Game Thread: #5 Tennessee (19-11, 10-6 SEC) vs #1 South Carolina (30-0, 16-0 SEC) Saturday 3/9/24 ~4:30 pm ET (ESPNU)

[travis929]

I have read a few bad things posters have said about the Lady Vols’ lose to
USC, however, I refuse to castigate the ladies because the they gave up a 3 point basket to a player who had never scored a three. Should the player have been covered, undeniable. Am I dejected, of course I am. Am I disappointed, very much so. But after falling behind by 23 points, these ladies could have packed it in and given up, but they didn't. Lop off the first quarter and this was the best coaching and playing we have seen in a long time. The only thing that saddens me is why can't we play like this all the time? Why can't we coach like that all the time? Why is it that we can’t play with that same energy every game? For 3/4 of a game we played like we could beat any team in the nation. Whatever was said, or done, after the first quarter of the game, needs to be repeated over and over again.

I've heard Kellie say a few times now that this team is very even, they never get too high or too low. I totally get wanting to be mindful and calm to manage stress, pressure, etc., but I do wonder sometimes if the team needs to feel those highs and lows a little more - at least get amped up. They seem to perform their best when they get down big, but it sure would be nice if it didn't have to come to that for them to play at a high level.

Then again, aside from yesterday, I think our best two games this year were the win at Vanderbilt and the quarterfinal win against Alabama, so hopefully they can carry that type of start-to-finish play into the NCAA tournament.

 

[VolFuture]

Lol this "NegaVol" issue lives in some individuals heads Rent Free..

At some point it’s all yapping for attention

They said their peace and the same talking points since Carson Newman… nothing new no value added

And they never credit the wins… bc it goes against their narrative

U can’t deny it’s become tiresome

U can only say fire Kellie, we have d2 talent, we’re lazy, Pat is rolling in her grave, look how far the LVs have fallen so many ways..

Pull a Darth and just leave pls for everyone’s sake

They don’t care about these players, coaches, or team… just some ghost of past “perfection” (and only watch games on ESPN)

 

[VolFuture]

I've heard Kellie say a few times now that this team is very even, they never get too high or too low. I totally get wanting to be mindful and calm to manage stress, pressure, etc., but I do wonder sometimes if the team needs to feel those highs and lows a little more - at least get amped up. They seem to perform their best when they get down big, but it sure would be nice if it didn't have to come to that for them to play at a high level.

Then again, aside from yesterday, I think our best two games this year were the win at Vanderbilt and the quarterfinal win against Alabama, so hopefully they can carry that type of start-to-finish play into the NCAA tournament.

I think Arkansas was our turning point… first blowout of a P5 team we were all scared of

 

[brittannica]

I think Arkansas was our turning point… first blowout of a P5 team we were all scared of

Agreed. That was the first game where I saw them all clicking in the way Kellie likely envisioned happening all along. Some heartbreaking losses and puzzling quarters, but a much more consistent (and fun!) season since then.

 

[Coach Jumper]

agree VB
These kids have grown despite all the drama
proof is not how the game ended, but how the game started and how it go to that end

These girls are ready for the NCAA,,,,Elite 8 here we come

Based on how good this team CAN play when it is firing on all cylinders,,,E8 is the Mendoza line right now...

"Selection Saturday" draw notwithstanding

agree?

 

[TheManFromTenn]

Wow! I just read the headlines on Knox News-Sentinel about the game. What a gut wrenching loss but the Lady Vols must of put up one hell of a fight.

Damn Proud! GBO!

 

[Lucy]

Cardosa practices 3's everyday. If you watch her game she often uses bank shots.

Yes, right. The banked in three is her secret sauce. Just stop trying to justify a Hail Mary lucky shot

 

[Lucy]

Yeah, I suspect even those who don’t much care for using time outs will have to admit that using one yesterday for everyone — players AND staff — to reaaaaaalllly think the situation through and then plan accordingly, would have been helpful.

Kellie said they didn’t call a time out because South Carolina didn’t have one, so I guess she was trying to limit THEIR time to thoroughly prepare for that final moment.

But it was, IMO, a mistake to not take a couple of minutes to settle everyone down and talk ALL of the possibilities through. If they’d taken a time out, it’s possible someone on the staff may have realized that using that last non-shooting foul they had left to give would have been a smart move.

