A Few Things About LV's First Game

#1

teacherdean

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#1
Just a few things I noticed about last night's game:

1. The guard play seems to have improved;
2. Diamond seems to have that beast quality;
3. Nunn and Nard appear to be highly competitive on the wing;
4. Russell had periods of toughness but tends to watch the game when she should be in the game. At 6' 7" she should be one of the best post in the nation;
5. We missed a lot of easy makable shots under the basket;
6. There is a lot of potential that could be affected by a very short bench.

Saving grace is that this was the first game so I figured that there would be mistakes. It appears that we have the tools to be very competitive. I believe Nunn will get better and that Diamond is posed to have an All American year.
 
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#2
#2
Russel played a solid game I agree it should be better , But she will . Nunn will be better this was her first game in a year and she just got cleared to play / I expect mistakes the first game. but A lot of good signs that double down screen for middelton three. was solid did not see last year.
 
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#3
#3
CN was about a 1.5 on a 1-10 level as far as opponent strength. Anybody thinking that the Lady Vols appeared strong last night has been drinking the Kool Ade to long. Evidence that they have progressed at all from last year can't be decided until at least five games into the season.
 
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#5
#5
Team Chemistry and body language looked great! Jordan looked great, i just wish she would look for her mid range jumper a little more. Diamond looked like a complete player. Jaime was more aggressive and looked great. Nunn seemed a little nervous,she will help with rebounding and put backs. Mercedes had a quiet 20 points. Overall looked for her shot more...we just need her to make those layups. I was impressed with meme Jackson, if she becomes more confident and look to score more she could be a boost off the bench. Middelton looked good,it was nice to see her set her feet and knock down the 3. Harris was nervous but she will only get more comfortable. I hope Dunbar gets well soon.
 
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#6
#6
I have to go with gule on this one.
Remember how we looked after the first couple of games last year ? KD was killing it. Then what happened ?
Optimism is fine, just let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. I'm cautiously optimistic.
 
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#7
#7
You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman, unless you are a woman.... lol
 
#8
#8
btw, voted today, 15th in line. Not a Hillary voter in sight. Everybody in line with me was anti- HRC. :)
 
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#11
#11
My thoughts:

Defensively the LV'S gave up too many open looks and fouled too much. Jackson and Middleton were too often out of position. I see no evidence there is a defensive stopper. Discipline and help defense is still lacking.

Offense was better than last season. Nared and DeShields looked very good. Reynolds is steady if unspectacular.

I wish Middleton would slow down and let the game come to her instead of trying to win the game on every single play.

Jackson never met a shot she didn't like. I hope she learns to make them.

Did C-N play any zone? I need to see the zone offense.
 
#12
#12
If anybody read the post game quotes holly and players were disappointed in defense . so I thought it could be better but they were tired. Also Jackson and middleton was out of position a lot I agree, but those things and can be corrected , Keep in mind we are not just asking players who only played limited minutes to have a role. We are asking them to have a major role that will take time, but meme and middelton had some good minutes as well
 
#13
#13
My thoughts:

Defensively the LV'S gave up too many open looks and fouled too much. Jackson and Middleton were too often out of position. I see no evidence there is a defensive stopper. Discipline and help defense is still lacking.

Offense was better than last season. Nared and DeShields looked very good. Reynolds is steady if unspectacular.

I wish Middleton would slow down and let the game come to her instead of trying to win the game on every single play.

Jackson never met a shot she didn't like. I hope she learns to make them.

Did C-N play any zone? I need to see the zone offense.

Jackson never met a shot she didn't like.:)

It will be critical that Middleton and Dunbar knock down some outside shots to loosen up the inside. Also, please learn to pull up and try a short jumper instead of driving straight at the defense and chancing injury and offensive fouls(Diamond).
 
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#14
#14
About the same as last year, next tier below the really good teams. Trump wins state by a mile but loses the election.
 
#16
#16
I see a more competitive team, everyone she put on the court, played hard for the most part.

I saw a more confident, mature team. They played like they knew there were better for long stretches, that was nice to see.

But the potential to be a really good team too... 1, 2, 3, 5 spots all looked better and we were efficient.

Defense, Rebounding and Good Guard play win Championships.

Go Lady Vols.
 
#17
#17
CN was about a 1.5 on a 1-10 level as far as opponent strength. Anybody thinking that the Lady Vols appeared strong last night has been drinking the Kool Ade to long. Evidence that they have progressed at all from last year can't be decided until at least five games into the season.

They couldn't beat themselves early last year. Last night was an improvement no matter who they play.
 
#18
#18
My thoughts:

Defensively the LV'S gave up too many open looks and fouled too much. Jackson and Middleton were too often out of position. I see no evidence there is a defensive stopper. Discipline and help defense is still lacking.

