NCAAT Game Thread: Lady Vols vs Louisville

[Memvol44]

Height alone is certainly not an advantage, however, if you add good footwork, soft hands around the basket, strength and physicality then you have a player who can dominate a game. TK is a great shot blocker but not a dominant scorer, she lacks good foot work, does not have consistent soft hands around the baskets and is not that physical. If TK was coached up to play her position by a good post coach, she would be a much better post player. Boston, with South Carolina, became a much better post player after receiving coaching from Tim Duncan.

One thing Key consistently does is turn into the double team. She has got to know where the help is coming and turn the opposite way!

 

[GameTime]

Had a grand time.....Thank you.

 

[Lucy]

I'm so glad Rae had a good game. What an incredible roller coaster her career has been. I wish her all the best.

I'm glad Dye had this last nice little run she's been on. We definitely would have lost several more games this year without her.

I'm even more appreciative of Puckett's game winning shot against Belmont since she slumped so badly before and after it. But I still think she's going to be a jewel, a real compliment to the Jackson/Horston duo.

Everyone who has actually followed this team knows they are plagued by injury, and by inconsistency and limitations in abilities that cause our problems to repeat themselves and be really frustrating. The inability to handle the press, the struggle to score, the lack of consistent outside shooting, we know. But Harper has already successfully addressed every single one with high quality recruits Had done so before this season even ended. Got a true PG, an all star scorer, and one of the top h.s. 3 pt shooters. I'm not sure what more she could do.

I've enjoyed the journey so much this year and have felt this group gave it their all at all times. Can never understand talk of laziness, lack of hustle, etc. I saw just the opposite, which made them a very lovable team. IMO this team is the foundational team for the LVs build back to the top and that's how I'm going to remember them - a firm foundation.

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our LV lives, and it sure looks bright.

Really well said!

 

[lvocd]

I'm so glad Rae had a good game. What an incredible roller coaster her career has been. I wish her all the best.

I'm glad Dye had this last nice little run she's been on. We definitely would have lost several more games this year without her.

I'm even more appreciative of Puckett's game winning shot against Belmont since she slumped so badly before and after it. But I still think she's going to be a jewel, a real compliment to the Jackson/Horston duo.

Everyone who has actually followed this team knows they are plagued by injury, and by inconsistency and limitations in abilities that cause our problems to repeat themselves and be really frustrating. The inability to handle the press, the struggle to score, the lack of consistent outside shooting, we know. But Harper has already successfully addressed every single one with high quality recruits Had done so before this season even ended. Got a true PG, an all star scorer, and one of the top h.s. 3 pt shooters. I'm not sure what more she could do.

I've enjoyed the journey so much this year and have felt this group gave it their all at all times. Can never understand talk of laziness, lack of hustle, etc. I saw just the opposite, which made them a very lovable team. IMO this team is the foundational team for the LVs build back to the top and that's how I'm going to remember them - a firm foundation.

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our LV lives, and it sure looks bright.

GREAT post.

 

[creekdipper]

We had 9 assists and 18 TOs today--which was our standard of bad.
Louisville had 15 assists and 7 TOs.

A losing A/TO ratio and poor shooting will just about always result in an L. And, oh, we didn't even shoot 60 percent from the FT line.


^^^^^^This..... The stats don't care about how well a coach is liked they just show how well they have coached their team... You cannot rebound a turnover... Between the A/TO ratio and missing 8 free throws this could very well have been a win with the team they had available if they were disciplined.. Not seen that tho since Pat....

You've been here since 2007 (going back to championship years)...with a grand total of 83 total posts...and this is what you come up with for your first ever post in the Lady Vol forum?

Perfect choice for. your username!

