Game Thread Lady Vols at Missouri

#52
#52
A game between the two teams I follow closely (Mizzou alum) and root for is something I look forward to. But even though I’ve seen most of the games both teams have played, it’s hard to predict how this one will play out.
Mizzou has its best team in many years, for sure. But the two best players (C. Porter and S. Cunningham) are freshmen and they have not seen the level of competition they’ll be exposed to tonight.
Tenn has more talent… not really that close. But it hasn’t always translated to their on-court performance.
If Tenn plays its “A” game – or something very close to it – Mizzou will be hard-pressed to keep it close. But if the Lady Vols mail it in or take their foot off the gas after they get up a dozen it could be interesting.
Missouri’s strength is its half-court defense. It will remind you a bit of UConn’s, using an example we’re all familiar with. They play hard and organized, both the starters and subs. And that matches up well against what has been the LV’s most glaring weakness at times.
But Mizzou can’t match up with Tenn’s quickness and they’re susceptible to the fast break. Ouch! Their passing can be sloppy and their handle is only so-so which can lead to even more fb points. And they have not faced a press remotely as good as the one I’m sure they’ll see tonight. They’ll also play the percentages in allowing certain players to take uncontested threes – and TN could burn them there if their long-range shooting improves.
On offense, Mizzou continues to be a three-point threat. The percentages are not as good as last year, but they have more players now that can shoot them and that lets them punish a team that sags off one or more players. (As long, of course, as they’re hitting them!) A healthy Frericks and the Porter sisters give them a better inside presence this year, and Ciera Porter and Sophie Cunningham have nice mid-range jumpers. Mizzou has also rebounded well, but then we have to consider the competition level.
How the refs call this game could be BIG. Charges vs. blocks… and how physical they allow it to get down low could strongly influence the outcome. Missouri’s top scorers have been foul prone and they take a lot of chances on defense. On the other hand, Mizzou clogs the lane pretty well, and if DD’s first couple of drives end up as offensive fouls…. But then there’s that quickness factor.
Coach Pingeton and the Mizzou players are under no illusions about their success and the competitive cauldron they’re about to enter… four straight games against top SEC teams… TM, GA, SC and MSST. They know that their current #20 ranking probably won’t survive. But their performance tonight might tell us a lot about whether they’re for real or not. They remember last year… they know what’s coming… and they still think of themselves as underdogs. If they stay healthy and keep their chins up after what’s certain to be some tough losses they can reach their goal – the NCAA Tourney and a top 7 finish in the SEC.
But, hey, a few upsets along the way would be nice. Maybe starting tonight?
 
#57
#57
ocoandasoc said:
A game between the two teams I follow closely (Mizzou alum) and root for is something I look forward to. But even though I’ve seen most of the games both teams have played, it’s hard to predict how this one will play out.
Mizzou has its best team in many years, for sure. But the two best players (C. Porter and S. Cunningham) are freshmen and they have not seen the level of competition they’ll be exposed to tonight.
Tenn has more talent… not really that close. But it hasn’t always translated to their on-court performance.
If Tenn plays its “A” game – or something very close to it – Mizzou will be hard-pressed to keep it close. But if the Lady Vols mail it in or take their foot off the gas after they get up a dozen it could be interesting.
Missouri’s strength is its half-court defense. It will remind you a bit of UConn’s, using an example we’re all familiar with. They play hard and organized, both the starters and subs. And that matches up well against what has been the LV’s most glaring weakness at times.
But Mizzou can’t match up with Tenn’s quickness and they’re susceptible to the fast break. Ouch! Their passing can be sloppy and their handle is only so-so which can lead to even more fb points. And they have not faced a press remotely as good as the one I’m sure they’ll see tonight. They’ll also play the percentages in allowing certain players to take uncontested threes – and TN could burn them there if their long-range shooting improves.
On offense, Mizzou continues to be a three-point threat. The percentages are not as good as last year, but they have more players now that can shoot them and that lets them punish a team that sags off one or more players. (As long, of course, as they’re hitting them!) A healthy Frericks and the Porter sisters give them a better inside presence this year, and Ciera Porter and Sophie Cunningham have nice mid-range jumpers. Mizzou has also rebounded well, but then we have to consider the competition level.
How the refs call this game could be BIG. Charges vs. blocks… and how physical they allow it to get down low could strongly influence the outcome. Missouri’s top scorers have been foul prone and they take a lot of chances on defense. On the other hand, Mizzou clogs the lane pretty well, and if DD’s first couple of drives end up as offensive fouls…. But then there’s that quickness factor.
Coach Pingeton and the Mizzou players are under no illusions about their success and the competitive cauldron they’re about to enter… four straight games against top SEC teams… TM, GA, SC and MSST. They know that their current #20 ranking probably won’t survive. But their performance tonight might tell us a lot about whether they’re for real or not. They remember last year… they know what’s coming… and they still think of themselves as underdogs. If they stay healthy and keep their chins up after what’s certain to be some tough losses they can reach their goal – the NCAA Tourney and a top 7 finish in the SEC.
But, hey, a few upsets along the way would be nice. Maybe starting tonight?
Click to expand...

Way too long.
 
#58
#58
after 4 minutes of play? I would not put Reynolds and Cooper in the game so early--a mistake, I think.

Our bigs need more awareness defensively in the paint.
 
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#61
#61
Russell looks worse when you see her in person , she needs to borrow some cuts. She is allowing a small forward push her around.
 
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#73
#73
Good defense in the first quarter--we definitely bothered missouri a lot; they had trouble getting open shot. Middleton with no game awareness to end the quarter. Clock is winding down--5, 4, 3....she has a completely open shot in front and yet passes to Nared deep in the corner, who must throw one up at the buzzer and misses. Have a clue, please! It's the little/big things that we struggle with. The point guard should know how much time is left in the quarter and not make a pass with 2 seconds left.
 
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