Great win for the women's flagship program

#27
#27
The point about programs is this: how competitive are they NOW? Softball is in the national title hunt almost every year, is going to the women's championship series again, whereas the women's basketball team hasn't been to the final four in, what, eight or nine years and folds like a cheap suitcase every time it faces competition in the sweet 16/elite 8. What's more, the SEC is much more competitive top-to-bottom in softball than in basketball. The softball team had to beat two top 10 teams, and then nearly beat a third, to grab the final super-regional host spot, and then beat another top 10 team in fsu to get to the championship series. When's the last time the women's basketball team won a game it wasn't favored to win--or even beat at beat a team at roughly the same level? The Vols beat Stanford last year in Knoxville--that's the only good win that occurs to me in the last four years--and last year's Stanford team was one of its worst in quite a while. The women's basketball had to win only 1 competitive NCAA game three years ago to get to the final four--and couldn't do it, folded against louisville. Had another easy run this past year and only 1 challenging NCAA game--Maryland--good team but not at all a great team. Another el-foldo and another missed opportunity to go to the final four. So we're talking what is your status now, not what did the program accomplish 15 years ago.
 
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#28
#28
armchair said:
The point about programs is this: how competitive are they NOW? Softball is in the national title hunt almost every year, is going to the women's championship series again, whereas the women's basketball team hasn't been to the final four in, what, eight or nine years and folds like a cheap suitcase every time it faces competition in the sweet 16/elite 8. What's more, the SEC is much more competitive top-to-bottom in softball than in basketball. The softball team had to beat two top 10 teams, and then nearly beat a third, to grab the final super-regional host spot, and then beat another top 10 team in fsu to get to the championship series. When's the last time the women's basketball team won a game it wasn't favored to win--or even beat at beat a team at roughly the same level? The Vols beat Stanford last year in Knoxville--that's the only good win that occurs to me in the last four years--and last year's Stanford team was one of its worst in quite a while. The women's basketball had to win only 1 competitive NCAA game three years ago to get to the final four--and couldn't do it, folded against louisville. Had another easy run this past year and only 1 challenging NCAA game--Maryland--good team but not at all a great team. Another el-foldo and another missed opportunity to go to the final four. So we're talking what is your status now, not what did the program accomplish 15 years ago.
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GOD'S GONNA GETTCHA FOR THAT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPKl_WZXnls
 
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#30
#30
PineyBluff Vol said:
What a wonderful job by a bunch of young players. I may appear to be a little critical of the coaching, but, here goes. Late in the game, runners on 3rd and 2nd if memory serves me correctly. I was yelling at the screen, "Ralph bunt Koenig, Ralph bunt Koenig, a squeeze, a bunt, put the ball in play. We all know Koenig is not hitting right now, put the ball in play". He didn't and we didn't score that inning. I know hindsight and all that armchair stuff. Still, I was a little disgusted with the coaching that inning! Overall, how can you not like the way these young ladies are playing. Keep it up in Oklahoma!
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In the post game press conference Ralph said he didn't call a squeeze play because Waldrop was a little wild and her pitches were unpredictable. He didn't say this but I will - Koenig isn't a good bunter.
 
#31
#31
LVJeff said:
In the post game press conference Ralph said he didn't call a squeeze play because Waldrop was a little wild and her pitches were unpredictable. He didn't say this but I will - Koenig isn't a good bunter.
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I hope you are not saying she is a good hitter.
 
#32
#32
PineyBluff Vol said:
I hope you are not saying she is a good hitter.
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Half the team seems to be in a hitting slump. Really only getting good production out of Gregg, Overstreet, Gathers, and Lewis. Geer was hot for awhile but has fallen off. McSwain was hot for awhile but has fallen off. Aucoin has slowly digressed the whole season. Gaffin is off and on. Amazing they have come this far. Their fielding and pitching have both improved consistently and that is why they are where they are. They know how to win and that's the most important stat.
 
#35
#35
Nice article.

"You haven't really loved a team until you've suffered with it."

Which comes first, the loving or the suffering? IDK but the statement rings true to me.

"The good news is they're not really missing us over at Lee Stadium, which hosts sellout crowds at a better clip than both basketballs and football right now."

If you can, attend the games. It means so much to the players.
 
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#36
#36
Softball is not the program's "flagship" program. When anyone thinks "Lady Vols" do you honesty think they're thinking of softball first? I rest my case. There have been several men's sports better than football over the past decade. Doesn't mean football isn't the flagship program.

That being said, it's been the best and most consistent program -- men or women -- for the better part of the last decade. Seven trips to OKC in 11 years. Hard to argue with that.

And the only good bunter on the team that I can think of is Tory Lewis.
 
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