Game Thread Lady Vols vs Georgia Tech

#101
#101
The Lady Vols haven't been shooting very well this year but I think it will come around. Simmons has been off the mark but I think her shot selection, while not great at times, is much improved this year. Burdick needs to get her head straight. The misses are messing with her mentally. She will improve. Massengale has been the player I was hoping for so far this year. She is much improved and we need her to be. If this team can get it together, they will be a powerhouse and give anybody a run for their money. I look forward to seeing how it all plays out.
 
#102
#102
Regarding Simmons: her 3 years at TN she's a 40% FG shooter and a 34% 3 point shooter. By any standard of NCAA women's basketball, that's pretty damn good. Now, are you suggesting a 3 year sample size was just luck and the 4 games of this season are the true reflection of her ability? Or, is it possible, nay much more likely, this short 4 game sample size is just a slump and anomaly? I'm going with common sense and option B. Simmons didn't luckbox her way to SEC player of the year and All-American candidate. You're the one not watching or having selective memory about the 3 years of games she already played. And, despite the slow start, she's still averaging double figures, #1 on the team shooting 90% from the free throw line, and her defense is just as good as anyone on the team if not better.

FG --- 3P%
217-527 .412 69-189 .365
143-381 .375 51-164 .311
183-438 .418 63-187 .337

Career
543-1346 .403 183-540 .339
 
#103
#103
Sorry, but 40 percent shooting is not especially good. It's no better than ok. 45 percent shooting would be good. Simmons was terrible in big games last year and her shooting has been bad this year. She tends to play and shoot well against lesser competition. I like her passion, have since she got here, but she is erratic and a not a dependable scorer for someone who shoots more than anybody. I think part of her problem is her weird shooting technique--she has an odd shooting motion and release; it is not fundamental. (See Carter for good shooting technique.) She has a lot of 5-15 shooting games. Not good enough. I don't think she's someone who will help us beat Ct. That's basically the bar for every UT player, as far as I'm concerned. I don't mean to bang on Simmons but, seriously, if we were playing CT. tomorrow, who thinks she would have a good night shooting? The odds would be against it. UT desperately needs to improve its offensive efficiency, and her shooting, like everyone else's, is part of the equation.

I would like to see Lockwood turn Russell into a good low-poster scorer but I'm not convinced he's a great coach. Russell could become a very nice scorer if she learns how to establish position and use her big body when shooting. If someone with her size gets the ball down low, she doesn't need to do much to turn and score, if she knows how to use her body against the defender AND to get the ball high before and when she shoots. A lot of bigs ironically do not know how to PLAY big--by which I mean using physical leverage to clear shooting space, and shoot the ball from up high. They bend over when the get the ball instead of standing up and using their rear ends and legs and back to move the defender away. If you bend over, you often end up trying to shoot the all from a low position--not good. A skilled low post player can score without dribbling the ball at all, or maybe once. You receive the ball, turn, raise up, leverage your body and shoot--or fake one way, pivot the other, up and shoot. The five- to eight-foot turnaround. That is something Lockwood should be teaching our bigs.
 
#104
#104
I trust Coach Lockwood. Look at Izzy for example. She has improved so much since her Freshman year.
 
#105
#105
#106
#106
Post Game Interview for Kaela Davis. Is it just me or do you hear a little sadness and regret in her comments?

GEORGIA TECH FRESHMAN GUARD KAELA DAVIS

(On being cheered on by Vol brother A.J. Davis and playing at Thompson-Boling Arena)
"I definitely noticed him. He's a big guy, so he stands out. (laughs) He's always supportive and that meant a lot to have him here. Thompson-Boling is tough place for anyone to play here. Tennessee has some of the greatest fans, so I knew it would be a big crowd. It was an honor to play here."

(On playing in Thompson-Boling)
"I have `Georgia Tech' across my chest and so obviously that's what I'm concerned about. I came in here just focused on our game plan and what we needed to do to win the game. I knew it was a tough environment, like I said, for anyone to play in, but the biggest thing was to keep composure in that environment."
 
#107
#107
You're reading something or trying to find something that's not there. I think she's just disappointed in loosing & putting forth a great effort in trying to bring GT a win in TBA. I think she's happy at GT & she will be a great player there.
 
