Game Thread: (5/6) Lady Vols 84 - (19/20) Kentucky 58

[teacherdean]

All Games

View attachment 428301

I like like looking at stat difference, however, in this instance we need to keep our wits about us, control the boards and score big in the paint. We need to upstep our defense and not give Kentucky breathing room. We also need to set up picks to allow for our shooters to have open shots. Key has to stay in the game and not allow defenders to get her in trouble with pushing and elbow throwing fouls. Horston has to have a big game. We also have to continue improving our freethrowing percentage.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Key will have 5+ blocks

 

[J-Dog 1313]

Key will have 5+ blocks

And a double double.

 

[Vols2015]

Tennessee will need to play hard this game! No mental lapses and foot on gas whole game!

Lady Vols: 74
Kentucky: 60

 

[Volstylexx]

Pre-game prediction:

Aside from the close loss at Louisville, this KY team has been beaten pretty easily by several teams. If we play our brand of defense and win the rebounding margin, this one won't be close. Lady Vols will build an 18 point lead, before coach subs in the bench for playing time. Final margin will be 10, and posters will flood in to complain about "horrible 2nd half." etc... but your Lady Vols will be 17-1 this time tomorrow.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Pre-game prediction:

Aside from the close loss at Louisville, this KY team has been beaten pretty easily by several teams. If we play our brand of defense and win the rebounding margin, this one won't be close. Lady Vols will build an 18 point lead, before coach subs in the bench for playing time. Final margin will be 10, and posters will flood in to complain about "horrible 2nd half." etc... but your Lady Vols will be 17-1 this time tomorrow.

they went toe to toe with GA

 

[ttharp]

There’s a lot surrounding this game, and it’s a great opportunity to put together a solid performance on national TV.

I would love to see us make a jump in our execution on the offensive end. Would be great to see Rae find her shot and get into a rhythm. I hope we don’t see a carryover of the fourth quarter performance against Vandy.

Go Lady Vols!

 

[Volstylexx]

they went toe to toe with GA

I’m not certain GA is a great team. They’ve played up to better competition but have eeked out wins over teams TN would throttle by 15+ I fully expect TN to beat GA pretty easily too... but i do wear orange colored glasses

 

[lvocd]

I’m not certain GA is a great team. They’ve played up to better competition but have eeked out wins over teams TN would throttle by 15+ I fully expect TN to beat GA pretty easily too... but i do wear orange colored glasses

Like a lot of teams, Georgia has had to play a few games without some of their key players. So these days it’s more difficult to make assumptions about how Tennessee will fare against future opponents since we’re not necessarily going to be facing the same primary lineups in some of these games.

I’d hate to be in charge of scouting reports this season. What a nightmare!

 

[madtownvol]

Pre-game prediction:

Aside from the close loss at Louisville, this KY team has been beaten pretty easily by several teams. If we play our brand of defense and win the rebounding margin, this one won't be close. Lady Vols will build an 18 point lead, before coach subs in the bench for playing time. Final margin will be 10, and posters will flood in to complain about "horrible 2nd half." etc... but your Lady Vols will be 17-1 this time tomorrow.

I expect the LVs to win but KY is going to bring it against the LVs. Elzy will have her team primed. And they know the LVs Achilles heel to this point in the season (the press, which KY does pretty well). I think the LVs will handle the press better than they did against Vandy (or Ole Miss toward the end of that game) but we will still probably have our share of forced TOs. With this team, it all comes down to shooting % because they have the potential to go really cold for stretches. Hopefully, Rae will continue to find her rhythm and then that last problem becomes less of a concern.

 

[VolBall09]

I think Key is top 5, but she is definitely not top 2. She barely averages 10 points a game and she is not a great rebounder for her size. The fact she is top 5 speaks volume about her defense. The two best centers are Boston and Ayoki Lee from Kansas State in my opinion.

I would agree. I do think Tamari is Top 5 center over all. I will say, I do believe she is the best defensive center in the country. She and Boston are close but I truly think Tamari changes the game more for the opponent when she is on the floor. SC still tends to give up open layups to opposing guards. That rarely happens against us these days unless TK is on the bench.

At the center position over all (both ends) I would ranks the 5 best as:

1. Aliyah Boston
2. Ayoka Lee
3. Elisa Cunane
4. Tamari Key
5. Elizabeth Kitley

Boston and Lee are about the total package. Both lack a little on defense on occasion but they are talented offensive players with multiple moves.

Cunane could be better if she were more physical on the glass. She’s not exactly someone who loves contact on the rebound.

Tamari’s defense makes up for a lot of her issues on offense. She’s improving leaps and bounds, last season I would not have considered her one of the top 10 centers.

Kitley is a talented offensive player but still does not like contact. If she can improve in that one area she’ll really be hard to deal with using her soft touch around the rim.

