LADY VOL HOOPS CENTRAL: S. Carolina

#26
#26
Volfan2012 said:
The only huge difference between the two teams is SC is better in the post with taller players.
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South Carolina easily has the two best players in this game (and arguably the SEC) in Mitchell and Wilson. And you can make a strong argument Coates is the third best player. The rest of the talent is comparable, but the other problem is USC has more quality depth especially up front (as you mentioned)...
 
#27
#27
LurkerExposed said:
In overall play, both teams have performed pretty evenly:
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I think far more relevant is how both teams have performed in conference play. South Carolina has had one game that was even competitive, against Kentucky. Compare that to the Lady Vols, who have struggled in several single digit dogfights..... and that was with Harrison.
 
#28
#28
Orange_Mamba said:
Uconn played like a box in one. It was like a sagging zone with Jefferson face guarding Mitchell. They weren't playing an aggressive man to man, they weren't even close to anyone outside the three point line unless it was Mitchell. They gave them the three all night long.
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Nice post. I thought box and 1 was brilliant too. Carter face guarding Mitchell would be a nice switch up, ball pressure is key without a lot trapping.
 
#29
#29
Darth_Vol said:
South Carolina easily has the two best players in this game (and arguably the SEC) in Mitchell and Wilson. And you can make a strong argument Coates is the third best player. The rest of the talent is comparable, but the other problem is USC has more quality depth especially up front (as you mentioned)...
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But sometimes the better TEAM wins, not the one with the most talent. ijs
 
#30
#30
teacherdean said:
Stats do not a game make. I believe that the Lady Vols are in an us versus the world situation. No one gives them a chance, but stats are not a measurement of heart and desire. I believe that the Lady Vols will play better individually without Izzy because they no longer have their major go to star. It is now every player's responsibility to step up their game and I believe they will.
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You're right, stats don't make up all of the equation. Other major factors will play their roles in how each prepares and competes in this game:

#1) The SEC Regular-Season Title: both UT and USC being undefeated in conference play places them easily above the rest of the league in vying for the reg. season title. A loss either way would make the team with the short end of the stick finish out of the running. IMO after USC the Lady Vols don't really have much left in-conference to challenge them: they will go to UGA and then host Vanderbilt, 2 teams that for at least half the SEC season has been struggling. IMO UT should wade through those 2 teams.

USC on the other hand will host and then go to top-15 teams Miss State and UK. These are still pretty tough opponents who are trying to position themselves for NCAAT seeding. And while there's no 3rd-place team that's in position to make a run at the reg. season SEC title, a loss to one of those teams by USC could mean they still end the season tied with UT if they beat UT, or finish out of the running for the title if they lose to UT. I don't know if there'd be co-regular-season champs, or if USC would be the lone champs based on winning the head-to-head tiebreaker, should they lose to either MSU or UK. Of course I'm sure the USC team is expecting to beat everyone and make the issue a moot one, but solution #1 is certainly to beat UT. While UT needs to beat USC, and they are in the drivers seat to the finish...

#2) NCAAT #1 Seeding: There are currently about 6 teams that are in the late discussions for #1 seeds for the NCAAT - UConn, USC, Baylor, Notre Dame, Maryland, & Tennessee. One could make the argument that Oregon State makes it 7 teams. Most opinions of course have UConn etched in granite as a recipient, and USC right behind them, then the rest in a mix-discussion where either has as much argument to garner one over the other.

Should UT lose to USC, they could fall below the others in consideration and end up as a 2-seed. While if USC loses to UT, it falls into the mix with the others. That mix is a dangerous one, and there will be 2-4 teams that end up a 2-seed that had as much argument for a 1-seed as 2-3 of the 4 that get them. USC wants to remain above that mire by beating UT, but then they also have to worry about their games with MSU and UK. UT wants to remain either in front of or even rise above that pack and give themselves more assurance of getting a #1 seed. So this game has substantial seeding ramifications for each team.

