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

[charleyhorse]

Kim has brought the program back to relevance, but someone needs to teach Cooper what it means to play unselfish basketball. It's not coming from the coach at this time. Talented but she lacks discipline on the court. I get it, that Kim is establishing a style of play and culture for the program but allowing this playground offense in the half court is brutal to watch at times.

Bench time helps . These players today got too many options …. Stay here and ride the bench not one of them . Coaches ran by players in locker room

 

[VolBlocker]

Kim has brought the program back to relevance, but someone needs to teach Cooper what it means to play unselfish basketball. It's not coming from the coach at this time. Talented but she lacks discipline on the court. I get it, that Kim is establishing a style of play and culture for the program but allowing this playground offense in the half court is brutal to watch at times.

At times she settles a lot but Tay Coop is by far our best player by a wide margin. She has to do entirely too much because this team lacks players who can break down defenders. Next season, Mia & Mya Pauldo & Deniya Prawl will make Tay Coop even better. You can't name one player on this team who can consistently beat their player off the dribble. Samara Spencer, Ruby Whitehorn, and Jewel Spear all have the same move.

 

[ShortyMac10]

I saw at the beginning of the game they hugged each other.
To be honest though, Tennessee is coming. You have to think about it most top programs especially those like South Carolina and Connecticut didn’t expect Tennessee to make this resurgence during their era.
When Coach Summitt and Tennessee was on top they were dominant.
They won 8 National Titles.
South Carolina is dominant but that’s led to 3 National Titles.
After the first 20 games and the direction of this program, I can realistically see Coach Caldwell winning multiple National Championships at Tennessee.

Also gotta sprinkle in kea gave it to sc every time we played them last season and I wanna say every game last season we fought back dawn probably had a flashback but it’s all love

 

[th2421]

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

22! It was 61-39. We finished the game outscoring them 24-9.

 

[Orange.]

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.

I said the whole conference is tough. But #7, 2, un, 6, 7 is the hardest part of the schedule, imo. That's all we're saying.

I'm not scared. Let's build on this and pick some of them off now!

 

[Peas29]

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.

Not sure why so many harp on Cooper. When she was making those shots no one said a word. It’s been her game from the beginning. We’re not as good without her is all I’m going say. And she wasn’t the only one taking bad shots. I agree on some of the other things though.

 

[RAVOL]

Yep

She is getting better. Light bulb is on and she is playing more thinking less. This style of play is not easy to learn because of the constant movement. Looking forward to seeing players in 2nd year of system.

 

[VolBlocker]

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.

She really don't have the players to fully run it yet. Just wait till next season. People will see the very first game.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

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.

I hear you. That some point isn’t 20 games into the season. It’s a process. As much as the coaches and players want to win, as much as the fans want to win we just have to understand this is a multi-step process.
We will win games and get over the hump at some point but there’s not a single championship team in any sport that didn’t have to lay their foundation before winning consistently against the best.
We can compete with any team. So we’re trending in the right direction.

 

[brittannica]

Not sure why so many harp on Cooper. When she was making those shots no one said a word. It’s been her game from the beginning. We’re not as good without her is all I’m going say. And she wasn’t the only one taking bad shots. I agree on some of the other things though.

I've heard Kim say multiple times that they want to Coop to take more shots and be more aggressive. It is on the coaching staff to teach her the difference between taking a bad shot and being appropriately aggressive.

 

[Golfteacher]

Well it did not turn out as I hoped but the ladies played one heck of a fourth quarter. However, moral victories are usually loses, still disappointed they lost. I do wish they had driven earlier to the basket. Also there was a lot of standing around the Lady Vols are a lot more lethal when they move. They also tried a few crazy shots and the threes were barely there. They will rebound and we have to consider that they were playing the number two team in the Nation and never threw in the towel. I am proud of the ladies.

 

[mudcat1973]

Yep

Mississippi state and Missouri tired 58 SEC network

 

[BowlBrother85]

I know it's frustrating .... as these losses mount. Kim Caldwell has brought an energy to the program I haven't seen in a long time. We have a great future.

 

[VolBlocker]

I've heard Kim say multiple times that they want to Coop to take more shots and be more aggressive. It is on the coaching staff to teach her the difference between taking a bad shot and being appropriately aggressive.

Well the other girls can't get open to take a shot because they are slow or they can't break down defenders.

 

[Peas29]

I've heard Kim say multiple times that they want to Coop to take more shots and be more aggressive. It is on the coaching staff to teach her the difference between taking a bad shot and being appropriately aggressive.

The games we’ve won for the most part was when Coop was on. They continue to try and drag her on this forum but she’s our best two way player and she’s needed.

 

[glv98]

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.

That's what I saw, SC totally took their foot off the gas in the 4th and good for the LVs jumping all over that. They did make it look alot better than it actually was.

Lack of coherent halfcourt offense which crumbles into heroball while coaches watch has been a problem forever. Someone needs to teach Coop about poise and calm decision making. I'm sure it will happen.

 

[VolBall09]

The games we’ve won for the most part was when Coop was on. They continue to try and drag her on this forum but she’s our best two way player and she’s needed.

Coop is our engine. If she’s hitting we’re on a roll. Mostly because she is defense to offense. Her steal score possessions really energize this team. She has to take pride in that and do it consistently. Scary how many steals she could have if she does it 100% of the time.

 

[Peas29]

I just don’t see how Coop’s bad shot selections are usually the ones brought up???? If y’all don’t like her just say that but let’s not pretend our losses and bad stretches of play is solely on her.

 

[Orange.]

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.

Btw, we will have played Texas, Scar, UConn, and LSU twice within a month, shortly.

 

[mudcat1973]

Mississippi state and Missouri tired 58 SEC network

Mississippi state 61 60 end Three quarter

 

[KrazyVolFan]

Why don't we go to the basket all the time. We have the players to drive so just drive and draw the fouls or make the paint shot. Eventually that will open up the outside. Seems like we did that in the 1st and turned to the 3 in the 2nd as our 1st option. Ball sticks way too much as well and then we reset with 10 on the shot clock.

 

[Peas29]

Coop is our engine. If she’s hitting we’re on a roll. Mostly because she is defense to offense. Her steal score possessions really energize this team. She has to take pride in that and do it consistently. Scary how many steals she could have if she does it 100% of the time.

She started to get in foul trouble a lot since the start of SEC play so to counter that I think she waits to become more aggressive. Her and Latham are defensive monsters in this press when they want to be.

 

[Rooster1]

Come March everyone knows the competition elevates, and a good half court offense will be needed. I am sure that is the focus of this LV team going fwd, the better teams will break the press and force that kind of game if it is to their advantage.

Raven Johnson is not the only PG that will break the press with ease. And once teams score quickly off a broken press, it becomes a half court game for UT if opposition gets back in numbers quickly, which the good teams will do.

 

[Orange.]

I don't think Dawn took her foot off the pedal. But I am not familiar enough with her lineup to say for sure. But the announcers kept emphasizing that their top 5 subs outscore their starters. I think she intended to leave a mark. Because that's competition. And she may play us again. I think our rally was psychologically important.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Come March everyone knows the competition elevates, and a good half court offense will be needed. I am sure that is the focus of this LV team going fwd, the better teams will break the press and force that kind of game if it is to their advantage.

True.