 

[LV renaissance]

While it was another difficult game to watch, I am still pleased with the overall direction that the program, It is important to remember that we have 5 players that are capable of starting next year that couldn't play today (Jordy, Suarez, Rickea, Pissott, and Powell. Just a starting 5 with those players would have been considerably better than the team we started today, so this is promising once you add them to all the returning members. Meanwhile, the coaching staff needs to think outside whatever box they have been using to improve the offensive flow and passing. We can't be rank in the 300s in turnovers and expect to go farther than we have. This is an entire team issue, not just a point guard issue. It is a persistent weakness that needs to be addressed. In addition to the forced turnovers, we have had periods including during the UL game in which we will have a sequence of passes that are incredibly poor even when not forced by the defense. This is when it is more of a mental issue, and it is essential to call a timeout before it gets out of hand. This team with all of its Freshmen needs this. Instead, numerous times this season these stretches of contagious mental mistakes were not addressed by a timeout, and this has been a huge factor why we lost so many games by double digits in the last half of the season. We were competitive in those games except for a brief period in which we had had 5 to 8 turnovers that quickly changed the game around. In the UL game right after we cut the lead to 2 points, we got tense and unfocused and created our most extreme unforced turnovers of the game. A timeout early in this sequence may have worked wonders. I commend KJH for establishing such close and supportive relationships with her players. She just has to utilize this asset to calm her players down during a well placed timeout.

Edited morning edition that took out a couple of the harsher postgame comments.

 

[creekdipper]

TK is the reason.

Thanks for the chuckle.

You have a three-year gap in posting on VN (2019-2022), and suddenly you show up with 20 consecutive posts slamming the same individual player?

Kinda lurking somewhere between the intersection of Creepy Street and. Obsession Ave.

 

[NOTembarassedanyMO]

You've been here since 2007 (going back to championship years)...with a grand total of 83 total posts...and this is what you come up with for your first ever post in the Lady Vol forum?

Perfect choice for. your username!

This is called ad hominem... It's where you are useless in rebutting the argument but attempt to attack the source.. LOL Derp.. Good game.. LOL


An ad hominem argument is a personal attack against the source of an argument, rather than against the argument itself. Essentially, this means that ad hominem arguments are used to attack opposing views indirectly, by attacking the individuals or groups that support these views.

 

[stlvolsfan]

It was really a bad decision to play Key over Striplin for most of the second half.

I agree. TK was not in the game mentally all day. Striplin gave us the best chance to win.

 

[Govols922]

Big shoutout to the lady vols on a great season. They are tough and need I say more the Lady vols are back.
They played an incredibly talented team in Louisville. Our bench players proved that we have a chance to make a final four next year. As I have said before, when we play team ball we are good.
In post season play however you have to have the intangibles. 1) ball security. 2) rebound l( they did well for the most part) Win the 50/50 balls and since the game has changed…obviously you need an answer from the 3. Tess Darby! Dattagirl she proved her worth today. Tennessee needs more 3 point shooters.

Looking forward to next season with a legit PG in Jasmin Powell who has a high IQ and is a ball handler and see’s the floor well.
Also next season we look nice behind the arc with 3 point shooters in Edie Darby, Tess Darby, Justine Pissott and Marta Suerez. Then we have two players who can create their own shot in Jordan Horston and Rickea Jackson

I’m a little concerned about our front court. We need more from them next season. Impressed with Striplins progress this season. If she wants to play more she has got to get in better shape. I love her game just has to adjust to SEC play.

Tamari is a beast. She has to get quicker, stronger and more explosive in the off season. I wish Hakeem Olijuwon would work with her. If she played on offense with the same confidence she plays with on the defensive end she would be a force.

She could be a complete player if she just decided that she wouldn’t let anyone stop her from scoring. Because honestly with her skill set and size….If she puts in the work in the off season No one in the country will be able to stop her next season. She is a Lise Leslie type athlete. She could take over games. I see it in her.

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

Yeah I think she needs a different offensive system more like UCONN’s System lots of movements and cuts to the basket the player with the ball always has like three passes they can make..

Kellie has a perfect system in the confines fines of the arena she plays. Rick Barnes system is a reverse the ball system that has worked well.

 

[creekdipper]

This is called ad hominem... It's where you are useless in rebutting the argument but attempt to attack the source.. LOL Derp.. Good game.. LOL


An ad hominem argument is a personal attack against the source of an argument, rather than against the argument itself. Essentially, this means that ad hominem arguments are used to attack opposing views indirectly, by attacking the individuals or groups that support these views.

There's a technical term for your posts, too, but it's not allowed on a family forum.

