Pencil in CT....again.

[UCMiami]

Not ready to crown anyone this early in the season - lots of teams including both Uconn and ND are filling major gaps created by graduating stars and it takes time to adjust for the returning players.
I did think Loyd looked a little like Sims for Baylor last year - unstoppable but not all that efficient against good defense. And obviously ND missed Turner like they missed Achunwa in the NC last year though I am not sure it would have been enough to change the outcome.
These early season high ranking match-ups are useful really as comparative views more than predictors of what well coached teams will look like in the NCAAs. I have been impressed with the number of good games scheduled this year OOC - lots of pathetic mismatches as always but more quality games than I remember in the recent past. Still the losers in these games have the chance to be very different later in the season than they look today. And a loss like Uconn suffered at Stanford can prove very beneficial in the long run.

 

[luvmuscle77]

Most women would rather play for a male coach.

 

[volbabyvol]

I think Geno did a really nice job with coaching. Stewart and Jefferson had bad games on the offensive side, and KML was quiet. Tuck, Stokes and Nurse really shined in this game. But truthfully, other than the defense on Loyd, I didn't think UConn played a masterful defensive game. They made things hard for Loyd, but the rest of the team was useless. Reimer has no jumpshot and isn't a great rebounder, Mabrey was sending up bricks, and I don't even remember the rest of the players save Allen doing anything. They were really horrible offensively because they weren't getting a bunch of easy back door layups. I'm surprised that Muffett pretty much resigned to hoping for a Jewelled Miracle instead of trying to run some plays to get Mabrey freed up or something.

So we got the memo let's see what Coach does with it??

 

[teacherdean]

I believe Tennessee has the horses but not the driver to compete with UCONN. I am not going to crown them after one game. I do know that Geno knows how to make changes on the fly and Holly does not. We also have to keep in mind that one of ND 's players were hurt. Right now the only way to beat UCONN is to be tough both inside and outside on defense and offense. You must develop your team to play as one. They cannot play disjointed and look like deer looking into headlights. If you wait until a team is almost broken to call a timeout, ala Holly, you cannot stay on the same court with Geno. Like there was no secret why Tennessee won in years past, it is not a secret why Geno wins, you must play super defense and develop the whole game and you must develop a majo, as the Lady Vols had at one time.

 

[Amb3096]

Well I'm not ready to crown them yet but. . .
Stokes got 19 rebounds while playing little more than a half???? whats up with that?
I don't know where Tuck came from - I think one of the announcers said she was hurt last year.
And finally the freshman Nurse - wow! she is the real deal and this was what, her 4th or 5th college game?

Who was going to get the rebounds from Stokes? Reimer can't jump, and Loyd was the one taking the shot for ND. Stokes has a great basketball post body: solidly built, long arms and mobile. If her head was consistently in the game, she'd be a top 5 WNBA pick.

Tuck has been injured pretty much her entire college career. She plays exactly how I envisioned Burdick would be for Tennessee: strong enough to rebound and play in the post, a consistent face up game out to the perimeter, and ball handling and a quick first step to attack the basket. Clearly I was wrong...

Nurse may be shy on collegiate games, but I think she was the starting PG for the Canadian National Team, so I'm not surprised that she's settling in so well right now. She does seem to turn the ball over quite a bit, so I wouldn't put her at Hartley-level yet, but she's going to be a good one for them.

It looks like Chong has been sent towards the end of teh bench, and the rest of their freshmen seem to be getting the walk-on treatment. I wonder what's up with that?

 

[teacherdean]

UCONN does look solid but they don't look like a UCONN yet. My opinion of the Lady Vols hasn't been formed yet. I consider us a young team because our young players are better than our upper classmen. If Holly recognizes this and plays them more, we could be O.K.. I don't see us getting far if Burdick is getting lots of minutes and if Massengale is on point. I've always said Massengale is a better two guard than point. I've never seen a point guard drive, get stripped and fall down more than her. I personally like Middleton in the game. She makes things happen. Nared looks good and is getting better. Our first real test at Texas was blown by the coaching staff in my opinion. It will be interesting to see if they learned anything when we play Rutgers.

Orange M. I hope Holley learned something from the Texas game. I still will be surprised if she plays Nared and Middleton more than she plays Error Prong Massengale and Mistake Waiting to Happen Burdick if not for the simple reason they are seniors. I highly doubt if either would start for a ligit championship team. Neither are fully developed or they were overrated in high school and have hit the extension of their athletic ability. I believe that Nared and Middleton can develop into better players than Burdick or Massengale. In fact I believe that both have more upsides than Burdick or Massengale at this point and time. However, that would take a good coach who has the ability to recognize talent and understand that stats tell the truth.

 

[Amb3096]

Orange M. I hope Holley learned something from the Texas game. I still will be surprised if she plays Nared and Middleton more than she plays Error Prong Massengale and Mistake Waiting to Happen Burdick if not for the simple reason they are seniors. I highly doubt if either would start for a ligit championship team. Neither are fully developed or they were overrated in high school and have hit the extension of their athletic ability. I believe that Nared and Middleton can develop into better players than Burdick or Massengale. In fact I believe that both have more upsides than Burdick or Massengale at this point and time. However, that would take a good coach who has the ability to recognize talent and understand that stats tell the truth.

