Game Thread: SEC Tournament Second Round. #18/14 Lady Vols (9 seed) vs. Vandy (8 seed). Thurs., March 6, 11 am ET, SECN

[AllVols3]

Elite??

You Damn straight ELITE. What part of that do you bot understand?

 

[AllVols3]

Failed reading comprehension twice! Well, everyone has to be special in their own way.

Nobody reading all that BS. You don't believe CKC will get it done, I called you out on it and now you're crying like a little baby .

 

[AllVols3]

Perhaps you should actually read the entire post next time. As in maybe the fifth paragraph.

I'm bit reading all the BS. Why would I read all that when you know NOTHING about basketball.

 

[1reVOLver]

Nobody reading all that BS. You don't believe CKC will get it done, I called you out on it and now you're crying like a little baby .

You insist on embarrassing yourself. If you can't even notice who you are jabbering at, let alone read a few intelligent paragraphs, have a look at post #677. Then, if you have any integrity, you will apologize for (1) lack of comprehension, and( 2) baseless insults.

Edited to add: I have had lazy students in my university classes. They didn’t want to do the work, and showed their ignorance in class. I quietly invited them to drop the course before earning a failing grade. The equivalent here would be to go away, quietly.

 

[ScreamingEagleVol]

You Damn straight ELITE. What part of that do you bot understand?

There is nothing that currently indicates that this team will be elite.

 

[madtownvol]

Totally they will hit a wall just like the current players have hit one. I think Coach Caldwell is going to have to rethink some things about the press especially in SEC play. It taxes the players even playing just 20 to 25 minutes is a lot of work per possession. Might work for a season if you had 15 elite players playing 14 minutes. What she is trying to accomplish is a shot differential and it works against A&M type teams 80 shots to 49 not against Vandy who had a few more shots than we did mainly because they won the turnover battle and the offensive rebounds were about even. You can win those battles playing a convential style and she may have to realize that when you go up against guards that the press does not affect.

I don't know if there is a conditioning program that can ever gets your legs to a point where you can play full court on 70 possessions an entire season even if your just playing 35 to 40 of them per game.

Shooting woes and fatigue also go together. We also have to factor in the presumably hyper-intense practice sessions that go along with implementing this system.

I am bummed by this end of the season fizzle. I hope the team rekindle some magic during the tournament but right now, going in as a 5 or 6 seed will make it a challenge to get to the S16.

Even though this team had a lot of upside, they have underperformed in the conference and conference tourney relative to last year's team. This year's team had a signature win whereas last years had several oh so close but not cigar games. But, I think the extra two wins this team currently has over last year's team mainly reflect a much easier preseason schedule.

Unless this team makes it to the S16, this season is a bit of bust despite the early season excitement and buzz. I am surprised that things are trending this way but I think we are seeing some clear evidence that this latest version of a "40 minutes of hell" system is not sustainable at this level.

CKC's ace in the hole is her recruiting class. She still needs some portal help to fill the gap in the post but, even with that infusion of talent, there is a lot of evidence that she is going to have rethink her approach.

 

[volforlife10]

There is nothing that currently indicates that this team will be elite.

in his previous comment he mentioned with the freshman class we have coming in and the addition of edwards and harpring (not sure if that’s how u spell it) then THAT team would be elite which is factual. he’s not saying the team we have right now is…

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

You Damn straight ELITE. What part of that do you bot understand?

2024-2025 LVs aren’t done yet. Facts 2025-2026 LVs = Scary Hours. Elite returnees. Elite coaching staff. Elite #1/#2 recruiting class. 5 McDonald’s All-Americans. 9 Top 50 Recruits. 10 Top 70 recruits.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Thank you for such a well thought out rebuttal and exchange of ideas. I’ll contemplate on this post.

Mantra worthy, for sure…

 

[madtownvol]

Interesting discussion. So when we get this influx of athletic talent does that allow CKC to do her “system” more and better or will she still need to dial the hard press back against better teams?