#3) Establishing Program Positions: Both teams have some program questions to answer - is UT still among the elite programs of the nation as it's been for decades now, and is USC rising to include itself among them. Both have struggled to find answers: UT beating top-10 opponents on the road since LSU in '07-'08, USC beating enough top-10 opponents, regardless of home or away. A win by either would help boost the program where it wants to be. UT is still regarded by the SEC as the standard to strive to, and USC knows it won't legitimize itself as a new league power unless it beats UT more often. UT on the other hand doesn't expect to step aside, and beating USC would be a clear signal that it's still the Queen of the mountain in the SEC.
 
#33
#33
I am hoping to see some well-executed offense from both teams. Has anyone seen the scores from today's SEC games? SEC teams are struggling just to score 60.

Auburn 44 - Georgia 26
Missouri 54 - Vandy 51
Miss St. 57 - Alabama 55
Texas A&M 66 - Florida 46
Arkansas 63 - LSU 41

Georgia with 27 turnovers to 6 assists. This is no way to promote and advance the sport.
 
#34
#34
Hoya Saxa said:
I am hoping to see some well-executed offense from both teams. Has anyone seen the scores from today's SEC games? SEC teams are struggling just to score 60.

Auburn 44 - Georgia 26
Missouri 54 - Vandy 51
Miss St. 57 - Alabama 55
Texas A&M 66 - Florida 46
Arkansas 63 - LSU 41

Georgia with 27 turnovers to 6 assists. This is no way to promote and advance the sport.
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This league is ripe for someone to make a splashy offensive genius hire the way Auburn did with Malhzan in football.

Probably no openings this year, likely next year and probably at Auburn.
 
#35
#35
Hoya Saxa said:
I am hoping to see some well-executed offense from both teams. Has anyone seen the scores from today's SEC games? SEC teams are struggling just to score 60.

Auburn 44 - Georgia 26
Missouri 54 - Vandy 51
Miss St. 57 - Alabama 55
Texas A&M 66 - Florida 46
Arkansas 63 - LSU 41

Georgia with 27 turnovers to 6 assists. This is no way to promote and advance the sport.
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This is a point I've brought up several times this season. It's not a coincidence that the defenses of Tennessee and South Carolina appear so dominant through SEC play... and then get absolutely shredded for almost 90 points against the likes of UConn and Notre Dame. SEC offenses are a joke this year....
 
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#36
#36
WVU05UT09 said:
This league is ripe for someone to make a splashy offensive genius hire the way Auburn did with Malhzan in football.

Probably no openings this year, likely next year and probably at Auburn.
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Florida should be looking for a new Women's basketball coach.
 
#38
#38
gule said:
UGA too, imho


that was a disgrace today, Andy
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Andy will be the UGAG coach for as long as he wants to. He will keep his job because of memories of the past. UGA should be doing much better and there's no reason Florida shouldn't have a winning program in women's college basketball.
 
#39
#39
ivyleague said:
I'm honestly just not that impressed with South Carolina, and I'm not saying that because I'm wearing orange colored glasses. I think USC has a very, very good team, but are they impossible for Tennessee to beat? Not at all. They have home court advantage and they are taller, but I'm not convinced their players are better. I think there is a good chance that they will win, especially since the Lady Vols are missing Izzy and the game is in South Carolina, but I won't count Tennessee out. USC has an advantage, but not an overwhelming one.
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I agree, a much shorter and less athletic team, Missouri, came close to beating them. They were patient and showed no sign of fear. Missouri did hit some threes. The Ladies certainly have the talent to beat USC. It will not be easy but it can be done. Get your popcorn ready!!!!!
 
#40
#40
alabama was pretty lame, too--and kentucky really is not very talented. Their style of play helps them, but they are not terribly impressive. The sec isn't very good, and perhaps that's a good thing for UT. The South Carolina game tonight is big, needless to say.
 
