Game Thread: Lady Vols Vs So. Car. ; Mon Jan 27th ; Home game; 7 PM Eastern; ESPN2

[docholiday]

Call me crazy, but I think we beat them if we play again.

Kim can coach and adjust in game better than anyone we’ve had since Pat, that’s for sure.

Team is having growing pains still, but man are they close to playing every quarter with the same consistency.

Just wait til March. If your a #1 seed and see Tennessee in your bracket, you are saying oh S-------please someone beat them early.

 

[Dak1219]

If we traded Cooper or Spear for Johnson or Fulwilley tonight, TN wins this game.

What makes you think South Carolina defenders wouldn't do to Johnson or Fulwiley what they did to Cooper and Spear tonight? Taking away what opponents do best is what South Carolinas defense does. You notice every three was well contested tonight. Tennessee didn't just go out and take crappy shots, every shot was contested, especially the threes.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

I know Kim is almost immune to taking timeouts, but I'd love to see her call one when the team starts its (seemingly inevitable) unraveling. If she had called one in the midst of their 14-0 run in the middle of the second quarter, I feel like she could've stopped the bleeding a bit. It's just the weirdest thing watching them come out, build a 9-point lead, then completely lose their poise with the flip of a switch.

 

[KrazyVolFan]

I hope we do win but I’m not convinced on the in game adjustments. When they come back it’s because the players decide to play all out. It’s more about them than this coaching staff. You can’t want it more in just the fourth quarter to win these type of matchups.

I don't understand it either. The entire concept of this style is to go 100 percent for the few minutes your in the game. We are just picking and choosing it seems. I have no idea how you discipline it or fix it. Hopefully we get it figured out soon.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

I hope we do win but I’m not convinced on the in game adjustments. When they come back it’s because the players decide to play all out. It’s more about them than this coaching staff. You can’t want it more in just the fourth quarter to win these type of matchups.

I think it could be a little of both. I do see a lot of coaching in game even when the team is in a drought. That’s a good sign. It’s still a learning process for this team that was built mostly through the transfer portal with multiple players in their 1st year at Tennessee.
South Carolina just had more chemistry and continuity of playing their style of basketball.

 

[NOLACHUCKEYTOM]

Just got to love the fight in these girls. Doesn't matter if we are down twenty or up twenty they claw and fight the whole way. If we can just calm down a little bit and select shots a little better they can be a very tough out at tournament time! GBO!

 

[Orange.]

20 points (was that their max lead?) cut to 6.

 

[JCP201]

at Missouri
vs UConn
at LSU

good news, that’s the last 2 top 10 teams we face (as of now) bad news they’re back to back in next 3 games

Surely we get credit for playing these teams close. Our schedule is insane.

 

[RAVOL]

It's crazy after last 2 losses we have gone up in Net just how close this team is but yet so far away at times.

 

[Knoxville Nation]

As good as Cooper is, she can be too much of a ball hog at times

Sad the coaches allow it to happen though. If the shots aren't falling be a playmaker.

 

[Dak1219]

Jacking up 3s killed us. KILLED.

Contested 3's killed us and South Carolina contested every 3 point shot.

 

[volsagain]

SC is Elite numbers bare out how good they are and where we are heading that way. We are taking our lumps but love the future. Cooper did play with to much emotion but she has been really good for our team and this is all great experience for her. She will improve as well as rest of team. I for one am a Patient Man. In CHRIST Alone

This is it

 

[Peas29]

What makes you think South Carolina defenders wouldn't do to Johnson or Fulwiley what they did to Cooper and Spear tonight? Taking away what opponents do best is what South Carolinas defense does. You notice every three was well contested tonight. Tennessee didn't just go out and take crappy shots, every shot was contested, especially the threes.

Also cooper’s drives, even if it looked as if she was about to have an open lane they shut it down with rotation. Something our defense lack in the half court.

 

[glv98]

Birmingham office hammered us on scheduling. No spreading out the toughest games. Isn't that 5 of 6 games? Of course the entire conference is tough.

