Game Thread Lady Vols versus USA scrimmage, Nov 5, 6PM, Food City/Thompson Boling Arena

#51
#51
It’s getting closer to gameday as Team USA comes to town to take on the 8-time Nat’l champions the Tennessee Lady Vols.

Tennessee has depth and quality scoring options in key spots to give the top USA W players in the world a look and hopefully compete for the full game.
To do so, certain LV players will need to play exceptionally well and others will need to maximize their overall production.
I am looking forward to matchups like Griner v Hollingshead, Key v Boston, Young v Spear, Copper v Spear & Wynn, Rickea & Puckett v Howard, Wells v Atkins, Wells & Powell, v DT.
Lets GBO🍊!
 
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#53
#53
Volfaninfl2 said:
I agree.

So, Kellie played in a game against a USA Team, and what is her big memory? That someone stole the ball while she was thinking of throwing to the post, and went in for a layup.

Just out of curiosity, if Candace Parker were on the USA Team and they ‘practiced’ against UConn (on national tv), think she would play well?

For me, you Play To Win The Game, Every Game, including the ones that “don’t count”. I want my Team to be in the habit of winning. Pat’s teams played USA 3 times, won 1, played close in another, and one I don’t know the score.

We are not scouting this USA Team, and why is this? Two reasons I think, (1) because it “doesn’t count”, and (2) because in our first game against Carson Newman, our 3 point shooters didn’t shoot well, one of our posts had a hard time making layups, and our defense needs work.

Which brings up the question for me, do the people we practice against really try to stop us from scoring, or are they just bodies on the floor?

Cont.
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You answered your question about why the LVs are not scouting Team USA in your following post (as did Kellie in her Presser)-- that is, they have a quick succession of games that follow immediately after this preseason game that they need to be ready for.

Trust me, if the LVs played close against Team USA and then lose one of their first two games, this board (the broader fan base, and the rankings) will definitely not give any credence to the preseason game. The not counting thing is kind of big when you are racing onto a crowded regular season schedule, with a lot to prove.
 
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#54
#54
BruisedOrange said:
I dunno... I think I can understand them.

As long as your feet and knees hold out, basketball is a wonderful game to age in. Your eyes perceive greater nuance in the details, but also more of the court and beyond the court. Your mind anticipates much faster, and enables you to still succeed in what your body no longer allows. You're a much better player, even though you're losing speed, quickness, and hops each year.

As you age playing basketball, the game itself changes, and you have fresh challenges. But you've gained so many more tools! Physically, my game peaked at 30. But the game I played at 50 was a much better game than I played at any other age.
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I, Me, Mine. Of course there are a thousand reasons anyone would want to. The question is not would, but should. Do it for a fifth or sixth time to scratch an end of career new challenge itch at the expense of some hard working, deserving player who has never been? IMO that is gobsmacking selfishness and entitlement that I would be ashamed for my offspring to display.
Volfaninfl2 said:
Which brings up the question for me, do the people we practice against really try to stop us from scoring, or are they just bodies on the floor?
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From what I saw, yes they do try to stop them, but always with mindfulness toward not hurting them. You want to be the practice guy that hurt Rickea? And the practice guys go all out trying to score themselves. No mercy there. A couple of them could really shoot.
Volfaninfl2 said:
The positives playing this game are: hopefully good national exposure, playing against tough competition, getting lots of good autographs, maybe becoming buddies later in the WNBA, and hopefully good memories.
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Actually, when asked in her pressor, Kellie said there are no opportunities scheduled for the players to mix and mingle. So scratch that last part. I believe the USA team is leaving right after the game to go to Atlanta for practice w the rest of the roster before they go to Duke. She said USA hasn't practiced and are only meeting up here, probably practice today and tomorrow.

I'm going but I wish we weren't doing this.
 
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#55
#55
jlcarter said:
Will Diana receive a nice welcome on Sunday? :p
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Don’t know about that one lol, but I want to see Diana try to stay in front of Destinee Wells and I hope CKH puts in Kaiya to pressure those folks full court soon as she checks in!

Kaiya is a pure athlete.. I just believe it’s time to turn her loose and see how it plays out!
 
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#56
#56
WinnerCircle said:
Don’t know about that one lol, but I want to see Diana try to stay in front of Destinee Wells and I hope CKH puts in Kaiya to pressure those folks full court soon as she checks in!

Kaiya is a pure athlete.. I just believe it’s time to turn her loose and see how it plays out!
Click to expand...

I was happy to see how much Kaiya's shot seems to have improved. Her FTs no longer seem like a thrill ride.
 
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#57
#57
Volfaninfl2 said:
I agree.

So, Kellie played in a game against a USA Team, and what is her big memory? That someone stole the ball while she was thinking of throwing to the post, and went in for a layup.
Click to expand...

Kellie has played in or coached well more than a thousand basketball games in her life, so it's not all that surprising that she's not remembering a tremendous number of details from any one game.

On the other hand, I can look at our current roster and be fairly certain many, if not most. of the players on it will, 50 years from now, remember their years as Lady Vols as THE highlight of their athletic lives, because they will neither play nor coach after leaving college. Sunday will be a lifelong memory for those women. It'll be a highlight of their youths.

I still stand by what I said.
 
