Game Thread: #13/10 LSU (23-4, 10-3) @ Tennessee (16-9, 9-4 SEC) 2/25/24 12:00 pm EST ESPN

[Volfan2012]

I don't like that she don't call timeouts and she is just a little to tame with the players. I don't know of many coaches that wouldn't have lit Powell up for her play in that last quarter. I would've took a timeout there and if it continued went To Ace if I had to.

 

[glv98]

I don't know of many coaches that wouldn't have lit Powell up for her play in that last quarter. I

How do you know she didn't? I saw several antimated conversations in huddles.

Ya'll keep wanting Kellie to be a chair thrower and she's just not.

That said, she probably should have played Wynn more just to give JP a sec to collect.

 

[Volfan2012]

How do you know she didn't? I saw several antimated conversations in huddles.

Ya'll keep wanting Kellie to be a chair thrower and she's just not.

I don't but she kept it up so why not get her to the bench.

 

[Amb3096]

How do you know she didn't? I saw several antimated conversations in huddles.

Ya'll keep wanting Kellie to be a chair thrower and she's just not.

She did keep her in the game though even if she kept doing the same thing and not having different results. I'd think that if Kellie said something and the player disregarded her, she'd pull said player and put someone in who was going to listen to her.

The only way to win was to put the ball in Rickea's hand, spread out and let her work. There were many possessions where she didn't even touch the ball, and I don't know how many shots she took in the last 15 min, but it wasn't many.

This is a game where LSU's balance really helps them, because you have no idea which of the 5 players on the court is taking the shot and any of them can take over a game.

 

[Volfan2012]

How do you know she didn't? I saw several antimated conversations in huddles.

Ya'll keep wanting Kellie to be a chair thrower and she's just not.

That said, she probably should have played Wynn more just to give JP a sec to collect.

Plus I forgot how many shots Powell took in a row but she was already 2 for 14 when it started. She has been the go to in a few games and has come through. I guess she thought she could do it again. I wouldn't have let her do as much as she tried to do. There has to be some limit to patience.

 

[aeternumVol]

Plus I forgot how many shots Powell took in a row but she was already 2 for 14 when it started. She has been the go to in a few games and has come through. I guess she thought she could do it again. I wouldn't have let her do as much as she tried to do. There has to be some limit to patience.

Imo in last nights game Powell was too rattled by HVL cooking her and wanted to go tit for tat and kept jacking up dumb shots. Even the announcers kept mentioning her shot selection was wild in the fourth quarter.

 

[Volfan2012]

Imo in last nights game Powell was too rattled by HVL cooking her and wanted to go tit for tat and kept jacking up dumb shots. Even the announcers kept mentioning her shot selection was wild in the fourth quarter.

Might have been a reason, but to me it looked like they wanted HVL to shoot how many wide open looks did she get? She has been fairly terrible shooter this season until yesterday.

 

[VolFanGBO]

Had a good time getting autographs yesterday.

 

[Amb3096]

Might have been a reason, but to me it looked like they wanted HVL to shoot how many wide open looks did she get? She has been fairly terrible shooter this season until yesterday.

That strategy would have been fine in the beginning, but she must have had at least 16 points going into the 4th quarter.

Jewell and Tess have been even worse shooters so far this season, but I can't imaging a scouting report saying to leave them open given their history (Jewell as a scorer; Tess as a long-range sniper). Letting HVL get in a shooting groove is a death sentance.

 

[glv98]

JP paniced, which is very uncharacteristic for her lately. But it's not all on her. She was without offensive options #1 and #2 when Jewel dried up and her defenders were free to blanket Rickea. Also, I think TK was pretty gassed by then. Wish someone would introduce them all to Sara.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Timeouts aren't just for end-of-game scenarios. They can be used to settle the team (or key player) who is staying from the game plan or getting rattled. Also can slow the other team's momentum and get your team refocused.

Kellie and staff had to see that JP was struggling; they didn't do her or the team any favors by allowing it to go on without doing something (timeout first then sub if necessary).

Yes, along with her substitution head scratcher methods. Seems she does not see TO's as useful like you stated. Pat definitely used them and Kellie got a few stares and butt scorching from Pat so she knows how to use them for effectiveness but doesn't. Mulkey used them effectively yesterday.

 

[Volfan2012]

That strategy would have been fine in the beginning, but she must have had at least 16 points going into the 4th quarter.

