Game Thread Lady Vols vs Texas A&M

[PRG]

This team quick shoots sometimes with NO teammate even within 6 feet of the rim...no chance for a rebound! Nell Fortner commented during the game that Pat Summitt teams would send 5 players to the glass and OWN the boards...our rebounding was pathetic!

I remember Jordan penetrated the zone and shot a 10 footer and missed of course! The most telling thing about this play was TAM had all 5 players around for the rebound and all of our players were 30 ft away watching the game! That shows who wants the ball and who doesn't care?

 

[PRG]

This team quick shoots sometimes with NO teammate even within 6 feet of the rim...no chance for a rebound! Nell Fortner commented during the game that Pat Summitt teams would send 5 players to the glass and OWN the boards...our rebounding was pathetic!

Most people playing this game were not to shoot with no teammates under the goal!!!!!! If you do it should be a layup! But we missed them too! I don't guess it matters?😜

 

[arkyvol]

The men blow a 14 point lead and with 24 hours the Lady Vols blow an eleven point lead, at the same joint. Has the A.D. considered having Thompson-Boling exorcized?

 

[Amb3096]

Most people playing this game were not to shoot with no teammates under the goal!!!!!! If you do it should be a layup! But we missed them too! I don't guess it matters?😜

Tell that to Victoria Vivians of MSU.

 

[maxvolfan]

Rebounding And bad officiating at the end lost this game. Holly is not a X&Os coach. She's a you go her and you go there coach. There's a difference.

 

[volnationnj]

Rebounding And bad officiating at the end lost this game. Holly is not a X&Os coach. She's a you go her and you go there coach. There's a difference.

Whose fault is this loss on ?
1% refs
99% Tennessee

 

[Amb3096]

Rebounding And bad officiating at the end lost this game. Holly is not a X&Os coach. She's a you go her and you go there coach. There's a difference.

Not being able to score lost this game. The refs swallowed their whistles when Diamond fouled Williams on a drive late in the quarter.

No one should be talking refs in this game. It was the crappy offense that sunk them.

 

[Spacejam]

Hello they went through a long stretch without scoring and during that time the head coach failed to use any of her timeouts. they clearly needed to regroup, settle down and focus and she could have even chewed them out like she did with Reynolds earlier in the game.

 

[LA Vol]

LVs didn't have a Big 3 against aTm or UGA. DD and JN combined for 15 points today, and half of Nared's points were FTs. When Nared can't score, the LVs tend to lose.

 

[Trixietrouble]

I hate Holly. Like literally. Hate her.

C'mon people...relax a bit.

 

[SandyO]

Can we switch coaching staffs with Vanderbilt? They seem to have great coaches but no quality players & we have great players with no good coaches lol

That's ingenious. Seriously tho.

I feel some of the girls hit a couple shots, started feeling it and pulling the trigger too fast. Alexa made two nice threes and then missed her next few shots and Jordan couldn't stand on the beach and throw the ball in the ocean. Last game I was praying diamond didn't leave. After watching this, I can't blame her if she does

 

[VOL720]

Yeah, I agree. I wouldn't be surprised to see Diamond turn pro after the season. Not being mean, but I seriously doubt Russell makes it in the WNBA. She's to soft and to slow. I don't know if she's burnt out or out of gas, but she's been very lackadaisical these last few games. It's like she's just going through the motions. I also feel like she's not getting pushed by the coaches. The way Holly yelled at Jordan Reynolds, she needs to yell at Russell. You are 6'6" and missing wide open lay ups. Rarely plays aggressive and acts if she's scared to foul. I can see Diamond having a long career in the WNBA, but I feel like the WNBA is to fast for Russell. She also gets pushed around to easily.

 

[armchair]

Yeah, I agree. I wouldn't be surprised to see Diamond turn pro after the season. Not being mean, but I seriously doubt Russell makes it in the WNBA. She's to soft and to slow. I don't know if she's burnt out or out of gas, but she's been very lackadaisical these last few games. It's like she's just going through the motions. I also feel like she's not getting pushed by the coaches. The way Holly yelled at Jordan Reynolds, she needs to yell at Russell. You are 6'6" and missing wide open lay ups. Rarely plays aggressive and acts if she's scared to foul. I can see Diamond having a long career in the WNBA, but I feel like the WNBA is to fast for Russell. She also gets pushed around to easily.

