Game Thread: #11/12 Lady Vols vs. Memphis, Home, Monday, 6:32PM, SEC+ (stream)

[DarkPhoenix]

Just glad we won we'll see if it carries over in six days when we play Troy, 24 turnovers, but no one has guarded us like Memphis did they were aggressive all 45 minutes.

That happen when u don’t respect the opposing Pg’s, once we get an elite Pg that’s 5’8 or taller u will see things play out differently.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

What has happened with this team is that Tamari is really not able to play. Karoline didn't play well tonight cost us several points in about two possessions there in the third quarter. So the post players are going to be Jill, Sarah, and Rickea this season. If somehow Tamari gets back to her old self we become a lot better team.

Key will look like this the rest of the season, not enough time to do what she needs to do, let’s just see what she does in the offseason.

 

[glv98]

Key will look like this the rest of the season, not enough time to do what she needs to do, let’s just see what she does in the offseason.

This is painful to watch. Not sure it's the right thing to continue to play her right now. I feel so bad for her, this must be so frustrating.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

This is painful to watch. Not sure it's the right thing to continue to play her right now. I feel so bad for her, this must be so frustrating.

I don’t know if she want to play or the coaches are playing her, but it hurts the team when she’s out there. They see her everyday and know she’s not ready, just take the season off and get right.

 

[creekdipper]

I know that. My post was smartass

50% of that assessment is correct.

 

[creekdipper]

We’re going to win, so all I can think of right now, is, how good is Troy?

They have an Achilles heel.

 

[volmanNC]

Did not know you were there, much less on the floor with your buds the LOMOS's. In case you need it deciphered that is Legion Of Miserables On Steroids.

Yes I was there! Thanks, always wanted to be a Legion!! You are just too kind..

And I will be there today for the men's BBall and then on Saturday for the real event...

 

[madtownvol]

Some quick takes:

1.The Lady Vols are much better with Rickea than without her (Yes, I give these kind of penetrating insights away for free)
2.. Jaz P.owell is much improved from last season. Right now, she is the top choice at PG. She still needs some work in executing the half court (though having Rickea back helps there, see point 1). But this one of her best games. Stepped up when needed.
3. I, like everyone else, when Kellie had Spear on the bench for much of the 2nd quarter when the team looked lost offensively. But, sometimes it is better to be lucky than good- Jewel was fresh, locked and loaded for the OT and made the difference.
4. This looked like another game the LVs were going to give away at the FT line but they buckled down in the OT (8 for 9 I believe). That was clutch after being inept.
5. Very good game from Sara but she needs to eliminate some mental mistakes. Or stated conversely, she can be a really good player is she can eliminate her decision making errors.
6. Hollingshead got more aggressive down the stretch and she needs to do more of that (particularly when RJ is out).
7. The LVs over came the surprise absence of RJ, and poor 3 point shooting to grind out an OT win. Better than the alternative.
8. It is easy to say, oh, the LVs should not have struggled against lowly Memphis, even without RJ, but with the transfer window, teams can become dangerous fast. Carter from Rutgers is a quality player who had a really good night. Memphis had a few other transfers who also had impact.

Bonus-- Back in the day, critics used to hammer on Holly Warlick's tongue tied press conferences as clear evidence that she was a terrible coach. Well, go listen to Kellie's press conference - poised, articulate, on top of everything that happened in the game and clear sense of what needs to be done going forward. She made excellent half time adjustments. Oh and she took a TO when Memphis went on a run!

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

I don’t follow the LV too much, just wondering if there’s injuries on the team?

 

[chuckiepoo]

I don’t follow the LV too much, just wondering if there’s injuries on the team?

Rickea Jackson was on the bench tonight in a walking boot. Supposedly a day to day issue. We’ve got Troy Sunday, then a big one against Indiana Thanksgiving. Nice ten day window to get right.

 

[Majors]

Would 75 mil do?

I’ll try to make the best of it

 

[Golf freak]

If we're crying about one lousy game,we just got a sneak preview of next season without Rickea.

