It's Gut Check Time in Tennessee

[madtownvol]

Good analysis. But it isn't just quicker guards that are hurting us. It's quick, fast guards with strength and length. Miles is very quick, and fast, but at 5'-4", she can be taken advantage of, and she is. And Walker is a tough cookie but not fast or quick, and doesn't have size or length. They are both easy prey for elite guards in the SEC.

Very true and helps to explain why Horston actually does better in these situations than any other LV guard. Seen in that light, I can see why Kellie tried to use Rae as a press breaker. The problem is that Rae exposes the ball when she dribbles; she does not have PG instinct in using her body to shield off defenders.

A related problem is that our guards (particularly Walker and Miles) too often get caught in the trap where they are swarmed in a double team after giving up their dribble. Some of this problem does fall on the coaches too; they need a better schemes for breaking the press.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Very true and helps to explain why Horston actually does better in these situations than any other guard. Seen in that light, I can see why Kellie tried to use Rae a press breaking. The problem is that Rae exposes the ball when she dribbles; she does not have PG instinct in using her body to shield off defenders.

A related problem is that our guards (particularly Walker and Miles) too often get caught in the trap where they swarmed in a double team after giving up their dribble. Some of this problem does fall on the coaches too; they need a better schemes for breaking the press.

I think one possible solution might be to have Horston be the primary ball handler (gulp) and have taller players (Rae, Puckett, Key) who can see over the press pass the ball quickly over the line and up the court to break the press, with very little dribbling. Puckett, for example, is a good passer (not a dribbler).

 

[madtownvol]

I think one possible solution might be to have Horston be the primary ball handler (gulp) and have taller players (Rae, Puckett, Key) who can see over the press pass the ball quickly over the line and up the court to break the press, with very little dribbling. Puckett, for example, is a good passer (not a dribbler).

I agree! And the LVs did some of that against Arkansas. I was really surprised that they seemed to fall back into their ineffective Auburn mode against FL. Maybe under pressure, they just regressed into their bad habits. That regression is the aspect of this loss that I find hardest to make sense of. And for those who say, well that shows that kellie can't, sometimes you just can't completely re-orient a team during the actual game. The proof will be in future games if they figure this problem out or not.

 

[Mr.Vol2U]

Not sure who advised but she moved here to the Houston area to play at an increased level, but I’m not sure she got what she needed at Foster. Pretty sure they’re a AA class division. The LISD link to athletics hasn’t been updated this year.

Her mom got a teacher job there so she was forced to move. She played at Ensworth, which is a private school that plays a rigorous schedule. She is a freshman. She will improve.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Her mom got a teacher job there so she was forced to move. She played at Ensworth, which is a private school that plays a rigorous schedule. She is a freshman. She will improve.

Thank you for the Paul Harvey finish! I thought I recognized Ensworth. Nashville. Probably from recruiting articles. So quite a bit of a step back competition wise. Wish her the best and a huge dose of fortitude!

 

[Amb3096]

Thank you for the Paul Harvey finish! I thought I recognized Ensworth. Nashville. Probably from recruiting articles. So quite a bit of a step back competition wise. Wish her the best and a huge dose of fortitude!

Wynn is a classic example of athlete first, basketball player second. She needs to learn how to play and not just attempt to "out-athlete" the opposition. Could very well be a situational player, because that jump shot form is fugly as hell. I mean, so is Anastasia Hayes', but she has a lot more overall talent. Tennessee will need to get a really good shooting guard for when Horston leaves.

 

[Woodsey52]

This isn't a bash Kellie, or bash the team thread. I am going to take my orange colored glasses off for a moment though and say it's gut check time. How does a team go 18-1 and then lose to an Auburn team that has now lost 26 of their last 27 SEC games, then get blown out by 20+ at FL? We've played 21 games, and our worst 2 have come over the last three games.

