Game thread Witchita State

[Amb3096]

What happen to the defense, the defense that shut down Laney and Cooper for Rutgers?????

Defense awareness is gone be the ticker? Let's go the box score

13 Jacobs, Kelsey...... f 2-6 2-2 0-0 0 0 0 2 6 1 1 1 2 39
21 Decker, Alie........ f 6-11 5-8 0-0 1 3 4 2 17 0 0 0 0 39
44 Dapprich, Michaela.. f 2-10 0-3 0-0 2 1 3 4 4 2 0 1 2 35
05 Bonner, Jamillah.... g 1-5 1-4 0-0 1 2 3 4 3 3 6 0 0 29
24 Harden, Alex........ g 8-21 1-3 2-2 2 6 8 5 19 0 4 0 7 39
25 Chapel, Jaleesa..... 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 2 2 1 2 0 1 18
43 Dapprich, Moriah.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

Not identifying the shooter and can't stop dribble drive???

We took a step backwards tonight

Tennessee can't play perimeter defense. Good post defense, yes. Perimeter...terrible. Overrated defensive guards that can't score, so they're left on the court to not contribute offensively (or even threaten to) while they can't defend anyone either. Harden had her way with Carter. Andraya plays with a lot of energy and is a great bench player, but let's not keep her on the court for 30 minutes when her defense is passable but her offense is atrocious.

Middleton and Massengale need to be starting. Ball movement is so much better when they are both on the court.

 

[Amb3096]

Here are the questions for the fan base. Do you think the Tennessee women's basketball team is playing up to their potential ?
Are they over achieving or under achieving ?
Answer these questions and you'll know why most of the posts on this board read as they do.

I mean, they won tonight, right? Played like crap, but they won. They have a chance to shut alot of people here up if they beat Stanford, so we'll know by this weekend if they are playing to their potential.

 

[boxerpupsrcool]

I would like to have Carol Lawson. She knows basketball

Kara Lawson? Yes she knows basketball alright..I met Kara twice..once she was nice as could be..the second time, not so much

 

[volnationnj]

I mean, they won tonight, right? Played like crap, but they won. They have a chance to shut alot of people here up if they beat Stanford, so we'll know by this weekend if they are playing to their potential.

I don't understand why you have to wait. After the Stanford game it will be "Well, let's see how we do in conference play." Or "Wait until Tucker gets into the lineup."
We have a roster filled with AA's while Wichita St has maybe 1 player that could even make our team !
I'm only asking for your opinion. So far this season, have the Lady Vols played up to their potential ? It's really not that difficult a question to answer.

 

[Pat4life]

Read my lips those who wanted M. Simmons gone I could never understand why she was a true scorer that was a product of a bad offense! that gave her no other choice but to try to make something happen for the sake team. No Offensive sets what so ever to open her up

It was not her fault she often tried to do to much, it is a coaches job to contain that??? Is it not

She was a alpha dog, but don't worry we got one coming next year that's why her job is safe for now!

She wasn't an alpha, she was an inefficient guard, who had to shoot a lot to score her points, if she had a better shooting percentage and got us to the final four or elite 8 alpha guard. But she was the closest thing we have had since Parker days. Yes.

 

[Amb3096]

I don't understand why you have to wait. After the Stanford game it will be "Well, let's see how we do in conference play." Or "Wait until Tucker gets into the lineup."
We have a roster filled with AA's while Wichita St has maybe 1 player that could even make our team !
I'm only asking for your opinion. So far this season, have the Lady Vols played up to their potential ? It's really not that difficult a question to answer.

When I see them at full strength against a top team, I will have enough information to make a judgement. Games against Stanford and Oregon State in the next 7 days will be enough for me to decide. I mean, why would anyone be willing to write off a team in early December because of early losses when missing their best player?

Where I am disappointed is personnel management. Holly is doing a poor job of that. As the season progresses and Holly figures out which rotations work, then I expect to see more cohesive play.

