Game Thread: Lady Vols vs. Ole Miss; Thurs Feb 2nd @ 6:30PM; SECN+

[glv98]

No self-respecting CEO is going to proclaim "By darn, I don't like change. We make slide rules and 8-track cassettes and we will always make slide rules and 8-track cassettes!"

I have relatives who are crazily opposed to the notion of electric cars bc they've always made their living from gas powered engine building and repair. I remind them there once was a guy selling buggy wheels who swore automobiles would never catch on.

 

[jp1]

I'm being honest. I did not see lack of effort at all. Neither did the coach, she praised effort throughout. But it's subjective, maybe your effort detector is more sensitive.

Speaking of effort, how valuable are the minutes we get from Franklin? Yep her shooting was awful last night but she always contributes when she's in. Tough as nails, cool as a cucumber, perfect role player.

Ditto Jordan Walker. Max effort always. Please let her steady improvement continue.

Perhaps I am overly sensitive to effort. Both players you mentioned are definitely effort players, especially Walker. Very evident against LSU.

 

[Darth_Vol]

Agree with her that it doesn't matter who starts.

Maybe she should watch the UConn game again...

 

[DSunAthletics]

If starters didn’t matter, then the coach would just let any 5 players walk onto the court for tip-off. That statement needs to stop being given as a response. It’s misleading and lacks credibility. Just say it’s my way or no way in terms of not changing the philosophy.

 

[River67]

So many air balls!!! Just weird particularly on your home court.

They were a day late getting home and straight to practice when they got there. Probably some tired legs

 

[Volfan2012]

Maybe she should watch the UConn game again...

it doesn't matter to him that much when he has enough players. He is going to play the top five 170 minutes. Right now with the injuries he has 185. The problem you are starting to see with them is fatigue more so in the last couple of games. If you are doing that then it really does not matter when they play. Were still not doing that. Last night it was around 135. When she get those players up to around 160 then it really won't matter. As long as you are keeping them off the floor to much it will definitely matter.

 

[mudcat1973]

the team had stay extra night after lsu game no fly out. i seen on facebook group. they said team late getting back to knoxville had less time rest and prepair for the game.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Shooting all around felt abysmal, probably bc of all the air balls. Shocking to see RJ miss two wide open layups. But bad shooting for her is relative to being the SEC's most efficient scorer - she was still just a click under 50%. I was really proud of JH to overcome a really slow start and bad shooting to be the Swiss Army Knife once again.

But they need perimeter help and I'm very concerned about Sara, and also now Tess. We have to get one or both going and soon. When your 3 pt threat is Jordan Walker, and who doesn't love her, it's not a good sign. Justine has been given ample chance, and she is not ready.

Striplin can flat shoot. From lots of places. I think we can find a good, Franklin-like role for her. Just not ahead of Jill.

We have always missed lot of layups.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Being emotional and rah rah is of little concern in my opinion. Some teams are and some are not. I think if you're being honest, you can admit what I'm saying is correct about effort. Every team shoots bad at times (not what I am talking about).

I watch the shooting very intently, as "mechanics" are what I excel in as a coach...My golden rules of shooting are two fold...1 if your distance is perfect and you are hitting left or right on the rim, it is in your mechanics (dropping or drifting your follow-through/elbow-hip-knee not in line/etc) ; if your ball-path/line is perfect and you are hitting long or short, it is mental. Either your head is not in the game or something (illness/emotion/outside influences/etc.) has clouded your mind in calculating...2. If it is the latter, short=more push and focus on back of the rim; long=more arc.

Almost every miss was short or long. Something got into their heads!

I'm being honest. I did not see lack of effort at all. Neither did the coach, she praised effort throughout. But it's subjective, maybe your effort detector is more sensitive...

At no time when I watched the game did I see a lack of effort. From either team. That was a battle and it was not played, it was fought.

Agree with her that it doesn't matter who starts. Total minutes of the best payers is what we need. She had Rickea and Jordan right where they needed to be. She needs to get Jasmine and Jill way up of where she has them. The others can fill in around these four. Finally the way Walker has played the last two games has been a totally different player. She is playing really well hope that continues.

Doesn't matter who starts is pure BS. And I am not sorry to anyone for saying so!

If starters didn’t matter, then the coach would just let any 5 players walk until the court for tip-off. That statement needs to stop being given as a response. It’s misleading and lacks credibility. Just say it’s my way or no way in terms of not changing the philosophy.

Saying "starters/starting doesn't matter" would equate with saying Head Coaching doesn't matter and every coach would have a rotation in running games!

 

[glv98]

We have always missed lot of layups.

For sure. Hope we've not become contagious to Rickea!

Regarding "effort", sometimes I think an "effortless"player can get confused with lack of effort.

 

[Volfan2012]

I watch the shooting very intently, as "mechanics" are what I excel in as a coach...My golden rules of shooting are two fold...1 if your distance is perfect and you are hitting left or right on the rim, it is in your mechanics (dropping or drifting your follow-through/elbow-hip-knee not in line/etc) ; if your ball-path/line is perfect and you are hitting long or short, it is mental. Either your head is not in the game or something (illness/emotion/outside influences/etc.) has clouded your mind in calculating...2. If it is the latter, short=more push and focus on back of the rim; long=more arc.

