Game Thread: (#11/10) Lady Vols 64 - Va Tech 58

[glv98]

see more anticipating calls in the WNCAA than I do in all other leagues combined

A softball coach once told me women in general get far more anticipatory officiating calls bc of what the ref feels subconciously the player is not able to do. He swore his fastest player got a ton of bad close calls at first bc the ump subconsciously thought no female could beat out that throw. Couldn't have blocked that shot without fouling, couldn't have made that move w/o walking. They don't mean to be biased, it just comes naturally from how we're socialized.

Or, that could all be a steaming pile of BS!

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Question: Which 8-0 to date winning coach has done better so far this season? Kellie or Kara?

Duke is ranked 19th, Tennessee is ranked 9th.

 

[NoBackBoard]

Sara is the kind of player we need. She is skilled, coachable, humble, for the team.

I watched the Brandon Clay highlight training video of Sara from 2019 on YouTube. In the video he says she never gets sped up and the game never gets too fast for her. That’s what she’s shown so far. When she scored 6 straight in the VT game I thought of that quote. We’ve really needed a player like her and she’ll become even more composed as she gains more experience. It’s my absolutely favorite part about her game and we haven’t had a player like her in a very long time.

 

[Volfan2012]

Using Massey’s Ratings, as of now:

Kellie’s team beat teams with these rankings: 6, 31, 32, 33, 38, 55, 143, and 201.

Kara’s team: 17, 45, 77, 164, 174, 197, 311, and 354.

Kellie‘s team has played a far tougher schedule.

Duke has played no road games of any value. They did win against a top 15 team at home. Like a lot of other teams they have played their games in the friendly confines and have not ventured out to play anyone even remotely close to a top 50 team on the road. When they beat someone on the road even as good as UCF or Va. Tech. then we can give them a lot more credit. Finally as far as Va. Tech goes they did return almost all the players that beat NC St at home last season, Beat North Carolina twice, and Syracuse when they had all the players that transferred, most of the wins at Blacksburg. So yes at home they can play with almost anybody. I think they will be a middle of the ACC team this year, but at home they will knock off some of the top teams in that league they always do.

 

[creekdipper]

Two of my favorite plays were Sara's no-look, backward sideline save as she went out of bounds and Tamari's highwire balancing act baseline save as she teetered on one foot only to zip the ball under the goal to an open Lady Vol (Dye?), whom I think scored off the assist.

Those heady, hustling plays really fire up the bench and fans and demoralize the opponent.

 

[Rickster]

Green is showing moves I've not seen from her before. She had a nice looking turnaround fadeaway jumper and some good looking drives to the basket but lost the ball. She seems to have more control than in the past or at least looks smoother in her movement. Once she starts putting it together consistently, she will be a scoring force at the 4.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

If Sara isnt SEC freshmen of the week I will riot

I thought so SEC

 

[glv98]

I thought so SEC

Outstanding! Well deserved. Dang, all these accolades and success are making me really nervous. Not use to it.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I thought so SEC

But, but, but.............Kellie Can't Recruit!!!!

 

[VolBall09]

But, but, but.............Kellie Can't Recruit!!!!

Exactly!

So far she’s been the most promising freshman in the conference. Hollingshed at UGA looks decent and Wolfenbarger is a nice player. Sarah has played better, more complete basketball and more mature than either of them have so far. Sarah is my pick for FOY after the injuries for SC.

So far their freshman class isn’t making the impact a lot of people thought they would.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

I thought so SEC

Congratulations Sara! You deserve it, and I’m not a bit surprised. Keep shooting!

GO LADY VOLS!!!

 

[LadyOrange]

I watched the Brandon Clay highlight training video of Sara from 2019 on YouTube. In the video he says she never gets sped up and the game never gets too fast for her. That’s what she’s shown so far. When she scored 6 straight in the VT game I thought of that quote. We’ve really needed a player like her and she’ll become even more composed as she gains more experience. It’s my absolutely favorite part about her game and we haven’t had a player like her in a very long time.

She talks a lot about poise, composure, confidence, which mirrors Kellie. I love that Sara is glad to step up in any way the team needs her!

 

[lvocd]

CONGRATULATIONS, SARA PUCKETT!!!!!!

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

Watch till the end

 

[chuckiepoo]

Outstanding! Well deserved. Dang, all these accolades and success are making me really nervous. Not use to it.

 

[lvocd]

Watch till the end

Hell yeah!!!

I'll tell ya'll one thing right now: Miss Sara Frances Puckett is a PROBLEM. Not for Kellie, but for e'r'body else she is! Good luck with that, SEC coaches. lol

 

[Volfan2012]

Rewatched the game and other than the non travels Tennessee has way to many bad possessions where they took quick shots, bad shots, and seemed totally unfocused on offense. Have to start playing the entire game like we played the fourth quarter. Won't be able to make a comeback everytime with so many of the bad possessions we had in this game.

 

[VolBall09]

Rewatched the game and other than the non travels Tennessee has way to many bad possessions where they took quick shots, bad shots, and seemed totally unfocused on offense. Have to start playing the entire game like we played the fourth quarter. Won't be able to make a comeback everytime with so many of the bad possessions we had in this game.

