Game Thread Lady Vols at Arkansas

[W.TN.Orange Blood]

I like when we win...and I want Holly to successful but it's stuff like this that drives me nuts and makes no friggin sense.

If i'm an opposing coach the formula to beat UT is sooooo easy. Clog the middle with two or 3 players and play strong perimeter defense. Holly will invariably have the girls try and force it in to Russell...or whomever is playing under the basket and... VOILA...you've got yourself a turnover.

The reason the Lady Vols are NOT losing alot of these games is the plethora of raw talent that eventually is able to win out in the end.

Holly slapping high 5's with the team right after silly, damaging turnovers is something I have never seen. I guess she doesn't want them to ever feel bad? Or she feels criticism or "punishing" them for bad play will make them feel bad about themselves and affect their play...and gawd forbid we don't want that.

Championship players who have reminisced about their teams have often said the one thing their coach would do is make it so that the team was afraid to fail...for fear of upsetting the coach. They say that about Wooden...Bob Knight...Dean Smith and others. The big fear was letting the coach down...disrespecting him/her.
I've heard former players say that about Pat. That not doing things the right way was disrespecting her.

It was a joke. Don't quote me if you can't read & understand printed English. Go back to post #273. It says I was using SARCASM when I said "great minded coach". Some can't see & understand SARCASM when posted. Some posters need to Lighten up & see the humor sometimes.

 

[bobkitten]

It was like watching The State Of The Union.

Or the State of the Onion.

 

[Volfan2012]

I think we could've scored 100 points last night if we hand't been so intent on getting the ball in to Russell that resulted in about 10 turnovers. We also don't need Annie to shoot until she learns how.
Davis needs more shots every game she is at 222 for the season that should be around 300 like Nared who has take 330. Field Goal percentage Davis .514 and Nared .390
It is nice to get the ball into Russell if we can but when they decide to use three players to guard her time for Davis and others to make plays.
Only complaining about the turnovers which effectively were the reason we didn't score 100.
I won't even talk about the defense didn't show up last night. The cure for that is unknown but I know we can play if we want to really didn't give much effort on stopping them last night.

 

[LA Vol]

Play a sagging zone, put three players on MR, force outside shots, count on TOs and hope the LVs will slack on defense-- that's how a team that has barely sniffed a W against top 100 RPl teams almost upset UT last night. Two LVs having career nights saved us. Arky having two players with career nights helped them. Last year, we probably lose that game. This year, we find ways to win, even if it's ugly. But we're going to have to play a lot better to hang on to a 3 or 4 seed.

 

[teacherdean]

Observations:
1. We out rebounded them by 20!
But we had 19 turnovers ?
It seems like everyone had three or four??

2. Holly’s presser day before game! “They shoot 20 threes a game and make five.. (25%)
They made 11 of 23 for 48%!!!!!! And 48% for all shots for the game! In other words (They shot WAY better than expected)

3. Our counter: MeMe and Davis shoot 70% and have their best games offensively!

4. Somebody better learn defense! Just Saying 😁

Love your observation, the players played as if the game was won when they walked on the floor. There is too much talent on this team to have LSU and Arkansas moments.

Russell, has the talent to take over a game offensively inside or outside. She has a super 15 foot jumper. Which she can shoot even when she is covered. If coaches are going to double and triple cover Russell, move her from the paint taking the coverage with her. This clears the paint for a pass and shot by one of our free players. We can use Russell to dictate the other team’s defense.

Yes, Holly has an amazing winning record, however, her teams seem to hit walls and play below their talent level. We are a top ten team but we have a habit of playing below our talent level.

 

[Nute Gunray]

I think we could've scored 100 points last night if we hand't been so intent on getting the ball in to Russell that resulted in about 10 turnovers. We also don't need Annie to shoot until she learns how.
Davis needs more shots every game she is at 222 for the season that should be around 300 like Nared who has take 330. Field Goal percentage Davis .514 and Nared .390
It is nice to get the ball into Russell if we can but when they decide to use three players to guard her time for Davis and others to make plays.
Only complaining about the turnovers which effectively were the reason we didn't score 100.
I won't even talk about the defense didn't show up last night. The cure for that is unknown but I know we can play if we want to really didn't give much effort on stopping them last night.

I agree. The final score would have been 100-75 without so many turnovers.

 

[Nute Gunray]

Play a sagging zone, put three players on MR, force outside shots, count on TOs and hope the LVs will slack on defense-- that's how a team that has barely sniffed a W against top 100 RPl teams almost upset UT last night. Two LVs having career nights saved us. Arky having two players with career nights helped them. Last year, we probably lose that game. This year, we find ways to win, even if it's ugly. But we're going to have to play a lot better to hang on to a 3 or 4 seed.

Excellent game analysis! This situation would not have happened with intuitive coaching.

 

[mike099]

I took a quick look at Georgia's roster and playing time. Looks like they play 8-10 players 10 minutes or more.

Another good coach coming in and they will bring it to Tennessee.

I like someones idea of bringing Mercedes out to the foul line area and have her feed cutters to the basket or shoot the midrange jumper herself. If she shoots and misses Nared and Davis a good shot at the rebound.

 

[Volfan2012]

I took a quick look at Georgia's roster and playing time. Looks like they play 8-10 players 10 minutes or more.