I would put Mackenzie Holmes and Shak Austin on this list as well but neither plays like a true center to me and both will likely be a 4 at the next level.

 

[VolBall09]

I’m not certain GA is a great team. They’ve played up to better competition but have eeked out wins over teams TN would throttle by 15+ I fully expect TN to beat GA pretty easily too... but i do wear orange colored glasses

They are hard to figure out at the moment. Watching them a few times recently I’ve thought they looked really good at times and very mediocre at times.

Other teams are able to dictate play against them better than last season. Connallly was a very good PG for them and really was the heart and soul of their good run last season IMO.

Still maintain that Taylor is a fabulous recruiter but really lacks on development. Morrison is such a fun player but I don’t see that she’s all that different from her freshman season. She started her career really hot and as a scorer. Was injured and has worked her way back over the last couple seasons. In the end here she’s right about as effective is she was the first 10 games of her career.

 

[VolBall09]

A positive I have noticed since Rae has been back Darby has been playing better. I don’t believe this is because Tess is trying to maintain her minutes or anything like that. I suspect because Rae is able to practice again it has helped Tess. She has a really good example she can watch in practice again.

Tess’ defense has improved the last few games, and she’s been shooting the ball more confident. She is moving better without the basketball to open space on the floor. Above all else, she is crashing the glass now!

I’ve given her a hard time some games but I think Tess will end up having a great career with a lot of playing time.

 

[Volfan2012]

A positive I have noticed. Since Rae has been back Darby has been playing better. I don’t believe this is because Tess is trying to maintain her minutes or anything like that. I suspect because Rae is able to practice again it has helped Tess. She has a really good example she can watch in practice again.

Tess’ defense has improved the last few games, and she’s been shooting the ball more confident. She is moving better without the basketball to open space on the floor. Above all else, she is crashing the glass now!

I’ve given her a hard time some games but I think Tess will end up having a great career with a lot of playing time.

She is better but we all know that Burrell should be back in that starting position soon or even right now. If not starting getting over 20 minutes once the game begins.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

gamedayyyyy ….bump

 

[lvocd]

As for Rae starting or not, I think Kellie is waiting for Rae herself to finally, fully, mentally, actually FEEL like she is on the exciting train that is this team this year instead of just a fan standing on the platform watching that train zoom by.

Kellie has alluded a couple of times to Rae not feeling like a part of things, which is natural for a player on injury hiatus.

BUT it’s even more understandable that Rae would feel like an outsider because of how drastically the entire Lady Vols story has changed since she has been out of the physical picture. I could understand how going instantly from being THE player to watch on a team to being a player who can ONLY watch might feel — especially if the train was moving away as fast as the LV train has.

Through no fault of her own or her teammates, all the excitement about progress the program is making has happened without her. It’s probably taking a while for her to feel like her teammates need her again.

I hope she gets there soon.

 

[VolBall09]

As for Rae starting or not, I think Kellie is waiting for Rae herself to finally, fully, mentally, actually FEEL like she is on the exciting train that is this team this year instead of just a fan standing on the platform watching that train zoom by.

Kellie has alluded a couple of times to Rae not feeling like a part of things, which is natural for a player on injury hiatus.

BUT it’s even more understandable that Rae would feel like an outsider because of how drastically the entire Lady Vols story has changed since she has been out of the physical picture. I could understand how going instantly from being THE player to watch on a team to being a player who can ONLY watch might feel — especially if the train was moving away as fast as the LV train has.

Through no fault of her own or her teammates, all the excitement about progress the program is making has happened without her. It’s probably taking a while for her to feel like her teammates need her again.

I hope she gets there soon.

Yeah, I think she’ll be fine. Just needs to work back in naturally.

The only reason she isn’t starting again yet is her board play. I do believe that is why Tess is crashing the glass harder as well. That position is probably hearing that a lot in practice.

Burrell is looking more physically confident on the offensive end and in half court defense. She still seems afraid to bang for rebounds or box really hard and put pressure on that knee. Soon as Rae can average 4-5 boards a game again she’ll be herself again it looks like.

 

[37620VOL]

I think Key is top 5, but she is definitely not top 2. She barely averages 10 points a game and she is not a great rebounder for her size. The fact she is top 5 speaks volume about her defense. The two best centers are Boston and Ayoki Lee from Kansas State in my opinion.

But defensively she changes EVERYTHING. All of our #1 defensive stats are directly because of her. Opponents are only shooting about 29% against us!

Offensively she does a lot that doesn't end up in the box score.

Maybe I would do a 1 season trade for Boston but absolutely no one else.

 

[lvocd]

Soon as Rae can average 4-5 boards a game again she’ll be herself again it looks like.

Rebounding was the area I’d most hoped to see Rae make a huge improvement in this year because it has never been a big part of her game.

