Credit Where It Is Due

[armchair]

This is a team with talent. We have more talent than 90 percent of the teams we face, more even more than 90. Our problem has been that Warlick is not demanding enough, IMO, and I don't think the players really have sufficient respect for her to go out and play 100 percent every game. That said, the team has been playing solidly. This was a good team win. We have to be encouraged by a game in which we had 18 assists and 9 turnovers--that is great; usually, those numbers are reversed. And we shot 45 percent. Jackson was the unsung hero of the game--she was busting her tail defensively, and she was mostly responsible for Epps's poor game. Most of the decision-making in the game was good. I think we're often too slow getting the ball down low to Russell--when she has sealed her defender, you've got to dump it to her in the low post, and be quick and sharp about it--don't look and think and think and look, and then pass it. But we got the ball to Russell enough to help her get 22 points. When the group commits to defense and executes consistently on offense, we can be pretty good. It's about learning to play hard all game, and executing and making smart decisions all game--so that we don't have those 6- or 8-point quarters that have been a problem in the last couple of years. I think Warlick should try to get Russell a couple more minutes of rest every game--she's a big girl, playing a lot of minutes, and you don't want her to wear down.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Nunn still would be much better if she could clear the floor when she jumps. This would keep her from getting tied up and lose possession so much. She tries hard but I still am not convinced her leg is completely 100%.:crazy:

she just has to play more of a power game than a mobile one.
This is something she is built for

 

[Decker Moss]

she just has to play more of a power game than a mobile one.
This is something she is built for

I still get a chuckle every time Nunn gets a rebound based on something @mlindsay said the other day. Not to put words in his mouth, but something to the effect that he'd never seen someone who has no vertical jump get so many rebounds. If you watch her play she never jumps up to get the rebound, but comes away with so many. It is her ability to block out. I think even one of the commentators mentioned Nunn was the only Lady Vol that consistently blocks out her opponents for rebounds.

 

[tennparker3]

I still get a chuckle every time Nunn gets a rebound based on something @mlindsay said the other day. Not to put words in his mouth, but something to the effect that he'd never seen someone who has no vertical jump get so many rebounds. If you watch her play she never jumps up to get the rebound, but comes away with so many. It is her ability to block out. I think even one of the commentators mentioned Nunn was the only Lady Vol that consistently blocks out her opponents for rebounds.

Courtney Paris never left the ground for a rebound and she broke numerous records.

 

[madtownvol]

Agreed. Plus, Middleton had already had her pocket picked badly by Murray and the inbound passes were going successfully to Nared anyway. It's up to Reynolds and Jackson to improve their FT% so it won't be an issue.

Middleton is one small point of concern. She is on a nice improvement curve and can no dominate weaker comp. but she has not been that effective when facing more talented guards. That is the step she needs to make the SEC season because there will be games when the team will need her as a spark.

Agreed on Jordan and Meme needing to improve their FT %, though that kind of change does not often happen in season but hope springs eternal...

 

[Tenacguy50]

I too will give credit where credit is due. The team obviously has improved since the Baylor game. And yes this was a good team win. But I'll wait til the end of the season to call for Holly's head if warranted. I'm in wait and see mode. Congrats to the ladies though. They played with some pride. Keep it up.

 

[volbeast33]

The Ladies have improved volumes since the Baylor blowout. We have to give Holly credit for the improvement we are seeing. We still need to follow our shots and aggressively hit the boards on both ends. I am glad to see the ladies show some pride. It would have been easy for the ladies to roll over in the fetal position and give up after the Baylor debacle but they didn't, they have just gotten better.

I hate teaching the outdated philosophy of following your shot..... if you plan on following your shot than that means that you plan on missing your shot. I'd rather our girls concentrate on finishing the shot than get ready in case the ball bounces back out towards them.... A lot of times coaches preach for kids to follow their shots and the kid is more worried about running toward their basket than trying to make the shot in the first place.

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

Many good points made in this blog. Holly did indeed have her players ready to play. Mercedes was a force inside and should have been considering the play of Kentucky. Players who also stood out were Jamie, Diamond and Jordan. I give them credit to playing up to their potential. I don't think that Kentucky's#17 rating is legit. Maybe with Epps on her game they are possibly in the top 25. The Lady Vols will be a head scratcher for the remainder of the season. Consistency seems to be a significant problem for coaches and players. Hopefully this will get better. Go Lady Vols.

