Game Thread: Memphis v Lady Vols, Wed Dec 18th ; Away game; 8:30 PM Eastern; ESPNews: win 90-75

[MAD]

Why does it seem easier for our team to make threes with hands in our face than uncontested layups?

 

[madtownvol]

Eek, that game did not feel like a 15 point where the LVs had a double digit lead for most of the 2nd half (but it was).

Still shaking my head at this team scoring 90 freakin' points on a bad offensive night, with way too many TOs.

I wonder if all the missed layups and shots at the rim were just a collectively bad night or if Memphis was putting our shooters off with physical contact (and making them rush shots).

I saw some folks were complaining that the refs were letting a lot of contact go but that is SEC play so this game could be a good learning experience.

Cooper had a very Jordan Horston game - struggled with her shot but did a million other things to help the team win (and made some clutch buckets down the stretch)
Jewel "Robin" Spears back to help save the day!! I like that she got her game going by driving to the rim and then started to work the 3s.

Brilliant outing for Spearman.

And how bout Tess Darby? 4 big 3; 6 rebounds and some defensive plays!!

Spencer came back but was definitely limping. I am hoping that it was just some residual soreness. ESPN did not show her fall but I am wondering if she banged her knee cap. Those can hurt like crazy and you can have swelling which makes your leg stiff.

 

[RebKell]

Tonight's winner jsc1973, also the way I figure it out myself he/she won the closest score. LOL
travis929 soon,


Volfan2012 takes the lead.

 

[BruisedOrange]

That was just a weirdly ugly game. Defenders making so many middle school errors! I will be amazed if we get out of Richmond with a win. Too much to correct and not enough time. Plus, we looked tired!

 

[JCP201]

I don't think Memphis record tells the tale of that team. Memphis point guard waas smirking at the beginning of the game, but got salty at the end when Lady Vols started pulling away. With her addition, and if she stays healthy, Mamphis will probably do very well in their conference. I think this will be a good win.

 

[jsc1973]

Tonight's winner jsc1973, also the way I figure it out myself he/she won the closest score. LOL
travis929 soon,

View attachment 707426

As that game was winding down, I knew I was going to be pretty darn close. I just happened to be logged on the day this thread started and decided to take a shot.

I don't think Memphis record tells the tale of that team. Memphis point guard waas smirking at the beginning of the game, but got salty at the end when Lady Vols started pulling away. With her addition, and if she stays healthy, Mamphis will probably do very well in their conference. I think this will be a good win.

They are a far stronger team with Hagemann than they are without her. I had expected this would be her Memphis debut, otherwise I would have had the LVs winning by much more. A team with strong guard play has a fighting chance against this style, even if they get killed inside.

 

[Volfan2012]

Hegemann was in the conversation to come to Tennessee back when the portal was open. She ended up choosing Ole Miss, but for whatever reason left there after like two weeks and went to Memphis. Injury had kept her out until this game. She was a star player for three seasons at Michigan State so I knew when I heard her name to play it was going to affect the outcome by a few points. I still thought we would win by something like 25, but Memphis St was really fired up for this game and played their best half of the season in the first half of the game. CKC made some great adjustments for the second half one mainly trapping Hegemann and not letting her get shots making others shoot mainly in the third quarter. We end up shooting 40 percent and so did they. First half 47 percent them to 39 for us. It was won by three point shooting 32 percent where we made 12 and they only made 4. They got 26 free throws to our 17.

If you could say anything about our team still have to find a way to guard without fouling. I don't agree with many of the fouls called, but you have to adjust to the Refs they are in control. The second thing were going to need to finish better at the rim way way to many missed easy layups. Still hoping this team can get to where they can shoot a consistent 45 to 47 percent every game. Shooting 40 percent is what is going to bite us not the system were playing. 45 percent throws this final up to 102 to 75 plus 12 points. Keeping teams off the line would help as well. Glad were winning even if sometimes playing way below our potential offensively and defensively.

 

[Volfan2012]

I don't think Memphis record tells the tale of that team. Memphis point guard waas smirking at the beginning of the game, but got salty at the end when Lady Vols started pulling away. With her addition, and if she stays healthy, Mamphis will probably do very well in their conference. I think this will be a good win.

I hope they play well and win their conference and a lot of games. Their 200 net ranking still makes this a quad four win. Would hope a lot of winning by them would move it up to at least a three and if were really hoping a two.

 

[Jax_Vol]

I could not get that channel and didn't watch.

Did Jewel play well?

Looks like good numbers in box score.

 

[volsagain]

We still have a few players rushing to shoot a 3 pointer. When we limit that the results will be much better. We have maybe 7 players that can shoot the 3 better than 30% . I know you want to allow players to grow but some should only be shooting those in blowouts. Defense should continue to get better with the coaching there receiving. Rotation will reduce when we start SEC play unless it's a blowout.

 

[JCP201]

We are going to be playing games close to each other coming up--it will be interesting to see if this style of play is a disadvantage in that situation. BTW, is that going to be on any decent channel? My schedule says "baller TV".

 

[1morevol]

Why is there still speculation of a player that reentered the game having a torn ACL?
My goodness.

Speculation is rampant about things great and small on this forum lol.

 

[glv98]

Yes.

The people saying otherwise simply don't have a clue what they are talking about. The volume helps make up for when you don't shoot well. But we aren't looking for volume instead of shooting well and taking good shots. It is in addition to.

From what I have seen, this team takes no more bad shots than last year's team. In fact, I just checked while writing this and we are exactly 0.3 percent better on both twos and threes this year, which is as close to identical as you are likely to see.

shot selection wasn't my biggest concern,,,missed bunnies IS

Shot selection was Kim's biggest concern, it was the first thing she pointed to in her presser. As it has been almost every game. She said her team is taking way too many bad and rushed shots, esp 3s.

