Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2024-25

[Gilmore]

I mean, she did break the NCAA scoring record for men and women this year. That’s kind of a big deal.

And been very gracious in honoring those prior records and putting a spotlight on their accomplishments.

 

[Voltopia]

They literally have been shoving her down our throats for about 2 weeks now, it seems like they want to push and promote her so that’s what their doing.

I mean, she's the record-holding highest scorer in the history of sport, who scores 32 points per game and makes shots that no one else in the game can make. Of course they're promoting her. Though, frankly, I don't think they're having to "shove her down peoples' throats" very hard. I've seen more positive comments about her on the NBA and college basketball subreddits than I've ever seen for any other player in women's basketball. No scorn, no mocking, no "women's basketball" jokes. Just respect for what she does. Clark crosses the gender gap between the two sports - at least, she does for now. Part of why I said the WNBA is being handed a gift and they'd better use it wisely.

 

[Voltopia]

That was a really good game with probably their best, most evenly matched rosters. I think that was when UConn lost a bunch of players to injuries by the end of the season and the Chamique played her worst game of her career in the E8 loss to Duke. She really should have finished with 4 NCs…

Definitely was an awful game for her. Duke getting 30 free throws was always a little stinky to me too. Long past now, but I never quite bought the disparity.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I mean, she's the record-holding highest scorer in the history of sport, who scores 32 points per game and makes shots that no one else in the game can make. Of course they're promoting her. Though, frankly, I don't think they're having to "shove her down peoples' throats" very hard. I've seen more positive comments about her on the NBA and college basketball subreddits than I've ever seen for any other player in women's basketball. No scorn, no mocking, no "women's basketball" jokes. Just respect for what she does. Clark crosses the gender gap between the two sports - at least, she does for now. Part of why I said the WNBA is being handed a gift and they'd better use it wisely.

None of those people even watch her, they only know because they’ve been promoting her on all the sports channels, I don’t follow or watch her but it’s everywhere now, I don’t remember Kelsey Plum getting all this exposure when she broke the record and she averaged 32ppg in that season. Just seems like an agenda to push her for some reason but whatever. I just checked and she gained like 500k followers in the last couple of weeks, so they exposure and pushing her helped her gain followers, and that tells me none of them people was checking for her before.

 

[Rooster1]

Predictions for SECT:

One caveat, should LSU sit Williams for the tourney, I would alter these picks…

Early games all chalk, but doesn’t matter anyway…...

UT over Bama
SC over UT

LSU over Aub
LSU over OM (in a close one)

SC over LSU

Scott Rabalais: LSU women's team looks formidable but fragile heading into postseason

The LSU women’s basketball team is unquestionably on a roll heading into the postseason.

www.theadvocate.com

If LSU makes the finals, Reese is likely the reason and tourney MVP. Otherwise I think SC features Cardoso in this tourney and she gets that award. Of course, if UT knocks off SC (certainly possible) it is because of RJ and she could/would obviously win the MVP.

 

[Rooster1]

None of those people even watch her, they only know because they’ve been promoting her on all the sports channels, I don’t follow or watch her but it’s everywhere now, I don’t remember Kelsey Plum getting all this exposure when she broke the record and she averaged 32ppg in that season. Just seems like an agenda to push her for some reason but whatever. I just checked and she gained like 500k followers in the last couple of weeks, so they exposure and pushing her helped her gain followers, and that tells me none of them people was checking for her before.

In spite of the fact you admittedly don’t follow or watch her, you seem to have some strong opinions reference Clark. You claim “none of those people even watch her” as some some sort of diss towards their thoughts on her then you admit you don’t even watch her but give your opinions anyway. You see the problem here? Maybe if you actually, you know, watched her you would get it. She is unlike anything that has come before her in the game, leads the nation in not only scoring but assists, and is capable of making shots on a consistent basis that no female player has ever done before. She is likely the best ever this sport has seen. But since you don’t watch her as you say, I can understand why you don’t get it. If you are a fan of WBB, it’s your loss to have missed out on her play while it was here to be seen.

You do the exact same thing with the SC team, often claiming you don’t follow them but have seen them play twice and know all you need to know about them and are not impressed. Now if someone had only watched the LV team play twice all year and had formed their opinion of them based upon that small sample you would be right to dismiss their “knowledge” of the team. Can’t have it both ways.

Btw, I find it hard to believe you have not watched Clark play much if at all. If so, your opinion of her doesn’t carry weight. In any event, the common theme here is any team or player who is at the top of the game doesn’t impress you in spite of you claiming to not even watching them. Sounds logical and we should all agree with your insights based upon what exactly? Talk about sour grapes, you are incapable of acknowledging anything worthwhile outside of your own team. Makes your input so credible.

 

[knoxvol52]

Caitlin Clark reminds me of my favorite NFL team for over 40+ years.

The Dallas Cowboys, either you love them or hate them you're going watch their game.

