SECT Game Thread: Lady Vols 74 - Kentucky 83

[LadyOrange]

The way Kentucky is playing now is amazing. They have figured it out and all their numbers including their rebounding has improved dramatically. I expect a very close game hopefully were the one in the lead when it is over.

Yeah, but they haven’t been up against a defense like ours.

 

[Coach Jumper]

what did you think of tess fast break basket?

Tess surprised me in every way,,,playing and controlling the much smaller and faster Barber,,,I became a fan

 

[Volfan2012]

Yeah, but they haven’t been up against a defense like ours.

LSU is a good defensive team. They have been holding a lot of teams below sixty this season including us. I thought they didn't pay enough attention to Howard yesterday and she shot 61 percent from the field and scored 32 points. If you want to beat Kentucky you have to neutralize her as much as possible. If that means face guarding her for 40 minutes or double teaming her when she catches the ball you have to do it. The rest of the team shot 38 percent on 47 shots and only scored 41 points. You have to take your chance on the other players and not let Howard get open looks.

 

[Rooster1]

LSU is a good defensive team. They have been holding a lot of teams below sixty this season including us. I thought they didn't pay enough attention to Howard yesterday and she shot 61 percent from the field and scored 32 points. If you want to beat Kentucky you have to neutralize her as much as possible. If that means face guarding her for 40 minutes or double teaming her when she catches the ball you have to do it. The rest of the team shot 38 percent on 47 shots and only scored 41 points. You have to take your chance on the other players and not let Howard get open looks.

Howard gets her shot when she wants it. Sure, put emphasis on her primary defender sticking like glue to her. But the primary game plan will and should be to own the boards (UT will) and keep Key in the game and involved on BOTH ends. UT can match up well on the other 4 UK players and utilize that press again which looks strong. UK has no answer for Key down low on both ends.
Miles is really good in that press game, she is developing fast.

 

[Volfan2012]

Tess surprised me in every way,,,playing and controlling the much smaller and faster Barber,,,I became a fan

I watched her play a lot of games at Greenfield. She was a dynamic player for her team did a lot of things against of course a lot less talent and ability. You really didn't know how it would play out against the elite players and competition of the SEC. She is virtually a freshman this season didn't play any minutes last season to become any better. Her progression in the second half of the season has been impressive and I am thinking she is going to be an all around player for us maybe as soon as next season. I can now see her in the coming years being far more than a three point shooter. From where she was on defense at the start of the season to where she is now is more than impressive.

 

[Lucy]

Tess surprised me in every way,,,playing and controlling the much smaller and faster Barber,,,I became a fan

Tess is a striver. That is one of the biggest compliments I can give someone. They know the areas they can improve in and then work and work to get better. She will improve every year. Just hard nosed!!

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

Keyen crushed Kentucky in our last matchup when Tamari Key went down

 

[Lucy]

I feel like our defense last night was a foreshadowing of next year. I am basing that on the interview with Jazz Powell. She said Kellie wants her to help speed up our defense. This, my friends, could be fun!!

 

[Dak1219]

This press defense is making me get up off the couch! LET’S GOOOOO!

Thats funny. I was in front of the TV clapping in a defense stance yelling Trap, Trap Trap and moving with the play. I love the extended pressure for a number of reasons. When Tennessee is the aggressor on the defensive side of the ball, they win basketball games. Great game and game plan last night!

 

[RAVOL]

It really looked like the refs seriously over reacted to the Bama's coaches temper tantrum. Tamari's should have been the record block was clean not a foul.

No doubt it kept her team in the game with the whistle against our Lady Vols. Loved the resiliency of the Team to keep playing and dominate fashion. In CHRIST Alone

 

[Rooster1]

It should be noticed by all that when Howard is defended by a smaller and quicker player she is very susceptible to having her dribble swiped away. She can be lazy with her ball security and her handles while playing against a quick defender are less than stellar. Taller defenders are often easy prey for Howard, who can get her shot off against them anyway but whom also cannot take the ball from her.

I think Howard dislikes being guarded by a really good and quick pesky type.

 

[RAVOL]

I watched her play a lot of games at Greenfield. She was a dynamic player for her team did a lot of things against of course a lot less talent and ability. You really didn't know how it would play out against the elite players and competition of the SEC. She is virtually a freshman this season didn't play any minutes last season to become any better. Her progression in the second half of the season has been impressive and I am thinking she is going to be an all around player for us maybe as soon as next season. I can now see her in the coming years being far more than a three point shooter. From where she was on defense at the start of the season to where she is now is more than impressive.

Playing good D is not all athlectism its knowing your opponent tendency and using your smarts. In CHRIST Alone

 

[Hoosier]

Tess surprised me in every way,,,playing and controlling the much smaller and faster Barber,,,I became a fan

I hope she does more of that stepping around the defender and burying the mid-range 2-pt jumper --- we really need more of that

P.S. I also loved it when the LVs pressed in the backcourt --- should do more of that with Key back in the lane as safety valve

 

[Volfan2012]

Keyen crushed Kentucky in our last matchup when Tamari Key went down

Yes and how much board play are we missing with Horston and Green out. We will need players to really step up rebounding. Last night it was Dye hope between her and Key we can outrebound them again like last time we played.

