Game Thread: UT @ Auburn, Sunday; 12PM, ESPN2 win 83-76

#1

Coach Jumper

"the right words"
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From:
HOOPS CENTRAL: Lady Vols vs. Auburn
Predictions:
  • UT will continue to emphasize,,,turnovers (Less than 14) (21),,,Opp 3PT (7 of 25) (6 of 18),,,Sharing the ball (40% of makes=off of assists) (18 ast on 29 fg = 67%)
  • RJ and JH will continue to build on their connection/chemistry YES!
  • We will be up by double digits in Q1, up by single digits Q3, Win by single digits YES
  • This game will be a trap-game YES
Coach Jumper's Score prediction: LV's 78-69 (83-79)
@Raebo 83-54
@Orange Maniac 75-59
@Ladyvol777 81-61
@37620VOL 79-64
@mudcat1973 85-65
@xtpsrh08123 78-63
@J-Dog 1313 92-58
@glv98 82-61
@Jax_Vol 91-64


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Sunday will be Senior Day 2023 on Rocky Top, as Tennessee (19-9, 11-2 SEC) welcomes Auburn (14-11, 4-9 SEC) for a 12:02 p.m. ET matinee at Thompson-Boling Arena. UT will honor a record seven seniors, including several who have the option to return in 2023-24. The 2022-23 senior group includes Jasmine Franklin, Jordan Horston, Rickea Jackson, Tamari Key, Jasmine Powell, Jessie Rennie and Jordan Walker. According to all-time rosters, it appears UT honored five players in 2011-12, 2007-08 (including redshirt junior Candace Parker), 1983-84 and 1974-75.

The Lady Vols enter the contest holding down third place in the SEC standings, while the Tigers are in 10th position with three games to play. Tennessee is coming off one of its finest performances of the season, an 87-67 blowout at Arkansas in which the Lady Vols scored 20+ points in three different quarters, five players reached double figures in points, two players registered double-doubles and the team dominated the glass by an incredible 59-25 advantage. UT has won three of its past four games, including its last two by margins of 27 and 20 over Vanderbilt and Arkansas, respectively.

Game Info./Promotions
  • Senior Day pregame festivities will begin at 11:38 a.m. ET (19:00 on clock). Fans should be in their seats early so they won't miss honoring seven 2023 seniors.
  • Gates C & E will open at 11 a.m. to ticketed fans.
  • The Weekend Family 4 Pack Deal will be on sale, featuring four tickets & four $10 concessions vouchers starting at $72 (plus tax/fees).
  • Free parking and shuttle service are available from the Ag Campus (Lot CF near Brehm & Food Science Bldgs.).
  • For additional details and information, please call 865-974-1734 or visit the Fans tab on UTSports.com and click on the Fan Experience link.
  • Sunday's game will be televised on ESPN2, with Tom Hart (PxP) and Debbie Antonelli (Analyst) on the call.

