Game Thread: Winthrop v Lady Vols, Sun Dec 29th ; Home game; 2 PM Eastern; SEC+: win 114-50

#201
#201
teeball said:
Good post! I really like Kim and this team but I'm expecting a really difficult SEC season this year with only a win or two above 500 (9-8 or 10-7). We have won them all thus far but Florida State, Iowa and even Memphis (for a while) pushed this team. I fear that teams with bigger inside players and quick guards will be able to handle our pressing defense, out rebound us and hold our shooters to lower percentages resulitng in losses. That said, I can't wait until Kim gets "her" style players in house and has a year or two under her belt. I think the future is really bright for Kim and the Lady Vols.
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No way. We’ll lose at most 4-5
 
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#203
#203
Mafiaboss said:
No way. We’ll lose at most 4-5
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Don’t take the bait. Tennessee beat a team by 25 points that Texas beat by 11 points.
LSU has struggled with teams that are equal to or worse than Memphis on their homecourt in Murray State and Albany.
Tennessee scored 90 points on the road against Memphis.
All these mythical SEC teams with bigger players and quick guards don’t exist.
The reality is Tennessee doesn’t have to be perfect and I know just as any other team they will lose a few games.
But obviously the standard for Tennessee and every team is different for a few of these posters. I challenge some of you to find atleast one thing that the players and coaches do that is good enough. Then go from there….
 
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#205
#205
Majors said:
What are your high hopes in year 1? Anything past the S16 is house money.
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Being ranked in the top 25 when the season ends and making the tourney. And being in every game.

We were 10-6 in conference play last year. If we match that we would have 22 wins. I think we lose at least 5 - OU, LSU, SC and Texas in the conference and also to UCONN. Beating and being competitive with any of those 5 teams would be a pleasant surprise. I think all of them will slow the pace and/or could blow us out if we go cold.

The early part of the schedule last year was brutal - this year much easier road to 12-0. I just can't judge whether this team is good or reaping the rewards of scheduling. I think they are ranked where they are because no one knows for sure.

The REAL season starts on Jan 2nd. We'll find out rather quickly.
 
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#207
#207
Oklahoma is leading 44-47 against a 7-5 at home in the 3rd qtr.

Imagine if this was the LVs playing right now against New Mexico.

This forum would have to be shut down.

Like I said, the standard some of the fans hold this team is ridiculous.

Penciling in a loss to Oklahoma is just nonsense.
 
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#210
#210
Volfan1000 said:
Caldwell pissed off about Tennessee giving up 18 offensive rebounds to a shorter Winthrop team in her post game press conference.
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The coach usually finds something to be upset about.
I do wish the staff would adjust strategically to calling for a on ball trap in the full court press and giving up uncontested layups.
The players can’t execute or make that play consistently to force a turnover or steal.
I watched Vandy give that same play up to Alabama A&M multiple times.
Has nothing to do with SEC guards or better competition.
It’s a low percentage defensive strategy.
 
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#211
#211
KnoxLikeUs said:
There’s not a single team in the SEC where Tennessee is outmatched with talent and coaching.
That’s the thing where a few fans are projecting the past few years on the current team.
They did what they were supposed to do and it’s obvious that the voters and analysts have noticed this team is legit in the polls with their current rankings #15/#13.
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Seriously? SC, LSU and Texas not more talented? UCONN not more talented? And all of those teams have seasoned coaches who will be prepared for this brand of offense.

We are ranked due to the Iowa and FSU wins.

Do you really think our players from top to bottom can match up with SC, LSU, Texas and UCONN to name a few? We are NOT going to wear those teams down where we have it easy in the second half.
 
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#212
#212
volfan102455 said:
Being ranked in the top 25 when the season ends and making the tourney. And being in every game.

We were 10-6 in conference play last year. If we match that we would have 22 wins. I think we lose at least 5 - OU, LSU, SC and Texas in the conference and also to UCONN. Beating and being competitive with any of those 5 teams would be a pleasant surprise. I think all of them will slow the pace and/or could blow us out if we go cold.

The early part of the schedule last year was brutal - this year much easier road to 12-0. I just can't judge whether this team is good or reaping the rewards of scheduling. I think they are ranked where they are because no one knows for sure.

The REAL season starts on Jan 2nd. We'll find out rather quickly.
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Just on the eye test I'll be surprised if we lose more than 2 home games maybe Uconn and SC maybe not, and 1 on the road, Texas.
 
#215
#215
volfan102455 said:
Some on here have unreasonable expectations - some, like me, don't know what to think because we haven't played the level of competition for me to even set an expectation and some have reasonable expectations in terms of expecting we will lose 4 to 6 games of the remaining 17.
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Nothing wrong with being a fence straddler. Can’t help but be excited for what this team has done but can’t let go of the past.
 
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#216
#216
volfan102455 said:
Seriously? SC, LSU and Texas not more talented? UCONN not more talented? And all of those teams have seasoned coaches who will be prepared for this brand of offense.

We are ranked due to the Iowa and FSU wins.

Do you really think our players from top to bottom can match up with SC, LSU, Texas and UCONN to name a few? We are NOT going to wear those teams down where we have it easy in the second half.
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Do you watch the games? Tennessee last year with a roster lacking the depth of this year’s team played South Carolina close three times in 2023-2024.
This season, South Carolina has been good but still managed to have a close game against Michigan. If Michigan can match South Carolina talent then common sense should tell you Tennessee will.
Texas and Tennessee played a common opponent. Tennessee beat that opponent by more than Texas.
LSU has played a weaker non-conference schedule than Tennessee and has not looked better on the court. Some of LSU rotation players played on their former teams with a couple of Tennessee transfers. The players on Tennessee roster were just as good as LSU transfers on their former teams and are even better at Tennessee.
Look believe what you want to.
Make up false notions of it being unreasonable expectations.
It doesn’t change the facts for me. Tennessee has 5 to 6 players averaging double figures and leads WBB in scoring, turnovers, offensive rebounds etc.
The #15/#13 ranked team is not outmatched talent wise win, lose, or draw by these schools.
 