 

[mudcat1973]

I watched her play a lot of games at Greenfield. She was a dynamic player for her team did a lot of things against of course a lot less talent and ability. You really didn't know how it would play out against the elite players and competition of the SEC. She is virtually a freshman this season didn't play any minutes last season to become any better. Her progression in the second half of the season has been impressive and I am thinking she is going to be an all around player for us maybe as soon as next season. I can now see her in the coming years being far more than a three point shooter. From where she was on defense at the start of the season to where she is now is more than impressive.

and she limited in practice last year lower injury. she was getting down hile on breaks pretty good. she not as slow as some say. tess admits she not the fastest. rae pass tess ball tess pass it right back when defence was out place rae had easy three. tess more than shoter and last few games tess some baskets near the paint. tess does need score 5 threes hit a few will open the paint.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

We were just clicking on every cylinder during this last matchup

 

[VolBall09]

Puckett needs to get in the gym and get some shots up this morning. Shake those jitters out girl. Really think she could be key today. We will need her physical defense and offense today. Would be great to see her knock down a three and get herself going again. Too good a player not to.

 

[Volfan2012]

We were just clicking on every cylinder during this last matchup

i expect them to play a lot better defense than they did that day. If not Tennessee will put up close to 80 again. When we get that much space on shots were going to score a lot. Most teams really crowd Tess and double team Key. Our spacing in that first Kentucky game was awesome I hope we can repeat that performance.

 

[Volfan2012]

Puckett needs to get in the gym and get some shots up this morning. Shake those jitters out girl. Really think she could be key today. We will need her physical defense and offense today. Would be great to see her knock down a three and get herself going again. Too good a player not to.

She has been playing really shaky the last several games. You can see the same gitters in Karoline's game. Wynn looks to be coming out of it. Miles never had it.

 

[Volfan2012]

Keyen crushed Kentucky in our last matchup when Tamari Key went down

Puckett needs to become Green for this game. She has it in her just go out and play.

 

[VolBall09]

She has been playing really shaky the last several games. You can see the same gitters in Karoline's game. Wynn looks to be coming out of it. Miles never had it.

Puckett had a great matchup against Howard in the last game. They tried to have her guard Sarah thinking she would get a break. Instead Sarah posted her up twice then splashed a 3 in her face. Would like to see that again today. Keyen was big in that matchup, we need Sarah to play big today. She’ll have an advantage in the post when she is in the game. As will Tamari and Alexus.

I think Hunt and Edwards will be pretty gassed today. Dre missed a lot of games and is just getting back in game shape. Hunt has never been in shape. When need to bring the intensity from the tip like we did yesterday and stun their tired legs. Get some easy baskets early.

 

[Dak1219]

I’d love it more if she didn’t throw the ball away everytime she touched it.

If you don't let players make some mistakes and play through them the player never has the opportunity to grow and improve. If you look at the turnovers for last night's game, Stiplin didn't throw the ball away any more than any other lady vol and at least her turnovers were dead ball turnovers. Without Green, we need a viable option to back up Tamari and Striplin could play that role effectively in short spurts throughout the rest of the season.

 

[mudcat1973]

She has been playing really shaky the last several games. You can see the same gitters in Karoline's game. Wynn looks to be coming out of it. Miles never had it.

karoline did not let alabama run wild in the paint. she hadsome rebounds and hit few shots last few games. she just needs more minuets.

 

[Volfan2012]

Puckett had a great matchup against Howard in the last game. They tried to have her guard Sarah thinking she would get a break. Instead Sarah posted her up twice then splashed a 3 in her face. Would like to see that again today. Keyen was big in that matchup, we need Sarah to play big today. She’ll have an advantage in the post when she is in the game. As will Tamari and Alexus.

I think Hunt and Edwards will be pretty gassed today. Dre missed a lot of games and is just getting back in game shape. Hunt has never been in shape. When need to bring the intensity from the tip like we did yesterday and stun their tired legs. Get some easy baskets early.

Need to work Howard over with more than one player. The biggest thing I will be looking for in the game is how Kentucky guards the perimeter. We were getting a lot of open looks last time they seemed more concerned with stopping Key. This could be a big game for Darby and Burrell. If they give them a lot of space I think we'll see both hit some threes. Hopefully Key can stay out of foul trouble maybe give us thirty minutes today. Same for Walker both should be ready to go for a lot of minutes they sat out a lot in game one.

 

[madtownvol]

LSU is a good defensive team. They have been holding a lot of teams below sixty this season including us. I thought they didn't pay enough attention to Howard yesterday and she shot 61 percent from the field and scored 32 points. If you want to beat Kentucky you have to neutralize her as much as possible. If that means face guarding her for 40 minutes or double teaming her when she catches the ball you have to do it. The rest of the team shot 38 percent on 47 shots and only scored 41 points. You have to take your chance on the other players and not let Howard get open looks.

In the first match, it was Jordan H. that made Howard want to curl into a fetal position. Rae did a good job on her as well. But someone needs to fill in for Jordan defensively. If Wynn is smart and just concentrates on making Howard work to get the ball and just staying in front of her, that could do it. It is the old thing, scorers are going to score but it is okay if those points come hard.