Tennessee drops from AP Top 25

#26
#26
The Lady Vols will make a brief appearance in the top 25 again this season. But will soon drop out again. This team will not return to the top 25 after its next brief stay. I expect this will be a double digit loss team. And sadly could miss the tournament for the first time.
 
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#27
#27
Its painful to admit, but this program is no longer in the national conversation. I'm sorry for Holly, but her competence topped out at the assistant coach level. What's galling is watching the Lady Vols getting stomped by mid-level programs (I'm not referring to Baylor) who can brag about what they did to Tennessee (as if Pat were still here). If this is not Holly's last season as head coach, the program is going to continue to hemorrhage respect.
 
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#28
#28
Hoya Saxa said:
I'm looking forward to Russell's match-up with Lang. Lang looked good yesterday, but Russell looked fantastic.
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Lang is really playing good basketball right now. She had her best 2 games of the season against SC and UConn (minus the turnovers), and is a very physical and tough player. The last time Tennessee played at Texas, she tore the Lady Vols post players a new one. Should be a great matchup against Mercedes. I'm sold on Russell as one of, if not the best, posts in the country after the way she handled Baylor's Bigs.
 
#29
#29
cwbytruckers said:
The Lady Vols will make a brief appearance in the top 25 again this season. But will soon drop out again. This team will not return to the top 25 after its next brief stay. I expect this will be a double digit loss team. And sadly could miss the tournament for the first time.
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I don't see them coming back in. They need some upset wins over some of the better teams to get back in. They are more likely to be the team being shocked.
 
#30
#30
alexvol said:
Wow.Do you expect that to happen ?
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No, not necessarily, but it's not impossible. We haven't really shown any signs yet this year that we could win this game, but Texas is vulnerable, MR has been remarkably consistent, and Diamond is overdue for a big game.

Even before seeing how we came to play yesterday, I would've been shocked if we'd beaten Baylor. I don't expect it, but I wouldn't be shocked if we beat Texas.
 
#31
#31
travis929 said:
No, not necessarily, but it's not impossible. We haven't really shown any signs yet this year that we could win this game, but Texas is vulnerable, MR has been remarkably consistent, and Diamond is overdue for a big game.

Even before seeing how we came to play yesterday, I would've been shocked if we'd beaten Baylor. I don't expect it, but I wouldn't be shocked if we beat Texas.
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Texas is seriously battle tested. They've played a brutal schedule: At UConn, vs. SC, at Miss State and at Stanford. They lost all of those games, but they've improved with each loss. They are probably sick of losing, and see Tennessee as the perfect punching bag to finish their pre-season schedule on a positive note.
 
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#33
#33
Amb3096 said:
Texas is seriously battle tested. They've played a brutal schedule: At UConn, vs. SC, at Miss State and at Stanford. They lost all of those games, but they've improved with each loss. They are probably sick of losing, and see Tennessee as the perfect punching bag to finish their pre-season schedule on a positive note.
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Texas has a lot of depth and good guard play. They rebound exceptionally well and Lang gives them an added dimension inside. Tennessee has the edge inside with Russell and Nared, but they need to hit perimeter shots and production from Deshields to have a shot. Texas appears to be the heavy favorite at home, I'd look for a win by Texas win by 10-15 but better effort from the Vols than vs Baylor.
 
#34
#34
I don't think we have an edge inside vs Tx. Russell has yet to put 2 good games together and Holmes is much better inside than Nared. bigger too.
 
#35
#35
Nunn might be able to negate Holmes if she has the game of her life... :(
 
#36
#36
travis929 said:
Texas hung around with UConn yesterday - I think they were only down 51-49 but ran out of gas as UConn outscored them 21-5 to finish the game.

If Ariel Atkins's head injury is serious, that could be tough for Texas, though.

Holmes seems to have a ton of potential but right now, Tennessee's front court actually looks to be more solid. If Russell did that well against Baylor's bigs, she should have no problem with Lang. We did a decent job guarding Texas's starting guards last season, but Higgs came off the bench and destroyed our perimeter defense. Not sure I see that going any better this time around...
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I agree. One of the reasons that Texas got off to a good start was because UConn's starters couldn't handle the Texas bigs. Once Auriemma put Butler (not exactly an AA) in the game to check Lang the momentum changed. Butler is slow and has a vertical leap of minus 2 inches with Dick Stuart hands, but she understands positioning and she isn't afraid to bang. By the 4th quarter Texan asses were dragging. If UTenn can play an uptempo game they have a good chance to win the game.

I think Russell will have Langs lunch and her milk money. OTOH the game could be an ugly turnover fest. Texas had 26 turnovers yesterday.
 
#37
#37
bballnut90 said:
Texas has a lot of depth and good guard play. They rebound exceptionally well and Lang gives them an added dimension inside. Tennessee has the edge inside with Russell and Nared, but they need to hit perimeter shots and production from Deshields to have a shot. Texas appears to be the heavy favorite at home, I'd look for a win by Texas win by 10-15 but better effort from the Vols than vs Baylor.
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If Lang stays out of foul trouble, then I think Texas wins by 15+. Even if Mercedes has another day like she did against Baylor, as long as there is a big body to make her work for her points on offense and have to get physical on defense, that plays in Texas' favor.

