Tenn is #23 in new AP rank- week 13, Feb. 1

[Nuyoika]

I agree with you. Oregon State played solid defense all night, they may be one team that is making major improvements as the season goes on and could make a deep run in the tournament.

I wouldn't be surprised if they made a nice run. Gotta get those turnovers under control though.

 

[UcMiami]

Interesting - I had lost sight of the fact the Pac12 is now playing unbalanced schedules and the OR v AZ schools is now just a road series for the AZ schools. (I have always liked the Pac12 schedule where the two 'neighboring' schools both travel the same week to another 'pair' of schools. It gives a quick check on relative strength for all four schools, and is repeated all season.) So we don't get a chance to see a return match unless they meet in the conference tourney. That was a significant win for Oregon State and a significant loss for ASU - neither team has had really good wins, and especially good wins on the road. I think it is another indication of how tepid the P5 conferences really are this year - ASU had (once they got healthy after early stumbles) looked like the most consistent Pac12 team by default almost.

 

[Blakeon18]

Not a big follower of LadyVol so would someone who is please offer their wisdom on what in the Sam Hill is happening with Diamond?

 

[CocoHusky]

Not a big follower of LadyVol so would someone who is please offer their wisdom on what in the Sam Hill is happening with Diamond?

In a word DD is OVERRATED! Although athletically gifted she is a high volume, low accuracy shooter who significantly dominates shot attempts at UT and also when she was a NC. Diamond has been overly hyped since she was 12-13 and never adequately coached either because she is unwilling to subject herself to coaching or because her coaches were so glad to have her on teams that they did not risk irking her. The word chemistry has come up at UT regarding her play and although "Chemistry" is hard to quantify it is easy to see when it is lacking. Easy to see at TN because the team plays better without her on the floor at times.
In her partial defense she has been injured (shin splints) and she hobbles about the court like an old lady at times.

 

[Dillon77]

I guess we'll have to re-evaluate that Oregon ranking then

When the Vols played Oregon State, OSU was without Sydney Weise, their second-leading scorer and de facto show runner (12.6 ppg). She's back now. Along with her backcourt mate, Jamie Weisner (17.3 ppg) and the towering center Ruth Hamblin (11.5 ppg,8.5 rpt and 63 blocks), they're going to be tough. OSU has UCLA coming to them in later Feb. and then play at Stanford immediately thereafter, so that will be an interesting stretch of games to take note of...

 

[UConnCat]

When the Vols played Oregon State, OSU was without Sydney Weise, their second-leading scorer and de facto show runner (12.6 ppg). She's back now. Along with her backcourt mate, Jamie Weisner (17.3 ppg) and the towering center Ruth Hamblin (11.5 ppg,8.5 rpt and 63 blocks), they're going to be tough. OSU has UCLA coming to them in later Feb. and then play at Stanford immediately thereafter, so that will be an interesting stretch of games to take note of...

Weise played 37 minutes against the Vols. At some point in that game she injured her hand which may have affected her play late in the game, but she played a lot of minutes. Weise did not play against Notre Dame.

 

[EricLA]

Not a big follower of LadyVol so would someone who is please offer their wisdom on what in the Sam Hill is happening with Diamond?

I sort of (barely) disagree with Coco that DD is over rated - From a talent perspective, she's a premier player. BUT... he was spot on with everything else.

Just to sort of start off - high school rankings are mostly about current ability and potential. There's a factor in there with regards to coachability, but that's a very subjective stat, and hard to quantify. So sure, DD may be one of the top 3 players in her class from an athletic perspective. BUT...she's not a great, or even good, shooter. She routinely averages in the low 30's for FG% and that's an indication of a player who should shoot less. Add to that (and I think it's becoming clear enough that we can discuss it) the "attitude" issue - she's just not coachable and is not a team player. I can't speak to what she thinks, but her unwillingness to play defense and team ball is something that should have been addressed years ago by coaches, and even in college by Sylvia and Holly.

Problem is, as Coco pointed out, coaches apparently never wanted to "irk" her and so they simply let her do whatever she wanted to do. She plays defense only when she wants to (sporadically) and on the offensive end, lacks effort unless she has the ball in her hands. And yes, Tennessee played much better with her on the bench vs. Alabama. It's becoming clear that she has a choice - put more effort in and change the 'tude, or remain the same and hope the coach lacks the "balls" to bench her.

 

[Dillon77]

There is no surprise here. Before the season started ESPN, now know as the SEC Network, dragged DD up to the studios together with real AAs to promote her in all her glory. They are not about to let go of the story line. Facts do not matter. The one thing that matters ... ESPN "analysis".