  • About The Seniors
  • Tennessee seniors Jasmine Franklin (Fayetteville, Ark.), Jordan Horston (Columbus, Ohio), Rickea Jackson (Detroit, Mich.), Tamari Key (Cary, N.C.), Jasmine Powell (Detroit, Mich.), Jessie Rennie (Bendigo, Australia) and Jordan Walker (Muskegon, Mich.) will be recognized before the game.
  • Due to an extra season of eligibility being made available to those losing a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, several members of the class have the option to return for the 2023-24 season.
  • Horston, Key and Rennie arrived for Kellie Harper's first season as head coach in 2019-20 and comprise her first four-year class at Tennessee. All three would have a "COVID year" remaining.
  • Walker is in her third season at UT after spending three (and playing two) at Western Michigan. Her eligibility will be exhausted.
  • Franklin, Jackson and Powell are in their first season at UT after transferring from Missouri State, Mississippi State and Minnesota, respectively. Only Franklin has completed her eligibility.
  • Franklin, Horston, Jackson, Powell and Walker are 1,000-point scorers during their careers, giving Tennessee its first-ever roster with five 1K players. Key would have made it six if not for the medical condition which ended her season in December.
  • During her time at MSU and UT, Franklin also pulled down more than 1,000 rebounds.
  • Horston is one of only four all-time players at Tennessee with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists and has more double-doubles (19) than any other true guard in program history.
  • She also ranks 32nd on the school's all-time scoring list (1,302), stands seventh in career assists per game (4.06) and tallied a 9.4 rebound average as a junior that tied for the sixth-best in UT annals.
  • Key is the school's record-holder for most blocks in a career (295) and season (119) and most career triple-doubles (2). She also is fourth in career field goal percentage (.593).
Lots Of Connections In This One
  • This year's Tennessee squad features two players who hail from the state of Alabama, two coaches who spent their childhood there, and two more coaches who worked at Auburn.
  • Sophomores Sara Puckett and Karoline Striplin come from Muscle Shoals and Hartford, respectively.
  • Striplin's parents were student-athletes at Auburn, with dad Jim Bob playing football and mom Karie playing softball there.
  • UT assistant Samantha Williams was born in Luverne, Ala., before later moving to Louisville, Ky., while Joy McCorvey is from Brewton, Ala., and graduated from T.R. Miller High School.
  • Head coach Kellie Harper spent two years from 1999-2001 on Joe Ciampi's staff at Auburn (admin. asst., then assistant coach), while Jon Harper graduated from Auburn and spent three seasons as a practice player, manager and intern for Ciampi from 1996-99.
  • Samantha Williams played for the Tigers and Ciampi from 1992-96, connecting with Jon Harper during that time and facing off against UT as a senior in 1995-96 when Kellie was a freshman Lady Vol.
  • Lady Vol strength and conditioning coach Bryan Tatum worked with Auburn football from 2014-21.
Pursuing 20 Wins For The 46th Time
  • Tennessee is seeking its 46th all-time 20-win season, dating back to 1974.
  • This would mark Tennessee's third 20-win season in Kellie Harper's four seasons as head coach, with the 2020-21 total of 17 impacted by several COVID-related game cancelations that no doubt would have pushed the Lady Vols to the 20-victory plateau.
UT Offense Shifting Into High Gear
  • Over its past three games, Tennessee is averaging 87.7 points per game, with 91 at Mississippi State, 86 vs. Vanderbilt and 87 at Arkansas.
  • That has elevated the Lady Vols to No. 2 in scoring in league games at 76.77 this season behind South Carolina (82.31) and ahead of LSU (76.15).
  • Rickea Jackson is averaging 24.7 ppg. and 9.3 rpg. while shooting 53.2 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free throw line over the last three.
  • Jordan Horston (13.7 ppg., 8.0 rpg.) and Tess Darby (11.7) are also in double figures for points during that span, with Jillian Hollingshead (9.3 ppg., 7.7 rpg.) and Jordan Walker (8.0) aren't far behind.
  • Walker is dishing out 4.7 assists in those games.
  • UT is +23.3 in rebounding (52.0 to 28.7), including a 49-22 advantage on the offensive glass.
Looking Back At The Arkansas Game
  • Tennessee outscored Arkansas in the opening stanza 25-9 and led wire to wire, taking a commanding 87-67 win on the road on Thursday night in Bud Walton Arena.
  • Seniors Rickea Jackson and Jordan Horston each recorded a double-double to lead the Lady Vols (19-9, 11-2 SEC). Jackson finished with a team-high 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Horston logged 15 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Three other Lady Vols were in double digits, with junior Tess Darby posting 11 points, and graduate Jordan Walker and senior Jasmine Powell each turning in 10.
  • Erynn Barnum was the high scorer for Arkansas (19-9, 6-7 SEC) with 25 points. Chrissy Carr and Samara Spencer also had strong outings with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
JP Hits 1K
  • With the first three-pointer of her 10-point evening against Arkansas, Jasmine Powell eclipsed 1,000 career points and now standing at 1,007.
  • The senior joined Rickea Jackson (1,565), Jordan Walker (1,299), Jordan Horston (1,302) and Jasmine Franklin (1,257) as the fifth member of the current squad to hit 1K. That is the most ever on one Tennessee team.
Balanced Attack
  • Five Lady Vols finished in double figures against Arkansas with Rickea Jackson (25), Jordan Horston (15), Tess Darby (11), Jasmine Powell (10) and Jordan Walker (10) all finding their way into double digits.
  • It is just the second time this season UT has had five players score 10 or more points, with the previous occasion coming against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 22, 2022, when Tennessee won 105-71.
Double-Digit Darby
  • Tess Darby drained three treys against Arkansas and finished with 11 points on the night.
  • She has now scored in double figures in three straight games and in eight contests on the season with seven of those coming in SEC play.
  • Over the last three outings, she is averaging 11.7 ppg.
UT/AU Notes
  • The Lady Vols are 23-2 vs. the Tigers in games held in Knoxville, 15-6 in games played at Auburn and 9-4 at neutral sites.
  • During her freshman season, Jordan Horston hit a runner in the lane with 0.6 left on the game clock to give the Lady Vols a 56-55 win.
  • UT is 2-0 vs. AU in overtime games, winning extra-frame contests in Knoxville vs. the Tigers in 1996 and 2004.
  • Tennessee and Auburn played for the 1989 NCAA Championship in Tacoma, Wash., with the Lady Vols prevailing, 76-60.
  • Tennessee also beat the Tigers in regional finals in 1987 and 1991 en route to NCAA Final Fours they would end up winning.
  • UT and AU four times played for SEC Tourney titles from 1985 to 1990, with the Lady Vols winning three of those (1985, 1988, 1989).
  • Kellie Harper is 3-3 all-time vs. Auburn, going 2-1 the past two seasons as UT's coach and winning in 2012 while at NC State. She was 0-2 vs. AU (with Nell Fortner at the helm) while leading Western Carolina.
A Look At The Tigers
  • Auburn is led by two scorers in double figures, including Aicha Coulibaly (16.4) and Honesty Scott-Grayson (12.5).
  • The Tigers force 19.4 turnovers per contest.
  • AU holds foes to a 39.7 field goal percentage.
  • Auburn gets out-rebounded 39.9-36.1.
AU's Last Game
  • Aicha Coulibaly scored 18 points, and Auburn overcame an eight-point deficit in the second half to defeat Texas A&M 65-55 Thursday at Neville Arena.
  • On a night when Auburn missed a dozen free throws, Sania Wells secured the win by going 10-for-10 from the line in the fourth quarter, finishing with 13 points.
Last Meeting Between UT/Auburn
  • No. 4/5 Tennessee suffered its first conference loss of the season on Jan. 27, 2022, falling 71-61 at Auburn.
  • Junior Jordan Horston led UT (18-2, 7-1 SEC) in scoring with 21 points, and graduate Jordan Walker tied her season high with 17.
  • Aicha Coulibaly was the leading scorer for Auburn (9-10, 1-7 SEC) with 26 points. Sania Wells, Jala Jordan, and Annie Hughes added 13, 11, and 10, respectively.
Last Time In Knoxville
  • The No. 20/21 Lady Vols closed the regular season by defeating Auburn on Feb. 28, 2021, racing to an 88-54 Senior Day victory at Thompson-Boling Arena.
  • Tennessee was led by senior Rennia Davis, who logged a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds in her final game on The Summitt. Fellow senior Kasiyahna Kushkituah also had a big day, turning in a career-high 19 points and adding eight rebounds.
  • Alaina Rice led Auburn (5-18, 0-15 SEC) with 11 points, while Unique Thompson and Alycia Reese added 10.
Upcoming Games
  • Tennessee closes out its 2022-23 regular-season slate at Thompson-Boling Arena when No. 1/1 South Carolina visits on Thursday for a 7 p.m. ET tip on ESPN.
  • The Lady Vols will conclude the regular season schedule next Sunday, traveling to Lexington to take on Kentucky at Memorial Coliseum. Tip time for that matchup is slated for 2 p.m. on SEC Network.
 
