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

[creekdipper]

and one Dorka is 24 years old

Heck, she's old enough to have 2030 recruits at home!

 

[Amb3096]

No contest...two very different positions

Not sure what you're point is with Dorka's age. The extra COVID year resulted in a lot of players who were born in 1999 still on the college courts. Dorka and Jordan just happen to be two of them with early birthdays.

 

[Amb3096]

No contest...two very different positions

Also, Dorka just turned 23 this past December. So she's actually 11 months younger than Jordan Walker.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Not sure what you're point is with Dorka's age. The extra COVID year resulted in a lot of players who were born in 1999 still on the college courts. Dorka and Jordan just happen to be two of them with early birthdays.

a younger ball-handler against a 23 year old is no where near as pertinent as an a younger post battling a 23 year ol post/forward

Give me the older post everytime,,,I will take the younger person at the speed position over a younger person at post everytime

Case in point, Tamari's numbers as she matured,,,while Walker is still where she was,

 

[plumbervol]

The matchups Walker and Powell guard Senschal Lopez 0 points to 26 points game right there. A lot of criticism for not putting a big defender like Horston on her. We had to cut her production she can't score 26 that was the game right there. instead Horston was guarding Muhl who was certainly their least offensive threat on the floor. Kellie needs to learn you have to work the best offensive threats with your best defenders and try to make their lesser offensive threats shoot the ball. If they beat you so be it.

I agree that was the ballgame, nobody could handle Lopez. The problem with this IMO is keeping Horston on the court without fouling out. Without her I posted earlier we are "ordinary", I was corrected we are less tan ordinary. She has to help in ball handling, creating offense, assists, and using her length on defense against all the wings and guards. Then their is her rebounds.... With Horston on the bench we lose by 40 or more.

 

[Amb3096]

a younger ball-handler against a 23 year old is no where near as pertinent as an a younger post battling a 23 year ol post/forward

Give me the older post everytime,,,I will take the younger person at the speed position over a younger person at post everytime

Case in point, Tamari's numbers as she matured,,,while Walker is still where she was,

So then Tennessee should have an advantage, given that Jasmine Franklin is older than Dorka is.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

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.

the lack of movement has been there all season. To much standing around. UConn showed how in shape they were with constant movement in spite of only playing 8.

UCONN played motion offense / inside-out and screen high and low. UT played stand and watch JH RJ and hope when they passed it out that a UCONN player hadn’t noticed so UT could get an open look.

nothing last night was different than 90% of the rest of the games this season except the opponents skill and the execution of their excellent Ahole coaches plan.

 

[glv98]

Cora Hall just retweeted a series of pictures of Edwards absolutely doing the dirty on the Rickea takedown. Said that's what she thought she saw live, but pics confirm and according to Hall, look really bad on Edwards. Basically grabbed around waist with both hands, flipped over, intentionally locked legs around and kicked RJ in the head when she tried to get out of the leglock.

And initially, they called this foul on Rickea! Take a look at those pics. Cora Hall calling out Edwards as dirty. Also cc to Lobo, who owes RJ an apology, as if.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I think it comes down to the Tennessee front court vs the UConn front court. UConn PG will be looking for assists first and foremost. She’s not a scorer, and she’s also bigger than the Tennessee PGs. Maybe take away her passing lanes but she’s not gonna burn teams with scoring unless they are daring her to shoot.

So, what do you think after the game, Amb? I thought we did OK in the paint, not so much on the perimeter vs their 3 shooters. We are just not quick or fast enough to defend the perimeter.

 

[Majors]

LSU has the 301st ranked non conference schedule in the nation. They’ve stacked their 20-0 record with cupcake wins over Texas am community college. Our record would be 17-3 at worst with their schedule.

The fact we would be 17-3 and they are 20-0 is telling in regards to the two programs.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

If UT starts this lineup against LSU:
5-Hollingshead
4-Jackson
3-Horston
2-Darby (I suppose)
1-Walker
Its a good start imo

The Walker vs Powell thing….I have no answer. But Holl should start at the 5, and RJ should start also at the 4. It’s that time of the year, put the best in now..

