Tennessee goes down to... wait for it... Virginia Tech

[EricLA]

ES, c'mon, VTech was rate at #96 by Sagarin going into the game, and a win over the Vols doesn't mean that much anymore. If VTech is ranked for wins over UTenn and #227 Charleston, something is very wrong with the people who do the voting.

I was only being slightly facetious. Do you think the voters look at Sagarin or any of the other ratings? I think Va Tech is pretty awful, but according to the lazy eye test, they beat the #8 team and are 7-1. I don't know that they make the top 25 but i bet they at least are also receiving votes...

 

[Boxerpups4me]

As a lifetime Lady Vol fan, I'm embarrassed honestly. To have so many highly ranked recruits, and still look this awful is just wholly disappointing. If we didn't have Diamond, I'm afraid we would have lost the Penn State, UTC and Syracuse games as well. I'm thinking now maybe 12-13 regular season losses and possibly missing out on the tournament..things will get worse before they get better I'm afraid

 

[Boxerpups4me]

I am curios. Does Holly have a buyout clause? Is Tennessee Womens Basketball considered a revenue sport?

Yes, she received a contract extension last year I believe. I think all of WCBB, even the big names like UCONN, ND and Tennessee end up in the red every year, but it's still in the AD's best interest to not let those programs totally sink into oblivion

 

[Boxerpups4me]

At this point I almost hope Tennessee continues to tank so there's a chance they bring in a top-flight coach who can teach some offense. Tennessee's offense is absolutely dreadful, the fact that they only put up 43 points against Virginia Tech is atrocious. People here rip on Pat's offensive ability as a coach, but Pat's teams were not nearly this awful offensively and this team has as much, if not more offensive talent than a lot of Tennessee's good teams when you consider Cooper, Deshields, Russell, Graves, etc as individual offensive threats. There is zero team cohesion on the court, and you can tell the players don't buy into Holly's philosophy. Even dreadful Duke's offense today looked like it had some ball movement and screens. After watching Notre Dame yesterday and they were able to put up 81 points against Connecticut with an entire roster of players ranked in the 20s to 50s, that was a team that was well coached and knew how to play offense. Tennessee's lineup is littered with high school All-Americans and they can only put up 43 today against a mediocre Virginia tech team. There is a reason why ND has played in 5 straight final fours and why Tennessee was a dominant program for 30+ years--coaching. Time for a change.

Holly will end up losing the team, if she hasn't already. I wouldn't be surprised to see players transfer out if this continues to get uglier

 

[HuskyNan]

As a lifetime Lady Vol fan, I'm embarrassed honestly. To have so many highly ranked recruits, and still look this awful is just wholly disappointing. If we didn't have Diamond, I'm afraid we would have lost the Penn State, UTC and Syracuse games as well. I'm thinking now maybe 12-13 regular season losses and possibly missing out on the tournament..things will get worse before they get better I'm afraid

I'm sympathetic, boxerpups, because while some of the loonier fringe LV fans can't suffer enough losses for me, you (normal) LV fans don't deserve this. It must be especially disheartening to hear how clueless H. Warlick sounds in the pressers.

 

[Boxerpups4me]

Geno was lambasted for his coaching vs DePaul and ND by many on the BY that are supposedly UC fans. Tenn has had top recruits every year. Nor sure how long they or she will wait to make a chg. The coaches of Dayto, Green Bay & Marist and Princeton would be improvements. They just look terrible.

I think you would see an immediate improvement in the NEXT game if we had any of those said coaches..

 

[Boxerpups4me]

I'm sympathetic, boxerpups, because while some of the loonier fringe LV fans can't suffer enough losses for me, you (normal) LV fans don't deserve this. It must be especially disheartening to hear how clueless H. Warlick sounds in the pressers.

It really is Nan. On the one hand you have Holly, who stutters and stammers through press conferences like she doesn't know a thing about basketball and on the other hand you have someone like Geno who just has a presence about him. He is very confident and you can see that same confidence in his team and players. To me, great coaches like Geno and Pat just have that air of confidence about them and they also are able to instill discipline into their teams. That's probably an oversimplification, but it's the best way I can describe it,,

 

[Kaizen]

I'm sympathetic, boxerpups, because while some of the loonier fringe LV fans can't suffer enough losses for me, you (normal) LV fans don't deserve this. It must be especially disheartening to hear how clueless H. Warlick sounds in the pressers.

I remember last year when UConn lost to Stanford. I was so heart broken that I did not want to watch any news related to women basketball. After 1 week I told myself, this is not the end of world.
May be the worst is over. Tomorrow will be another new day ......Cheer

 

[DobbsRover2]

I'm sympathetic, boxerpups, because while some of the loonier fringe LV fans can't suffer enough losses for me, you (normal) LV fans don't deserve this. It must be especially disheartening to hear how clueless H. Warlick sounds in the pressers.

