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

[Orange007]

here's the thing we lost by 7 points to a team STACKED with top level players who is also the returning national champion. you put that many top level players with CKC and she WILL win a national championship. she is THAT good at coaching AND recruiting.

 

[Orange007]

also, aside from pat, i am not sure i have ever really loved watching a press conference like CKC's. she is so honest, funny, but all business. it's easy to see how she has shot up so quickly and won so many titles along the way. some people just have it.

 

[VolBlocker]

Disagree. IMO Ruby's moves are on a different level from the other two. I think we should use Ruby more on offense.

Coops D to O is incredible. She is our engine, but she sometimes doesn't hit on all cylinders. She needs extensive film study focused on shot selection and not forcing her offense. It's a really hard skill to learn but I believe she will. She's also quite an emotional player (shades of JH) and that needs some fine tuning.

Ruby Whitehorn is a straight line driver that's trying to get to her fadeaway. She has no breakdown moves. Deniya Prawl has more moves then her as a Senior in highschool. Ruby is just a big wing! Notice how easily she was shut down in the second quarter and throughout the game.

 

[mudcat1973]

I notice some players are not thrown the ball or rebounded for as intensely as other players. Hard to say why that is. I imagine there are a variety of reasons, none of them good of course.

I noticed that, too, and saw Zee turn and walk toward the bench.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, maybe Ruby thought a pass might take too much time to corral and shoot given the clock. Of course, that proved to be a moot point when she didn't get the shot off in time.

She could have passed the ball faster than driving the ball by herself.
She besides that misjudged the time left in the quarter.

 

[Knoxville Nation]

Why do most in this forum harp on the fact of having All Americans coming to Tennessee? HS production does not always equate to college success. You go from playing teenagers to going up against grown women. Everyone is not JuJu or Hannah or Edward's or Strong. Check the 2023 or 2024 espnw recruiting classes and tell me if any of those names are household names or have produced in college thus far. I'll wait.....

 

[Knoxville Nation]

The LVs held SC to 70 points. The LVs had 49 rebounds; SC had 40. The LVs had 13 TOs; SC had 17. The LVs had 10 steals; SC had 8. Why didn't the LVs win this game? The answer is: SC had 5 players score in double digits, the LVs had 2 players score in double digits. Unfortunately, the LVs are not the scoring juggernaut that everyone, including myself, thought they were. This game showed that the LVs are a match in overall talent but not quite a scoring talent match for SC.

My family member has d1 coaches that they are friends and they say Tennessee guards are selfish and there is absolutely no ball movement. Not to mention they take too many 3s and a lot of bad shots. Honestly right now the formula to beating LVN is in plain sight. Kim needs to adjust. We can't keep saying we're so close. No moral victories or excuses. You either win or lose! Gabe and Roman have SEC experience. Is Kim so stubborn that she won't take their advice and change

 

[ShortyMac10]

I think it’s starting to hit

 

[mudcat1973]

My family member has d1 coaches that they are friends and they say Tennessee guards are selfish and there is absolutely no ball movement. Not to mention they take too many 3s and a lot of bad shots. Honestly right now the formula to beating LVN is in plain sight. Kim needs to adjust. We can't keep saying we're so close. No moral victories or excuses. You either win or lose! Gabe and Roman have SEC experience. Is Kim so stubborn that she won't take their advice and change

Sharing the basketball is one of Tennessee problems to be solved if Tennessee going to make a decent run in the NCAA tournament this year.

 

[Coach Jumper]

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

Dawn took the foot off of the gas,,,it was only obvious from the stands,,yes our energy was higher in Q4, but Dawn's horses were already grazing

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.

We did, and there were enough missed bunnies to start a rabbit ranch

Disagree. IMO Ruby's moves are on a different level from the other two. I think we should use Ruby more on offense.

Coops D to O is incredible. She is our engine, but she sometimes doesn't hit on all cylinders. She needs extensive film study focused on shot selection and not forcing her offense. It's a really hard skill to learn but I believe she will. She's also quite an emotional player (shades of JH) and that needs some fine tuning.

Ruby plays more under control than Coop,,but Coop has more ambition than Ruby,,,if they ever understand that they could be a"Michael/Scottie" combo, it is then that this team will take off

 

[Coach Jumper]

Volume shooting will only beat foes if the shots hit a target every now and then...31% over all and 12% (YES 12%!) shooting threes won't get it done.