Whose the scoring threat off the bench?

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Cora Hall just retweeted a series of pictures of Edwards absolutely doing the dirty on the Rickea takedown. Said that's what she thought she saw live, but pics confirm and according to Hall, look really bad on Edwards. Basically grabbed around waist with both hands, flipped over, intentionally locked legs around and kicked RJ in the head when she tried to get out of the leglock.

And initially, they called this foul on Rickea! Take a look at those pics. Cora Hall calling out Edwards as dirty.

I could see that on the replay. I didn't understand why the announcers didn't say what I shouted: uconn player took Rickea down! She hooked her arm!!

 

[glv98]

I could see that on the replay. I didn't understand why the announcers didn't say what I shouted: uconn player took Rickea down! She hooked her arm!!

Yet Lobo watched same replay and called out Rickea for shoving Edwards' leg off of her!

When I looked up I saw the scissorlock, thought they just must have landed that way. But the pics show both the hook and take down, the scissorlock and the kick were quite intentional.

It was Rickea's 4th foul! Yet Baby Geno was crying about the refs "down here".

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Uconn shot 55% overall, and 57% from 3….you need better defense than that to beat them or any good team….y’all know this already of course. Will learn from this for the LSU game..they have some shooters also…starting to think UT does not have the athletes to play elite defense outside 2 or so players which is weird, they were so good defensively last year, prob a factor of Key never being 100% and now gone for year.

Holl is starting to look pretty good though at the 5…come tourney time, if Holl keeps progressing and is paired with Jax and Horston then maybe the worm turns finally this year.. LV’s can make a run with Holl getting PT and progressing so who would want to play against that? There is time..Keep the heads up LV fans.

It always looks worse just before the storm ends, but Holl is a reason to have faith still, she is a baller, just needs more PT. Strip is a liability defensively against a good center, just play Holl. I would not fathom to guess who your best PG is on your team, that is the riddle that needs to be solved soon, it is probably your team’s most important issue, Powell should be the one based upon pedigree, cant wrap my head around that spot for your team, it needs to find an answer though, your coach should know how to train up a PG…she has the background.

They just seemed to hit every open shot, it was just one of those games. If they can hit those shots every game they will win the championship, which is unlikely to happen.

 

[Coach Jumper]

So then Tennessee should have an advantage, given that Jasmine Franklin is older than Dorka is.

key word in you argument is "should"

I love Jasmine's spirit,,,, but Dorka was a seasoned overseas player before she ever donned a connie uniform and Jasmine was an elite mid-major player for all but this year...Did Jasmine make our U19 team? Dorka made hers

Pat Summitt received advice from her father that I would give to every coach,,,"Father: Let me tell you one thing. You don’t take donkeys to the Kentucky Derby. You better get yourself some racehorses."

After TK went down, our racehorse was Hollingshead
Our highest rated shooter is Pissott
invest in your racehorses!

further,,,how many racehorses have we recruited (acquired) for the next couple of years?

 

[madtownvol]

I could see that on the replay. I didn't understand why the announcers didn't say what I shouted: uconn player took Rickea down! She hooked her arm!!

Unfortunately, the old rule that the response always gets the foul call not the instigation held true here.

Why we are on the subject of crap calls (not that they effected the game that much) but in 3rd quarter (I think) when the LVs were making a run Jordan skied for an OR and scored the put back (AND ONE!) but wait, they called the foul on Jordan for supposedly lowering her shoulder a bit before going up (and yes there was some contact on that move) But that move was Edwards scored all night and it happens pretty much automatically in every other game with the foul always going to the defensive player who fouls on going up trying to block the shot. Kellie was incensed and for good reason..

 

[Prophet1]

Watched the broadcast over again and Franklin did a good job on Edwards but Frank was missing her shots (chippies). If uconn has better players on the bench than it's a capital offense. And why do we have to endure Rebbie Lobo bias behind ? Sickening.

