OBTW Tennessee Gone 1st Game SEC

[Carnac]

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.

If Vol Nation wants to turn their fortunes around, they can follow the model that Geno and CD have created. Clean house, and start over with a new coaching staff and new players, because what they've got going right now is not working. They're like a dog chasing his tail. Vol Nation can do better, they can't do much worse. They've been going down the tubes for years. It may take 2-3 years, but it's a better exercise than the treadmill they're on now. I'd be willing to bet that the fan base would welcome a fresh start that begins with a clean sweep.

 

[oldude]

If Vol Nation wants to turn their fortunes around, they can follow the model that Geno and CD have created. Clean house, and start over with a new coaching staff and new players, because what they've got going right now is not working. They're like a dog chasing his tail. Vol Nation can do better, they can't do much worse. They've been going down the tubes for years. It may take 2-3 years, but it's a better exercise than the treadmill they're on now. I'd be willing to bet that the fan base would welcome a fresh start that begins with a clean sweep.

There is something else that could help bring TN back, although I consider it a remote possibility at best. With a new AD and a new HC, it just might be possible to reestablish the UConn-TN game.

It would start with a private conversation between the new folks at TN and Geno, where they could apologize for what happened under the prior leadership and then hopefully progress from there.

One of the problems with reestablishing the game has always been that TN would never apologize to UConn, Maya or her family so long as Pat or her deciples was running the show.

I admit it's a long shot, but if they hired a coach that Geno knows and respects, you just never know what might happen.

 

[JavaMan]

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...

Yea, but ...well ...it's a conundrum!
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“Here’s how I’m going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.” –Pat Summitt​

​

 

[iri10]

Even after this eye-searingly mediocre result, I still don't want to see them in UConn's quarter. I can just see this team, as an 8 seed, struggling to beat the 9 seed, then playing their best game in 9 years to threaten the Huskies. Bleh.

Let them play UConn in the FF, assuming UConn makes it and (by some combination of miracles) Tennessee does also. UConn's pretty good in FF games. But no, I will not whistle up this shambling trickster team for an early tournament matchup against UConn, thanks very much.

 

[Beemer]

Yea, but ...well ...it's a conundrum!
​

“Here’s how I’m going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.” –Pat Summitt​

​

Holly Warlick is no Pat Summitt. Warlick does not command the level of respect tinged with fear from her players that Summitt got from her teams. Right now Tennessee is coasting on its past glories and if they don't get themselves straightened out pretty soon that's all they'll have left. And while I don't much give a damn about Tennessee I don't think it is good for wcbb to lose one of its few powerhouse programs.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Water's getting to deep for me. Makes me want to take the jaw of an ass and... oh, never mind. About their loss today I just wanna say:

Hal lay LOU ya---youse is ben saved. Don't smite--or mite or byte--slay the buggers.

 

[CocoHusky]

Holly Warlick is no Pat Summitt. Warlick does not command the level of respect tinged with fear from her players that Summitt got from her teams. Right now Tennessee is coasting on its past glories and if they don't get themselves straightened out pretty soon that's all they'll have left. And while I don't much give a damn about Tennessee I don't think it is good for wcbb to lose one of its few powerhouse programs.

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

Occasionally that kind of vengeful thinking (UCONN stomping TN) makes its way to the BY also. When it does I always shake my head in dismissal because I don't think people realize how far the two programs have diverged. TN will lose 12 games this year unless they win the NC. UCONN has lost a total of 14 games IN THE DACADE since these two teams last met in 2007.

 

[JordyG]

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.

I agree. IMO Holly's attempt to mimic Summitt's success while slavishly imitating her defensive and offensive strategies was doomed for failure. UT no longer gets the biggest and best and the proliferation of 2-3's played by today's long armed young women effectively neutralizes the double post as well as the dump it in "brute ball" played by many SEC teams. Offenses and defenses have moved on. Holly's limited knowledge of how to implement offensive schemes is damning every TO.

 

[JordyG]

Occasionally that kind of vengeful thinking (UCONN stomping TN) makes its way to the BY also. When it does I always shake my head in dismissal because I don't think people realize how far the two programs have diverged. TN will lose 12 games this year unless they win the NC. UCONN has lost a total of 14 games IN THE DACADE since these two teams last met in 2007.

So, so right. Double like for you. Over on the LadyVol forum there are many there convinced that one of Geno's last remaining desires at the Tourney is to crush UT. Nonsense. Geno's desire is to crush EVERY team in Dallas, and UT is just another opponent. Geno has moved on. Those times are long gone for him. It is some fans that still hold enmity for players, coaches and administrators long gone. Some now passed on. New fans must look upon our generation of fans in puzzlement as we rake over a series of events involving a team that is barely relevant.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Holly Warlick is no Pat Summitt. Warlick does not command the level of respect tinged with fear from her players that Summitt got from her teams. Right now Tennessee is coasting on its past glories and if they don't get themselves straightened out pretty soon that's all they'll have left. And while I don't much give a damn about Tennessee I don't think it is good for wcbb to lose one of its few powerhouse programs.