Listen, I hate to admit it, but that's a good Florida team. GOOD, not GREAT. There's still no reason an elite team like TN should have the optics of this scoreboard image. Losing a backup center can't be the cause for this. Green was only averaging 7ppg, 0 blocks in 13 mins per game. Remember a week ago when ESPN was posting the comparisons to our 2008 title team??

The wheels can come off this very quickly. They've started to feel the pressure and the chorus calls from the choir are going to grow louder with each stumble. We need to regain our identity quick because the trend here isn't moving in the right direction with March right around the corner. Good news, you get a wounded UConn team on the road Sunday.

Post your misery here, and then we'll get @Freak to delete the thread Sunday after a big win and a righted ship.

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I agree FL is going to win some games. They were quick and hit everything they threw up which is easy when nobody is within 5 feet of you. Our defense just could not keep up with them. LV look tired and lackluster with passing which has been a problem all year esp with Horston. She really hurt them in this game with 6 TO's and only 5 points...a minus 7 showing. Seems every team now knows LV can't function under pressure and I'm afraid Uconn can smell blood and will jump on them quickly. But who knows, LV's are like the men's team, like a box of chocolates. GO LVOLS!

 

[Nute Gunray]

This isn't a bash Kellie, or bash the team thread. I am going to take my orange colored glasses off for a moment though and say it's gut check time. How does a team go 18-1 and then lose to an Auburn team that has now lost 26 of their last 27 SEC games, then get blown out by 20+ at FL? We've played 21 games, and our worst 2 have come over the last three games.

Listen, I hate to admit it, but that's a good Florida team. GOOD, not GREAT. There's still no reason an elite team like TN should have the optics of this scoreboard image. Losing a backup center can't be the cause for this. Green was only averaging 7ppg, 0 blocks in 13 mins per game. Remember a week ago when ESPN was posting the comparisons to our 2008 title team??

The wheels can come off this very quickly. They've started to feel the pressure and the chorus calls from the choir are going to grow louder with each stumble. We need to regain our identity quick because the trend here isn't moving in the right direction with March right around the corner. Good news, you get a wounded UConn team on the road Sunday.

Post your misery here, and then we'll get @Freak to delete the thread Sunday after a big win and a righted ship.

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I agree with everything you said, Volstylexx. However, a "wounded" UConn is going to smack the Lady Vols far worse than Florida. I predict a 30-40 maybe 50 point loss. The Lady Vols are in complete disarray. How else do you explain a team that was 18-1 and ranked no. 4 in the polls?

 

[glv98]

How else do you explain a team that was 18-1 and ranked no. 4 in the polls?

Over ranked? I liked when we were flying under the radar, keeping expectations low. We knew we weren't really a 1 seed. But our record was good enough. Now we're in a rough patch where some known weaknesses are cropping up again. So we'll see if they can turn it back around. It's what makes a season exciting.

But dang, I'm pretty sure it's not a moral or cultural issue. Ya'll crazy!

 

[Lucy]

Thank You The Kaiya Wynn experiment did not go well, last night. Also she was ranked to high coming out of HS i think #39 ?

I don’t think the four minutes Kaiya got to play constitutes either an experiment or a failure. The rock was already rolling down the hill pretty fast when she got in. I doubt Kellie put KW in with the thought she would stop the onslaught. And, it is way too early to say she was ranked “too” high. Let’s wait and see how she does with more minutes in games that aren’t out of hand when she gets her minutes. She is a great athlete and very bright. The game will slow down for her and IMO she will be a super LV.

 

[Lucy]

Not sure who advised but she moved here to the Houston area to play at an increased level, but I’m not sure she got what she needed at Foster. Pretty sure they’re a AA class division. The LISD link to athletics hasn’t been updated this year.

I believe her mother took a new job in Houston that led to the move. Not basketball related.