I’ve watched it a couple times. What I saw was a team that isn’t quite sure where to go if their first play doesn’t pan out. Va Tech busted up quite a bit of what we wanted to do until they got tired.

I believe this will improve as the season goes and our PGs get more comfortable calling a new set themselves instead of needing guidance from the bench.

Rae’s return will help immensely as well, she’s a great player to have when the offense gets stuck.

Fun comparison, go watch the highlights from 2016 side by side with the highlights from the other night. You’ll notice immediately that we have about 5x more movement in our offense. More up screens and down screens and more players changing sides of the floor. We still get stagnant but not like Holly ball. In those highlights every single play was an individual, athletic play for Holly’s team. Most of our highlights the other night came the way of good team basketball for easy looks. Horston hit a couple tough ones late but that’s the exception now and not the rule. Before we had to rely on players making plays like that, now it’s bonus.

 

[creekdipper]

Excellent observations, VolBall. No one is going to say that we don't have lots of room for improvement, but we can see progress being made.

 

[Volfan2012]

I’ve watched it a couple times. What I saw was a team that isn’t quite sure where to go if their first play doesn’t pan out. Va Tech busted up quite a bit of what we wanted to do until they got tired.

I believe this will improve as the season goes and our PGs get more comfortable calling a new set themselves instead of needing guidance from the bench.

Rae’s return will help immensely as well, she’s a great player to have when the offense gets stuck.

Fun comparison, go watch the highlights from 2016 side by side with the highlights from the other night. You’ll notice immediately that we have about 5x more movement in our offense. More up screens and down screens and more players changing sides of the floor. We still get stagnant but not like Holly ball. In those highlights every single play was an individual, athletic play for Holly’s team. Most of our highlights the other night came the way of good team basketball for easy looks. Horston hit a couple tough ones late but that’s the exception now and not the rule. Before we had to rely on players making plays like that, now it’s bonus.

Horston not quite in synch in this game with her role. She had a lot of opportunities to dish for open threes instead of the decision she made. Same for other players they seem to ignore the kick out opportunity. No reason to have Darby on the floor if you are going to collapse the defense and then take the difficult shot yourself instead of kicking it to her for the open one. If she is going to start then we have to run plays to get her open she is not a shot creator. She needs help from her teammates to get her open looks. I saw three opportunities for Horston to hit her with a pass in the first half and she decided to ignore that option.

 

[VolBall09]

Horston not quite in synch in this game with her role. She had a lot of opportunities to dish for open threes instead of the decision she made. Same for other players they seem to ignore the kick out opportunity. No reason to have Darby on the floor if you are going to collapse the defense and then take the difficult shot yourself instead of kicking it to her for the open one. If she is going to start then we have to run plays to get her open she is not a shot creator. She needs help from her teammates to get her open looks. I saw three opportunities for Horston to hit her with a pass in the first half and she decided to ignore that option.

Yes, noticed that too, she was pressing for sure. She has to allow her decision making to stay fluid. Often times it appears she’s already decided what she’s going to do before she does it i.e. she starts the play already knowing she’s going to pass or going to the bucket. She’s gotta keep her options open until the last second. That’s how you become a dynamic passer and scorer. Once she dishes to the wings a few times the middle of the lane opens up and she can get an easy shot instead of a tough one. Just takes time.

Do think she’ll be more apt to kick it out when it’s Burrell on the wing. Darby’s hot and cold play makes you second guess a little. Va Tech was not a good matchup for her with their quick guards. Even without the injury I don’t think she would have played much after the first quarter. OSU was a way better matchup for her.

 

[VolBall09]

And if a fan can tell what decision she’s already made before she’s done it that means her defender can as well. That’s where some of the TOs are coming from. Gotta keep them on their toes a bit more and she’ll be so frustrating to guard. She’ll see multiple defenders in a game.

 

[Volfan2012]

And if a fan can tell what decision she’s already made before she’s done it that means her defender can as well. That’s where some of the TOs are coming from. Gotta keep them on their toes a bit more and she’ll be so frustrating to guard. She’ll see multiple defenders in a game.

Burrell doesn't need as much space as Darby and she also can take it down and get to the basket if defended to close. She has the entire game Darby at this point three point open shot is her contribution. Yes Horston could make us a lot better than she already has and eventually I think she will as the season goes along and Kellie and the coaches keep pointing out options she could've taken.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Horston not quite in synch in this game with her role. She had a lot of opportunities to dish for open threes instead of the decision she made. Same for other players they seem to ignore the kick out opportunity. No reason to have Darby on the floor if you are going to collapse the defense and then take the difficult shot yourself instead of kicking it to her for the open one. If she is going to start then we have to run plays to get her open she is not a shot creator. She needs help from her teammates to get her open looks. I saw three opportunities for Horston to hit her with a pass in the first half and she decided to ignore that option.

I was disappointed Darby was a no show in this game. Thought she was coming around. May still but you can't just disappear in games if you want minuets.

 

[J-Dog 1313]

I was disappointed Darby was a no show in this game. Thought she was coming around. May still but you can't just disappear in games if you want minuets.

I believe Darby got dinged in this game and did not play much, or at all, in the second half. Perhaps, that was the reason she did not do much in the VT game.