Game Thread: Lady Vols v UCONN; Thurs. 8PM; on ESPN

[Amb3096]

I can see them scoring over eighty and we'll go around 65 again. Mulkey chose to play that weak schedule it has worked out well for her. The best team they have played is Arkansas. I think they are a really good team still a step below two or three teams, but will dominate us at home. SC fans don't won't to believe it but with the class she has coming in and the players she has returning they are going to be elite next season and a big challenger to SC for the SEC crown.

With the class she has coming in next year, they'll be a big challenger for the NC too. Especially if she gets a key bandwagon portal pieces or two...

 

[alexvol]

Is what it is............... Rickea didn't have the best performance, however, don't think they can't win it.............

The reason Rickea did not have a good game was two reasons.....1) the defense that was devised by the UCONN Coach which was double team her every time she got within her effective shooting range....and the LV's never adjusted to that by any inside out three point shots or passes to the open person inside ( that is because we have no low post presence at all against good ,tall teams) and 2) the refs calls on the flops by UCONN was outrageous .These two things imo was why Rickea was not effective in this game.I look for LSU and South Carolina and every other team they face the rest of the year to use this strategy.

 

[Amb3096]

It’ll be the first time this season UConn has faced a team bigger than them at all positions. Interested to see if they try to “bring the fight” to SC. Tenn actually crushed them on the boards but lack of defense and low post scoring killed them. Senechal will be guarded like she’s in a stray jacket by Beal and Amihere and Edwards will really have to work for her points against Boston. Should be a really good game.

UConn starts 5'10, 6'0, 6'1, 6'3 and 6'5; SC starts 5'7, 5'9, 6'1, 6'2 , 6'5. The issue is that all the SC players are super athletic and play bigger than they are...and then you blink and all of a sudden there's a 6'4 guard on the perimeter and 6'5 and 6'7 waiting in the paint.

If Lou gets her points vs. SC at an efficient clip like last night, she deserves a medal.

 

[alexvol]

I don’t understand this love for SC? If SC is so much better than UConn, what does that say about us???

It says we are not a top 25 ball club .

 

[Amb3096]

The reason Rickea did not have a good game was two reasons.....1) the defense that was devised by the UCONN Coach which was double team her every time she got within her effective shooting range....and the LV's never adjusted to that by any inside out three point shots or passes to the open person inside ( that is because we have no low post presence at all against good ,tall teams) and 2) the refs calls on the flops by UCONN was outrageous .These two things imo was why Rickea was not effective in this game.I look for LSU and South Carolina and every other team they face the rest of the year to use this strategy.

Rickea also kept trying to do the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. They were just waiting for that spin so that they could send the 2nd defender in or strip the ball. As the game went on, seemed like there was too much standing around waiting for JH or RJ to shoot so that everyone could chase after the rebound.

 

[Volfan2012]

It says we are not a top 25 ball club .

I think we are a fringe top 25 team. UConn, Stanford, and SC are the big three. Indiana, and the Big Ten schools are next. I think were in there with teams like NC State, Va Tech, Oklahoma, others at the bottom of the top 25. I am quite sure that the National champion is more than likely coming from SC, Stanford, or UConn this season. UConn could be a lot scarier if the can get Fudd and Ducharme well.

 

[SATXVolFan82]

I’m sorry we need a new coach. Jeff Walz were you at????? I woke up and thought this was a beautiful nightmare hoping the Lady Vols won…..nope I do believe….don’t call me sexist BUT if the Lady Vols want to relevant we need a man to take the helm. I’m just saying JEFF WALZ we need you stat!

 

[alexvol]

Watched the game and have some thoughts that may or may not be new or welcomed but:

UT built their legacy and reputation on being tough, playing excellent defense, outrebouding the opposition, and also the intimidation factor of the coach and the history of the program. The current roster has two exceptional players in Horston and Jackson. The rest of the team isn't bad but lacks the speed and atheticism to really hang with the top programs. For whatever reason the program seems to have placed a premium on length rather than speed. It is possible to have both but the the others on the roster just aren't quick. Last night the LVs won the rebounding battle but lost the war because their opponent, who is one of the best in the country, had superior offensive talent and execution. It's amazing to me this much time at UT and so many times they appear to be offensively challenged. There is no one who can be relied on to make shots outside of the two main players, of which Horston is extremely streaky. I will say they are all decent players but no difference makers for a team that had FF aspirations at the start of the year.

Last night wasn't all bad. I actually think they played well in stretches and showed they are a top 15-20 team. That's probably the ceiling for this year unless some things change.