 

[Smallvol#1]

Hey holly, 1984 called..they want their offense back.

Were you at the game? I think that was the most painful thing I ever sat through. Witchata State was not beating us, although all that "scrappy play" was something to see...shame the refs missed most of it. But we just did it to ourselves...forcing the ball into the paint, ignoring wide open perimeter, turn overs - the turn overs!, weird passes, it was unbelieveable. And Cierra was the difference, 10 points were nice, but her rebounding was what kept us in the game at times. I've been mad at her over getting benched, and still feel she should have done better. But all props to her tonight...she was the difference maker.

Jody looked great as a head coach, and looked just like she did in college. Loved her then and proud of her now.

But oh my gosh, that game! It was awful.

And were the refs as bad as I thought? Give me an opinion. I thought they were terrible.

 

[Pat4life]

Fatigued ??? They go through 2 hour practices almost every day. They had yesterday off and they go 10 deep against a team (ranked #75 after tonights game) that has no bench.
"We are not well Conditioned" ?? Whose fault is that ?
I'll give you only one guess on that one.
Here are the questions for the fan base. Do you think the Tennessee women's basketball team is playing up to their potential ?
Are they over achieving or under achieving ?
Answer these questions and you'll know why most of the posts on this board read as they do.

Let me see you go through two NCAA games within 48 hours (not including media, trips to airport, eating, hotels, scouting reports, warm ups) and travel, and worry about studying for finals and play two games. They were tested.

Sometimes it is what is, a lot mental mistakes which a sign of fatigue, that why you condition to be able to minimize those mistakes.

I'm not happy by no means but the Stanford and OSU game will be a better indicator of how good we are to me.

This was a test. We passed it but did it look bad, yes. Now if we had three days to prepare for this team, then I'd have a problem.

Are playing to our potential? No. Are we overachieving or underachieving? Neutral. Are we well conditioned? It certaintly didn't look like it tonight that's why I singled Izzy out she's working way back into game and was there at the end, fighting.

You can post what you want and so can I.

 

[Pat4life]

When I see them at full strength against a top team, I will have enough information to make a judgement. Games against Stanford and Oregon State in the next 7 days will be enough for me to decide. I mean, why would anyone be willing to write off a team in early December because of early losses when missing their best player?

Where I am disappointed is personnel management. Holly is doing a poor job of that. As the season progresses and Holly figures out which rotations work, then I expect to see more cohesive play.

Nice post

 

[boxerpupsrcool]

Were you at the game? I think that was the most painful thing I ever sat through. Witchata State was not beating us, although all that "scrappy play" was something to see...shame the refs missed most of it. But we just did it to ourselves...forcing the ball into the paint, ignoring wide open perimeter, turn overs - the turn overs!, weird passes, it was unbelieveable. And Cierra was the difference, 10 points were nice, but her rebounding was what kept us in the game at times. I've been mad at her over getting benched, and still feel she should have done better. But all props to her tonight...she was the difference maker.

Jody looked great as a head coach, and looked just like she did in college. Loved her then and proud of her now.

But oh my gosh, that game! It was awful.

And were the refs as bad as I thought? Give me an opinion. I thought they were terrible.

No I watched it on the sec network, but from what you described, I'm kinda glad I didn't go lol. There def was a LOT of mugging against izzy and graves all night and barely a 1/3 of it was called, if that. but what else is new, I've never been impressed with wcbb officiating anyway. what can you say about our offense though, other than it was putrid. I've watched the lady vols my entire life and I don't remember them being this clueless on offense EVER..like you said though, what is with this team and forcing the ball inside when the player is double and triple teamed!! I say this mostly in jest, but a team could literally put two ppl on graves and have the other three on harrison and our guards would be scurrying around trying to figure out what to do, with the exception of Middleton and possibly nared. they seem to have better basketball iq than most of the upper class men

 

[Pat4life]

[QU dontOTE=GameTime;10979721]Looks like a tough season for us.....
This win was about as bad as a loss....
The lineups are soft on offensive performance...
Reynolds and carter do not go together...
Dunbar is being wasted on the bench, mistake.

