Game Thread Lady Vols at Notre Dame

#326
#326
I've said it before but every year we're so happy about these amazing Freshman but the dirty little secret is that our program has regressed so far that we rely on the Freshman too much whereas we never did that in our last National Championship season and before. It was rare that Freshman ever got attention or to start or contribute meaningfully. Now every year we subconsciously relying on them to dig us out of the doldrums. Good to great teams just don't rely on Freshman. We almost always do and it seems like the pains of growing up flare up in these important games.

Don't get me wrong: I love our Freshman, but we DESPERATELY need Senior leadership and Nared and Russell were MIA at the end of regulation and OT versus TAM and they certainly didn't step up tonight. We DESPERATELY need a coaching staff to DEMAND they both get involved in the game along with the strategic foresight that we have a competent offensive structure that ensures it will or even can happen.

And, that glimmer of hope I had earlier in the season that the program had turned a corner regarding turnovers was apparently mirage. Damn, 28 turnovers with arguably our best player (Nared) leading the way with 7. Pretty frustrating to look like the same old team and program at this point.

We shot less than 50% from the FT line?! That's almost all you need to know right there.

The biggest disappointment to me though was getting beat 3 out of 4 quarters. There was certainly a coaching disparity tonight and it showed in the box score.
 
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#328
#328
Holly should not be afraid to sit Jaime when she’s struggling or lackadaisical. That guard whose name I can’t pronounce from ND absolutely kicked our butts. But people on here saying they’re done blah blah blah, just go on now. Sick of your posts
 
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#329
#329
LA Vol said:
The LVs had good ball movement in the first qtr. Everybody on the floor was finding shots, not just Russell. They got ahead, then got passive, unfocused and sloppy and let ND steal the game away. They've done it before against lesser teams and managed to pull out the W. Tonight, they got whipped by a team that didn't quit.
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Thanks for the honest evaluation. Sure beats the blathering nega tirade where everything is about firing the coach.
 
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#330
#330
Orange Maniac said:
It has been taken out of context several times in the threads tonight. That answer was to a specific question which was why did they stop going inside to Mercedes. A few on here take something and run with it and try to make something out of nothing just like this answer.
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ok , regardless as to what the question was, she still did not have an answer for the problem period. The bottom line is Holly sucks at all phases of the game. She did not have an answer for anything. They lost.
 
#331
#331
We should have overloaded one side however holly has beat muffler FYI wen they packed it in we should have overload with our best shooter in corner and don’t say kd she don’t gaurd anybody
 
#333
#333
I know everyone wants to blame this on Holly, but I think a lot of the blame should be directed at Nared and Russell. Where’s the senior leadership? When things started getting out of control, they were no where to be found.
 
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#336
#336
Darth_Vol said:
Then you haven't followed this team very closely since Holly took over....
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I thought I had but I don't know. I think I just have to watch it again. It just all came crumbling down. Ironically, I said to myself 10 points isn't a big enough lead going into the 4th against ND. They may have just felt a little too comfortable with that lead.

I think what is weird is that Tennessee gives up an average of 78 PPG to ranked opponents. That puts a ton of pressure on your offense night in and night out, especially the games where they are turning over the ball a lot. Well they got some good game tape. On to the next. Clean up the turn overs and don't get complacent on defense.
 
#337
#337
stlvolsfan said:
I know everyone wants to blame this on Holly, but I think a lot of the blame should be directed at Nared and Russell. Where’s the senior leadership? When things started getting out of control, they were no where to be found.
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Agreed. I felt bad for the freshman. When things started going downhill they had no leadership from the bench or from the upperclassmen on the floor.
 
#338
#338
Orange Maniac said:
It has been taken out of context several times in the threads tonight. That answer was to a specific question which was why did they stop going inside to Mercedes. A few on here take something and run with it and try to make something out of nothing just like this answer.
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Maniac, it doesn't matter if it was a specific question or not. You should have a answer! You get their attention by sitting them, explaining to them, that if she, they, don't take better care of the ball, then they can get very accustomed to the seat they're sitting in!
 
#340
#340
Hope the LVs can get back on track at home on Sunday. Tough loss tonight... but it would be even tougher on a young team to take two hard losses back-to-back and go 1-3 for the stretch. Need to go 2-2 and finish strong.
 
#342
#342
After reading the stats.... noticed

Second quarter we were one of eight shots in the last part of the second quarter!!

We took ten shots in the third quarter and they took eighteen!!! (-8)

We took ten shots in the fourth quarter and they took twenty !! (-10 )

We shot a better percentage but they got up 18 more shots in the last two quarters?? Plus the 28 turnovers verses their 12!!! Terrible? WHY....
 
