Was Keyen Green that important?

[NighthawkVol]

Since her injury, this hasn’t been the same team. She wasn’t a star, but she was certainly a player who did a lot of the little things. Are we missing her “glue” that badly?

 

[Nute Gunray]

Since her injury, this hasn’t been the same team. She wasn’t a star, but she was certainly a player who did a lot of the little things. Are we missing her “glue” that badly?

This is a very good question. I wish I knew the answer.

 

[Amb3096]

She was, but the team should not be falling apart like this just because of that. There are chemistry issues going on right now.

 

[Putbacks]

Green averaged just 1.1 turnovers per game. Every teammate is trying to cover for it.

 

[Volstylexx]

Almost March and here we are debating the impact of a backup center. Who would've ever thought that!?

13mins, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 0 blocks ppg. 0 reason this team couldn't absorb her loss with Rae back.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Yes!! Green was the heart.

We need to find a replacement.

 

[VOLED]

She was, but the team should not be falling apart like this just because of that. There are chemistry issues going on right now.

Yes, there are chemistry issues. Not getting as much effort from a few players since Burrell returned?

 

[And1]

There is no leader on the court. That is part of the issue, at least.

 

[TheMississippiVol]

Green is a good and smart player.. very mature. She’s definitely missed. But there’s no excuse for how undisciplined this team is playing nor the questionable coaching decisions. K. Harper put a terribly prepared team out there tonight and that’s unacceptable at Tenn.

 

[LA Vol]

Think Green's a small part of it. It was going to be a different team with Rae, it became a different team without Rae and now that Rae's back-- but not quite the same Rae-- nobody seems to know what team it is. Others stepped up in her absence; now, do they just step back? Who gets less minutes? Maybe different people have different ideas about what the roles should be? Small stuff can become bigger stuff that eats at chemistry if it isn't fixed quickly.

 

[dapeak]

I don’t know if people saw during games when this team would get down on itself or need a reminder to take it play by play, it was usually green in the floor when things would turn around and in the middle of dead ball huddles reminding the team to keep it level headed with a smile on her face. She was the heart and the calm. She’s still there just not on the court. They need to find that piece.

 

[Darth_Vol]

No doubt if Green was out there playing Tennessee wins this game easily...

 

[Amb3096]

I don’t know if people saw during games when this team would get down on itself or need a reminder to take it play by play, it was usually green in the floor when things would turn around and in the middle of dead ball huddles reminding the team to keep it level headed with a smile on her face. She was the heart and the calm. She’s still there just not on the court. They need to find that piece.

What's to stop her from still doing that on the sidelines? It's not like she was only leading when she was actively in the game. She only played about a quarter a game. She wasn't the only leader on the team.

 

[Franklin Pierce]

As I posted after the horrific Auburn loss, Green would be the Excuse for future Tennessee losses.

 

[Deebowbear]

The thing is we didn’t fall apart when Rae went down. Looked really bad tonight couldn’t get anything going. I think Kellie needs to get on them more, show some Pat attitude

 

[luballer]

Green was the leader of this team and is still trying to do that from the sidelines. But to me the thing we are missing most with her injured is she allowed TK to play freely. TK had faith in Keyen and knew if she got in foul trouble Keyen had her back. This allowed TK to play aggressive defense and allowed the guards to take more gambles on defense knowing she was roaming the paint. With Keyen out, TK is now allowing more space to avoid drawing a foul and our guards aren’t nearly as aggressive. Those 13 mins a game were a lot more important then most realized because of how much it affects TK’s playing style without a proven backup center.

 

[glv98]

Green was the leader of this team and is still trying to do that from the sidelines. But to me the thing we are missing most with her injured is she allowed TK to play freely. TK had faith in Keyen and knew if she got in foul trouble Keyen had her back. This allowed TK to play aggressive defense and allowed the guards to take more gambles on defense knowing she was roaming the paint. With Keyen out, TK is now allowing more space to avoid drawing a foul and our guards aren’t nearly as aggressive. Those 13 mins a game were a lot more important then most realized because of how much it affects TK’s playing style without a proven backup center.

Completely agree. Key's aggressiveness was always fragile, now it's gone. I said a couple of games ago Key needs to just play and let the chips fall where they may. Since Green's been gone, fear of fouling has destroyed Key mentally.

 

[th2421]

I agree with other posters that it seems like it’s more about figuring out how to reintegrate Rae - at least on offense. Didn’t think I’d be saying this but I’d favor going back to Darby as a starter. The chemistry is off so might as well start the game with what had been working so well.

Though I do think Key hasn’t been the same defensively since Green went out, and Key is basically the entire reason we have (had?) the nation’s best FG% defense. It seems like she’s in her head a bit about not fouling and it’s disrupted a lot of what we do defensively.

 

[TennesseeStudVOL]

Yes she was period

 

[Twinsbornoncampus]

Since her injury, this hasn’t been the same team. She wasn’t a star, but she was certainly a player who did a lot of the little things. Are we missing her “glue” that badly?

Ms Green seems to have been the glue that holds this team together. There is a lot of talent on this team but we also have a few players who are fragile emotionally. Coach is doing all she can to keep her team together. Maturity doesn’t always show up under pressure as the same mistakes happen over and over. This team has a good base. The refs have stopped calling intentional fouls on Key defenders this frustrates her and she is being taken out of her game. The refs seem to be equalizing the game and allowing physicality. To prevent her from dominating they call tic tac fouls. I have always felt that the weakness in SEC women’s basketball are the referees. We have the ability to beat anyone

 

[Amb3096]

Can we stop complaining already about the refs like they have it out for Tamari because of her size? Somehow, it's not an issue for Aliyah Boston.

No of the refs are persecuting the LVs. If Kellie believes that too, then they will not fix their issues.

 

[stlvolsfan]

I think Rae coming back hurt us more than we realize and so sis taking Tess out of the starting line up

 

[chuckiepoo]

I think Rae coming back hurt us more than we realize and so sis taking Tess out of the starting line up

Her team may have seen she hadn’t earned that yet. Excellent point. CPS: make a player earn something?

 

[teacherdean]

Green was one of those players who provided a spark off the bench. She motivated the team with her hard work and leadership. Right now that is missing off the bench. Right now Puckett is by far our best sub off the bench, however, she is a hard worker but lacks Green’s leadership off the bench. Another issue over the last three games is Burrell and Horston are making too many errors trying to take the game on their backs. I would also go back to my starting lineup with Tess starting and Burrell coming off the bench. Right now I think Burrell is trying way too hard. Tess has improved her defense and has the long ball threat. We need to do something.

 

[Dak1219]

I almost think it is time to bring Burrell back off the bench for this team's sake...... She can still play 26-28 minutes, but we need that spark and it forces Jordan, Tamari and the others to think about making more plays from the jump. We looked good when Rae came back as a 6th player and had high energy coming off the bench. The game immediately goes to a faster pace when you sub Rae in and can put defenders on their heels a bit. It seems even more critical now that Keyan is not available to have some extra bench play that can come in and create and make plays.