Jewell and Tess have been even worse shooters so far this season, but I can't imaging a scouting report saying to leave them open given their history (Jewell as a scorer; Tess as a long-range sniper). Letting HVL get in a shooting groove is a death sentance.

I didn't see anyone really trying to keep her from shooting or taking her out of the game. Trap her make her give up the ball. Anything. Most of the shots she was getting were wide open looks. The game she had is not the game she has been playing this season. Congrats to her for coming up big. I just had to assume our strategy was to let her shoot and keep the ball away from the inside.

 

[th2421]

I see it differently. Kellie literally went to the portal and got a D2 point guard from Belmont in Destinee Wells, and many were considering her an upgrade at the PG spot who would be the eventual stater. When she committed, the common sentiment here was “this should solve the PG issues.” Brooklyn Miles was also a top-50 ranked recruit in the 2021 class…….

Destinee Wells was non-P5, not D2. Her junior year stats were fantastic, but it's true you never know how they'll translate to this level. I still think she could get healthy and have a great year next year - she was a 4-star point guard ranked #81 in her class (right behind Spear) after all, unlike Brooklynn Miles who was definitely not top-50, but a 3-star point guard ranked outside of the top 100.

 

[Volfan2012]

Destinee Wells was non-P5, not D2. Her junior year stats were fantastic, but it's true you never know how they'll translate to this level. I still think she could get healthy and have a great year next year - she was a 4-star point guard ranked #81 in her class (right behind Spear) after all, unlike Brooklynn Miles who was definitely not top-50, but a 3-star point guard ranked outside of the top 100.

Plus when she played against power five opponents and there were a lot of them Louisville, Tennessee, Iowa, etc. she played really well. Here she was starting to get it when the injury occured had a great game against Oklahoma. I think she was a little to shy and not as assertive as she had been at Belmont. She was starting to get that confidence back though when the injury occured.

 

[Amb3096]

I didn't see anyone really trying to keep her from shooting or taking her out of the game. Trap her make her give up the ball. Anything. Most of the shots she was getting were wide open looks. The game she had is not the game she has been playing this season. Congrats to her for coming up big. I just had to assume our strategy was to let her shoot and keep the ball away from the inside.

I'm surprised that there wasn't more aggressive on the ball pressure. She WILL cough it up under defensive pressure, and they pretty much her just dribble the ball up and start their sets. When they had Poa in the game, I would have dept a defender on HVL at all times and backed off on Poa and dare her to shoot the 3. On offense, get a mismatch and post up HVL. Don't just let her be an afterthough in the the defensive plans. She's far too good a player to do that. Kellie saw how she lit Tennessee up in the tournament a few years back. She of all people should know how dangerous she is.

 

[Volfan2012]

I'm surprised that there wasn't more aggressive on the ball pressure. She WILL cough it up under defensive pressure, and they pretty much her just dribble the ball up and start their sets. When they had Poa in the game, I would have dept a defender on HVL at all times and backed off on Poa and dare her to shoot the 3. On offense, get a mismatch and post up HVL. Don't just let her be an afterthough in the the defensive plans. She's far too good a player to do that. Kellie saw how she lit Tennessee up in the tournament a few years back. She of all people should know how dangerous she is.

Bad coaching definitely at least that is the way it appeared. She made two or three early seemed to be in a groove I'm taking her out anyway I can or am able to do. I'll put Wynn in and tell her to face guard her. It seemed our coaches strategy was better for her to put up a shot that anyone else. Just was not the right strategy going into the final quarter.

 

[VolballTN]

Plus I forgot how many shots Powell took in a row but she was already 2 for 14 when it started. She has been the go to in a few games and has come through. I guess she thought she could do it again. I wouldn't have let her do as much as she tried to do. There has to be some limit to patience.

Harper is the same at UT as she was at NC State. Look where State is now without her. She can’t lead an elite program. Powell is a ball hog that has no business being a point guard. Some of the shots she takes are just ridiculous.

 

[Amb3096]

Bad coaching definitely at least that is the way it appeared. She made two or three early seemed to be in a groove I'm taking her out anyway I can or am able to do. I'll put Wynn in and tell her to face guard her. It seemed our coaches strategy was better for her to put up a shot that anyone else. Just was not the right strategy going into the final quarter.