Did see the game, but doesn't sound like she was the problem. DD was 4 of 12, Nared was 2 for 7: those two combined for 17. Not good enough. You seem to be complaining about the wrong players. We scored 5 points in the 4th Q: that's a sure way to get beat!

 

[teacherdean]

Yeah, I agree. I wouldn't be surprised to see Diamond turn pro after the season. Not being mean, but I seriously doubt Russell makes it in the WNBA. She's to soft and to slow. I don't know if she's burnt out or out of gas, but she's been very lackadaisical these last few games. It's like she's just going through the motions. I also feel like she's not getting pushed by the coaches. The way Holly yelled at Jordan Reynolds, she needs to yell at Russell. You are 6'6" and missing wide open lay ups. Rarely plays aggressive and acts if she's scared to foul. I can see Diamond having a long career in the WNBA, but I feel like the WNBA is to fast for Russell. She also gets pushed around to easily.

I agree with you,since Diamond has a first round draft rating I can't blame her if she decides to leave for the WNBA. What is with Nard, has she decided to take time off since USC? Russell is not anywhere close to being a pro center. Remember Griner was not ready her first year in the WNBA and defensively Russell is not nearly as dominating or aggressive as Griner was in college. At best she is a project player that needs to develop a mean streak. She would get eaten alive in the WNBA or the international pro game. Maybe with a lot of competition in the post next year she will become more aggressive. Her speed will not improve until she learns to run on the balls of her feet and not toe to heel. I suggest that she stay put, find a weight and running coach and learn to become more aggressive.

Overall, it seems that we lack motivation and desire, not all the time, but certainly too much of the time.

 

[armchair]

Warlick should be playing Nunn more in the first three quarters and giving Russell fewer minutes so that she can be fresh in the 4th. Playing her 38 minutes is stupid--she is a very big girl and needs more of a blow. She should be playing 33 minutes per game, tops, IMO. I've seen her get tired multiple times, and like all tired players, when tired her play falls off noticeably.

 

[VOL720]

Did see the game, but doesn't sound like she was the problem. DD was 4 of 12, Nared was 2 for 7: those two combined for 17. Not good enough. You seem to be complaining about the wrong players. We scored 5 points in the 4th Q: that's a sure way to get beat!

Diamond may have had an off night, but more than often she plays with heart and effort. You can see it in her eyes she wants to win. Russell has been playing lackadaisical these last few games like she really doesn't care if they win or lose. Maybe it's fatigue. She took herself completely out of the play where A&M scored the winning basket. She plays to soft, get scored on by players half her size and sometimes stand and watch the ball instead of rebounding. That comes off as being lazy. The WNBA would eat her alive. She was actually walking a few possessions.

 

[mlindsay]

Yeah, I agree. I wouldn't be surprised to see Diamond turn pro after the season. Not being mean, but I seriously doubt Russell makes it in the WNBA. She's to soft and to slow. I don't know if she's burnt out or out of gas, but she's been very lackadaisical these last few games. It's like she's just going through the motions. I also feel like she's not getting pushed by the coaches. The way Holly yelled at Jordan Reynolds, she needs to yell at Russell. You are 6'6" and missing wide open lay ups. Rarely plays aggressive and acts if she's scared to foul. I can see Diamond having a long career in the WNBA, but I feel like the WNBA is to fast for Russell. She also gets pushed around to easily.

And that is the issue that I have. If everything revolves around Russell (as it seems it does) she needs to be held to the same standards as everyone else and that isn't the case.

She can play horrible game in and game out and nothing is every done. Holly went off on Jordan (when she should've went off on Middleton at that point) and Jordan responded. Nothing was every said (and never is said) to Russell.

I truly wish we would've landed McCowen a few years ago (in the MeMe and Te'a recruiting class) because she would've pushed Russell or Russell wouldn't play. Russell can play any way she wants because of poor recruiting she knows there is no one that is going to take her spot/playing time, which is sad. All players should be held to the same standards

 

[Amb3096]

Diamond may have had an off night, but more than often she plays with heart and effort. You can see it in her eyes she wants to win. Russell has been playing lackadaisical these last few games like she really doesn't care if they win or lose. Maybe it's fatigue. She took herself completely out of the play where A&M scored the winning basket. She plays to soft, get scored on by players half her size and sometimes stand and watch the ball instead of rebounding. That comes off as being lazy. The WNBA would eat her alive. She was actually walking a few possessions.

In MR's defense, she got poked in the eye and staggered to the baseline during the drive, freeing up Hillsman to get the rebound and putback.