 

[Lucy]

Over ranked? I liked when we were flying under the radar, keeping expectations low. We knew we weren't really a 1 seed. But our record was good enough. Now we're in a rough patch where some known weaknesses are cropping up again. So we'll see if they can turn it back around. It's what makes a season exciting.

But dang, I'm pretty sure it's not a moral or cultural issue. Ya'll crazy!

This!!

 

[Lucy]

I believe her mother took a new job in Houston that led to the move. Not basketball related.

Sorry for the dupe. I replied before I saw the other explanatory posts.

 

[willford65]

I can't figure out why this team has so many TO's. They look like an average Jr high school team trying to dribble and pass the ball. The talent of the past is not there, but the men have the same problem also, but the LV, wow.

 

[willford65]

The ladies have hit a bump in the road. They need to re-evaluate their present state and figure how to right the ship. They have to get their mojo back. They just seem out of sort and have lost their way. They are making too many turnovers and getting lost in transition. They are also losing the fight in the paint, missing easy shots, not doing a good job guarding the three, and not being aggressive enough. We also seem to be lacking in floor leadership. In that regard we miss Green. In addition, our bench is nor particularly strong with Green out, especially on offense which is not great at its best. However, I refuse to jump ship or believe all is lost. KJH will right the ship.

A bump in the road? They have driven right off the cliff.

 

[Volfan2012]

I can't figure out why this team has so many TO's. They look like an average Jr high school team trying to dribble and pass the ball. The talent of the past is not there, but the men have the same problem also, but the LV, wow.

Lack of movement in the offense to many players standing and watching. Player with the ball is forced to make a decision when no one comes to help usually means a bad pass or other forced mistake. Picking up the ball off the dribble no one to pass to no one coming to help. To many players wanting to play one on one in the last few games and players not ready to receive passes when good passes are made. We've seen a lack of energy from the team in the last few games until they want to play better bad play will continue.

 

[creekdipper]

A bump in the road? They have driven right off the cliff.

Hey, great to see you back...although you declared a year or so ago that you were quitting on the program over the national anthem. Glad to see that you changed your mind and are back enthusiastically supporting the team!

 

[Rickster]

 

[Luna2012]

I agree with everything you said, Volstylexx. However, a "wounded" UConn is going to smack the Lady Vols far worse than Florida. I predict a 30-40 maybe 50 point loss. The Lady Vols are in complete disarray. How else do you explain a team that was 18-1 and ranked no. 4 in the polls?

Oh he'll no. This gonna be a tight game.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

A month ago I was confident we would Drag UCONN now I’m not so sure either way I’m picking my girls in a close one
Tenn 69
UCONN 62

 

[chuckiepoo]

Oh he'll no. This gonna be a tight game.

Pretty sure there was blue font up in there. Nute don’t play no blue font…

 

[LadyOrange]

We have lost 3 games. Get hold of yerselves.

 

[Rixxx]

Oh he'll no. This gonna be a tight game.

I agree this will be a tight one. The early start historically does not favor Uconn. Even going back to the Stewart era, an early start = slow start for Uconn.
I follow WCBB. Specifically, ND, TN, Uconn, And Vandy. I see TN and Uconn as an even match as both teams are not a well oiled machine right now. Each have their opportunities to address. The team that is standing in the 4Q with 2 minutes to go will be the winning team.

 

[teacherdean]

A bump in the road? They have driven right off the cliff.

They are not off the cliff yet but really close if they don’t put it in reverse. I believe with hard work their plight can be turned around.

 

[teacherdean]

I agree this will be a tight one. The early start historically does not favor Uconn. Even going back to the Stewart era, an early start = slow start for Uconn.
I follow WCBB. Specifically, ND, TN, Uconn, And Vandy. I see TN and Uconn as an even match as both teams are not a well oiled machine right now. Each have their opportunities to address. The team that is standing in the 4Q with 2 minutes to go will be the winning team.

I agree both teams are not in a good place for the moment. Hopefully, KJH can right the ship.