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#2
#2
Auburn is bad. SC beat them twice by about an average of 45 points. LSU beat them by 30+ points if I remember correctly. They have had other bad losses also.

UT-83
Auburn-54
 
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#3
#3
I would love to see a 30 point win really needs to be to keep from losing a place or two in the NET. Home game against a Q3 team that can play really well sometimes better than expected. Really need to win a game like this convincingly. Hopefully were up to the task.
 
#8
#8
vols 85 tigers 65 maybe little closer. but hoping offence keeps moving. and they do not start force driving to basket like they have cut it out last few games
 
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#14
#14
What has Pissott provided that deserves any minute increase jw?
when she got more than a couple of garbage minutes, she produced good numbers
in games where she got dbl digit minutes: she was 12 for 26 = 46% (Tess shoots 40%)
justine stats.jpg
Tess has woken back up...but,, imagine two Tess'es

Justine is just as accurate and has equal distance ability
She is a five star player,,,some want to see that potential used
 
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#15
#15
Senior day is almost always the last home game. Are they that scared of getting boat-raced at home against South Carolina?

Bad look...
Nah, not a bad look at all. You're really over your skis on this one, you don't have to work this hard to dig at KJH this year.

One stated reason was they wanted it on a Sunday bc it was easier for family to be here from Michigan, Ohio, etc on the weekend. Also, wisely I think, KJH really wants to downplay the emotion and finality of Sr Day bc we don't know who, if anyone will be back. More to honor the class than to be some kind of send off.

I'm sure part of it was to avoid any extra distraction, which having family around is, and emotion in an already tough situation like the SC game. IMO nothing in the world wrong with wanting it to be against Auburn and not someone who's likely to annilihate you.

Far from a bad look, I think KJH has handled it very well.
 
#16
#16
Nah, not a bad look at all. You're really over your skis on this one, you don't have to work this hard to dig at KJH this year.

One stated reason was they wanted it on a Sunday bc it was easier for family to be here from Michigan, Ohio, etc on the weekend. Also, wisely I think, KJH really wants to downplay the emotion and finality of Sr Day bc we don't know who, if anyone will be back. More to honor the class than to be some kind of send off.

