NCAA Game Thread: (1) Texas vs (5) Lady Vols

[RespectAPA]

Yeah they were 8th in the SEC and posters like you expected a national championship!

All three of our NCAA tournament games we were clearly better than "8th in the SEC". If we got by this one, we had a real shot at a title with this team. It's perfectly cromulent to hav some frustration for how the 4th QTR was played offensively; the #1 scoring offense in the country puts up only 9 with the season on the line.

 

[volfan__18]

Where do you think she would go?

I’m sure any team besides South Carolina would take her.

 

[Rickster]

Not the ending we wanted but you have to admit, it's been a heck of a season. Surprise after surprise.

 

[winkles18]

Great Season, Lady Vols are players in SEC again and in National Championship picture. Can't wait til next season.. Go Lady Vols....

They finished 8th in the sec and they have been 2nd or 3rd the last 3 years and they went to sweet the year before so not sure they back yet

 

[tnvols72]

But you like always are overreacting. We blew it yes but the better team won the game. They showed that in the fourth quarter.

I am not overreacting its a fact, they had chances and could not stop turning the ball over. They had the same amount of points than they did turnovers in the 4th

 

[LVol]

Samara Spencer how I wish we had you for 5 years. You are tough, Iove your leadership. You fight till the end. Thank you Tess, Jewel, Sara, and everyone who gave their all for Tennessee

 

[volsagain]

Cooper had one of those bad days. We didn't shoot the 3 good at all. Defense missed way too many assignments. You put all that together we should have been blown out with all the turnovers in the 4th quarter. That just shows you how resilient these ladies played today. Sometimes things just don't go your way. GLV be back stronger next year.

 

[spojo13]

Where do you think she would go?

Some place that trusts her in the game in the last few minutes of a sweet sixteen game, I imagine.

 

[tnvols72]

Not the ending we wanted but you have to admit, it's been a heck of a season. Surprise after surprise.

They will be better next year and this is going to make them better

 

[Majors]

Common theme in close losses, has been a box score of Puckett, Darby and Spear with low scoring numbers. Today it was 7 combined.

 

[th2421]

I will say this, one big difference in between TX and TN this game came down to experience at this stage and in these types of games. TX has so much more experience. Hopefully our team builds off of this.

Agreed. There were a lot of things that were self-inflicted that kept us from winning this game (other than Preston and Lee making big plays for Texas), and a lot of that seemed to be that the moment was just too big and new for us. I also thought we could've and should've gone to Spearman every time she was in the game. Texas's posts couldn't guard her.

It's too bad we lose so many seniors - would love to have another year of Spear and Spencer in this system. Hate that this is how they go out, especially Spear, but I think we will look back on this senior/5th year class as the one that set the foundation for bringing Tennessee back to the top of women's basketball.

 

[RAVOL]

Spear and Cooper just couldn't get going today. We needed their offense and it was not there.

Yes and missing FT's. Had nothing to do with system. It doesn't matter what system you play in the end your players have to play.

 

[teeball]

Coach Kim greatly exceeded expectations for our team this year. She has a very bright future here.

I do hope you're right but I'm not yet sold on Kim's style of play. The better teams always seemed to overcome our frenzied pace of play. Maybe with the highly rated incoming class Kim's style will truly prove innovative and effective. We'll see soon enough.

 

[Ladyvols4ever!]

Where do you think she would go?

I know. The girl transferred to TN. She ain't goin' nowhere!

 

[Dak1219]

Yes, we STB inside 4 minutes. But Cooper killed us, plain and simple. If she played just a decent game we win. I know she wasn't trying to throw the game...as I heard across the room...but I 'm bewildered by what happened to her.

Maybe Kim should have been playing Cooper and Spearman together in the latter part of the game for some pick and role action with shooters on the wings. We were able to get into the paint at will, but Kim didn't go that route. Really a Missed opportunity. Those two together have proven they can be very effective, especially if the court is spread out with shooters.

 

[spojo13]

Agreed. There were a lot of things that were self-inflicted that kept us from winning this game (other than Preston and Lee making big plays for Texas), and a lot of that seemed to be that the moment was just too big and new for us. I also thought we could've and should've gone to Spearman every time she was in the game. Texas's posts couldn't guard her.

It's too bad we lose so many seniors - would love to have another year of Spear and Spencer in this system. Hate that this is how they go out, especially Spear, but I think we will look back on this senior/5th year class as the one that set the foundation for bringing Tennessee back to the top of women's basketball.

Wouldn’t Lee and Preston who made big plays also lack experience in sweet sixteen? I hope our freshman next year can be as composed as theirs were.

 

[Voltopia]

It was a good year, definitely, but Tennessee had that game in their hands and turned it over. Those are always the worst ones. The ones where you know the other team didn't dominate your team - your team just beat itself.

Wanted to see the fancy subbing system go a little further, but it's done now. Hope they come back better next year.

 

[tnvols72]

They finished 8th in the sec and they have been 2nd or 3rd the last 3 years and they went to sweet the year before so not sure they back yet

1st year new coach and a team she had to piece together, I am surprised that they made it as far as they did. They are fun to watch and she gets her players in here ,I think the ceiling is high for Kim

 

[RespectAPA]

Texas defense has been excellent staying attached to our high percentage shooters. Only leaving low percentage players open on the perimeter and it has paid off for them.

Thing is, Texas didn't score THAT much. We could hav forced some 3s throughout this game with some of our quick-release sharpshooters and we could hav won. But we started to force offense into their fantastic interior defense and suddenly we started having possessions end in turnovers with 0 attempted shots. We were rebounding well, some of those hypothetical 3s would hav gone in, some of the misses would hav been rebounded by Spearman and Latham, and suddenly maybe we score 70 and win this grindfest instead of leaving with our second-lowest scoring night all season.

 

[hUTch2002]

No, us taking wild shots and terrible passes is what's hurting us

Some questionable calls for sure but that’s not what lost it. Great year overall and I’m excited to see what Kim and the ladies do next year!

 

[spojo13]

It was a good year, definitely, but Tennessee had that game in their hands and turned it over. Those are always the worst ones. The ones where you know the other team didn't dominate your team - your team just beat itself.

Wanted to see the fancy subbing system go a little further, but it's done now. Hope they come back better next year.

I always want our best players in the last few minutes of the game. Kim normally did that but for some reason decided differently today.

 

[Volfan1017]

WHAT a game, they played so hard and rebounded so well against the overall number one team for several weeks. So fun to watch and ALOT to be proud of.

 

[RAVOL]

Wouldn’t Lee and Preston who made big plays also lack experience in sweet sixteen? I hope our freshman next year can be as composed as theirs were.

Our freshman bring what those 2 have Athletic and Savy. Yes they will make mistakes but they will make plays in this style. In CHRIST Alone

 

[hUTch2002]

Not the ending we wanted but you have to admit, it's been a heck of a season. Surprise after surprise.

UConn and Ohio State were fantastic wins!

 

[Voluble2]

Like I say, the moment was just a little too big for us. We aren't quite familiar enough with the system, and our players haven't played together long enough to develop the chemistry you need in basketball. Kim is also on a learning curve.

But huge strides were made towards restoring the program this year, and it took a hall of fame coach whose team has been to repeated Elite Eights to put us out.

I expect we will get over the hump and start winning more of these games against top teams over the next season or two. There is a lot to be optimistic about.