Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2023-24

#7,126
#7,126
To me, neither team passes the eye test. I think UConn is fading. They have to resort to a freshman to carry them. Yeah, they won but not a good look. It remains to be seen whether they will become a contender again. Same with USC. Both looked below average last night. It's a game of cycles and other teams are on the rise. Welcome to the revolution.
 
  • Like
Reactions: volfan__18, Nute Gunray, Lucy and 2 others
#7,128
#7,128
creekdipper said:
Quite early to annoint Conn.

Unless I missed something, they've only played five ranked teams (one twice) and only one Top 10 team. The other five ranked games came against teams ranked from 15 to 25. They lost to Arky by letting one player go off on them, struggled mightily to beat us after trailing all game, and had to go into overtime to beat a SC team playing stupifyingly badly. SC just gave away thst game in a lot of categories (including coaching decisions).

Conn could win it, but it won't be because they dominate the tournament. As for the next few years, lots of things can go wrong with those plans. Ask Dangerfield for her take.
Click to expand...

I'm basing it more on what they have coming in vs. what they have now. I think they (along with about 5 other teams) are good enough to win this year, but next year with adding Fudd to the backcourt with Bueckers...that's just a really deadly combination given the scouting reports say that Fudd is already BETTER than Bueckers. They will also have post and wing depth. They will have solid talent at every position. There are other teams that will be good too, but I think they are gonna go on another scary run...
 
  • Like
Reactions: olddog, VolBalls33, LadyVol1908 and 1 other person
#7,129
#7,129
Amb3096 said:
I've reconsidered my previous assessment of Paige's performance against Tennessee. She missed shots that she was making last night with Beal all over her, so I would say it was a combination of nerves and a poor shooting night in Knoxville. I don't think she would have a similarly bad shooting game if they played again.

The SC turnovers and point blank layups were just part of the off night that they had. It was across the board. Even Aliyah wasn't as good as she normally is. They (especially the starting guards) were pretty awful last night.
Click to expand...

I watched both games and we defended her a lot more aggressively
 
  • Like
Reactions: volfan__18, mcannon1, mlindsay and 2 others
#7,130
#7,130
Coach Jumper said:
I watched both games and we defended her a lot more aggressively
Click to expand...
I watched both games too. They tried defending her with smaller guards in the first 3 quarters, and they weren't doing a good job staying in front of her. Then they put Beal on her, and she was glued to her the whole time...and it didn't matter. She was making shots at a degree of difficulty that she was missing against Tennessee.
 
#7,131
#7,131
Darth_Vol said:
"Become" a contender again? If they aren't contenders right now, you sure have an odd definition of the word...
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I don't get all the hoopla about these two teams. I understand why some ooh and aah over those two teams, and I have a paper bag close for when it gets overwhelming, but I've not seen them play well consistently like a championship contender would. They've survived but struggled in games they used to win handily. I don't know if it's the effect of the virus, over hype, or other factors but like I said, if these two teams are 1 and 2, the number of championship contenders is much larger than it has ever been.
 
  • Like
Reactions: volfan__18, mlindsay, MDLadyVol and 7 others
#7,132
#7,132
Amb3096 said:
I watched both games too. They tried defending her with smaller guards in the first 3 quarters, and they weren't doing a good job staying in front of her. Then they put Beal on her, and she was glued to her the whole time...and it didn't matter. She was making shots at a degree of difficulty that she was missing against Tennessee.
Click to expand...

Let a player like that get in rhythm and you’re done for. I was shocked Beal wasn’t on her to start. After our game I figured that’s the direction she would go. Our length really did bother her shot. Someone who averages 60% from the floor doesn’t just accidentally shoot 21%. That was defense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mlindsay, MDLadyVol, LadyVol1908 and 3 others
#7,133
#7,133
VolBall09 said:
Let a player like that get in rhythm and you’re done for. I was shocked Beal wasn’t on her to start. After our game I figured that’s the direction she would go. Our length really did bother her shot. Someone who averages 60% from the floor doesn’t just accidentally shoot 21%. That was defense.
Click to expand...
I agree. They had Cooke as her primary defender (and some Littleton when in the game), and Bueckers was doing whatever she felt like. Definitely helped her get in rhythm. But you gotta admit that Beal's defensive effort on her in the 4th quarter and beyond was every bit as stingy (if not more) than what Tennessee threw at her and she was STILL scoring. If they made things tougher from the beginning with a combination of Beal and Grisette, I think it would have thrown her off her game.
 
#7,134
#7,134
Rickster said:
I'm sorry but I don't get all the hoopla about these two teams. I understand why some ooh and aah over those two teams, and I have a paper bag close for when it gets overwhelming, but I've not seen them play well consistently like a championship contender would. They've survived but struggled in games they used to win handily. I don't know if it's the effect of the virus, over hype, or other factors but like I said, if these two teams are 1 and 2, the number of championship contenders is much larger than it has ever been.
Click to expand...

That's certainly an "interesting" take.

Maybe one day poor Geno and Dawn will have teams good enough to contend again...
 
