Game Thread Lady Vols at Texas A&M

[FrozenLVFan]

Let's not make Evina the goat here and pin this loss completely on her. There were other people that fouled or made TO's leading to TAMU baskets, missed open shots, and let their opponent blow by them while on defense that cost us points throughout the game. Evina's worst mistakes happened to come in the last minute so they were just more obvious.

 

[WVU05UT09]

I just finshed watching this game and it just looked like Tennessee couldn't really get comfortable. TAMU looked very comfortable running in transition or setting up their half court plays. Tennessee can get so in a hurry to run and get buckets in transition that they either turn it over or take a wild shot. You can tell they have worked on some things in the half court but they just aren't comfortable and they need to get there because the season is half over. There were a few times where players were running into each other, or not filling the lanes, or just a half step slow to cut through the lane, or pass. What must be conflicting for them is when Holly says run.

.

Tennessee hasn't looked good since the wins against Long Beach State and Texas. It has taken the whole game to put away Stanford, Auburn, Vanderbilt. The 1st Q against UK was the margin of victory as they essentially played them even Q2-Q4. Right now its a good team--not great team. Probably looking at low 2 to a 3 seed based on current performance. The good news is the freshman can continue to develop and their development probably determines the trajectory of the season.

 

[SandyO]

I just finshed watching this game and it just looked like Tennessee couldn't really get comfortable. TAMU looked very comfortable running in transition or setting up their half court plays. Tennessee can get so in a hurry to run and get buckets in transition that they either turn it over or take a wild shot. You can tell they have worked on some things in the half court but they just aren't comfortable and they need to get there because the season is half over. There were a few times where players were running into each other, or not filling the lanes, or just a half step slow to cut through the lane, or pass. What must be conflicting for them is when Holly says run.

I wonder what drills they do for this in practice because I noticed that the spacing seemed a bit off for some players. I'm not saying don't run but be mindful of the line ups when you say that. There is a right way to run a fast break and certain line ups do it better than others for the LVs. The commentators said Holly said run and then turned around and said Russell isn't getting enough shots in this half... well which game plan are we doing because Mercedes isn't beating Davis or Hayes or Nared up the floor and Westbrook is usually the facilitator there.

I made a comment a few weeks ago about ND losing to UConn because they missed 10 straight shots in the final quarter vs a worthy opponent in a tight game. At that time I said when have you ever seen that happen and that team win. Well it happened today. It's unbelievable that TAMU missed 18 straight (I'm going to look at the play by play docs to verify that because I still don't believe it) and I don't think they were ever even down by double digits. They didn't look panicked or under pressure at any point. They basically lulled the LV to sleep. All in all the I think what hurt Tennessee the most was their discomfort running a half court offense (certain line ups especially) and Meme playing 30 mins without scoring. Everything else looked about even.

I think Meme tries real hard but everytime she touches the ball, I cringe. She’s out of control 90% of the time. And I think holly is getting scared to discipline EW. Creating another DD if isn’t careful.

 

[mlindsay]

I didn’t watch the game but the stat line shows Russell had 12 shots in the first half and only 4 in the second half and OT.

Russell is the key to this team. The Lady Vols will go as far as she takes them.

She has to want to take them! Down the stretch she didn’t want the ball and was telling players to give it to green on the block

 

[leejoek]

I think Meme tries real hard but everytime she touches the ball, I cringe. She’s out of control 90% of the time. And I think holly is getting scared to discipline EW. Creating another DD if isn’t careful.

I'll take DD over anybody!

 

[NoBackBoard]

She has to want to take them! Down the stretch she didn’t want the ball and was telling players to give it to green on the block

Well that just says it all...I expect a fifth-year senior with the best shooting % on the team to want the ball in the second half to LEAD her team to victory. Hopefully they can bounce back strong. My thing is fans see issues with players and posters defend them with, “If Holly sits them, we’ll lose.” Oh, well. I believe you have to lose battles to win wars. Pat was never afraid to send strong messages. If players aren’t held accountable, we’ll lose games anyway. Just like this one.

 

[Volfan2012]

The entire story of this game was that they got to the foul line 26 times to our 11. In past games we were able to get fouled and shoot free throws last night very few. I guess we need to give A&M credit for playing defense and not fouling as that is why they won the game.

 

[Amb3096]

The entire story of this game was that they got to the foul line 26 times to our 11. In past games we were able to get fouled and shoot free throws last night very few. I guess we need to give A&M credit for playing defense and not fouling as that is why they won the game.

