Game Thread: (7/8) Lady Vols 73 - (25/23) Texas A&M 45

#51
#51
LadyVols_WBK said:
Gameday….bump
Click to expand...
Volfan2012 said:
We won but I didn't like our energy
Click to expand...

I had drifted off this morning after not getting enough sleep, woke up fuzzily, opened up this thread, saw WBK's game day bump, and then read the first four words of Volfan's followup...

my initial thought was that I had pulled a Van Winkle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: volfan__18, LadyVols_WBK and chuckiepoo
#52
#52
I’m excited for this game. Have a feeling our Lady Vols will really be ready to get up for A&M. That was, imo, one of our more frustrating losses last season. Horston and Walker did not play well and we had massive foul trouble.

I recall the officiating in that game was hard to watch. A&M shot 25-34 on free throws to our 11-15 and we only lost by 10. The 14 made free throw difference was the difference in the game. Both teams shot around 75% from the line but the officials spotted A&M a ton. Every time they drove to the basket a touch foul was called.

We need to be aggressive to the rim. I do not believe they can guard us in the paint or on the perimeter. Pitts, Nixon and Wells are all very offensively talented but not great defenders. Pitts in particular struggles to keep her player in front and does not guard screening action well at all.

Wells will likely check Horston and I believe we should try to run her to the block as much as we can. Horston has to make a quick move but I believe can score almost every time. Wells doesn’t like contact.

Patty/Roby cannot guard Tamari. Doesn’t matter which one. They’re going to have to foul her to stop her and I suspect we get more of those calls at home. Hopefully TK continues her improved FT shooting and aggressive play. If we get either of their posts in foul trouble they will be dead in the water unless they are really hot from 3.

Roby will likely have to pick up Tamari and Patty will attempt to check Alexus and Keyen. Both of whom will have a significant advantage off the bounce. If Roby tries to guard Dye, Alexus can shoot a layup every time with a head fake and one dribble. Roby is not quick on her feet. A&M is not a good rebounding team this season so I anticipate we have quite a few second chances points today. Kellie has been a little disappointed with their board play the last couple games. I’m betting we see that improve a little again today.

I believe we control this game and win something to the tune of 75-60.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: LVsinceJV, krichunaka, HeadVol77 and 8 others
#53
#53
Today is Knox school night so a bunch of kids will be at the game. I don’t live in Knoxville but Knoxville schools aren’t doing virtual learning due to the new variant? seems like a ton of schools districts in the US are going back to virtual learning till this new variant dies down
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volfan2012 and lvocd
#54
#54
LadyVols_WBK said:
Today is Knox school night so a bunch of kids will be at the game. I don’t live in Knoxville but Knoxville schools aren’t doing virtual learning due to the new variant? seems like a ton of schools districts in the US are going back to virtual learning till this new variant dies down
Click to expand...
Need to reschedule Knox School Night. School reopened fully this week but is out today not due to variant but due to a pretty substantial (for this area) snowfall (3 in or so). Supposed to snow all day. Will be lucky to draw 4 or 5 thousand tonight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volfaninfl2, TrumpedUpVol and chuckiepoo
#55
#55
I've always liked Gary Blair. He was never in the pissy lil mean guy coalition of Van Chancellor, Jim Foster, Andy Landers who fumed openly by constantly being steamrolled on the court by PS. Blair could get a little animated on the sidelines but never seemed overly whiney to me.

Hate to see him go and wish him a great retirement. Hope we spoil his last visit to the Tommy Bowl.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Smallvol#1, krichunaka, VolBall09 and 5 others
#56
#56
Excellent analysis, VollBall09. I sure hope you are right, but I have to admit, I’m still worried. It may just be a “we’re gonna lose one of these games sooner or later; may as well be this one”-type worry, but it’s pretty strong. Gary Blair may be retiring, but he’s probably looking to get a couple big wins on his way out. 😳
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolBall09, HeadVol77, volfan__18 and 4 others
#59
#59
Rickster said:
I'm thinking we win by 14-16 points. I just hope we don't need a 4th quarter comeback.
Click to expand...

I kinda feel like the Lady Vols have pushed their luck far enough with the whole fourth-quarter save strategy — if that’s what the players have in the backs of their minds they can always count on. One of these days they’ll meet an opponent who doesn’t wear down in the fourth, so they can’t keep struggling in that darn third quarter.

I know we are ALL looking forward to seeing a complete four-quarter game. Not to say that this team, this year, has ever lacked effort even in some “off” third quarters. But too many times they’ve lost focus and weren’t executing very well to fall behind, then got back on track in the fourth.

All that said, as long as they keep finding ways to win, they can wait until the NCAA Tournament to spring onto everyone the full four-quarter execution games if they want to! lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: LVsinceJV, krichunaka, VolBall09 and 2 others
#63
#63
Orange Maniac said:
Don't understand these blow out predictions. This will be a tough one.
Click to expand...

a lot of blowouts for them,,,but when you look at their schedule, to date, they have lost 3 of their last 5. We are at home....on paper its a easy win, but the game has to be played on the court
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
#66
#66
go vols 247 has a story on todays game. kelly said horston looking good and talks about rae and match up with texas am. some one should post link.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LadyVols_WBK
#68
#68
Great opportunity to get another solid win on our home floor! Hoping to see Rae drain a couple threes today. What’s great about having her back is opponents absolutely have to game plan for her. From yesterday’s presser, it sounds like Horston is feeling good. Would love to see the Jordan we saw in November.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo, krichunaka and HeadVol77
#69
#69
Orange Maniac said:
Don't understand these blow out predictions. This will be a tough one.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Now the LVs are a top ten team, every opponent is bringing their A game. I don't expect Rae to yet have a big impact on the LVs offense in just her 2nd game back (and where minutes will still probably be limited). We can count on the LVs defensive effort but it remains a big question as to whether they can score enough points to really separate from a good team. I just hope they can avoid the drought offensive quarters that have been plaguing them so far.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo, krichunaka, alexvol and 5 others
#71
#71
A&M has a big strong physical post down low. She's not much of a back to basket player but shes strong enough to keep Tamari from getting what she wants on the low block. Ive said that before and TK proved me wrong so lets do it again please !! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo, krichunaka and LadyVols_WBK
#73
#73
She likes to play face up to the basket....
ac954092aeced4025a87eeda0d1026b5.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolBall09, chuckiepoo, mudcat1973 and 2 others
#75
#75
madtownvol said:
Agreed. Now the LVs are a top ten team, every opponent is bringing their A game. I don't expect Rae to yet have a big impact on the LVs offense in just her 2nd game back (and where minutes will still probably be limited). We can count on the LVs defensive effort but it remains a big question as to whether they can score enough points to really separate from a good team. I just hope they can avoid the drought offensive quarters that have been plaguing them so far.
Click to expand...
Right on target.....women's team has the same offensive curse as the men's team....they can go five minutes ( + ) scoring droughts which can be lethal against good to great teams
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo and madtownvol
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top