Game Thread: Tennessee (15-8, 8-3 SEC) versus No. 1 South Carolina (23-0, 10-0) @ Food City Center, 2/15, 7:00 PM (EST), ESPN

[Woodlawn VOL]

Our offense leaves me scratching my head. The ball sticks way too much and nobody moving. Everyone just standing around for a few seconds and then someone will come too. We seem to do better in transition when we don't blow the layups.

Our offense should be called the stand and watch. That is why we turn the ball over so much because there is no space between us and the defender most of the time and we have to force a pass to another player. Not nearly enough working by the other 4 to get open. There is no disputing this, we do not move enough on offense. We never make quick passes and move the ball around. Powell dribbles way to much to often while everyone stands around.

 

[Rooster1]

36 minutes played and 0 for the night in scoring.....
Not her finest game....
Sweet girl, but the team needed a scorer.

GT, I suspect that SC had a game plan defensively to focus on her early, and that likely caused most of her issues tonight. Just speculating, but it looked that way. Against LSU, their starters will be gassed in the 4th, they don’t play the bench many minutes, the 4th might belong to the LV’s in that game if they stay out of foul trouble in the post. LSU are experts at drawing post fouls however, but if LV’s play with same energy and focus as tonight they should win that home game, because LSU defense is a far cry from SC’s defense.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

IF we play the way we played tonight defensively, we will beat LSU at home. They've been beaten already this year by far worse teams than us. We will need TBA to be rocking.

I agree, but we shall see if we can consistently bring the same effort. We haven’t against the good teams.

 

[VolBall09]

What’s up with Kea dropping 20 in first halves and 0 in second halves?

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Didn’t get any better and still playing=Not getting coached up. Continued bad team fundamentals is bad coaching. No movement and then force bad passes is continued bad coaching. We continue to be a team that doesn’t play sound basketball and that again goes back to coaching as well as recruiting.

The thing that has stood out to me about Harper’s teams is how they play on the offensive end. Far too often, it’s hard to figure out exactly what they’re trying to do. They don’t get going downhill, they don’t space the floor well enough, the passes are often times late and off target…just not crisp fundamentally on the offensive end.

A lot of isolation basketball which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if the spacing is good and you have players who can create for themselves and others off the bounce. When you don’t have that personnel, though, you can’t force a round peg into a square hole and expect things to go well.

Defensively I don’t know that she’s all that bad of a coach, but she has put together a roster that has too many players who can’t stay in front of drivers. Hard to play good defense when players can’t stay in front of the ball. Again, they’re her players, so she has to own that.

 

[lvocd]

I’m saying people are pathetic that think it’s good we keep it close with anyone. Just shows how far we have fell. We have all those banners hanging from the rafters and some fans are happy with us keeping it close with anyone. That’s just so friggin sad. Wow, I just can’t fathom any lady Vol fan saying they were so proud of our team for keeping it close. Geez

 

[chuckiepoo]

 

[WinnerCircle]

I agree that this core will be solid for the new coach.

They will get good players out of the portal.. I’m predicting atleast 4 or 5 depending on the decisions of either TK or Jewel.

I’m not pleased with this roster already having 9 losses with 4 games remaining in the regular season.

This season has been disappointing and the staff has underachieved.

I have always said the issue was not the talent.

Unless you’re Coach Staley no one is getting nearly every single recruit they go after in HS.

Tennessee HC admitting at one point they were being selective with HS recruits was not a smart move and is likely a big part for costing them to sign any HS recruits until Kaniya Boyd.

Boyd is a good player, and if you can sign Boyd there’s no reason for going two/three years without any other HS recruits.

Commits 5-star guard Brooks, Finley, and some other HS prospects that may be LVs bound just have a strong love for the program.

I mean Brooks is recruiting harder than some of the staff personnel at Tennessee and she’s a HS kid.

We got to stop kidding ourselves there are young ladies and families that would love to be part of the LV program. The HC needs to drop this labeling of what a LV player is and sign players that can play basketball. Simple as that.

I just don’t think that was smart for a HC when saying they are being selective because you have diamonds in the rough and underrated prospects that can blossom late.

You always keep your options open! Find good leaders, smart, and tough players that have potential.

Develop them with the resources at Tennessee that are first class.

