Game Thread: Tennessee (15-9, 8-4 SEC) @ Vanderbilt (19-7, 6-6 SEC) 2/18/24 2:00 pm EST SEC Network

[DarkPhoenix]

Let me put it another way. The 8 games she missed sort of took her out the AA conversation, as the LVs also feel out of the top 10 and then top 20 and then top 25. She also has been more inconsistent since her return (and illness also played a role). Vandy was the first game where she looked 100% since her return.

She can solidify her top 5 draft in the next few games.

She will be top 5 regardless, the scouts know her game.

 

[Amb3096]

It not impossible esp if she wins or is a finalist for her position award. If we do win out (minus USC) and finish tied for 2nd could be an easier case too.

Position award meaning the Naismith Starting Five? That's a popularity vote, and won't factor into the AA team votes. I believe they close the AA voting by the start of the NCAAT. Even if Tennessee wins out and wins the SECT, that won't displace people who have an entire season's body of work unless she averages 50 points for the rest of the regular season and the SECT. And even then, probably not likely. If she hadn't missed those early OOC games, maybe it would be a different conversation. But at this point in the season, they are just trimming down the list of candidates and she's not on it.

 

[Amb3096]

She will be top 5 regardless, the scouts know her game.

One thing we know is that there is zero correlation between AA awards and WNBA draft. You could be a great college player, but have a game that doesn't translate well to the pros (Megan Gustaffson comes to mind)

 

[VolBall09]

One thing we know is that there is zero correlation between AA awards and WNBA draft. You could be a great college player, but have a game that doesn't translate well to the pros (Megan Gustaffson comes to mind)

Same with Ashley Joens. One of the better college players in the last decade but she won’t have a pro career. Just not naturally athletic enough. Has the work ethic and skillset but physically she’s just got limits at the pro level for the position she plays.

 

[glv98]

She will be top 5 regardless, the scouts know her game.

Agree, Mexico this summer and the USA game this fall sealed the deal. Through everything this season, she's pretty much stayed in the 4-7 draft range, probably bumped up a notch now that Paige is out.

One thing we know is that there is zero correlation between AA awards and WNBA draft. You could be a great college player, but have a game that doesn't translate well to the pros (Megan Gustaffson comes to mind)

Angel Reese. Will be and deserves AA. But definitely needs to come back another year and actually work on some skills to bolster her draft status.

 

[Amb3096]

Angel Reese. Will be and deserves AA. But definitely needs to come back another year and actually work on some skills to bolster her draft status.

Yup. Reese is another perfect example. Probably Morrow too. And it's not a knock on them deserving AA honors over someone like RJ; it's just that their body of work at the collegiate level is deserving of the college awards without any prediction of how well their game translates to the pros.

 

[Amb3096]

Looks like Kim is going to roll the dice, Just 5-6 player rotation. Any foul trouble against a good team could be a problem.

She has bodies to throw into the game in case of foul trouble; they just aren't particularly effective ones (save for Poa and del Rosario)

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Agree, Mexico this summer and the USA game this fall sealed the deal. Through everything this season, she's pretty much stayed in the 4-7 draft range, probably bumped up a notch now that Paige is out.

Angel Reese. Will be and deserves AA. But definitely needs to come back another year and actually work on some skills to bolster her draft status.

I thought Reese would go to the draft but now I think she might come back, who knows she might be going for a 3 peat.

 

[glv98]

I’m talking about when they both are touching the ball, for years I’ve seen small guards snatch the ball out of her hands, even in the Vandy game if u go back and watch, that’s been an issue I’ve talked about for a while now.

Hands have always been a problem for TK. Catching passes has never been a strength. Definitely needs to be a point of emphasis if she returns.

She also has been more inconsistent since her return (and illness also played a role). Vandy was the first game where she looked 100% since her return.

It's weird, bc the first few games back RJ was fantastic. Had 21 pts in 24 mins in first game back against Liberty, then one the best games of her career at Auburn w 26 pts and 19 rebs. Went 27/7 against Kentucky and was SEC POW. Along w the 31/17 at Fla St, that was an AA path.