#343
#343
Bellevue vol said:
If the Lady Vols had Muffet as their coach this would have been a 40 point win. And a #1 seed in the tourney.
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I floated her name as someone we should go after. Some people say she would never leave, but here's my thinking: she keeps playing second fiddle to UCONN simply because she doesn't attract enough talented players. If she came to UT, she would and she'd be unstoppable.

stlvolsfan said:
I know everyone wants to blame this on Holly, but I think a lot of the blame should be directed at Nared and Russell. Where’s the senior leadership? When things started getting out of control, they were no where to be found.
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Here's the thing. [Insert any problem here] like no Senior leadership and a GOOD coach finds a way to fix it. Coaching trumps talent. Lack of talent is easier to overcome than lack of coaching. Coaching affects just TOO many areas.

PRG said:
After reading the stats.... noticed

Second quarter we were one of eight shots in the last part of the second quarter!!

We took ten shots in the third quarter and they took eighteen!!! (-8)

We took ten shots in the fourth quarter and they took twenty !! (-10 )

We shot a better percentage but they got up 18 more shots in the last two quarters?? Plus the 28 turnovers verses their 12!!! Terrible? WHY....
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When you turn the ball over so many more times than the other team, you are going to give them more shot opportunities. That's why turnovers, to me, is THE SINGLE most important stat. If you don't turn the ball over, you at least get a shot, a chance, to make a goal or get the rebound. When you turn it over, you have no chance.
 
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#344
#344
PRG said:
After reading the stats.... noticed

Second quarter we were one of eight shots in the last part of the second quarter!!

We took ten shots in the third quarter and they took eighteen!!! (-8)

We took ten shots in the fourth quarter and they took twenty !! (-10 )

We shot a better percentage but they got up 18 more shots in the last two quarters?? Plus the 28 turnovers verses their 12!!! Terrible? WHY....
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They got up more shots than Tennessee because Tennessee kept turning the ball over. It was Auburn all over again, except against a team that can shoot efficiently. They finished at 48%, but must have shot around 60% after the first 13 minutes.

What hasn't been discussed is how terribly Notre Dame played in offense and defense in the first 1 1/2 quarters to spot Tennessee a 23 point lead. Ogwunbowale was especially awfully. She was just jacking the ball up. They also turned the ball over at an unusual clip. Once they settled down and started playing the kind of basketball we're accustomed to seeing ND play, they cruised to a win.

ND is just flat out a better team. They take care of the basketball, they pass well, take high percentage shots and are generally a high IQ team. They nearly beat UConn, so it's not like they are a slouch. Sure, it sucks that Tennessee choked away a huge lead, but the only reason they were up that big was because ND let them.

The difference between this game and the Louisville game is that Louisville played perfectly from start to finish, and ND had no chance. Tennessee didn't play all that well to get the lead, so it was no surprise to see ND turn the game around once they stopped stinking it up.
 
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#345
#345
PRG said:
After reading the stats.... noticed

Second quarter we were one of eight shots in the last part of the second quarter!!

We took ten shots in the third quarter and they took eighteen!!! (-8)

We took ten shots in the fourth quarter and they took twenty !! (-10 )

We shot a better percentage but they got up 18 more shots in the last two quarters?? Plus the 28 turnovers verses their 12!!! Terrible? WHY....
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Jaime Nared had 7 turnovers, on some of them she dribbled in the middle and they mugged her and a foul should have been called. Mercedes Russell played 36 minutes, she was so tired the 4th quarter she could not do much of anything. If she had gotten just another 6 minutes rest it would have made a world of difference. When Notre Dame went on a run the freshman looked so lost and did not want the ball. They keep trying to go inside even after Notre Dame put 3 players on Mercedes Russell that was a lot of the turnovers.
 
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#346
#346
djtee said:
Thank You ! I watch a Louisville game don`t remember who they played. But i can tell you this Jeff Walz was all over freshmen Dana Evans for her poor play and bad turnovers.
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Walz' Louisville team clobbered this same ND team less than a week ago. What would HE have done with the Lady Vols team? :blush2:
 
#348
#348
Their play is a reflection of their coach.
I haven’t posted one thing bad about Holly until now.
To give up a lead that big and lose by that much. It comes down to coaching. Calling a Time out, regrouping, especially with such a young group. I mean it would have been nice if their was more of a senior leadership on the team.

Good learning experience for our freshmen. But it’s a pretty embarrassing loss.

ie: Pats teams were fiery and played with passion.
 
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#349
#349
djtee said:
See Pat would get in a players face on the court and hold that player accountable after a awful play or turnover. Holly no way she will just stomp her feet or jump up and down.
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Or do the Holly Headlock.
 

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