If you give them a chance or a fair look you could potentially end up with great player(s). The highly rated players will come.. like Talaysia Cooper, Nyla Brooks, Finley Chastain, and Kaniya Boyd.

But if it was me there’s no way I would’ve went one season without saying atleast two HS players every year. You can find two players somewhere to put on a Tennessee uniform as a freshman year in and year out.

 

[Dak1219]

Yep. Ultimately to me this was a house money game. We were supposed to get killed and made it a four quarter game. Still a loss and that’s what it comes down to, but there are some positives to take away. Just need to let this performance carry over to the next three, all of which we need to win.

This game also moved us up the NET. I think we got a six-point boost to number 43 in the net and our strength of schedule sits at number 3.

 

[Rooster1]

They will get good players out of the portal.. I’m predicting atleast 4 or 5 depending on the decisions of either TK or Jewel.

I’m not pleased with this roster already having 9 losses with 4 games remaining in the regular season.

This season has been disappointing and the staff has underachieved.

I have always said the issue was not the talent.

Unless you’re Coach Staley no one is getting nearly every single recruit they go after in HS.

Tennessee HC admitting at one point they were being selective with HS recruits was not a smart move and is likely a big part for costing them to sign any HS recruits until Kaniya Boyd.

Boyd is a good player, and if you can sign Boyd there’s no reason for going two/three years without any other HS recruits.

Commits 5-star guard Brooks, Finley, and some other HS prospects that may be LVs bound just have a strong love for the program.

I mean Brooks is recruiting harder than some of the staff personnel at Tennessee and she’s a HS kid.

We got to stop kidding ourselves there are young ladies and families that would love to be part of the LV program. The HC needs to drop this labeling of what a LV player is and sign players that can play basketball. Simple as that.

I just don’t think that was smart for a HC when saying they are being selective because you have diamonds in the rough and underrated prospects that can blossom late.

You always keep your options open! Find good leaders, smart, and tough players that have potential.

Develop them with the resources at Tennessee that are first class.

If you give them a chance or a fair look you could potentially end up with great player(s). The highly rated players will come.. like Talaysia Cooper, Nyla Brooks, Finley Chastain, and Kaniya Boyd.

But if it was me there’s no way I would’ve went one season without saying atleast two HS players every year. You can find two players somewhere to put on a Tennessee uniform as a freshman year in and year out.

Dr Jeckyl. Thanks again for your big announcement tonight aka the big fat nothing burger. Now shut up Mr. Hyde. Nobody, and I mean nobody gives a rats ass about your predictions or make believe announcements. Just change the username already, ok? This one smells so bad now nobody can tolerate it any more.

“SC has no elite one on one defenders” “if Johnson or PaoPao guards JS it’s a 30 or 40”………..

 

[LV renaissance]

Powell was an illusion. 12 points on 17 shots is never good. At least Tennessee was getting the offensive boards in the first half; SC cleaned that up but good in the 2nd.

I thought Powell was good on defense and rebounding and turnovers (until the 4th quarter). I think the SC defense slacked off of her and guarded everyone else so tightly that it was hard for other players to get the ball with an open look. Meanwhile, she got some open looks that were hard to pass up given there were so few other options. SC gambled and it paid off. She has had games where she makes a higher percent of open shots, and had that happened it may have been a different outcome. Nevertheless, I don't feel the loss was on any one player and our difficulties on offense were mainly due to the SC suffocating defense, especially in the 2nd half.

 

[glv98]

That was actually fun. Best crowd in a long, long time. I was completely wrong about that. Biggest student turnout I've ever seen and they all had LV jerseys and they were rowdy. i think they had fun and I sure hope they show back up for LSU.

Never would have thought we could have shot so poorly and kept it close. Both defenses had alot to do with the poor shooting. We have now strung together a few games of better, more intense D. Unfortunately, that did not include any post defense and we had no answer for Kamilla. TK is back, but not that far. She was no match for KC, and of course Jill and Karo giving up all that size had little chance. Naturally Kamilla couldn't have freaking been delayed getting back by one more day. Just our luck.

love Jewel, sure she'll bounce back, but had we gotten anything, anything at all, from her. we have a real chance. The reason JP and Kea had to force offense and do magic tricks at the rim is bc Jewel couldn't do her job of spreading the floor. That allowed them to bring the hammer down on RIckea, esp in the 4th qtr. Which reminds me, I developed a healthy dislike for Watkins tonight. Quite full of herself. Tonight would have been a great time for Kea to get her shot back. That would have helped too. But dang, where would we be without her? She's so athletic and that one acrobatic finish, she's just been so much fun to watch.