I'm sure part of it was to avoid any extra distraction, which having family around is, and emotion in an already tough situation like the SC game. IMO nothing in the world wrong with wanting it to be against Auburn and not someone who's likely to annilihate you.

Far from a bad look, I think KJH has handled it very well.

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t remember senior day ever not being the last home game.

You’re welcome to disagree, which you obviously do, but the optics sure look like they’re scared of SC…
 
#17
#17
Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t remember senior day ever not being the last home game.

You’re welcome to disagree, which you obviously do, but the optics sure look like they’re scared of SC…
Of course they're scared of SC and don't want any distractions they don't have to have. You'd be borderline insane not to be scared of getting curbstomped by SC. IMO that's common sense and a good move, not anything to be ashamed of.

I think KJH makes a valid point that Sr Day has changed w the covid year, the portal etc.

And technically, Sr Day has never been the actual last home game bc we've always played first rounds at home. If you want to dump on something, not having the first rounds here would be the thing.
 
#18
#18
Nah, not a bad look at all. You're really over your skis on this one, you don't have to work this hard to dig at KJH this year.

One stated reason was they wanted it on a Sunday bc it was easier for family to be here from Michigan, Ohio, etc on the weekend. Also, wisely I think, KJH really wants to downplay the emotion and finality of Sr Day bc we don't know who, if anyone will be back. More to honor the class than to be some kind of send off.

I'm sure part of it was to avoid any extra distraction, which having family around is, and emotion in an already tough situation like the SC game. IMO nothing in the world wrong with wanting it to be against Auburn and not someone who's likely to annilihate you.

Far from a bad look, I think KJH has handled it very well.

Agreed.

Had the LVs lived up to the team we thought they'd be and the game vs SC decided the regular season champ, it would still make sense for senior day to be tomorrow vs Auburn, imo.
 
#19
#19
Of course they're scared of SC and don't want any distractions they don't have to have. You'd be borderline insane not to be scared of getting curbstomped by SC. IMO that's common sense and a good move, not anything to be ashamed of.

I think KJH makes a valid point that Sr Day has changed w the covid year, the portal etc.

And technically, Sr Day has never been the actual last home game bc we've always played first rounds at home. If you want to dump on something, not having the first rounds here would be the thing.
I’m sure that is on their list. Soon enough…
 
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#20
#20
I think we continue the solid play (against lesser opponents) and RJ and/or JH really go off.

Traditionally the Srs start on Sr Day, another reason not to do it against SC. It's not that big a stretch tho, esp against Auburn. RJ, JH, JW, JP, and JF. All them Js.

LVs 82-61.
 
#21
#21
Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t remember senior day ever not being the last home game.

You’re welcome to disagree, which you obviously do, but the optics sure look like they’re scared of SC…

You have to go back to the Covid year to find a season that senior night has not been on a Sunday since Kellie has been here. Our last game of the season has been falling on a Sunday over the last 2 years so she has had both experiences to get a feel for what works best. Lady Vols played #8 ranked LSU on Senior day last year. They could’ve easily moved it to a Thursday night and been more likely to win but they didn’t. Truly feel this is more about the game being on a Sunday and less about the opponent.
 
#23
#23
If the Lady Vols play the same game plan as they did against Arkansas, they win this handily, because they will not be predictable on offense. If they over commit to paint points, and make unexplainable subbing, the game will be much closer than it needs to be. I still stand by my believe that this team has the ability to be an Elite Eight team. It all will depend upon coaching game planning, in game changes and making the right player substitutions. LV 84-64
 
#24
#24
when she got more than a couple of garbage minutes, she produced good numbers
in games where she got dbl digit minutes: she was 12 for 26 = 46% (Tess shoots 40%)
View attachment 537038
Tess has woken back up...but,, imagine two Tess'es

Justine is just as accurate and has equal distance ability
She is a five star player,,,some want to see that potential used
That offensive potential is still getting beat on the defensive end, alot. If she is only going to score 4-5 points a game, she can't give up 10-15. Defense is learned and perfected in practice. Justine is still a couple steps behind. She is a 6-4 freshman so that is not unusual, but offensive-minded coaches would go right at her if she played more. Then when she gets beat, she tends to foul. That is what has gotten her pulled the last few appearances she has made.
 
#25
#25
when she got more than a couple of garbage minutes, she produced good numbers
in games where she got dbl digit minutes: she was 12 for 26 = 46% (Tess shoots 40%)
View attachment 537038
Tess has woken back up...but,, imagine two Tess'es

Justine is just as accurate and has equal distance ability
She is a five star player,,,some want to see that potential used
Justinne is not just as accurate. Look at the stats. Also consider Tess has shot a higher % with a lot more attempts. JP 3 fg% is 31.6%. But why let facts get in the way?
 

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