Almost every miss was short or long. Something got into their heads!



At no time when I watched the game did I see a lack of effort. From either team. That was a battle and it was not played, it was fought.



Doesn't matter who starts is pure BS. And I am not sorry to anyone for saying so!



Saying "starters doesn't matter would equate with saying Head Coaching doesn't matter and every coach would have a rotation in running games!

Everybody can have an opinion on that, but it seems kind of weird to say if your five best players are still getting the right amount of minutes in the game. I could see where it could actually help in the final ten to fifteen if the best five players are fresher for the stretch run. She still isn't giving the five best players starting minutes for the overall game and that is the problem I see. Two of them need to see 12 to 15 more minutes a game. Three are getting the minutes they need.

 

[glv98]

Everybody can have an opinion on that, but it seems kind of weird to say if your five best players are still getting the right amount of minutes in the game. I could see where it could actually help in the final ten to fifteen if the best five players are fresher for the stretch run. She still isn't giving the five best players starting minutes for the overall game and that is the problem I see. Two of them need to see 12 to 15 more minutes a game. Three are getting the minutes they need.

IMO there are two main problems w not starting your best players. One is rest mgmt. If you know a player like RJ is going to play 30 mins or even more in a close game, her two main rest periods do not need to be at the beginning of each half when no one is tired. The way they work RJ and Horston now makes more sense - quick two minutes or so, hopefully at the end of quarters or near timeouts to extend their breaks. Never at the same time. Was that so hard? They don't even let RJ sit at the end of he bench anymore, Coach Joy made her move up into the coach;s zone a couple of times, lol. Walk to the scorer's table is shorter.

The other problem is setting a tone for the game and not getting in a dang hole that the better players who are subbing have to dig you out of .

 

[Coach Jumper]

IMO there are two main problems w not starting your best players. One is rest mgmt. If you know a player like RJ is going to play 30 mins or even more in a close game, her two main rest periods do not need to be at the beginning of each half when no one is tired. The way they work RJ and Horston now makes more sense - quick two minutes or so, hopefully at the end of quarters or near timeouts to extend their breaks. Never at the same time. Was that so hard? They don't even let RJ sit at the end of he bench anymore, Coach Joy made her move up into the coach;s zone a couple of times, lol. Walk to the scorer's table is shorter.

The other problem is setting a tone for the game and not getting in a dang hole that the better players who are subbing have to dig you out of .

we agree!

 

[Volfan2012]

IMO there are two main problems w not starting your best players. One is rest mgmt. If you know a player like RJ is going to play 30 mins or even more in a close game, her two main rest periods do not need to be at the beginning of each half when no one is tired. The way they work RJ and Horston now makes more sense - quick two minutes or so, hopefully at the end of quarters or near timeouts to extend their breaks. Never at the same time. Was that so hard? They don't even let RJ sit at the end of he bench anymore, Coach Joy made her move up into the coach;s zone a couple of times, lol. Walk to the scorer's table is shorter.

The other problem is setting a tone for the game and not getting in a dang hole that the better players who are subbing have to dig you out of .

She has went back to starting RJ and Horston and of course Walker has always started. I could see Hollinghead for Striplin is the main player she should replace of the starters. If she thinks she needs a three point shooter then Darby, Puckett, or Pissott are about the same for me with Puckett having the better overall game so it wouldn't make a huge difference which one got in there first. So I can see one starter change as being the most beneficial if you think a three point shooter needs to be in there. If you don't believe you need that then you could go with Franklin over Darby or the others then I think you have your best five starting.

 

[UT Challenger]

So many air balls!!! Just weird particularly on your home court.

Usually signs of a worn down team. The break next week may help.

 

[Coach Jumper]

She has went back to starting RJ and Horston and of course Walker has always started. I could see Hollinghead for Striplin is the main player she should replace of the starters. If she thinks she needs a three point shooter then Darby, Puckett, or Pissott are about the same for me with Puckett having the better overall game so it wouldn't make a huge difference which one got in there first. So I can see one starter change as being the most beneficial if you think a three point shooter needs to be in there. If you don't believe you need that then you could go with Franklin over Darby or the others then I think you have your best five starting.

I agree with Jackson, Horston, Walker,,,Hollingshead...But I think Pissott has worked on her game enough to pass Darby (I do agree Franklin is a good choice, but I like her as a spark-plug as a 6th man) and we must have an outside shooting threat to extend the defense)

Darby played 16 min,, Pissott 7
Pissott was 0-2 with 2 rebs=zero efficiency
Darby was 0-3 with 1 TO = -3 efficiency

 

[glv98]

Usually signs of a worn down team. The break next week may help.

Short turn around from a Monday game and apparently got delayed coming home. Didn't help.

