armchair
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Here is some thoughts on the women's BB team coming out of last night's impressive win over Vandy.
1) UT played great last night in just about every way. It was a very SURPRISING performance, and sobering in some ways, because it was so very ATYPICAL of what we've seen from UT in a long time. The Vols almost NEVER play smart and hard for LONG stretches, and yet they did last night, for almost the entirety of the game. Let's be clear: Vandy is not really a good team, but it was an amazing performance nonetheless: 20 assists and 12 turnovers. UT usually has the reverse of that. Tough man to man defense--again, haven't seen that in quite some time.
2) Simmons may have played her best game ever last night. She looked for teammates and didn't rush shots--only one that I remember. She let the game come to her. She shot well--9 for 15 (atypical). She had 5 assists and only two turnovers (atypical!). She played very hard on defense--well done. She has in the last few games played excellent ALL-AROUND basketball, as someone with her skills should be playing. It's only taken UT's coaches 3.5 years to develop her. (McGraw would have done it in a year, but that's another story.)
3) It's nearly impossible to be a strong defensive team unless you play man--and this has been a problem for UT in recent years. We have not had good man defenders. It is still an issue--but every player was committed to strong man defense last night, and the Vols totally shut down Vandy. I'll venture to say that we are a better defensive team without Massengale in the lineup. I love Massengale on offense but she is a somewhat LAZY/mediocre defender, and that has been a problem for UT. Carter is better defensively--and Carter had an excellent game last night: 5 assists, 0 turnovers, good defense and made some shots as well. It will be interesting to see how Warlick and Co. manage the lineup when Massengale is ready to return: We need Massengale, of course, but the team badly needs to be a better man -to-man defensive team, and that may create a dilemma.
4) One thing you can usually count on with UT, sadly--and that is sloppy offensive play. It has been our MO for years and one reason the team has faltered--that and less formidable man defense. Last night there was almost no sloppiness--a revelation. The team was patient on offense, and that resulted in better looks and a high shooting percentage. THAT, combined with good defense, is how you put away scrappy teams. We got the ball inside to Harrison, Harrison recognized double-teams and kicked the ball outside when needed. The passing was improved--though it is still not nearly as good as it could be. For some reason UT players don't want to pass the ball to Russell when she has established low-post position. The team's post-entry passing remains a weakness--especially Jones.
5) The coaches need to keep pushing and working with Jones, and Graves, on the offensive end. Burdick seems to have found her game and her active and improved play has helped the team, but Jones, oh my, is another dilemma. She is an excellent athlete, good size and a excellent defender--the best we have. We need her defense--but she is clueless on offense (0 assists, 3 turnovers last night, pretty standard for her). She gets the ball and never seems to know what to do--very indecisive; she watches bigs post up but does not know how to get them the ball; she just makes a lot of bad decisions. Is is frustrating because if she--and Graves--had better offensive games UT would be truly dangerous. If I'm Warlick, I turn Jones loose a bit more on offense in practice and maybe late in games where we have a comfortable lead--tell her to shoot more, drive more, be more aggressive and don't worry about missing shots. She needs to loosen up on the offensive end, find what she can do reasonably well, and maybe she can develop more confidence. She has got potential; maybe the coaches can develop it.
Great win--seeing progress.
1) UT played great last night in just about every way. It was a very SURPRISING performance, and sobering in some ways, because it was so very ATYPICAL of what we've seen from UT in a long time. The Vols almost NEVER play smart and hard for LONG stretches, and yet they did last night, for almost the entirety of the game. Let's be clear: Vandy is not really a good team, but it was an amazing performance nonetheless: 20 assists and 12 turnovers. UT usually has the reverse of that. Tough man to man defense--again, haven't seen that in quite some time.
2) Simmons may have played her best game ever last night. She looked for teammates and didn't rush shots--only one that I remember. She let the game come to her. She shot well--9 for 15 (atypical). She had 5 assists and only two turnovers (atypical!). She played very hard on defense--well done. She has in the last few games played excellent ALL-AROUND basketball, as someone with her skills should be playing. It's only taken UT's coaches 3.5 years to develop her. (McGraw would have done it in a year, but that's another story.)
3) It's nearly impossible to be a strong defensive team unless you play man--and this has been a problem for UT in recent years. We have not had good man defenders. It is still an issue--but every player was committed to strong man defense last night, and the Vols totally shut down Vandy. I'll venture to say that we are a better defensive team without Massengale in the lineup. I love Massengale on offense but she is a somewhat LAZY/mediocre defender, and that has been a problem for UT. Carter is better defensively--and Carter had an excellent game last night: 5 assists, 0 turnovers, good defense and made some shots as well. It will be interesting to see how Warlick and Co. manage the lineup when Massengale is ready to return: We need Massengale, of course, but the team badly needs to be a better man -to-man defensive team, and that may create a dilemma.
4) One thing you can usually count on with UT, sadly--and that is sloppy offensive play. It has been our MO for years and one reason the team has faltered--that and less formidable man defense. Last night there was almost no sloppiness--a revelation. The team was patient on offense, and that resulted in better looks and a high shooting percentage. THAT, combined with good defense, is how you put away scrappy teams. We got the ball inside to Harrison, Harrison recognized double-teams and kicked the ball outside when needed. The passing was improved--though it is still not nearly as good as it could be. For some reason UT players don't want to pass the ball to Russell when she has established low-post position. The team's post-entry passing remains a weakness--especially Jones.
5) The coaches need to keep pushing and working with Jones, and Graves, on the offensive end. Burdick seems to have found her game and her active and improved play has helped the team, but Jones, oh my, is another dilemma. She is an excellent athlete, good size and a excellent defender--the best we have. We need her defense--but she is clueless on offense (0 assists, 3 turnovers last night, pretty standard for her). She gets the ball and never seems to know what to do--very indecisive; she watches bigs post up but does not know how to get them the ball; she just makes a lot of bad decisions. Is is frustrating because if she--and Graves--had better offensive games UT would be truly dangerous. If I'm Warlick, I turn Jones loose a bit more on offense in practice and maybe late in games where we have a comfortable lead--tell her to shoot more, drive more, be more aggressive and don't worry about missing shots. She needs to loosen up on the offensive end, find what she can do reasonably well, and maybe she can develop more confidence. She has got potential; maybe the coaches can develop it.
Great win--seeing progress.
