Vanderbilt Coach Compares Lady Vols to UConn After Loss | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Vanderbilt Coach Compares Lady Vols to UConn After Loss

Well you have to come up with something when you just gotten your butts beat by 28pts.....So why not say the other team was the equal of the best in WCBB (UConn). Sort of takes the sting out and softens the anger of your fan base.
Fact of the matter is that many thought Vandy would be competitive in the LadyVols game , or perhaps win it , and Stephanie and Vandy got embarrassed.

So she came up with the explanation that The LadyVols are really UConn in Orange uniforms. :rolleyes:
 
Doesn't sound like all that bad of a comment to me.

Bottom line: I'd be very comfortable lining up against them in the regional or final four.

If the Lady V's are going "to line up," Holly will have to teach them how. And you know how that's going . . .
 
Stephanie White needs to focus on Vandy and only Vandy. 10-10 for Vandy? They used to have a really good program over there.
she needs to get to work.
 
I think talent is there. Russell, Nared, and Deshields have been pretty consistant all year. It's some of the others Middleton great game tonight. In previous SEC games not much. I think that's been one of the problems.

I've seen bunch of the Tennessee games and while Nared has been pretty consistent, I have to disagree about Russell and Deshields. Game by game the points, shots, turnovers are all over the place for them. Inconsistency is the only consistent thing you can count on.
 
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"...if she's saying that Tennessee is UConn's equal on a good day, it's a bit far fetched as far as I'm concerned."

Yes, but Charliebball, while your point is true, isn't it much more fun for us if anointed-as-knowledgeable high-end coaches get the LadyVols or any other team to actually believe that they are on par with UCONN when they arrive at our door or we arrive at their never-before-full stadium and trim them down to size!

I wish there were more people like Steph White so we could enjoy the crash heard round the stadium while we are there!

No?
 
Tony, true dhat, but see my comment above! Much more enjoyable if they actually believe that when the sheep walk onto OUR court, no?
 
For those who are criticizing White, consider this. You are making a judgement based on the notes of a reporter from a Knoxville television station. We don't know what she fully said and whether these quotes are part of a broader comparison she made.

Personally, I don't think saying that Tennessee on their best day could line up with Connecticut is at all negative because I don't interpret that as saying she thinks the Lady Vols would win - I take it to mean that they could be competitive.

As others have mentioned above, White has been very complimentary of UConn when working as a broadcaster.

Side note for those who took the time to watch the news clip which Charlieball provided in the OP. I thought the sideline reporter's post game comments regarding Middleton "cooking" during the game and then having the editor impose a chef's hat on her head when showing her highlights was a great touch. Not Pulitzer Prize winning "great", but enjoyable.
 
I don't see the problem. we know TN's record, we know UCONN's record. all she was saying is that the LVs have gifted players but they don't always play like it or as a team. she was also complimenting UCONN by saying your team always plays hard and wants to dominate for 40 mins.
 
Not to worry, LadyVols9, we love every team that brings us a challenge and shows the spirit that the LadyVols9 are infamous for...

As much as we love to win, we also love a challenge from a worthy opponent!

Thank you for coming over to say hi, and hope you stay.

What we all want, nationwide, is for high level basketball, and the LadyVols have set the path, at the beginning, for this quest!

You said nothing wrong at all. Just a few of us here leaving our minds wandering without a leash.

C
 
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If she's simply comparing physical ability I can almost accept that comment, if she's saying that Tennessee is UConn's equal on a good day, it's a bit far fetched as far as I'm concerned...perhaps she might consider that UConn rarely allows other teams to have good days..good minutes perhaps.....but good days.....nope
UCONN is going to have some really tough challengers in the NCAA tournament. That will make it fun, and makes the trophy winner even more qualified. With almost zero depth, the challenge to UCONN this year will be immense. We are going to need Crystal to play at, " more than a freshman," level. If not, we have the starting five and Natalie. I just can't imagine that will be enough, despite what the record is to date.
 
Not to worry, LadyVols9, we love every team that brings us a challenge and shows the spirit that the LadyVols9 are infamous for...

As much as we love to win, we also love a challenge from a worthy opponent!

Thank you for coming over to say hi, and hope you stay.

What we all want, nationwide, is for high level basketball, and the LadyVols have set the path, at the beginning, for this quest!

You said nothing wrong at all. Just a few of us here leaving our minds wandering without a leash.

C
It would be really nice if Tennessee would, "bury the hatchet," and re-schedue home and home games with UCONN. It is like having no Yankee/ Red Socks games in baseball. No Giants/ Cowboys games in football. I know this position is maintained as an "honorific" to Pat Summit, but I think it is a dishonor to her. Above all, she wanted the women's game to develop, improve, and garner fan interest to the maximum. There is no better rivalry than UCONN/ Tennessee. Can't we all grow up? This is just a game, after all.
 