How about Sara Puckett? I never want to hear again she's too slow and too unathletic. Remember where she was this time last year? She was so, so solid tonight, in every aspect. Need her to stay on this track.

Subbing was good, but we just ran out of gas late, which is what caused the late t.o.s. As we knew would happen, their depth won the day.

I think they can take this as forward momentuem. We've seen, they've seen what they can be. At least they can play hard, be scrappy and die trying. I hear ya'll saying this may take too much out of them for Vandy, but it also can fire them up. And in a rare bit of good luck, Vandy is way off in College Station which is a hard trip. They had a close game as well so I think it will be pretty even as far as being tired.

I'm hearing we have to win 3 of the remaining 4, but I thought it was just 2, Vandy and TAM? Then at least one in the SEC tourney. I think beating LSU is certainly possible, but I sure don't want to bank our post season life on it.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Sounded like our Fans gave great support again tonight, always like to see the students there, they’re louder. Attendance listed at 11,073, guessing that’s probably the most we’ve had this year.

GO LV FANS!!!

 

[creekdipper]

Weirdest post-game discussion this year.

And that's saying a lot.

 

[Dak1219]

The thing that has stood out to me about Harper’s teams is how they play on the offensive end. Far too often, it’s hard to figure out exactly what they’re trying to do. They don’t get going downhill, they don’t space the floor well enough, the passes are often times late and off target…just not crisp fundamentally on the offensive end.

A lot of isolation basketball which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if the spacing is good and you have players who can create for themselves and others off the bounce. When you don’t have that personnel, though, you can’t force a round peg into a square hole and expect things to go well.

Defensively I don’t know that she’s all that bad of a coach, but she has put together a roster that has too many players who can’t stay in front of drivers. Hard to play good defense when players can’t stay in front of the ball. Again, they’re her players, so she has to own that.

Yet the lady vols are consistently one of the top scoring teams in the SEC and tonight they held a very good South Carolina team 22 points under their season average and held their shooting percentage 10% lower then normal and there three point shooting percentage was held to virtually nothing 16%. South Carolina has the highest 3-point shooting percentage in the SEC closer to 40% this season. It was a good effort and game plan that the lady bulls executed for a good majority of this game.

 

[Volfan1000]

Hoops Central: RV/RV Lady Vols vs. #1/1 South Carolina - University of Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee (15-8, 8-3 SEC) puts a seven-game home-court winning streak on the line Thursday night, as No. 1/1 South Carolina (23-0, 10-0) rolls into Food City Center

utsports.com

Shooting 2 of 16 from three point land won't get a win against very many teams.

 

[Deebowbear]

They will get good players out of the portal.. I’m predicting atleast 4 or 5 depending on the decisions of either TK or Jewel.

I’m not pleased with this roster already having 9 losses with 4 games remaining in the regular season.

This season has been disappointing and the staff has underachieved.

I have always said the issue was not the talent.

Unless you’re Coach Staley no one is getting nearly every single recruit they go after in HS.

Tennessee HC admitting at one point they were being selective with HS recruits was not a smart move and is likely a big part for costing them to sign any HS recruits until Kaniya Boyd.

Boyd is a good player, and if you can sign Boyd there’s no reason for going two/three years without any other HS recruits.

Commits 5-star guard Brooks, Finley, and some other HS prospects that may be LVs bound just have a strong love for the program.

I mean Brooks is recruiting harder than some of the staff personnel at Tennessee and she’s a HS kid.

We got to stop kidding ourselves there are young ladies and families that would love to be part of the LV program. The HC needs to drop this labeling of what a LV player is and sign players that can play basketball. Simple as that.

I just don’t think that was smart for a HC when saying they are being selective because you have diamonds in the rough and underrated prospects that can blossom late.

You always keep your options open! Find good leaders, smart, and tough players that have potential.

