NCAA Game Thread: (1) Texas vs (5) Lady Vols

[RespectAPA]

Gotta have players who are mentally ready for these types of moments. They could not overcome the mistakes and the pressure was huge. It takes time to build. I wouldn't say this team had a real shot at a title, simply because the experience of being in those moments. Can it happen sure but we damn sure wouldn't be the favorite with a 1st year coach,multiple players who transferred in etc. Build on it and set the expectation. Kim will do that and I'm sure she will self reflect as well. Pat didn't build a dynasty in 1 year either. Pat lost these games at times also. She would be proud of Kim and this Lady Vol team

Perhaps. I just saw so much confidence in the girls in their first two tournament games that they really looked like a group of 10 that had a natty run in them.

If the press had been more effectiv today, could've been different. It's frustrated me all season how the on-ball girl almost never seals the edge of the court and lets the ball-handler run around both her and the double team defender to create a 5-on-3. And exactly that happened several times this game, often with immediate consequences.

If we had some diversity in our press -- maybe try something more like what OSU does -- we'd be better. When the trap press works, it's fantastic, but when it doesn't, we could really use a zone press to apply pressure a bit differently.

Oh well, I'm just yappin'. Hopefully we load manage better next year and compete for an SEC championship next year. Kim is young, she still has a lot to learn, but I'm confident that she's the coach of the future for the LVs.

 

[backdoorcutvol]

Terrible coaching last five minutes. We don’t ever just take a breathe and run a good offensive set. We have just been a turnover waiting to happen. We don’t know how to call a timeout, get our best five on the floor and then go to work. We certainly could have won this one. Sad ending.

Maybe we did have today’s best players out there the last 4

 

[spojo13]

She being way more positives to this season than negatives. She is our best overall player and it’s not rlly close.

Thank you!! These people know that Cooper was one of the most important cogs in our wheel.

 

[VintageFan]

They finished 8th in the sec and they have been 2nd or 3rd the last 3 years and they went to sweet the year before so not sure they back yet

You make a fair point. But I think you have to use the "eye test" and other factors to evaluate this year's team.
To me, though, it's still an open question as to whether Kim's system, as is, will take the Lady Vols all the way to where they want to go.

 

[spojo13]

It should bother her and also be explained to her with the video of time of the game, what the score was and the importance of ball security at those moments. Ruby and Sams turnovers weren't loose turnovers, they were turnovers being aggressive to the basket trying to score the ball. Coop was just throwing the ball all over the place. Talaysia can be one of the best in the Country. Has all the physical attributes to be that. For her she is going to have to become educated (Basketball IQ) about when, where, and how to make the right plays when it matters. Tonight wasn't her night.

we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. I’m really not even talking about her in there over Ruby and Sam. Absolutely, she has a lot to learn and I hope she does, but I will take what she can give me on a bad night than some of the ones that were out there at the end.

 

[backdoorcutvol]

Ruby will be a stud next year don't give up on her!

She kept us in the game today

 

[Dak1219]

Thank you!! These people know that Cooper was one of the most important cogs in our wheel.

I can't wait to see Cooper next year. We have to remember she is only a sophomore. Jordan Horston and Rae Burrell were also sophomores in this program and had some really ugly passing at that age. She will get there if she makes it her focus.

 

[Orange007]

Pat sat plenty of star players who weren't playing well. Coop had plenty of chances to settle down. She'll be fine. It's her first year of being a star player at this level.

 

[Dak1219]

Pat sat plenty of star players who weren't playing well. Coop had plenty of chances to settle down. She'll be fine. It's her first year of being a star player at this level.

100%.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Coop having a bad game, team bad passing and 3 pt and FT shooting did them in. TX is really good and to their credit they hung in there till the end. I think this was their ceiling for this yr. We can and should expect more next season. I think we all have a lot to look forward to.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Some % of the missed 3s become oRBs and 2nd-chance points. If we get the rebound, then get a 3 make, the first missed 3 doesn't really count against you.

Was our % forcing it inside very high? No, of course not. Because that's where Texas is their best. Size and height advantage on us. And often, especially in the 4th, resulted in possessions where we didn't get a shot of any kind off.

Well, yeah, but we WEREN'T making the 3s today. We got plenty of oRBs but you have to actually MAKE those second chance shots.

Cold is cold. Overcoming cold shooting doesn't mean "throw up more shots" and you'll win.

Compose yourself, get good looks, and take care of the ball. None of those things happened for us today.