 

[proudone]

Lord, you "fans" should take a step back and read what you write! Is nothing ever good enough for you? You write as if you are kings on a throne rejecting the inadequate kissing of your ring! Who the h#%l do you think you are? You really think your negative drivel will help make things better? Be a positive influence and shut up!!

 

[LadyVol1908]

Lord, you "fans" should take a step back and read what you write! Is nothing ever good enough for you? You write as if you are kings on a throne rejecting the inadequate kissing of your ring! Who the h#%l do you think you are? You really think your negative drivel will help make things better? Be a positive influence and shut up!!

Welcome to VolNation!!! Lmao

 

[Amb3096]

I still get a chuckle every time Nunn gets a rebound based on something @mlindsay said the other day. Not to put words in his mouth, but something to the effect that he'd never seen someone who has no vertical jump get so many rebounds. If you watch her play she never jumps up to get the rebound, but comes away with so many. It is her ability to block out. I think even one of the commentators mentioned Nunn was the only Lady Vol that consistently blocks out her opponents for rebounds.

Bashaara Graves was the same way. She rarely left her feet for defensive rebounds, but was excellent at blocking out to make sure she snagged the ball.

 

[bobkitten]

I think Nunn is an upcoming beast! She seems to understand blocking out, and has a good,tough attitude. I see much, much improvement in her play. No, she doesn't jump but she does get after the ball. She doesn't do the little hand flapping "sorry" move, either.

 

[alexvol]

This is a team with talent. We have more talent than 90 percent of the teams we face, more even more than 90. Our problem has been that Warlick is not demanding enough, IMO, and I don't think the players really have sufficient respect for her to go out and play 100 percent every game. That said, the team has been playing solidly. This was a good team win. We have to be encouraged by a game in which we had 18 assists and 9 turnovers--that is great; usually, those numbers are reversed. And we shot 45 percent. Jackson was the unsung hero of the game--she was busting her tail defensively, and she was mostly responsible for Epps's poor game. Most of the decision-making in the game was good. I think we're often too slow getting the ball down low to Russell--when she has sealed her defender, you've got to dump it to her in the low post, and be quick and sharp about it--don't look and think and think and look, and then pass it. But we got the ball to Russell enough to help her get 22 points. When the group commits to defense and executes consistently on offense, we can be pretty good. It's about learning to play hard all game, and executing and making smart decisions all game--so that we don't have those 6- or 8-point quarters that have been a problem in the last couple of years. I think Warlick should try to get Russell a couple more minutes of rest every game--she's a big girl, playing a lot of minutes, and you don't want her to wear down.

The thing most encouraging to me about Russell in the last few games is that when she is double or triple teamed she is looking for a cutter and when one comes available she is passing the ball and not turning it over .

 

[alexvol]

Many good points made in this blog. Holly did indeed have her players ready to play. Mercedes was a force inside and should have been considering the play of Kentucky. Players who also stood out were Jamie, Diamond and Jordan. I give them credit to playing up to their potential. I don't think that Kentucky's#17 rating is legit. Maybe with Epps on her game they are possibly in the top 25. The Lady Vols will be a head scratcher for the remainder of the season. Consistency seems to be a significant problem for coaches and players. Hopefully this will get better. Go Lady Vols.

right on point^^^

 

[djtee]

Yes, she hasn't yet had a really good game against a quality opponent. Stanford maybe, but the LV's need Middleton to show up in these games, not just the UNCW's of the world.

I agree with you on Middleton she don`t show up against quality opponents and there is a reason to slow and not athletic enough. I`m not throwing Middleton under the bus just stating facts. We did win and played very well, But make no mistake the quality opponents that we have left on our schedule will look at what Murray did to Middleton pick her pocket or make her give it up with ball pressure.

 

[armchair]

All we are doing is playing close to the way we are capable of playing, relative to the players and talent we have. That's the most fundamental job of a coaching staff. We've underachieved for years, and did the same to start this year. Now we are playing closer to the way we should be playing--and can play better still. Good teams and good players play at a high level consistently. We haven't. Now's the time.

 

[teacherdean]

Nunn had her best game BTW.

And how about Russell - 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, perfect from the line, and 63% FG%. If only she would turn into a beast.

Reynolds played very well in the first quarter and then tailed off. She didn't score and although it didn't hurt the team today, she didn't even look to score. I've said often enough this team will go as far as the guard play will take them. Today was good. Make it better.

