Game Thread: Lady Vols vs. No. 1 South Carolina; 7PM Thurs, ESPN

[Coach Jumper]

• Opponent: South Carolina
• Date: Thu., Feb. 23
• Tip-off: 7:03 p.m. ET
• Venue: Thompson-Boling Arena
• Watch: ESPN
• Radio: Lady Vol Network
• Online: Live Audio, Live Stats

predictions:

1. If SC wins the tip...it will go "Saxton to Boston to Cook for a layup" Didn't happen
2. the 1-3-1 zone will be the most effective defense Didn't happen
3. Sara, on Boston,,,will be the key matchup: Didn't happened

starters:
Walker-on Zia Cook
Jackson-on Saxton
Striplin-on Boston
Horston-on Fletcher
Darby-on Beal

Matchups I want t o see
Puckett-Boston
Hollingshead-Cordossa
Powell/Walker/Miles on Cook

The matchups in this game will be interesting, especially when SC pulls out the Twin Towers lineup towards the middle of the 1st quarter. If Kellie sticks with her normal lineup, that means that Jackson will have to guard Boston...which will not end well. I think Sara Puckett really needs to be a big factor. She is bigger/stronger than Jackson. Not that she can guard Boston, but it keeps Jackson out of potential foul trouble plus if she can hit from outside, she can draw Boston out of the paint. The lineup of Walker/Powell, Horston, Jackson, Puckett, Hollingshead is the one that has the best chance. In the end, I think SC will control the boards and control Jackson enough to win this one going way. SC 73 Tenn 55.

Well well well, that time has come lady vols where we meet again. Hoping for a good clean game, no injuries on both sides, & may the team that plays the best wins.

I think the perimeter matchups are the least of our worries. If we could get them to shoot from the perimeter all their shot attempts I would love our chance to win the game. Who is going to contain that inside game cause without that SC is not any better than a lot of other teams. If they didn't have Boston and Cordoso I like our chances to make a game of it this week. Those two looks like we have no answer for in this game.

Johnson is getting more shot`s up now and can knock it down, Remember she is coming back from that ACL injury and is getting more comfortable. She no longer needs the knee brace also can get to the rack. Fletcher is a different story but TN will need to guard Johnson. Johnson hit a big 3 in that Ole Miss game and she is very good in the open floor as we all know. As for putting Horston on Cooke not a bad you can. Then Darby will be matched up with Beal ?

Dawn was ask in her press conference if she expect TN to go to a zone like Ole Miss did and she said yes. And Dawn did say the zone has been a problem for them and will try and clean some things up.

Why would you think you know what is in Kellie’s mind when she is subbing? Can we not all acknowledge that Kellie and everyone on her staff are significantly more knowledgeable about basketball than anyone on any fan site. Maybe she has not shared publicly all the reasons why she subs as she does but it is ludicrous to infer she has no purpose in how she subs.

To win we need to make it a slugfest plus hit 10+ 3s.

I would also dare certain SC players like Raven Johnson to shoot a high volume of 3s. Cooke is the only one that is likely to destroy you with 3s.

Honestly, looking at all the stats, this game is going to be a challenge to keep close. They are just better on OFF, better on DEF, better inside, better outside. We will have to play perfectly and get some luck too.

Coach Jumper: 59-58
Her Hoop Stats: 74-60
Massey: 73-63
Real Time RPI: 76-61
@J-Dog 1313 72-63
@MrBiggles 66-65
Volfan2012 74-62
Raebo 75-68
glv98 75-68
travis929 75-68
@Ladyvol777 73-70
@LadyVol1908 75-52
@RAVOL 74-70
VolBalls33 71-62 !!! you got it!!!
Her Hoop Stats: 74-60
Massey: 73-63
Real Time RPI: 76-61
Vols2015 72-68
@Hadams2212 68-64
gule 90-63
dillyo51 80-67
Prophet1 70-49
@mudcat1973 78-74
Volstylexx 78-63
@EarlVolFan 75-68
SATXVolFan82 100-59
volfaninbuckeyeland 78-63
@Volfaninfl2 76-70
@xtpsrh08123 74-68 LVs
Jax_Vol. 79-58. SC
Rizxx 75-57. SC

 

[Eastknox865]

This game is going get ugly

 

[J-Dog 1313]

This game is going get ugly

LVs 72--SC 63. GBO.

 

[MrBiggles]

They need to play good D like they did in the Vandy and Arkansas game. I'll take a 1-point victory. 66-65 Lady Vols

 

[Volfan2012]

I don't think it will be real ugly but can see them winning 74 to 62. We haven't defended well enough this year to win against the top teams. I don't see us starting now or even this season.

 

[Raebo]

SC likes to play physical. It will be tough getting good shots in the paint. I suspect Darby will not get more than a couple open 3 point shots. Will be interesting to see how the refs call it. On defense will Kellie play zone and pack it on the inside or go mostly man to man? Can we protect the ball or will we make poor passes and try to dribble in a crowd?

SC-75
Tenn-68

 

[LadyVol1908]

Unless we’re clicking on all cylinders, we’re losing this by 20 or more.

 

[glv98]

SC 73 - 58.

Wish it were different, but have seen nothing to indicate it will be.

 

[th2421]

Her Hoop Stats: 74-60 (USC)
Massey: 73-63 (USC)
Real Time RPI: 76-61 (USC)

I think we can make this a single digit game (say 75-68) but have a hard time imagining us pulling out the win. That's no dig at the Lady Vols; South Carolina is just too good, too deep, and too relentless this year.

 

[Ladyvol777]

Tennessee all the way, 73-70. Going to be a great win. As always go Lady Vol's.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Unless we’re clicking on all cylinders, we’re losing this by 20 or more.