It was really against Fla, the benedryl game, that things started going south, esp with turnovers and shots not falling. Cratered the next week at TAM and has been spotty since, though that's completely relative to the usual awesomeness. Still avg 18/8 and shot 45%, but def inconsistent. Respiratory issues may have been involved.

After SC game, she said she realized she'd been both fearful of reinjury and in her head about her shots not falling. She always got to her spots and got her shots, just couldn't hit them. Rickea rides on confidence and the team's confidence rides on hers.

Hopefully the happy ending is that its all behind her now. She's been good all week and not only was her old self yesterday, but also practically Jewel-level joyful.. Praise the Lord!

Cora had a good story about it all:

Loading…

www.knoxnews.com

 

[PRG]

I thought Reese would go to the draft but now I think she might come back, who knows she might be going for a 3 peat.

They won’t repeat unless a substitute comes off the bench in the first half and makes FIVE THREE POINTERS! Don’t think that will happen again ? Plus the other teams cannot make foul shots in the last minutes of the game ! A lot of luck in LSU’S NATTY…

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Hands have always been a problem for TK. Catching passes has never been a strength. Definitely needs to be a point of emphasis if she returns.

It's weird, bc the first few games back RJ was fantastic. Had 21 pts in 24 mins in first game back against Liberty, then one the best games of her career at Auburn w 26 pts and 19 rebs. Went 27/7 against Kentucky and was SEC POW. Along w the 31/17 at Fla St, that was an AA path.

It was really against Fla, the benedryl game, that things started going south, esp with turnovers and shots not falling. Cratered the next week at TAM and has been spotty since, though that's completely relative to the usual awesomeness. Still avg 18/8 and shot 45%, but def inconsistent. Respiratory issues may have been involved.

After SC game, she said she realized she'd been both fearful of reinjury and in her head about her shots not falling. She always got to her spots and got her shots, just couldn't hit them. Rickea rides on confidence and the team's confidence rides on hers.

Hopefully the happy ending is that its all behind her now. She's been good all week and not only was her old self yesterday, but also practically Jewel-level joyful.. Praise the Lord!

Cora had a good story about it all:

Loading…

www.knoxnews.com

Interesting piece, but I remember Rickea talking about being hesitant coming off the injury. My only issue is her being too unselfish and her teammates not getting her the ball enough. Even when she’s hot and hitting shots u will see so many possessions with her not touching the ball at all, it’s like they don’t know how to ride a hot hand or they just don’t care and want to jack up their own shots, I be sitting her yelling at the TV to pass her the ball.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

They won’t repeat unless a substitute comes off the bench in the first half and makes FIVE THREE POINTERS! Don’t think that will happen again ? Plus the other teams cannot make foul shots in the last minutes of the game ! A lot of luck in LSU’S NATTY…

And another certain team won’t win unless they keep getting help from the refs, therefore it will be luck or rigged.

 

[madtownvol]

Hands have always been a problem for TK. Catching passes has never been a strength. Definitely needs to be a point of emphasis if she returns.

It's weird, bc the first few games back RJ was fantastic. Had 21 pts in 24 mins in first game back against Liberty, then one the best games of her career at Auburn w 26 pts and 19 rebs. Went 27/7 against Kentucky and was SEC POW. Along w the 31/17 at Fla St, that was an AA path.

It was really against Fla, the benedryl game, that things started going south, esp with turnovers and shots not falling. Cratered the next week at TAM and has been spotty since, though that's completely relative to the usual awesomeness. Still avg 18/8 and shot 45%, but def inconsistent. Respiratory issues may have been involved.

After SC game, she said she realized she'd been both fearful of reinjury and in her head about her shots not falling. She always got to her spots and got her shots, just couldn't hit them. Rickea rides on confidence and the team's confidence rides on hers.

Hopefully the happy ending is that its all behind her now. She's been good all week and not only was her old self yesterday, but also practically Jewel-level joyful.. Praise the Lord!