They also attacked the basket more instead of settling for mid and long jumpers.

 

[leejoek]

They also attacked the basket more instead of settling for mid and long jumpers.

The longer Holly coaches our players, the less likely our players will dribble aggressively towards the baskets.

Pounding the ball in-low needlessly is is like running John Kelly into the teeth of defense without blocking.

 

[mlindsay]

Well that just says it all...I expect a fifth-year senior with the best shooting % on the team to want the ball in the second half to LEAD her team to victory. Hopefully they can bounce back strong. My thing is fans see issues with players and posters defend them with, “If Holly sits them, we’ll lose.” Oh, well. I believe you have to lose battles to win wars. Pat was never afraid to send strong messages. If players aren’t held accountable, we’ll lose games anyway. Just like this one.

I’ve been saying that forever sometimes you have to send a message and if that means benching your start player because although they may be playing okay, they aren’t playing at the level you are accustomed to them playing you have to do so

 

[Volfan2012]

If this game teaches Lady Vols that you have to attack the basket and you must play at a high level on defense every play then it went for good purpose that we lost. Games on the road against teams as good as A&M are 50/50 propositions at best. One or two plays decide these games when teams are close in talent. A&M lost at SC because they failed to make a couple of plays. They won last night because we failed to make a couple of plays.

 

[T_Vol376]

I'll take DD over anybody!

Then you know nothing of last season. My guess is you’re just here to stir the 💩 pot.

 

[djtee]

I'll take DD over anybody!

Look i watch the game and the bottom line is this, Westbrook needs to make shots get her shooting percentage up. Right now it`s not good, If you play 42mins and only score 9 points winning the big games are gonna be difficult. Now As for Jackson i`m gonna put all the heat on Holly. You can not have a player play 30 mins 30 mins and not score a point Holly this loss is on you.

 

[FrozenLVFan]

The entire story of this game was that they got to the foul line 26 times to our 11. In past games we were able to get fouled and shoot free throws last night very few. I guess we need to give A&M credit for playing defense and not fouling as that is why they won the game.

Nared got mauled repeatedly while the refs had their whistles in their pockets. I'm not blaming them for our loss, but I'm not going to give A&M credit for not fouling either.

 

[Eric Viesturs]

Medical Hardship Exemption
The NCAA allows a seriously injured athlete to extend her eligibility period through a medical hardship exemption, commonly referred to by media outlets as a "medical redshirt," though the NCAA does not use this terminology.

An athlete can qualify for this exemption if she has a documented, incapacitating injury or illness that occurred in the first half of the basketball season and the student-athlete has not participated in more than two contests or dates of competition or 20 percent of her team's scheduled contests, whichever number is greater.

"Quote" from some source.

We play 29 games so 20% is 5.8. Kasi has played in 6 games with the last being KY Dec31, before the mid point of the season. They probably round the 5.8 up to 6 so if Kasi doesn't play in any more I'm guessing she would be elgible for a medical.

I don't think they round up, but as someone else pointed out, it doesn't matter, it is 30% not 20%.

From the Division I manual page 85:

12.8.4 Hardship Waiver. A student-athlete may be granted an additional year of competition by the conference or the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement for reasons of “hardship.” Hardship is defined as an incapacity resulting from an injury or illness that has occurred under all of the following conditions: (Revised: 1/10/92 effective 8/1/92, 1/14/97, 8/1/97, 4/26/01 effective 8/1/01, 11/1/01, 4/3/02, 8/8/02, 3/10/04, 5/11/05, 9/18/07, 11/1/07 effective 8/1/08, 4/24/08, 7/31/14) (a) The incapacitating injury or illness occurs in one of the four seasons of intercollegiate competition at any twoyear or four-year collegiate institutions or occurs after the first day of classes in the student-athlete’s senior year in high school; (b) The injury or illness occurs prior to the first competition of the second half of the playing season that concludes with the NCAA championship in that sport (see Bylaw 12.8.4.3.4) and results in incapacity to compete for the remainder of that playing season; (c) In team sports, the injury or illness occurs when the student-athlete has not participated in more than three contests or dates of competition (whichever is applicable to that sport) or 30 percent (whichever number is greater) of the institution’s scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition in his or her sport. Only scheduled or completed competition against outside participants during the playing season that concludes with the NCAA championship, or, if so designated, during the official NCAA championship playing season in that sport (e.g., spring baseball, fall soccer), shall be countable under this limitation in calculating both the number of contests or dates of competition in which the student-athlete has participated and the number of scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition during that season in the sport.

