Game Thread: (25/RV) Lady Vols vs. (3/5) Connecticut

[glv98]

Bad night shooting, but she still had 9 points, 7 assists and 8 rebounds. No, she is that good.

And hit the biggest shot of the game, on a bad ankle. She's good.

 

[luballer]

Before we join hands to celebrate a moral victory...

we might note that UConn took loads of threes tonight, and missed most of them,
shot lots of free throws and made far fewer than their normal %, had a lousy shooting game overall, got out-rebounded, and still managed to win.

Yes, we have improved since Holly days. That's why we hired a new coach.
So let's be glad for the improvement, but not for the loss to an underperforming opponent.

This has been common in all of our games. Teams take more threes because of our size. Every big game we’ve won or been close to winning someone has said our opponent underperformed and didn’t shoot well. Our defense has been a big reason for these teams struggling.

 

[SGMVols]

Hope Arkansas beats them too. I actually think they can. They have the guard play to get it done. Gonna have to play a little defense though. UConn does not have the same size that Arkansas has seen in the SEC and that’s really been their Achilles heel.

Arkansas doesn’t play enough defense to beat them. They’ll give up 90+ points.

 

[creekdipper]

So let's be glad for the improvement, but not for the loss to an underperforming opponent.

We had a couple of underperforming players, too...1-11 and 1-9. And only shot 60% from the line. Despite the FT disparity between the teams, if we hit all 10, we're up by two points with 25 seconds left.

 

[SGMVols]

And hit the biggest shot of the game, on a bad ankle. She's good.

I think people are just used to seeing mega-stars at UConn like Taurasi, Moore, Stewart etc and think Bueckers is supposed to be that. She isn’t on that level but will be a multi-year first team all American and probably the first player drafted when she’s eligible.

 

[UT Challenger]

This just pisses me off to no end.

Geno knows how to work the refs. Pat was very good at getting calls to go her way.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

And hit the biggest shot of the game, on a bad ankle. She's good.

She’s a good freshmen , but overhyped . ESPN showed highlights of every pass or shot she made failing to acknowledge how Christyn Williams kept them in the game and Elvira made the 2 3’s of comfort smh

 

[creekdipper]

Also, as far as UConn "underperforming," that tends to happen when you're playing against a tough opponent instead of a 1-9 team. As for FT, percentages can go down when you're in a tight game under pressure and when you're winded from playing big minutes and having to work to get open.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

Also, as far as UConn "underperforming," that tends to happen when you're playing against a tough opponent instead of a 1-9 team. As dor FT, percentages can go down when you're in a tight game under pressure and when you're winded from playing big minutes and having to work to get open.

But but buttttt not one comes to PB&J !

 

[SGMVols]

Also, as far as UConn "underperforming," that tends to happen when you're playing against a tough opponent instead of a 1-9 team. As dor FT, percentages can go down when you're in a tight game under pressure and when you're winded from playing big minutes and having to work to get open.

I think this was the first game of the year that UConn played with fans allowed. Have to wonder if it might have been a different result if we were allowed a full arena.

 

[creekdipper]

For a coach denying that any rivalry still exists and pooh-poohing the importance of the game, A seened willing to risk injury to his top recuit and 38-minute starter by leaving her in when she was limping badly and then insertng her back into the game after they finally took her out to be evaluated.

You'd think that such a meaningless non-conference game wouldn't justify risking further injury that could have ended her season. Must mean something to him.

 

[creekdipper]

I think this was the first game of the year that UConn played with fans allowed. Have to wonder if it might have been a different result if we were allowed a full arena.

Except A talked about how he felt it would motivate his players to play better rather than intimidate them.

 

[stlvolsfan]

Marta did well almost passed her career high in points against the #3 team in the nation

I agree. She looked sluggish and overwhelmed in the first quarter and I commented that she shouldn’t be in the game. She shut me up real quick.

 

[stlvolsfan]

It’s the most she needed to score! I hate she left but she is real good.

I’m not. If someone doesn’t want to be here, let them go!

 

[sisaq]

And hit the biggest shot of the game, on a bad ankle. She's good.

