Game Thread: Western Carolina v Lady Vols, Tues. Nov 26; Home-FCC; 7PM; SEC TV network

[madtownvol]

I agree with your top statement, I think many people including myself wonder what happens when we play against excellent guards who are every bit as fast and athletic as ours. The argument that it doesn't matter how good a point guard is in breaking defenses is ludicrous, though I am not saying that we can't beat a team with a good point guard. Think of all the losses the LVs have had in recent years when teams like Auburn and Alabama made us turn it over so often. The most common reaction to those losses was something along the lines of "we need an elite point guard". I think point guard play especially matters against a good pressing defense given that excellent court awareness, quickness, and effective passes is what breaks the press the best. These skills are the bread and butter of point guards. That said, our platoons of defense may even break down good point guards due to fatigue. If not this year, I would bet for sure next year.

As in all things, there is a risk - reward function in play. Pressing for 40 minutes against overmatched teams, as the LVs have been doing, can create a lot of reward as we have seen with some of these early season games. A team like Liberty also showed that teams that stay calm under pressure and beat the press with passes, rather than dribbling, can create a lot of risks. Add a skilled PG with a team that is good at passing and the risk ratio likely becomes unfavorable.

You can still play uptempo; you can still have 2 players putting a lot of pressure on the ball (once it hits the half court) but trying to press, for example UConn, into oblivion would prove to be disasterous.

The Fl St. game will be interesting in terms of how aggressive CKC wants be in the press defense.

 

[DeerPark12]

Yes. I knew it had to be a huge investment. That’s a lot of air time in a premium location. Just an aside at the incongruity of the sponsorship’s namesake. Who knows? It may keep the fire lit under the team!

Not the air time they’re even really paying for, it’s the ads and car they usually have parked in the club underneath the arena and the access they were given to UT’s premium donor database for direct marketing.

 

[Majors]

Not the air time they’re even really paying for, it’s the ads and car they usually have parked in the club underneath the arena and the access they were given to UT’s premium donor database for direct marketing.

Who owns the dog that has primo seats? Never seen a dog have courtiside seats for a college women’s game.

 

[lvocd]

Who owns the dog that has primo seats? Never seen a dog have courtiside seats for a college women’s game.

Linda Ogle.

 

[Rickster]

Game breakdown:
The Coach Caldwell era in the opening month of the season has built a foundation for instant success and future prominence in WBB.
Tennessee as a team is receiving accolades they hadn’t achieved in years and individually players are standing out while making a case for end of year honors/awards. Congrats to Talaysia recently for earning SEC Player of the Week, an award that Whitehorn, Spearman, Spencer, and others could earn as the season progresses.
Tennessee has five players averaging double figures and two others averaging 9 ppg.
Which makes this even more impressive is neither of the seven top scorers through five games are Boyd, Ayodele, Hollingshead, and Latham.
The way each of these four players can impact the game without taking a lot of shots is a cheat code for this team that is thriving off of defensive pressure and rebounding.
People forget that Ayodele started at center for Pittsburgh and gives it 100% every second she’s on the court. At a young age, Latham and Boyd are top tier competitors that get after it every single possession.
With five players that can score 20 or more points in a game (Spencer, Spearman, Spear, Whitehorn, and Cooper), this team has something in those four that has been missing for years which is elite level intangibles.
Which in my opinion, has led to a slow start for Sara. She simply has to adjust from being a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th scoring option in her previous years to being more of a glue player now to get a few looks offensively while rebounding and playing fundamentally sound defense.
There’s no shame in it. Can’t keep trying to force the offense which leads to bad turnovers when her teammates are able to score in one or two dribbles after making their move and getting into their shot.
That’s not her style.

You're right and I would add a personal observation.....this new Lady Vol game is too fast for a few of our players and they are stressed trying to do things their body is not well suited for. Sara can shoot and so can Tess and Ace but defensively they are sometimes a step behind and that mentally affects their offense. They hurry and that is not good for shooters. Jill is becoming more comfortable with her role and I'm sure Sara, Tess and Ace will also become more comfortable as the season progresses. It's just at this juncture, they are taking more time to adjust to the physically demanding style.

 

[lvocd]

You're right and I would add a personal observation.....this new Lady Vol game is too fast for a few of our players and they are stressed trying to do things their body is not well suited for. Sara can shoot and so can Tess and Ace but defensively they are sometimes a step behind and that mentally affects their offense. They hurry and that is not good for shooters. Jill is becoming more comfortable with her role and I'm sure Sara, Tess and Ace will also become more comfortable as the season progresses. It's just at this juncture, they are taking more time to adjust to the physically demanding style.

I have had those same thoughts, although I think Ace is a bit quicker than either Sara or Tess. You're probably also seeing, like I am, all three of them busting their tails and giving their all. I am so proud of them because before the season began I was super worried they wouldn't be able to hang nearly as well as they are managing to do.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

You're right and I would add a personal observation.....this new Lady Vol game is too fast for a few of our players and they are stressed trying to do things their body is not well suited for. Sara can shoot and so can Tess and Ace but defensively they are sometimes a step behind and that mentally affects their offense. They hurry and that is not good for shooters. Jill is becoming more comfortable with her role and I'm sure Sara, Tess and Ace will also become more comfortable as the season progresses. It's just at this juncture, they are taking more time to adjust to the physically demanding style.

Good observation.
Ace showed progress last game and probably earned a few minutes in the upcoming game against FSU.
Darby is playing well. I think better than expected and as you said it’s an adjustment and the more she plays at this pace the more comfortable it becomes game by game.
Sara it seems is feeling the most pressure.
I think reducing the load and bringing her off the bench could help to slow the game down if it continues.
I believe she’ll get another opportunity in the FSU game to hold that starting spot.
I believe it’s impacting some others on offense like Latham and Jewel.
They have the athletic skill to play with pace but are use to a different type of offensive system.
Latham is thriving on defense and once she gets in sync offensively I think she’ll start to pile up some double double performances.

 

[gule]

is little Darby out for the year?

 

[Rickster]

I have had those same thoughts, although I think Ace is a bit quicker than either Sara or Tess. You're probably also seeing, like I am, all three of them busting their tails and giving their all. I am so proud of them because before the season began I was super worried they wouldn't be able to hang nearly as well as they are managing to do.

Absolutely, the effort is there.