It would be really nice if Tennessee would, "bury the hatchet," and re-schedue home and home games with UCONN. It is like having no Yankee/ Red Socks games in baseball. No Giants/ Cowboys games in football. I know this position is maintained as an "honorific" to Pat Summit, but I think it is a dishonor to her. Above all, she wanted the women's game to develop, improve, and garner fan interest to the maximum. There is no better rivalry than UCONN/ Tennessee. Can't we all grow up? This is just a game, after all.
I agree with your sentiment -- that the series should resume and both schools should bury this very hoary hatchet. But your implied facts are not correct -- Tennessee has asked about resuming the series, but apparently UConn (Geno) is holding out for an apology from the Tennessee administration for the statements made in 2007-08 before it will agree to that.

IMHO (as previously stated), I think that the series should resume without preconditions.
 
It would be really nice if Tennessee would, "bury the hatchet," and re-schedue home and home games with UCONN. It is like having no Yankee/ Red Socks games in baseball. No Giants/ Cowboys games in football. I know this position is maintained as an "honorific" to Pat Summit, but I think it is a dishonor to her. Above all, she wanted the women's game to develop, improve, and garner fan interest to the maximum. There is no better rivalry than UCONN/ Tennessee. Can't we all grow up? This is just a game, after all.
I'd like to see UCONN "bury the hatchet" also, but first UCONN would have to pull the hatchet out of its back. I'm not so sure TN would still want to play a game after UCONN's placement of said hatchet.
Has nothing to do with "growing up", it was just a game (good rivalry too) but TN made it about something else- the integrity of a man, his program & a recruits family ; neither of which actually "play the game".
 
If Stephanie White is talking, I'm listening. She's merely saying UT's talent is on a par with UConn's. I have no problem with that. Several teams UConn has vanquished this year had comparable talent. Talent is some large percentage of the makeup of great teams, but certainly not 100% of it, as UConn consistently demonstrates in games against talented teams.

I agree with your take for the most part. The only thing is when she says, "I think that when they play hard all the time, when they share the ball, especially like they played in the first half tonight, and in the fourth quarter, you can line them up against Connecticut. They could beat one of the best teams in the country." She is seeing LVs against her team play that way. I can play against some 10 year olds and look very talented but go against some high schoolers and that talent does not look the same. : - )
 
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"Can't we all grow up? This is just a game, after all."

Yes and No.

This is a fight to death, isn't it?

Never bring a smile to a knife fight.
 
It would be really nice if Tennessee would, "bury the hatchet," and re-schedue home and home games with UCONN. It is like having no Yankee/ Red Socks games in baseball. No Giants/ Cowboys games in football. I know this position is maintained as an "honorific" to Pat Summit, but I think it is a dishonor to her. Shove all, she wanted the women's game to develop, improve, and garner fan interest to the maximum. There is no better rivalry than UCONN/ Tennessee. Can't we all grow up? This is just a game, after all.
Not exactly sure what that means but , whatever it is, it was her decision. I'm fine with letting the series be suspended forever, in her honor, while the LadyVols sink further and further into irrelevance.

As for growing up, what's the big deal? It's just a game.
 
But she has a point. They do, on paper, have a lot of talented players. And we do see what they're capable of doing when they play hard, and are focused. They beat Notre Dame, of course. They beat Stanford.

But she is also right in implying that Tennessee doesn't always play hard and isn't always focused. Hence the loss to Ole Miss.

Tennessee is dangerous. They proved it a year ago with virtually the same team when they went to the Elite Eight.

But what she implies is that it's not all about talent. And Tennessee simply doesn't play with focus and intensity all the time. Connecticut, on the other had, does.

Having said that, I would love to see Connecticut and Tennessee play each other. I would love to see Tennessee forced to face up to the fact that they're not us.
 
Doesn't sound like all that bad of a comment to me.

Bottom line: I'd be very comfortable lining up against them in the regional or final four.
I agree--not all that bad. Self serving, probably. The comment about Tenn (paraphrasing) being in the same class/category as Uconn--was a bit truthful --when qualified with--if they play hard.
That could be said about a lot of team. But since neither team has played Uconn this year or last
they have little to compare it to. Tenn has talent--lots of it--had it the last 5 or so years--and incoming. Talent isn't their issue. Coaching when compared to UConn coaching top to bottom
no comparison.
Gus--I'd like to see this Uconn team to meet that UVols team in the NCAA's. --then the comparison will be complete!!
I rarely fault any players/coach/team /Conference touting their team---if the can't they should stop playing-coaching -watching--you don't belong.
 