Massengale is still better than Carter or Reynolds. Middleton should be playing alongside her, not in place of her, until the other two guards learn how to play offense.

Burdick...I agree there. She's hopeless. I understand that Holly rewards her because she does super duper duper well in practice, but when you have a player that has been a world beater in practice but a no show in games of significance FOR 3 1/2 YEARS, it's time to stop trying to milk the dead cow.

 

[boxerpupsrcool]

Orange M. I hope Holley learned something from the Texas game. I still will be surprised if she plays Nared and Middleton more than she plays Error Prong Massengale and Mistake Waiting to Happen Burdick if not for the simple reason they are seniors. I highly doubt if either would start for a ligit championship team. Neither are fully developed or they were overrated in high school and have hit the extension of their athletic ability. I believe that Nared and Middleton can develop into better players than Burdick or Massengale. In fact I believe that both have more upsides than Burdick or Massengale at this point and time. However, that would take a good coach who has the ability to recognize talent and understand that stats tell the truth.

If she (holly) would just get over her stubborn
insistence to play burdick over middleton and nared then I'd be happy. I'm def not sold on carter being in the starting lineup either. holly might figure it out, but by then we could have 10 or more losses

 

[Smallvol#1]

If she (holly) would just get over her stubborn
insistence to play burdick over middleton and nared then I'd be happy. I'm def not sold on carter being in the starting lineup either. holly might figure it out, but by then we could have 10 or more losses

Well...I'd be more inclined to say it would be a start on making me happy.:yes:

 

[brassie]

Who was going to get the rebounds from Stokes? Reimer can't jump, and Loyd was the one taking the shot for ND. Stokes has a great basketball post body: solidly built, long arms and mobile. If her head was consistently in the game, she'd be a top 5 WNBA pick.

Tuck has been injured pretty much her entire college career. She plays exactly how I envisioned Burdick would be for Tennessee: strong enough to rebound and play in the post, a consistent face up game out to the perimeter, and ball handling and a quick first step to attack the basket. Clearly I was wrong...

Nurse may be shy on collegiate games, but I think she was the starting PG for the Canadian National Team, so I'm not surprised that she's settling in so well right now. She does seem to turn the ball over quite a bit, so I wouldn't put her at Hartley-level yet, but she's going to be a good one for them.

It looks like Chong has been sent towards the end of teh bench, and the rest of their freshmen seem to be getting the walk-on treatment. I wonder what's up with that?

Chong lost her starting position to Nurse early on. Of the 4 freshman, Nurse is starting, Williams is getting quality minutes and impressing (14 mpg/7 ppg), Ekmark is injured, and Edwards is a local kid that may or may not work out. She isn't getting much PT.

Auriemma has said on several occasions that Tuck may be the best player on the team.

 

[Orange Maniac]

Massengale is still better than Carter or Reynolds. Middleton should be playing alongside her, not in place of her, until the other two guards learn how to play offense.

Burdick...I agree there. She's hopeless. I understand that Holly rewards her because she does super duper duper well in practice, but when you have a player that has been a world beater in practice but a no show in games of significance FOR 3 1/2 YEARS, it's time to stop trying to milk the dead cow.

We will just have to disagree on this one. Carter is much better than Reynolds and is a better point guard than Massengale. Draya plays better defense than Massengale. Watch on inbounds plays. We can have everyone blanketed to the point they can't get the ball in and the player that always gets free to get the ball is defended by Massengale. It's amazing, It's almost every time. Carter proved she can drive the lane late in the game the other day. It's up to the staff to get her to do it more often. Holly wasn't my choice but I've supported her, but the decisions on the court this year has me doubting her HC abilities. Holly also needs to get a public speaking tutor. You don't need to stammer around and hunt for words when you run this type of program. It makes you seem clueless and indecisive and it appears that some of that is being reflected on the court by the team.

 

[LasVegasBill23]

UConn shouldn't be crowned yet...... they have achilles areas just like others do...... they showed well vs. ND but not a very good litmus test..... I want them to see them with Turner playing...... just as I want to see Texas - LVs with Stafford and Izzy

 

[Sandvol]

Massengale is still better than Carter or Reynolds. Middleton should be playing alongside her, not in place of her, until the other two guards learn how to play offense.

Burdick...I agree there. She's hopeless. I understand that Holly rewards her because she does super duper duper well in practice, but when you have a player that has been a world beater in practice but a no show in games of significance FOR 3 1/2 YEARS, it's time to stop trying to milk the dead cow.

Also disagree. Mass plays no defense. She can pull a rebound but that is usually after someone has dribbled by her. She has no offensive imagination. Also on offense she is too easy to stop that is why she score's nothing against good teams.

 

[Orange Maniac]

Not sure why this was moved since the majority of the discussion was about the Lady Vols.

 

[reno tony]

Well I'm not ready to crown them yet but. . .
Stokes got 19 rebounds while playing little more than a half???? whats up with that?
I don't know where Tuck came from - I think one of the announcers said she was hurt last year.
And finally the freshman Nurse - wow! she is the real deal and this was what, her 4th or 5th college game?

Tuck was out most of last year after knee surgery and was awarded a red shirt season. As for where she came from.... she was the #1 H.S. recruit ahead of Stewart until she hurt her knee in H.S. UCONN got three of the five H.S. Naismith finalist that year..Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson. Tuck is the real deal.