If Russell played with the mentality of UCONN's Collier and Nurse, with size, this whole team would be a beast. She would be close to unstoppable. I still believe that Russell's lack of aggression, inability to block out on rebounds, and inability to always use her size to her advantage relates to the staff's inability to coach up their bigs. It is not just an LV issue, with some exceptions, it is across the board in the women's high school and college game.

 

[Coach Jumper]

All we are doing is playing close to the way we are capable of playing, relative to the players and talent we have. That's the most fundamental job of a coaching staff. We've underachieved for years, and did the same to start this year. Now we are playing closer to the way we should be playing--and can play better still. Good teams and good players play at a high level consistently. We haven't. Now's the time.

We are far and away more cohesive and playing offense with continuity, versus stagnation, this year than we were at any point in the regular season last year. Last year no-movement on offense was the standard. So far this year, it is the exception, not the rule.

 

[Martic]

When you go look at replay ,they played 3/4 zone press in 1st qtr and that really took KY out of their offense.Was surprised when it was taken off because of it's effectiveness.

matter of fact the almost blew it playing man to man instead of zone at the end. Man to man allowed their guards to drive right past us.hmy:

 

[Pat4life]

If Russell played with the mentality of UCONN's Collier and Nurse, with size, this whole team would be a beast. She would be close to unstoppable. I still believe that Russell's lack of aggression, inability to block out on rebounds, and inability to always use her size to her advantage relates to the staff's inability to coach up their bigs. It is not just an LV issue, with some exceptions, it is across the board in the women's high school and college game.

Russell is 6'6", whose to say, she won't get there. ijs. Go Mercedes! In every game this year, she has been the best post on the floor -minus Texas. Go figure!

Give credit when credit is due. wuteva, what about understanding team, progression and chemistry.

I back Pat and roll with Holly. Beep Beep!

 

[JFP]

Fear of fouling out seems a plague due to short bench making dribble drives by opposition often way too easy. When fouls are made on the drivers they often look like a friendly pat and, "Uh oh, I made a mistake and got a foul." So who has fouls to give and has the size and length of arm to make drives regrettable and memorable if given the task? Answer,Harris. Give her the assignment from time to time and tell her stopping easy goals on drives is her mission. She may be great doing this.

 

[volbeast33]

Fear of fouling out seems a plague due to short bench making dribble drives by opposition often way too easy. When fouls are made on the drivers they often look like a friendly pat and, "Uh oh, I made a mistake and got a foul." So who has fouls to give and has the size and length of arm to make drives regrettable and memorable if given the task? Answer,Harris. Give her the assignment from time to time and tell her stopping easy goals on drives is her mission. She may be great doing this.

That makes zero sense.

 

[Coach Jumper]

matter of fact the almost blew it playing man to man instead of zone at the end. Man to man allowed their guards to drive right past us.hmy:

Good "man to man" defenders make great zone defenders... Good "zone defenders" make terrible man defenders.. . . . . With that said, you practice both and go man, and go to zone when you have to, not because you are comfortable with it. There is more challenge to playing man defense, but if you win that challenge in the open court, you have a much shorter distance you have to score from. And most often you have numbers with man that you don't have with zone. ((If a steal is mad on a 3-1-1 half-court trap defense, most of the time they only bring down with one or two,,,advantage defense and big advantage in your transitional offense.

I am a full proponent of man first and zone when you have to or when it makes the only sense.

 

[JFP]

UK 42 points in paint, TN 36.
UK 17 fast break points, TN 8.
How much of this allowed by players with fear of fouling out?

 

[Martic]

Good "man to man" defenders make great zone defenders... Good "zone defenders" make terrible man defenders.. . . . . With that said, you practice both and go man, and go to zone when you have to, not because you are comfortable with it. There is more challenge to playing man defense, but if you win that challenge in the open court, you have a much shorter distance you have to score from. And most often you have numbers with man that you don't have with zone. ((If a steal is mad on a 3-1-1 half-court trap defense, most of the time they only bring down with one or two,,,advantage defense and big advantage in your transitional offense.

I am a full proponent of man first and zone when you have to or when it makes the only sense.

me too but in this game our zone was good. Man to man sucked because quick guards eat us alive!!!and that was happening at the end of the game. Plus they seemed to be tired and zone would have helped IMO