Develop them with the resources at Tennessee that are first class.

If you give them a chance or a fair look you could potentially end up with great player(s). The highly rated players will come.. like Talaysia Cooper, Nyla Brooks, Finley Chastain, and Kaniya Boyd.

But if it was me there’s no way I would’ve went one season without saying atleast two HS players every year. You can find two players somewhere to put on a Tennessee uniform as a freshman year in and year out.

Dang first time hearing you talk about Kellie like that and you’re right that part about being selective that’s burned me up when I heard that she looked like a deer in headlights last night

 

[Deebowbear]

That was actually fun. Best crowd in a long, long time. I was completely wrong about that. Biggest student turnout I've ever seen and they all had LV jerseys and they were rowdy. i think they had fun and I sure hope they show back up for LSU.

Never would have thought we could have shot so poorly and kept it close. Both defenses had alot to do with the poor shooting. We have now strung together a few games of better, more intense D. Unfortunately, that did not include any post defense and we had no answer for Kamilla. TK is back, but not that far. She was no match for KC, and of course Jill and Karo giving up all that size had little chance. Naturally Kamilla couldn't have freaking been delayed getting back by one more day. Just our luck.

love Jewel, sure she'll bounce back, but had we gotten anything, anything at all, from her. we have a real chance. The reason JP and Kea had to force offense and do magic tricks at the rim is bc Jewel couldn't do her job of spreading the floor. That allowed them to bring the hammer down on RIckea, esp in the 4th qtr. Which reminds me, I developed a healthy dislike for Watkins tonight. Quite full of herself. Tonight would have been a great time for Kea to get her shot back. That would have helped too. But dang, where would we be without her? She's so athletic and that one acrobatic finish, she's just been so much fun to watch.

How about Sara Puckett? I never want to hear again she's too slow and too unathletic. Remember where she was this time last year? She was so, so solid tonight, in every aspect. Need her to stay on this track.

Subbing was good, but we just ran out of gas late, which is what caused the late t.o.s. As we knew would happen, their depth won the day.

I think they can take this as forward momentuem. We've seen, they've seen what they can be. At least they can play hard, be scrappy and die trying. I hear ya'll saying this may take too much out of them for Vandy, but it also can fire them up. And in a rare bit of good luck, Vandy is way off in College Station which is a hard trip. They had a close game as well so I think it will be pretty even as far as being tired.

I'm hearing we have to win 3 of the remaining 4, but I thought it was just 2, Vandy and TAM? Then at least one in the SEC tourney. I think beating LSU is certainly possible, but I sure don't want to bank our post season life on it.

They will not beat lsu

 

[gray0306]

seasons been over for a while now, one win in tournament max if they get in....need to gut the program. seemed like a bunch of laziness last night...rebounds??? oh wait just let the other team get them. really poor team

 

[gray0306]

That was actually fun. Best crowd in a long, long time. I was completely wrong about that. Biggest student turnout I've ever seen and they all had LV jerseys and they were rowdy. i think they had fun and I sure hope they show back up for LSU.

Never would have thought we could have shot so poorly and kept it close. Both defenses had alot to do with the poor shooting. We have now strung together a few games of better, more intense D. Unfortunately, that did not include any post defense and we had no answer for Kamilla. TK is back, but not that far. She was no match for KC, and of course Jill and Karo giving up all that size had little chance. Naturally Kamilla couldn't have freaking been delayed getting back by one more day. Just our luck.

love Jewel, sure she'll bounce back, but had we gotten anything, anything at all, from her. we have a real chance. The reason JP and Kea had to force offense and do magic tricks at the rim is bc Jewel couldn't do her job of spreading the floor. That allowed them to bring the hammer down on RIckea, esp in the 4th qtr. Which reminds me, I developed a healthy dislike for Watkins tonight. Quite full of herself. Tonight would have been a great time for Kea to get her shot back. That would have helped too. But dang, where would we be without her? She's so athletic and that one acrobatic finish, she's just been so much fun to watch.

How about Sara Puckett? I never want to hear again she's too slow and too unathletic. Remember where she was this time last year? She was so, so solid tonight, in every aspect. Need her to stay on this track.

Subbing was good, but we just ran out of gas late, which is what caused the late t.o.s. As we knew would happen, their depth won the day.

