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Post by wildcat403 on Jan 3, 2024 9:18:51 GMT -5
Thigpen served tough and did well passing. Defensively maybe a tad slow reacting, but can't take a ton away from one all star game. She can also swing and did twice from the back row which is a nice wrinkle to her game.
Benjamin seems to have a really solid all around game. Doesn't necessarily wow you with her power, but her ball placement and finesse look really advanced. I think there's a good chance she cracks the rotation next year at some point.
Kentucky fans should be excited about both in the near future.
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Post by VBallLife on Jan 3, 2024 11:16:18 GMT -5
A DS who can attack out of the backrow...hmm She played OH in club that’s why many were shocked she was chosen as a DS/L for the UA game. |
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Post by 2Close4Missiles on Jan 3, 2024 11:33:44 GMT -5
Anyone's thoughts on Benjamin and Thigpen? Thought they looked good! Very excited |
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Post by OHVBKING on Jan 3, 2024 12:04:37 GMT -5
This is the same type of discussions that are going on around all sports. Some Texas fans think they are going to come into the SEC and steamroll the conference. I love the fact the SEC added Texas and I acknowledge Texas has some very successful athletic programs, but no one in the SEC is going to lie down and just get steamrolled. In fact I think Texas is going to force several of the athletic programs across the SEC to elevate their operations and provide a lot better support if they want to compete. A number of the current SEC programs have to get better coaches and better facilities.
Volleyball is going to be front and center in the conversation because Texas is really good and outside of Kentucky and Florida the rest of the SEC has been just okay for far too long. We can see Tennessee, Arkansas, and TXAM are starting to elevate their programs, but I would even argue Texas is going to drive Kentucky and Florida to take it to the next level. That shiny National Championship Trophy that Kentucky has is going to wear off the glare sooner than later, but maybe it already has.
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Post by OHVBKING on Jan 3, 2024 12:09:32 GMT -5
Are we so sure that Texas is going to mop the floor with KY? There’s a pretty decent shot KY has the advantage at setter, likely the middle although marginal, and probably overall stronger passing/floor defense. Skinner and Rutherford will be better than KY’s. top two pins but Deleye and the potential of the others will certainly compete. I except it to be a dogfight. Throw the chance of Florida taking a game from either/both and it will likely be a tight race. I would be interested to see how often teams underperform in a new conference. Texas is at a disadvantage with it being their first year in the conference in my opinion. Almost everywhere they travel will be a new city, new gym, new players to scout, etc Skinner is a stud, but I don't think Rutherford is that good. She is not consistent and often struggled at Kentucky when they played the better teams. Deleye is a monster and she is going to be a problem for a lot of teams. If KY wants to get to the next level again they have to make big strides on Defense. |
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Post by eotexas5 on Jan 3, 2024 12:14:16 GMT -5
Are we so sure that Texas is going to mop the floor with KY? There’s a pretty decent shot KY has the advantage at setter, likely the middle although marginal, and probably overall stronger passing/floor defense. Skinner and Rutherford will be better than KY’s. top two pins but Deleye and the potential of the others will certainly compete. I except it to be a dogfight. Throw the chance of Florida taking a game from either/both and it will likely be a tight race. I would be interested to see how often teams underperform in a new conference. Texas is at a disadvantage with it being their first year in the conference in my opinion. Almost everywhere they travel will be a new city, new gym, new players to scout, etc Skinner is a stud, but I don't think Rutherford is that good. She is not consistent and often struggled at Kentucky when they played the better teams. Deleye is a monster and she is going to be a problem for a lot of teams. If KY wants to get to the next level again they have to make big strides on Defense. I mean, she hit .315 on the season, even when battling an injury? Her best match was against Nebraska so I'm not sure what to make of your claim, but I've also not watched enough Kentucky volleyball to make a claim either. |
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Post by donut on Jan 3, 2024 12:19:16 GMT -5
Are we so sure that Texas is going to mop the floor with KY? There’s a pretty decent shot KY has the advantage at setter, likely the middle although marginal, and probably overall stronger passing/floor defense. Skinner and Rutherford will be better than KY’s. top two pins but Deleye and the potential of the others will certainly compete. I except it to be a dogfight. Throw the chance of Florida taking a game from either/both and it will likely be a tight race. I would be interested to see how often teams underperform in a new conference. Texas is at a disadvantage with it being their first year in the conference in my opinion. Almost everywhere they travel will be a new city, new gym, new players to scout, etc Skinner is a stud, but I don't think Rutherford is that good. She is not consistent and often struggled at Kentucky when they played the better teams. This take from a UK fan is disappointing. And wildly incorrect.
Let's not be the fanbase that bashes our former athletes just because they transferred.