I don't see the problem. we know TN's record, we know UCONN's record. all she was saying is that the LVs have gifted players but they don't always play like it or as a team. she was also complimenting UCONN by saying your team always plays hard and wants to dominate for 40 mins.
I'm sure most Byer's know the quality of Talent on the Tn Vols---and the lack of fielding a team--that ( using Geno's words) knowing what you'll get from them ---every game, every minute.
I've watched the Vols this year--they have great moment--then disappear.
Now Vol Fan----here is the 64,000000000 dollar question: is that effect a reflection of the players or the coaching staff? If the players--fix it---if the coaching staff--fire it.
 
Well, at least it's not Muffet being strung up in the town square today!
There is always tomorrow!
muffet-mcgraw.jpg
 
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A question. Does the Tennesse over Notre Dame change any view on UConn win over them?
I didn't see the game, but I am baffled how N.D. only scored 7 points in the fourth quarter. If you know of a place I can watch a replay of the game it would be appreciated.
 
I'm sure most Byer's know the quality of Talent on the Tn Vols---and the lack of fielding a team--that ( using Geno's words) knowing what you'll get from them ---every game, every minute.
I've watched the Vols this year--they have great moment--then disappear.
Now Vol Fan----here is the 64,000000000 dollar question: is that effect a reflection of the players or the coaching staff? If the players--fix it---if the coaching staff--fire it.

Broadway - I don't know to what extent forums reflect the general feeling of fan bases, and I'm sure you know this already, but a casual reading of VolNation postings shows that there are a whole lot of Tennessee fans who want to see a new coaching regime in Knoxville. And despite the occasional great games the Lady Vols play, the persistent losses to teams they traditionally stomp is increasing the percentage of fans who want Warlick gone.

As to your excellent question, it's my belief that it's almost always on the coaching staff. Putting aside questions about Warlick's ability to manage games, ultimately the lackadaisical play and lack of focus exhibited by her team boils down to her control. Five years at the helm is enough to document that either she and her staff are incapable of establishing a proper culture and work ethic with the team, and/or she is recruiting talented but flawed players who don't buy into the team concept.

Personally, from the little I've seen of her, I think Warlick seems to be a pretty decent sort of person and is someone I like. But despite her having talented players and achieving a good record statistically, she seems in over her head at Tennessee. Her pressers after most of the losses are just plain painful to watch.
 
A question. Does the Tennesse over Notre Dame change any view on UConn win over them?

It doesn't hurt but I watched every minute of that game and ND not only played poorly, they appeared ill prepared to play a basketball game
 
I agree with your sentiment -- that the series should resume and both schools should bury this very hoary hatchet. But your implied facts are not correct -- Tennessee has asked about resuming the series, but apparently UConn (Geno) is holding out for an apology from the Tennessee administration for the statements made in 2007-08 before it will agree to that.

IMHO (as previously stated), I think that the series should resume without preconditions.[/
It would be really nice if Tennessee would, "bury the hatchet," and re-schedue home and home games with UCONN. It is like having no Yankee/ Red Socks games in baseball. No Giants/ Cowboys games in football. I know this position is maintained as an "honorific" to Pat Summit, but I think it is a dishonor to her. Above all, she wanted the women's game to develop, improve, and garner fan interest to the maximum. There is no better rivalry than UCONN/ Tennessee. Can't we all grow up? This is just a game, after all.
Speaking about dishonor- the Red Socks?? Really? Guess it's not as bad as thr Red Sucks......
 
Does anyone doubt that if Geno had been the LV coach since 2014, he would probably have a 90+ game winning streak going with that roster? Or that if they played the current UConn roster coached by Holly, his team would win by about 25 points? In that scenario, Gabby would probably be a backup point guard, getting 10 to 12 minutes per game.

I disagree. Talent, as used in the context of wbb refers to how strong, how fast/quick, how high a jumper and how skilled a ball handler a player was in high school. According to the McDAA committee Tenn has more of those types than UConn. But while the UConn players had "talent" they also had intangibles. Geno's success has given him the ability to look among those talented players for those who have both a heart and the belly to have their game broken down and rebuilt and who also sublimate their own individual goals to the goals of the team. I'm not sure that the current group of LV's fit those criteria. And if those intangibles aren't already present the UConn system can't work.


A question. Does the Tennesse (win) over Notre Dame change any view on UConn win over them?

I've observed this year that there is a huge difference between how a team plays at home and how they play on the road. And many times great comebacks are as much a function of bad play by the losing team as they are due to great play by the winners.
 
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