David Hooper of Rocky Top Talk reflects on Tennessee's 64-60 loss to South Carolina last night, focusing on a mindset that has plagued this group of seniors since they're freshman year.
I actually liked the alternate title: "The Sum of Vol Fears"
Looking ahead to the WNBA draft…I also wonder how this affects any/all of these seniors’ draft position.
Even in the games I’ve watched when they’ve won it just seems like they’re just coasting and winning/losing doesn’t make a whole lot of difference to them…
It really hurt having Parker’s entire starting lineup graduate at once. The normal pattern of upperclassmen teaching underclassmen was disrupted and these seniors took a very long time to understand what college athletics meant. At times, that still comes back to haunt them. It’s too late to correct that, so they’ll just have to make do.
But at the same time, they feel extraordinary pressure to do well this year – both to make a Final Four and to play for Pat. At times, that spotlight causes them to tighten up and dwell on mistakes too much. That’s correctable, but I’m not sure they’ll do it. We’ll see.
I think Glory's draft stock has gone way up this year.
She’s been absolutely dominant at times, and she’s really done well at avoiding fouls. Stricklen will be ok, but will need a team with a real leader. Baugh’s been foul- and turnover-prone, so I have no idea with her. Manning would be a late flier, and I also can’t read her prospects. That’s it. They’re fortunate, though, that this year doesn’t have a lot of great seniors.
So much talent. So much basketcase.
They’re making things worse on themselves at this point.
David Hooper - February 4, 2012
Hard not to agree.
Looking ahead to the WNBA draft…I also wonder how this affects any/all of these seniors’ draft position.
Even in the games I’ve watched when they’ve won it just seems like they’re just coasting and winning/losing doesn’t make a whole lot of difference to them…
Nate Parham - February 5, 2012
They're a hard group to figure out.
It really hurt having Parker’s entire starting lineup graduate at once. The normal pattern of upperclassmen teaching underclassmen was disrupted and these seniors took a very long time to understand what college athletics meant. At times, that still comes back to haunt them. It’s too late to correct that, so they’ll just have to make do.
But at the same time, they feel extraordinary pressure to do well this year – both to make a Final Four and to play for Pat. At times, that spotlight causes them to tighten up and dwell on mistakes too much. That’s correctable, but I’m not sure they’ll do it. We’ll see.
David Hooper - February 5, 2012
I think Glory's draft stock has gone way up this year.
She’s been absolutely dominant at times, and she’s really done well at avoiding fouls. Stricklen will be ok, but will need a team with a real leader. Baugh’s been foul- and turnover-prone, so I have no idea with her. Manning would be a late flier, and I also can’t read her prospects. That’s it. They’re fortunate, though, that this year doesn’t have a lot of great seniors.
David Hooper - February 5, 2012
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