I’d think that Tina Thompson would be vulnerable at some point. The only Top 100 recruit she’s had in 3-4 years was Shimera Williams - and she transferred out after 1 year. Multiple other transfers out as well. You can’t build a strong program in the ACC without good recruiting. I gave her a pass her first couple of years, but when she had no top recruits for 2020/21 and currently has no top commits for next year - I’m worried.
Sorry, my bad. I wasn’t sure and was too lazy to look it up. However, next year, as her 4th year, still has no ranked recruits. I don’t know how long her contact is for, but I do know schools are losing $$ due to COVID. So a buyout is unlikely. I, for one, hope she can turn it around.
VA Huskie: stick with the courage of your convictions (the first post). Tina Thompson should be under a very focused microscope. Remember, as much as my esteemed colleague DefenseBB and I disagree over the overall acumen of former Yahoo Coach Joanne Boyle, Coach J left the incoming UVA coach a team with a 19-14 record and the three sophomores that helped propel it: Jocelyn Willoughby, Domnique Toussaint and Lisa Jablonowski.
New (and first time in the top spot) AD Carla Williams -- from Georgia -- came in and took longtime assistant (and big name) Tina Thompson, from another football-first state school, Texas. Thompson coached the bigs and had recruiting connection to the Houston area, but the hire always felt forced to a number of us. UVA has always lived and died on the I-95 circuit (Willoughby from NJ, Toussaint from NY).
Still, she has those three sophs. What happened? 12-19 in 2018-19. Hmm. Ok, getting used to the hot seat and the ACC. In 2019-20, they went 13-17 (8-10 in ACC), which some saw as improvement from the prior year, but remember, this same bunch made post-season play as sophomores. Individually, they didnt' get worse...Willoughby played her way into the WNBA.
(BTW, the main reason Shemera Williams even spent a cup of coffee at UVA is that Carolyn Kieger left Marquette for Penn State. Rather than stay at Marquette or follow Kieger to Penn State, Williams went to what was viewed her 2nd choice: UVA.)
So the core three are graduated and then Shemera Williams, the key recruit and Kylie Kornegay Lucas both hit the road. UVA had to scramble to get enough players on the roster under the best of circumstances. Then COVID and injuries hit to -- almost mercifully -- end an 0-5 start.
Like you, I don't see any recruits coming in and I have not been overwhelmed by the pre-game planning. (On the other hand, they're just trying to get kids on the court.)
AD Williams has also walked into a good situation with many established, top-flight programs (men's hoops and lacrosse, women's soccer and swimming, among them). This initial move of hers should get one more year in my humble opinion or UVA is going to fall further behind new coaches at UNC, GT and Duke in the ACC and established programs like Maryland that also prey on I-95 talent.
Nothing against the sisters Thompson: this is just a bad match of program to coach.