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

[Volfan2012]

If my memory serves me right, Sara was in the starting lineup from the time Rickea got suspended in early December till the LSU game in late Jan.

In the first few games of the season, her minutes were limited for sure. From early December onward, she’s gotten plenty of opportunities.

She has played enough and will continue to play when the matchups are suitable for her to play more.

 

[Jax_Vol]

This is her senior day and she couldn't start cause she was 5.....Five....V....minutes late to breakfast , soooooo petty.
Bet she was thinking "I can't wait to get the hell outta here , yeah! I was thinking bout staying but I'm gone for sure.

That is the same way Pat would have handled it.

Late to meetings results in repressions.

It will be the same rules in WNBA.

That is how the world works.

 

[chuckiepoo]

View attachment 536978

From:
HOOPS CENTRAL: Lady Vols vs. Auburn

• UT Game Notes
• AU Game Notes
• SEC Release 2-19-23
• Watch Live (ESPN2)
• Listen Live (Lady Vol Network)
• Live Stats
• 022-23 UT Record Book

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.

The title should reflect vs, not @ Auburn.

 

[LasVegasBill23]

I've never thought or said it's exactly attitude. It's more behavioral. I agree this has been going on her whole career, she wants badly to overcome it, and also is more able to get back in the flow at least some of the game now. That doesn't make it any less frustrating to watch or less harmful in the games it happens in. I haven't watched replay but apparently the announcers called it out today?

yes certainly behavioral she is part of a TEAM you do things as a team what you do and how you bahave affects the whole team if you are late for breakfast or dart for the dressing room at final buzzer leaving team on floor that is very revealing i would prefer if our upperclassmen were role models the younger part of the team could aspire to i saw a bunch today going back to watch replay

 

[lvocd]

Because she was 5 minutes late to breakfast.

It was probably her mama that made her late! Lol

 

[Lucy]

This is her senior day and she couldn't start cause she was 5.....Five....V....minutes late to breakfast , soooooo petty.
Bet she was thinking "I can't wait to get the hell outta here , yeah! I was thinking bout staying but I'm gone for sure.

I would so take that bet!! No one on the team is more all Vol than Jordy. Much more likely she was mad at herself over the tardiness than the discipline.

 

[Coach Jumper]

I could buy this if she hadn't had the same look and performance at Miss St and about seven other games this season. She just sometimes comes out and thinks she should do things by herself out of the team concept. This isn't the first time this has happened won't be the last. If she was trying to throw the game she wouldn't have finally settled into the game plan in the third and fourth quarter and helped us win the game.

Jordy will be "Jordy"

 

[Prophet1]

I hope Rickea comes back next year with Jordan. We shall see tho.

Players that have been suspended or benched for whatever reason or top ten in the WNBA draft or want to run with the stallions or hunger for true professional coaching or the $$$$$ will be like Ray Charles and won't look back , having you looking (lol) like Stevie the boy Wonder....you won't see it in this quartum space or multiverse.

 

[LasVegasBill23]

She isn't going to solve it. Been doing it for four years and were still doing it now and will be doing it next game. To beat SC we will have to overcome turning the ball over 20 times. It is what they do and it is mostly bad decisions instead of a defense forcing them in to it.

totally agree

 

[LasVegasBill23]

Players that have been suspended or benched for whatever reason or top ten in the WNBA draft or want to run with the stallions or hunger for true professional coaching or the $$$$$ will be like Ray Charles and won't look back , having you looking (lol) like Stevie the boy Wonder....you won't see it in this quartum space or multiverse.

yup i remember when candace had to sit the first half for her hometown game her last year for some transgression it happens trick is how you respond

 

[VOLPAT]

i said after arkansas game one game does not make a trend we have a ton of work to do

Spot on. Just a good thing Tess and RJ came to play.

 

[Prophet1]

I would so take that bet!! No one on the team is more all Vol than Jordy. Much more likely she was mad at herself over the tardiness than the discipline.

Is five minutes tardy? Is it worthy of discipline? Maybe she had to peepee? What you want to bet ? Being " all Vol" than anyone on the team doesn't validate anything less alone whether that statement in itself is true or that it didn't enter her mind just a little bit. Lol. smile.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Players that have been suspended or benched for whatever reason or top ten in the WNBA draft or want to run with the stallions or hunger for true professional coaching or the $$$$$ will be like Ray Charles and won't look back , having you looking (lol) like Stevie the boy Wonder....you won't see it in this quartum space or multiverse.

You nailed it….

 

[Prophet1]

Probably the most frustrating game, and definitely the most frustrating team (and coaching) I've ever seen. And it starts with that girl with the curl, Jordan Horston. Stats only gave her 3 t.o.s? Not possible, made many more. Maybe she was ill today, I sure hope so, bc otherwise her behavior was aggresious and totally unacceptable.

Don't blame KJH for not starting her, being any minutes late for anything at this point in her career is inexcusable. And if that's what effed up her ever-volatile head once again, JH need to get the F over it!!!




She actually did it twice, once giving up a runout in a close game. I'm not sure who RJ "lashed out" at to earn 2 1/2 games on the bench, but it must have been a doozey to be worse than Horston's carrying on for 3/4 of the game today. Which as far as I can tell, went unaddressed.

Not sure if it was apparent on TV, but JH actually left the court for a while with no one's knowledge or permission. I moved up today, was just a couple of rows behind the bench. When she got taken out in the first half, she just kept walking right off the floor. Couple of mins later KJH turned around to put her back in and said "Where's Jordan?" Couple of managers just pointed toward the locker room. KJH sent them back there, they came back empty handed. Couple of mins later the trainer went back, she came back empty handed. Then Coach Joy, and yep, no luck for her either. Finally JH strolled back in and KJH put her back in. Maybe she was sick, but it seemed like everyone was mystified.

