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

[Volfan2012]

Since Candace was used as reference and I named players like Juju, Booker and Betts as examples of a tier 1 player, u must be thinking we are a lock for a Championship since you’re saying we have 3, no other team will be close to that, am I correct? That would be 3 first team AllAmericans on our roster if you’re correct in your assessment.

If we get a solid post player that is a defender we could definitely contend next season. Juju and Booker aren't winning anything without those bigs they have. Betts is the difference maker for UCLA. Plus as you look at who won titles in the past there is always that big in there so yes a key even with all the excellent players we have this year and next a post is the answer. If our post were playing anywhere near where they need to be were a contender this season. If the staff could somehow get a lot more out of Jill, Allyssa, and Spearman we evolve into a team that could win the title this season. All three have not done near what was expected of them thus far this season.

Cause we have a tier one player on this years team. Talaysia Copper look at her stats compare her efficiency to Juju, Booker, or anyone. Per minute played her efficiency is better than almost anyone in the country. She doesn't have the inside help that they do or we would still be undefeated.

 

[volsagain]

If we get a solid post player that is a defender we could definitely contend next season. Juju and Booker aren't winning anything without those bigs they have. Betts is the difference maker for UCLA. Plus as you look at who won titles in the past there is always that big in there so yes a key even with all the excellent players we have this year and next a post is the answer. If our post were playing anywhere near where they need to be were a contender this season. If the staff could somehow get a lot more out of Jill, Allyssa, and Spearman we evolve into a team that could win the title this season. All three have not done near what was expected of them thus far this season.

Cause we have a tier one player on this years team. Talaysia Copper look at her stats compare her efficiency to Juju, Booker, or anyone. Per minute played her efficiency is better than almost anyone in the country. She doesn't have the inside help that they do or we would still be undefeated.

With a stronger inside game we're undefeated. Just hope they can become stronger by tournament time. Recovery on the back end on the press can make a significant difference also. These young ladies are capable of beating anyone. Still learning to play as a team I Believe They Will get there.

 

[Volfan2012]

With a stronger inside game we're undefeated. Just hope they can become stronger by tournament time. Recovery on the back end on the press can make a significant difference also. These young ladies are capable of beating anyone. Still learning to play as a team I Believe They Will get there.

Exactly we are not getting the rebound production on misses against the better teams. Morrow went for 21 rebounds against us and she is 6'1". She is keeping them undefeated getting in there and rebounding like she does. Meanwhile Spearman had 5 rebounds and Jill had 3. Latham had 4 and played 8 minutes. She might be the key to the rebounding woes. Cause four in eight minutes is really good that would equate to 10 in 20 minutes and 15 if she played 30 minutes. We need a player willing to do that if they don't score a point. Coach Kim has to find that player or players that can do that every game.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

It’s clear to see that there’s post players on the roster that have been productive in limited roles.
As I pointed out, Alyssa Latham as a freshman had 9 games with 10+ rebounds, 13 games scoring in double figures, and 6 games posted a double double.
Latham is currently playing over 10mins fewer per game than last season as a true freshman that earned all ACC freshman honors.
She posted a double double against Notre Dame and Alabama.
In games with Tennessee this season when she plays Latham has been good.
Jillian Hollingshead as well. She does not take a lot of shots and is not consistent rebounding but can contribute in other ways. She has the intangibles and hustles for a player at 6’5 which is kind of rare.
Playing Spearman and Hollingshead together in my opinion would help both players be more productive. Automatically substituting one out every time for the other one might not be the only way to utilize their abilities to help improve team deficits in the half-court on both ends.

 

[Coach Jumper]

It’s clear to see that there’s post players on the roster that have been productive in limited roles.
As I pointed out, Alyssa Latham as a freshman had 9 games with 10+ rebounds, 13 games scoring in double figures, and 6 games posted a double double.
Latham is currently playing over 10mins fewer per game than last season as a true freshman that earned all ACC freshman honors.
She posted a double double against Notre Dame and Alabama.
In games with Tennessee this season when she plays Latham has been good.
Jillian Hollingshead as well. She does not take a lot of shots and is not consistent rebounding but can contribute in other ways. She has the intangibles and hustles for a player at 6’5 which is kind of rare.
Playing Spearman and Hollingshead together in my opinion would help both players be more productive. Automatically substituting one out every time for the other one might not be the only way to utilize their abilities to help improve team deficits in the half-court on both ends.