The result of not using one yesterday may have been the single most outstanding example of why a staff should use their time outs. That South Carolina DIDN’T have one was irrelevant. WE had an opportunity to be better prepared for the moment and we intentionally passed on it.

But none of this will ever take away the pride we should all feel in how hard the team fought. Man, that was really sometime special!!

Hindsight. If she used one and Dawn drew up a play that worked everyone would be asking why she took a time out to let them set up play.

 

[charleyhorse]

Why didn’t referee review the last shot like he did the foul ( for 5 minutes) at end of the half?

 

[Lucy]

We had already beaten you guys twice this season. & everyone knows it's extremely hard to beat a team 3 times in a row. Maybe you should be upset at your coach for her team being wishy washy & not playing with maximum effort all the time.

Your post just rubbed me the wrong way like the lady vols never had any luck on their side in any close wins over the years.

Today would probably be a good day for you to shut your mouth and go away. Your team won the lottery yesterday. Dawn was flatly out coached yesterday. Remember every player on your team is the best in the nation and yet there you were trailing a “wishy, washy no effort team”

 

[glv98]

To me it looked like JP missed the free throws on purpose. I guess hoping for TN rebound and game pretty much game over.

I thought that at the time bc the second one missed so badly. JP is a much better ft shooter than that. Which would have been a good idea if she had made the first and we were up three. But not when we're just up two. I was the first in a series of bad decisions our kids made.

I understand that Jackson was supposed to cover Cardosa while Key protected against a lob inside. Kelly even said there was a miscommunication.

Maybe you saw a different interview than I, but in the presser she said they did want TK in rim protection and said they were "trying to get RIckea back to the ball." Said some were just not in the position they needed to be in. When Cardoso received the pass and squared to shoot, which was all she could do, certainly TK should have come at her, arms waving.

Meanwhile, Rickea just seemed confused the whole time. Tenatively guarded the inbound and like TK, just didn't react to the shot about to go up.

All of which is amazing bc those two are both about 30 yrs old and have played in the SEC for about 10 yrs ea. Of course a time out would have sorted things out, but there was also good reason to think they'd know what to do in that situation. Like the JP missed ft, just those little mental miscues.

I just hate it for both so much, that they're being defined by this after the way they played. Heard them being ridiculed at halftime of the Iowa game by the studio guys.

Hindsight. If she used one and Dawn drew up a play that worked everyone would be asking why she took a time out to let them set up play.

Hindsight, Kellie should have used the t.o. if only to get Jill in the game to guard the inbound. That might have forced a bounce pass and the game would have been over. But I totally get why she didn't; Dawn said she wouldn't have.

I'm curious about Jewel fouling Fulwiley. Another case where generally you would w fouls to give, but it does advance the ball as opposed to Fulwiley who was a little unhinged (probably bc of the obvious double dribble) and about to heave one. I wonder if the bench was telling her to foul, or if Jewel, a savvy player, knew we had one to give and that's what usually does. Another in the series of small mental errors.

 

[JustaChicken]

Today would probably be a good day for you to shut your mouth and go away. Your team won the lottery yesterday. Dawn was flatly out coached yesterday. Remember every player on your team is the best in the nation and yet there you were trailing a “wishy, washy no effort team”

Lucy, 1st off take it easy. Telling a grown man to shut his mouth...please. I've never said anything out of the way to you or any other lady vol fan until their post rubbed me the wrong way. & there is no denying the lady vols have not played with maximum effort the entire season. Don't be upset with me be mad at your coach.

 

[glv98]

Dawn was flatly out coached yesterday.

Thoroughly out coached the second half, until the last 1.1 second. I thought DS was smart to bring KC high and let her have a go instead of trying to force something in the paint.ik

She sure didn't have an answer for the ball screens and pick n rolls the LVs were working in the second half. Of course answers for RIckea are a little hard to come by. All SEC coaches but one are very happy to never scheme for Rickea Jackson again.

 

[Oldman70]

They don’t care about these players, coaches, or team… just some ghost of past “perfection” (and only watch games on ESPN
Can’t agree more with this statement!

 

[maple]

Wrong thread, sorry.

 

[Lucy]

Lucy, 1st off take it easy. Telling a grown man to shut his mouth...please. I've never said anything out of the way to you or any other lady vol fan until their post rubbed me the wrong way. & there is no denying the lady vols have not played with maximum effort the entire season. Don't be upset with me be mad at your coach.