Same thing goes for Clark.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

In spite of the fact you admittedly don’t follow or watch her, you seem to have some strong opinions reference Clark. You claim “none of those people even watch her” as some some sort of diss towards their thoughts on her then you admit you don’t even watch her but give your opinions anyway. You see the problem here? Maybe if you actually, you know, watched her you would get it. She is unlike anything that has come before her in the game, leads the nation in not only scoring but assists, and is capable of making shots on a consistent basis that no female player has ever done before. She is likely the best ever this sport has seen. But since you don’t watch her as you say, I can understand why you don’t get it. If you are a fan of WBB, it’s your loss to have missed out on her play while it was here to be seen.

You do the exact same thing with the SC team, often claiming you don’t follow them but have seen them play twice and know all you need to know about them and are not impressed. Now if someone had only watched the LV team play twice all year and had formed their opinion of them based upon that small sample you would be right to dismiss their “knowledge” of the team. Can’t have it both ways.

Btw, I find it hard to believe you have not watched Clark play much if at all. If so, your opinion of her doesn’t carry weight. In any event, the common theme here is any team or player who is at the top of the game doesn’t impress you in spite of you claiming to not even watching them. Sounds logical and we should all agree with your insights based upon what exactly? Talk about sour grapes, you are incapable of acknowledging anything worthwhile outside of your own team. Makes your input so credible.

I’m not dissing her at all, I don’t know her. And the only game I actually watched her was the Championship and that’s because she was playing Angel Reese and LSU. I watched Sc play 3 games this year, and I’m sure u know which ones. I don’t dismiss a team based off a couple of games, but I can still form an opinion but my opinion can be wrong. I’ve never said anything about Clarks game at all, it’s about the constant coverage. And also I have other teams I watch because they are my favorite non Lv players which is: USC because of Juju Watkins, Stanford because of Kiki Iriafen, UCLA because of Lauren Betts, and LSU because of Angel Reese. I hope that clears things up for u.

 

[glv98]

None of those people even watch her, they only know because they’ve been promoting her on all the sports channels, I don’t follow or watch her but it’s everywhere now, I don’t remember Kelsey Plum getting all this exposure when she broke the record and she averaged 32ppg in that season. Just seems like an agenda to push her for some reason but whatever. I just checked and she gained like 500k followers in the last couple of weeks, so they exposure and pushing her helped her gain followers, and that tells me none of them people was checking for her before.

Every word of this is also true of Angel Reese, who easily gets as much or more coverage than CC. Most people who know of her, follow her, etc. have not watched her play. It's a frustrating part of modern life, perception is reality.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Every word of this is also true of Angel Reese, who easily gets as much or more coverage than CC. Most people who know of her, follow her, etc. have not watched her play. It's a frustrating part of modern life, perception is reality.

That may be true, but for Reese it was celebrating a Champion and it didn’t last this long, but I agree with your point.

 

[glv98]

That may be true, but for Reese it was celebrating a Champion and it didn’t last this long, but I agree with your point.

Good point that AR had the championship to somewhat validate the over coverage. But didn't last that long? She's still getting magazine covers, etc. She's temporarily story #2 while CC breaks records but AR's coverage, very little of which is based on her basketball skills, is still nonstop.

I don't think CC is going to be dominate in the W. She'll be very, very good, a Sabrina type sharpshooter, but I don't think her build or the rest of her game says dominance at all.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Good point that AR had the championship to somewhat validate the over coverage. But didn't last that long? She's still getting magazine covers, etc. She's temporarily story #2 while CC breaks records but AR's coverage, very little of which is based on her basketball skills, is still nonstop.

I don't think CC is going to be dominate in the W. She'll be very, very good, a Sabrina type sharpshooter, but I don't think her build or the rest of her game says dominance at all.

Angel Reese coverage is for many reason and her basketball skills are one of them, she’s the reigning MOP off the final four and SEC player of the year, but of course other factors are in play as well, she may he ave the look and personality these brands are looking for as well. From what I’ve seen I know C K at can shoot so I think that will translate but I’m not sure it other aspects will.

 

[Voltopia]

Every word of this is also true of Angel Reese, who easily gets as much or more coverage than CC. Most people who know of her, follow her, etc. have not watched her play. It's a frustrating part of modern life, perception is reality.

Hmm, I think we get more exposed to Angel Reese because we're in the SEC media bubble, but outside of her controversies I don't get the impression the coverage has ever been as widespread. The White House stuff, the NCAA tournament situation, those both went national, but the rest felt more in sport on ESPN's women's basketball content. ESPN definitely pushed the "Bayou Barbie" thing a bit harder last year, so there was that, but the measurement here is less the in-sport exposure and more the out-of-sport exposure. When you have guys like Colin Cowherd calling Clark the biggest name in college basketball - men or women's - that's a sign you've hit a different level. Which is why I talked about the crossover phenomenon. People talk about her on completely unrelated shows, even shows completely outside of basketball. That's unique. And while I am not engaged with the WNBA, I will be interested to see how - or if - they elevate her.