IMO, the game will be decided by the guards. McCarty and Higgs will tear Reynolds, Jackson and Middleton another new one. If Ariel Atkins is available, it will be even worse. If the Tennessee guards can't either defend their Texas counterparts and put some points on the board, expect a repeat of Sunday.
 
#38
#38
the Lady Vols dropped out...so what...lot's of ball to play yet...we'll see what happens and if the coaches/team can come together...if not, could be Holly's last year...jus' sayin', and as always...

GO LADY VOLS!
 
#39
#39
If ever the Lady Vols need to play tough...it's the next game against Texas. They've got to match physical play for physical play. This is a must win!
 
#41
#41
Sportslady said:
I see 2 things needed for post season play, as the regular season will be a tough one.
1. A team member steps up to become a leader and demand more from each individual player, regardless of coaching
2. The team decides "on their own" to play at the level they are capacity (and this goes back to team leadership), and makes a run through the conference tourney.
Otherwise, we may be looking at the NIT this year.
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They need to stop hanging their heads whenever they get in a jam or down a few points. That defeats any kind of comeback mentality and makes things worse. This is where good coaching comes in. A coach that looks lost in postgame interviews is not going to motivate anyone to grind it out!
 
#42
#42
bballnut90 said:
Texas has a lot of depth and good guard play. They rebound exceptionally well and Lang gives them an added dimension inside. Tennessee has the edge inside with Russell and Nared, but they need to hit perimeter shots and production from Deshields to have a shot. Texas appears to be the heavy favorite at home, I'd look for a win by Texas win by 10-15 but better effort from the Vols than vs Baylor.
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I believe you may be right. It will be tough to beat them on their floor playing like we are now. I also think you are right about Texas being tired of losing. I have to wonder if the Lady Vols are tired of it as well.
 
#43
#43
alexvol said:
Must win or what ?
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I think it is a must win as far as confidence. If the LV's go in and take care of business in Austin, it will be an extreme confidence booster. IMHO, even a loss within a couple of points is better than being blown out. Two double digit losses back-back (Baylor, Texas) tends to make teams seemingly struggling into mental basket cases. This isn't what this team needs right now. A very close loss or a win, that is what this team needs more now than ever. Win is preferred. But a close loss with good physical play should at least show this team that physical play will keep them in games.
 
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#44
#44
OriginalCoach said:
I think it is a must win as far as confidence. If the LV's go in and take care of business in Austin, it will be an extreme confidence booster. IMHO, even a loss within a couple of points is better than being blown out. Two double digit losses back-back (Baylor, Texas) tends to make teams seemingly struggling into mental basket cases. This isn't what this team needs right now. A very close loss or a win, that is what this team needs more now than ever. Win is preferred. But a close loss with good physical play should at least show this team that physical play will keep them in games.
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Agree
 
#45
#45
teacherdean said:
Once again Holly takes the Lady Vols to an all time low. Way to go Holly you trend setter.
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With the players that are on the roster this team should be top 10. No reason to lose to Penn St., VA Tech and Baylor at home. With the supposed #1 recruiting class in the nation coming in next year there needs to be an immediate change in a head coach. I can't ever remember the Lady Vols ever not being ranked...let alone out of the top 10. When Miss S., So. Carolina, Kentucky and Florida are ahead of the Vols in women's basketball there is need for a change.
 
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#46
#46
cwbytruckers said:
Hasn't DD been due a big game ever since she has gotten here? Yet we still haven't seen it.
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Since she stepped on the floor last year she has had one great game against Ohio St. in the tournament. The rest of the time she has been inconsistent...maybe due to Holly's coaching. Even as a lame duck AD Dave Hart should step in and make the call for a new coach. Unfortunately, the season has already started. Had he done it after last season he could have gotten Sue Samrau from FSU.
 
#48
#48
Nuyoika said:
I really cannot imagine they lose to Texas they are basically the walking wounded right now and somehow Texas is still in the Top 25. Vols will get back in as conference play starts. It will be a slow grind up the chart though.
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You are dreaming...
 
#49
#49
tallyho said:
Since she stepped on the floor last year she has had one great game against Ohio St. in the tournament. The rest of the time she has been inconsistent...maybe due to Holly's coaching. Even as a lame duck AD Dave Hart should step in and make the call for a new coach. Unfortunately, the season has already started. Had he done it after last season he could have gotten Sue Samrau from FSU.
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Maybe due to Holly's coaching??? Ya think?...
 
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#50
#50
Coffy73 said:
They need to stop hanging their heads whenever they get in a jam or down a few points. That defeats any kind of comeback mentality and makes things worse. This is where good coaching comes in. A coach that looks lost in postgame interviews is not going to motivate anyone to grind it out!
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The girls know if they get behind the coaches can't coach them back into a lead.
 
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