Game Thread UT "Lady Vols" v UCF "Knights"

Jordan Walker getting moved to starting PG and Powell seeing her minutes cut by a fair amount. I seems like Kellie is also sending a message there that she wants something more or different from Powell. Based on their on-court performances, it is hard to see why the change happened. It must be something going on practices or something subtle in the defensive schemes that Powell was not executing.
Could also be KJH just flat out loves having Jordan Walker start the game. I think it is intangibles, focus, energy, etc. But even when Walker started before, Powell got subbed in very early. I think Powell's current min cut is bc of weaker competition. Pretty sure she'll get the most mins in meaningful games whether she starts or not. Like you, I see nothing on court to indicate she shouldn't. Her assist stats are top 5 SEC.
I am Miles fan but she dribbles too much. When she is at PG we go from ball movement to dribble the clock down to 10 second and then get FRANTIC.
Ditto for Walker, and especially on last shots of quarters. Much rather have the ball in Powell's hands in that situation.
 
Last edited:
With all the focus on Rickea, you identified another unexpected change with Jordan Walker getting moved to starting PG and Powell seeing her minutes cut by a fair amount. I seems like Kellie is also sending a message there that she wants something more or different from Powell. Based on their on-court performances, it is hard to see why the change happened. It must be something going on practices or something subtle in the defensive schemes that Powell was not executing. I am Miles fan but she dribbles too much. When she is at PG we go from ball movement to dribble the clock down to 10 second and then get FRANTIC.

If she can get out of that bad habit, she could be a good player at that spot.
I think Powell is our best pg but it does seem Kellie is trying to send her a message. I think Suarez is a good player, but I agree she is a lot like Puckett and to me Puckett needs to get the bulk of the minutes as compared to Suarez. Pissott will have her moments this year and will be really good in the future but is probably not ready in the big games. In the post, I just don't know. At only 6'1 and not jumping well now, Franklin is going to have her problem against certain post players. Yet there are other games where she may be our best option in the post. So my top 8 are Horston, Jackson. Puckett, , , Darby, Striplin, Powell, Hollingshead, Franklin in no particular order. To me that has to be the top 8 in close games.with Walker spelling Powell a few minutes per game.
 
Last edited:
I have to admit I go from thinking who the top 7 or 8 players should be in the rotation to questioning myself. Pissot made a statement yesterday. The first few games Syriplin was not playing at all and now she is starting and playing well. I have about concluded you have Horston and Jackson (if situation resolved) and then about 10 other players who can contribute, with only Edie and Wynn likely not to play meaningful minutes. Hollingshead is a budding superstar. I do think Hollingshead should play more 4. Seems like CKH needs to come up with some kind of consistent rotation and shorten the bench somewhat. There are only 200 minutes to go around. Good luck CKH figuring out the minutes
I look forward to seeing how Jillian matches up with Brink
 
With all the focus on Rickea, you identified another unexpected change with Jordan Walker getting moved to starting PG and Powell seeing her minutes cut by a fair amount. I seems like Kellie is also sending a message there that she wants something more or different from Powell. Based on their on-court performances, it is hard to see why the change happened. It must be something going on practices or something subtle in the defensive schemes that Powell was not executing. I am Miles fan but she dribbles too much. When she is at PG we go from ball movement to dribble the clock down to 10 second and then get FRANTIC.

If she can get out of that bad habit, she could be a good player at that spot.

I haven't looked at stats, but Miles needs to be able to hit the open 3. Don't think she has been able to do that.
 
I think Powell is our best pg but it does seem Kellie is trying to send her a message. I think Suarez is a good player, but I agree she is a lot like Puckett and to me Puckett needs to get the bulk of the minutes as compared to Suarez. Pissott will have her moments this year and will be really good in the future but is probably not ready in the big games. In the post, I just don't know. At only 6'1 and not jumping well now, Franklin is going to have her problem against certain post players. Yet there are other games where she may be our best option in the post. So my top 8 are Horston, Jackson. Puckett, , , Darby, Striplin, Powell, Hollingshead, Franklin in no particular order. To me that has to be the top 8 in close games.with Walker spelling Powell a few minutes per game.

I agree with those 8
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
I want to see who is on the floor with 4 minutes to go in a contested game, especially against someone like Stanford or S Car..