It should pay off. I was proud of the way our ladies fought to the end. Scar couldn't break them.

I hope we do win but I’m not convinced on the in game adjustments. When they come back it’s because the players decide to play all out. It’s more about them than this coaching staff. You can’t want it more in just the fourth quarter to win these type of matchups.

Our SEC schedule is actually easier this year than last. We played LSU and then So Car three times all within a month last season.

It's the SEC. Lots of good teams. Schedules are hard.

 

[SGMVols]

I’ve never seen a team have such low lows and high highs within games.

A team that has an almost infinite floor and ceiling at the same time.

You could tell me this team loses in the first round or gets supernova hot and makes the Final Four and I could buy it either way.

 

[Orange.]

Surely we get credit for playing these teams close. Our schedule is insane.

I don't think Net takes that into consideration. But close losses to top teams can even raise a rating. Men's schedule is the same way. Both in a hellish stretch at the moment.

 

[charleyhorse]

Sad the coaches allow it to happen though. If the shots aren't falling be a playmaker.

Three players took 60% of shots. No I in Team.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Latham was the surprise of the night. Played solid defense and rebounding.

Yep

 

[glv98]

Also cooper’s drives, even if it looked as if she was about to have an open lane they shut it down with rotation. Something our defense lack in the half court.

We haven't seen defense like that this year. Had something to do with our horrible shooting for sure.

 

[Voluble2]

I hope we do win but I’m not convinced on the in game adjustments. When they come back it’s because the players decide to play all out. It’s more about them than this coaching staff. You can’t want it more in just the fourth quarter to win these type of matchups.

SC let up once they got the big lead but played well enough to close it out.

This loss is a lot worse than the final score will make it look. I felt better after the other losses.

And I don't think there was anything done to help our offense during the course of the game. Apparently we have no halfcourt playbook with any screens to get our shooters open. Kim basically just sat there and let Cooper shoot us out of the game.

Biggest surprise was SC's three ball was on and ours was off. I thought going in that we would have the advantage there and it would be our most likely path to victory, but we just left them open to take one whenever they wanted and they felt no pressure.

 

[KrazyVolFan]

I think it could be a little of both. I do see a lot of coaching in game even when the team is in a drought. That’s a good sign. It’s still a learning process for this team that was built mostly through the transfer portal with multiple players in their 1st year at Tennessee.
South Carolina just had more chemistry and continuity of playing their style of basketball.

Agree but at some point that is just an excuse. We are a little over a month away, it's time for it to start or we are in trouble facing top tier teams. I do think this team has no quit in them and could be a top 10 team if they clean up the inconsistencies.

 

[volsagain]

I know Kim is almost immune to taking timeouts, but I'd love to see her call one when the team starts its (seemingly inevitable) unraveling. If she had called one in the midst of their 14-0 run in the middle of the second quarter, I feel like she could've stopped the bleeding a bit. It's just the weirdest thing watching them come out, build a 9-point lead, then completely lose their poise with the flip of a switch.

She called a time out middle of the second or third not sure which. But I thought it was the second. And should of sit Cooper and talk her down some she was pushing way to hard.

 

[Rooster1]

We haven't seen defense like that this year. Had something to do with our horrible shooting for sure.

UT played pretty good defense also overall. I figured it would be a defensive game and it was.

 

[NOLACHUCKEYTOM]

Yep

Thought Boyd gave us a boost with her energy as well!

 

[Peas29]

I think it could be a little of both. I do see a lot of coaching in game even when the team is in a drought. That’s a good sign. It’s still a learning process for this team that was built mostly through the transfer portal with multiple players in their 1st year at Tennessee.
South Carolina just had more chemistry and continuity of playing their style of basketball.

There’s very little to no in game adjustments on the offensive side of the ball. Once the defense pick up, that’s when the offense comes for a consistent stretch. It’s on the players they have to want it more the entire game.