We followed a game of 9-17 with 3-26???? And if you think it was bc they were defended,,,re-watch the game

 

[mudcat1973]

Volume shooting will only beat foes if the shots hit a target every now and then...31% over all and 12% (YES 12%!) shooting threes won't get it done.

We followed a game of 9-17 with 3-26???? And if you think it was bc they were defended,,,re-watch the game
View attachment 717917

bad shot selection/ slash not sharing the basketball.
Tennessee defeat their self
South Carolina didn't need to bring tight defense.
Tennessee was throwing up quick/bad shots.

 

[madtownvol]

Volume shooting will only beat foes if the shots hit a target every now and then...31% over all and 12% (YES 12%!) shooting threes won't get it done.

We followed a game of 9-17 with 3-26???? And if you think it was bc they were defended,,,re-watch the game

It is hard to win against anyone with that kind of horrific shooting. SC's perimeter D was really good. Our players seldom had space to shoot, except for the players like Spearman and Jillian who SC wanted to take those shots. And they defended pretty well at the rim as well.

But our defense was also good but when you miss that many shots, it puts incredible pressure on the defense to hold up break after break.

But, yes the score does not tell the story. SC dominated the LVs through quarters 2 and 3 and lost focus in the 4th. But, battling back to make the game reasonably is still probably a better outcome for mindset than getting dusted by 20.

What we have seen in the last few games is the problem of not having a great offensive player, like Rickea. What we are some good offensive players who are capable of really good nights. Also, the "we don't ned post players with this system" theory is not looking so good.

 

[Orange.]

My family member has d1 coaches that they are friends and they say Tennessee guards are selfish and there is absolutely no ball movement. Not to mention they take too many 3s and a lot of bad shots. Honestly right now the formula to beating LVN is in plain sight. Kim needs to adjust. We can't keep saying we're so close. No moral victories or excuses. You either win or lose! Gabe and Roman have SEC experience. Is Kim so stubborn that she won't take their advice and change

“Close to someone who is close to D1 coaches.” ™

It can be frustrating to lose, but you’re not helping anything by calling our guards “selfish” and our coach “stubborn.” So moralistic and simplistic. And it’s not even true. For example, Kaniya may have been our best player tonight. And if Kim is determined, she is determined in the right way.

That was a very athletic and well-schooled defense we were up against tonight. It was more about execution than “formula.” Dawn attributed our late run to us having worn them down, which is remarkable when you consider that they play 10 like we do. What I did find “stubborn,” if you insist on talking that way, was the way our ladies gave their all for Tennessee until the final second ticked off the clock. We didn’t fold.

Let’s do some deep breathing exercises, enjoy our well-earned and timely bye, and then get ready to cheer our LVs on in our next game on Sunday. If it helps, take as your mantra “And all shall be well and All manner of thing shall be well.” It’s healthier than condemnation. It’s going to work out.

 

[Orange.]

It is hard to win against anyone with that kind of horrific shooting. SC's perimeter D was really good. Our players seldom had space to shoot, except for the players like Spearman and Jillian who SC wanted to take those shots. And they defended pretty well at the rim as well.

But our defense was also good but when you miss that many shots, it puts incredible pressure on the defense to hold up break after break.

But, yes the score does not tell the story. SC dominated the LVs through quarters 2 and 3 and lost focus in the 4th. But, battling back to make the game reasonably is still probably a better outcome for mindset than getting dusted by 20.

What we have seen in the last few games is the problem of not having a great offensive player, like Rickea. What we are some good offensive players who are capable of really good nights. Also, the "we don't ned post players with this system" theory is not looking so good.

The “we don’t need post players” theory, I remind you, is a myth. Some people (I’m not saying you) took too narrowly Kim’s exuberant remark that she would take 5 guards if she could. In fact, 5 great guards would be great on a team that plays two platoons. But my point is that in those same interviews (at one of the Big Orange Caravan stops) she also said the biggest difference at this level is that we must have big athletic posts who can hold their own in this league. She knows. I hope we can bring some in from high school and the portal. But most of all for now, see continual improvement in the ones we have.

And, yeah, I agree: this was light years better than getting dusted by 20! It’s not a “moral victory.” It means we will have some positive things to build on looking at the film, as well as the corrections. It’s a mental war right now for our LVs as well as a physical one.

