Game Thread Lady Vols at Georgia

[Voltopia]

The excuses some of you make for Holly and certain players are a joke!

Geno benched Gabby Williams in the second Quarter yesterday because he felt she wasn't given her all and she responded he didn't care about his short bench, he looked to send a message and yet we sit here and defend poor play and poor coaching decisions.

As a lady vol fan all of these years I have never felt like I have to settle like I am doing now.

The expectations are set high and losing to lowly teams are not of the Lady Vol standard.

I'm not going to defend the coach or the team, but Geno's got 10 active players who all contribute. Tennessee's got 8 total, 3 bench, and to hear people tell it, Middleton should never see the floor and neither should Dunbar, so we have ... what ... 6 players and 1 bench player in Nunn? Except sometimes Middleton's okay, I can never keep track of how the message board feels about her.

Now the bench problem can be the fault of the staff's recruiting misses, that's fine. I'm not trying or seeking to defend the staff or Holly by saying this. But I am saying their choices are VERY limited this year. I have no idea how that impacts their coaching decisions, but there it is.

I mean, there's times I've yelled "BENCH HER" at the screen ... but ... you know, who goes in? How do you bench when you have so little to sub in? What's the net benefit? I don't know.

 

[sccshortstop]

A number 3 seed was out of the question. A #4 seed likely means UConns bracket, so they are better off as a 6/7.

A 4 seed was not a gimme before this game but in your way of looking at it it was a blessing to lose today. Thanks for clearing that up!

 

[volnationnj]

Diamond had 2 less fg's made then the rest of her teammates combined !!!!!

 

[Orange Maniac]

Time to check out of here until the idiots leave and things get back to normal.

 

[hokievol12]

yeah why should a coach making 650k a year be held responsible for her team losing against a mediocre .500 team?

you're right you're a freaking genius.

I agree...the talent is a heavy lean to the LV roster...coaching...very average...Georgia is not a very good offensive team...this one...along with Auburn, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Ole Miss...you get the point...should have been LV wins!

 

[Volfan2012]

We'll win 19 or 20 got four home games left and a road game at Alabama. We should win four of those five . Miss St last game seems like a loss but this team seems to rise up when playing the good teams.

 

[LA Vol]

A number 3 seed was out of the question. A #4 seed likely means UConns bracket, so they are better off as a 6/7.

Not sure about this. With their inconsistency and short bench, a deep run would be a longshot and IMO, it would be better to have them play the first two games at home. Moot point, since after today, it's reasonable to expect them to drop at least 2, and possibly 3, more games. They just have too many liabilities.

 

[Volfan2012]

I'm really not blaming Holly for this loss players did not execute very well today other than Diamond. Meme fumbled four or five away as did Middleton. Middleton did make a couple big threes but other than Diamond and sometimes Russell no one could score.
This team wins 20 games it is a good season but next year must get 30 wins Holly will have her best team ever if Russell and Diamond return.

 

[Volfan2012]

Definitely wanted two games at home against lower seeded teams as getting to the sweet sixteen is all this team could expect. As a 6 or 7 seed we may not win the first game. Regardless we would have to collapse and lose the rest of the games not to get to the NCAA tourney and that in itself is a huge accomplishment for this team.

 

[mlindsay]

I'm not going to defend the coach or the team, but Geno's got 10 active players who all contribute. Tennessee's got 8 total, 3 bench, and to hear people tell it, Middleton should never see the floor and neither should Dunbar, so we have ... what ... 6 players and 1 bench player in Nunn? Except sometimes Middleton's okay, I can never keep track of how the message board feels about her.

Now the bench problem can be the fault of the staff's recruiting misses, that's fine. I'm not trying or seeking to defend the staff or Holly by saying this. But I am saying their choices are VERY limited this year. I have no idea how that impacts their coaching decisions, but there it is.

I mean, there's times I've yelled "BENCH HER" at the screen ... but ... you know, who goes in? How do you bench when you have so little to sub in? What's the net benefit? I don't know.

We have 9 players total that can suit up and Geno has 10 he only plays 7 and we only play 7 so again what's with the excuses? He also lost his top 3 scorers, top 2 rebounders, and his assist leader and they are still undefeated?

Coaching is about getting the best out of the players you have and putting them in the best position to win.

Russell playing like plays for Holly would not see the court for Geno and the same goes for a few other players.

There are players that could've possibly been at UT to possibly help out bench this year but we stop going after them to focus on certain Top Tier players

 

[Amb3096]

I don't think they beat MSU. They're too good and don't play down like SC has done a few times. Plus, it's an away game.

Missouri will be tough because Sophie Cunningham can be a mismatch and they have a big girl who can shoot from the perimeter and can attack the basket.

TAMU has high scoring guards, good rebounders and a big, physical 6'5 post.

I can see them losing to MSU plus one or two additional games.

 

[hokievol12]

Maybe because that player couldn't stay on the floor and was having a crap day. Don't you think that might have had something to do with it. Jaime could have won the game in regulation but she missed the free throw. It just wasn't her day.

You want to lay blame on Nared for missing a single free throw? Go for it...clueless! She happens to be our best free throw shooting player...our best clutch player, normally...and doesn't turn the ball over every time a slight breeze blows through the arena...she should have gotten more touches today! I saw some poor defense being played by several players not named Nared...who happens to be among the best rebounders this team has.

 

[Amb3096]

I'm really not blaming Holly for this loss players did not execute very well today other than Diamond. Meme fumbled four or five away as did Middleton. Middleton did make a couple big threes but other than Diamond and sometimes Russell no one could score.
This team wins 20 games it is a good season but next year must get 30 wins Holly will have her best team ever if Russell and Diamond return.

