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

[KnoxLikeUs]

If you slow down you expose our weakness of some on the court even further.

I get that analysis but could it work both ways?
Meaning as opposed to exposing weaknesses, we could very well identify some player strengths.
Alyssa Latham last season scored double figures in 13 games, posted 6 double doubles, and had over 10 rebounds in 9 games as a true freshman.
Latham can play in the post and bang in the post if the coaches mixed in that element to our offense.
She shouldn’t ever be standing in the corner to take 3s.
This kid can really play.
I think she loves being at Tennessee right now and Coach Tubner is a coach that I see as being able to develop her game to thrive in the SEC.
She needs a much larger role.
As much as respect CKC, I think she’s missing a chance to maximize the skillset of Alyssa Latham this season.
Also, a player that is as quiet and possibly shy off the court as Alyssa seems to be its typical for coaches/teachers to kind of overlook them by default.
I just see that potential in the kid and feel like there’s something more there and maybe the HC does too. We will see.

 

[Majors]

Free Throws
12/16 - lose by 2 (75%) - solid, Spearman can’t go 0-2 when the game/lead is within reach
2/7 - lose by 1 (28%) - OU- if you’re not getting to the line enough, you can’t miss by this much.

 

[glv98]

Not a lot to fix. Top thing to fix and limit teams to one shot and get the ball. Those putbacks like 30 points last night is what made us lose. The press didn't make us lose it was not rebounding their misses. You can't give them or any strong team extra shots to score. We did both games and why we lost both games.

Chicken and egg. If we don’t give up the easy shots on press breaks the putbacks don’t kill us.

Yep. You have to position yourself between the ball and the bucket. It's the biggest issue we have.

Hard to get btw your player the ball and the bucket when you’re in the backcourt helping with a trap or just catching up fm having done so.

We only win 4 more conference games

That’s ridiculous.

I thought the team would respond well to the Oklahoma loss and they did. Just an amazing turnaround for this program this season.

What? Losing big games close after slow starts annd a big comeback isn’t a turn around. It’s an exact wash rinse repeat of last year. When the LVs start winnning these, and it seems to be on the horizon, it will be a turnaround

 

[Majors]

I get that analysis but could it work both ways?
Meaning as opposed to exposing weaknesses, we could very well identify some player strengths.
Alyssa Latham last season scored double figures in 13 games, posted 6 double doubles, and had over 10 rebounds in 9 games as a true freshman.
Latham can play in the post and bang in the post if the coaches mixed in that element to our offense.
She shouldn’t ever be standing in the corner to take 3s.
This kid can really play.
I think she loves being at Tennessee right now and Coach Tubner is a coach that I see as being able to develop her game to thrive in the SEC.
She needs a much larger role.
As much as respect CKC, I think she’s missing a chance to maximize the skillset of Alyssa Latham this season.
Also, a player that is as quiet and possibly shy off the court as Alyssa seems to be its typical for coaches/teachers to kind of overlook them by default.
I just see that potential in the kid and feel like there’s something more there and maybe the HC does too. We will see.

The equalizer of us against better teams is to wear them down and keep Sara, Tess and Hollingshead moving. If we slow it down we get less shots and less clock to work with to extend or cut into.

 

[th2421]

I get the total hardassery CKC is trying to sell. But her presser had a bit of throwing players under the bus to me.

I thought in last night's presser she took more accountability for her coaching and the staff than after the Oklahoma game. When she said we need to adjust faster in the first quarter, I think she meant both the players and the coaches.

LSU did not get the run-outs in the 2nd half that they got in the 1st. We were boxing out in the 1st quarter but not being physical and going after the ball, and we adjusted and did much better through the rest of the game. I think those are both examples of coaching tweaks/instruction but also players following through - and she's right that with this system (and its propensity to generate so many possessions so quickly), you probably have to adjust more quickly than the average team or you're going to dig yourselves a big hole.

 

[stlvolsfan]

The coaching staff agrees. Trust me. It’s hard because vocally she wants to be a leader and she’s a senior but her on court play isn’t cutting the mustard.

The system we run exposes too many of her flaws. She was given ample opportunity to show what she could do and improve and just hasn’t been capable of that. Latham, Darby and Ayodele should get the rest of her minutes.

If she can gives us 5 quality minutes and hit 1 3 a game that would be great.

I’m still not understanding the resistance to playing Ayodele. She makes a positive defensive impact everytime she’s on the floor and we’re dying for that right now. Puckett isn’t contributing offensively anyway. Might as well play the kid who can get you a stop when we desperately need one.

Completely agree

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

What? Losing big games close after slow starts annd a big comeback isn’t a turn around. It’s an exact wash rinse repeat of last year. When the LVs start winnning these, and it seems to be on the horizon, it will be a turnaround

It’s not the same and even you might know this but have taken the approach of resistance from an extreme fandom standpoint.
The truth is in previous years the LVs would contend with a formidable Top 10 opponent once or twice in the season making a furious comeback to win a close game or suffer a tough loss. Yes, while those games were winnable but crushing defeats at the time the performances on the court aren’t the same.
Tennessee hasn’t particularly came close to reaching its ceiling as a team.
From an outside perspective listening to opposing coaches, players, fans, and sports analysts you can get a sense that people feel relief following a UT game when they escape with a victory as opposed to feeling they let a lesser team stick around. The narrative is changing. The winds are shifting.
It’s just different.