I don't like our chances against Stanford. It might be ugly.[/QUOTE]

Defensively, I like em, there's no swag on offense, ugh I hate it. Reynolds is so much better than this or so I thought. Maybe she's not.

Carter, this was carter in high school, a great athlete who athleticism can take over a high school game defensively but never was a skilled offensive player, a scorer.

Our guards are robots instead of players. Ariel needs to ride the pine she should know better, she's a senior.

Dunbar is not the answer, I don't mind her getting minutes but shes not the answer. I like our chances against Stanford cos we have a couple of days to prepare.

 

[Sandvol]

Why is Carter shooting so much? Holly needs to put the reins on her. Also, Graves shot a 3 pointer? She can't hit from two feet so she shoots a 3 pointer?

 

[Sandvol]

[QU dontOTE=GameTime;10979721]Looks like a tough season for us.....
This win was about as bad as a loss....
The lineups are soft on offensive performance...
Reynolds and carter do not go together...
Dunbar is being wasted on the bench, mistake.

I don't like our chances against Stanford. It might be ugly.

Defensively, I like em, there's no swag on offense, ugh I hate it. Reynolds is so much better than this or so I thought. Maybe she's not.

Carter, this was carter in high school, a great athlete who athleticism can take over a high school game defensively but never was a skilled offensive player, a scorer.

Our guards are robots instead of players. Ariel needs to ride the pine she should know better, she's a senior.

Dunbar is not the answer, I don't mind her getting minutes be shes not the answer. I like our chances against Stanford cos we have a couple of days to prepare.

Dunbar needs to get some minutes. She is too good to ride the pine. We need to develop three point shots into our offense. And, players like Carter or Graves don't need to be shooting them. Take those three they missed and give them to Dunbar.

 

[Sandvol]

What you going to do to make me stfu? Cry to your mommy? I'll give my comment and opinion when and how I want. No little candy a&@ed b-/:; is going to stop me.

You're officially ignored.

 

[Voluble2]

I didn't watch it because I thought it would be ugly. Sounds like I was right.

And yeah, we spend the first two thirds of every possession trying to force it into the posts when they are double or triple teamed and then panic to get a shot the last third. We usually end up at best getting a shot we could have taken earlier in the possession but our offense is not predicated on taking open shots and making them. It is predicated on getting it in the paint and then fighting for the rebound when we miss.

Dunbar isn't the answer but you can use someone who will actually take and make some outside shots in occasion. A couple of threes at Rutgers and the rout would have been on because a 6 pt lead against them is like a 20 pt lead against other teams.

 

[LurkerExposed]

The positive one can take from the game is that while the team didn't play at a high level, they still came away with the win. So they get a teaching moment without the pain of a loss. The coaches will use it to stay on the girls who should know that such efforts won't win against the better opponents on their schedule. So they shouldn't tune the coaches out. And the team learns about itself as it goes....

 

[Pat4life]

Dunbar needs to get so minutes. She is too good to ride the pine. We need to develop three point shots into our offense. And, players like Carter or Graves don't need to be shooting them. Take those three they missed and give them to Dunbar.

I'm all for Dunbar getting more minutes if we are playing zone but who does she guard man 2 man and with what combination of players do you put on the floor with her, (most teams best scorer or athlete plays the 3) if our guards were shooting the ball better, she would be playing, if they were getting into lane and kicking out maybe, but how will she get open in this offense, cos her creating her shots against athletes is a chore, someone has to create her shots for her.

Not every player has to play, not everyone can play.

I think when our guard play improve and people respect our guards she'll play but right now she's another liability.

Next year I can see her playing more at the four, some 3. This year....kinda hard cos who does she defend, blowouts yeah.