Did you mean Spearman and Hollingshead. Or Latham and Hollingshead

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Did you mean Spearman and Hollingshead. Or Latham and Hollingshead

I would start Hollingshead or Spearman and Latham at the 5 and 4.
I also meant that I would prefer to see Hollingshead and Spearman play together. That’s a duo that gives the team more size and flexibility to defend while still having the ability to score in different ways offensively.
That is a better option in my opinion than relying on a four guard and a 6’2 or 6’4 forward at center starting lineup.
We need a 6’2 forward preferably Latham and 6’4 or 6’5 forward/center Jillian and Zee on the court together at all times.
I think that’s getting overlooked but is what hurt this team in the 1st quarter against LSU.

 

[Coach Jumper]

to me the starters whould be the ones who make the team more productive,,,not necessarily the ones who score the most,,,bc usually the tiing in which they score the most is usually when they play on the court with players who make those around them better

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

The best start of a game this season was against Iowa w/ Spencer, Cooper, Whitehorn, Latham, and Spearman. They jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Iowa came back after the initial run but I felt that was due to poor decision making offensively on shot selection and fouls.
Currently, with the way Hollingshead and Latham are playing overall that looks to be the best forward/post combo to start games.
At the guard positions Spencer, Cooper, and either Whitehorn or Spear.
People will say the starting lineup does not matter but it does when over the course of the game the staff continues a rotation pattern that gives players starter minutes who aren’t producing over those who are playing limited minutes and being more efficient/productive.
It has to be one or the other can’t be both.

 

[Volfan2012]

to me the starters whould be the ones who make the team more productive,,,not necessarily the ones who score the most,,,bc usually the tiing in which they score the most is usually when they play on the court with players who make those around them better
View attachment 714156

I agree Spearman needs to pick up her play or default to Latham and Hollingshead, Spear is surprisig I think slipping her into the starters over Whitehorn or her being the sixth man or vice versa is acceptable.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

With a stronger inside game we're undefeated. Just hope they can become stronger by tournament time. Recovery on the back end on the press can make a significant difference also. These young ladies are capable of beating anyone. Still learning to play as a team I Believe They Will get there.

Alyssa Latham seems to be ready right now whenever her number is called.
From what I’ve seen, Latham has earned a much larger role.

 

[lvocd]

Yes, I've had my eye on Latham for a while now and I think she deserves a turn in that first group. I also think Hollingshead deserves a turn, so if it were up to me today, I'd start Latham, Hollingshead, Spencer, Cooper and Whitehorn.

 

[VolBalls33]

I would like to see Latham get more of Sara's minutes. She is clearly better on the defensive end and maybe with more playing time can have some O rebounds and putbacks.
Vegas has UT has 22.5 favorites. LGLV!!

 

[lvocd]

I'm also a big fan of Ayodele. I think Favor, paired with Spearman, could help Zee a lot. Something tells me they'd go strong together.

I am loving Boyd! She's playing like an upperclassman these days and may even have quite a bit further she could reach. I believe her and Tess are a good pairing, maybe best on the press, with a combo of Kaniya's quickness and Tess's experienced court smarts.

I'm not sure where to put Sara right now in my mind's lineups. She can be an example of extremes, and the risk/benefit with her these days is hard to figure how to handle.

 

[VolBall09]

I'm also a big fan of Ayodele. I think Favor, paired with Spearman, could help Zee a lot. Something tells me they'd go strong together.

I am loving Boyd! She's playing like an upperclassman these days and may even have quite a bit further she could reach. I believe her and Tess are a good pairing, maybe best on the press, with a combo of Kaniya's quickness and Tess's experienced court smarts.

I'm not sure where to put Sara right now in my mind's lineups. She can be an example of extremes, and the risk/benefit with her these days is hard to figure how to handle.

Have a feeling we see more Favor today. Arkansas is a good team to test some different lineups if we can generate a decent lead in the first half.

 

[VolBalls33]

Way to hit one open Zee!!

 

[VolBalls33]

2 3's let's go!!

 

[DarkPhoenix]

If we get a solid post player that is a defender we could definitely contend next season. Juju and Booker aren't winning anything without those bigs they have. Betts is the difference maker for UCLA. Plus as you look at who won titles in the past there is always that big in there so yes a key even with all the excellent players we have this year and next a post is the answer. If our post were playing anywhere near where they need to be were a contender this season. If the staff could somehow get a lot more out of Jill, Allyssa, and Spearman we evolve into a team that could win the title this season. All three have not done near what was expected of them thus far this season.