Exactly. Pat's forceful personality was her biggest asset. Holly lacks that.

 

[Blueconn]

They reported an elderly former paratrooper to the NCAA for handing Ernie DelleDonne a handmade sign. From his wheelchair.

I don't mean to start this all up again, but I will never, ever get over it.

Nor I. My 65th birthday yesterday was nice : greetings from friends, sweet hours with family, and goodies in the fridge. But the absolute cherry on top was settling in to watch the Lady Vols stink the place up.

Now I'm greedy...so much want to finish their season for them in Bridgeport and spend time afterward reading about it on Volnation.

 

[oldude]

So, so right. Double like for you. Over on the LadyVol forum there are many there convinced that one of Geno's last remaining desires at the Tourney is to crush UT. Nonsense. Geno's desire is to crush EVERY team in Dallas, and UT is just another opponent. Geno has moved on. Those times are long gone for him. It is some fans that still hold enmity for players, coaches and administrators long gone. Some now passed on. New fans must look upon our generation of fans in puzzlement as we rake over a series of events involving a team that is barely relevant.

Having read a number of posts on VolNation, I respectfully suggest you and CocoHusky may be missing part of the motivation of some TN fans in wanting to meet up with the Huskies and get their asses beat.

IMO, a number of posters were so frustrated by the performance of the team and coaches that they were hoping that a 40-50 pt beat down by UConn would finally force TN to dump Holly and begin the process to restore the program.

It's kind of like undergoing radiation therapy which kills a lot of perfectly healthy cells while trying to kill cancer cells.

 

[JordyG]

Having read a number of posts on VolNation, I respectfully suggest you and CocoHusky may be missing part of the motivation of some TN fans in wanting to meet up with the Huskies and get their asses beat.

IMO, a number of posters were so frustrated by the performance of the team and coaches that they were hoping that a 40-50 pt beat down by UConn would finally force TN to dump Holly and begin the process to restore the program.

It's kind of like undergoing radiation therapy which kills a lot of perfectly healthy cells while trying to kill cancer cells.

I read all of the posts there relating to meeting UConn in the NCAA's. Some thought that losing would be a cathartic for the team and help flush out Holly. But many also were adamant that Geno would enjoy destroying this mediocre team and would act as a cathartic for him as well.

 

[oldude]

I read all of the posts there relating to meeting UConn in the NCAA's. Some thought that losing would be a cathartic for the team and help flush out Holly. But many also were adamant that Geno would enjoy destroying this mediocre team and would act as a cathartic for him as well.

I certainly agree, and I also agree that Geno has moved on. I might make the point to TN fans that the best thing that could possibly happen to them is to face UConn on the court, regardless of the outcome. It just might point the way back to relevance again for a program that has clearly lost its way.

 

[Plebe]

Before:

And after:

 

[sarals24]

Having read a number of posts on VolNation, I respectfully suggest you and CocoHusky may be missing part of the motivation of some TN fans in wanting to meet up with the Huskies and get their asses beat.

IMO, a number of posters were so frustrated by the performance of the team and coaches that they were hoping that a 40-50 pt beat down by UConn would finally force TN to dump Holly and begin the process to restore the program.

It's kind of like undergoing radiation therapy which kills a lot of perfectly healthy cells while trying to kill cancer cells.

I've seen this, and they are, once again, delusional. If every coach who got beat by UConn that badly got fired, well...there would be a lot of coaching vacancies.

 

[oldude]

I've seen this, and they are, once again, delusional. If every coach who got beat by UConn that badly got fired, well...there would be a lot of coaching vacancies.

I'm not sure that's the point. Most programs were never at UConn's level, at least over the past 25 years.

I think Vol fans are hoping that Holly is teetering on the edge and the administration is potentially considering making a change and just needs one good incentive, i.e. look at how far we've fallen vs a team that we used to compete with every year for national championships.

I tend to think TN really just cares about football and probably won't make a change, but hope springs eternal in Knoxville.

 

[DefenseBB]

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!

Oh we certainly do know how 25 losses feel, we have to go back to 1991-92 season to have count that high...

 

[oldude]

Oh we certainly do know how 25 losses feel, we have to go back to 1991-92 season to have count that high...

Ouch!!!

 

[EricSD]

One of the problems with reestablishing the game has always been that TN would never apologize to UConn, Maya or her family so long as Pat or her deciples was running the show.

I admit it's a long shot, but if they hired a coach that Geno knows and respects, you just never know what might happen.

You hit the nail on the head. Geno has publicly said he will never play them voluntarily until Tennessee apologizes to Maya and her family. The new HC would need to be willing to do that on behalf of all of Tennessee and their administration. Doubtful that would ever happen, and honestly, Geno likely has zero interest in helping "resurrect" that particular program. I say let them rot.

 

[j66kicker]

You hit the nail on the head. Geno has publicly said he will never play them voluntarily until Tennessee apologizes to Maya and her family. The new HC would need to be willing to do that on behalf of all of Tennessee and their administration. Doubtful that would ever happen, and honestly, Geno likely has zero interest in helping "resurrect" that particular program. I say let them rot.

....in the farthest place in hell, right?