Agree on all except that they are not a top 20 team at this point .....they may end up that way if the coach can make some adjustments for the month of February .If she doesn't then this team may not make the tourney.LSU has outstanding coaching and a great post presence as well as good outside shooting( not like UCONN last nite ) but good never-the less .We shall see Monday if this team can rebound after getting the heck beat out of them last nite.They must have a better low post presence and play defense to do that ....and get better coaching.

 

[alexvol]

I think we are a fringe top 25 team. UConn, Stanford, and SC are the big three. Indiana, and the Big Ten schools are next. I think were in there with teams like NC State, Va Tech, Oklahoma, others at the bottom of the top 25. I am quite sure that the National champion is more than likely coming from SC, Stanford, or UConn this season. UConn could be a lot scarier if the can get Fudd and Ducharme well.

I can agree with that......

 

[StorrsCentral]

I’m sorry we need a new coach. Jeff Walz were you at????? I woke up and thought this was a beautiful nightmare hoping the Lady Vols won…..nope I do believe….don’t call me sexist BUT if the Lady Vols want to relevant we need a man to take the helm. I’m just saying JEFF WALZ we need you stat!

I don't know how that would work out as Jeff and Geno are good friends. LOL

 

[glv98]

The reason Rickea did not have a good game was two reasons.....1) the defense that was devised by the UCONN Coach which was double team her every time she got within her effective shooting range....and the LV's never adjusted to that by any inside out three point shots or passes to the open person inside ( that is because we have no low post presence at all against good ,tall teams) and 2) the refs calls on the flops by UCONN was outrageous .These two things imo was why Rickea was not effective in this game.I look for LSU and South Carolina and every other team they face the rest of the year to use this strategy.

I wouldn't say Rickea wasn't effective. 13 pts and 7 rebs is pretty good, and just her presence on the court allows Jordy to do what she did, and vice versa when RJ goes off. That was supposed to be the beauty of this season, he said sadly. But she wasn't as effective as we're used to, missed FTs, missed shots she usually makes, foul trouble again. Would have loved to see some of those sweet pullup jumpers when the spin move wasn't working.,

Folks are definitely getting physical w RJ and are on to her fave moves. Also trying to get under her skin, like when Edwards put a scissorlock hold on her, then kicked Rickea in the head after RJ gently and politely tried to move her leg (my unbiased take). Unfortunately, the predictable double foul was her 4th. IMO it would be a great time for RJ to show the WNBA that she can play through all that and I believe she can. Also, I foolishly hold out hope we have not seen the best of RJ and JH together.

And yes, some consistent 3 ball shooting would help ease the pressure so much.

 

[Lurker]

RJ is the best player on our team. Close second is JH but she tends to zone out at times and forces some bad shots. After that we have a lot of WTH type girls that make you wonder how they got D1 offers. Point guard is a no show this year. Walker and Powell couldn't shoot over a garden Nome if they were standing on a ladder yet they continue to dribble in the paint and force wild shots. Their outside shooting makes you hold your breathe until you see it go through the net or clang off the rim. After that you have some slow footed solid shooters who cant get open or create their own shots. Puckett runs like she is stuck in sand. Striplin has so much heart but a two inch vertical. I mean come on lets be honest. I love these girls as much as the next fan. But with KH at coach your only squeezing so much juice out this turnip. Its time to go outside the family tree and get a coaching staff with a power five winning track record and pay them to reinvent the Lady Vols to a team that resembles a college team.

I agree with much of what you say, but I disagree about the team's "best" player. JH may force some bad shots and she still creates some maddeningly unnecessary turnovers, but she is the first player from this pool that I'd pick for my team. Her combination of natural athleticism, skill and effort is unmatched in my opinion. RJ is skilled and quite athletic as well, but her reaction to adversity is not one of her strong points. I would love to see her ratchet up her on court enthusiasm to match JH and I'd love to see JH become a bit more clinical, like RJ.

 

[mcannon1]

No excuses. We got beaten by a better prepared team. UCONN didn't have better athletes than we did. They were a better TEAM than we were.

 

[LadyViking/Vol]

First of all , I was impressed with all that Thompson Boling Arena put together to make that game an exciting and fun night .. Enjoyed the atmosphere which was awesome .. UConn is always tough and hate to say well coached and prepared for any game they play ( not a Gene fan at all) . However it is true! Lady Vols need to regroup and get ready for some tough matchups ! Love the Lady Vols win or lose ! Heading to Pigeon Forge this morning ! Enjoying beautiful Tennessee!

 

[Amb3096]

I’m sorry we need a new coach. Jeff Walz were you at????? I woke up and thought this was a beautiful nightmare hoping the Lady Vols won…..nope I do believe….don’t call me sexist BUT if the Lady Vols want to relevant we need a man to take the helm. I’m just saying JEFF WALZ we need you stat!

Jeff was too busy losing to Wake Forest last night...

