Game Thread: Lady Vols Vs LSU; Thurs Jan 9th ; Home game; 6:30 PM Eastern; SEC+ stream

[madtownvol]

Good points Lucy. Yes Kim gave her the opposing teams game plan right there and it will be for every team going forward until they adjust. The coaching staff recognizes this. Be interesting to see what they come up with. Also the lady's have to get into the mindset you have to play all 4 qtrs to beat good teams.

Quote from Mulkey post game:

Mulkey said LSU established the early lead by overcoming Tennessee's press. If you beat the press, you can find layups at ease.

"I think we got 60 paint points. Told them that. You take care of the ball, you're going to get every shot you want in the paint. And we did,"

This problem got exposed by lowly Liberty. Right now, it seems like the team still tries to high press to start games and once they are down, double digits, then they make an adjustment and generally outplay their opponent. I kind feel that at this point, the LVs should be able to skip that first step.

If not, that is an unusual game plan....

 

[Volfan2012]

CKC agreed that one person (I think she said Coop) would box out but then no one went to get the ball. We’ve got to remember the majority of the team has not played together.

No and were farther along than they get credit for. Not at all disappointed how we've played thus far. None of these players have ever played like this and most have not been on a team that won this many games this early in the season. Last night we had two or three shots rolling all over the rim and just didn't go in. Always will be some luck involved in basketball. As far as how we played these two games great for certain quarters and terrible others. Get consistent we can beat any of these teams in the SEC or elsewhere.

 

[Volfan2012]

This problem got exposed by lowly Liberty. Right now, it seems like the team still tries to high press to start games and once they are down, double digits, then they make an adjustment and generally outplay their opponent. I kind feel that at this point, the LVs should be able to skip that first step.

If not, that is an unusual game plan....

Yes and that is the problem Coach Kim needs to see and start out in a more mild mannered type defense and occasionally throw it all on just to see how the other team reacts. Some teams have point guards you just can't press. LSU is one of those teams.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

ThatVolGuy, I agree 100% with everything you wrote. However, I will add that CKC must make defense and rebounding top priorities together with her other game priorities. She will not be successful now or in the future if she doesn't do this.

Oh I completely agree, and I think she knows it very well, too. In fact, she's probably tired of trying to reinforce it with her players at this point.

I'm just saying people shouldn't miss the forest for the trees, here. This is the very beginning of an exciting new journey, and some folks are acting like we should already be at the destination. That's crazy.

 

[Rons1989]

The most positive out of all this is this team can flat out score and score on anyone mulkey had to adjust and go smaller....you dont even have to be the best defensive team wit the way we can score....rebound better and get timely stops and u beat teams by double digits

 

[chuckiepoo]

Drinking Koolaid.. What happens when Lazo and Roman leave

 

[GameTime]

Once again, the final moment was too big for our girls...No matter how it is written, the LVs failed when victory was at hand.

They played their backsides off, but it is still a loss.

 

[knoxvol52]

Drinking Koolaid.. What happens when Lazo and Roman leave

So you're predicting both leave within the next 3 years?

 

[madtownvol]

Once again, the final moment was too big for our girls...No matter how it is written, the LVs failed when victory was at hand.

They played their backsides off, but it is still a loss.

That was the most frustrating aspect. I counted at least 5 situations in the 4th quarter where the LVs had a chance to take some control of the game if they made their FTs or hit a wide open shot but in all cases, they missed and LSU turned around to score (such as when Zee missed two FTs that would have given the LVs a lead and LSU took the rebound full court and made a 3 pt play - i.e. a 5 pt swing). This game was like watching Sisyphus keep pushing the giant rock almost aaaaaall the way up the hill only to have it roll back on the final heave and then trudge down and do it all over again.

Having said that, this team showed incredible resilience and they have shown some finishing mettle at FSU and Iowa. So, we can hope that they learn from these two close losses. Call me crazy but i think not getting behind by15-20 points would help matters.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

That was the most frustrating aspect. I counted at least 5 situations in the 4th quarter where the LVs had a chance to take some control of the game if they made their FTs or hit a wide open shot but in all cases, they missed and LSU turned around to score (such as when Zee missed two FTs that would have given the LVs a lead and LSU took the rebound full court and made a 3 pt play - i.e. a 5 pt swing). This game was like watching Sisyphus keep pushing the giant rock almost aaaaaall the way up the hill only to have it roll back on the final heave and then trudge down and do it all over again.

Having said that, this team showed incredible resilience and they have shown some finishing mettle at FSU and Iowa. So, we can hope that they learn from these two close losses. Call me crazy but i think not getting behind by15-20 points would help matters.

The possession that really got me is when we were up 82-80 and Talaysia shot a very quick 3. She missed and LSU scored quickly on the other end. I really wanted to draw that possession out and get a 2 closer to the rim. Would've created a small cushion at the end and taken more time off the clock.

