Game Thread: Lady Vols Vs Vandy ; Sun Jan 19th ; Away game; 3 PM Eastern; SEC+

[LadyVol1908]

1st q even,,,2nd q we shot 3 2 pters and 0 for 12 on threes,,,nuff said

normally our 3s are pretty open and within system, were they forced?

 

[orangemadam]

Congrats to Purplehaze 79-67

 

[madgeyoung]

Lady Vols has lost 3 games by a total of 4 pts. Not too bad if you look at it that way.
THis game should have started her labor pains.

 

[SGMVols]

1-2 at the line, per usual. This loses close games.

But I repeat myself

We’d be 18-0 if we were just an average free throw shooting team

 

[SGMVols]

Lady Vols has lost 3 games by a total of 4 pts. Not too bad if you look at it that way.
THis game should have started her labor pains.

We will have to pull an upset to go any better than 9-7 in SEC play, and that assumes we win everything we’ll be favored in. Close losses are still losses and they matter. We have only one quad 1 win too. This team is not yet a slam dunk to be in the tournament and I think a lot of folks don’t realize that.

 

[Majors]

Tennessee was outbid for four of the five kids committed in this class, but they came here because they connected with the coaching staff, something that just wasn’t happening with the previous staff.

While I agree there were some issues in getting money for first year players, that was not the previous staff’s biggest issue in recruiting. They didn’t close because they didn’t connect with players the same way other staffs did.

Real talk

As stated before, NIL was the built in excuse CKH supporters wanted to believe.

 

[Volfan2012]

The game was about a team that is inconsitent and really can't put a label on how they will play. Never expected us to score just 70 and the poor shooting that we experienced in the second quarter cost us dearly. One quarter, one eight to ten mntue span in three games have kept us from being undefeated this season. Tough part of schedule coming up hopefully we can get a couple wins out of it even one would be great. Creme says even 7 and 9 SEC team will get in the tourney and I think we will go more like 9 and 7. What this game done more than anything unless we can win a couple big ones is keep us from hosting. We can still get the 20 win season by beating Georgia, Auburn, Missouri, Florida, and we have Bama and Ole Miss at home. Still waiting for that full 40 minute game hasn't happened yet even when we win.

 

[Volfan2012]

If I could have just one basketball wish it would be for us to draw Vandy in the SEC Tourney. We play that badly and almost win don't think we'd see that again. We have to get consistent stop the stupid shots and drive the ball. Almost all three attempts should be off a drive and kick not just someone throwing one up when they get past half court.

 

[1morevol]

Rebounds and turnovers were practically even so the LVs did not have their usual shots attempted margin. Couple that with miserable shooting, 23% on 3pt attempts in particular, plus a minus -6 on free throws and you have the perfect recipe for defeating the Lady Vols and any other team, regardless of their system. Vandy did not shoot particularly well either, resulting in a very tight game. Games like this happen over the course of a season. Go Lady Vols, I'm still on board because it's the only train I ride. I didn't watch or listen to the game. How did the LVs defend that last 6 seconds?

 

[Orange Maniac]

We started out the game playing lethargic for our style. Our players seem to think if they are running beside the player they are guarding they are playing good defense. If you're beside them, you are beaten. You have to put forth enough effort to put your butt between the ball and the basket. We failed at that task a lot yesterday. With that being said, the last basket should have not counted because of the charge. Time to move on to the next one.

 

[DeerPark12]

Real talk

As stated before, NIL was the built in excuse CKH supporters wanted to believe.

Both things are true. There were SIGNIFICANT shortcomings in the NIL money that was available to be promised to first-year players that played a major factor in several players not picking Tennessee over the last 2 years of the previous staff's tenure, even when they did connect with the staff.

Getting outbid on a couple of players two years ago led to a defeatist attitude with the previous recruiting coordinator. They also did not do an effective job of having a backup plan in recruiting if they lost out on their top 2-3 targets.

It's also true that those NIL shortcomings are not as significant as they were for the previous staff.

 

[DeerPark12]

We will have to pull an upset to go any better than 9-7 in SEC play, and that assumes we win everything we’ll be favored in. Close losses are still losses and they matter. We have only one quad 1 win too. This team is not yet a slam dunk to be in the tournament and I think a lot of folks don’t realize that.

That is an absolutely insane take.

 

[Majors]

Both things are true. There were SIGNIFICANT shortcomings in the NIL money that was available to be promised to first-year players that played a major factor in several players not picking Tennessee over the last 2 years of the previous staff's tenure, even when they did connect with the staff.

Getting outbid on a couple of players two years ago led to a defeatist attitude with the previous recruiting coordinator. They also did not do an effective job of having a backup plan in recruiting if they lost out on their top 2-3 targets.

It's also true that those NIL shortcomings are not as significant as they were for the previous staff.

She was struggling before NIL in closing kids. Losing out because they were outbid doesn’t dismiss the years prior. Those early years, it was Covid as to why. You stated it and it’s obvious, she couldn’t connect and close.

 

[glv98]

Those early years, it was Covid as to why.

Three things can be true. Jill has said if she could have visited in person as opposed to a covid restricted virtual visit, she would never have chosen GA over TN in the first place. Covid did play a role.

 

[Majors]

Three things can be true. Jill has said if she could have visited in person as opposed to a covid restricted virtual visit, she would never have chosen GA over TN in the first place. Covid did play a role.

One role doesn’t change the narrative. Nice way of saying the staff didn’t connect virtually. The staff had the same restrictions as everyone else.