I am not upset at my coach at all. What I don’t understand is what you hoped to do on our site today. I normally respect what you say and enjoy you and Rooster but honestly what is the point of you criticizing our team and coach here today? Did you come to gloat, enjoy our sadness, insist that the ending was totally planned? Couldn’t all of that waited until say Wednesday?
If you cannot understand that today was not the day to be on here then yes, someone needed to tell you to shut your mouth.

 

[KrazyVolFan]

Just no reason not to have a defender on everybody. No way they were going to throw it around it was a catch and throw whomever got it. I'd rather have a player in their face than a clear look. Four on five if you don't defend the inbounds should be to your advantage.

This, not Sure what RJ was doing she looked lost. Looking back and forth at the coaches. I'm not even sure she knew the ball came into play. Regardless it was a great effort and by far the best game of the week. IMO

 

[JustaChicken]

I am not upset at my coach at all. What I don’t understand is what you hoped to do on our site today. I normally respect what you say and enjoy you and Rooster but honestly what is the point of you criticizing our team and coach here today? Did you come to gloat, enjoy our sadness, insist that the ending was totally planned? Couldn’t all of that waited until say Wednesday?
If you cannot understand that today was not the day to be on here then yes, someone needed to tell you to shut your mouth.

Fair enough

 

[Lucy]

Fair enough

We’re good.

 

[creekdipper]

I watched both pressers and saw the dogpile and heard from fans at the arena ad all that. Going to refrain from negative impressions about opponents, especially after a bitter loss.

I will be petty enough to say that I wish the SC bench had made more of an effort to avoid our players when rushing the court. Poor JP got bumped forward a couple of feet and looked startled. I know if it had been some players from other teams (and you know who I mean) who got jostled like that, Kitts would have been getting fitted for dental implants today.

I'm sure that there are those who say that we deserve every humiliation or disrespect (even if kind of inadvertent) because, after all, we lost.

I hope this disrespect from a lot of quarters puts a steely resolve into the team and a desire to flatten some opponents. I saw Rickea's expression, and I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of her wrath

 

[glv98]

I will be petty enough to say that I wish the SC bench had made more of an effort to avoid our players when rushing the court. Poor JP got bumped forward a couple of feet and looked startled. I know if it had been some players from other teams (and you know who I mean) who got jostled like that, Kitts would have been getting fitted for dental implants today.

Saw that, just layers more heartbreak. Of all players to get jostled. poor, raw JP at that moment. You are so right, a lesser individual would have gone off right there. So many props to JP, a really smart, impressive young lady.

 

[FormerLadyVolFan]

They did. I was sitting behind and to the left of the scorer's table...

Why didn’t referee review the last shot like he did the foul ( for 5 minutes) at end of the half?

 

[Volinnooga]

We had already beaten you guys twice this season. & everyone knows it's extremely hard to beat a team 3 times in a row. Maybe you should be upset at your coach for her team being wishy washy & not playing with maximum effort all the time.

Your post just rubbed me the wrong way like the lady vols never had any luck on their side in any close wins over the years.

Do the Gamecocks not have a message board of their own?

 

[Coach Jumper]

I have read a few bad things posters have said about the Lady Vols’ lose to
USC, however, I refuse to castigate the ladies because the they gave up a 3 point basket to a player who had never scored a three. Should the player have been covered, undeniable. Am I dejected, of course I am. Am I disappointed, very much so. But after falling behind by 23 points, these ladies could have packed it in and given up, but they didn't. Lop off the first quarter and this was the best coaching and playing we have seen in a long time. The only thing that saddens me is why can't we play like this all the time? Why can't we coach like that all the time? Why is it that we can’t play with that same energy every game? For 3/4 of a game we played like we could beat any team in the nation. Whatever was said, or done, after the first quarter of the game, needs to be repeated over and over again.

this

 

[madtownvol]

Hindsight. If she used one and Dawn drew up a play that worked everyone would be asking why she took a time out to let them set up play.

I have stayed away from the board because I was too bummed by the loss to read all the second guessing that would follow. For everything Kellie did "wrong" in those final seconds, it could have just as easily proven to be right. Sometimes good teams make plays. Midway through the 2nd, it appeared impossible that the LVs would actually take control of the game and force SC into a game winning buzzer beater. That comeback, even though it fell short, is the big takeaway.