 

[Knoxvol14]

Their only hope in post is if Key fully recovers and can play at full speed and decides to come back since there seems no hope of getting a post from either High School or from the portal ....hope that someone is in the weeds that we do not know about and can come in and be a savior otherwise ....imo ...the addition of the 5 star transfer ( guard ) and high school 4 star are not likely to be that much of difference makers ...we all will see what will happen.

The portal isn't open yet, so I wouldn't say there's no hope getting one there when it doesn't open until March

 

[Memvol44]

You forgot to mention Strips

Some quick takes:

1.The Lady Vols are much better with Rickea than without her (Yes, I give these kind of penetrating insights away for free)
2.. Jaz P.owell is much improved from last season. Right now, she is the top choice at PG. She still needs some work in executing the half court (though having Rickea back helps there, see point 1). But this one of her best games. Stepped up when needed.
3. I, like everyone else, when Kellie had Spear on the bench for much of the 2nd quarter when the team looked lost offensively. But, sometimes it is better to be lucky than good- Jewel was fresh, locked and loaded for the OT and made the difference.
4. This looked like another game the LVs were going to give away at the FT line but they buckled down in the OT (8 for 9 I believe). That was clutch after being inept.
5. Very good game from Sara but she needs to eliminate some mental mistakes. Or stated conversely, she can be a really good player is she can eliminate her decision making errors.
6. Hollingshead got more aggressive down the stretch and she needs to do more of that (particularly when RJ is out).
7. The LVs over came the surprise absence of RJ, and poor 3 point shooting to grind out an OT win. Better than the alternative.
8. It is easy to say, oh, the LVs should not have struggled against lowly Memphis, even without RJ, but with the transfer window, teams can become dangerous fast. Carter from Rutgers is a quality player who had a really good night. Memphis had a few other transfers who also had impact.

Bonus-- Back in the day, critics used to hammer on Holly Warlick's tongue tied press conferences as clear evidence that she was a terrible coach. Well, go listen to Kellie's press conference - poised, articulate, on top of everything that happened in the game and clear sense of what needs to be done going forward. She made excellent half time adjustments. Oh and she took a TO when Memphis went on a run!

You forgot to mention Strips vacation. A game to show she can be somewhat dominant on the glass and she noshows..

 

[Volinnooga]

The portal. Rickea. Jewel. Luckily Sara played well.

I have not heard why Rickea did not play last night. What's the word?

 

[glv98]

I have not heard why Rickea did not play last night. What's the word?

Not to put you out too much early in the morning but the word is in approximately 300 posts directly above.

Been apparent for a couple of weeks RJ has an ongoing right leg problem, possibly a calf. Which looking back now I see was wrapped in every single game last year. Apparently it was decided sometime after shootaround yesterday it needed to be booted and rested last night. The very worst thing that could possibly happen to this team.

 

[Majors]

Key will look like this the rest of the season, not enough time to do what she needs to do, let’s just see what she does in the offseason.

Agree, almost best to not have her playing any minutes right now to avoid mental setbacks. Health, conditioning and then playing when she’s ready to contribute at the level needed. She may never be back and that’ll be harder on her than the fans.

 

[37620VOL]

That’s what they call u when u point out any flaws, like this is a perfect team or something.

I point out flaws all the time, but I try to be respectful about it. Others that do the same are not negas, but if your ratio is 70%+ negative day in day out, that's when you earn the label. Nastiness also gets the horsemen label.

 

[Volfan2012]

That happen when u don’t respect the opposing Pg’s, once we get an elite Pg that’s 5’8 or taller u will see things play out differently.

Boyd is 5'9" and I think Cooper can also play point so those two look like the options next season right now. A long way to go until then a lot could happen in the portal.

 

[Majors]

Its funny how people like to use the term 'negavols'... I prefer 'realists'.

There is a contingent here that only wants you to agree as “nothing is wrong”. Any truthful observations is deemed negativity.