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#108
#108
You are probably right. Just thought it was strange to talk about what an honor it was to play in Thompson Boling Arena, when she could have been playing there for the next four years.
 
#109
#109
Yeah, I wouldn't read too much into her statements. I think she's happy where she is. Many times in post game statements an opposing player will comment on what an honor it was to play against TN, on that court etc. Just shows what a great respect other schools and players have for our program.
 
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#110
#110
Decker Moss said:
You are probably right. Just thought it was strange to talk about what an honor it was to play in Thompson Boling Arena, when she could have been playing there for the next four years.
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I for one was really excited at the possibility that she would be dressed in Orange for this year. At the time of her recruiting, I thought, as a lot of fans on this message board, that she was a lock to come here & help the LVs in winning another National Championship banner. We may never know why she said no to CHW. But you know how young teenage women are. Sometimes they do things that leave us scratching our heads.
 
#111
#111
clkou said:
Regarding Simmons: her 3 years at TN she's a 40% FG shooter and a 34% 3 point shooter. By any standard of NCAA women's basketball, that's pretty damn good. Now, are you suggesting a 3 year sample size was just luck and the 4 games of this season are the true reflection of her ability? Or, is it possible, nay much more likely, this short 4 game sample size is just a slump and anomaly? I'm going with common sense and option B. Simmons didn't luckbox her way to SEC player of the year and All-American candidate. You're the one not watching or having selective memory about the 3 years of games she already played. And, despite the slow start, she's still averaging double figures, #1 on the team shooting 90% from the free throw line, and her defense is just as good as anyone on the team if not better.

FG --- 3P%
217-527 .412 69-189 .365
143-381 .375 51-164 .311
183-438 .418 63-187 .337

Career
543-1346 .403 183-540 .339
Click to expand...
Her .412 field goal percentage of last year means that 160 players in Div.1 were equal or better than Meighan. 40 players shot 50% or better. So, her % while not bad, is certainly not "Pretty damn good." And her .365 three point % puts her in 52nd place. Again not great, even though that was her best 3pt year. 19 players hit over 40% with Lewis of uconn hitting .492
So what I'm saying is taking her entire career into consideration, she hasn't improved much, and this year she is regressing so far, just like she did from her Frosh to Soph year. And, yes she's scores double figures, but that's because she takes so many shots, not because she's a great scorer. She has more turnovers than assists. If you'd like to discuss her defense, we can do that too.
Again, her AA selection is a puzzlement, and I'm not alone in that opinion.
 
#112
#112
You glossed over the "shooting guard" requirement. Filter out just the shooting guards and see how it ranks. Compare apples to apples. Again, was Bjorkland average? We're you all over her when she played?
 
#113
#113
clkou said:
You glossed over the "shooting guard" requirement. Filter out just the shooting guards and see how it ranks. Compare apples to apples. Again, was Bjorkland average? We're you all over her when she played?
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You didn't mention shooting guard as a requirement. Bjorkland wasn't touted as first team AA or Wade list player. Her academics were good, plus, her team had more success than Simmons'. It's considering the whole ball of wax that places Simmons in the failure category. She has this year to redeem herself, so there is still a chance, but so far it's not going well.
 
#114
#114
Convoluted said:
You didn't mention shooting guard as a requirement. Bjorkland wasn't touted as first team AA or Wade list player. Her academics were good, plus, her team had more success than Simmons'. It's considering the whole ball of wax that places Simmons in the failure category. She has this year to redeem herself, so there is still a chance, but so far it's not going well.
Click to expand...

I actually did mention that 40% was very good for shooting guards not to be confused with inside players or players who tend to get most of their points off layups:
clkou said:
40% not good?! Look up shooting percentages for primary "guard" shooters - not inside players or slashers who get a lot of layups. You'll find 40% is excellent and 50% rare. Was Angie Bjorkland a good shooter? Some would say one of the best to come through TN. What's her statline for FG% ... 40% for her career.
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That's an important distinction because a player like Griner had a career 57% FG% but NOT because she's a better shooter, but because she takes the overwhelming majority of her shots less than 5 feet from the basket AND she was 6'8'' tall meaning she was often practically unguarded, too.

