Uconn vs MD

[CockyGuy]

Just the facts:

Her freshman year at Georgetown Natalie Butler was fifth in the nation in rebounding and averaged a double-double. She had 1.84 blocks per game and shot 49% from the floor. She was Big East rookie of the year and defensive player of the year. She hasn't played a game in one year nine months. She played 15 minutes, scored 11 points, had 8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 2 steals, 1 TO and no fouls in her first game back.

Mercedes Russell against Stetson: 24 minutes, 11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 0 steals, 1 TO, 1 foul.

I fail to see how that has any effect on the game Feb 8th. Like I said, if our perimeter players play like trash we don't have a chance. I'm not concerned with Natalie Butler.

 

[reno tony]

I fail to see how that has any effect on the game Feb 8th. Like I said, if our perimeter players play like trash we don't have a chance. I'm not concerned with Natalie Butler.

It wasn't directed toward you... it was just a statement of facts and a simple comparison that Vol fans could recognize. But it's a good thing you are not coaching S.C. because that would be very short-sighted not to be concerned with her. They don't pay Geno $2 million a year to not be concerned. And they don't pay Dawn to not be concerned. They need to prepare for all possible threats and be ready to change as the threat does. It will be a great game.

 

[gule]

somebody please delete this disgusting thread from the LADY VOL forum, it makes me puke!

 

[SCGamecock]

Your jury is still out on her? Really? Sounds like the jury has already ruled....

Yea, I'm not saying she's a bad player. She had a good game.. but it was Cincinnati. There was nobody on the floor able to post her up.. there probably was nobody in the arena able to post her up. Again, she had a good game but I'd like to see her against bigger competition.

 

[SCGamecock]

Yeah. Beat them first, then come in and brag. REALLY SOUTH CAROLINA? You are basing your hopes on basically nothing? Seriously - Beat them - then come and comment - otherwise go the hell away,

I don't really recall bragging or being braggadocious. Myself and the other SC fan even said (or insinuated) its not likely SC beats UCONN. If you determine bragging from that then....

 

[BBaller]

somebody please delete this disgusting thread from the LADY VOL forum, it makes me puke!

Hey, it's a UConn thread started, I believe, by a Lady Vol fan. Don't you think wanting to puke is a bit of an overreaction? There's a simple solution...Don't read it if it makes you sick. It's not rocket science. It's a brand new year, and hopefully you're in good health, so relax. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff, and this is VERY small stuff. Come on, people! It's just a game played by kids.

 

[gule]

it's outlived it usefulness and is starting to smell. delete this rotten fish!

 

[BBaller]

it's outlived it usefulness and is starting to smell. delete this rotten fish!

Again, don't read it. Maybe it is rocket science afterall. You keep complaining about it, yet you keep reading it. No one to blame but yourself for that. Take a pill, it's the nature of a public forum. No one is being disrespectful to the Lady Vols or any posters. Anger and envy are very destructive emotions.

 

[teacherdean]

I recall posters saying we did not need McGowan, well she is so much more aggressive than Russell. Candace, as part of the broadcasting team during the MSU and Florida game, said it all,"You cannot coach effort."

 

[LurkerExposed]

somebody please delete this disgusting thread from the LADY VOL forum, it makes me puke!

 

[DaddyChoc]

Yea, I'm not saying she's a bad player. She had a good game.. but it was Cincinnati. There was nobody on the floor able to post her up.. there probably was nobody in the arena able to post her up. Again, she had a good game but I'd like to see her against bigger competition.

does that at every UConn practice

 

[cabbie191]

Yea I watched that game mainly because I wanted to see Butler play. My response, meh. I think she's good and she'll do well for UCONN but there's nothing that particularly frightens me about her. She throws a wrench in the game simply because it's another big body that UCONN can throw at Wilson & Co. To be frank, she didn't do anything in that game that our own Coates can't do and I'm not convinced Butler is going to bully Coates in the paint. Maybe she will, but it's hard for me to be convinced that she will judging by how she played versus a much smaller Cincinnati team. Also, I don't think Geno plays Butler, Stewart and Tuck all at once.. Tuck and Stewart are very versatile but at what point are you playing "too big"...

TL;DR - Butler is good but not spectacular, yet. She gives UCONN a much needed presence in the paint. Personally, my jury is still out on her. I need to see her versus a more talented team.

Hi SCG - I was also anxious to see Butler. For her first start, it's hard telling how effective she was. Played well for someone out of action as long as she was, but we have to consider the absolute lack of competition Cincy gave UConn.

As regards the upcoming game with So. Car and her potential impact - I agree that she won't be owning Coates, but for UConn to be successful, do you think that is really necessary? Seems to me just having the ability to neutralize some of Coates' game will be helpful to the Huskies.

 

[SCGamecock]

As regards the upcoming game with So. Car and her potential impact - I agree that she won't be owning Coates, but for UConn to be successful, do you think that is really necessary? Seems to me just having the ability to neutralize some of Coates' game will be helpful to the Huskies.