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#217
#217
volfan102455 said:
Seriously? SC, LSU and Texas not more talented? UCONN not more talented? And all of those teams have seasoned coaches who will be prepared for this brand of offense.

We are ranked due to the Iowa and FSU wins.

Do you really think our players from top to bottom can match up with SC, LSU, Texas and UCONN to name a few? We are NOT going to wear those teams down where we have it easy in the second half.
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I think we will wear some of these teams down with our pressure. Still need to close the trap a little quicker. This team has morphed (in a good way) with the emergence of Sara.
 
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#218
#218
Rickster said:
I think we will wear some of these teams down with our pressure. Still need to close the trap a little quicker. This team has morphed (in a good way) with the emergence of Sara.
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Right.
They’re moving the goalpost.
This team doesn’t have to go undefeated. In this sport you can be beaten any given night.
It’s just false to constantly indicate that it’ll be due to the system or the talent on the roster.
This roster is deep and strong enough to compete for the championship in the SEC and NCAA.
 
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#219
#219
KnoxLikeUs said:
Do you watch the games? Tennessee last year with a roster lacking the depth of this year’s team played South Carolina close three times in 2023-2024.
This season, South Carolina has been good but still managed to have a close game against Michigan. If Michigan can match South Carolina talent then common sense should tell you Tennessee will.
Texas and Tennessee played a common opponent. Tennessee beat that opponent by more than Texas.
LSU has played a weaker non-conference schedule than Tennessee and has not looked better on the court. Some of LSU rotation players played on their former teams with a couple of Tennessee transfers. The players on Tennessee roster were just as good as LSU transfers on their former teams and are even better at Tennessee.
Look believe what you want to.
Make up false notions of it being unreasonable expectations.
It doesn’t change the facts for me. Tennessee has 5 to 6 players averaging double figures and leads WBB in scoring, turnovers, offensive rebounds etc.
The #15/#13 ranked team is not outmatched talent wise win, lose, or draw by these schools.
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Oklahoma and Tennessee played a common opponent, and OU beat the opponent by more than Tennessee. I guess I should chalk that down as a loss then??

Truth is you can't judge games that way in ANY sport. It always comes down to which team has the hot hand, which team has the less turnovers, which team has the less fouls and how a coach adjusts when something is not working, etc.

The truth is, Tennessee, like many of the teams with great records, have not played many of the top teams. That pads the stats of the players.

I just don't see Tennessee cake walking against the SEC competition. I would be satisfied if we end up where we did last year at 10-6 in conference play.
 
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#222
#222
volfan102455 said:
Oklahoma and Tennessee played a common opponent, and OU beat the opponent by more than Tennessee. I guess I should chalk that down as a loss then??

Truth is you can't judge games that way in ANY sport. It always comes down to which team has the hot hand, which team has the less turnovers, which team has the less fouls and how a coach adjusts when something is not working, etc.

The truth is, Tennessee, like many of the teams with great records, have not played many of the top teams. That pads the stats of the players.

I just don't see Tennessee cake walking against the SEC competition. I would be satisfied if we end up where we did last year at 10-6 in conference play.
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You just contradict your whole perspective.
You are doing exactly what you claim isn’t a strong predictor of success.
And you are consistently providing misinformation. Tennessee has not padded stats in any game this season.
They are playing the entire roster.
In games against tourney teams they played 11 players and maintain the same substitution pattern.
Just as you continue to see things from one perspective, Tennessee could easily manage to play better during conference play as they have in no-conference play.
You seem to not understand that what you are satisfied with is not set in reality.
The way you exaggerate and say things like “you don’t think Tennessee will cake walk through SEC competition” when nobody has even made that statement just minimizes your entire point.
I have acknowledged that on any given night a team can be beaten.
 
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#224
#224
People predicting our record are not considering the possibility of us getting upset. When you play such a tough SEC schedule, it is hard to match every team's emotional intensity and focus though this team seems to be more focused than any teams we have had since Pat. I imagine all teams except perhaps SC will be upset by a team unranked or lower ranked than them. While not a perfect comparison, it is of note that all the top SEC football teams lost to an unranked team except for Texas. Anyway, I think 11-5 would be really good. A record better than this would be exceptional given this team was supposed to be batting .500 or less in the SEC and does not have any preseason all SEC first or second teamers.
 
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#225
#225
KnoxLikeUs said:
You just contradict your whole perspective.
You are doing exactly what you claim isn’t a strong predictor of success.
And you are consistently providing misinformation. Tennessee has not padded stats in any game this season.
They are playing the entire roster.
In games against tourney teams they played 11 players and maintain the same substitution pattern.
Just as you continue to see things from one perspective, Tennessee could easily manage to play better during conference play as they have in no-conference play.
You seem to not understand that what you are satisfied with is not set in reality.
The way you exaggerate and say things like “you don’t think Tennessee will cake walk through SEC competition” when nobody has even made that statement just minimizes your entire point.
I have acknowledged that on any given night a team can be beaten.
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We will soon find out. I could see teams strong on the low post giving us trouble, especially when possessions get more valuable and outside shooting becomes contested. We had a top 10 player as a bailout last year. Tcoop could be that player but time will tell. 10 and 6 would be good, really good and ahead of schedule.
 
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