Lady Vols still practicing until April 15

gmartin · Post by **gmartin** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:41 am

I have never heard of this before. Wonder is Coach Miller will keep holding practices until April 15. Not a bad idea.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/mar ... lady-vols/

nwofalconfan · Post by **nwofalconfan** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:55 am

Two entirely different situations. Pat Summit has a very young team, that she thinks have not gotten what it takes all year to play at the level she wants them to play. And, seeing them play against Ball State the other night, she may be at least partially right. During the season she took away their nice locker room/lounge and made them move into a smaller, visitor's locker room. She has also expressed her disappointment in her players' efforts many times this season.

BG's players, however, do get it. They have worked very hard, and at least in my opinion, have improved in many areas of the game.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:03 pm

Actually, I'm sure practicing up until the deadline is probably pretty common, it's just that it's Tennessee coming off an upset loss in the tournament that gets the attention. "Hands-on" time between coaches and players is so limited, that I'd guess those who can take advantage of it do. They may not be hard practices, but I bet coaches have them in the gym every last day they're allowed to be there.

We've got a great group of ladies and most of them coming back, but there's always room for improvement. Especially presuming we'll ratchet up the schedule next year after it kept us from the NCAA Tournament this season.

gmartin · Post by **gmartin** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:04 pm

Maybe Allen Iverson should give his 'practice' speech to the team. After all, all we are talking about is practice.

nwofalconfan · Post by **nwofalconfan** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:14 pm

I think this is more about sending a message to her team than it is about the "practice", although I don't know that you can truly call it practicing. They can only have 8 total hours of contact, and only 2 of them can be basketball-specific. The other 6 are restricted to strength and conditioning.

murphdogg · Post by **murphdogg** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:07 pm

gmartin wrote:Maybe Allen Iverson should give his 'practice' speech to the team. After all, all we are talking about is practice.

Best press conference I have ever seen. Except for Mike Gundy's "I'm a man, I'm 40" meltdown

HoustonFalcon · Post by **HoustonFalcon** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:03 pm

It is not that common for a team to practice after the season is over until that April 15 deadline. What Coach Summit is doing is trying to find out which kids want to stay and buy into the system, and which kids don't want to deal with that much discipline for another three years. She isn't happy with her freshman, and won't shed a tear if a few of them decide to leave. Some of these kids aren't used to a coach yelling at them and telling them what to do all the time, with strict discipline being key. She isn't worried about having more than 2 hours of basketball related time with the kids, because she probably is only going to use it for a very hard defensive and rebounding practice, and the other 6 hours for very hard conditioning. I would love to be at her 2 hour basketball drills practice.

nwofalconfan · Post by **nwofalconfan** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:22 pm

I agree, Houston Falcon, from what I have read I don't think Coach Summit would be unhappy if one or two of those freshman would leave.

murphdogg · Post by **murphdogg** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:42 pm

HoustonFalcon wrote:I would love to be at her 2 hour basketball drills practice.

I assume to watch it. I don't think anyone would actually want to be doing it

HoustonFalcon · Post by **HoustonFalcon** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:29 am

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by HoustonFalcon:
I would love to be at her 2 hour basketball drills practice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I assume to watch it. I don't think anyone would actually want to be doing it
_---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, unless I was a glutton for punishment, yeah I would say just to watch it.

I am sure it was full of fundamental drills and high intensity. As a coach, I love to watch the coaches that run a high energy practice. It's the way I wish the coaches I have coached for would do it.