She did, a team with almost everyone is either #1 recruit or 1-10 recruits yet they struggled with new TN coach building a new lady vols

 

[Volfan2012]

2 of 20 from our point guards and 7 turnovers was not the performance we needed at the position. I appreciate how hard the team played tonight we couldn't hold on, but we have a team that could make a deep run in an NCAA Tourney if we keep playing to this level. Key took care of Ododa and most of their scoring was from their wing players. We have to get better play at point guard. I am all for upping Salary's minutes she only played nine but she made the one shot she took and didn't have any turnovers. I think were getting to the point of the season where she is ready to contribute more would like to see her get the minutes.

 

[creekdipper]

I still remember people here moaning last year about how we had missed our one chance to beat UConn and how they would be unstoppable this year. And that was with Massengill and expecting to have Green back.
Also consider those here within the last week wishing the game could be cancelled because we were going to be embarrassed and run out of our own gym.

All things considered, it seems that the results were more positive than negative. We held our own with a Top Three team and got valuable experience (and exposure) that should reap dividends. You don't think Auriemma was sweating profusely and cursing under his breath when we cut it to two points with under a minute to go? To real competitors, seeing how close we come should make them work that much harder. One less turnover, one more FT and box out, one less technical, one more loose ball or rebound, one more made shot, etc.

Knowing that we could (should) have won all three of our losses so far should increase player confidence in the coaches' game planning and player development and the team's potential (and help the coaching staff get better, too). This staff had a lot of early season losses in the Sweet Sixteen year at Mo State, but they're playing for the tournament(s). We're not celebrating a loss, we're celebrating measurable progress.

And we're pulling for improvement in all our players from starters to those who didn't get into the game.

 

[mudcat1973]

tess needs more playing time. destiny needs walker back point guard spt. i know walker is hurting play but destiny is as good or better.

 

[nickp91]

good to see the Lady Vols showing some life! They went toe to toe with the nations best in this game!

 

[VolBall09]

Huge shout out to Tamari. She owned the paint again. ONO has been averaging 16 points and only managed 7 last night. Geno knew she couldn’t take Tamari in the paint so he pulled her out to the perimeter most of the game to try to open up the drive for his guards. Didn’t work very well because ONO couldn’t shoot it from outside so Tamari could still hang back in the paint. ONO also didn’t get many boards when TK was checking her. I was watching and Tamari boxed her out well almost every play. Kasi on the other hand missed several box outs and gave up some easy o-boards to her.

TK is a smart defender and she showed a lot of emotion, especially to start the game. She seemed more fired up than I’ve ever seen. Hope she parlays this game into a great one Sunday. Kentucky cannot match her size and she’ll have a big opportunity to show out.

 

[sisaq]

Nobody mentioned how awesome key played.

 

[mudcat1973]

2 of 20 from our point guards and 7 turnovers was not the performance we needed at the position. I appreciate how hard the team played tonight we couldn't hold on, but we have a team that could make a deep run in an NCAA Tourney if we keep playing to this level. Key took care of Ododa and most of their scoring was from their wing players. We have to get better play at point guard. I am all for upping Salary's minutes she only played nine but she made the one shot she took and didn't have any turnovers. I think were getting to the point of the season where she is ready to contribute more would like to see her get the minutes.

if you go back to geogia distiny salary out play walker i in favor of jessie or tess geting some walker minutes walker can drive to hoop are score. how many did she miss ten or more

 

[glv98]

Nobody mentioned how awesome key played.

Literally right in the post above this, about 15 mins before you said this. Is it not a standard board courtesy anymore to at least read the several new posts in the thread before you post?

That said, yes indeed, the improvement of Key the last few games has been very, very encouraging.

 

[alexvol]

Hope Arkansas beats them too. I actually think they can. They have the guard play to get it done. Gonna have to play a little defense though. UConn does not have the same size that Arkansas has seen in the SEC and that’s really been their Achilles heel.

Arkansas has a better team than does UCONN.UCON is not going anywhere this year.....not impressed with them last nite.The Lady Vols should have beaten that team.

 

[Amb3096]

Arkansas has a better team than does UCONN.UCON is not going anywhere this year.....not impressed with them last nite.The Lady Vols should have beaten that team.

Arkansas is going to get killed. They're not too different from DePaul. UConn will have breathing room against their defense, and this will get away from Arkansas quickly unless they hit a ton of threes...and even then, they won't have the defensive capabilities to slow down UConn's offense.