 

[Amb3096]

Hmm, I think we get more exposed to Angel Reese because we're in the SEC media bubble, but outside of her controversies I don't get the impression the coverage has ever been as widespread. The White House stuff, the NCAA tournament situation, those both went national, but the rest felt more in sport on ESPN's women's basketball content. ESPN definitely pushed the "Bayou Barbie" thing a bit harder last year, so there was that, but the measurement here is less the in-sport exposure and more the out-of-sport exposure. When you have guys like Colin Cowherd calling Clark the biggest name in college basketball - men or women's - that's a sign you've hit a different level. Which is why I talked about the crossover phenomenon. People talk about her on completely unrelated shows, even shows completely outside of basketball. That's unique. And while I am not engaged with the WNBA, I will be interested to see how - or if - they elevate her.

Reese just had a cover and photo shoot/article in the latest Women's Health magazine. Clark is only getting coverage for her basketball, but Angel is getting it for other areas as well. Her brand (like it or hate it) is bigger than basketball.

 

[Voltopia]

Reese just had a cover and photo shoot/article in the latest Women's Health magazine. Clark is only getting coverage for her basketball, but Angel is getting it for other areas as well. Her brand (like it or hate it) is bigger than basketball.

Fair enough. I confess I do not read Women's Health - or probably consume content in most of the other areas where she gets such attention.

 

[Amb3096]

Fair enough. I confess I do not read Women's Health - or probably consume content in most of the other areas where she gets such attention.

I don't either, but I saw the national news articles talking summarizing the article and photos. Men's Health is a pretty major population, so I assume the same is true for Women's Health. I don't know if you've seen either's Instagram page, but Angel has tons of fashion and bikini/booty shot thirst traps, and Clark is basically basketball, boyfriend and Iowa in no particular order. Clark is well-known in the sports world, but Angel is trying to diversify her appeal (or noteriety, depending on how you look at it) beyond just sports fans. I do give her credit...she's definitely grinding away.

 

[glv98]

I do give her credit...she's definitely grinding away.

But interestingly, not at basketball and it's probably a wise decision. AR can reel off double digit rebounds in her sleep, but I thought she'd come back this fall in much better shape and having worked hard on her skill set, esp after getting totally embarrassed in Mexico. But she didn't. Good call to depend on the non-basketball stuff.

 

[creekdipper]

"Grinding away."

 

[Amb3096]

But interestingly, not at basketball and it's probably a wise decision. AR can reel off double digit rebounds in her sleep, but I thought she'd come back this fall in much better shape and having worked hard on her skill set, esp after getting totally embarrassed in Mexico. But she didn't. Good call to depend on the non-basketball stuff.

Definitely a wise decision, because unlike Clark, I don't think her long term pro prospects...at least in the USA...are very good. Might as well pull a Haley Cavinder while she's young and fit to diversify her income streams

 

[JustaChicken]

Last year's team was superb defensively, but offensively I don't think it's even close which starting 5 is better.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I don't either, but I saw the national news articles talking summarizing the article and photos. Men's Health is a pretty major population, so I assume the same is true for Women's Health. I don't know if you've seen either's Instagram page, but Angel has tons of fashion and bikini/booty shot thirst traps, and Clark is basically basketball, boyfriend and Iowa in no particular order. Clark is well-known in the sports world, but Angel is trying to diversify her appeal (or noteriety, depending on how you look at it) beyond just sports fans. I do give her credit...she's definitely grinding away.

Anyone that’s into sports knows who Angel Reese and Clark are, but Reese will bring in the non sports fans and that can able help bring more viewers.

 

[VolBall09]

Angel Reese and all 1.7 of her grad points are doing the most. As usual.

Not sure I can recall a trashier sports figure in the last decade. I don’t think she’ll last in the W.

 

[SGMVols]

Boy, Mizzou sure had a banner year in basketball.

The women went 2-14 in the SEC.

The men are currently 0-17 in the SEC and have to win at LSU to avoid the Full Bryce Drew.

Both teams finished dead last in the SEC.

 

[VolFuture]

Boy, Mizzou sure had a banner year in basketball.

The women went 2-14 in the SEC.

The men are currently 0-17 in the SEC and have to win at LSU to avoid the Full Bryce Drew.

Both teams finished dead last in the SEC.

It wild bc watching Mizzou they def are better than that record. They played everyone tough just couldn’t find ways to win..

 

[CoryDallasLV]

Definitely was an awful game for her. Duke getting 30 free throws was always a little stinky to me too. Long past now, but I never quite bought the disparity.

I was at that game and was heartbroken. Chamique definitely played the worst game of her career, and the Randall ankle injury was even worse for that outcome I believe. I'll never forgot Pat trying to console Chamique on the sidelines. She was just devastated.