I alternate btw wanting to choke JH and feeling sorry for her bc in 4 yrs, she has never been able to consistently get out of her own head. She did make a good comeback at the end, but come on. This is just unacceptable and her inconsistency is completely maddening. And so, so damaging to this team. Never seen a player so good, yet so in need of a really good sports psychologist. I sincerely hope the WNBA is a good, clean reset for her.

Wowwwwwwwww... you won't have to worry bout her next year that's for sure.
You know maybe she had to teetee or doodoo or you know the woman thingy. But Wow .

 

[LV renaissance]

I think that Coach Harper has helped Jordy. She has gotten much better every year despite the lingering issues. There is only so much another person can do about a person's internal conflicts. Harper has done better lately in getting Horston to the bench when she is off kilter. Perhaps she or someone else in the locker room reached Jordy today, as unless I missed something her 2nd half performance was really good. But Jordy (as well as any of us) has to do some of the internal work herself or have professional help (sports psychologist, etc.). A coach can only go so far.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

And JH knows that also, has said over and over needs to quit forcing and let game come to her. But just can't do that consistently. I don't mean to be overly harsh on her, espec bc I know she wants badly to control herself. But after four yrs of watching it in person, it's hard not to get frustrated w her. Espec stuff like not going back on D and leaving the court.

I don't think it's overly harsh. You are seeing something you think she should correct. Trust me if you were being overly harsh you would of had a crowd on you by now

JH is the real deal no denying that and the team is better because she is on it. Hoping for the same intensity with better clarity thursday! Thanks for the insight and have a good evening

 

[Fatoldman]

I disagree. Justine has a low defensive posture on the perimeter, for a girl of her size and stature. butt-down-back-straight,,,,someone's been teaching her about keeping an even core...TNT!.

Her defense is much improved

Justinne would be playing more if she deserved to play more and earned time in practice and in games. Time to stop acting like Justinne is getting the raw end of the deal because she was a 5 star recruit and should get more time. She is no longer a recruit. She is a D1 player and must earn her minutes. It is just that simple.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

This is her senior day and she couldn't start cause she was 5.....Five....V....minutes late to breakfast , soooooo petty.
Bet she was thinking "I can't wait to get the hell outta here , yeah! I was thinking bout staying but I'm gone for sure.

Didn't look like she was thinking that when she and Kellie were hugging during the ceremony at the beginning or the hug at the end of the game...

 

[37620VOL]

Just finished watching the game, what is everyone going in on Horston about? I mean she wasn't great but she played okay. Maybe a few dumb fouls she'd like to have back and that 1 on 3 fast break, that was dumb too.

Walker was the abomination, I should really stop complimenting her because every time I do, she lays an egg. Rough day for her. Seems like seniors often suck it up on senior day.

Fortunately, Darby and Jackson had the hot touch. I thought that was Powell's best game since conference play began. If she can bottle that maybe she can be the smart distributor we all hoped we had signed.

Glad for the win.

 

[Lucy]

Is five minutes tardy? Is it worthy of discipline? Maybe she had to peepee? What you want to bet ? Being " all Vol" than anyone on the team doesn't validate anything less alone whether that statement in itself is true or that it didn't enter her mind just a little bit. Lol. smile.

Think you might be projecting there a bit. No history of Jordy ever having issues with Kellie’s decisions.
And the answer is yes it is tardy and you have to discipline your star just like you would the end of the bench. Boy, are you out of step with the “run them until they puke” caucus on here. I hated it but it was for the best of the team in the long run.

 

[creekdipper]

More like 2.5% and that’s generous

We're waiting.

 

[Memvol44]

Y

I'd think it more likely they have worked with her on quite a bit, and right now she's in that stage of learning where your mind is too full and nothing is happening by instinct yet.

It's a big mental jump to this level of play.

Yes,certainly hope so. She really seemed dejected, then got taken out.Went and sat at the end of the bench the rest of the game.

 

[Memvol44]

Do

Sara only fan, eh? We won.

Don't know how you came to that conclusion...

 

[glv98]

Y
Yes,certainly hope so. She really seemed dejected, then got taken out.Went and sat at the end of the bench the rest of the game.

Sara always sits at the end of the bench when she's out, as does J Franklin, as does Rickea. Only they frequently make Rickea move up to mid bench lol for ease of getting her back in as quickly as possible. That's just how the bench sorts itself. Seriously, I give Franklin alot of credit. She's the Rickea Whisperer always and today she really made an effort to console Sara. And Sara needed it. Bless her heart, poor Sara is really, really struggling.

 

[Memvol44]

I think for sure we have seven returning so that is eight scholarships. If Horston and Jackson were to return we don't need many players a class of four mostly guards would do just fine. It all depends on who returns right now Horston, Jackson, Key, Suarez, Walker for sure, Franklin for sure, and Rennie back to Australia cuts the roster to Powell, Puckett, Striplin, Darby, Hollingshead, Miles, and Wynn. I can make some argument that Wynn and Miles will transfer as they really need to be recruited over. So seven for sure and possibly five. If all of Horston, Jackson, and Key were to return we don't need the portal that bad just some guards and one post. I am looking for us to go portal heavy depending on who leaves I could see a couple of Grad Transfers and two or three underclassmen. It all depends on what current players decide to do.

I can see Sara,Wynn and miles transfering....