Tony what are your thoughts about this years class? The players about to play their first game for Tennessee.
Swainfan Tenn has picked up some talented players in this years class. Andraya Carter is a pg, and Bashaara Graves plays F/C. Both have talent and potential to be very good. Just like most freshman we will know about them in the second half of the season. Nia Moore a 6-3 post and Jasmine Jones a 6-2 forward I dont know alot about. This season is all about next season for Tenn. What I mean by that is Holly must establish herself as the coach in charge and get out from under Pats shaddow. She needs to instill disipline and confidence in her team. This is Her Team.
Tenn is a very young team with only 2 seniors in Taber and Kamiko. Holly will have to get the freshman minutes to get them ready to step in next season. IMO this season is all about building a team, getting them Hollys Identity and a team that can grow beginning next season. If I were coaching Tenn I would start rebuilding this season. Do I want to win this season yes. But its more important to lay the I groundwork for the future of this club.
What I would do is get the freshman time and with all the talented guards at Tenn I would start building chemistry by identifing floor leaders. Ariel and Andraya would be my future guards. Graves could be the star of the team in the near future. If I were coaching I would have a run and gun offense trying to outscore my opponets while putting alot of pressure on the ball. Disipline is something that will be second to attitude. Holly must show she is in charge and will show no mercy when getting her club to do what she wants them to do. My lineup would be
Massingale
Simmons
Spani
Harrison
Burdick
That lineup has underclassman experience and is what I would build with. Carter and Graves would get alot of playtime. They are the future. Jones Moore Phillips and Williams would get playtime as the coaches see them develop. This season is all about preparing for the next season and future seasons.
The keys for the future would be to get a good post player. Tenn has talent at the guards and wings. They also have good depth at those positions. Harrison can play the post but needs experience and backup help.
Now its about allowing the guards to control the game and see which guards can control the game and build the chemistry. When Tenn needs a basket its not give the ball and let her shoot it, its about executing a play that will get someone open by getting everybody involved. Its not about one on one scoring for Tenn its about decision making which should be made by the guards who are respondsible for setting up and running plays. When a play breaks down its about the guards making something happen.
This season should also be about pressure defense. With the lack of depth in post play, Tenn will have to pressure the ball and has the roster to be able to do that. Where they fall short is when they play a team with big players. I dont think Tenn has the experience yet to play againest big players, that will come in another season or two.
Tennessee's problem the last few years (well they had many) was that in crunch time, they had no real identity or consistent lineup.