Can even elite athletes last a whole season of heavy pressing without getting dead legs? Would even more rigorous training help or make the legs wear out even sooner?

I,m glad Kim has owned the obvious burnout which appears to be mental as well as physical. I give her grace, she was use to managing Shetland ponies but now she has thoroughbreds. I’m sure she’ll do better.

At the risk of running this metaphor into the ground, you have manage race horses differently than plow horses.....

 

[ScreamingEagleVol]

2024-2025 LVs aren’t done yet. Facts 2025-2026 LVs = Scary Hours. Elite returnees. Elite coaching staff. Elite #1/#2 recruiting class. 5 McDonald’s All-Americans. 9 Top 50 Recruits. 10 Top 70 recruits.

Last two games haven’t demonstrated elite coaching.

 

[Rickster]

Shooting woes and fatigue also go together. We also have to factor in the presumably hyper-intense practice sessions that go along with implementing this system.

I am bummed by this end of the season fizzle. I hope the team rekindle some magic during the tournament but right now, going in as a 5 or 6 seed will make it a challenge to get to the S16.

Even though this team had a lot of upside, they have underperformed in the conference and conference tourney relative to last year's team. This year's team had a signature win whereas last years had several oh so close but not cigar games. But, I think the extra two wins this team currently has over last year's team mainly reflect a much easier preseason schedule.

Unless this team makes it to the S16, this season is a bit of bust despite the early season excitement and buzz. I am surprised that things are trending this way but I think we are seeing some clear evidence that this latest version of a "40 minutes of hell" system is not sustainable at this level.

CKC's ace in the hole is her recruiting class. She still needs some portal help to fill the gap in the post but, even with that infusion of talent, there is a lot of evidence that she is going to have rethink her approach.

I’m personally encouraged that we could get over 20 wins. When Kim was announced as coach, I thought the ceiling would be much lower given the roster but she’s went out and got players and coached them up in a completely new system unlike anything they played before.

I hope some rest and a refresh will work. This team, when it is executing, has proven it can stay in games even if it can’t close them. Here’s hoping they find that special elixir.

 

[chuckiepoo]

At the risk of running this metaphor into the ground, you have manage race horses differently than plow horses.....

The real issue is you don’t bring plow horses to the track.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I hope some rest and a refresh will work. This team, when it is executing, has proven it can stay in games even if it can’t close them. Here’s hoping they find that special elixir.

 

[madtownvol]

I’m personally encouraged that we could get over 20 wins. When Kim was announced as coach, I thought the ceiling would be much lower given the roster but she’s went out and got players and coached them up in a completely new system unlike anything they played before.

I hope some rest and a refresh will work. This team, when it is executing, has proven it can stay in games even if it can’t close them. Here’s hoping they find that special elixir.

Hi Rickster, my expectations plus $5 can get you a coffee at Starbucks so here goes...

I definitely scaled up my expectations once Spencer and Whitehorn came on board. I knew Coop was waiting in the wings plus new additions Latham and Spearman. Even with Wynn out (sad emoji here), I was pretty high on the teams potential and I had become a believer that CKC had the special sauce.

I think the system has proven to be a double edged sword. No doubt they looked formidable in the first half of the season and they played some very good teams right down to the wire .

But in the end we have been the team to wear down mentally and physically which led to underperforming in the back half of the season. The late collapse which kept them from getting an SEC tournament buy really hurt, since a tired team doess NOT WANT back-back games. We were always a step slow against Vandy.

The long break before the NCAA tournament should be a blessing and if the seeding breaks there way, maybe they can get to the S16. As I have had a little time to reflect, they are built to create some problems in the tourney, if they can just make some shots.

If they get to the S16, I will happily revise my "bust" assessment and that plus $12 can get you lunch at Popeyes. But the season is not done, and a couple of wins can really change a narrative.

 

[Cb153181]

Last two games haven’t demonstrated elite coaching.