Lots of turnovers, lots of execution problems as far as getting someone open, lots of shots determined by a short time clock. It happens.

A really good year, overall, but a cold night.

 

[GameTime]

It was very evident today the LVs need some tall athletic posts more than they need another guard.....It would be nice for Coop to learn to put some arc on her 3 ball...When she starts bouncing the ball hard in quick succession, she is going to go right with her drive no matter how many defenders are there....That is a problem that needs to be corrected.

In any event, it was a fun season that we all enjoyed.

 

[therealitytheory]

And she still won us plenty of other games. She is one of the only players on our team that can create her own shot. I’d rather have her out there than when we need a bucket than someone who barely scores in non crunch time.

Me and Coach disagree. So, I guess....there.

 

[sechamp2012]

Spear typical no show in big games, Sara nothing majority of the season, Tess at least hit a 3 and improved throughout the season. Seniors didn't show up today unfortunately.

Spencer a Senior played well but out of control sometimes though and missed 5 FTs. For some reason Cooper had 2 of her worst games at Texas & Texas today. 7 points both gamesand threw 3 turnover passes that no one touched not even close. She’s a great player but Texas has a hex on her. If she scores her average in all her stat categories we win.

 

[Tnphil]

Played hard today and hung with one of the better teams in the country. LVs are heading towards their rightful place. I look forward to next season.

 

[sechamp2012]

Common theme in close losses, has been a box score of Puckett, Darby and Spear with low scoring numbers. Today it was 7 combined.

Did you see the highlight they put up after the game. We lost 9 single digit games. Texas won 10 single digit games. We are 1 or 2 players away from a team that can win 30 games next year. IMO

 

[Volfan2012]

Spencer a Senior played well but out of control sometimes though and missed 5 FTs. For some reason Cooper had 2 of her worst games at Texas & Texas today. 7 points and threw 3 turnover passes that no one touched not even close. She’s a great player but Texas has a hex on her. If she scores her average in all her stat categories we win.

Whitehorn played well until the fourth when she kept dribbling the ball off her leg. It was a loss because we made it a loss they didn't defend that well we had looks from the three that no one was guarding just couldn't make but 6 of 24. Free throws are free but we missed 7.

 

[Volfan2012]

Will be interesting to see how the roster looks. See if anyone gets in the portal. If not we have two scholarships need to use them wisely.

 

[Deebowbear]

She brings way more positives to this season than negatives. She is our best overall player and it’s not rlly close.

Jordan Horton 2.0

 

[Lucy]

Maybe Kim should have been playing Cooper and Spearman together in the latter part of the game for some pick and role action with shooters on the wings. We were able to get into the paint at will, but Kim didn't go that route. Really a Missed opportunity. Those two together have proven they can be very effective, especially if the court is spread out with shooters.

This was CKC’s first sweet sixteen game. She has a learning curve too.

 

[volforlife10]

You make a fair point. But I think you have to use the "eye test" and other factors to evaluate this year's team.
To me, though, it's still an open question as to whether Kim's system, as is, will take the Lady Vols all the way to where they want to go.

the system is what kept us in the game today. without this system in place we get blown out. we went down by 8 and if we didn’t have this faced paced system it would have got worse.

 

[Volfan2012]

the system is what kept us in the game today. without this system in place we get blown out. we went down by 8 and if we didn’t have this faced paced system it would have got worse.

Agree when you shoot 38 percent and 19 percent from the three and 40 percent from the line you usually lose big. We were in a two possession game going into the last couple of minutes.

 

[BowlBrother85]

We were right there with a chance to do something special at the start of the 4th. We didn't meet the challenge. I still view this season as a success, however, and I'm excited for what the future holds for Lady Vol basketball. I have full confidence in Coach Kim Caldwell.

Go Lady Vols!!!!

 

[lfvol]

It was very evident today the LVs need some tall athletic posts more than they need another guard.....It would be nice for Coop to learn to put some arc on her 3 ball...When she starts bouncing the ball hard in quick succession, she is going to go right with her drive no matter how many defenders are there....That is a problem that needs to be corrected.

In any event, it was a fun season that we all enjoyed.

Yes, but you two shooters cannot be as inept on defense or getting themselves open or making shots against athletes as Spear and Darby. Got to have some quickness.

 

[ttharp]

It's been a long time since I've been optimistic about the direction of the program after a postseason loss. I enjoyed the presser and even laughed a couple times. The future is bright!