One thing Holly is adamant about is that she'd stand on her head to get the answer to fix the Vols' problem, a funny put pathetic image of someone who at this point is in over her head with a team she has lost, and I think the coming of DD has if anything exacerbated the problem. When the two players chucking up the most shots on the team are shooting 37%, and only 28% from 3pt area, you have a gigantic problem, and it's way too late to start saying, "Maybe we should have some type of good strategy on offense."

I'm guessing that Holly does of her own accord decide to step down after a trying season "for health reasons," which would be perfectly true and understandable.

 

[Gus Mahler]

How much does Holly get paid?

 

[VAMike23]

How much does Holly get paid?

I have seen a figure of $650K discussed but I don't know if that is just base or if it comprises a full package with additional guaranteed extras.

 

[RowdyFan]

Carolyn Peck? Matt Mitchell might do well.

By all means go and get Carolyn Peck. Then I won't have to listen to her......

 

[msf22b]

It seems like Margo is collecting her thoughts in advance of releasing her take on today's debacle.
She has been largely supportive of Holly in the past.
I wonder when (or if), that is going to change.
There has been a call from some Vols fans for some of the team's former stars
to make their voices heard on the subject of the reason for the team's demise
Catchings, Parker et al, might. Cara, in a journalistic position could very well.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I was only being slightly facetious. Do you think the voters look at Sagarin or any of the other ratings? I think Va Tech is pretty awful, but according to the lazy eye test, they beat the #8 team and are 7-1. I don't know that they make the top 25 but i bet they at least are also receiving votes...

Nah - I'm the proponent of eye tests, not purely ratings services, but that doesn't mean wear wonky glasses. Wins over no-body.

That said, a few years ago they would have been losing games they are now winning and the Tennessee game is certainly a confidence builder. Don't expect them to be challenging for a dancing birth, but could finally dig out of being very near (if not actually in) the ACC cellar.

 

[baggerbob]

And meanwhile, over on VN boards, they are starting to call for HW's head. I don't get it. Even with mediocre coaching, isn't there reasonable talent on the team? And I wonder what DD is thinking now.

DD was 6-18 on the night, not a stellar game, Graves got 5 shots. She is a long way from being an All- American.

 

[UcMiami]

I think Holly provided exactly what TN needed in her first two years - a calming transition from Pat's early departure and moderate success on the court. If she had then gracefully given way to an outside hire, she would hold a place of high honor in the annals of TN basketball for managing an extremely difficult situation with grace and competence. But it now appears to be the longer she coaches, the more her inability to lead a top flight program gets exposed.

She has repeatedly said she stresses defense, but TN is not a great defensive team - they have good players and height and athleticism, but their defensive system is rudimentary and their help defense is frequently abysmal - it doesn't get exposed badly by mediocre teams, but it is not good enough to get them to the FF.

On the other side, the offense has been a hot mess - it is difficult to see any concepts being taught, or players being developed beyond the natural maturation of age, and no discernible system being run. Even the simple things of setting picks and using them efficiently seem to have gone from the TN game. Pat was not a brilliant offensive tactician, but she drilled the basics, and she demanded disciplined use of them. Holly doesn't seem to even do that. Simmons, Massingale, and now DD seem to have more control of what happens on the floor than she does. And she also appears to have no feel for the flow of the game in front of her - often substituting as if by rota, rather than allowing good flow and hot players to continue to play. There seems to almost be a randomness to her game management. And based on her post game comments, she doesn't seem to understand why things work sometimes and don't at others, or how to promote the good things and prevent the bad things from happening.

Recruiting is a mystery, and TN has the 'storied program', good facilities, and a great fan base going for it, but honestly, based on the product on the floor, I do not know why top national players would choose to sign with the current staff. Local talent I understand, but folks from far away without a personal connection?

 

[DaddyChoc]

I think Niele Ivey would be the best choice out there -- but she's entrenched at her alma mater and has a middle-school aged kid so she might not want to make any moves for a few years no matter how good the offer was. (OK - maybe if it were *really* big money but from all indications Hart is not going to be throwing big money at anyone if he even thinks replacing Warlick is a topic worthy of discussion.)

Also, she may very well be aspiring to the HC position at Notre Dame after MM retires, and she's probably got as good a shot as anyone at it. Just saying she'd be the best choice that's even theoretically possible. MM herself is not going anywhere, Mulkey seems to be where she wants to be and I don't see any other HC that would meet their requirements. Ivey is a proven recruiter (problem #1 for the LV's lately) and has also shown ability to work with and develop guards (problem #2) like Diggins and many others who aren't at that talent level but nevertheless grow and compete at a very high level.