 

[brittannica]

I thought in last night's presser she took more accountability for her coaching and the staff than after the Oklahoma game. When she said we need to adjust faster in the first quarter, I think she meant both the players and the coaches.

LSU did not get the run-outs in the 2nd half that they got in the 1st. We were boxing out in the 1st quarter but not being physical and going after the ball, and we adjusted and did much better through the rest of the game. I think those are both examples of coaching tweaks/instruction but also players following through - and she's right that with this system (and its propensity to generate so many possessions so quickly), you probably have to adjust more quickly than the average team or you're going to dig yourselves a big hole.

She also talked about changing practice, film, etc. to try to break through this defensive plateau. I was impressed by that because her style thus far may be working for some of our players but clearly not all of them, so employing different approaches is a good facet of a teacher. She also adjusted more quickly than the OK game (thank god).

 

[th2421]

We actually won the rebounding and the offensive rebounding after the first quarter. I was totally unaware that we would ever play again like we did in that first quarter. Still hard for me to believe today that we came out and played that way.

In the presser, Coach Kim mentioned that players like Coop were boxing out but everyone else was standing and watching. I think our habits are better this year than in previous years (like boxing out) but players aren't going for the ball. Not sure if this is a communication issue (especially with all the line-up changes) or what.

 

[th2421]

just remember we barely beat a Texas A&M team. We should be sitting at 0-3 right now..

A double-digit Q2 road win is hardly "barely beating" a team, especially when we were up double digits almost the entire game. We were up by 22 at halftime.

You could just as easily say we "should" be sitting at 3-0 right now if buzzer-beaters against OU and LSU had gone differently.

 

[Majors]

just remember we barely beat a Texas A&M team. We should be sitting at 0-3 right now..

I remember we scored over 90 on the road and won by 13. My barely is would be for example, LSU and OU barely beat Tennessee by a combined 3 points.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

I thought in last night's presser she took more accountability for her coaching and the staff than after the Oklahoma game. When she said we need to adjust faster in the first quarter, I think she meant both the players and the coaches.

LSU did not get the run-outs in the 2nd half that they got in the 1st. We were boxing out in the 1st quarter but not being physical and going after the ball, and we adjusted and did much better through the rest of the game. I think those are both examples of coaching tweaks/instruction but also players following through - and she's right that with this system (and its propensity to generate so many possessions so quickly), you probably have to adjust more quickly than the average team or you're going to dig yourselves a big hole.

Yes Kim and Jenna are getting schooled by these veteran coaches just like our players are by the veteran SEC teams. Learning experience for both. Lets just hope they take the lessons learned and quickly make the needed changes. Confident they will.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

The equalizer of us against better teams is to wear them down and keep Sara, Tess and Hollingshead moving. If we slow it down we get less shots and less clock to work with to extend or cut into.

What is your philosophy of slowing down in this system?
I don’t think pace/tempo is the issue. I think there’s more versatility on the roster that can be utilized to UT advantage.
I think we are discussing different things.
To me, you don’t have to slow it down much to get better shots at a higher percentage in the half court.
Also, I don’t care how the team plays there’s just no outcome possible where Sara or Tess shooting 3s is a better strategy than Alyssa Latham adding another dimension to this team offensively and defensively in the post when you go back to watch her film as a true freshman at Syracuse.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

I remember we scored over 90 on the road and won by 13. My barely is would be for example, LSU and OU barley beat Tennessee by a combined 3 points.

At this point, that other poster has no credibility. It’s not even functional trolling.

 

[newladyvolfan]

 

[newladyvolfan]

A double-digit Q2 road win is hardly "barely beating" a team, especially when we were up double digits almost the entire game. We were up by 22 at halftime.

You could just as easily say we "should" be sitting at 3-0 right now if buzzer-beaters against OU and LSU had gone differently.

We got our asses kicked against LSU and Oklahoma… a lucky comeback does mean we are at there level yet

 

[And1]

We got our asses kicked against LSU and Oklahoma… a lucky comeback does mean we are at there level yet

Yeah we got our asses totally kicked by a total of 3 points. Go sit your ass down somewhere and give it a rest.

 

[Majors]

What is your philosophy of slowing down in this system?
I don’t think pace/tempo is the issue. I think there’s more versatility on the roster that can be utilized to UT advantage.
I think we are discussing different things.
To me, you don’t have to slow it down much to get better shots at a higher percentage in the half court.
Also, I don’t care how the team plays there’s just no outcome possible where Sara or Tess shooting 3s is a better strategy than Alyssa Latham adding another dimension to this team offensively and defensively in the post when you go back to watch her film as a true freshman at Syracuse.