Unfortunately, the big girls are probably going to carve us up against the elite teams. Especially, South Carolina. Jill might be able check the Stanford big, but will probably have foul problems. And, we don't have a back-up to defend 6'7".

With that said, Jordy, Jill, Franklin, Powell, and RJ for me in a tough environment like Stanford.
 
Unfortunately, the big girls are probably going to carve us up against the elite teams. Especially, South Carolina. Jill might be able check the Stanford big, but will probably have foul problems. And, we don't have a back-up to defend 6'7".

With that said, Jordy, Jill, Franklin, Powell, and RJ for me in a tough environment like Stanford.
Can't leave out Puckett!
 
Who you taking out?

Based on this situation (Stanford, tie game, one minute left) I'm rolling with the five you said. Part of me wants Puckett in for Jill or Franklin, but can't do it against a team with the size of Stanford.

If there is one offensive possession left and we're losing by 1-3, I probably take Jill out and put Tess or Sara in the corner to create some space for Jordan.
 
If Tennessee can bring the same level of defense as they gave in the second half against UCF they may keep the score within 15 points. But if they don’t, and Stanford gets on a roll, the Lady Vols could be in deep doo-doo.

Tara will have them looking to score on pick-and-roll and back-door cuts because she likely is thinking our lane defenders haven’t had enough time to mesh well together and will be particularly vulnerable to that.

Jasmine Franklin is going to need to try to draw a charge or two from Brink as early as possible in hopes of making her play a little less freely. An early swat or two by Jillian Hollingshead on shots by Brink and/or Jones sure wouldn’t hurt, either!

Can’t wait!

Coming back to this to say that given how our team is still learning to mesh, and that Stanford definitely has their talent and experience further along than Tennessee’s, I would actually consider it practically a win to lose by only 7-10 to them Sunday, and would still be okay if UT stayed within 15.

All that said, an outright win is certainly not impossible. But that’s a mighty tall order against that particular team at this point in the season. It just is.
 
Last edited:
If Tennessee can bring the same level of defense as they gave in the second half against UCF they may keep the score within 15 points. But if they don’t, and Stanford gets on a roll, the Lady Vols could be in deep doo-doo.

Tara will have them looking to score on pick-and-roll and back-door cuts because she likely is thinking our lane defenders haven’t had enough time to mesh well together and will be particularly vulnerable to that.

Jasmine Franklin is going to need to try to draw a charge or two from Brink as early as possible in hopes of making her play a little less freely. An early swat or two by Jillian Hollingshead on shots by Brink and/or Jones sure wouldn’t hurt, either!

Can’t wait!
Jillian will be key
 
IMO RJ is more polished and smoother, and a better shooter. RJ makes it look easy. Jordan is more blue collar, works for everything she gets. Better defensively and possibly a better rebounder. Maybe more versitile. Maybe more athletic overall, tho RJ is quite a physical speciman.Jordan seems less confident than RJ. Both probably will be very successful WNBA players.

Both crazy talented, and their strong points compliment each other. Which is why having RJ and JH as a combo sent us crazy with anticipation all summer. And sick with worry right now.

Couldn't agree more. I think an extra dimension that Horston has is that she is the interpersonal leader and glue of the team. I could definitely see her as a coach one day.
 
If Tennessee can bring the same level of defense as they gave in the second half against UCF they may keep the score within 15 points. But if they don’t, and Stanford gets on a roll, the Lady Vols could be in deep doo-doo.

Tara will have them looking to score on pick-and-roll and back-door cuts because she likely is thinking our lane defenders haven’t had enough time to mesh well together and will be particularly vulnerable to that.

Jasmine Franklin is going to need to try to draw a charge or two from Brink as early as possible in hopes of making her play a little less freely. An early swat or two by Jillian Hollingshead on shots by Brink and/or Jones sure wouldn’t hurt, either!

Can’t wait!

Coming back to this to say that given how our team is still learning to mesh, and that Stanford definitely has their talent and experience further along than Tennessee’s, I would actually consider it practically a win to lose by only 7-10 to them Sunday, and would still be okay if UT stayed within 15.

All that said, an outright win is certainly not impossible. But that’s a mighty tall order against that particular team at this point in the season. It just is.
I
A win would be transcendent, a loss by under 10 at their place would be a confidence builder, a loss by more than 20 would be a setback.
 
Send in the Hanson sisters!

Someone needs to get Brink into a little pushing scuffle...
418
 

VN Store



Back
Top