I think they can take this as forward momentuem. We've seen, they've seen what they can be. At least they can play hard, be scrappy and die trying. I hear ya'll saying this may take too much out of them for Vandy, but it also can fire them up. And in a rare bit of good luck, Vandy is way off in College Station which is a hard trip. They had a close game as well so I think it will be pretty even as far as being tired.

I'm hearing we have to win 3 of the remaining 4, but I thought it was just 2, Vandy and TAM? Then at least one in the SEC tourney. I think beating LSU is certainly possible, but I sure don't want to bank our post season life on it.

she is slow, matter of fact the team overall is slow

 

[FormerLadyVolFan]

It's no wonder our players ran out of gas in the 4th quarter. I sit on the baseline and was amazed how the officials allowed the Lady Cocks to put their bodies on our players on defense all of the time, the entire game. Kellie should have given Tamari a saddle because they were riding and pushing her out of the paint.

That was actually fun. Best crowd in a long, long time. I was completely wrong about that. Biggest student turnout I've ever seen and they all had LV jerseys and they were rowdy. i think they had fun and I sure hope they show back up for LSU.

Never would have thought we could have shot so poorly and kept it close. Both defenses had alot to do with the poor shooting. We have now strung together a few games of better, more intense D. Unfortunately, that did not include any post defense and we had no answer for Kamilla. TK is back, but not that far. She was no match for KC, and of course Jill and Karo giving up all that size had little chance. Naturally Kamilla couldn't have freaking been delayed getting back by one more day. Just our luck.

love Jewel, sure she'll bounce back, but had we gotten anything, anything at all, from her. we have a real chance. The reason JP and Kea had to force offense and do magic tricks at the rim is bc Jewel couldn't do her job of spreading the floor. That allowed them to bring the hammer down on RIckea, esp in the 4th qtr. Which reminds me, I developed a healthy dislike for Watkins tonight. Quite full of herself. Tonight would have been a great time for Kea to get her shot back. That would have helped too. But dang, where would we be without her? She's so athletic and that one acrobatic finish, she's just been so much fun to watch.

How about Sara Puckett? I never want to hear again she's too slow and too unathletic. Remember where she was this time last year? She was so, so solid tonight, in every aspect. Need her to stay on this track.

Subbing was good, but we just ran out of gas late, which is what caused the late t.o.s. As we knew would happen, their depth won the day.

I think they can take this as forward momentuem. We've seen, they've seen what they can be. At least they can play hard, be scrappy and die trying. I hear ya'll saying this may take too much out of them for Vandy, but it also can fire them up. And in a rare bit of good luck, Vandy is way off in College Station which is a hard trip. They had a close game as well so I think it will be pretty even as far as being tired.

I'm hearing we have to win 3 of the remaining 4, but I thought it was just 2, Vandy and TAM? Then at least one in the SEC tourney. I think beating LSU is certainly possible, but I sure don't want to bank our post season life on it.

 

[WinnerCircle]

It was definitely one official in particular that made it their duty to give every favorable and 50/50 call to SC.

They literally called a foul on TK for deflecting a pass behind the post player… while allowing Watkins and Fulwiley to run through Jasmine Powell and Rickea Jackson for steals that ultimately gave SC the momentum in a close game.

Those calls never would’ve went against SC in that situation. It destroys the integrity of the sport when officials blatantly make calls that favor a team. It looked rigged last night by this particular official.

They called that game like they were a fan of SC.

 

[Volinnooga]

Is it not odd that sc started playing there game with 3 minutes left to play this game was set up to make tn not to look bad sc hasn’t been playing there game till now

Do wut? Periods are your friend ( maybe).

 

[BigBadVol]

Moral victories are for losers! Kellie and this team are unwatchable. Slow and unathletic.

 

[brittannica]

It's no wonder our players ran out of gas in the 4th quarter. I sit on the baseline and was amazed how the officials allowed the Lady Cocks to put their bodies on our players on defense all of the time, the entire game. Kellie should have given Tamari a saddle because they were riding and pushing her out of the paint.

The reffing to me definitely took some wind out of their sails (and the crowds), imo. Don’t think reffing explains everything in this loss, but I remember thinking a string of calls in the third was probably the beginning of the unraveling.