 

[SATXVolFan82]

Jeff was too busy losing to Wake Forest last night...

What were we doing picking oranges????

 

[SATXVolFan82]

I don't know how that would work out as Jeff and Geno are good friends. LOL

Even better keep your friends close but your enemies closer! We need that killer instinct STAT.

 

[glv98]

I mean, Jeff may be looking for a job soon, and I'll bet his asking price is down now.

Jeff Walz is the Lady Vol equivalent of Jon Gruden.

 

[alexvol]

Rickea also kept trying to do the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. They were just waiting for that spin so that they could send the 2nd defender in or strip the ball. As the game went on, seemed like there was too much standing around waiting for JH or RJ to shoot so that everyone could chase after the rebound.

They need to have an offense that sets up screens to give Rickea an open look within her effective shooting range which is 15 feet .She needs to end up on the low post or high post more( at the end of those plays ) not on the wing and the offense should go thru her and or Horston every time down the court .Run some plays for her like they did on the last play at Missouri repetitively .....against good teams who actually scout and set up defenses to take out the best player (s) you simply can not have her playing on the wing and driving the ball one-on- one she will be double teamed all the time which should open up other players for easy shots ....that did not happen last nite and is part of the coaching equation which is missing imo.

 

[Gilmore]

JM0,,, Dawn Staley now is the Pat Summit of the1990 s.

Nope, never be another Pat Summit. No comparison. JMO.

 

[Prophet1]

Not so much Jordan not starting, but rather who else did start. We had a slow footed team out there at several positions which was getting beaten down the court on every possession. By the time we subbed them out and stopped UConn's momentum the game was over.

That is on Kellie. And yeah, it is just idiotic that you don't start both Rickea and Horston. Horston had to wear herself out to will us back into the game by going all out in the second quarter and that made her less effective later coming off illness like she was.

Butch Jones had the same trait as a coach. He was stubborn about certain things and always ended up putting his players in positions which made it very difficult for them to succeed. Kellie does the same with her lineups and momentum killing rotations. No other coach does what she does in that regard, and for good reason.

Too many cooks spoil the brew. Or head coaches.

 

[th2421]

Jeff was too busy losing to Wake Forest last night...

Exactly. All these people begging for a change to Jeff Walz or Kara Lawson or Courtney Banghart...have you actually watched their teams this season? I watched the first half of UNC vs. Pitt (who is 0-fer in the ACC) last night and UNC's players got beat 1-on-1 on defense again...and again...and again...and Louisville looked a hot mess at home against NC State last week. I didn't even catch that they lost to Wake Forest. I love the defensive-mindset that Kara has brought to the Duke program but if you want to see a challenged offensive team...

 

[Volfan2012]

Too many cooks spoil the brew. Or head coaches.

We need more top elite players not coaches. Most any coach can take 10 five star all americans and win most of their games. Unable to recruit is the key factor in the Lady Vol demise. I am sure if Kellie had a Parker like player of a Holdsclaw and Catchings we wouldn't be talking about coaching liabilities. I know Kellie has some as far as use of the players she has, but otherwise she has a good grip of what the team needs to do she just doesn't have the players to do it. What is going to get the coaching change is inability to recruit enough elite players. That is what you must have first more than anything else.

 

[Prophet1]

Easy to understand the weaknesses of our team. No point guard production and at least two players on the floor most of the time that can't guard anybody. Post play is average. The only two slots on the floor where we match up with anybody effectively is when Horston and Jackson are both playing the wings.
Defense against ranked teams Ohio State 87, Indiana 85, UCLA 80, Stanford 77, UConn 84. I look for LSU to score over 80 as well and SC later this season. You got to come up with a plan to stop 80. You may have a shot to win at 70 but 80 your losing 95 percent of the time.

YOUR post play is way above average.
Post #1,202 /#1,205 and this post are spot on and excellent posts.

 

[Amb3096]

We need more top elite players not coaches. Most any coach can take 10 five star all americans and win most of their games. Unable to recruit is the key factor in the Lady Vol demise. I am sure if Kellie had a Parker like player of a Holdsclaw and Catchings we wouldn't be talking about coaching liabilities. I know Kellie has some as far as use of the players she has, but otherwise she has a good grip of what the team needs to do she just doesn't have the players to do it. What is going to get the coaching change is inability to recruit enough elite players. That is what you must have first more than anything else.

Beyond X's and O's, the coach also has to bring in the right players. And that's where Kellie is falling short. Yes, Rickea was great as a transfer add, but Kellie needs to be thinking about all of the pieces not just one shiny new toy. She has too many players she recruited from high school that all have the same strengths and weaknesses, but don't add anything new to the table for a change up, so there's no need to have all of them.