Game Thread: LADY VOLS VS. AUBURN

[Vol girl]

Great win by the Lady Vols..Green,Green and Davis played great. They completely outhustled the Auburn frontcourt players. Westbrook had 10 asst, but I was disappointed with her overall effort. I thought she was going through the motions for most of the game. Tennessee got some home cooking tonight(Fouls:19-8)...I hate bad officiating. However. I thought Auburn was their own worst enemy in the 2nd half. They played with a lack of desire, effort, and intelligence. Auburn made a number of low IQ basketball plays on offense, and their defense and rebounding effort weren't much better.

Based on talent, Tennessee should be a top 3 SEC team and top 10 in the Country. Unfortunately, they have a mediocre Head Coach.

 

[Nute Gunray]

Good game, however LVs win by 20 if Westbrook was her usual scoring self.

 

[W.TN.Orange Blood]

Mizzou...and I will be in the house from St. Louis!!!

Mizzou is giving Miss St all they can handle tonight. Mizzou will beat us by 25 if we come out playing behind.

 

[sccshortstop]

Yep it is over and M State loses in Starkville. Missouri will beat us like a red head step child at their place!! JMHO as always!

 

[stlvolsfan]

Mizzou is giving Miss St all they can handle tonight. Mizzou will beat us by 25 if we come out playing behind.

Well I’m hoping we show up...we owe them. We should have beat them at home.

 

[stlvolsfan]

Yep it is over and M State loses in Starkville. Missouri will beat us like a red head step child at their place!! JMHO as always!

If I’m driving 2 hrs to watch them, they better come to play or I’m coming out of the stands and I’m suiting up myself lol!

 

[stlvolsfan]

Locker room gimmick worked, but it will take more than this to turn season around.

Hopefully it was the kick in the but they needed

 

[stlvolsfan]

Good game, however LVs win by 20 if Westbrook was her usual scoring self.

You’re right. She was very off tonight. She seemed sluggish and mishandled the ball quite a bit

 

[madtownvol]

You’re right. She was very off tonight. She seemed sluggish and mishandled the ball quite a bit

I disagree about Evina's overall game. Her shot was definitely off. However, she ran the offense very well. She did not make a lot of forced passes. She paced the team well. Slowing things when needed and down the stretch she took charge by getting fouled and making her FTs.

 

[ksl415]

Massengill in for Meme and turns it over

You’d think by sitting on the pine, watching and analyzing the game, the other team, she would have made a better decision than to pick up net trouble against an Auburn team who likes to trap, swarm.

 

[ksl415]

I disagree about Evina's overall game. Her shot was definitely off. However, she ran the offense very well. She did not make a lot of forced passes. She paced the team well. Slowing things when needed and down the stretch she took charge by getting fouled and making her FTs.

Second that.
She found other ways to help her team win. As usual, some errant passes and some of her drives I feel like she’s just waiting to get a charge but overall I was pleased with her game tonight. Set ppl up.

 

[sisaq]

Holly looks mad on the sideline

She should be mad, she knows what's coming on her way

 

[sisaq]

It looks like 100 ppl watchin the game. They can't even show the stand pass 5 sit.

 

[sisaq]

Girls. Lock Holly out next game. Haha

ok

 

[Volfan2012]

The defensive effort we gave in the third quarter won the game. If we could give that kind of effort for forty minutes definitely would have a different record. We couldn't maintain it let up in the fourth but shot 64 percent in that quarter so it didn't matter. The way we stopped the dribble drive in the third and pressured the shooters all over the court was outstanding but we could only sustain it for one quarter of play.

 

[W.TN.Orange Blood]

If I’m driving 2 hrs to watch them, they better come to play or I’m coming out of the stands and I’m suiting up myself lol!

Lol......we'd love to see how many 3s you could score against a hot Missouri team.
They played relentless BB against Miss St Thursday night & won. They will stomp us by 25 bc of that.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Second that.
She found other ways to help her team win. As usual, some errant passes and some of her drives I feel like she’s just waiting to get a charge but overall I was pleased with her game tonight. Set ppl up.

She had sense enough not to force the game. I applaud her for that

 

[VolBall09]

Rennia has been getting beat on that post all game.

Most of those were good no fouls. Several times this season we have had a lead like that and then let teams back in it at the FT line with silly fouls. Was actually a good plan to just let them have the layup at that point.


Her defense is still poor, but I didn't really have a problem with those last few layups they gave up. We aren't great at fouling either, which sounds strange, but it is usually a soft touch foul and the player is still able to finish and try for the and 1. At least we were only giving up 2 points and not 3 like usual on those plays. The officials may have helped us a bit, but I did feel this was the best, foul free defense we've played maybe all year.

Auburn fouled a lot as usual and they were truly fouls.