 

[madtownvol]

They just seemed to hit every open shot, it was just one of those games. If they can hit those shots every game they will win the championship, which is unlikely to happen.

YES! The simple truth that no one really wants to here because the loss must be due to some sophisticated coaching tactics or a glaring shortfall in the players. We can say that the LVs could have played better defense (and that is DEFINITELY TRUE about the dismal 1st quarter) but after that the LVs did force a fair number of TOs and empty possessions. But a good to very good team (which Uconn is) will get some open looks and they were $. Conversely, the LVs bricked their wide open shots all night. To make matters worse, they dominated the offensive glass but converted a pretty low % of those chances, If this team could shoot.....

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Guard play or "lack there of" exposed again...5'6" & 5'7" guards that don't assist well and are poor shooters and have trouble guarding other 5'10" - 6'0" guards, will hurt you every time...

That’s why I said we need to get pg‘s that are 5’10 and up going forward.

 

[Amb3096]

So, what do you think after the game, Amb? I thought we did OK in the paint, not so much on the perimeter vs their 3 shooters. We are just not quick or fast enough to defend the perimeter.

I don't think I was entirely wrong. Edwards dominated her matchup vs. Jackson, and Juhasz/Hollingshead were basically a wash. I do think that Jill did a much, much better job than I was expecting, and she's the only reason that the inside matchup wasn't even more one-sided in favor of UConn.

On the backcourt matchups, I agree with you that the speed of Lopez Senechal and Griffin was too much on the wings. Lopez Senechal owned her matchup. So did Horston, but Griffin was able to contribute on the offensive end. The rest of Tennessee's backcourt really didn't bring much to the game. So I guess it was a combination of their efficiency inside and outside that made the difference. I thought they'd go to Edwards/Dorka inside first and have LLS as a roaming perimeter threat, but their PG did a great job in getting the ball to whichever one was in the best position to score.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

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 let’s be honest. I love these girls as much as the next fan. But with KH at coach you’re only squeezing so much juice out this turnip. It’s 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.

That’s what I’ve been saying all year, when some people said we are so talented and deep. We are lacking a Pg and a 3rd scoring option. if We had a mobile center that could score and command a double team, that would make things easier for Rickea and Jordan.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

The fact we would be 17-3 and they are 20-0 is telling in regards to the two programs.

It’s not about the program, LSU has a better roster overall. Say we had Angel Reese with Rickea and Jordan, don’t u think we would be undefeated as well?

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Also we have not improved on defense so no need to say we have. Game one Ohio State 87 points and game 23 UConn 84. Your not winning games where the opponent scores over 80 very often. The man to man is not the ideal defense for the team. Some of the players can't guard in the man to man . The personnel we have is much more suited for a match up zone. We only have three or four players that can guard in the man to man and one or two of them must have the right matchup. A 5'6" point guard and another 5'6" point guard can't guard a 6'2" forward.

We lack the talent to be a good defensive team, we are too slow at most positions

 

[youcancallmeAl]

YES! The simple truth that no one really wants to here because the loss must be due to some sophisticated coaching tactics or a glaring shortfall in the players. We can say that the LVs could have played better defense (and that is DEFINITELY TRUE about the dismal 1st quarter) but after that the LVs did force a fair number of TOs and empty possessions. But a good to very good team (which Uconn) is still going to get some open looks and they were $. Conversely, the LVs bricked their wide open shots all night. To make matters worse, they dominated the offensive glass but converted a pretty low % of those chances, If this team could shoot.....

I saw a LV team that simply lacked the quickness and speed to match uconn, not only in the paint but especially on the perimeter. They defended our guards so well our offense ground to a halt much of the time. Our defense was simply not there, and the 57% from three and 55% overall shows it. Points in the paint were even, but points off of turnovers and fast break points were the difference, and that's defense, quickness, and speed superiority for them. They are simply more talented and athletic than we are.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

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.

LSU is a team that can win it all, but I’ll never go into a game thinking we will lose, maybe that’s from my sports background but if Rickea and Jordan can give us their best game at the same time we can have a chance.