Game Thread: Fla ST v Lady Vols, Wed Dec 4th; Home-FCC; 7:15 PM; SEC+ network: TN wins 79-77

[LivinginthePast]

Amazing game amazing win! Way to hang in there second half!

 

[RebKell]

FSU Results


Total



AvgTotals

 

[Texas]

Tonight, yes. Tomorrow night will have possibly four with more.

#8 Dook @ #3 Sakerlina
Stanford @ #5 Tiggahs
#4 uTerus @ #10 Irish
#14 UK @ #16 Tarheels

TY. It took me a while to decode all these, but worth it.

 

[chuckiepoo]

TY. It took me a while to decode all these, but worth it.

Keeps the mind active!

 

[Texas]

For me it's not a matter of understanding. It just doesn't seem more worth all the effort than just taking and making good shots in the first place. Breaking your back to cover for a problem you created.

I'm afraid this is true, and I'd include Sara on the cut mins list in favor of Latham as well.

There are several problems with playing the way you prefer. If these ladies play that way all the time they are gonna get beat being the biggest. There are better shooters at every school. If they work it around for the one shot they are gonna end up with the 3 they set fire to whom? Sara? She shoots 4% from 3 this year.

Next, I’ve watched a lot of LVs basketball since 1989, it has gotten downright painful. There is nothing artistic in anything they’ve put in the court the last many years. The break downs on defense, players driving right by them, having 4 frumpy blonde girls 5’10 and below shoot them out of the gym, pass the ball around and force it into the post where the defender climbs over the back to knock it away. It doesn’t work anymore as the game and reffing has moved away from it. How can you possibly want to watch that anyway.

And the last reason leads into my final reason to embrace Kim’s system. She is taking advantage of what these girls can do. They are obviously strong, athletic, can jump out of the gym. CSI she is gonna take advantage of the skills that they do possess. And, maybe just maybe by buying into her philosophy of pouring in every bit of effort is what allowed them to step up and contain FSU’s shorter guards.

Still a ton of work to do, but these same players in last years system, do you think they would’ve withstood a near 40 piece from Latson?

 

[RebKell]

 

[madtownvol]

Great WIN!!! This game was the Lady Vols first real test. FSU could match them athletically, likes to play fast and does a good job on pressing defense plus they are more battle tested at this point in the schedule.

LV fan can say, aha! the 2nd quarter is our true selves but the 3rd which just lost our intensity, focus blah, blah. But FSU will say just the opposite. They let themselves get rattled and committed way to many TOs and then played their game in the 3rd.

The reality is that with 2 teams who play this style you are going to have runs and momentum switches. That is why I thought the final score would be a bigger point gap, anticipating that one team (hopefully, the LVs) would end on a closing run.

I think the 4th quarter actually showed you these teams are and at this point, they are a pretty even match but the LVs made the clutch plays down the stretch with Cooper and Spearman leading the way. FSU slowed the LVs down in the 4th but they could run a respectable half court offense.

But there is a LOT to work on.

Not a great night for Ruby and the team is going to need more than 2 pts from Sara (for 20 minutes of floor time). 25% shooting from 3 pt range is going to create some vulnerabilities against a good team.

Letting your opponents best scorer roll for a career high 38 points is not exactly covering yourself in defensive glory. This team is presumably built to contain that type of quick guard. If an elite post player puts up big numbers against, the LVS you can kind of accept that given how the system is built. But a guard going off for 38 has to raise some coaching hackles.

The LVs did not over press as much in this game but they still got burned a few times. The big issue is that this team is soft in the defensive paint when teams break our press. FSU exploited that weakness repeatedly and it will be recurrent point of attack until CKC finds a way to close those gaps.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Still a ton of work to do, but these same players in last years system, do you think they would’ve withstood a near 40 piece from Latson?

Best point!

 

[lvocd]

I'm not upset at all that Latson scored 38 on us. She is, IMO, among the Top 5 players I've seen this season. She is money. I don't know if anyone in this country could guard her when she's feeling it like she was tonight. What a player!

Fortunately, we had Cooper and Spearman down the stretch -- ALSO phenomenal players. After finally settling down I rewatched the entire game and I am a very happy Lady Vol fanatic right now. It really was a great win, and an important one for what Kim will need going forward.

I love this team and staff.

 

[jsc1973]

My confidence in Kim as a coach grew tonight. I think she is going to get it done here. She has this team playing fairly well except for they haven't been shooting well. The way they rebounded the offensive boards again tonight is something we haven't seen since Pat Summitt.

I thought the same thing. Pat would have been proud of that effort on the boards, and it was why they won despite shooting so poorly.

She would have appreciated both that and the mental toughness this team showed after getting smacked around in the third quarter.

A quality win. Chance for an even bigger one on Saturday.

 

[stlvolsfan]

This game was a lot of fun. My entire family, including the dogs got into it lol.
First with the good…that first half, particularly the 2nd quarter is what we are capable of…and WOW! Secondly, Talaysia Cooper is a beast and I am LOVING this version of Sam Spencer as well. Lastly, last year we lose this game. I like the tenacity that was shown and the fight when their backs were against the wall.
With all that being said…you can’t allow their best scorer to go off and you can’t relinquish a 20 point lead, especially at home. Can’t wait for Saturday evening!!!

 

[LadyViking/Vol]

A very good win for the Lady Vols last night.. they played hard and never once did I see panic in this team , especially in the 4th quarter.. they played tough on both ends of the floor.. love the coaching staff making the correct adjustments as the game played out towards the end of the game .. they are fun to watch and really excited to watch this team grow and develop into a Tennessee Lady Vols team of old that we are all striving for them to be! Pat would be proud of this team’s toughness , determination, and commitment.. as well as the coaching staff ! They are off to a great start , keep it up Lady Vols !