I shall pray the rosary and recite 100 Hail Marys in hopes that Ivey never sets foot in Knoxville except on ND game days

speaking of her... it was a pleasure to see her and Jasmine Liston in HD the other day

 

[DaddyChoc]

Diamond needs to go back to being the player she was... this team-ball crap doesn't help her at all

 

[bballnut90]

I think Niele Ivey would be the best choice out there -- but she's entrenched at her alma mater and has a middle-school aged kid so she might not want to make any moves for a few years no matter how good the offer was. (OK - maybe if it were *really* big money but from all indications Hart is not going to be throwing big money at anyone if he even thinks replacing Warlick is a topic worthy of discussion.)

Also, she may very well be aspiring to the HC position at Notre Dame after MM retires, and she's probably got as good a shot as anyone at it. Just saying she'd be the best choice that's even theoretically possible. MM herself is not going anywhere, Mulkey seems to be where she wants to be and I don't see any other HC that would meet their requirements. Ivey is a proven recruiter (problem #1 for the LV's lately) and has also shown ability to work with and develop guards (problem #2) like Diggins and many others who aren't at that talent level but nevertheless grow and compete at a very high level.

I shall pray the rosary and recite 100 Hail Marys in hopes that Ivey never sets foot in Knoxville except on ND game days

I'd love for the Vols to land Ivey. Notre Dame's program made a big push once Ivey came on board. McGraw has always been a very good and well respected coach, but it hasn't been until recently that people consider her to be truly exceptional. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing a lot of that has to do with Ivey's presence. Niele has also done an incredible job of recruiting top talent. In her time frame, Notre Dame has landed top 5 kids like Turner, Loyd, Reimer, etc, but she they've also done an exceptional job picking out kids ranked in the 20s-50s who wind up being much better than their Hoopgurlz rating, ala Kayla McBride, Lindsey Allen, Marina Mabrey, Madison Cable, etc. I don't know if she should get credit for all of this, but after watching her as a player 14 years ago and watching her on the sidelines and how she communicates with players, I think she'd be an outstanding choice. Not sure Tennessee could land her though, nor do I expect that Tennessee will bring in someone who isn't from Pat's coaching tree.

 

[Icebear]

Rumors tonight are that the entire LV team has requested the opportunity to transfer to South Carolina. Dawn Staley quickly responded, " No thank you." Brenda Friese upon hearing the news indicated she might be interested. Kentucky and Louisville are said to be interested, also, including transfer of the team as a unit. They will make space.

 

[SCGamecock]

Rumors tonight are that the entire LV team has requested the opportunity to transfer to South Carolina. Dawn Staley quickly responded, " No thank you." Brenda Friese upon hearing the news indicated she might be interested. Kentucky and Louisville are said to be interested, also, including transfer of the team as a unit. They will make space.

What about Ohio State? Surely they can make room in Columbus.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Not by any objective measure. High school is over. In the "big time", for whatever reason, they are not performing well, either individually or as a group.

Oh geez ... I think McDonalds All American is objective measure..... and Tennessee has SEVEN (7!!!) of them..... one would think that a couple of those would pan out...... it is 101% coaching failure......

 

[SWHuskyFan]

My guess with Tenn is that they let Holly ride out her contract. They're not going to buy out multiple years.

I do think when they do make a new hire, they'll pay little attention to the Pat coaching tree. Dave Hart came from Alabama, he has no UT ties himself. When he came in he consolidated the athletic dept from a men's and women's dept to one dept. He got rid of or marginalized the women who were running the women's dept. I really see no indication that he'd pay any special attention to coaches with a connection to UT or Pat. Any rational person would see that as a good thing considering what's gone on there the last few years. I do see lots of references to bringing in Tyler Summit on Volnation which would have a really high risk attached to it. I can't see Dave Hart doing that. He's made good hires to this point.

 

[connboy77]

I'd love for the Vols to land Ivey. Notre Dame's program made a big push once Ivey came on board. McGraw has always been a very good and well respected coach, but it hasn't been until recently that people consider her to be truly exceptional. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing a lot of that has to do with Ivey's presence. Niele has also done an incredible job of recruiting top talent. In her time frame, Notre Dame has landed top 5 kids like Turner, Loyd, Reimer, etc, but she they've also done an exceptional job picking out kids ranked in the 20s-50s who wind up being much better than their Hoopgurlz rating, ala Kayla McBride, Lindsey Allen, Marina Mabrey, Madison Cable, etc. I don't know if she should get credit for all of this, but after watching her as a player 14 years ago and watching her on the sidelines and how she communicates with players, I think she'd be an outstanding choice. Not sure Tennessee could land her though, nor do I expect that Tennessee will bring in someone who isn't from Pat's coaching tree.

Didn't Tennessee extend Holly's contract? Why would they do that if they knew what kind of coach she was? Niele Ivey would make a great head coach if you could get her. First things first, Holly has to either resign or be fired.

 

[meyers7]

Diamond DeShields is 6-18, and zero ast.
The 5 starters had total 5 asts. The 2 benches had 5 asts.
Those players played all alone, no help each other????

Well when you only score 43, 10 assists isn't that bad.