Obviously but she continues to blame the players instead of holding herself accountable.

It’s really an easy fix before NCAA start.

Take the press from full court to half.
Let players play at least 4-5 minutes so they can build chemistry.
Work on blocking out.
The offense is to predictable, pass the ball around make cuts, back door cuts, run plays to get Jewel open. Work on High-Low.
The offense needs to move the ball around use some of the shot clock.

Stop dribbling the ball in the paint and turning your back to get the ball stolen

 

[AllVols3]

2024-2025 LVs aren’t done yet. Facts 2025-2026 LVs = Scary Hours. Elite returnees. Elite coaching staff. Elite #1/#2 recruiting class. 5 McDonald’s All-Americans. 9 Top 50 Recruits. 10 Top 70 recruits.

Need 1 or 2 post from the portal and a lights out shooter.

 

[AllVols3]

You insist on embarrassing yourself. If you can't even notice who you are jabbering at, let alone read a few intelligent paragraphs, have a look at post #677. Then, if you have any integrity, you will apologize for (1) lack of comprehension, and( 2) baseless insults.

Edited to add: I have had lazy students in my university classes. They didn’t want to do the work, and showed their ignorance in class. I quietly invited them to drop the course before earning a failing grade. The equivalent here would be to go away, quietly.

You talk to much, just shut up and listen for awhile. Hope you're not at UT, also glad my boys didn't have you as a professor.

 

[Dak1219]

What ever. I feel good about them and really don't care if you want to take the negative road. See Ya.

Bye..

 

[Dak1219]

IMO she'll probably decide that her pressing defense isn't nearly as effective against the teams she faces week in and week out now. The lower division teams she has been going up against prior to coming to UT don't have the guards that this league has. Teams with good guards are getting way too many lay ups on the other end against it. Of course, she's playing now with a lot of players she inherited that probably aren't ideal for what she wants to do. It'll be interesting to see what, if any, changes she makes to her system as she goes forward.

Inherited or not, players at the Power 4 level are generally elite athletes with elite coaches. First time you face this defense is more of a shock factor, but notice every team we played the second time beat us by more (LSU & Vandy) and Kenny Brooks saw this defense last year and new what to expect and we all know how that Kentucky game turned out.


What I'm noticing is that CKC is not adjusting. It makes me wonder if she is a one trick pony. D-2 players do not have the strength, conditioning, or basketball IQ that P4 players have or they would probably be P4 players. This system probably makes those players look pretty good, especially if Kim had alot of really good athletes at that level. Even at marshal last year, she had 3 players who had been recruited and played at the P4 level. That makes a difference on a mid major team.

What I have noticed is that we are lacking a lot of fundamentals that good teams have that we do not possess, i.e., boxing out to secure defensive rebounds to close out a defensive stop, time and score to close out quarters and games has been abysmal, and a lack of ball security or whos gonna handle the ball that wont turn it over when we absolutely need a bucket Just to name a few. It's been maddening at times.

Hopefully a little rest, players getting healed up and getting back to the basics gives us some life in the NCAA tournament. These last couple games have been pretty hard to watch.

 

[Dak1219]

Strickland has way more potential than Tess or Puckett! She actually has decent foot speed and quickness so she absolutely can be a decent SEC LEVEL PLAYER with proper development.

Tess doesn't make mistakes and that is a big part of it when it comes to getting playing time at this level not to mention she sits on the top ten list of all time 3 point shooters at Tennessee. Tess has a total of 6 turnovers in 31 games this season and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's a better number than Strickland has in her 12-13 played games. Strickland is a mid major player with big dreams, and thats alright. Playing hard is one thing. Being in control of how you're playing is completely another.

 

[VolBlocker]

Tess doesn't make mistakes and that is a big part of it when it comes to getting playing time at this level not to mention she sits on the top ten list of all time 3 point shooters at Tennessee. Tess has a total of 6 turnovers in 31 games this season and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's a better number than Strickland has in her 12-13 played games. Strickland is a mid major player with big dreams, and thats alright. Playing hard is one thing. Being in control of how you're playing is completely another.

