Lady Vols have been challenged from 3-point range, which may help against No. 1 Stanford's tall shooters
Excerpt:
"We have definitely talked about needing to get out behind the 3-point line," Tennessee coach Kellie Harper said Monday. "Although we have not played (against) bigs that can shoot, we have played five guards. I feel like, other than Texas, we have only played guards. I am hoping that our post players have had enough experience of stepping out to guard because of some of these other teams.
"Obviously, it is a different caliber player that is stepping out behind the 3-point line now, but (our big players) should be comfortable in stepping out. It is just if they are stepping out with the urgency they need to step out when you are guarding Stanford. That is something we have been practicing."
I love reading that they spent time this week practicing getting out to guard the three more quickly. What Kellie is asking them to do is extremely taxing on the legs — staying in a stance while moving quickly for entire defensive stands — but if the Lady Vols don't dig deep for the extra strength and stamina it takes to play like that for a full game, they'll have a hard time giving Stanford a good game.
We'll soon find out, a third of the way through the season, if our Tennessee Lady Vols have the toughness it will take to push through the pain to guard Stanford like they'll need to be guarded in order for us to win. It will be the most physically draining game of the season for them, but if they can somehow rise to the occasion... DANG! It would be sweet!!!!
Excerpt:
"We have definitely talked about needing to get out behind the 3-point line," Tennessee coach Kellie Harper said Monday. "Although we have not played (against) bigs that can shoot, we have played five guards. I feel like, other than Texas, we have only played guards. I am hoping that our post players have had enough experience of stepping out to guard because of some of these other teams.
"Obviously, it is a different caliber player that is stepping out behind the 3-point line now, but (our big players) should be comfortable in stepping out. It is just if they are stepping out with the urgency they need to step out when you are guarding Stanford. That is something we have been practicing."
I love reading that they spent time this week practicing getting out to guard the three more quickly. What Kellie is asking them to do is extremely taxing on the legs — staying in a stance while moving quickly for entire defensive stands — but if the Lady Vols don't dig deep for the extra strength and stamina it takes to play like that for a full game, they'll have a hard time giving Stanford a good game.
We'll soon find out, a third of the way through the season, if our Tennessee Lady Vols have the toughness it will take to push through the pain to guard Stanford like they'll need to be guarded in order for us to win. It will be the most physically draining game of the season for them, but if they can somehow rise to the occasion... DANG! It would be sweet!!!!