"Sometimes Russell"? She had 24 and 17. Her and Diamond weren't the problem, except when they started making tired mistakes.

MeMe on the other hand...

 

[T_Vol376]

You want to lay blame on Nared for missing a single free throw? Go for it...clueless! She happens to be our best free throw shooting player...our best clutch player, normally...and doesn't turn the ball over every time a slight breeze blows through the arena...she should have gotten more touches today! I saw some poor defense being played by several players not named Nared...who happens to be among the best rebounders this team has.

I think the poster was just saying she had a bad day...and she did, poor girl. Everyone knows the value of Jaime to the team.

 

[LA Vol]

Definitely wanted two games at home against lower seeded teams as getting to the sweet sixteen is all this team could expect. As a 6 or 7 seed we may not win the first game. Regardless we would have to collapse and lose the rest of the games not to get to the NCAA tourney and that in itself is a huge accomplishment for this team.

That's what I'm thinking. It's a stretch to see the LVs hosting now. It'll be amazing if they only drop 2 more games before the SECT.

 

[th2421]

Oh give it a rest. The poster wasn't attacking Georgia's coach because she's on a scooter.

Holly is the worst coach ever that's the issue.

No, but it was an implicit attack on people with disabilities by attacking Holly, saying that she somehow shouldn't have lost just because her opponent wasn't fully able-bodied for this game.

Holly isn't perfect, but come on, "worst coach ever"? I'm not going to last much longer on this board with the way people turn on her so quickly.

 

[And1]

Mercedes is a non factor on defense. She should be more of a presence instead of letting guards blow by her for layups. No matter how many pints she scores, her lack of consistent defense and rebounding is a huge liability for the team.

 

[gule]

robinson should have fouled out when she came over Reynolds to knock away a rebound before the first OT. home cooking again?

 

[mlindsay]

"Sometimes Russell"? She had 24 and 17. Her and Diamond weren't the problem, except when they started making tired mistakes.

MeMe on the other hand...

Russell could've have 40 and 25 and in games like this you have to dominate especially when no one can guard you on the other team. How many shots of hers were blocked? How many rebounds did she just look at? How many passes land in her hand that she can't seem to hang on to?

Yes 24 and 17 should be applauded as they are great stats but when you leave so much on the floor when your team could've used it is a problem.

I wish we could find a way to get Kelly Cain back in Knoxville for next season to show Russell how to really use her 6'6" frame.

 

[volnationnj]

I'm not going to defend the coach or the team, but Geno's got 10 active players who all contribute. Tennessee's got 8 total, 3 bench, and to hear people tell it, Middleton should never see the floor and neither should Dunbar, so we have ... what ... 6 players and 1 bench player in Nunn? Except sometimes Middleton's okay, I can never keep track of how the message board feels about her.

Now the bench problem can be the fault of the staff's recruiting misses, that's fine. I'm not trying or seeking to defend the staff or Holly by saying this. But I am saying their choices are VERY limited this year. I have no idea how that impacts their coaching decisions, but there it is.

I mean, there's times I've yelled "BENCH HER" at the screen ... but ... you know, who goes in? How do you bench when you have so little to sub in? What's the net benefit? I don't know.

I agree, Holly doesn't have very many choices.
I watched geno's team play earlier today.
One of the 10 is a walk on and 2 others are freshman that were ranked over 100.
He effectively has 7 viable players. If their short bench causes a loss, he should be blamed for a lack of recruiting more and better players. Just like ANY other coach.

 

[LasVegasBill23]

No, but it was an implicit attack on people with disabilities by attacking Holly, saying that she somehow shouldn't have lost just because her opponent wasn't fully able-bodied for this game.

Holly isn't perfect, but come on, "worst coach ever"? I'm not going to last much longer on this board with the way people turn on her so quickly.

What do you mean by "not perfect" ... I would have thought that after 30 years learning from Pat, a year as acting head coach, and now 5 years..... 5 YEARS as head coach, that she would show more..... she is losing to mediocre teams....with Grade A players ..... Gerogia is 11-11 ....pretty mediocre... and the type of team that we cannot beat.... Sad

 

[Nuyoika]

The only thing consistent about this team is that is it inconsistent. It needs atleast 4 players it can rely on because not all 3 of Nared, DeSheilds, & Russell will be on every night. If one of them are off who is gonna step up? That's the question no one knows the answer to.

Nared is the hero of this team it seems a lot of the time. She should be able to have an off night and someone else step up but they can't seem to get that figured out. I know they have specific plays for Reynolds so maybe they are hoping maybe she can be the final missing piece.

 

[mike099]

There is no way that girl should have blown by our defense to tie the game at the end of regulation. Pitiful defense!

 

[Amb3096]

Russell could've have 40 and 25 and in games like this you have to dominate especially when no one can guard you on the other team. How many shots of hers were blocked? How many rebounds did she just look at? How many passes land in her hand that she can't seem to hang on to?

Yes 24 and 17 should be applauded as they are great stats but when you leave so much on the floor when your team could've used it is a problem.

I wish we could find a way to get Kelly Cain back in Knoxville for next season to show Russell how to really use her 6'6" frame.

Like Kelly Cain getting owned by a smaller ND team in her last Tennessee game?

UGA was double teaming her, and got a few blocks when she was turning to shoot in a double team. Maybe if the other 3 players on the court were looking for their shot, Russell wouldn't be expected to score through a double team everytime.

Double Ot and only MR/DD could score more than 7 points? MR wasn't the problem here.

 

[LA Vol]

Today was really disappointing. The LVs had fans believing the team could tough it out, finish the season strong with only one more loss and make a deep tournament run. It was there for the taking. The LVs have talented players, but they're a very flawed team. They'll likely finish like they started-- inconsistent, unpredictable and frustrating to watch.