It is the SEC/ESPN Network, as pointed out, and it's pretty apparent that broadcasts and articles are going to keep ensuring that their SEC product is kept front and center and elevated -- "damn the reality, full speed ahead" -- until a replacement can be found and/or reality is just too prevalent. UK starting to falter? Well, let's see how Florida holds up. Texas A&M not quite up to snuff? Well let's push the Bulldogs of Miss. State.

 

[Dillon77]

Weise played 37 minutes against the Vols. At some point in that game she injured her hand which may have affected her play late in the game, but she played a lot of minutes. Weise did not play against Notre Dame.

Good call and catch. I stand corrected. Was aware that she missed the ND game and thought I'd heard she was injured during the Tenn. game. Translated that into thinking she missed the entire game, not during it. Shooting 4 for 24 from 3 point land probably didn't help them that night. Look forward to the UCLA game...the Bruins and Irish went to OT earlier in the season..

 

[RockyMTblue2]

From a talent perspective, she's a premier player

This, I must confess, I'll never understand. It's not talent until its put to work on the floor. Tenn fans console themselves or go crazy with the 7 AAs, we have more talent than anyone, yadda yadda.... and they can't hit the ocean with a bucket. To me, she's someone who had a lot of potential, much of it unrealized. She's a junior and throws passes into the stands and is an unreliable shooter, rebounder, defender.

 

[Nuyoika]

This, I must confess, I'll never understand. It's not talent until its put to work on the floor. Tenn fans console themselves or go crazy with the 7 AAs, we have more talent than anyone, yadda yadda.... and they can't hit the ocean with a bucket. To me, she's someone who had a lot of potential, much of it unrealized. She's a junior and throws passes into the stands and is an unreliable shooter, rebounder, defender.

Yeah, I don't get it either... I always thought after you began playing talent was based on your body of work not just your potential. Isn't talent just what you see in someone before they have the opportunity to prove themselves? I could see that argument being made prior to the season starting for the newbies, players who were out with injury, and the transfers but once it starts you have to be evaluated based on your output or lack there of. On the average DD is actually providing the same type of numbers she provided at North Carolina. Maybe TN fans were expecting more? On the other hand what the heck is everyone else doing? Have their numbers improved? All I know is when I watch them try to attempt anything the resembles offense 70% of the time I feel like I'm watching a wild moose struggle on the ice of a lake frozen over. They are constantly slipping and struggling looking for a strong hold to get their grip and put themselves in a position to escape and survive. Unfortunately, this isn't one of those situations where a passer by sees them and calls for help. This story generally goes in the way of the the moose falling through the ice and succumbing to hypothermia. Talent shmalent... based on what?

 

[vtcwbuff]

There is a very real possibility that UTenn could lose three in a row next week (A&M, Vandy and USC). I wonder where they will be ranked if that happens. Hopefully among the "others getting votes".

I visited Massey's RPI site and got a little warm fuzzy when I had to scroll down, and down and down before I found UTenn on the list.

 

[CocoHusky]

When the Vols played Oregon State, OSU was without Sydney Weise, their second-leading scorer and de facto show runner (12.6 ppg). She's back now. Along with her backcourt mate, Jamie Weisner (17.3 ppg) and the towering center Ruth Hamblin (11.5 ppg,8.5 rpt and 63 blocks), they're going to be tough. OSU has UCLA coming to them in later Feb. and then play at Stanford immediately thereafter, so that will be an interesting stretch of games to take note of...

Not according to the boxscore . Weise had 17 points in that game. I don't believe in the Pac 10 at any level-Marshmello soft IMO.
http://espn.go.com/ncw/boxscore?gameId=400835427

 

[EricLA]

Tenn is #25 in the coaches poll. I was hoping they would drop out but apparently not. I don't see them losing to Vandy or aTm. Even SC has not been that impressive in the SEC and they will have to play well for at least 30-35 minutes to win (Tenn is only capable of playing well for about 25-30 minutes each game)...

 

[toadfoot]

Ranked #25 in USA/Today poll. Only 3 points separate UT from Duquesne and a fall from the top 25.

 

[Nuyoika]

Tenn is #25 in the coaches poll. I was hoping they would drop out but apparently not. I don't see them losing to Vandy or aTm. Even SC has not been that impressive in the SEC and they will have to play well for at least 30-35 minutes to win (Tenn is only capable of playing well for about 25-30 minutes each game)...