#7,136
#7,136
Rickster said:
To me, neither team passes the eye test. I think UConn is fading. They have to resort to a freshman to carry them. Yeah, they won but not a good look. It remains to be seen whether they will become a contender again. Same with USC. Both looked below average last night. It's a game of cycles and other teams are on the rise. Welcome to the revolution.
Click to expand...
ROFL, ROFL, ROFL 🤣😂🤣😂🥲
 
#7,137
#7,137
Amb3096 said:
I'm basing it more on what they have coming in vs. what they have now. I think they (along with about 5 other teams) are good enough to win this year, but next year with adding Fudd to the backcourt with Bueckers...that's just a really deadly combination given the scouting reports say that Fudd is already BETTER than Bueckers. They will also have post and wing depth. They will have solid talent at every position. There are other teams that will be good too, but I think they are gonna go on another scary run...
Click to expand...
Azzi and Paige are quite different players. Paige is the classic facilitating point guard while Azzi is the consummate shooting guard. Last year during a joint interview they were asked with one shot to win the game what’s your go-to play. Azzi said her mid range jumper. Paige said fake a drive and pass to Azzi.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mcannon1
#7,138
#7,138
Amb3096 said:
I'm basing it more on what they have coming in vs. what they have now. I think they (along with about 5 other teams) are good enough to win this year, but next year with adding Fudd to the backcourt with Bueckers...that's just a really deadly combination given the scouting reports say that Fudd is already BETTER than Bueckers. They will also have post and wing depth. They will have solid talent at every position. There are other teams that will be good too, but I think they are gonna go on another scary run...
Click to expand...

You may very well be right.
 
#7,139
#7,139
NeedOrange said:
Azzi and Paige are quite different players. Paige is the classic facilitating point guard while Azzi is the consummate shooting guard. Last year during a joint interview they were asked with one shot to win the game what’s your go-to play. Azzi said her mid range jumper. Paige said fake a drive and pass to Azzi.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's the problem. Because Paige could very well call her own number and hit the game winner herself. Paige has proven that when you need a bucket, she can deliver. Pair that with Fudd and you have a headache for the field.
 
  • Like
Reactions: olddog, LadyVol1908 and LadyVols_WBK
#7,140
#7,140
Amb3096 said:
Yeah, that's the problem. Because Paige could very well call her own number and hit the game winner herself. Paige has proven that when you need a bucket, she can deliver. Pair that with Fudd and you have a headache for the field.
Click to expand...

It's Bird and Taurasi all over again. These two could very well be our Olympic backcourt the next 20 years...
 
  • Like
Reactions: LadyVol1908
#7,141
#7,141
VolBall09 said:
Yep I think she’s great. She’s gonna need some help though. I’m not that impressed with the rest of the team currently. Her back has got to be hurtin today from carrying all of them last night.
Click to expand...
What about Louisville's AA guard? Does not she carry Louisville quite often? I doubt if her back is hurting.
 
#7,146
#7,146
PB and Fudd will be dynamic to watch for the next three years... but so will this Tennessee team. From what we’re beginning to see from TK and Marta getting full strength and going through conditioning and taking a step forward, and Horston coming into her own... this isn’t a team that will be backing down anytime soon. We have players here and coming in that are ready to battle. We have a coach who’s shown she’s willing and ready to battle.

Had the shot by PB not gone in, would we think she’s the next Bird still? She’s awesome and I mean that as a player she is AWESOME but, breathe. They aren’t going to go on another run. Too many great up and coming teams that are also going to get better. From us to Stanford(Brink, Belibi, Jones), SC, Oregon, NC State, NC, Louisville and others... I don’t see a dynasty on the level of the Stewie years happening anytime soon for any team.
 
  • Like
Reactions: luballer, Benionsopinion, mlindsay and 3 others
#7,149
#7,149
There is not one dominate team this season and I am not even sure that's debatable. Sure next season UCONN will be the favorite assuming their roster stays intact. I don't remember a season that is this wide open. And while not likely UT is one of those teams at least in my opinion who can compete for the title. If Key Davis and Rae are all on their game, UT is tough to beat. However every team at one point has struggled and has had some puzzling losses. Still can't believe Arkansas beat UCONN. When is the last time a team with 6 or 7 losses beat UCONN?
 
  • Like
Reactions: olddog and LadyVols_WBK
#7,150
#7,150
dapeak said:
PB and Fudd will be dynamic to watch for the next three years... but so will this Tennessee team. From what we’re beginning to see from TK and Marta getting full strength and going through conditioning and taking a step forward, and Horston coming into her own... this isn’t a team that will be backing down anytime soon. We have players here and coming in that are ready to battle. We have a coach who’s shown she’s willing and ready to battle.

Had the shot by PB not gone in, would we think she’s the next Bird still? She’s awesome and I mean that as a player she is AWESOME but, breathe. They aren’t going to go on another run. Too many great up and coming teams that are also going to get better. From us to Stanford(Brink, Belibi, Jones), SC, Oregon, NC State, NC, Louisville and others... I don’t see a dynasty on the level of the Stewie years happening anytime soon for any team.
Click to expand...
Yes, there will be more good teams out there over the next few seasons than there was when UConn won four straight NC. The elite talent is spread throughout the country. Now is the time for Tennessee to get an elite player who fits the Tennessee system. They did get one in Horston but, she has yet to play like one consistently.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LadyVols_WBK
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top