Game thread: #15 Lady Vols host #18 Alabama, Thurs., Feb 20, 6:30 ET, SECN+

[Orange.]

The Summitt
Thompson-Boling Arena
at Food City Center

TV: SECN+
Radio: Vol Radio Network

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#15. Tennessee Lady Vols

Previous ranking: 15
2024-25 record: 19-6


Stat to know: Jewel Spear, who had 28 points on 9-of-11 shooting in Sunday's win over Ole Miss, scored 15 in the third quarter, her high for a quarter this season.

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#18. Alabama Crimson Tide

Previous ranking: 21
2024-25 record: 21-5


Stat to know: Alabama is coming off a big 88-49
Monday-night home win over Texas A&M.

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Series history: Tennessee leads 55-6
Last meeting: 2024: LVs 83 at Bama 61

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[MAD]

BEAT BAMA!

 

[knoxvol52]

Roll those turds....

 

[SGMVols]

This is going to be a tough one. Bama is playing as well as anyone in the conference right now.

Our 3 point defense has been very good this year but it’s about to get stress tested in a big way. They shoot 38.4% from 3 as a team.

They have two players shooting over 40% from 3 and one of them is a player from TN (Weathers) who wanted to be here that Kellie didn’t recruit. I’m sure she’ll be fired up for this one.

The other one is Nye, the player we thought we were getting to transfer here until Bama came through with the bag to convince her to withdraw from the portal and stay in Tuscaloosa.

They also have former LV Zaay Green btw, who was probably their best player while Barker was out hurt.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Can't believe this game is at least not on SECNW prime time instead of SECNW+. This game is bigger than that.

 

[Rons1989]

This is going to be a tough one. Bama is playing as well as anyone in the conference right now.

Our 3 point defense has been very good this year but it’s about to get stress tested in a big way. They shoot 38.4% from 3 as a team.

They have two players shooting over 40% from 3 and one of them is a player from TN (Weathers) who wanted to be here that Kellie didn’t recruit. I’m sure she’ll be fired up for this one.

The other one is Nye, the player we thought we were getting to transfer here until Bama came through with the bag to convince her to withdraw from the portal and stay in Tuscaloosa.

They also have former LV Zaay Green btw, who was probably their best player while Barker was out hurt.

This is true but its different shooting 3's going against constant pressure the whole game....in previous COMPETITIVE games they play 7 at most either we are going to run them ragged or kristy is going to have trust some people she normally dont use

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Nye to Tennessee was a fake rumor. Not one verified source connected this player being recruited by Coach Caldwell.
The last time Tennessee played Alabama in the SEC tourney she scored 4 points.
This year’s team certainly has more athletic defensive players capable of making the game tougher for a spot up shooter.
Jewel Spear set a record in that same game for three pointers made in an SEC tourney game.
Spear and Spencer both are shooting 40% from 3pt range.
I don’t know I guess Alabama fans or any other school fanbase could say the same about our players.
Looking forward to the game.
GBO!

 

[BruisedOrange]

Must be some pretty important games in the SEC Thursday night for #15 vs #18 to be tossed aside to the +network.

 

[Volfan2012]

Must be some pretty important games in the SEC Thursday night for #15 vs #18 to be tossed aside to the +network.

SEC Network is going with Arkansas at SC and Georgia at LSU. Espn2 Louisville at Duke while ESpn shows Sportscenter for an hour then comes talk show called Get Up.

 

[GameTime]

Great on any station....

 

[chuckiepoo]

This is true but its different shooting 3's going against constant pressure the whole game....previous games they play 7 at most either we are going to run them ragged or kristy is going to have trust some people she normally dont use

Christy played her bench for the fourth quarter. Sure she hopes that helps with their short turn around.

 

[Rons1989]

Christy played her bench for the fourth quarter. Sure she hopes that helps with their short turn around.

Im tlking competitive games i know she played the bench yesterday lol.....majority of the mins are between starters and 2 players off the bench when the game matters....ADVANTAGE TENNESSEE

 

[GameTime]

Thursday nights menu....
We got this....

 

[37620VOL]

Is this the last time we see Grandmaw Barker?

 

[37620VOL]

We have the exact same record, actually the exact same results against common opponents as Bama this year...



Source: Herhoops - well worth the subscription

 

[37620VOL]

Zaay has been shooting out of her mind. She's a career 26% 3-point shooter but in SEC play she's shooting over 40%. Who's the shooting coach at Bama!?

I think we should be able to attack Weathers on offense and get good looks all day.

 

[glv98]

Zaay has been shooting out of her mind. She's a career 26% 3-point shooter but in SEC play she's shooting over 40%. Who's the shooting coach at Bama!?

Sam Spencer has had the same improvement this year.

 

[lvocd]

Love that giph, Mad!

 

[Volfan2012]

Even if they get a few layups on you I wouldn't let Bama's top two three point shooters get any good three looks. Boyd and Cooper on Nye and Barker. 30 layups is 60 points and 30 threes is 90. I can see us giving up 30 2 point shots and say 12 to 15 free throws and still win. Surely don't want to give up 12 threes like A&M plus another 20 plus two point makes. A&m got outscored at the three point line 36 to 0.
Unless Bama can have a huge portal class this is their last season to be up near the top they lose a lot of players and don't have a lot to replace them with right now. So sure they will come in ready to play we have to be ready as well.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Who the best shooter in the SEC?

 

[Rickster]

BEAT BAMA!

View attachment 722825

It's hard to believe this only got 12 likes

 

[LVfanLasVegas]

Hoping for a low Tide "rolled" over by a very Big Orange.

Go Lady Vols!

Although I do like Curry from her Big12 days.

 

[RespectAPA]

Evidently, Bama was pressing in their game against A&M. Will be interesting to see how much they make use of it against us, and wil it tire them out?

Hav they been doing it all season, or was yesterday an exception...?

We've had a bit of trouble dealing with it this season, especially since dealing with the zone press is a bit different than dealing with the trap press that we do.

The important thing will be — if they do press — that we get inside for some 2-on-1 or 2-on-2 interior play instead of settling for a 5-on-5 frontcourt set. One thing Ole Miss messed up on in our game was settling for open 3s instead of pushing in for a relatively easy 2 point opportunity. Whoever receves the ball in the frontcourt should be prepared to either pass the ball inside, or move forward with the ball themselves. When you hav a 3-on-2 or 3-on-3 in front of you, your offense is only going to get less effectiv the more defenders you let run back into position.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Must be some pretty important games in the SEC Thursday night for #15 vs #18 to be tossed aside to the +network.

Ugh!
Realization!

That probably indicates what "quality" of refereeing crew we will get to endure!

--------------
Anybody wanna go into business with me on a selective blend of beta-blockers, SSRIs, and benzodiazepines
to be marketed to viewers of SEC Women's basketball games?

Looking at product names like "Good Call" or "Non-fissile Whistle." Open to suggestions...

edit addition: "Ref or Madness"

 

[VolBalls33]

Bama moved up to 15th in the NET today. 11 vs 15 and not on regular TV. Would be a huge Q1 win. Of course it will be really cold and maybe snowy. Too bad would have liked to have seen another 12K crowd. Doubtful with the weather. If UT wins out until Senior Night for UGA I hope UT gets a huge 15K crowd.