 

[leejoek]

Look i watch the game and the bottom line is this, Westbrook needs to make shots get her shooting percentage up. Right now it`s not good, If you play 42mins and only score 9 points winning the big games are gonna be difficult. Now As for Jackson i`m gonna put all the heat on Holly. You can not have a player play 30 mins 30 mins and not score a point Holly this loss is on you.

What was Coach Holly's average scoring?

 

[37620VOL]

I didn't get to watch this game but would I be correct that Hillsman from TAMU killed us. Appears that way from the box score.

22 points on 8 of 9 shooting, 11 boards, 4 blocks, only 2 fouls. That's quite efficient.

 

[Nuyoika]

I didn't get to watch this game but would I be correct that Hillsman from TAMU killed us. Appears that way from the box score.

22 points on 8 of 9 shooting, 11 boards, 4 blocks, only 2 fouls. That's quite efficient.

Her and Russell basically cancelled each others efforts out. What killed you was Meme playing 30 minutes but not scoring. Now if she held one of their guards in check and didn't score then that's different but that wasn't the case.

 

[37620VOL]

Her and Russell basically cancelled each others efforts out. What killed you was Meme playing 30 minutes but not scoring. Now if she held one of their guards in check and didn't score then that's different but that wasn't the case.

Whoever was guarding Carter did a great job.

 

[Nuyoika]

Whoever was guarding Carter did a great job.

I mean I guess thats debatable. I'm an analytics guy. So to me a great job would be keeping them from hitting anywhere near their numbers. Over the previous 4 games she averaged 23PPG, 3.75 Rebounds, & 4.75 Assists. In the broadcast I think they said she ranks 1st, 3rd, & 5th in the nation in those categories among DI freshman. Versus Tennessee she got 21 points, 6 rebounds, & 4 assists. Really she played about normal. She didn't go off but she wasn't really held in check either. She's a volume shooter. She got the volume she needed. What would have been great is if they kept her from getting off 31+ shots. She's not the most efficient scorer but if you let anyone get that many shots off I'm not sure you've done a great job, especially when you know she is the one that makes things go for her team.

 

[blackv]

I picked the lady vols fourth in the sec. I think I am right. I think they are better than tam

 

[Darth_Vol]

What would have been great is if they kept her from getting off 31+ shots.

Yeah and she missed 22 of them. Stuff your analytics, we'll take that every time....

 

[Nuyoika]

Yeah and she missed 22 of them. Stuff your analytics, we'll take that every time....

Okay, just to be clear. The point is that it was likely she was going to miss many of them. That is her game. Thats why she needed 31. Had she gotten 21 maybe the LV could have pulled out the win. Maybe not. That is why analytics in basketball are in relation to the player and not individual perception of the stat itself. If you don't know analytics I could see how this would be confusing which is why I provided her avg stats.

Like I said it's debateable though the term "great" since it's an opinion. The coaches who have been really succesful for a long time use analytics heavily not just on offense and defense but also with conditioning. Carter looks like she is going to be Kelsey Mitchell 2.0, those players need their shots even if they don't fall for their teams offense to function. Because they shoot so much you have to pay attention to them. Who knows, next time you play TAMU she could go 21 for 31, then there would be fans crying about her getting 31 shots.

 

[Amb3096]

Kelsey and Chennedy have good shooting percentages. This was a bad game for Chennedy. She had the same problem vs SC where she put up 36 shots, but missed the last 10-12 or so. But normally, she shoots the ball well.

 

[Nuyoika]

Kelsey and Chennedy have good shooting percentages. This was a bad game for Chennedy. She had the same problem vs SC where she put up 36 shots, but missed the last 10-12 or so. But normally, she shoots the ball well.

From the pregame interviews I've watched the standard seems to be that when scouting coaches use stats from the last 6 games. The last 4 were pretty easy to get so I used that. I thought overall the teams were so even that TAMU should be ranked higher. Especially when you combine that with their performance against SCar. Either all should be Top 10 or all should be somewhere in the 13-17 range. Everyone looks about the same right now, although, Baylor and Miss St. might be really really good. Baylor is hard to judge because their SOS isn't really in line with anyone else in the Top 10.