I'm only asking about Bjorkland as a shooter. Do you think she was an elite shooter or just average? I think she was one of the best to come through TN AND Simmons FG% is virtually the same as hers. Now, the reason that Simmons was SEC player of the year and is an All American candidate whereas Angie wasn't is because SHE is a better defender than Angie was AND Simmons is much better at creating her own shot plus Simmons has been our team's 1st or 2nd leading scorer every year since she was a Freshman and EVERY Lady Vols team except maybe the 2008-2009 team has been relevant and enjoyed some level of success.

Those are facts. With any player, you have to take the good with the bad. We get it. You think she takes ill advised shots. Sometimes she probably does. You think she's in a shooting slump. She is. That doesn't mean she's not a capable player and that she shouldn't be out there helping this team. You're way off base imo.
 
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#115
#115
clkou said:
I actually did mention that 40% was very good for shooting guards not to be confused with inside players or players who tend to get most of their points off layups:

That's an important distinction because a player like Griner had a career 57% FG% but NOT because she's a better shooter, but because she takes the overwhelming majority of her shots less than 5 feet from the basket AND she was 6'8'' tall meaning she was often practically unguarded, too.

I'm only asking about Bjorkland as a shooter. Do you think she was an elite shooter or just average? I think she was one of the best to come through TN AND Simmons FG% is virtually the same as hers. Now, the reason that Simmons was SEC player of the year and is an All American candidate whereas Angie wasn't is because SHE is a better defender than Angie was AND Simmons is much better at creating her own shot plus Simmons has been our team's 1st or 2nd leading scorer every year since she was a Freshman and EVERY Lady Vols team except maybe the 2008-2009 team has been relevant and enjoyed some level of success.

Those are facts. With any player, you have to take the good with the bad. We get it. You think she takes ill advised shots. Sometimes she probably does. You think she's in a shooting slump. She is. That doesn't mean she's not a capable player and that she shouldn't be out there helping this team. You're way off base imo.
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Regarding the shooting guard reference you quoted, that was in a different post than the one I was responding to, and I hadn't seen the other post. I apologize. Again, Simmons is leading scorer because she takes so many shots and I'm not saying she is a bad player, just not as good as the hype would suggest. And, I agree she and Bjork are similar in shooting. There are still about 50 guards that shoot a higher percentage. My main reason for being hard on Simmons is that, since she's been on the team, leading scorer or not, she hasn't been a big help to her teams that are filled with highly ranked players. She hasn't been the player to elevate the team when it counts, the way special players do. Without the AA and Wade publicity, I wouldn't be anywhere near as critical. To me, the only player on the team that is truly special is Graves.
 
#116
#116
armchair said:
I would like to see Lockwood turn Russell into a good low-poster scorer but I'm not convinced he's a great coach. Russell could become a very nice scorer if she learns how to establish position and use her big body when shooting. I That is something Lockwood should be teaching our bigs.
Click to expand...

he has been pretty good for the Vols armchair



"Since his return to Rocky Top, the Lady Vols have compiled a record of 273-49, captured six SEC Tournament crowns and four SEC regular season championships, appeared in three NCAA Final Fours and won back-to-back national championships (2007-08). During the transitional 2012-13 season, he helped Tennessee go from being picked as low as fifth in the conference and 20th nationally during the preseason to winning the SEC regular season title and advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight.

Four of his pupils at Tennessee have developed into first-round picks in the WNBA Draft, including 2013 WNBA MVP and WNBA All-Star Game MVP Candace Parker, the No. 1 overall selection in 2008 by Los Angeles. The other first-rounders are current WNBA All-Star Glory Johnson (No. 4, Tulsa, 2012), Kelley Cain (No. 7, New York, 2012) and Tye'sha Fluker (No. 10, Charlotte, 2006). Two others were drafted, including 2008 WNBA All-Rookie Team member Nicky Anosike (2nd Rd., Los Angeles, No. 16, 2008) and Vicki Baugh (3rd Rd., Tulsa, No. 25, 2012)."

Dean Lockwood Bio - UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics

that is an impressive group that he has had a hand in coaching
 
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