 

[glv98]

Outside of the obvious season destroying issue of Rickeas right leg, our main problems appear to be the slow development of Wells and spotty post play. As well as a lack of poise in crucial situations, calling you out Sara.

Fortunately Powell is playing well, but we really need Wells to be what we thought we were going to get. She obviously has work to do in the weight room and yes it's early, but she can play better now in decision making and handling the press. Also, like so many,she has to step up her D. I have a sliver of hope left this can happen.

But our PGs are still just too small and that's not going to change.

Jill just has to step up her intensity, period. For the whole game. Strip has been far more uneven than I had hoped, and I fear she may have reached her ceiling. I believe Strip could be a very worthy backup, but is being asked to do far too much as a result of not having Key andJill being inconsistent. They each had 4 turnovers last night, a third of our total. That can't happen.

Key is lost and not coming back this year. Jill and Strip are it, espec wo Rickea. They have to be better, espec Jill. Who I love and still believe in btw.

We can score, even without RJ, and that's the one thing that appears improved this year. Sara's scoring has been awesome and Spear was a great add.

Overall though, let me slide into the seat next to my Sweet 1908 on the Downbound Train. Three games in, things sure look like deja vu all over again right now.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

They deserved some of the criticism last night, these players are all experienced and yet made mistakes a freshman in their 1st game would make. But in their defense, with no time to practice without Jackson, and her being the 'go to' player for them was tough. They had to adjust to having that 'go-to' player by committee. They won so lets move on and hope RJ is back by Sunday.

TO's are still a major problem for this team. O. State and Indiana will be salivating watching 24 TO's against Memphis press.

 

[Lucy]

If we're crying about one lousy game,we just got a sneak preview of next season without Rickea.

Is it just me or do the fly bys not get the concept players leave and new ones take their place.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Outside of the obvious season destroying issue of Rickeas right leg, our main problems appear to be the slow development of Wells and spotty post play. As well as a lack of poise in crucial situations, calling you out Sara.

Fortunately Powell is playing well, but we really need Wells to be what we thought we were going to get. She obviously has work to do in the weight room and yes it's early, but she can play better now in decision making and handling the press. Also, like so many,she has to step up her D. I have a sliver of hope left this can happen.

But our PGs are still just too small and that's not going to change.

Jill just has to step up her intensity, period. For the whole game. Strip has been far more uneven than I had hoped, and I fear she may have reached her ceiling. I believe Strip could be a very worthy backup, but is being asked to do far too much as a result of not having Key andJill being inconsistent. They each had 4 turnovers last night, a third of our total. That can't happen.

Key is lost and not coming back this year. Jill and Strip are it, espec wo Rickea. They have to be better, espec Jill. Who I love and still believe in btw.

We can score, even without RJ, and that's the one thing that appears improved this year. Sara's scoring has been awesome and Spear was a great add.

Overall though, let me slide into the seat next to my Sweet 1908 on the Downbound Train. Three games in, things sure look like deja vu all over again right now.

You/we have left off mentioning Tess. In our 2 home games, she is 0 for 8 on 3 pointers, 1 of 10 in field goals. She’s getting some rebounds, and doing some other things I guess, but really our dreams of having several players shoot 3s, are just that, dreams. We shot 21.1 % for 3s last night. The only ones I trust to shoot 3s now, are Rickea and Spear.

 

[Lucy]

Not to put you out too much early in the morning but the word is in approximately 300 posts directly above.

Been apparent for a couple of weeks RJ has an ongoing right leg problem, possibly a calf. Which looking back now I see was wrapped in every single game last year. Apparently it was decided sometime after shootaround yesterday it needed to be booted and rested last night. The very worst thing that could possibly happen to this team.

Agree with your thoughts on Rikea but wanted to add and yet we persevered. We overcame that adversity. We could have folded when a couple of mistakes put us in overtime but instead we locked in and won by 10. Did it with Rikea on the bench and one of our better shooters unable to find the ocean with the ball.
All teams have weaknesses but this group showed me something last night!