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#58
#58
lvocd said:
Kellie has played in or coached well more than a thousand basketball games in her life, so it's not all that surprising that she's not remembering a tremendous number of details from any one game.

On the other hand, I can look at our current roster and be fairly certain many, if not most. of the players on it will, 50 years from now, remember their years as Lady Vols as THE highlight of their athletic lives, because they will neither play nor coach after leaving college. Sunday will be a lifelong memory for those women. It'll be a highlight of their youths.

I still stand by what I said.
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You certainly have the right to stand. But I can't imagine getting dusted by the USA squad in a scrimmage will stand out more than say, beating the eventual national champ last year or making it to the final four this year. JMO
 
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#61
#61
It’s gameday on Rocky Top! The world’s best professional women basketball players on Team USA are set to take on the 8-time Nat’l champions Tennessee LVs.

Former AmeriCup USA players projected lottery pick Rickea J and elite G Jewel Spear reflect on this summer’s tourney before taking on Team USA.

Rickea was unstoppable in the highlights head to head against both professional and college players that we’ve since seen sports pundits and analysts rank ahead of RJ on the 2024 WNBA draft boards.
It’s clear that these projections and rankings have very little if any credibility at this point.

 
#63
#63
Locked in on the present
Lets GBO🍊


WinnerCircle starting lineup picks based on 1st exhibition performance

PG Destinee Wells
CG Kaiya Wynn
W Sara Puckett
PF Rickea Jackson
C Jillian Hollingshead

Starter 6: Powell
Starter 7: Key
Starter 8: Spear (coming off injury)
Tess Darby
Karoline Striplin
Edie Darby
Avery Strickland

Note: Former 5 star McD All-American G Talaysia Cooper has redshirted for the 2023-2024 season.
 
#64
#64
Coach Jumper's predictions:
Score: USA 85 Lady Vols 70

Starters:
PG Destinee Wells (9 minutes) sub= (Kaiya Wynn)
SG Sara Puckett (3 minutes) sub= (Jasmine Spear)
SF Rickea Jackson (8 minutes) sub= (Jasmine Powell)
PF Jillian Hollingshead (6 minutes) sub= Tess Darby)
C Tamari Key (3 minutes) sub= (Karoline Striplin/Jillian back in)
 
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#67
#67
My predictions:
USA 105 Tennessee 78

Starters
PG-Powell
2G-Darby
C-Hollingshead
PF-Jackson
WF-Puckett

Sixth-Wells
Seventh-Spears
Eighth-Key
Ninth-Wynn
Tenth-Striplin
Eleventh-Strickland
Twelfth-Darby2
 
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#70
#70
Coach Jumper said:
My prediction is who I would start...Yours is who Coach K is more likely to start given history
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True cause she doesn't like change. My personal starters would be Wells, Spears, Puckett, Jackson, and Hollingshead. I would start Key is she was 100 percent.
 
#71
#71
At some point, any successful Coach philosophy has to be non-bias. I’m not here to bash anyone or speak negative about any player but you not play your best players to win and certainly start them if you’re serious about winning. We have yet to see Jewel Spear play so coming off an injury, I would expect to see her transition to playing in a reserve role at-least in today’s exhibition. Destinee Wells will and should move into the start lineup if not today before the close of the opening week of action.
Tamari Key and Sara Puckett are both viable options to insert into the starting lineup to fill the frontcourt positions.

Based on what is on film from the first exhibition’s odds are the best starting lineup is:
Wells, Wynn (Spear* if healthy), Puckett, Jackson, Hollingshead

Starter 6: Powell, Starter 7: Key Starter 8: Spear or Wynn (depending on Spear’s performance today)
Tess Darby 3pt specialist
Karoline Striplin top reserve post
Edie Darby
Avery Stickland

Tennessee can compete with South Carolina and LSU if the most skilled and efficient players are inserted into critical positions/roles. If a coach is serious about competing for the SEC tourney and Nat’l championship not only would they accept change but embrace it. Those first 8 players are exceptionally skilled. Other players will have a key role and be given an opportunity to produce when needed in crucial moments. The entire roster from 1-12 with Talaysia Cooper redshirting in 2023-2024 will be needed to win a championship. Still play your most talented players especially when they have put in the work as Kaiya Wynn and Sara Puckett to earn a bigger role this season.
 
#72
#72
Excited for the game. Having people over to watch. Very interested to see how they ref this game after the Carson-Newman game. Cheryl Reece demands physical defense. Wings couldn’t get out of MN before they injured one of the stars. Team USA Plato g Reece ball should foul out by midway thru the 2nd quarter.
 
#73
#73
I'm predicting Taurasi throws a few elbows just for nostalgia's sake, but I don't think the USA team will be at full pace in this game. Or, I hope they aren't!
 
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#74
#74
We will be doing well to keep it close. We’re playing an all-star team of pros, going to be a great way to see what we need to improve.

I expect both teams to come to play. Even if we have our very best game I give the edge to team USA. The perimeter play they have is going to be extremely hard for us to defend.

Same with the interior, Griner and Boston? That’s a load for a half speed TK and Jill. Striplin can get in there and bang but she can’t matchup with BG at all.

Will be fun to watch, mostly want to see us keep turnovers low, make it a game and have fun.
 
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