Give me numbers

 

[LadyVol1908]

75-52 @Coach Jumper

 

[Prophet1]

This will be like a mule running against a stallion.
SC by 29 miles.

 

[Coach Jumper]

if you just tell me BY 20 I can't list you

 

[VolBalls33]

SC 71 UT 62

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Don't see a win but think they can keep it respectably close as long as Jackson / Horston stay out of foul trouble. Things could get out of hand quickly if they have to sit out much. SC bigs are going to be handful. Need to let our bigs do the fouling on their bigs and Jackson / Horston get the fouls on SC's.

 

[Vols2015]

I think this game will be closer than one may think. I think with us witnessing Ole Miss (should’ve won) playing SC so well, I think TN has it in them. We will need to make our 3 point shots. Walker, Powell, Darby and Puckett will all need to be scoring this game.

If TN wins:

TN: 72
SC: 68

If SC wins:

SC: 72
TN: 68

 

[Amb3096]

The matchups in this game will be interesting, especially when SC pulls out the Twin Towers lineup towards the middle of the 1st quarter. If Kellie sticks with her normal lineup, that means that Jackson will have to guard Boston...which will not end well. I think Sara Puckett really needs to be a big factor. She is bigger/stronger than Jackson. Not that she can guard Boston, but it keeps Jackson out of potential foul trouble plus if she can hit from outside, she can draw Boston out of the paint. The lineup of Walker/Powell, Horston, Jackson, Puckett, Hollingshead is the one that has the best chance. In the end, I think SC will control the boards and control Jackson enough to win this one going way. SC 73 Tenn 55.

 

[djtee]

The matchups in this game will be interesting, especially when SC pulls out the Twin Towers lineup towards the middle of the 1st quarter. If Kellie sticks with her normal lineup, that means that Jackson will have to guard Boston...which will not end well. I think Sara Puckett really needs to be a big factor. She is bigger/stronger than Jackson. Not that she can guard Boston, but it keeps Jackson out of potential foul trouble plus if she can hit from outside, she can draw Boston out of the paint. The lineup of Walker/Powell, Horston, Jackson, Puckett, Hollingshead is the one that has the best chance. In the end, I think SC will control the boards and control Jackson enough to win this one going way. SC 73 Tenn 55.

I could be wrong but i don`t see Jackson guarding Boston at all Hollingshead and Striplin will. The problem i see in this game that will give Tennessee up is at the pg spot. Dawn has stuck with Fletcher and then Raven comes in to bail her out. Mark it down this will hurt SC down the road and cost them big time.

 

[volnationnj]

I think it will be a somewhat higher scoring game than generally anticipated. I see the LV's scoring in the low 70's. Unfortunately, I can also see SC in the low 80's. The LV D has not been where it's been in past seasons. Imo, they'll miss Key more this game than any other played this year.
83- 71 sc. Ouch

 

[Rixxx]

Who is guarding Cardoso? She, IMO, is the key to the game.

 

[Amb3096]

I could be wrong but i don`t see Jackson guarding Boston at all Hollingshead and Striplin will. The problem i see in this game that will give Tennessee up is at the pg spot. Dawn has stuck with Fletcher and then Raven comes in to bail her out. Mark it down this will hurt SC down the road and cost them big time.

Jackson starts at the 4, which is where Boston slides over to when she plays alongside Cardoso. So if RJ stays there, she's going to have to deal with Boston while Hollinshead or Striplin pair up with Cardoso. I suppose Franklin can come in, but she's too small and limited offensively. She'll barely be a speedbump for Boston.

Not sure that Fletcher playing at PG is necessarily to Tennessee's advantage. She's not the passer that Raven is, but she's still pretty steady, solid defender and doesn't make careless mistakes. If she doesn't get the job done in the first few minutes, she'll get subbed out in a hurry.

I think it will be a somewhat higher scoring game than generally anticipated. I see the LV's scoring in the low 70's. Unfortunately, I can also see SC in the low 80's. The LV D has not been where it's been in past seasons. Imo, they'll miss Key more this game than any other played this year.
83- 71 sc. Ouch

I can't see Tennessee scoring 71 on SC. I don't think SC is going to be in the 80s either.

 

[37620VOL]

To win we need to make it a slugfest plus hit 10+ 3s.

I would also dare certain SC players like Raven Johnson to shoot a high volume of 3s. Cooke is the only one that is likely to destroy you with 3s.

Honestly, looking at all the stats, this game is going to be a challenge to keep close. They are just better on OFF, better on DEF, better inside, better outside. We will have to play perfectly and get some luck too.

 

[37620VOL]

@Coach Jumper in regard to your matchups, why not put Horston on Cooke?
You can sag off Fletcher and Johnson because they can't shoot 3s. Putting Horston on them seems like a waste of her talents.

 

[volnationnj]

Jackson starts at the 4, which is where Boston slides over to when she plays alongside Cardoso. So if RJ stays there, she's going to have to deal with Boston while Hollinshead or Striplin pair up with Cardoso. I suppose Franklin can come in, but she's too small and limited offensively. She'll barely be a speedbump for Boston.

Not sure that Fletcher playing at PG is necessarily to Tennessee's advantage. She's not the passer that Raven is, but she's still pretty steady, solid defender and doesn't make careless mistakes. If she doesn't get the job done in the first few minutes, she'll get subbed out in a hurry.



I can't see Tennessee scoring 71 on SC. I don't think SC is going to be in the 80s either.

I understand. UConn scored 77 in a home game, Kentucky 69 and LSU 64 both in road games vs SC. I think we can score a couple of more buckets than those two teams, considering we're playing at home.
But you may be correct, this could be a rock fight and end up in the 60's vs 50's. It's just a hunch on my part.