Tennessee 2025, part 2

[nwhoopfan]

It wouldn’t be the first time a school took one sister just to get the other. I think as long as schools are up front about it while recruiting, it’s fine. It just feels a little different because they are twins.

Edit: by ‘up front’, I mean honest about the odds of significant playing time.

I can think of a few cases where the "thrown into the deal' sibling turned out to be pretty solid. The older Cambridge was a nice contributor for Ohio St. this year and a terror on defense.

 

[Geew1992]

I can think of a few cases where the "thrown into the deal' sibling turned out to be pretty solid. The older Cambridge was a nice contributor for Ohio St. this year and a terror on defense.

I don’t think that was the deal. She transferred to Ohio state before jaloni committed

 

[GoChips20]

I have also heard rumors from a month ago that Cooper's family was seen at South Carolina trying to talk to the coaching staff. Supposedly the story is that her family is contacting a bunch of universities and trying to gauge the likelihood that they would extend commitable offers if she were to forego the draft and enter the portal.

I’m curious whether Dawn would entertain this. Brings me back to the rumors that Fulwiley’s decision to portal was pushed by her mother and that she asked Dawn to stay but Dawn declined.

Cooper isn’t a true point but I wouldn’t say we have no use for her.

Regardless the portal seems the best of her three options.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I don’t think that was the deal. She transferred to Ohio state before jaloni committed

I don't know for sure, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a factor in Jaloni going there. They both first played for tOSU during the 2024-25 season.

 

[southie]

Hope it’s not one of those package deal offers again because I would pass. Twins don’t mean twin skills and their destinations should reflect that. Reminds me of parents who keep dressing their twins alike, but they no longer look the same.

Not everyone can be a starter. Not everyone can be second on the depth chart. With 15 scholarships, your 11-15 need to be "team" players who want to be part of the program and do their part in practice and come into the game when needed, but not necessarily gonna be needed to log huge minutes on the court.

 

[Stagnant]

Caldwell is a really bad coach if she only knows how to play one way. Alabama has killed the press in this first quarter.

 

[nwhoopfan]

How many games can Tennessee lose before their seeding nose dives? In serious trouble against Bama, this would make them 2-10 in their last 12. I would say down the stretch, but that's like 1/3 of the season. They have some good wins, but a bunch of losses, including quite a few blow outs. They should be like a 10 or 11 seed. Watch them be a 7.

 

[maple]

Watching TN play tonight has been something else.

LVs look so different from last season and not in a good way. I was skeptical of Caldwell when she was first hired (D3 to D1 leap is pretty big, especially for someone coming into the SEC). I thought she proved me wrong last season, but the way this season has turned out, I'm beginning to believe my initial feelings were right. I don't get it. Something is wrong with this team. They have taken a major step back.

 

[LETTERL]

Watching TN play tonight has been something else.

LVs look so different from last season and not in a good way. I was skeptical of Caldwell when she was first hired (D3 to D1 leap is pretty big, especially for someone coming into the SEC). I thought she proved me wrong last season, but the way this season has turned out, I'm beginning to believe my initial feelings were right. I don't get it. Something is wrong with this team. They have taken a major step back.

Cooper had two steals in Q2 but hasn't seen the floor in the second half.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I thought Cooper would be a good player at SCar and am not surprised she was a top player for UT.

Not sure she really fills our need at guard, which is a combo who shoots it well from three and can run point.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I was skeptical of Caldwell when she was first hired (D3 to D1 leap is pretty big, especially for someone coming into the SEC).

She did have 1 season at D1 Marshall, I'm sure that totally prepared her for life in the SEC.

 

[southie]

How many games can Tennessee lose before their seeding nose dives? In serious trouble against Bama, this would make them 2-10 in their last 12. I would say down the stretch, but that's like 1/3 of the season. They have some good wins, but a bunch of losses, including quite a few blow outs. They should be like a 10 or 11 seed. Watch them be a 7.

You don't get a 10 or 11 seed when you are Top 25 in NET and RPI.

 

[Vowelguy]

Watching TN play tonight has been something else.

LVs look so different from last season and not in a good way. I was skeptical of Caldwell when she was first hired (D3 to D1 leap is pretty big, especially for someone coming into the SEC).

She was D2 for 7 years, then D1 (Marshall) for 1.

 

[Vowelguy]

How many games can Tennessee lose before their seeding nose dives? In serious trouble against Bama, this would make them 2-10 in their last 12. I would say down the stretch, but that's like 1/3 of the season. They have some good wins, but a bunch of losses, including quite a few blow outs. They should be like a 10 or 11 seed. Watch them be a 7.

Look. At. Their. Resume.

The losses to TAMU and Bama today will hurt, but the rest not so much.

The recent eye test doesn't help, so I can see them falling to an 8/9. They're still not 10/11 territory.

 

[Vowelguy]

Caldwell finally showing some backbone by benching Cooper.

In the first half someone on TN made a completely lackadaisacal, wild playground pass. That player deserved to come out, as someone who's not playing seriously. Dunno if it was Cooper.

 

[southie]

Look. At. Their. Resume.

The losses to TAMU and Bama today will hurt, but the rest not so much.