Tess doesn't make mistakes? Lol, what games do you watch? She makes defensive mistakes all the time. The reason Tess plays is because she has loads of experience and yes she's a decent shooter but please spare me...Ace Strickland has way more potential than Tess Darby and that's very clear to see.

I just saw Ace take a Vandy player off the dribble and she looked FLUID doing it. Tess ain't NEVER done anything close to that in her five years playing at Tennessee.

 

[Cb153181]

Inherited or not, players at the Power 4 level are generally elite athletes with elite coaches. First time you face this defense is more of a shock factor, but notice every team we played the second time beat us by more (LSU & Vandy) and Kenny Brooks saw this defense last year and new what to expect and we all know how that Kentucky game turned out.


What I'm noticing is that CKC is not adjusting. It makes me wonder if she is a one trick pony. D-2 players do not have the strength, conditioning, or basketball IQ that P4 players have or they would probably be P4 players. This system probably makes those players look pretty good, especially if Kim had alot of really good athletes at that level. Even at marshal last year, she had 3 players who had been recruited and played at the P4 level. That makes a difference on a mid major team.

What I have noticed is that we are lacking a lot of fundamentals that good teams have that we do not possess, i.e., boxing out to secure defensive rebounds to close out a defensive stop, time and score to close out quarters and games has been abysmal, and a lack of ball security or whos gonna handle the ball that wont turn it over when we absolutely need a bucket Just to name a few. It's been maddening at times.

Hopefully a little rest, players getting healed up and getting back to the basics gives us some life in the NCAA tournament. These last couple games have been pretty hard to watch.

Spot on.

I watched the TX vs TN game from earlier in the season today, and Jenna didn’t allow the press to trap in the backcourt.

The players were playing straight man to Man full court.

I think that’s the best defense this team can do right now. The team looked great playing half court defense they just need to continue to box out for rebounds.

If TN moves the ball around instead of 1 person dribbling the shot clock out and throwing up a shot this team can be unstoppable.

Jenna also didn’t sub out every 40 seconds she was letting them play 2-3 minutes at a time.

There was a play in the game where Ruby and coop was playing a give and go, we need more of that without all the dribbling. Just pass the ball around with movement.

 

[Dak1219]

Tess doesn't make mistakes? Lol, what games do you watch? She makes defensive mistakes all the time. The reason Tess plays is because she has loads of experience and yes she's a decent shooter but please spare me...Ace Strickland has way more potential than Tess Darby and that's very clear to see.

I just saw Ace take a Vandy player off the dribble and she looked FLUID doing it. Tess ain't NEVER done anything close to that in her five years playing at Tennessee.

Awesome, you seen her make 1 play in 1 game and your ready to throw her the game ball. Kim Caldwell quote on Strickland, "I would like to get her some more minutes, but I cannot trust her on defense." That quote happened in the last couple weeks. Tess was also praised by this coach for intelligence on the court. Tess is an off the bench player who scores 6.3 points per game, has a 3-1 assists to turnover ratio (which is a crazy sounding number, but she rarely turns the ball over) and has had 20 steals on the season. Tess is also now and has always been one of the better 3 point shooters in the SEC therefore teams have to account for her in every scouting report which spreads the floor and opens driving lanes for her teammates. All of those stats are net positives. Carry on...

 

[Dak1219]

What is Mikayla Blakes doing as a freshman in the SEC? What did Malaysia Fulwiley do as a freshman?

Players don't have to shoot 40% from three.

Malaysia Fulwiley fought through a lot of frustration last year as a freshman constantly wanting to be a highlight reel and Dawn Staley wasn't having it. Mikayla Blakes is a unicorn, but when she was putting up her gaudy personal numbers this season, rather than disturbing, vandy slipped and lost a few games. She's still learning the balance between distributing and scoring it appears.