Cora had a good story about it all:

Loading…

www.knoxnews.com

Good points about RJ. I had forgotten about those initial games back (seems like a long time ago).

And, yeah grip strength has been a persistent problem for TK. Against Vandy, they had her out more on the high post, where she was having to dribble and make passes under pressure. I guess Kellie must be an adrenaline junkie but I don''t think that high post spot is where TK is at her best.

Back to the Vandy game. I am still blown away that the LVs shots lights out in that odd ball arena. I think we are all pretty nervous about this game particularly since Vandy was coming off road wins at GA and Texas A&M. And then boom!!! lights out after the 1st quarter.

This LV team has a high ceiling when they are not down crawling around on the floor

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Good points about RJ. I had forgotten about those initial games back (seems like a long time ago).

And, yeah grip strength has been a persistent problem for TK. Against Vandy, they had her out more on the high post, where she was having to dribble and make passes under pressure. I guess Kellie must be an adrenaline junkie but I don''t think that high post spot is where TK is at her best.

Back to the Vandy game. I am still blown away that the LVs shots lights out in that odd ball arena. I think we are all pretty nervous about this game particularly since Vandy was coming off road wins at GA and Texas A&M. And then boom!!! lights out after the 1st quarter.

This LV team has a high ceiling when they are not down crawling around on the floor

Since last year I’ve said they need to get Key to practice catching medicine balls.

 

[glv98]

Back to the Vandy game. I am still blown away that the LVs shots lights out in that odd ball arena. I think we are all pretty nervous about this game particularly since Vandy was coming off road wins at GA and Texas A&M. And then boom!!! lights out after the 1st quarter.

This LV team has a high ceiling when they are not down crawling around on the floor

Esp impressive for Jewel, who I don't think had ever played there. Of course we couldn't have had one or two of those damn shots in the 4th qtr against SC.

On rewatch, our passing and spacing was on freaking point this game. RJ, JP, and Sara all had some excellant passes.

Interesting piece, but I remember Rickea talking about being hesitant coming off the injury. My only issue is her being too unselfish and her teammates not getting her the ball enough. Even when she’s hot and hitting shots u will see so many possessions with her not touching the ball at all, it’s like they don’t know how to ride a hot hand or they just don’t care and want to jack up their own shots, I be sitting her yelling at the TV to pass her the ball.

RJ is def not selfish about chasing her stats. My observation is also that she really hates missing shots and kind of backs off after she misses a few. I like that they mix the offense up for her. So much of her game involves getting to the rim and she's so often double teamed she needs other scorers to loosen things up for her. I just want her to continue to be able to take over when we really need points, like the 10 in the 3rd she got when Vandy was trying to come back.

Speaking of keep on shooting, did you see that Ju Ju went 6-32 yesterday?

 

[madtownvol]

Interesting piece, but I remember Rickea talking about being hesitant coming off the injury. My only issue is her being too unselfish and her teammates not getting her the ball enough. Even when she’s hot and hitting shots u will see so many possessions with her not touching the ball at all, it’s like they don’t know how to ride a hot hand or they just don’t care and want to jack up their own shots, I be sitting her yelling at the TV to pass her the ball.

I agree. It is puzzling how few times the team really looks to get the ball to Rickea (or Jewel) unquestionably their best offensive players. You would think that after a couple of empty possessions, the plan would be to run a clear out for RJ or JS but that seldom happens.

It seems that RJ is always the screener, Maybe the idea is a pick and roll play but that never seems to come off.

On the plus side, the team has finally quit trying to force the ball into the post (even in the face of double coverage). There TOs have gone down in part because of that change.

 

[madtownvol]

Speaking of keep on shooting, did you see that Ju Ju went 6-32 yesterday?

And USC still won! That outcome seems to violate some unwritten code!.

Pretty obvious from that ONE game that USC is not working out for JuJu (the 52pointer was clearly a fluke) and that she must transfer to the LVs to salvage her career. No other logical conclusion can be reached.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Esp impressive for Jewel, who I don't think had ever played there. Of course we couldn't have had one or two of those damn shots in the 4th qtr against SC.