If she maintains her ability to score and develops the nose for boards that Horston and Walker have, she would not only make it probable that this team will get at LEAST to the Elite 8, but she will greatly improve her chances of seeing significant playing time in the WNBA.

FOLLOW YOUR SHOTS, RAE!!!!!!

Speaking of following shots, I jumped out of my chair recently when Tess Darby snagged a board after following her shot. She missed the close-range bunny she’d fought to get, but it was definitely one of my favorite moments of that game because of my years-long concerns about how few people follow their shots anymore.

 

[VolBall09]

Rebounding was the area I’d most hoped to see Rae make a huge improvement in this year because it has never been a big part of her game.

If she maintains her ability to score and develops the nose for boards that Horston and Walker have, she would not only make it probable that this team will get at LEAST to the Elite 8, but she will greatly improve her chances of seeing significant playing time in the WNBA.

FOLLOW YOUR SHOTS, RAE!!!!!!

Speaking of following shots, I jumped out of my chair recently when Tess Darby snagged a board after following her shot. She missed the close-range bunny she’d fought to get, but it was definitely one of my favorite moments of that game because of my years-long concerns about how how few people follow their shots anymore.

Yes, Tess has done that a couple times recently. She needed to start doing so as well. With Tess her shots usually do one of three things.

1. go in
2. Back rim and fly high back towards her
3. Overshoot the goal entirely that ends up being more of a pass to our opposite offensive rebounder

 

[chuckiepoo]

Yes, Tess has done that a couple times recently. She needed to start doing so as well. With Tess her shots usually do one of three things.

1. go in
2. Back rim and fly high back towards her
3. Overshoot the goal in entirely that ends up being more of a pass to our opposite offensive rebounder

So, not like Rex Grossman going deep…

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Dirt_Ball's pregame predictions:

Kellie will lose this game today because she's a mid-major coach trying to pass in a P-5 conference. Want proof? In the last 18 games, she has managed to lose the only two games that count: Michigan and Stanford. And if by some fluke she somehow manages to win today, it will be meaningless, just like the other 16 victories so far this season, because there wasn't a decent win in there and those wins haven't translated into a full recruiting class of top 5's committing to us. That this is the case is proof that Kellie will be a failure at UT, because in her second covid year of rebuild, she didn't beat Michigan. And in her third year, she didn't beat Stanford and no elite recruits have committed yet. Which only proves that the Pat-o-phile blue hairs forcing Fulmer at gun point to hire Kellie is the root cause of the rot in the program to begin with. The program under Kellie is doomed and if you can't see that you're delusional. Facing reality is hard.......

signed

Dirt_Ball

note: edited to add blue

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Dirt_Ball's pregame predictions:

Kellie will lose this game today because she's a mid-major coach trying to pass in a P-5 conference. Want proof? In the last 18 games, she has managed to lose the only two games that count: Michigan and Stanford. And if by some fluke she somehow manages to win today, it will be meaningless, just like the other 16 victories so far this season, because there wasn't a decent win in there and those wins haven't translated into a full recruiting class of top 5's committing to us. That this is the case is proof that Kellie will be a failure at UT, because in her second covid year of rebuild, she didn't beat Michigan. And in her third year, she didn't beat Stanford and no elite recruits have committed yet. Which only proves that the Pat-o-phile blue hairs forcing Fulmer at gun point to hire Kellie is the root cause of the rot in the program to begin with. The program under Kellie is doomed and if you can't see that you're delusional. Facing reality is hard.......

signed

Dirt_Ball

LOL, you are really invested

 

[Chippo]

Is Kentucky a generally quicker team than Tennessee? I don’t know how, but I have somehow managed to not catch more than a few minutes of a Kentucky game this season.

Anyway, the teams with a lot of quickness are the ones that worry me the most, and from what I’ve seen so far this season LSU and Missouri are on that list. It’s more the combo of quickness and no-quit toughness.

Tennessee has no-quit toughness by the boatload. But quickness? I wouldn’t call us a quick team — not slow, but not quick enough to get a lot of steals against a speedy team, or quick enough to prevent a truly quick team from getting into our passing lanes and such.

I’m rambling again. lol

Don't worry ab.

 

[Chippo]

Is Kentucky a generally quicker team than Tennessee? I don’t know how, but I have somehow managed to not catch more than a few minutes of a Kentucky game this season.

Anyway, the teams with a lot of quickness are the ones that worry me the most, and from what I’ve seen so far this season LSU and Missouri are on that list. It’s more the combo of quickness and no-quit toughness.

Tennessee has no-quit toughness by the boatload. But quickness? I wouldn’t call us a quick team — not slow, but not quick enough to get a lot of steals against a speedy team, or quick enough to prevent a truly quick team from getting into our passing lanes and such.

I’m rambling again. lol

Trying again lvocd,, phone screwed up.
Was saying it's ok to ramble. Don't
worry about it