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Post by hammer on Jan 3, 2024 14:28:29 GMT -5
This is the same type of discussions that are going on around all sports. Some Texas fans think they are going to come into the SEC and steamroll the conference. I love the fact the SEC added Texas and I acknowledge Texas has some very successful athletic programs, but no one in the SEC is going to lie down and just get steamrolled. In fact I think Texas is going to force several of the athletic programs across the SEC to elevate their operations and provide a lot better support if they want to compete. A number of the current SEC programs have to get better coaches and better facilities. Volleyball is going to be front and center in the conversation because Texas is really good and outside of Kentucky and Florida the rest of the SEC has been just okay for far too long. We can see Tennessee, Arkansas, and TXAM are starting to elevate their programs, but I would even argue Texas is going to drive Kentucky and Florida to take it to the next level. That shiny National Championship Trophy that Kentucky has is going to wear off the glare sooner than later, but maybe it already has. Looking at the Power 3 conferences elite teams for 2024: ACC: Louisville, Pitt, Stanford (GT, Florida St) B1G: Nebraska, Wisconsin (Penn St, Purdue, Oregon) SEC: Florida, Kentucky, Texas Teams in parens might challenge for the top spot in each conference. I didn't list any for the SEC knowing that Tenn and Arkansas have lost considerable talent but maybe I'm wrong. I left out the Big-12 because I don't think it contains any elite teams, but BYU and ASU likely will be top 25. |
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Post by VBallLife on Jan 3, 2024 16:01:00 GMT -5
This is the same type of discussions that are going on around all sports. Some Texas fans think they are going to come into the SEC and steamroll the conference. I love the fact the SEC added Texas and I acknowledge Texas has some very successful athletic programs, but no one in the SEC is going to lie down and just get steamrolled. In fact I think Texas is going to force several of the athletic programs across the SEC to elevate their operations and provide a lot better support if they want to compete. A number of the current SEC programs have to get better coaches and better facilities. Volleyball is going to be front and center in the conversation because Texas is really good and outside of Kentucky and Florida the rest of the SEC has been just okay for far too long. We can see Tennessee, Arkansas, and TXAM are starting to elevate their programs, but I would even argue Texas is going to drive Kentucky and Florida to take it to the next level. That shiny National Championship Trophy that Kentucky has is going to wear off the glare sooner than later, but maybe it already has. Looking at the Power 3 conferences elite teams for 2024: ACC: Louisville, Pitt, Stanford (GT, Florida St) B1G: Nebraska, Wisconsin (Penn St, Purdue, Oregon) SEC: Florida, Kentucky, Texas Teams in parens might challenge for the top spot in each conference. I didn't list any for the SEC knowing that Tenn and Arkansas have lost considerable talent but maybe I'm wrong. I left out the Big-12 because I don't think it contains any elite teams, but BYU and ASU likely will be top 25. Oregon has lost quite a bit as well |
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Post by OHVBKING on Jan 4, 2024 0:20:37 GMT -5
Skinner is a stud, but I don't think Rutherford is that good. She is not consistent and often struggled at Kentucky when they played the better teams. This take from a UK fan is disappointing. And wildly incorrect.
Let's not be the fanbase that bashes our former athletes just because they transferred.
Not bashing Rutherford, only speaking the truth. I said after last season and all throughout this season she is not consistent enough to be playing 6 rotations. It is pretty obvious Kentucky showed big improvements this past season when Delaye was moved in the 6 rotation spot. She is a Stud and proved to be a very consistent player. |
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Post by OHVBKING on Jan 4, 2024 0:24:36 GMT -5
This is the same type of discussions that are going on around all sports. Some Texas fans think they are going to come into the SEC and steamroll the conference. I love the fact the SEC added Texas and I acknowledge Texas has some very successful athletic programs, but no one in the SEC is going to lie down and just get steamrolled. In fact I think Texas is going to force several of the athletic programs across the SEC to elevate their operations and provide a lot better support if they want to compete. A number of the current SEC programs have to get better coaches and better facilities. Volleyball is going to be front and center in the conversation because Texas is really good and outside of Kentucky and Florida the rest of the SEC has been just okay for far too long. We can see Tennessee, Arkansas, and TXAM are starting to elevate their programs, but I would even argue Texas is going to drive Kentucky and Florida to take it to the next level. That shiny National Championship Trophy that Kentucky has is going to wear off the glare sooner than later, but maybe it already has. Looking at the Power 3 conferences elite teams for 2024: ACC: Louisville, Pitt, Stanford (GT, Florida St) B1G: Nebraska, Wisconsin (Penn St, Purdue, Oregon) SEC: Florida, Kentucky, Texas Teams in parens might challenge for the top spot in each conference. I didn't list any for the SEC knowing that Tenn and Arkansas have lost considerable talent but maybe I'm wrong. I left out the Big-12 because I don't think it contains any elite teams, but BYU and ASU likely will be top 25. I think you nailed it. Oregon is losing a lot of talent but by all accounts they are still very talented. The one program I can't figure out is Ohio State. The school sits in the middle of a MECCA Volleyball region and loses more in state talent than I can keep track of. Just look at the Class of 2025. Not one of the top 10 players in the State of Ohio for that class are going to be a Buckeye. I would argue Dayton might actually have the best volleyball program in the state of Ohio right now. |
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Post by donut on Jan 4, 2024 3:01:38 GMT -5
This take from a UK fan is disappointing. And wildly incorrect.
Let's not be the fanbase that bashes our former athletes just because they transferred.
Not bashing Rutherford, only speaking the truth. I said after last season and all throughout this season she is not consistent enough to be playing 6 rotations. It is pretty obvious Kentucky showed big improvements this past season when Delaye was moved in the 6 rotation spot. She is a Stud and proved to be a very consistent player. “I don’t think Rutherford is that good” is not the truth, it’s just a bad opinion. |
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Post by floatserve22 on Jan 4, 2024 10:37:47 GMT -5
Think the chances are UK lands Mendelson or Kjolhede.. maybe both? If you all got to pick one.. which would you choose and why?
Personally, I think both have pros and cons. Mendelson is bigger at 6'5 so would be a bigger block but lacks college experience not playing much at Nebraska. Kjolhede is 6'2 so undersized but has the experience playing consistently for four years at Indiana. Either option is great both coming from Big 10 schools and would love to see either in blue!
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Post by seceason on Jan 4, 2024 11:21:47 GMT -5
I know this was known from the Instagram post, but I just noticed Goetzinger in the portal, went in on the 31st.
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Post by wildcat403 on Jan 4, 2024 11:56:22 GMT -5
Pretty surprising both Williams and Goetzinger went into the portal when playing time was wide open next year. Would love to replace them with both Mendelson and Kjolhede. Those two plus Bultema would make for a really solid middle group.
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