That is why that game on 2/15 could get interesting. If TN did happen to pull that one out could you imagine the publicity on the SEC Network? Think about it both teams are susceptible to long scoring droughts.... Whoever gets to 60 first wins.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

The 1st place vote that went to SC last week is now back with the Huskies. Think someone somehow just made a mistake in the previous round of voting.

 

[Kaizen]

The 1st place vote that went to SC last week is now back with the Huskies. Think someone somehow just made a mistake in the previous round of voting.

Whoever voted SC #1 last week finally admits her/his mistake.

 

[Dillon77]

Not according to the boxscore . Weise had 17 points in that game. I don't believe in the Pac 10 at any level-Marshmello soft IMO.
http://espn.go.com/ncw/boxscore?gameId=400835427

Mea culpa again .....had heard in the ND-OSU broadcast that she had injured herself against Tenn and I assumed she missed the game. Turns out she played 37 minutes! Still does not defer from my second point that they're playing well now. In fact they developed a few more weapons during her absence (a la Turner missing a few games for the Irish) and probably are a bit more well-rounded. Look forward to the games against UCLA and Stanford.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Mea culpa again .....had heard in the ND-OSU broadcast that she had injured herself against Tenn and I assumed she missed the game. Turns out she played 37 minutes! Still does not defer from my second point that they're playing well now. In fact they developed a few more weapons during her absence (a la Turner missing a few games for the Irish) and probably are a bit more well-rounded. Look forward to the games against UCLA and Stanford.

OG!

 

[bags27]

Do you think ESPN article makes sense?
Diamond DeShields helps Tennessee past Alabama on Sunday, and the Lady Vols to a 563rd straight week ranked in the AP poll.
http://espn.go.com/womens-college-b...nessee-lady-vols-streak-hits-563-weeks-ranked

DD played 18 mins, 2 pts, 5 rebs and 6 TOs. And helps Tenns past Alabama ???

It's an unfortunate reality that WCBB is so little well known that announcers and writers latch onto a single player, not only because they don't do the work to know the team better, but because they think the viewer/reader hasn't either. If you watch the 03 and 04 NC's, you'd think that Dee was the only player on the court. And even though at times it felt that way, it was a team game. But the single player, shouldering the burden herself, makes for a more compelling narrative. So, for worse or even worse, DeShields carries that burden and now, failing to play even competently, is in a very, very sad situation.

 

[Replicant]

Tenn is #25 in the coaches poll. I was hoping they would drop out but apparently not. I don't see them losing to Vandy or aTm. Even SC has not been that impressive in the SEC and they will have to play well for at least 30-35 minutes to win (Tenn is only capable of playing well for about 25-30 minutes each game)...

Take solace in the fact that they're clinging to the last blade of grass (at #25) before falling off the edge of the wcbb world. I think it highly likely they lose to USC and A&M, and 50/50 they lose to Vandy. Regardless of the Vandy outcome...I think that should be a wrap for their Top 25 ranking run! Couldn't happen to a nicer program!

 

[Replicant]

The 1st place vote that went to SC last week is now back with the Huskies. Think someone somehow just made a mistake in the previous round of voting.

Call me (very) cynical, but that individual knows well who the best team in wcbb is and was just being petty - wanted to throw a wrench into UConn's consecutive weeks run atop the polls. The envy and spitefulness is the price one pays for being King! Are the Vandy or Cuse coaches participants?

 

[Frank]

When asked about their current ranking at #23.....
"Honestly, I didn't know what we were ranked to begin with," Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said over the weekend. "I don't even think about it. It comes down to look, this team is a work in progress. We're not concerned about rankings. This is a journey."

ESPN then noted... "With eight losses, the Lady Vols have the most defeats for a ranked team at this point since the 1999-2000 season, according to STATS".....[That over the last 15 years]...

Summary......Holly doesn't care about being dropped from the rankings and interrupting the steak they have held since '85, because she knows even though they have performed worse than any other team (record wise) in the last 16 years up to this point in the year, the Tennessee/SEC fan club would not dare break that streak.

http://espn.go.com/womens-college-b...nessee-lady-vols-streak-hits-563-weeks-ranked

 

[Replicant]

When asked about their current ranking at #23.....
"Honestly, I didn't know what we were ranked to begin with," Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said over the weekend. "I don't even think about it. It comes down to look, this team is a work in progress. We're not concerned about rankings. This is a journey."

This statement doesn't pass the laugh test. Holly has no idea where her team stacks up against their peers? If true, it goes a long way to explaining why they're about to fall out of the Top 25 next week.