#41
#41
At least we haven't sunk to the low depths of Georgia. 26 points against an SEC team that hadn't won a game. I know if Holly did that there would be a moving van at her door. Andy can't get any of the top players in Georgia a goldmine of talent and suddenly he can't get his team up to play Auburn. That is when a fan base does not care about women's basketball at all.
 
#42
#42
If Andy had any self respect left, he'd resign.


I've been a huge Andy fan for his whole career, even before he began at UGA but the team efforts he has out on the floor these past few years have been dreadful. When you are in charge of a program it's your fault when they stink even if you aren't out there playing. I think he should be fired just for shoddy recruiting if not anything else.
 
#43
#43
I love Izzy's skills--but she's not really a center. She doesn't have the size for the 5 spot,
and the poor girl took a beating in the paint. It's a damn shame that Russell couldn't play this year because I would have loved to have seen a front line of her, Izzy and Graves. Harrison is good around the basket but with Russell she could have operated slightly farther away and taken advantage of her mobility. That would have been a formidable front line--but even so we would have had personnel issues and decisions. Russell is not going to get up and down the court that quickly, and then had we played two guards with those three we would not have had a scoring wing. But then we don't have one now except for maybe Burdick. Lack of depth could be a real problem from here on: we might have to slow the pace as we've got a 7 player rotation including Moore, who I think could have some problems tonight.
 
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#44
#44
Moore starting tonight. The others are Reynolds, Carter, Burdick, and Graves. That leaves Nared, Middleton, and Massengale to come in off the bench.
 
#45
#45
Volfan2012 said:
Moore starting tonight. The others are Reynolds, Carter, Burdick, and Graves. That leaves Nared, Middleton, and Massengale to come in off the bench.
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I think Graves and Burdick should both be brought off the bench along with Massengale! As we know SC brings its been team off the bench and starts defensive minded players who aren't really scorers, the only player that is a scorer in their starting 5 is Tiffany, they bring Brianna, A'Ja, and Alaina off the bench. Thats when we need to have our best 5 on the floor. If I am Holly I would start this lineup;

PG-Middleton
SG-Carter (Because she can guard Tiffany)
SF-Reynolds
PF-Nared
C-Moore

and when its time to sub then you go with;

PG-Massengale
SG-Carter
SF-Nared
PF-Burdick
C-Graves

The second unit would provide a great counter punch to SC's powerful second line and I believe the first unit I have stated can hang with their first unit as the only threat realistically is Tiffany Mitchell (Welch is capable but you just have to locate and keep a body on her)
 
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#46
#46
I'd have Moore play Wilson straight up. Tell her it's her time to be forever remembered as lady VFL. Sometimes a challenge is just what it takes to bring out the best in someone. it will take all burdick & graves can do to muscle down in the paint with USC other bigs. Moore has the speed & agility to stick with Wilson but not the muscle.

Reynolds needs to use her 5'11" frame to rebound too while she is playing.. No hanging back...... my $0.02
 
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#47
#47
mlindsay said:
I think Graves and Burdick should both be brought off the bench along with Massengale! As we know SC brings its been team off the bench and starts defensive minded players who aren't really scorers, the only player that is a scorer in their starting 5 is Tiffany, they bring Brianna, A'Ja, and Alaina off the bench. Thats when we need to have our best 5 on the floor. If I am Holly I would start this lineup;

PG-Middleton
SG-Carter (Because she can guard Tiffany)
SF-Reynolds
PF-Nared
C-Moore

and when its time to sub then you go with;

PG-Massengale
SG-Carter
SF-Nared
PF-Burdick
C-Graves

The second unit would provide a great counter punch to SC's powerful second line and I believe the first unit I have stated can hang with their first unit as the only threat realistically is Tiffany Mitchell (Welch is capable but you just have to locate and keep a body on her)
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You're over looking Aleighsa Welch, who IMO is their 2nd best player after Wilson. None of the starters you have would be able to keep her off the boards or stop her on offense.

Burdick and Massengale have to start in order for Tennessee to get off to a good start. I'd add Moore, Carter and Nared to that lineup.
 
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