On rewatch, our passing and spacing was on freaking point this game. RJ, JP, and Sara all had some excellant passes.

RJ is def not selfish about chasing her stats. My observation is also that she really hates missing shots and kind of backs off after she misses a few. I like that they mix the offense up for her. So much of her game involves getting to the rim and she's so often double teamed she needs other scorers to loosen things up for her. I just want her to continue to be able to take over when we really need points, like the 10 in the 3rd she got when Vandy was trying to come back.

Speaking of keep on shooting, did you see that Ju Ju went 6-32 yesterday?

That’s my point she doesn’t chase stats, yes I watched that game with Juju, but I do know when she’s hit her team gets her the ball more and she doesn’t go mins without them passing her the ball. I would love to see Rickea get up 30 shots to see what she could put up. She can takeover when needed but they don’t always pass her the ball, players jacking up shots that have no business doing so.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I agree. It is puzzling how few times the team really looks to get the ball to Rickea (or Jewel) unquestionably their best offensive players. You would think that after a couple of empty possessions, the plan would be to run a clear out for RJ or JS but that seldom happens.

It seems that RJ is always the screener, Maybe the idea is a pick and roll play but that never seems to come off.

On the plus side, the team has finally quit trying to force the ball into the post (even in the face of double coverage). There TOs have gone down in part because of that change.

Rickea and Spear should have a 2 man game and play off of each other. As for Rickea screening, if u watch closely she doesn’t really put much effort into it, they should be screening for her but I never see it.

 

[glv98]

That’s my point she doesn’t chase stats, yes I watched that game with Juju, but I do know when she’s hit her team gets her the ball more and she doesn’t go mins without them passing her the ball. I would love to see Rickea get up 30 shots to see what she could put up. She can takeover when needed but they don’t always pass her the ball, players jacking up shots that have no business doing so.

I do agree we go too long without getting RJ a shot, I said that in the second qtr yesterday. They also routinely miss Sara when she's open for three. Hopefully they're looking at film of that as we speak.

Speaking of Sara, rewatched the game and even though she didn't shoot well, she did a bunch of little things and plays hard all the time. Jill also had good mins which is encouraging.

 

[glv98]

As for Rickea screening, if u watch closely she doesn’t really put much effort into it, they should be screening for her but I never see it.

Doesn't hard screen bc she's afraid she'll get a foul. Sara screens for her sometimes. TK also seals the lane for her really well sometimes when she's driving.

Rj was directing traffic alot yesterday, telling them where to throw the ball next. Did a pretty good job lol, we had 15 assists.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Doesn't hard screen bc she's afraid she'll get a foul. Sara screens for her sometimes. TK also seals the lane for her really well sometimes when she's driving.

Rj was directing traffic alot yesterday, telling them where to throw the ball next. Did a pretty good job lol, we had 15 assists.

I did notice her speaking up more the last 2 games, I think that sense of urgency is kicking in. I do like the effort they’ve been giving the last couple of games and that’s all u can ask for.

 

[Lucy]

Agree, Mexico this summer and the USA game this fall sealed the deal. Through everything this season, she's pretty much stayed in the 4-7 draft range, probably bumped up a notch now that Paige is out.

Angel Reese. Will be and deserves AA. But definitely needs to come back another year and actually work on some skills to bolster her draft status.

That makes me sick the Reese will be an AA and Rikea won’t. I hate injuries. UConn seems to have the worst luck but I feel like we are close behind.

 

[glv98]

That makes me sick the Reese will be an AA and Rikea won’t.

I know me too, but it's numbers and AR has them. She's a double double machine. Also she's tons better behaved this year. Live and learn.

But everyone knows who's the actual better player. To her credit, even AR knows it, said it this summer when she was stinking up Mexico and RJ was MVP.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

That makes me sick the Reese will be an AA and Rikea won’t. I hate injuries. UConn seems to have the worst luck but I feel like we are close behind.

I think Rickea can still be an AA and remember they play different positions, when u look at the Sf position I can’t see anyone beating her out of it, Morrow is probably the only other player with a chance.