Exactly. That's actually the point I was trying to make in my previous posts. UCONN doesn't have to match us in the paint to win that game. That game will probably be decided on guard play because both teams are strong in the post, but when you have big forwards like Tuck and Stewart that can do "guard like" things and stretch you to the perimeter that's a big advantage, because that means Tuck and Stewart don't even have to come in the paint and score against our bigs if they didn't want to (they likely will, but the point is they don't have to.. they can hurt us in other ways). Tuck and Stewart are good in the paint but they are not bangers. Butler is a banger, she adds that wrinkle to the game. But again, if UCONN beats us I don't think it will be because of Natalie Butler or post play, it'll probably be guard play again. So no, Butler doesn't have to own Coates. She just has to play to her ability. She will not decide that game.. it will be the guard (like) play of Stewart, Tuck, Jefferson and others that decides it. That's why I'm not threatened by Butler having a good game versus Cincinnati... at the end of the day it's still all about Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson.

 

[volfanIND]

I hope this game of UCONN and USC doesn't come down to fouls being called. There are a couple ref's who carry Geno's business cards in their back pockets, I just hope they won't be the ones officiating the game. USC plays good SEC post basketball, one of which UCONN doesn't do, and it's a fact UCONN will have their hands full with USC post. I hope they let the players play the game.

 

[brassie]

I hope this game of UCONN and USC doesn't come down to fouls being called. There are a couple ref's who carry Geno's business cards in their back pockets, I just hope they won't be the ones officiating the game. USC plays good SEC post basketball, one of which UCONN doesn't do, and it's a fact UCONN will have their hands full with USC post. I hope they let the players play the game.

I have been wondering how UConn got to be ranked #5 in fouls committed. Care to name the refs?

Auriemma learned from Muffett. One of the reasons that ND was able to beat UConn so often was that her teams just didn't foul, especially when it counted. South Carolina is ranked 57th in fouls committed so I would expect there might be difference in fouls called. Care to venture a guess where UT ranks? Something else that HW isn't teaching?

 

[cabbie191]

I hope this game of UCONN and USC doesn't come down to fouls being called. UCONN will have their hands full with USC post. I hope they let the players play the game.

Agreed - it doesn't matter the sport, it's a letdown if the officials are blowing whistle after whistle. The only exception being if a game starts out chippy and lots of foul calling is necessary to establish control.

 

[Chitownvol1129]

BS. The Lady Vols faithful threatened to boycott if he didn't hire Warlick...b/c she was Pat's choice no matter her condition. They hamstrung his chance of getting a big time coach. You wanted her, you got her.

BS! Tennessee never considered anyone but Holly, she had acted as coach basically, actually the entire year before, the only drama was telling Pat to step down, and Holly was taking over! There was no threat, it all happened very fast, don't attempt to rewrite history!

 

[Martic]

UConn may not be as good an outside shooting team as last year, but they are still pretty good...way better than Tennessee. You have to guard Jefferson, Nurse, Stewart and Tuck of the starters. If they bring Samuelson in for Collier, then all 5 players on the court are solid outside threats. Deshields is the only LV who has made the volume of outside shots to warrant being closely guarded from there.

The SC game will be interesting. Coates is a better version of Brionna Jones, and I expect that she will have a similar kind of game against UConn...only more physical. Wilson has the size and skill to make Stewart work for her points, and make her work on defense as well. Throw in Mitchell, and they should like their chances going into that game. Will be one to keep an eye on for sure.

Only problem is Mitchell has a habit of disappearing in big games. I hope she show up for uconn game and not ours!!!

 

[Rickster]

it's outlived it usefulness and is starting to smell. delete this rotten fish!

It just won't die…..

 

[Amb3096]

Only problem is Mitchell has a habit of disappearing in big games. I hope she show up for uconn game and not ours!!!

Mitchell is at her best in the big games.

 

[reno tony]

I have been wondering how UConn got to be ranked #5 in fouls committed. Care to name the refs?

Auriemma learned from Muffett. One of the reasons that ND was able to beat UConn so often was that her teams just didn't foul, especially when it counted. South Carolina is ranked 57th in fouls committed so I would expect there might be difference in fouls called. Care to venture a guess where UT ranks? Something else that HW isn't teaching?

UCONN has always been excellent in fouls committed. Last year they were second and the year before they were first. That's how they train and that's how they play.

 

[Martic]

Mitchell is at her best in the big games.

Were you at SEC tourney year before last? The uconn game? several big game in the past she has not shown up? Even though they won the tourney last year, how was her production? Only after the game was in hand did she really do anything.

 

[Amb3096]

Were you at SEC tourney year before last? The uconn game? several big game in the past she has not shown up? Even though they won the tourney last year, how was her production? Only after the game was in hand did she really do anything.

I remember she had a crappy game against Duke, but she made the big 3 pointer with under a minute to play to keep them in the game which they ultimately won. She was also solid against UConn, Tenn x 2, and in the S16/E8/F4 tourney games.

As for the SEC championship game vs. Tennessee, she scored 13 of her 17 points while the game was still in single digits.

There are many players in the archives of college basketball that have not shown up for big games, but Mitchell does not belong on that list. She's a gamer.

 

[Martic]

I remember she had a crappy game against Duke, but she made the big 3 pointer with under a minute to play to keep them in the game which they ultimately won. She was also solid against UConn, Tenn x 2, and in the S16/E8/F4 tourney games.

As for the SEC championship game vs. Tennessee, she scored 13 of her 17 points while the game was still in single digits.

There are many players in the archives of college basketball that have not shown up for big games, but Mitchell does not belong on that list. She's a gamer.

not going there again with you

 

[Amb3096]

not going there again with you

You responded to my post. If you know that I'm not going agree that a player is not that good just because you think so, then save us both the time and skip over my posts.