Offense was better than last season. Nared and DeShields looked very good. Reynolds is steady if unspectacular.

I wish Middleton would slow down and let the game come to her instead of trying to win the game on every single play.

Jackson never met a shot she didn't like. I hope she learns to make them.

Did C-N play any zone? I need to see the zone offense.

It's hard to form an opinion on Mercedes on games like this where she had such a massive size difference. She looked effective, and it will be interesting to see how she matches up against teams with more proven size.

The two wings looked great, but there was also a lack of size and athleticism to challenge that. Nevertheless, Jaime looked very comfortable and played under control...something she didn't do a lot of the last 2 years. I think she will be solid.

The two lead guards both looked good. Even though it's CN, it was nice to see Jordan make that mid-range jumper, and even put up a three with little hesitation. I liked what Alexa brought to the court as well.

Jackson was the only player that shot poorly, but she has such a nice looking stroke that I can imagine that she'll be seeing the ball drop through the hoop more consistently.

The other two posts, Nunn and Harris, have some work to do. Nunn's touch around the basket was not good. She needs to be an offensive option. I haven't seen enough of her offensive game to know if she can effectively play the high post with drives to the basket or a mid-range jumper. Harris might be the better player of the two.

Good warmup. Looking forward to seeing how they start their "real" OOC games and then how they perform against the Texans in a few weeks.
 
#19
#19
Did C-N play any zone? I need to see the zone offense.

That is kind of what I was looking for. That was really disappointing to not see how they reacted to a zone. I am going to re-watch the game now because i briefly recall a sagging man in the second quarter.

Also, last year I would see Mercedes defending on the perimeter and would think she was out of position and in most instances she would be (but you aren't if the coaching staff tells you to play there). After seeing them play last night they are definitely being taught to defend that way. Nunn was guarding the perimeter and Middleton was in the paint. I am eager to see if they stay that way vs Baylor.
 
#20
#20
...Also, please learn to pull up and try a short jumper instead of driving straight at the defense and chancing injury and offensive fouls(Diamond).

Funny, because I think the same of Middleton. She has a lot of talent if she could learn to harness it. But the way she runs a hundred miles an hour into the lane makes me cringe.
 
#21
#21
That is kind of what I was looking for. That was really disappointing to not see how they reacted to a zone. I am going to re-watch the game now because i briefly recall a sagging man in the second quarter.

Also, last year I would see Mercedes defending on the perimeter and would think she was out of position and in most instances she would be (but you aren't if the coaching staff tells you to play there). After seeing them play last night they are definitely being taught to defend that way. Nunn was guarding the perimeter and Middleton was in the paint. I am eager to see if they stay that way vs Baylor.

Did the C-N coach play man-D at Holly's request?

Re Mercedes on the perimeter, if you watched last season, this happened all the time. I played basketball literally many decades ago, but I was taught that good defensive teams don't switch. But the LV's switch constantly on defense. I can only assume this is how they are being taught, but I don't know why.
 
#22
#22
do you really think she can tell them how to run there team , ppl stop reaching please and switching is part of a game plan as well. esp when a team only shoot three if we did not switch they would be open from the three point line. and to refresh your memory. we switched on stanford when we played them at home and we won 59-40. ppl trying so hard to find something wrong with holly but to be honest I don't think half of you could get the lady vols to an 15-15 record.
 
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#23
#23
...The other two posts, Nunn and Harris, have some work to do. Nunn's touch around the basket was not good. She needs to be an offensive option. I haven't seen enough of her offensive game to know if she can effectively play the high post with drives to the basket or a mid-range jumper. Harris might be the better player of the two...

Neither player got a ton of minutes but Nunn clearly looked to me to be ready to contribute. She was strong on the boards and looked as if she felt comfortable on the court. Harris fouled too much and seemed to be uncomfortable.
 
#24
#24
do you really think she can tell them how to run there team , ppl stop reaching please and switching is part of a game plan as well. esp when a team only shoot three if we did not switch they would be open from the three point line. and to refresh your memory. we switched on stanford when we played them at home and we won 59-40. ppl trying so hard to find something wrong with holly but to be honest I don't think half of you could get the lady vols to an 15-15 record.

My comments were inquisitive in nature. Calm down. Please.
 
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#25
#25
do you really think she can tell them how to run there team , ppl stop reaching please and switching is part of a game plan as well. esp when a team only shoot three if we did not switch they would be open from the three point line. and to refresh your memory. we switched on stanford when we played them at home and we won 59-40. ppl trying so hard to find something wrong with holly but to be honest I don't think half of you could get the lady vols to an 15-15 record.

Dat part. :rock:
 
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