I thought she did a really good job on Hillsman all game long. She shut her down offensively, and the points that Hillsman scored were mostly when there was a switch and she had a smaller defender. And Hillsman is a big, strong post with solid moves.

I think the love affair with jump shots and inability to get Diamond and Jaime going was more the issue. MeMe, Jordan and Alexa were all guilty of trying to force the issue without getting the big guns involved first.

 

[Amb3096]

Holly went off on Jordan (when she should've went off on Middleton at that point) and Jordan responded.

Jordan had 2 FTs in 3 quarters of play and missed a bunch of open shots. All in all, she was a non-factor as she has been throughout most of her career.

 

[armchair]

And that is the issue that I have. If everything revolves around Russell (as it seems it does) she needs to be held to the same standards as everyone else and that isn't the case.

She can play horrible game in and game out and nothing is every done. Holly went off on Jordan (when she should've went off on Middleton at that point) and Jordan responded. Nothing was every said (and never is said) to Russell.

I truly wish we would've landed McCowen a few years ago (in the MeMe and Te'a recruiting class) because she would've pushed Russell or Russell wouldn't play. Russell can play any way she wants because of poor recruiting she knows there is no one that is going to take her spot/playing time, which is sad. All players should be held to the same standards

Russell is the steadiest performer on the team. She may not be great, she's not athletic enough to be great, but she is solid most games. Meanwhile, DD and Nared are wildly inconsistent--especially DeShields. I am reading your comments and thinking DD must have carried the team today. Nobody: She made 4 shots in the entire game, missed 8. There is NO WAY a player with DD's talent should have only four made baskets in ANY GAME--ANY GAME. This game was lost because she and Nared didn't score--and all I read is carping about Russell. In case you missed it, we are very dependent on getting points from our wings.

 

[Amb3096]

Russell is the steadiest performer on the team. She may not be great, she's not athletic enough to be great, but she is solid most games. Meanwhile, DD and Nared are wildly inconsistent--especially DeShields. I am reading your comments and thinking DD must have carried the team today. Nobody: She made 4 shots in the entire game, missed 8. There is NO WAY a player with DD's talent should have only four made baskets in ANY GAME--ANY GAME. This game was lost because she and Nared didn't score--and all I read is carping about Russell. In case you missed it, we are very dependent on getting points from our wings.

Tennessee did their best not to get Jaime and Diamond involved. Diamond only took 5 shots in the second half; Jaime even less. If they weren't forcing the ball to MR, then Alexa, Jordan and MeMe were taking ill-advised shots.

 

[armchair]

We've got a contingent of posters who seem unable to see DD for the great inconsistent and largely disappointing player she has been for UT. She's been a lot better this year than last, she is playing hard consistently, seems to have a better attitude, but she still has too many bad or lackluster games--like today. Let's compare DD to, oh, Breanna Stewart. No comparison. One was a big-time player EVERY game; the other, about 40 percent of the time.

 

[Amb3096]

We've got a contingent of posters who seem unable to see DD for the great inconsistent and largely disappointing player she has been for UT. She's been a lot better this year than last, she is playing hard consistently, seems to have a better attitude, but she still has too many bad or lackluster games--like today. Let's compare DD to, oh, Breanna Stewart. No comparison. One was a big-time player EVERY game; the other, about 40 percent of the time.

It's hard to say that a player averaging 18 ppg is a disappointment. I think she's shackled playing for a 3rd string coach.

The difference is even when her shot isn't falling or she's not scoring, she's playing hard on the other end of the court. Jaime might as well have been on the side of a milk carton today.

 

[LadyVol1908]

Jordan had 2 FTs in 3 quarters of play and missed a bunch of open shots. All in all, she was a non-factor as she has been throughout most of her career.

+100000 Ms. Brick City is what my friends and I call her everytime she gets the ball. I'm sorry but it's hard for me to stomach Reynolds and Jackson on BOTH ends of the floor! I'm still trying to figure out how exactly MeMe is known to be a defensive stopper.

 

[Amb3096]

+100000 Ms. Brick City is what my friends and I call her everytime she gets the ball. I'm sorry but it's hard for me to stomach Reynolds and Jackson on BOTH ends of the floor! I'm still trying to figure out how exactly MeMe is known to be a defensive stopper.

Same way Carter was. She flaps her arms a lot until she's at risk for takeoff.

Diamond is the best perimeter defensive player on the team by far.