 

[madtownvol]

I know given the overall level of understandable frustration with the current state of the LV program, it is an invitation to flaming to say anything positive about a winning effort but I will take the risk.

The LVs played a really good 2nd half. For all the team's past struggles with missing lay-ups, Zaay hit some shots at the rim that had a high degree of difficulty, requiring a lot of body control and a deft touch. Cheridene was very clutch around the rim in the 2nd half as well. Offensively, this team is built to get transition buckets and that is what their heightened defenisive generated. And the team did a great job crashing the boards, particularly on the offensive side. I found the 2nd half to be a very enjoyable 20 minutes of basketball, which has been hard to come by this season.

I am starting to get a feel for some of the personalities on this team. Rennia wants to be the quiet assassin, who sneaks up on you with the killer play. Zaay is more of a"I want to dominate the game" type and her motor is supercharged. This game was a breakout for her and it will be interesting to see if she can string together a few more performances like this one.

Evina is poised, confident and exudes a kind of "bad @ss" swagger. She is the leader of the pack, no doubt.

And Cheridene is the clear counterpoint to those who say NO LADY VOL ever improves. C.G. is light years ahead of where she was last year. Her increased impact factor is just an undeniable fact.

In this game, Meme Jackson provided a lot of important intangibles--in the tangible category, she hit two timely 3s but, her bigger impact was being a much needed settling presence. She did a great job of getting the ball up court under Auburn's press. Her score sheet won't show it but the LVs would not have won this game without her.

As this team goes down the stretch in trying to make the Big Dance, with no margin of error, I think they need to rely primarily on the starting group of Z. Green, C. Green, Davis, Westbrook, and Jackson, using KK and Massengill only as needed for short rest breaks and foul trouble management. Collins and Burrell's time will come next year but they need a summer of work to be ready for this kind of pressure game stretch run. Harris can provide a little bit of a defensive presence for brief stretches as well, but the emphasis has to remain on "brief."

Bench depth is not a strength of this year's team.

 

[Orange_Mamba]

Most of those were good no fouls. Several times this season we have had a lead like that and then let teams back in it at the FT line with silly fouls. Was actually a good plan to just let them have the layup at that point.


Her defense is still poor, but I didn't really have a problem with those last few layups they gave up. We aren't great at fouling either, which sounds strange, but it is usually a soft touch foul and the player is still able to finish and try for the and 1. At least we were only giving up 2 points and not 3 like usual on those plays. The officials may have helped us a bit, but I did feel this was the best, foul free defense we've played maybe all year.

Auburn fouled a lot as usual and they were truly fouls.

I’m saying she was giving up uncontested layups freely, whoever she would step back and not contest at all. She didn’t even put her hands up and there was a couple of times in the closing minutes when we were in man she lost her man completely, because she was camped in the lane focused on the ball. As for low fouls we were REALLY lucky because they were hacking Auburn crazy last night and pushing them out the way for rebounds.

 

[Nute Gunray]

The defensive effort we gave in the third quarter won the game. If we could give that kind of effort for forty minutes definitely would have a different record. We couldn't maintain it let up in the fourth but shot 64 percent in that quarter so it didn't matter. The way we stopped the dribble drive in the third and pressured the shooters all over the court was outstanding but we could only sustain it for one quarter of play.

I agree, however, giving up 14 points in the 2nd quarter was not too bad.

 

[VolBall09]

I’m saying she was giving up uncontested layups freely, whoever she would step back and not contest at all. She didn’t even put her hands up and there was a couple of times in the closing minutes when we were in man she lost her man completely, because she was camped in the lane focused on the ball. As for low fouls we were REALLY lucky because they were hacking Auburn crazy last night and pushing them out the way for rebounds.

I understand what you're saying. My point was that I believe that type of play was intentional and OK at that point in the game. Guard the 3 point line, which they finally were. If someone takes it hard to the basket let them have the lay-up. We were up 16 at that point with about 2 minutes to go. No need to contest and risk putting them on the line and scoring with the clock off.

Fouls on defense also would have allowed Auburn to set up their press and we risk a turnover and another lay-up. Just concede the shot and you can inbound and go before they're set. Which is exactly what they did.

 

[Nute Gunray]

I know given the overall level of understandable frustration with the current state of the LV program, it is an invitation to flaming to say anything positive about a winning effort but I will take the risk.

The LVs played a really good 2nd half. For all the team's past struggles with missing lay-ups, Zaay hit some shots at the rim that had a high degree of difficulty, requiring a lot of body control and a deft touch. Cheridene was very clutch around the rim in the 2nd half as well. Offensively, this team is built to get transition buckets and that is what their heightened defenisive generated. And the team did a great crashing the boards, particularly on the offensive side. I found the 2nd half to be a very enjoyable 20 minutes of basketball, which has been hard to come by this season.