I don’t slow it down. I’d run it on red all year, showcase the style and a how lesser talented team in paper has competed against Top 10 teams. It’s a win now year for Kim but big picture is winning most of these games next season against the Top 25.

 

[Volfan2012]

In the presser, Coach Kim mentioned that players like Coop were boxing out but everyone else was standing and watching. I think our habits are better this year than in previous years (like boxing out) but players aren't going for the ball. Not sure if this is a communication issue (especially with all the line-up changes) or what.

She was talking about the first quarter before Latham and Jill ever entered the game. They did some really good work in there as well.
My thought on some of the players is they like to play offense and don't like to get in there and rebound. It is hard work and you sometimes get beat up, but it is necessary.

 

[Rooster1]

Nah losing at home is a no go with the net.

UT's net rose after the loss to LSU last night.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

UT's net rose after the loss to LSU last night.

Color me shocked that the poster in question has a knowledge gap.

 

[Volfan2012]

Chicken and egg. If we don’t give up the easy shots on press breaks the putbacks don’t kill us.

Hard to get btw your player the ball and the bucket when you’re in the backcourt helping with a trap or just catching up fm having done so.

That’s ridiculous.

What? Losing big games close after slow starts annd a big comeback isn’t a turn around. It’s an exact wash rinse repeat of last year. When the LVs start winnning these, and it seems to be on the horizon, it will be a turnaround

Always one or the other that decides a game. Still the seven Morrow putbacks in the first 14 minutes of the game were as much a deciding factor as any other play. She only gets half of those we win. Of course if they get two less layups on fast breaks we win. Even if we shoot 49 percent like they did we win instead of the 42 percent we shot. Or even the 1 for 12 from the three from Whitehorn, Cooper, and Spearman could've been a different shot and may have made three or four of them. It was a game of one or two plays. Oklahoma was the same. Were not that far away just need to make the one or two plays or two stops to win it. You get nothing out of losing by 1 or 2 and everything by winning by the same amount.

 

[volsagain]

I don’t slow it down. I’d run it on red all year, showcase the style and a how lesser talented team in paper has competed against Top 10 teams. It’s a win now year for Kim but big picture is winning most of these games next season against the Top 25.

Just need to clean up a few things. Stop dribble penetration and get your butt back down the court after they rebound or a steal. Stop rushing shots early in the game. Don't put total belief in the +/- volume. We have a couple players that don't fit our pressing defense or are very good defenders at all. I believe when tournament time rolls around we'll be better as a team. Also believe the rotation minutes will increase for the better defenders. Players will grow and so will the coaches. I believe CKC is a really good coach she like everyone else is not perfect. GLV

 

[Coach Jumper]

I get that analysis but could it work both ways?
Meaning as opposed to exposing weaknesses, we could very well identify some player strengths.
Alyssa Latham last season scored double figures in 13 games, posted 6 double doubles, and had over 10 rebounds in 9 games as a true freshman.
Latham can play in the post and bang in the post if the coaches mixed in that element to our offense.
She shouldn’t ever be standing in the corner to take 3s.
This kid can really play.
I think she loves being at Tennessee right now and Coach Tubner is a coach that I see as being able to develop her game to thrive in the SEC.
She needs a much larger role.
As much as respect CKC, I think she’s missing a chance to maximize the skillset of Alyssa Latham this season.
Also, a player that is as quiet and possibly shy off the court as Alyssa seems to be its typical for coaches/teachers to kind of overlook them by default.
I just see that potential in the kid and feel like there’s something more there and maybe the HC does too. We will see.

speaking of Alyssa Latham and her potential....did you see what she did last year against ND and Ala as a true Freshman...

Syracuse's Alyssa Latham Puts Up 23 Pts, 12 Reb & 5 Bk In The Win Over Alabama

Syracuse's Alyssa Latham had an amazing game in the Orange's 79-73 win over Alabama in the inaugural ACC/SEC Basketball Challenge. Latham led the way with 2...

t.co

Syracuse's Alyssa Latham Has A 20-10 Double-Double In ACC Opener

Syracuse opened their ACC schedule with a win over 13th ranked Notre Dame, and Alyssa Latham played a huge part of that win. Latham scored 21 points, on 9-18...

t.co

Her upside is very high BC she is a harder worker

 

[newladyvolfan]

speaking of Alyssa Latham and her potential....did you see what she did last year against ND and Ala as a true Freshman...

Syracuse's Alyssa Latham Puts Up 23 Pts, 12 Reb & 5 Bk In The Win Over Alabama

Syracuse's Alyssa Latham had an amazing game in the Orange's 79-73 win over Alabama in the inaugural ACC/SEC Basketball Challenge. Latham led the way with 2...

t.co

Syracuse's Alyssa Latham Has A 20-10 Double-Double In ACC Opener

Syracuse opened their ACC schedule with a win over 13th ranked Notre Dame, and Alyssa Latham played a huge part of that win. Latham scored 21 points, on 9-18...

t.co

Her upside is very high BC she is a harder worker

so.. our coaches are not smart enough to play her like they owe Puckett or Spearman something.. be careful or she will be in the portal.