Or our current players have to shoot the ball with confidence, better there's no rush for Dunbar, she'll be fine.

 

[Pat4life]

Burdick nice rebounding against a smaller team. mane that was hard to say...

 

[volnationnj]

I'm all for Dunbar getting more minutes if we are playing zone but who does she guard man 2 man and with what combination of players do you put on the floor with her, (most teams best scorer or athlete plays the 3) if our guards were shooting the ball better, she would be playing, if they were getting into lane and kicking out maybe, but how will she get open in this offense, cos her creating her shots against athletes is a chore, someone has to create her shots for her.

Not every player has to play, not everyone can play.

I think when our guard play improve and people respect our guards she'll play but right now she's another liability.

Next year I can see her playing more at the four, some 3. This year....kinda hard cos who does she defend, blowouts yeah.

Or our current players have to shoot the ball with confidence, better there's no rush for Dunbar, she'll be fine.

Agree. Though I would like to see Dunbar get more time because I want to see somebody make a 3 on this team, who she would guard would be problematic. Though next year the playing time situation will be even worse. Who do you play ?
Point Guard
Carter, Middleton, Cooper
Off Guard
Reynolds,Tucker, Jackson
Wing
DeShields, Nared, Dunbar
Forward
Graves, Jones
Center
Russell, Moore

Unfortunately, I just don't see where Dunbar, among others, will get much PT next year. But as you said
"Not every player has to play, not everyone can play."
I also agree with you about Burdick. She was a beast on the boards. Now lets see her do it again against Oregon St and Stanford.
I've never watched a team with so many highly ranked players on it be so reluctant to take an outside shot. It might be because they have little confidence in making them or it might be because they are instructed to go inside if at all possible. Whatever the reason, it's Holly's responsibility to put each player in their optimum position for them to score. I just find it hard to believe that all these top recruits have collectively forgot how to score at the same time. There's something else going on and it needs to be corrected.

 

[Sandvol]

I'm all for Dunbar getting more minutes if we are playing zone but who does she guard man 2 man and with what combination of players do you put on the floor with her, (most teams best scorer or athlete plays the 3) if our guards were shooting the ball better, she would be playing, if they were getting into lane and kicking out maybe, but how will she get open in this offense, cos her creating her shots against athletes is a chore, someone has to create her shots for her.

Not every player has to play, not everyone can play.

I think when our guard play improve and people respect our guards she'll play but right now she's another liability.

Next year I can see her playing more at the four, some 3. This year....kinda hard cos who does she defend, blowouts yeah.

Or our current players have to shoot the ball with confidence, better there's no rush for Dunbar, she'll be fine.

But she can guard. That's just it. Also, she is a freshman. How does she develop? You have to giver her some game time experience. Also, she makes good passes and doesn't throw the ball away and she understands the game. My thing with these freshmen is you have players on the team for three and four years now who for whatever reason have not gotten better. You have Harrison who has gotten better, Jones has gotten better, Reynolds has possibly gotten better. So, get those other players out like Burdick, Massengale, Carter, and get these freshmen in and Tucker and see if they can develop their game. We already know what the current set are going to do. I would rather go through growing pains with the freshmen than watch these others fumble around and ride on Harrison's coat tails.

 

[Sandvol]

Agree. Though I would like to see Dunbar get more time because I want to see somebody make a 3 on this team, who she would guard would be problematic. Though next year the playing time situation will be even worse. Who do you play ?
Point Guard
Carter, Middleton, Cooper
Off Guard
Reynolds,Tucker, Jackson
Wing
DeShields, Nared, Dunbar
Forward
Graves, Jones
Center
Russell, Moore

Unfortunately, I just don't see where Dunbar, among others, will get much PT next year. But as you said
"Not every player has to play, not everyone can play."
I also agree with you about Burdick. She was a beast on the boards. Now lets see her do it again against Oregon St and Stanford.
I've never watched a team with so many highly ranked players on it be so reluctant to take an outside shot. It might be because they have little confidence in making them or it might be because they are instructed to go inside if at all possible. Whatever the reason, it's Holly's responsibility to put each player in their optimum position for them to score. I just find it hard to believe that all these top recruits have collectively forgot how to score at the same time. There's something else going on and it needs to be corrected.