I am starting to get a feel for some of the personalities on this team. Rennia wants to be quiet assassin, who sneaks up on you with the killer play. Zaay is more of a"I want to dominate the game" type and her motor is supercharged. This game was a breakout for her and it will be interesting to see if she can string together a few more performances like this one.

Evina is poised, confident and exudes a kind of "I am bad @ss" swagger. She is the leader of the pack, no doubt.

And Cheridene is the clear counterpoint to those who say NO LADY VOL ever improves. C.G. is light years ahead of where she was last year. Her increased impact factor is just an undeniable fact.

In this game, Meme Jackson provide a lot of important intangibles--in the tangible category, she hit two timely 3s but, her bigger impact was being needed settling presence who did a great job getting ball up court under Auburn's press. Her score sheet won't show it but the LVs would not have won this game without her.

As this team goes down the stretch in trying to make the Big Dance, with no margin of error, I think they need to rely primarily on the starting group of Z. Green, C. Green, Davis, Westbrook, and Jackson, using KK and Massengill only as needed for short rest breaks and foul trouble management. Collins and Burrell's time will come next year but they need a summer of work to be ready for this kind of pressure game stretch run. Harris can provide a little bit of a defensive presence for brief stretches as well, but the emphasis has to remain on "brief."

Bench depth is not a strength of this year's team.

Brilliant assessment of last night's starting five. This starting five can save Holly's job if she is wise enough to stick with them and continues to fire them up.

 

[VolBall09]

I know given the overall level of understandable frustration with the current state of the LV program, it is an invitation to flaming to say anything positive about a winning effort but I will take the risk.

The LVs played a really good 2nd half. For all the team's past struggles with missing lay-ups, Zaay hit some shots at the rim that had a high degree of difficulty, requiring a lot of body control and a deft touch. Cheridene was very clutch around the rim in the 2nd half as well. Offensively, this team is built to get transition buckets and that is what their heightened defenisive generated. And the team did a great crashing the boards, particularly on the offensive side. I found the 2nd half to be a very enjoyable 20 minutes of basketball, which has been hard to come by this season.

I am starting to get a feel for some of the personalities on this team. Rennia wants to be the quiet assassin, who sneaks up on you with the killer play. Zaay is more of a"I want to dominate the game" type and her motor is supercharged. This game was a breakout for her and it will be interesting to see if she can string together a few more performances like this one.

Evina is poised, confident and exudes a kind of "bad @ss" swagger. She is the leader of the pack, no doubt.

And Cheridene is the clear counterpoint to those who say NO LADY VOL ever improves. C.G. is light years ahead of where she was last year. Her increased impact factor is just an undeniable fact.

In this game, Meme Jackson provide a lot of important intangibles--in the tangible category, she hit two timely 3s but, her bigger impact was being needed settling presence who did a great job getting ball up court under Auburn's press. Her score sheet won't show it but the LVs would not have won this game without her.

As this team goes down the stretch in trying to make the Big Dance, with no margin of error, I think they need to rely primarily on the starting group of Z. Green, C. Green, Davis, Westbrook, and Jackson, using KK and Massengill only as needed for short rest breaks and foul trouble management. Collins and Burrell's time will come next year but they need a summer of work to be ready for this kind of pressure game stretch run. Harris can provide a little bit of a defensive presence for brief stretches as well, but the emphasis has to remain on "brief."

Bench depth is not a strength of this year's team.

Very nice post, I definitely agree, I felt that was the most fun 20 minutes of basketball to watch that this group has put together all season.

Seemed like some players settled into their rolls in the second half better than they have for the entire season. I really did not expect based on the last two months of play, but was pleasantly surprised.

I fully believe that if they are able to play with that intensity for even 2 quarters in the remainder of their games they will win out, even against some tough competition. In that second half we actually looked like a good team, and Auburn looked like the team that they are.

Lately we've been playing down to other teams level and allowing them to control the tempo. Good things happen when they take charge, and Auburn is no slouch on defense, they tore them up, especially Z. Green in the third quarter. Her speed in the open court is Meagan Simmons esque, if her ability to finish remains she is so hard to guard.

 

[Coach Jumper]

I’m saying she was giving up uncontested layups freely, whoever she would step back and not contest at all. She didn’t even put her hands up and there was a couple of times in the closing minutes when we were in man she lost her man completely, because she was camped in the lane focused on the ball. As for low fouls we were REALLY lucky because they were hacking Auburn crazy last night and pushing them out the way for rebounds.

I saw what you saw, but I saw it from a different perspective.
She was out of position to block or charge, a couple of times.
Sometimes no decision is a decision.

I thought she did great though, because she never forced parts of her game that weren't working and played to her strengths for that game.