As I said during the game, the team is still trying to learn the difference in playing uptempo and rushing, esp on offense.

They had the athletes and talent to keep up.

Disagree. IMO the lack of talent and depth, esp in the second half, was the difference in the game. Memphis is certainly more talented than most of what we've been playing, esp with Hageman. But they had 5 players out and aren't talented enough to keep up wi the LV.s for 40 mins.

Cooper had a very Jordan Horston game - struggled with her shot but did a million other things to help the team win (and made some clutch buckets down the stretch)

Very much a Jordy game. Gets in her head and shows it emotionally. But Coop has really only played meaningful mins in 9 games so far in her career. Hopefully as she matures she can avoid a total Jordy head space career.

Defenders making so many middle school errors

Yes. Both teams oddly just conceded several buckets. Also Memphis conceded rebounds at times like Arky does. Blame early seasonitis.

Plus, we looked tired!

We are going to be playing games close to each other coming up--it will be interesting to see if this style of play is a disadvantage in that situation.

I didn't see tired this game, but this has been cited as a recurring issue and if true is very alarming. They just had a week off btw games, as they have had several times so far. The game and travel sched has been nothing compared to what the next 2 months are about to be like.

I agree it remains to seen how legs hold up to this pace of play though. I know they train like the Marines, but we'll see if that can be sustained for 30+ games.

 

[Orange Maniac]

As I said - no way Spencer had a ACL since she walked on her own to the lockerroom.

So did Vicki Baugh…..

 

[alexvol]

The Memphis Coach ( ex LV ) had her team well prepared especially defensively. The press and 1/2/2 zone threw LV's off ,slowed down the offense until the 4th quarter.

 

[Orange.]

Not terribly worried. Good teams win on bad nights. It’s not going to be an easy year. A good year, yes. LFG!

 

[JCP201]

Shot selection was Kim's biggest concern, it was the first thing she pointed to in her presser. As it has been almost every game. She said her team is taking way too many bad and rushed shots, esp 3s.

As I said during the game, the team is still trying to learn the difference in playing uptempo and rushing, esp on offense.

Disagree. IMO the lack of talent and depth, esp in the second half, was the difference in the game. Memphis is certainly more talented than most of what we've been playing, esp with Hageman. But they had 5 players out and aren't talented enough to keep up wi the LV.s for 40 mins.

Very much a Jordy game. Gets in her head and shows it emotionally. But Coop has really only played meaningful mins in 9 games so far in her career. Hopefully as she matures she can avoid a total Jordy head space career.

Yes. Both teams oddly just conceded several buckets. Also Memphis conceded rebounds at times like Arky does. Blame early seasonitis.



I didn't see tired this game, but this has been cited as a recurring issue and if true is very alarming. They just had a week off btw games, as they have had several times so far. The game and travel sched has been nothing compared to what the next 2 months are about to be like.

I agree it remains to seen how legs hold up to this pace of play though. I know they train like the Marines, but we'll see if that can be sustained for 30+ games.

I didn't feel like we look tired, but Friday and Saturday, they play back to back, after this, so we will see if that takes a toll.

 

[th2421]

Hegemann was in the conversation to come to Tennessee back when the portal was open. She ended up choosing Ole Miss, but for whatever reason left there after like two weeks and went to Memphis. Injury had kept her out until this game.

I thought it was something academic. She didn't qualify at Ole Miss, and then had to sit out the fall semester due to something academic at Memphis before becoming eligible, and that's why last night was her first game of eligibility (fall semester is over).

 

[Volfan2012]

I thought it was something academic. She didn't qualify at Ole Miss, and then had to sit out the fall semester due to something academic at Memphis before becoming eligible, and that's why last night was her first game of eligibility (fall semester is over).

Thanks that explains it well.

 

[Volfan2012]

Here is most of the game in an hour.

 

[Lucy]

That was just a weirdly ugly game. Defenders making so many middle school errors! I will be amazed if we get out of Richmond with a win. Too much to correct and not enough time. Plus, we looked tired!

Not trying to make excuses but that was an 8:30 game for our team. Part of learning curve to effectively change with unusual game times.

 

[Volfan2012]

Not trying to make excuses but that was an 8:30 game for our team. Part of learning curve to effectively change with unusual game times.

Glad you brought this up these type games wear on me so I have to believe they do the team as well. Starting that late I think would be tough on you both physically and mentally.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Tonight's winner jsc1973, also the way I figure it out myself he/she won the closest score. LOL
travis929 soon,

View attachment 707426
Volfan2012 takes the lead.

View attachment 707436
View attachment 707428

As that game was winding down, I knew I was going to be pretty darn close. I just happened to be logged on the day this thread started and decided to take a shot.


They are a far stronger team with Hagemann than they are without her. I had expected this would be her Memphis debut, otherwise I would have had the LVs winning by much more. A team with strong guard play has a fighting chance against this style, even if they get killed inside.

My contest is closest to total points with a closest to score tie-breaker
but I have no problem with another variety of winner,,,no problem ;o)

 

[Coach Jumper]

Shot selection was Kim's biggest concern, it was the first thing she pointed to in her presser. As it has been almost every game. She said her team is taking way too many bad and rushed shots, esp 3s.

"Shot selection" is coach speak and can be questioned in every game ever played in the history of basketball...Missed bunnies and easy putbacks at the rim and early misses at the arc, are where we need to concentrate for that game

 

[madtownvol]

So did Vicki Baugh…..

But trainers can do a manual ACL test. it is not foolproof but pretty accurate. I would say the odds of them letting her back on the court with a possible ACL injury would be very low.

The way she was dragging her leg looked more like a thigh contusion, which is no joke .