That's just it with Burdick. If she would play within her role. Her role is to grab rebounds and be a glue player like Dane Bradshaw was. He knew his limitations and tried to feed the ball to the scorers. Burdick is a senior and still hasn't figured that out.

 

[Sandvol]

Agree. Though I would like to see Dunbar get more time because I want to see somebody make a 3 on this team, who she would guard would be problematic. Though next year the playing time situation will be even worse. Who do you play ?
Point Guard
Carter, Middleton, Cooper
Off Guard
Reynolds,Tucker, Jackson
Wing
DeShields, Nared, Dunbar
Forward
Graves, Jones
Center
Russell, Moore

Unfortunately, I just don't see where Dunbar, among others, will get much PT next year. But as you said
"Not every player has to play, not everyone can play."
I also agree with you about Burdick. She was a beast on the boards. Now lets see her do it again against Oregon St and Stanford.
I've never watched a team with so many highly ranked players on it be so reluctant to take an outside shot. It might be because they have little confidence in making them or it might be because they are instructed to go inside if at all possible. Whatever the reason, it's Holly's responsibility to put each player in their optimum position for them to score. I just find it hard to believe that all these top recruits have collectively forgot how to score at the same time. There's something else going on and it needs to be corrected.

Reynolds, Cooper-point
Deshields, , Middleton, Jackson-two
Nared, Tucker, or Jackson-three
Jones, Dunbar-four
Graves, Russell, Moore-five

This would be more of a 4 guard line-up. The thing about a lot of these players is they are so versatile and tall like DeShields, Nared, Tucker, Jackson, Dunbar they can play anywhere from the two to the four. You take players like Dunbar, Nared or Tucker and put them at the four and they could roll out and knock down three's all day like Stewart does with UCONN. A head coach has to give them confidence to do that. There is something going on with this team that all of a sudden they can't hit a three.

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

But she can guard. That's just it. Also, she is a freshman. How does she develop? You have to giver her some game time experience. Also, she makes good passes and doesn't throw the ball away and she understands the game. My thing with these freshmen is you have players on the team for three and four years now who for whatever reason have not gotten better. You have Harrison who has gotten better, Jones has gotten better, Reynolds has possibly gotten better. So, get those other players out like Burdick, Massengale, Carter, and get these freshmen in and Tucker and see if they can develop their game. We already know what the current set are going to do. I would rather go through growing pains with the freshmen than watch these others fumble around and ride on Harrison's coat tails.

I am so tired of hearing this teaching moment being thrown out there...Yes, freshmen need these games for experience(teaching moments), upper class men should have this figured out by now. In case anyone is wondering what I mean by figured out by now. These girls have been around Holly all their college career. If they don't have it now something has to change. You know by now what I think needs to change!

 

[Smallvol#1]

Reynolds, Cooper-point
Deshields, , Middleton, Jackson-two
Nared, Tucker, or Jackson-three
Jones, Dunbar-four
Graves, Russell, Moore-five

This would be more of a 4 guard line-up. The thing about a lot of these players is they are so versatile and tall like DeShields, Nared, Tucker, Jackson, Dunbar they can play anywhere from the two to the four. You take players like Dunbar, Nared or Tucker and put them at the four and they could roll out and knock down three's all day like Stewart does with UCONN. A head coach has to give them confidence to do that. There is something going on with this team that all of a sudden they can't hit a three.

Three posts in a row...and they are all right on, at least IMO. I must be a dimwit too.

 

[Pat4life]

I agree, I see her contributing by her junior year, after Graves and Jones leave.