 

[glv98]

It was Chantelle Anderson I believe is who you are talking about and she was one of the Best centers in the nation that year. 6-6 and very sturdy. In those days, that type of center was dominate. Basically every possession went to her. Not sure if Balcomb was their head coach at that point, but Vandy was tough back then.

I believe Balcomb replaced Foster in Anderson's senior yr. Balcomb had pulled a huge upset of the LVs while at Xavier in the S16 that ended the Meek era. One of the most bitter LV losses of my fandom.

normally our 3s are pretty open and within system, were they forced?

They were open. This was the day we have dreaded where every one of our inconsistent 3 pt shooters had off days the same day. No one could hit a bull in the butt with a base fiddle. Meanwhile, Vandy's frosh phenom Blakes was scorching the nets.

Also, we weren't turning them over, partially bc we couldn't get the press set up due to missing shots.

We will have to pull an upset to go any better than 9-7 in SEC play, and that assumes we win everything we’ll be favored in

The Bama, Ole Miss and KY games are now huge. Two are at home, probably need to win two of the three to keep hosting hopes alive, unless we pull some major upsets against the Big 3. Also, obviously have to avoid any more upsets ourselves.

But no way, outside a complete collapse, we don't make the tourney.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

Vandy men, women, and fans had this weekend circled for a few weeks. Both VU teams played like this was a championship game. Our teams showed up and just went through the motions like it was any other game, got down big and had to fight their way back to have a chance at the end. Some games on the schedule are different and our players need to learn from this weekend. Vandy is an afterthought in sports but that should never be the case for a TN team.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

She was struggling before NIL in closing kids. Losing out because they were outbid doesn’t dismiss the years prior. Those early years, it was Covid as to why. You stated it and it’s obvious, she couldn’t connect and close.

100%. NIL funds weren’t magically deposited into the LVs WBB account 8 months ago.
DW made a home run hire to lead the LV historic program. CKC went and hired a staff that is excellent at recruiting that includes Lazo, Tubner, and Berrier among others.
They built the foundation of the program with the current players and demonstrated a culture during recruiting visits that was second to none.
In October-November, following the commitment of the Pauldo twins back in the summer they executed the sells pitch and landed multiple 5-star recruits back to back to back.
It’s basic math. NIL has never been the issue. They weren’t outbid by any school. CKC sealed the deal. The Pauldo twins and this recruiting class among some current LVs such as Coop and Ruby will set a NIL precedent that hasn’t been seen in the SEC. The Pauldo twins NIL blueprint is on another level for HS prospects male or female, and when they get to Tennessee it will skyrocket.
GBO! Deniya Prawl could be a future #1 WNBA draft pick.

 

[glv98]

One role doesn’t change the narrative. Nice way of saying the staff didn’t connect virtually. The staff had the same restrictions as everyone else.

LOL I realize nothing changes your narrative. It's not the staff that gets the short end of a virtual visit, and indeed the same staff landed Jill after a real visit. But when your facilities are as good as ours, they need to be seen. Both Jewel and Destinee Wells said they knew the minute they saw the locker room, both committed on their visits.

Not sure why it's so hard to say that like most things in adult life "it" was all of the above. Obviously the staff didn't connect well, but also NIL problems, bad luck and bad timing played a role.

 

[glv98]

They weren’t outbid by any school.

Del Rosario and Ashlyn Shade, just to name two.

 

[Rickster]

Biggest in a while. They beat us in the SEC tourney in Memphis in like 2001 toward the end of the Meek era. That was huge for them. I pouted all the way thru Graceland the next day when my family forced me to take them there.

Anyone remember the name of their center who Michelle Snow just couldn't guard? PG was Ashley something and my kids said she looked like Minnie Mouse. Those two were hell for us for a couple of years.

I remember going to Vandy to watch us play them the year we won one of our natty's. We lost to Vandy that game as well. Tough pill to swallow no matter when you lose to them.

 

[VolBall09]

Del Rosario and Ashlyn Shade, just to name two.

They chose to go elsewhere.

Several in the 2025 class were offered more by other schools and chose UT. Previous staff couldn’t close. Get over it.

 

[Hoosier]

Say what you will about Kellie Jolly Harper, but she never lost to Vanderbilt -- as LV coach and as player.

 

[KrazyVolFan]

Why all the talk about Harper, did I miss something? CKC has said this is her team so it's hers. I guess she is doing fine, her system is a little confusing to me still. I don't understand the change from ooc to conference games besides talent level. We aren't running the same system it seems for 4 qtrs.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

They chose to go elsewhere.

Several in the 2025 class were offered more by other schools and chose UT. Previous staff couldn’t close. Get over it.

They don’t understand the difference and it’s really simple math.
First of all I’m talking about the #1/#2 2025 signing class.
Some of the players these fans wanted UT athletic dept to write a check for aren’t even averaging 5ppg over a 2year college career.
I think often times NIL offers are missed understood and reported.
The truth is schools did not outbid UT.
It’s like free agency in professional sports. The top players don’t always seek or accept the highest bidder. These players mind were set on UT and playing for CKC in the historic LV program.
If a school calls you at the last minute or brings you on a visit just to ask what Team A (UT) is offering we’ll give you $10,000, $20,000, or $50,000 more so see if they’ll match it then any parent and elite prospect is going to find that fishy.
So hopefully all this nonsense about outbid ends because you weren’t outbid if the player didn’t seriously consider and accept the bribe!
GBO!