Sigh.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

This forum’s host of LV fans in a particular group simply hasn’t caught up with the real worldview of this current Lady Vol team.
These are old ways of thinking, and although certain points are valid in the needs of improvement for this current team and program moving forward the consensus is right now the LVs are thriving at 13-2.
Based on the results of this LV team in 15 games there is not a single team in WBB they can’t compete with at home or on the road.
The talent is really strong and good across the board.
They were equally matched against LSU and Oklahoma.
Coach Mulkey just plainly discussed how this team has good players and you have to guard them all.
There are elite WNBA and Team USA players from championship teams watching and posting tweets about LV players during the game.
I think some fans need to take a chill pill and just embrace it all. A win. A loss. No matter the outcome be genuine and be compassionate about the hard work, dedication, and effort these players, coaches, managers, school leaders, parents, etc have shown to represent this historic program.

 

[madtownvol]

The possession that really got me is when we were up 82-80 and Talaysia shot a very quick 3. She missed and LSU scored quickly on the other end. I really wanted to draw that possession out and get a 2 closer to the rim. Would've created a small cushion at the end and taken more time off the clock.

Sigh.

Yep, that was another one for sure. She had made her first three on the possession before but that was not the right time for a "heat check."

 

[ThatVolGuy]

Mulkey seemed cranky at her presser. I think she thought they would beat us handily. Complimentary of Coop. Was flippant that all you need to do is throw the ball over the press and hit your layups. This seems to be the predominant game plan against us leading to a high shooting percentage and a lot of paint points for the bad guys.

I meant to respond to this earlier, because I thought the same thing watching her press conference. Right off the bat she was even more prickly than usual.

She's undeniably got the results & credentials to be called a great coach, but her shtick wears on me quickly. When she joked about giving Kim an LSU onesie for the baby, she immediately followed with, "THAT'S A JOKE EVERYONE," as if she was at risk of getting "cancelled" for making an off-color remark. I just find her disdainful attitude to be a little odd.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

The possession that really got me is when we were up 82-80 and Talaysia shot a very quick 3. She missed and LSU scored quickly on the other end. I really wanted to draw that possession out and get a 2 closer to the rim. Would've created a small cushion at the end and taken more time off the clock.

Sigh.

You have a valid point. This was a possession I recognized in the 4th qtr.
The thing is, she took it with confidence and you live with the results as a coach having one of your go to players with that killer instinct taking the shot.
Coop hasn’t reached her potential yet. She can be unstoppable.
Made several big-time plays all game that kept us in it and in the 4th she left it all on the floor.
I’m looking forward to her continued growth as a player at UT.

 

[volsagain]

So you're predicting both leave within the next 3 years?

AH CKC going to another baby this time next year. She be retiring to just be a mom.

 

[madtownvol]

I meant to respond to this earlier, because I thought the same thing watching her press conference. Right off the bat she was even more prickly than usual.

She's undeniably got the results & credentials to be called a great coach, but her shtick wears on me quickly. When she joked about giving Kim an LSU onesie for the baby, she immediately followed with, "THAT'S A JOKE EVERYONE," as if she was at risk of getting "cancelled" for making an off-color remark. I just find her disdainful attitude to be a little odd.

Honestly, her knickers were in a bunch...

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

So you're predicting both leave within the next 3 years?

Just a way for this poster to try to find distractions as usual.
Those top assistant coaches are enjoying the moment and probably haven’t given this a thought.
Every coach and player doesn’t look to leave a school or job on a one or two year basis.
Certain outsiders don’t understand this but stability matters.

 

[Dansky]

ThatVolGuy, I agree 100% with everything you wrote. However, I will add that CKC must make defense and rebounding top priorities together with her other game priorities. She will not be successful now or in the future if she doesn't do this.

She seems to be making it a main issue. Players have to do their job. More talent needed it seems.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Honestly, here knickers were in a bunch...

It was those high waisted britches she was wearing. Had them panties all up in a wad.

 

[KTrain]

Define a middle of the pack team.
This is flawed logic.
I’ll ask it plainly, you think just because a team that stands at 13-2 has all these issues because they came up short 3 combined points to Oklahoma and LSU?

^This exactly, if we are middling team so is OU & LSU who were fortunate to beat a team labeled middling, so is the SEC loaded with middling teams and then USC by themselves or are they middling too.

 

[mudcat1973]

It was those high waisted britches she was wearing. Had them panties all up in a wad.

She was on her good behavior just said her team score two more points than Tennessee .
Said both teams are good.
She did tell how her plan worked.

 

[volfan102455]

Not a coaching problem. That is fine. It’s a player commitment problem. Hiring some old fogey to undermine Kim isn’t going to magically make the team show up in the first quarter of games.

In any sport, a good coach recognizes the ability of the players and adjusts the game plan to take advantage of the strengths of her / his players and also game plans against the weaknesses of the other team.

I disagree that this is only a player commitment problem. The better teams are adjusting to the style and using their strengths to take advantage of what is happening on the court.

I've never been a fan of coaches that throw their players under the bus when they lose.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I've never been a fan of coaches that throw their players under the bus when they lose.

I don’t remember Pat pulling punches when her players weren’t executing the game plan.

 

[Majors]

Drinking Koolaid.. What happens when Lazo and Roman leave

That means we’ve been successful. It’s when your coaches don’t leave that you have problems.

 

[Orange007]

Wynn would have been such an important part of this current team. a senior lockdown defender would have given us a huge help on half court and transition defense. she is very much missed by this fan.