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Post by tarheellife on Dec 6, 2023 10:13:04 GMT -5
Something I can’t seem to remember if anyone has mentioned, team chemistry. What is the current culture and dynamics on the team? Do they all mesh well off the court? I notice a few attitudes when they’re starting to lose or a play doesn’t go the way it was supposed to. You can easily read their body language and facial reactions with each other. For those of you who are local and were able to attend matches at home, what was your impression when you were in person? I’ve noticed teams do so much better on the court when they’re relationally healthy off the court. Shaff is the worst at it IMO. She has bad days and good days. On good days she will support teammates and on bad days she cheers only for herself. When she starts making mistakes no one can approach her as she keeps turning away. At these times she quits on the team. I would take her out but the coaches don’t for fear of her transfer (dad keeps calling Mike threatening that). Next one is May. On bad play days she lifts no one and is nowhere to be seen supporting. But we have no one to sub for her, which is ridiculous. Interestingly they are both the faces of the team in the media. In person it looks way worse, especially now that the bench is by the stands and you can see and hear them in timeouts. I will say that Carson seems the best in supporting people from the bench.
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Post by volleyheels10 on Dec 6, 2023 10:19:38 GMT -5
I am not optimistic for next year. Nolan and Thurman were studs to build around. We essentially now have no true opposite, no legitimate scoring middle unless Jacki Taylor can be that player. This year our defense severely limited us and next year it will be a stale offense as no offensive player is coming in that can take over.
I am confused because I felt for the most part team chemistry was good and this freshmen group was close. Thurman praised Schall on the Heels podcast and pretty much said that they knew it would take time to build something. So what changed?
Even if we keep everyone else, we lose Shaff and Emani next year. The coaching staff has to make some home run portal transfers happen and really start getting the 25 class solid or we are not going to win for a LONG time.
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Post by bvolley17 on Dec 6, 2023 10:43:06 GMT -5
I go back and forth on the transfer portal. I am happy that kids can better a situation without having to sit a year. But at the same time, I hate the portal. It's ruining college sports for me. You hear people comment that players (not from UNC volleyball) that they go into the portal and say they are entering because they are hoping the favorite for the championships will pick them up. It's hard to get excited about the teams and follow the teams. I haven't watched nearly as much volleyball as I have in years past because it's not the same anymore. With that said, I am very happy the COVID year is gone soon.
While we do not know the specifics of Nolan or Thurman, it's just so baffling to me that players pick a school and then just up and leave after a single season because they aren't as good as they thought they were going to be. It takes a lot of work. It should take a lot of work to become a good team. Why pick a school you don't want to be at?
I digress. Our only hope right now is that the staff can convince some good players from the portal to come to UNC.
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Post by mervinswerved on Dec 6, 2023 10:50:16 GMT -5
Some of you have a seriously toxic relationship with UNC volleyball.
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Post by tarheellife on Dec 6, 2023 10:50:50 GMT -5
I am not optimistic for next year. Nolan and Thurman were studs to build around. We essentially now have no true opposite, no legitimate scoring middle unless Jacki Taylor can be that player. This year our defense severely limited us and next year it will be a stale offense as no offensive player is coming in that can take over. I am confused because I felt for the most part team chemistry was good and this freshmen group was close. Thurman praised Schall on the Heels podcast and pretty much said that they knew it would take time to build something. So what changed? Even if we keep everyone else, we lose Shaff and Emani next year. The coaching staff has to make some home run portal transfers happen and really start getting the 25 class solid or we are not going to win for a LONG time. What changed is that Romani experienced the coaching that ain’t there. You can have a pleasant demeanor but that won’t help you be a good head coach if you can’t see stuff and coach to correct it. Hiring young and inexperienced assistants didn’t help in that.
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Post by tarheellife on Dec 6, 2023 10:54:56 GMT -5
Some of you have a seriously toxic relationship with UNC volleyball. It’s like a partner that keeps letting you down. Of course it’ll be toxic 🙄 The program is not good, not because of us, but because wrong people are leading it. We all want it to do good but the way it’s run is atrocious, starting with Bubba. What do you suggest we do?
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Post by mervinswerved on Dec 6, 2023 10:58:22 GMT -5
Some of you have a seriously toxic relationship with UNC volleyball. It’s like a partner that keeps letting you down. Of course it’ll be toxic 🙄 The program is not good, not because of us, but because wrong people are leading it. We all want it to do good but the way it’s run is atrocious, starting with Bubba. What do you suggest we do? Touch grass?
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Post by mervinswerved on Dec 6, 2023 11:01:00 GMT -5
If you really want UNC to make a change, go give them a million dollars and I'm sure Bubba will listen to you.
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Post by tarheellife on Dec 6, 2023 11:03:44 GMT -5
It’s like a partner that keeps letting you down. Of course it’ll be toxic 🙄 The program is not good, not because of us, but because wrong people are leading it. We all want it to do good but the way it’s run is atrocious, starting with Bubba. What do you suggest we do? Touch grass? You in Disneyland too??
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Post by tarheellife on Dec 6, 2023 11:04:20 GMT -5
If you really want UNC to make a change, go give them a million dollars and I'm sure Bubba will listen to you. Great advice!! Thanks!!
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Post by bvolley17 on Dec 6, 2023 12:05:35 GMT -5
If you really want UNC to make a change, go give them a million dollars and I'm sure Bubba will listen to you. Ding ding ding. The only way things will really change. Want the best coaches, gotta pay for them. And nowadays, if you want the best players, you gotta give them NIL opportunities.
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Post by vbshrink on Dec 6, 2023 12:15:41 GMT -5
Both Nolan and Thurman were mostly recruited when Joe was in charge. They committed believing that he'd be their coach. They stuck with NC when the change was announced, which they didn't have to do, but perhaps -- and I really have zero inside info here -- the reality just didn't match their expectations. It's not really unusual for kids to transfer in these situations.
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Post by tarheellife on Dec 6, 2023 13:12:54 GMT -5
It’s a whole new world with NIL money. It’s being used in lieu of scholarships but our program does not believe in that. We don’t pay coaches much and we don’t do anything for players outside of good old ways. So we are where we are and it’s silly to expect anything to change for the next few years.
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Post by tarheellife on Dec 6, 2023 13:15:52 GMT -5
Both Nolan and Thurman were mostly recruited when Joe was in charge. They committed believing that he'd be their coach. They stuck with NC when the change was announced, which they didn't have to do, but perhaps -- and I really have zero inside info here -- the reality just didn't match their expectations. It's not really unusual for kids to transfer in these situations. I don’t know Mike personally but I’ve heard he is a sweet talker. So those two probably expected good things. But obviously when the substance is not there they decided to leave.
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Post by leftyopp on Dec 6, 2023 13:59:29 GMT -5
I suspect in many, many cases... athletes are grabbing an available scholarship at School A as a sort of 1-year contract, using it to prove they can play at that level knowing they can freely move on to a different school with no consequences.
If they are successful - opportunities will open for them at a destination they may have wanted all long but wasn't available previously.
I would not be surprised in the least if this is actually a recruiting tool.
Maybe it's the cynic in me - I'm all for giving athletes opportunities to find the best situations for them - but it makes it hard to invest in these athletes individually (NIL) when they will probably just bounce after a year.
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