

Thank you for that link. Just one more question: Was this the complaint that led to the lone citation for the Maya ESPN visit?

Here's a link to Tennessee's infamous 34-page report. (Link courtesy of DaddyChoc, a little further down the same thread Kib started.) Maya's ESPN visit is referenced very briefly on page 3. I don't know for a fact whether Tennessee filed a different complaint regarding that visit, but I'm not aware of one. If anyone knows differently, please feel free to correct me.

 

[HuskyNan]

Nan - an innocent typo or did you just pull off one of the best word puns of all time?

Yes.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I for one am glad they were beaten, when Tennessee is bad they are BAD, but when they are good they are GOOD... Tennessee may not play great always but they are VERY consistent in elevating their play for higher level opponents. They definitely show up for those games.

I wouldn't want to see Tennessee in the NCAA tournament. Nope.

I can see why you'd say that.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Tough First Question for the Players: This is actually a Margo video.

 

[bballnut90]

BB90 - I want to give you a shout out for an honest post on what must have been a painful game for you to watch. And in general for your positive posts throughout the year.

Appreciate the kind words. After watching now 25 losses in the last 2 years with lackluster effort, it's not all that painful anymore. Unfortunately for us LV fans, you guys don't know how losses feel anymore!

 

[BroadwayVa]

What you mean... Willis?

You are not a weird as you think---in this thread in a previous posting--you left a thought dangling--thought I said--without completing it;
I asked if I could quote you---and did----To quote Rocky: (nada).

 

[JordyG]

This is really, really atrocious. I didn't see the game, but Tenn's capacity to underplay easier opponents is breathtaking. This starts and stops with coaching. Coaches have to give their players a sense of urgency. Instead, it's as if Holly just looks perplexed and hasn't conveyed to her players that there are consequences to taking your opponent too lightly. It's like the whole team is content to lose.

On the head again bags. As I've said so often, coaches don't teach effort. Coaches recruit for it. They recruit for clear headedness, character, BB IQ, intangibles etc. Once again Holly, a less than average coach, has proven that recruiting a bunch of McDonald AA's without considering all those other characteristics just leads to an underachieving team of head cases. I think Jeff Walz may ultimately come to this conclusion as well.

 

[JordyG]

Appreciate the kind words. After watching now 25 losses in the last 2 years with lackluster effort, it's not all that painful anymore. Unfortunately for us LV fans, you guys don't know how losses feel anymore!

And unlike many BY-ers here I feel for you guys. Although many if not most here may cheer or laugh, for me, watching a once proud WCBB power slowly descend to Old Dominion status is painful to watch.

 

[JordyG]

For the players

For Holly, who seems like a nice person. She's just in over her head.

For the majority of LV fans that are good folks, who love their players and just want them to succeed.

For the Tin Foul Hat Brigade. Enjoy the karma for the pain you brought to an American hero, our Kibitzer.

Well emoji'd.

 

[bballnut90]

And unlike many BY-ers here I feel for you guys. Although many if not most here may cheer or laugh, for me, watching a once proud WCBB power slowly descend to Old Dominion status is painful to watch.

It's a weird predicament for a lot of fans because it's clear Holly isn't the right person for the job, but any success she accumulates gives her job security. As long as she continues to recruit well and make Sweet 16s, she'll likely keep her job. A program with the fan base, tradition/history, facilities and name power like Tennessee should be a perennial top 5-10 team every year. Pat had the program as a consistent top 5 team from the early 80s through 2011. I know we aren't going to find another Pat, but mediocre effort leading to 10 loss seasons just cannot be acceptable for Tennessee.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

Here she is....here's ya girl Margo.

[LINK]

Thanks for the post. Quite reserved for her; not sure if that is because she was in public OR the LVs played so poorly that she was worn out.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Thanks for the post. Quite reserved for her; not sure if that is because she was in public OR the LVs played so poorly that she was worn out.

I wish we had a UConn fan that would post videos like she does

 

[oldude]

I do have some empathy for Vol fans who've witnessed a slow and steady decline for a program that once set the standard for WBB.

I spent some time reading posts on VolNation last night. The fans are split about 50/50. Half blame Holly for the problems at TN and half blame the players.

There is also an interesting thread on the possibility of facing UConn in the NCAA's. A certain "gallows" humor prevails.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Is it just me or does Margo seem to be more philosophical about TN? The Vols appear to have broken her spirit.

The lethargy seems to be getting to Margo, too...I'd start checking the water supply...

 

[OneTrickPony]

The LVs that I've watched this year remind me of an old Harvard Business Review article called The Strategy of Hustle...basically made the point that companies without significant advantages can dominate their competition by outworking them. The LVs have superb athletes, and when they raise their work rate to their highest level, they can beat a lot of better disciplined teams. When they don't, they appear to have mediocre teamwork and a very undisciplined system of play...not much to fall back on. I don't think they are conditioned to play at the frenetic pace they need to in a tournament environment...at least they don't seem to think they can...

 

[Dillon77]

This is an athletically talented team that has obviously played up or down to the level of competition and/or the moment. That was admitted by the players in the press conference (see Margo's tape a few entries above). R: Alabama, how could you underplay a team that has beaten you two -- now three -- times in a row?
We all know of a number or coaches that would be having a SWAT team planning out strategies on how to rectify those losses while reminding players what not to do in the next game and what is expected of them in the next game. Preparation.

Still, the Vols can rise to the moment during the regular season, as Stanford and the Irish can attest to this season. And the NCAA is a big stage with bright lights, so I could see them making another run again (depending on the match-ups). However, that run maybe a bad cha-cha...one step forward to go two steps back. Why? Everyone will think it was an uneven but ultimately AOK season, and agree to try again next year because there's another load of fresh talent coming into Knoxville.

Pretty sure that Ms. DeShields will take the next train out of Dodge. On one hand, I think that will help because she has steadfastly refused to take part in any system that does not have three options: 1) I; 2) Me; 3) Try I again.

And I'm hoping that Holly can take it to the next step coaching wise with the next group of recruits, but I've seen nothing in her DNA and her coaching track record to show she'll have a more pointed direction, regardless of personnel. Maybe that will become apparent around the same time her contract is starting to wind down. By then, it may be too late to pull the shiny orange car out of the swamp. Sad for most of Volnation, as Husky Nan pointed out. But it feels inevitable at this point.

 

[oldude]

As a result of their mediocre play, TN will not have the opportunity to face a couple of cupcakes in the 1st round of the NCAA's. The Vols will be on the road, possibly in Columbus, OH or College Park, MD, facing better teams with comparable talent. I see TN heading home for good after the 1st weekend of the tournament.