 

[VolBalls33]

I told many on here quit being so optimistic with a win against Louisville. And won good money betting against where I graduated from. That's not to brag whatsoever. I would have gladly lost money when UT got within 2 late. It wasn't easy to watch my LV fold late and still was so proud of the fight the team had. With Horston and Green UT would and could have made a final 4 run. I am only commenting now because I work until 2am. Even without them, was so proud of the fight this team had. Major kudos keeping the game so tight. I am so ready for next season. Jackson, Powell, Pissot, Suarez with 4 sophomores, plus Horston and Key. A dab of Darby. UT should be a perennial top 10 team next year. I can't wait!!!

 

[Raebo]

Key plays because of her shot blocking and rebounding. That is her primary role on this team (which she does extremely well). She is not and will not in the foreseeable future become a tough offensive threat. Most teams have a couple players that are the primary scorers while other players have other primary roles such as bringing the ball up the court, defending the other teams best scorer or guarding their best ball handler, etc..

A friend in high school who averaged about 20 points and went on to play at Illinois told me they told him he was being recruited for his defense and ball handling-not for his shooting.

 

[creekdipper]

Re: the predictable and comical posts worshipping Walz and wishing he were our coach, it's worth noting that a transfer senior saved his bacon yesterday. Engstler did it all...7-12 shooting (including 3-3 threes), 10 rebounds, and a game full of tough defense, ball tps, etc. Van Lith had 23, but that wad on 7-21 shooting including several uncontested breakaway layups (to her credit, she also had 6 assists and shot 9-10 FT). But Engstler...who developed her game at Syracuse...was the catalyst. Walz may have rescued her from a you-know-what-show, but he didn't turn her into an impact player in this one season with him.

Also worth noting that Engstler was a 5-star McD AA. Van Lith, of course, was a Top Ten guard coveted by every program in the country.

[Edited to add that Kianna Smith was a 5-star McD AA and Olivia Cochran was ranked #18 by ESPN.]

How many 5-stars did we have on the floor yesterday? And yet, despite some poor play and some questionable coaching decisions, we stll were only down by 2 in the second half and only lost by 12 to a #1 seed...all without our stats leader in all four major categories.

 

[Darth_Vol]

I told many on here quit being so optimistic with a win against Louisville. And won good money betting against where I graduated from.

Easy money...

 

[TheMississippiVol]

Re:
How many 5-stars did we have on the floor yesterday? And yet, despite some poor play and some questionable coaching decisions, we stll were only down by 2 in the second half and only lost by 12 to a #1 seed...all without our stats leader in all four major categories.

Louisville coach and their team got lucky yesterday. Caught Tennessee at the right time.
It’s clear Tennessee had the talent to beat Louisville unless you believe an idiot like Darth. As I’ve stated before HS rankings don’t have a thing to do with college basketball. Tennessee just wasn’t in sync as a team and this reminded me of the Stanford game. The LVs cut the lead down to 5 points twice and to 2 points late in the game. The difference came down to missing too many open shots (which Louisville missed a ton as well) that were uncontested and turnovers. The absence of Horston showed up in this game. Eventually not having your main player(s) show up in big games when you’re facing evenly matched opponents. To brag on winning bets, just show how opportunist rig the system to get ahead especially in sports. I watch these games as well as others to support and as entertainment. Everything shouldn’t be about money. Seems very contradicting when you hear folks complaining about college players getting compensation through NIL deals.

 

[J-Dog 1313]

Louisville coach and their team got lucky yesterday. Caught Tennessee at the right time.
It’s clear Tennessee had the talent to beat Louisville unless you believe an idiot like Darth. As I’ve stated before HS rankings don’t have a thing to do with college basketball. Tennessee just wasn’t in sync as a team and this reminded me of the Stanford game. The LVs cut the lead down to 5 points twice and to 2 points late in the game. The difference came down to missing too many open shots (which Louisville missed a ton as well) that were uncontested and turnovers. The absence of Horston showed up in this game. Eventually not having your main player(s) show up in big games when you’re facing evenly matched opponents. To brag on winning bets, just show how opportunist rig the system to get ahead especially in sports. I watch these games as well as others to support and as entertainment. Everything shouldn’t be about money. Seems very contradicting when you hear folks complaining about college players getting compensation through NIL deals.

And I would add that the LVs did not convert its FTs. Had the LVs hit their FTs, I believe the outcome would have different.