 

[JCP201]

I'm sure it isn't fun getting in shape for Kim basketball, but they look like they are haviing so much fun playing and it's great to watch.

 

[GameTime]

An exciting game in many ways.....Some very good, and some so very bad.

The second quarter was what we all hoped this team can be; outstanding ball movement, full court pressure defense, deadly 3 ball shooting.

The third quarter is what we all feared this team can be; sloppy offensive play, leaky full court defense, awful 3 ball shooting.

The officiating was serial bad...Still trying to figure out why Cooper was called for a foul around the 3:32 minute mark of the 3rd quarter...

Coach Kim has a lot of good film to go over with her team....Popcorn will not be served.

 

[glv98]

There are several problems with playing the way you prefer. If these ladies play that way all the time they are gonna get beat being the biggest. There are better shooters at every school. If they work it around for the one shot they are gonna end up with the 3 they set fire to whom? Sara? She shoots 4% from 3 this year.

Not that I "prefer" the LVs play half court. I understand the need to create chaos to make up for lack of reliable 3 pt shooting. I just wanted to know they had a decent halfcourt offense in the arsenal and are willing to use it. Because as they play teams even better than FSU they are going to get slowed down for sure.

The LVs got the ball to the right player, Cooper, in the 4th qtr and moved the ball well mostly bc Spencer has become a really good facilitator. It's an age old problem that most players who are super athletic aren't great outside shooters. Until we get some players who are both, having a versatile offense is a must.

 

[glv98]

.Still trying to figure out why Cooper was called for a foul around the 4 minute mark of the 3rd quarter...

Because she's "handsy", which she should be bc her reflex time w her hands is just incredible. I'll take a few of those fouls, as long as its not late game in crucial situations and if Coops not in foul trouble. I wonder if there's an LV record for deflections, bc Coop has to be threatening it.

 

[1morevol]

should have played latham more and cut darby and hollinsheds

should have played latham more and cut darby and hollinsheds minutes

I would cut Puckett's minutes before either of those two. Hollingshead played a pretty good game in my opinion. The LV's defense really suffers when Darby and Puckett are in the game at the same time.

 

[1morevol]

You can't spell YUCK without UK.

 

[knoxvol52]

Puckett may have not put up numbers on offensive end but she made one of the biggest plays on defensive side near end of 4th quarter, getting the steal with Lady Vols up by 2 at that moment. Also it was Spencer who shut down #00 on the last play for FSU. #00 didn't even get to touch the ball.

 

[knoxvol52]

Now that the Lady Vols can win at home against better competition, now let's see what they do away from the Food Center Center vs Iowa this weekend.. hopefully they can bring same energy as they do at home..

 

[1morevol]

Prior to the game the Lady Vols were averaging 98 pts per contest and FSU 96. I didn't expect either team to reach their average as those numbers are inflated by the level of competition each team has played, although the LVs did flirt with that possibility in the first half. Interestingly, those season averages predicted the outcome as Tennessee won by 2 pts, 79 to 77.

 

[Rons1989]

Honestly we can say there are truly legit and going to be a problem for anyone...yea we got issues running a half court offense dont have the dynamic shooters yet but my goodness if they can play halfcourt defense like they did and continue to rebound its gone be tough on teams....latson had 38 that needed to come down 18 points but shes a great player and they needed every bit of it i think somebody shared a stat that only 4 players scored for them tonight which is crazy..also there are teams that are just bad matchups for you and florida state is that for us cuz they have guards that can handle the pressure there wont be to many more teams like that

 

[glv98]

Honestly we can say there are truly legit and going to be a problem for anyone...yea we got issues running a half court offense dont have the dynamic shooters yet but my goodness if they can play halfcourt defense like they did and continue to rebound its gone be tough on teams....latson had 38 that needed to come down 18 points but shes a great player and they needed every bit of it i think somebody shared a stat that only 4 players scored for them tonight which is crazy..also there are teams that are just bad matchups for you and florida state is that for us cuz they have guards that can handle the pressure there wont be to many more teams like that

IMO running a half court O helps cover for lack of dynamic shooters, esp as Coop emerges as an elite 1 v 1 scorer. When we're in scramble mode is when we fire a bunch of quick 3s. Coops takeover in the 4th happened bc we were playing a more controlled game. We have to make opportunities for Coop to cook.

Not too worried about Latson's pts, their O is pretty much designed for her to get a shot up every time she touches the ball. She's a great scorer for sure, but only 4 players scored for them. Latson is doing the work of at least 2 starters. Not sure that's a viable long term plan.

Far as not seeing many more guards that can handle the press, I wish that was true but we're going to see many guards in the SEC that can handle a press. Esp w time and tape to study for opposing coaches. Breaking a press, even a fierce one, is not an unknown for high level coaches.

 

[BruisedOrange]

The FSU coach, in her postgame, mentioned our commitment to offensive rebounding, "sending all five to crash the boards."

Watching the video, I noticed several times when FSU got an easy runout bucket because the LV furthest from the basket, or the shooter from out front, did not stay back to prevent those easy transition points.

So is this a feature in CKC's system, a calculated risk, to send all five in for offensive boards? If so, gotta be some interesting math involved. Would love to learn more.

 

[BruisedOrange]

I was surprised there were no postgame questions about the appearance of fatigue by many LVs (unless I just missed it). I wonder by how many minutes/seconds the platoons played longer intervals last night, compared to previous games?