Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2024-25

[maple]

Every loss makes me want to throw a chair at my TV. I’m sure the diehards on here can understand that feeling. I don’t believe in good losses or moral victories.

Strong was in a tough spot at the end of the game. Not saying other freshman (UConn or otherwise) couldn’t have done better — maybe they could have. But from my perspective game should have never come down to that. UConn played like hot garbage in the first half and dug themselves a very deep hole to get out of. Props to Cheli, Strong, and KK who stepped up and played gritty basketball to try and make the comeback happen.

Our other upperclassmen need to wake up though. I had zero expectations for Azzi, tbh, so I can’t even say I’m disappointed in her performance. But the others … step up already!!

Thankfully it’s December and not March. Who even knows how the SCar game will be. I swear the UConn teams since 2020 play so randomly.

I am biased. I think we belong in the top 10. But after ND and USC I don’t think it’s the top 5. Maybe a #7 ranking would be more accurate.

Edit: I’m really impressed by Cheli. She is one player who reminds me of the typical scrappy UConn player. Not necessarily the most talented but plays tough and makes things happen. I need to see her get more playing time so she can get all the freshmen mistakes out of her system.

 

[VolBalls33]

UCONN losing helps a least a smidge with UT football losing like they are. Is Geno going to go a full decade without a title?

 

[maple]

UCONN losing helps a least a smidge with UT football losing like they are. Is Geno going to go a full decade without a title?

Sure, rub it in!!

 

[VolBalls33]

Sure, rub it in!!

Better than 2008

 

[VolBall09]

Big win for my Buffs and that should help us out too! Knocked off #14 West Virginia who I have felt was over ranked anyway.

Glad to see JR having success, she’s a great coach and a great person. Really thinking we were going to have a terrible season after losing so much last year. She put together a nice roster and has them playing really well.

West Virginia should drop from the rankings. They have played only two decent teams (Texas and Colorado) and lost both. They beat an awful Texas A&M team by 20 and that is their best win.

 

[VolBall09]

thank the lord you was wrong. i will never root for geno. idc who they are playing.

Fair haha. Hated both of those teams watching that. Just equal parts. Glad they beat them tbh. UConn didn’t deserve the win after that first half.

 

[VolBall09]

I see USC won. Was the game worth watching on replay tomorrow?

It was a good game, tale of two halves. USC owned the first half. UConn got back in it but USC had just enough to hold them off in the end.

 

[ShortyMac10]

Juju got her lick back..good game usc&uconn

 

[VolBall09]

UCONN losing helps a least a smidge with UT football losing like they are. Is Geno going to go a full decade without a title?

I think so, do not see this team doing it. They could be the first UConn team to miss the Sweet 16 in who knows how long. Some nights they just lay an egg and don’t look that great.

Then they have moments like their Iowa State game where they absolutely went off and hit 20 threes. I maintain Iowa State is pretty terrible. Don’t see them finishing the season in the top 25.

Iowa State has lost 3 of their last 4 and are liable to drop their next two to a good Kansas team and a good Utah team.

 

[VolBall09]

If we continue the UConn series we need to push to play them this time of year imo.

Playing them in SEC gives them a huge advantage. They play NOBODY in the Big East. They get to prepare for us while playing Butler and preparing for Providence while we have to play LSU the next game.

And a coach with a three week old lol. I do not have high hopes, as per usual, for that game.

 

[maple]

I think so, do not see this team doing it. They could be the first UConn team to miss the Sweet 16 in who knows how long. Some nights they just lay an egg and don’t look that great.

Then they have moments like their Iowa State game where they absolutely went off and hit 20 threes. I maintain Iowa State is pretty terrible. Don’t see them finishing the season in the top 25.

Iowa State has lost 3 of their last 4 and are liable to drop their next two to a good Kansas team and a good Utah team.

The crazy thing is that last year I was convinced they wouldn’t make it out of the S16. I thought that on an off night they could lose in the round of 32. And they almost did!

I feel strangely better about this year. Even with the two losses. I don’t know. Maybe I’m delusional.

Also I’ve decided Paige is playing the long game and sucking now so that way she isn’t the #1 and doesn’t have to go to Dallas. That’s my alcohol-scented tinfoil hat conspiracy.

 

[VolBall09]

The crazy thing is that last year I was convinced they wouldn’t make it out of the S16. I thought that on an off night they could lose in the round of 32. And they almost did!

I feel strangely better about this year. Even with the two losses. I don’t know. Maybe I’m delusional.

Also I’ve decided Paige is playing the long game and sucking now so that way she isn’t the #1 and doesn’t have to go to Dallas. That’s my alcohol-scented tinfoil hat conspiracy.

Could be true, if so that tracks with her level of maturity imo. Have always felt she’s really immature, she was definitely not happy Dallas got the #1 pick. It’s a draft you don’t get to choose, be grateful and go where you’re drafted.

 

[chuckiepoo]

You inspired Coach Banghart.

 

[Vols2015]

West Virginia lost to Colorado. Our march up the AP Polls continues.

#14 WVU to Colorado, #15 MSU lost to Alabama, #16 Kentucky played poorly against Belmont, and behind us #20 Michigan lost to Oklahoma, so we'll hop UM in any polls that still had Michigan above us.

Don’t forget #9 Duke lost their 3rd game of the season to unranked South Florida.

 

[Poultrygeist]

If we continue the UConn series we need to push to play them this time of year imo.

Playing them in SEC gives them a huge advantage. They play NOBODY in the Big East. They get to prepare for us while playing Butler and preparing for Providence while we have to play LSU the next game.

And a coach with a three week old lol. I do not have high hopes, as per usual, for that game.

For the Lady Gamecocks it has worked well playing UConn within the SEC season. They'll be coasting on cruise control through the Big East when they travel to Columbia on Feb.16.

 

[stllvf]

Paige is very talented. But she almost never shows up in big games when she SHOULD (theoretically!) be putting the team on her back and willing them to win. I understand she’s battled injuries. But still. Come on man.

She definitely carried the UConn to victory against the LVs several years back, hit some very difficult shots at the end.

 

[StorrsCentral]

If we continue the UConn series we need to push to play them this time of year imo.

Playing them in SEC gives them a huge advantage. They play NOBODY in the Big East. They get to prepare for us while playing Butler and preparing for Providence while we have to play LSU the next game.

And a coach with a three week old lol. I do not have high hopes, as per usual, for that game.

The problem is that UConn and Tennessee are in two completely different leagues. Because the BE is so weak we need one or two competitive games in February to get them back to the real world playing real competition. Tennessee doesn't need it obviously, but that is why we always play SC in February. Maybe mid January would be better, but for now that is their only option. With the BE going back to 20 games and the increase of the number of teams in some of the other leagues, it will just be harder to find a date to schedule many good OOC games.

 

[VolBall09]

She definitely carried the UConn to victory against the LVs several years back, hit some very difficult shots at the end.

Wouldn’t consider that a big game necessarily. We haven’t been a good win for them since we started playing again. This is likely to be the first season our matchup has any seeding ramifications for either team.

 

[Volfan2012]

Sure, rub it in!!

Just have to get in the NCAA Tourney and win that and none of these regular season games will ever matter.

 

[lvocd]

I recovered from last night's football tragedy, and just finished watching (most of) the USC-CT game on replay. Admittedly I was multi-tasking while watching, but I enjoyed the ND-CT game more than that one. The whole JuJu v. Paige hype was lost on me.

Meh.