They probably didn't even need to crowd the paint. Morrow and Reese were off and missing so many inside shots. Probably could have at least tried man to man.

 

[aeternumVol]

Might have been a reason, but to me it looked like they wanted HVL to shoot how many wide open looks did she get? She has been fairly terrible shooter this season until yesterday.

That to me is the worst tactic because percentage wise she’s the best 3 point shooter they have. So if you just let her do her thing, she’s gonna make you pay.

 

[aeternumVol]

They probably didn't even need to crowd the paint. Morrow and Reese were off and missing so many inside shots. Probably could have at least tried man to man.

Like Kim said, the post players on both sides pretty much neutralized each other, guard play is what won the game and we just didn’t have anyone who could close this out.

 

[Amb3096]

Powell is a ball hog that has no business being a point guard. Some of the shots she takes are just ridiculous.

In SEC play, for the most part, Powell will play the role of facilitator in the games they are winning comfortably, but the tighter the game, the more likely she'll start jacking up shots non stop. She's not proving to be a clutch player. Good intentions, bad execution.

 

[Volfan2012]

That to me is the worst tactic because percentage wise she’s the best 3 point shooter they have. So if you just let her do her thing, she’s gonna make you pay.

It was for an entire game. She hasn't been a very good shooter this season, but there comes a time when you have to realize she is in a groove.

 

[creekdipper]

Well, it's said that shooters gotta keep shooting, but even the most elite players have to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em and defer to other teammates. And buckle down and help the team in other ways.

We do need consistency in knocking down the open looks we do get. We don't get that many uncontested backdoor layups.

It's one thing to have a really hot shooting game or below average game, but the players taking the bulk of the shots need to be hitting a decent percentage every game.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Fair point, and as someone who criticized JP a lot yesterday (and let Jewel off the hook), she had some good moments, too. But I think the poster's point was that JP continued to force up shots despite being cold instead of trying to find open teammates or create open looks for them by penetrating and drawing help. And there were other issues with passing and defense.

Ultimately, though, Kellie has to shoulder the bulk of the blame. When players aren't moving or setting (or using) effective screens or ball fakes/sidesteps to create open looks or miscommunicate or don't rotate or box out or run effective in-bounds plays or any number of other reoccurring problems, that: as on the coaching. Timeouts aren't just for end-of-game scenarios. They can be used to settle the team (or key player) who is staying from the game plan or getting rattled. Also can slow the other team's momentum and get your team refocused.

Kellie and staff had to see that JP was struggling; they didn't do her or the team any favors by allowing it to go on without doing something (timeout first then sub if necessary).

Powell shot 17.6% yesterday, and kept shooting. In the SC game, she played 38 minutes, and had 1 assist. I kept thinking, why is she taking all the shots? So yesterday’s 6 assists is better, but that doesn’t change what she did in the 4th quarter, in both games actually. We got to within 1 point, and she throws up an immediate 3 attempt, and that was a killer. Things went down from there. Going by memory, so may be wrong, but wasn’t there a tv timeout in the 4th where she could have been stopped, but it didn’t happen. We got to within 1 point, I understand saving timeouts. Who knows how many timeouts we might need at the end of a game? There was no one to replace her, she had to stop taking all the shots, and didn’t. With all the misses, still saw her waving for the ball. Poor Rickea had to take a bad shot, because she knew Powell wasn’t passing to her or anyone else.

 

[aeternumVol]

Powell shot 17.6% yesterday, and kept shooting. In the SC game, she played 38 minutes, and had 1 assist. I kept thinking, why is she taking all the shots? So yesterday’s 6 assists is better, but that doesn’t change what she did in the 4th quarter, in both games actually. We got to within 1 point, and she throws up an immediate 3 attempt, and that was a killer. Things went down from there. Going by memory, so may be wrong, but wasn’t there a tv timeout in the 4th where she could have been stopped, but it didn’t happen. We got to within 1 point, I understand saving timeouts. Who knows how many timeouts we might need at the end of a game? There was no one to replace her, she had to stop taking all the shots, and didn’t. With all the misses, still saw her waving for the ball. Poor Rickea had to take a bad shot, because she knew Powell wasn’t passing to her or anyone else.

That was a huge problem. It’s the lack of composure. Because we nearly took the lead and LSU regained composure and scored what seemed like an absurd amount in no time. It’s crazy that we lost by 15 when in the 4th quarter it was a one point game.