Courtside view

[LVJeff]

This team was jubilant after the game was over. There was an extended celebration with hugs all around. I'm probably mistaken but it looked like Carter had some tears. Anybody that thinks this team doesn't care and is just going through the motions I think is way off base. They have not played well but they have played hard every time I've seen them. I haven't seen every game, but the ones I've seen I think they tried and they tried tonight and they were very very happy. If there's any locker room dissension I don't know anything about it. But there was no dissension on this court after the end of this ball game tonight.

 

[Volstylexx]

Well if a top 10, road win doesn't help them gel- nothing will. Let's hope they come together and this was the turning point.

 

[utbffan]

That is great to hear. I don't think anyone is questioning their desire to win. It is their mental focus and attention to the details. Its like they are in a haze. I believe this is Holly's concern as well. I feel when they stop pressing and just play the game without thinking the game will slow down and they will win and be a better team.

 

[LVJeff]

Well if a top 10, road win doesn't help them gel- nothing will. Let's hope they come together and this was the turning point.

Baby steps for the LV's...baby steps. OSU is a soft team on the perimeter that had a horrible shooting night.

 

[LVJeff]

That is great to hear. I don't think anyone is questioning their desire to win. It is their mental focus and attention to the details. Its like they are in a haze. I believe this is Holly's concern as well. I feel when they stop pressing and just play the game without thinking the game will slow down and they will win and be a better team.

I agree. Cooper more than any other LV needs to slow down and let the game come to her. She can penetrate at will - but she usually makes poor or hurried decisions once she is in the lane.

 

[utbffan]

I think it will take a little time for the game to slow down for the freshmen. The upper class will have to step up. Help the young ones.

 

[VOL720]

I don't think many thought they lacked effort or was going through the motions. The issue for most fans is the coaching and in game adjustments. No one can define what kind of offense Tennessee runs and with the athletes on this team they should be averaging seventy or more ppg. I'm happy they won and hope this is a turn in the right direction, but Holly still needs to find solutions to improve this team's offensive efficiency. I never questioned their effort, its when we're on offense that we look totally lost. I'm hoping things continue to improve.

 

[Rickster]

That is great to hear. I don't think anyone is questioning their desire to win.

There have been a lot of people on this forum questioning their desire to win along with many other things and calling people stupid who do not agree with their draconian opinions. Will this be the turning point? Hopefully but one dominating half does not a full game make. It may take some more time but I do think they will find it within them to become a team that most fans will be proud of.

 

[Pat4life]

This team was jubilant after the game was over. There was an extended celebration with hugs all around. I'm probably mistaken but it looked like Carter had some tears. Anybody that thinks this team doesn't care and is just going through the motions I think is way off base. They have not played well but they have played hard every time I've seen them. I haven't seen every game, but the ones I've seen I think they tried and they tried tonight and they were very very happy. If there's any locker room dissension I don't know anything about it. But there was no dissension on this court after the end of this ball game tonight.

I had a courtside view at the Stanford and I almost threw up, I brought some friends to show them women's basketball, what a great display.

It was Night and Day effort. We just want to see a consistent team. If you care, you don't play like that, you are in the gym, you are doing things the right way, the lady vols way, you are working on your game.

I remember a time, I had to whoop a teammates ass right before a game, and we won cos it was a tough game, and we were hugging like we were best friends after the game. So that means nothing, play on the court tells us everything we need to know. ijs.

Nice win ladies, way better effort.

Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said there was a sense of urgency for the Lady Volunteers after they lost three of their last five games. "I think we came in here with something to prove, but more than that, our goal was to play hard. We hadn't done that," Warlick said.

 

[teacherdean]

I never thought it was every about the players caring but about the coaching and if they were being placed in a position to win. Chemistry of a team does not mean there is dissension in the locker room. It is up to the coaching staff to figure out the better combinations to put on the floor. Every night we should strive to put our best starting five on the floor and recognize that this is the lineup to get us where we want to go.

From what I saw, OSU is not a top ten team, in fact we are a better team. I think OSU will have a difficult time beating Stanford or Cal. However, this was a good win which I hope has righted the ship.

 

[VolUpInCumming]

Thanks LVJeff. I appreciate your posts. For those of us that can't make it to many games, its good to hear from someone who was there and gives a straight forward view of the game.:salute:

 

[Volfan2012]

This team was jubilant after the game was over. There was an extended celebration with hugs all around. I'm probably mistaken but it looked like Carter had some tears. Anybody that thinks this team doesn't care and is just going through the motions I think is way off base. They have not played well but they have played hard every time I've seen them. I haven't seen every game, but the ones I've seen I think they tried and they tried tonight and they were very very happy. If there's any locker room dissension I don't know anything about it. But there was no dissension on this court after the end of this ball game tonight.

I never bought into that locker room talk but there are certainly problems on offense and I think it stems from players not following the game plan and straying back to being free agents especially with a big lead.

When Carter is at the point it is obvious we are a much better team with less flaws and fewer mental mistakes. The problem remains players giving up a bad shot to give someone a better shot. That still doesn't happen all the time. Basketball IQ may be the hardest thing for our players to learn and accept but hopefully as the season goes along they will recognize a bad shot from a good one and learn that giving up the basketball to someone open is better than taking an ugly shot against three defenders.

I was glad to see we were passing up the three as it is not a strength of this team. I think we could be real successful with what Oregon State ran in the second half with Diamond getting drives to the basket or mid-range shots which are her strength.

 

[Sandvol]

I never bought into that locker room talk but there are certainly problems on offense and I think it stems from players not following the game plan and straying back to being free agents especially with a big lead.

When Carter is at the point it is obvious we are a much better team with less flaws and fewer mental mistakes. The problem remains players giving up a bad shot to give someone a better shot. That still doesn't happen all the time. Basketball IQ may be the hardest thing for our players to learn and accept but hopefully as the season goes along they will recognize a bad shot from a good one and learn that giving up the basketball to someone open is better than taking an ugly shot against three defenders.

I was glad to see we were passing up the three as it is not a strength of this team. I think we could be real successful with what Oregon State ran in the second half with Diamond getting drives to the basket or mid-range shots which are her strength.

At this point Carter is a much better point guard than Cooper. Cooper's biggest problem is she doesn't value ball security and possessions. But, she is young but also talented and will learn. She is a great looking freshman. They need to keep playing her so she can develop but Holly really needs to put the reins on her.

 

[Sandvol]

One thing I think would help Cooper and she needs to be coached this (Holly are you listening?) is to draw fouls when she drives into the paint. She never draws any fouls. There is an art to that. She needs to get to the free throw line and also get her team into the bonus situation. Our team shoots free throws well.

 

[armchair]

Nobody has questioned desire, really; we've questioned the horrible play and coaching. Nice to get a win--but then we've won a LOT of games like this over the last 10 years--a lowish margin, low-scoring victory. Fifty-three points will not cut it in the post-season, however.

 

[Sandvol]

There have been some who have questioned desire. But, I didn't think it was desire but to me they just seemed lost and no direction. Hope they can build on this. Again, Holly needs to get her a$$ in gear.