 

[Volfan2012]

My last take on the minutes is Jill needs more than the 17 she got last night. It should be at least 30. Franklin needs more than 13 minutes please that is not near enough. Darby gets to many minutes. Puckett 17 has to play better to get that many same for Powell and 16. Striplin only played nine minutes total as a starter. She could play those same minutes as a sub.

Gameplan I like to work the defense of the other team at least 20 seconds per possession unless you have a clear runout. I don't like the quick ten second shot just make you have to play more defense every time you miss or even if you make. I saw a more controlled offense last night. The three point shooting is the only thing that made it seem ugly.

 

[Volfan2012]

I agree with Jackson, Horston, Walker,,,Hollingshead...But I think Pissott has worked on her game enough to pass Darby (I do agree Franklin is a good choice, but I like her as a spark-plug as a 6th man) and we must have an outside shooting threat to extend the defense)

Darby played 16 min,, Pissott 7
Pissott was 0-2 with 2 rebs=zero efficiency
Darby was 0-3 with 1 TO = -3 efficiency
View attachment 534440

Anyone that can make that three on at least one of three tries is fine. Darby has been better shooting from the three, but agree Pissott has way more upside to her game. For defense and rebounding no doubt Franklin is better than either and that leaves you without a three threat which I don't see as important if the people you have to play there aren't good rebounders and poor defensive players. I could also see a lineup that plays Jill at the five and Karoline as a stretch four as she has a very good three point shot and may be able to defend the four position. Leaving Jackson3, Horston2, and Walker1.

 

[Coach Jumper]

My last take on the minutes is Jill needs more than the 17 she got last night. It should be at least 30. Franklin needs more than 13 minutes please that is not near enough. Darby gets to many minutes. Puckett 17 has to play better to get that many same for Powell and 16. Striplin only played nine minutes total as a starter. She could play those same minutes as a sub.

Gameplan I like to work the defense of the other team at least 20 seconds per possession unless you have a clear runout. I don't like the quick ten second shot just make you have to play more defense every time you miss or even if you make. I saw a more controlled offense last night. The three point shooting is the only thing that made it seem ugly.

Puckett, indeed is in a contribution slump,,but I do see that the on-floor influence she has is very apparent. When she comes in the BB-IQ increases dramatically and the calming influence is very noticeable

 

[Volfan2012]

Puckett, indeed is in a contribution slump,,but I do see that the on-floor influence she has is very apparent. When she comes in the BB-IQ increases dramatically and the calming influence is very noticeable

I know so Darby, Puckett, and Powell are the players cutting into Franklin and Hollingshead minutes. So you make a choice. Striplin been going about 8 a game. Puckett 17 and Darby cut last night over 20 for the season. So those three players are the ones you have to cut to get Jill and Jasmine on the court more. Looks like the decision by this staff is that they need those three players to play the minutes they are playing. I agree to Puckett staying where she is. We could cut a few off the other two, but not much off Powell as she is the backup point guard and needs 10 to 12.

 

[glv98]

Got to have some kind of 3 pt threat or the D will just camp in the paint. If either RJ or JH were a more reliable outside shooter it would solve the dilemia. Both need to come on back next year and work on that!

Tess is in a slump and has her limitations, but she's been pretty reliable hitting 3s this yr, shoots about 40%. We have to help her get open more.

Sara is driving me nuts. You know it's there, seen glimpses. Makes smart plays. That tip to RJ for the breakaway was awesome. Bottom line is she's just streaky. Makes em all or misses em all. Consistency is so hard to achieve. But I want her to continue to get mins.

I think Jill will be getting more and more mins as we go.

 

[Volfan2012]

Sara is driving me nuts. You know it's there, seen glimpses. Makes smart plays. That tip to RJ for the breakaway was awesome. Bottom line is she's just streaky. Makes em all or misses em all. Consistency is so hard to achieve.

I think they need to work her more in the paint than the perimeter on offense. If she can pop out for a three fine. She seems to get a little down when she misses her three point shot. She is fairly shifty inside would like to see her play offense in there more.

 

[Gilmore]

So many air balls!!! Just weird particularly on your home court.

Kellie mentioned they had travel delays from LSU and went straight to the gym. Maybe fatigue impacted shots a little but loved the effort on some of the rebounds and steals. They had to feel the pressure of needing a win.

 

[Darth_Vol]

it doesn't matter to him that much when he has enough players. He is going to play the top five 170 minutes. Right now with the injuries he has 185. The problem you are starting to see with them is fatigue more so in the last couple of games. If you are doing that then it really does not matter when they play. Were still not doing that. Last night it was around 135. When she get those players up to around 160 then it really won't matter. As long as you are keeping them off the floor to much it will definitely matter.

I think you missed the point. Tennessee lost that game in large part because UConn completely overwhelmed the starters at the beginning of the game -- one or two of which were clearly NOT ready for real minutes against an opponent of that caliber which Geno happily exploited. The Lady Vols were fighting an uphill battle the rest of the game but the deficit was too much to overcome.

This "doesn't matter who starts" is total BS...