 

[Orange.]

I think it’s starting to hit

Samara looks bought in!

 

[Orange.]

This team is easy to like.

 

[Chickenfarmer]

If you take bad shots, throwing up prayers hoping for a foul, this is what you get. Regardless of your press, great defense must translate into offense. This team lacks consistency on offense against a tough SEC schedule to produce wins and upsets. Yes, they can finish strong and make it close. Without out producing points off turnovers, the defense just looks exciting.

 

[Chickenfarmer]

Love our team and the future will be good. CKC has to adjust her game based on talent on the floor. You always have to adjust given the conditions you face each game. Why had Coach Barnes never won a Championship? He lacks the offensive consistency. How good are KC Chiefs without Mahomes? You still have yo outscore your opponents. I love great defense, but it must result in points. 15 steals and 20 turnovers are meaningless if they do not result in points.

 

[Orange.]

I'm just glad we get uconn at home.

That’s going to be fun!

 

[volsagain]

The “we don’t need post players” theory, I remind you, is a myth. Some people (I’m not saying you) took too narrowly Kim’s exuberant remark that she would take 5 guards if she could. In fact, 5 great guards would be great on a team that plays two platoons. But my point is that in those same interviews (at one of the Big Orange Caravan stops) she also said the biggest difference at this level is that we must have big athletic posts who can hold their own in this league. She knows. I hope we can bring some in from high school and the portal. But most of all for now, see continual improvement in the ones we have.

And, yeah, I agree: this was light years better than getting dusted by 20! It’s not a “moral victory.” It means we will have some positive things to build on looking at the film, as well as the corrections. It’s a mental war right now for our LVs as well as a physical one.

I just hope CKC can find a couple post that have a nack for rebounding. That doesn't mean they are slugs and can't run the floor. That along with the guards learning the system better would pay Hugh dividends. This team will be better by tournament time. Think the post defense and rebounding are getting back. GLV

 

[VolBlocker]

If you take bad shots, throwing up prayers hoping for a foul, this is what you get. Regardless of your press, great defense must translate into offense. This team lacks consistency on offense against a tough SEC schedule to produce wins and upsets. Yes, they can finish strong and make it close. Without out producing points off turnovers, the defense just looks exciting.

They take bad shots because over half of em can't create for themselves. Only Tay Coop can create consistently. This team lacks players who can create for themselves. That's why you see a stagnant offense at times.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

They take bad shots because over half of em can't create for themselves. Only Tay Coop can create consistently. This team lacks players who can create for themselves. That's why you see a stagnant offense at times.

False.
I don’t know what you’re seeing but Ruby Whitehorn creates space and drives to the basket as good as most guards in the SEC.
Kaniya Boyd can create although she’s still learning how to play at the speed and physicality of SEC basketball as a freshman.
Samara Spencer has started in the SEC for four years and has one of the top assist to turnover ratios in WBB.
So she’s not only creating for herself averaging double figures scoring but also making plays for her teammates.
I don’t know what some of you all expect to be honest.
Not many teams score 50 on South Carolina let alone 63 points and hold them to 70 points.
The LVs had good looks but the shots weren’t falling which was the difference last night.

 

[Poultrygeist]

SC blew out Oklahoma by 40, beat Texas by about 18 and barely made by LSU by 10. They don't seem to take their foot off the gas against other ranked teams, why would they take it off for Tennessee?

“I thought we played too fast,” Staley said. “We missed some easy shots that we normally make. I thought just halfway through the second quarter that we found some easy ways to score once we beat their press. And then it was just a build-up. “And then that build-up was torn down in the fourth quarter by ill-advised shots. Just bad shot selection. Bad, bad, bad, bad. And fortunately for us, we built enough lead to where we were able to sustain their comeback.”

Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/sports/col...asketball/article299249914.html#storylink=cpy

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Very encouraging post-game interview. I know everyone acts like in the moment winning is all that matters which is part of the battle. To get where this program is heading, it’ll be more heartbreaking losses on this journey but in the end it’ll be worth it.
Hopefully our moment on the winning side of big games is on the horizon but there’s no speeding up the path to greatness .

GBO ‘solid’!

 

[mcannon1]

Cooper took 21 SHOTS. Made 5 of them.