The recent eye test doesn't help, so I can see them falling to an 8/9. They're still not 10/11 territory.

They already beat Alabama once before on the road. So, not exactly sure how this impacts NET or RPI, but I doubt a loss to an Alabama (NET-27 / RPI-17) team they already beat will move the needle negatively all that much.

 

[nwhoopfan]

You don't get a 10 or 11 seed when you are Top 25 in NET and RPI.

Further proof the NET is BUSTED. I don't care how tough their strength of schedule. You CANNOT be 16-13 and be in the Top 25 of any ranking system. It's ludicrous. How about try winning more than barely over 50% of your games.

edit--might as well put all the SEC teams in the NET Top 25, regardless of record, leaves room for 9 teams from other conferences. Maybe leave out Arkansas since they only went 1-15 in conference, but everybody else is in.

 

[Stagnant]

I think Tennessee is a lock tonight. I think Alabama is one team they match up really well with.

Welp. I think this was a new low for Tennessee. I think they are more talented than Alabama. This loss shouldn’t have happened.

 

[southie]

Further proof the NET is BUSTED. I don't care how tough their strength of schedule. You CANNOT be 16-13 and be in the Top 25 of any ranking system. It's ludicrous. How about try winning more than barely over 50% of your games.

edit--might as well put all the SEC teams in the NET Top 25, regardless of record, leaves room for 9 teams from other conferences. Maybe leave out Arkansas since they only went 1-15 in conference, but everybody else is in.

I have no interest in discussing NET or RPI; they are what they are.

I'm trying to be objective about Tennessee. The committee is not gonna punish them for scheduling non-conference games against UCLA, Louisville, and NC State even though they lost all of them. Tennessee has the #1 strength of schedule; so, like it or not, that counts for a lot.

 

[my2cents]

I have never seen Alabama play before. I was very impressed with a young lady, Ace Austin. She put on a clinic as to how to break a press.
The Tennessee coach should have called the press off. Not making adjustments is just dumb.

 

[GoChips20]

I have no interest in discussing NET or RPI; they are what they are.

I'm trying to be objective about Tennessee. The committee is not gonna punish them for scheduling non-conference games against UCLA, Louisville, and NC State even though they lost all of them. Tennessee has the #1 strength of schedule; so, like it or not, that counts for a lot.

I don’t think the committee should punish them for scheduling those teams, I think the metrics should punish them for losing those three games by an average of 16 points, and that number gets worse if you fold in UConn.

I know you are just being objective. I think the current system overweights SOS. I’m more interested in who of note you beat and lost to than the full calendar played.

 

[maple]

She was D2 for 7 years, then D1 (Marshall) for 1.

Thank you for the correction. Not sure why I was thinking D3. I forgot Marshall as well. Need to turn in my WBB credentials!

That said I remember scratching my head at the original hiring choice. It felt very random. I get wanting to take a shot and gambling on an outsider. But it is, unfortunately, just that: a gamble.

 

[Blue Huskie]

TENN is a weird team. When I think of the great first half they had at UCONN and see the drop off since then it baffles me.

 

[Vowelguy]

TENN is a weird team. When I think of the great first half they had at UCONN and see the drop off since then it baffles me.

They're capable of being very disruptive ... if you let them/are not used to them. But once you've figured them out ...
Also team cohesiveness issues.

 

[Geew1992]

Cooper had two steals in Q2 but hasn't seen the floor in the second half.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Look. At. Their. Resume.

The losses to TAMU and Bama today will hurt, but the rest not so much.

The recent eye test doesn't help, so I can see them falling to an 8/9. They're still not 10/11 territory.

They are 5-11 (I think) vs Q1

speaking against interest in most sports, I don't think losing to good teams is the greatest resume.

Now the 5 wins are probably pretty good and will get them comfortably in since the pool is shallow.

 

[USMC(ret)]

I’m curious whether Dawn would entertain this. Brings me back to the rumors that Fulwiley’s decision to portal was pushed by her mother and that she asked Dawn to stay but Dawn declined.

Cooper isn’t a true point but I wouldn’t say we have no use for her.

Regardless the portal seems the best of her three options.

IMO… Cooper burned her bridge when she left South Carolina the first time. Very athletic, but like Fulwiley, calls her own number too often instead of playing within the system. Wish her the best, but not seeing her in garnet and black again.

 

[Phil]

Cooper had two steals in Q2 but hasn't seen the floor in the second half.

I saw her go into the game in the first half and promptly picked up her second foul and sat, but I assumed we'd see a lot of her in the second half. She ended up with 12 minutes. That's astonishing.

 

[Phil]

Look. At. Their. Resume.

The losses to TAMU and Bama today will hurt, but the rest not so much.

The recent eye test doesn't help, so I can see them falling to an 8/9. They're still not 10/11 territory.

I agree. They are number 21 in NET, which is fairly close to the Massey rating of 23. That would be a six seed but those are entire season ratings and the selection committee typically shows a recency bias so that will be knocked down a couple levels. Creme says eight, but eight and nine are virtually the same so it could be either one.

 

[Phil]

Tennessee has 5 wins against Quad one. Only 13 teams have more.

Tennessee has 16 games against quad one. No one has more.