Cause we have a tier one player on this years team. Talaysia Copper look at her stats compare her efficiency to Juju, Booker, or anyone. Per minute played her efficiency is better than almost anyone in the country. She doesn't have the inside help that they do or we would still be undefeated.

I think finding some pure 3pt shooters are a big need in the portal, all of our shooters are leaving after this season. I don’t know how much getting these post players will help, it doesn’t look like this offense is for players like that, just look at Latham, they don’t even get her the ball in her spots and not just sitting behind the 3pt line, it’s more of a guard heavy offense and that’s fine if that’s what the coach wants to do. You can think Cooper is better than Juju but I won’t even touch that argument. As for competing for a Championship I think they will need some shooters and maybe another defensive post that’s tough.

 

[chuckiepoo]

You can’t think Cooper is better than Juju

Go get ‘em @KnoxLikeUs ! They threw ya the bone!

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Go get ‘em @KnoxLikeUs ! They threw ya the bone!

That’s crazy because that was a spell check, it was suppose to say “Can”

 

[chuckiepoo]

That’s crazy because that was a spell check, it was suppose to say “Can”

…autocorrect will be the end of civilization.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Go get ‘em @KnoxLikeUs ! They threw ya the bone!

We ain’t wasting time no more on the haters.
GBO!

 

[Lucy]

I can’t commit to reading 38 pages so I apologize if this has all been said. Exciting that the board is able to generate 38 pages per game when a couple years ago there would be 12 pages on a game thread.

Very happy for Kaniya Boyd going 2 of 3 from 3. It looked like a confidence builder. Now she needs to carry that over. She seems like she is exactly what Kim’s system needs. She is so quick, she’s a pest on defense and does seem to get in there disrupt the opponent.

Ayodele is aggressive as heck and looked to contribute solidly in her 2 minutes.

Latham is steadily showing her bonfires.

Hopefully the coaching staff realizes this and we start seeing more minutes for them.

Where was Tess? Did she even play?

Possibly Jewel’s plus minus is related to the group of people she is playing with or the sub patterns. If she remains in the game during an opponent’s run when everyone else is subbed out, then she is gonna have worse numbers, but possibly she stays on because Kim expects her to lead the team and right the ship. Also, it could be due to who she is on the floor with in subbing patterns as there are a couple who actually look like a liability on the team and would affect numbers of everyone when those players are on the floor. The eye test says she doesn’t have this tremendous negative impact that the +/- says. It’s also very easy to pick and choose stats to create the narrative you want, which abuses the purpose of statistics. Jewel appears to be invaluable to this offense, and defensively she does not appear to nearly be the liability people claim. She seems to end up with rebounds in very timely situations, and is in and around on defensive plays. There are so many more players that get completely abused on defense.

Yes!!!
I don’t see how you can tag a player plus/minus whatever when 80% of what is driving the rating is not directly related to their own actions.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Yes, I've had my eye on Latham for a while now and I think she deserves a turn in that first group. I also think Hollingshead deserves a turn, so if it were up to me today, I'd start Latham, Hollingshead, Spencer, Cooper and Whitehorn.

I would like to see Latham get more of Sara's minutes. She is clearly better on the defensive end and maybe with more playing time can have some O rebounds and putbacks.
Vegas has UT has 22.5 favorites. LGLV!!

SHe was nowhere near 100% today BTW

 

[Nute Gunray]

If you read some of the posts in this thread from the same posters over and over you would think the outcome of the OKLA and LSU games were blowouts.
I mean it’s really something that you laugh off.
Tennessee is 3 points short of being a Top 5-10 and undefeated.
They aren’t lacking in talent, size, etc. They aren’t thin. They aren’t rebuilding.
The LVs just loss two games at the buzzer back to back.
That doesn’t mean they can’t beat a Top 10 team.
That’s flawed logic.
It means this time they didn’t beat OKLA and LSU.
I’m pretty sure LSU is still looking for their first win against South Carolina in several years.
Doesn’t mean they can’t beat South Carolina. I’m also sure some of LSU fans won’t instantly write the team off if or when they lose again to South Carolina.

The LVs will be a top 5 team when their defense (NCAA rank 271, which is poor) comes close to their offense (NCAA rank 1, which is great).

 

[chuckiepoo]

The LVs will be a top 5 team when their defense (NCAA rank 271, which is poor) comes close to their offense (NCAA rank 1, which is great).

Couldn’t help myself…