Another good coach coming in and they will bring it to Tennessee.

I like someones idea of bringing Mercedes out to the foul line area and have her feed cutters to the basket or shoot the midrange jumper herself. If she shoots and misses Nared and Davis a good shot at the rebound.

I'm glad it is a home game feel a lot more confident in this team playing at home. Of course another defensive effort like last night will spell defeat versus Georgia. Hopefully Holly can get their attention this game is for a tie for second place in the conference. With first decided we need to win this in our fight for second with several other teams.

 

[Nuyoika]

Play a sagging zone, put three players on MR, force outside shots, count on TOs and hope the LVs will slack on defense-- that's how a team that has barely sniffed a W against top 100 RPl teams almost upset UT last night. Two LVs having career nights saved us. Arky having two players with career nights helped them. Last year, we probably lose that game. This year, we find ways to win, even if it's ugly. But we're going to have to play a lot better to hang on to a 3 or 4 seed.

I agree last year they would have lost the game. This team is like last years team but with more options. That is why you see a lot of the same inconsistent play but more wins. Last year they had 3 options and that was it. If 1 was off they would probably lose. If 2 were off forget about it, automatic loss.

I think they truly have 6 options this year so they are winning more games and even though it doesn't look good all the time they have options. They just have to figure out how to get the best out of all 6 on a consistent basis so that maybe they can play up to their potential more often.

 

[teacherdean]

Play a sagging zone, put three players on MR, force outside shots, count on TOs and hope the LVs will slack on defense-- that's how a team that has barely sniffed a W against top 100 RPl teams almost upset UT last night. Two LVs having career nights saved us. Arky having two players with career nights helped them. Last year, we probably lose that game. This year, we find ways to win, even if it's ugly. But we're going to have to play a lot better to hang on to a 3 or 4 seed.

With the options we have, Holly has to come up with an offensive scheme that gives us a consistent advantage when Russell is double and triple teamed.

 

[TnScooby]

It was a joke. Don't quote me if you can't read & understand printed English. Go back to post #273. It says I was using SARCASM when I said "great minded coach". Some can't see & understand SARCASM when posted. Some posters need to Lighten up & see the humor sometimes.

Blue font??:thumbsup:

 

[vettefool]

With the options we have, Holly has to come up with an offensive scheme that gives us a consistent advantage when Russell is double and triple teamed.

There is the problem right there, holly has to solve a problem. Not going to happen.:no:

 

[JFP]

Agreed on the latest posts concerning offense and Russell. Too much time and energy
spent for only 7 points by Russell in Arkansas game. For the most part, but not entirely,
little reward from her seemingly desperate passes back out from her heavily guarded
position.

 

[madtownvol]

There is the problem right there, holly has to solve a problem. Not going to happen.:no:

No, the solution (scheme) is simple. Hit open jumpers, which the LVs get a lot of. The problem is that the LVs have games where they can't hit the side of a barn. That problem may be a coaching problem but missing wide open jump shots (and often layups) is not a "scheme" issue.


On the whole, though, this team scores enough points to win. The defensive side has been letting them down. They had looked pretty good defensively through the first 16 games. They have slipped since then. Some of that may reflect conditioning issues and some may reflect a lack of discipline and concentration. Both of those areas are coaching related.

 

[Nute Gunray]

There is the problem right there, holly has to solve a problem. Not going to happen.:no:

Sad commentary but true.

 

[Nuyoika]

I like someones idea of bringing Mercedes out to the foul line area and have her feed cutters to the basket or shoot the midrange jumper herself. If she shoots and misses Nared and Davis a good shot at the rebound.

I like that idea as well. I was saying it last year but I got lambasted a bit on here for saying that because some couldn't understand the logic (she's 6'6"). If the kid has the skill irreguardless if their height you use it. If I see one more feature about how MR is the smartest player on the team and how she is like a PG on the court but the staff not using that skill when you actually watch the games I'm gonna explode!

When she made the statement about averaging a double double and becoming a better free throw shooter before the season I protested because I felt like where she needed to improve was with ger A/O ratio. That was where she could really help her team this season. The staff have proclaimed shes a great passer for 5 years now... let's see it, she only has a few games left! What are you waiting for? Has she not been triple teamed enough for you to feel like that should be a priority?

 

[gule]

if nared and annie had hit a few jump shots, Russell would have had a triple double vs Arky. She gave them good setup passes.

 

[volnationnj]

if nared and annie had hit a few jump shots, Russell would have had a triple double vs Arky. She gave them good setup passes.

I have to disagree with you on this one Gule.
Russell has a total of 2 assists (1 in the Arky game) in the last 4 games, this despite playing about 37 minutes a game over that stretch. I would have to check the stats, but I don't think she ever had a high assist average at UT.

 

[Coach Jumper]

if nared and annie had hit a few jump shots, Russell would have had a triple double vs Arky. She gave them good setup passes.

If they would only feed her higher. She is a totally different player with entry pass - high. The entry passes have to be high-bounce or high-directs...It is also up to MR to give an obvious signal as to what type of pass she wants. Finger up, lob,,,Open hand, direct,,,Palm down, bounce....She doesn't always give the guards targets. But sometimes, it helps the passer to know what you want.