GAME THREAD: Texas in Knoxville, Sunday, 2/15, 3pm EST, ABC

[Lucy]

I was responding to someone that said we could drop to 7th, to me going from 2nd to 7th in a 2 week span, that tells me me loss most of our games down the stretch, I’m never going to be ok with that.

I took your post to say that Mia had dropped from 2 to 7 in that dumb plus/minus measurement. I think there is something missing in the middle of the post perhaps.
Regarding Mia, however, you said she didn’t play well against top teams and then I think later specifically said she did not play well against top five teams and therefore would not have helped today so let me add this.
She did not have a great game on the road against a very experienced and disciplined UConn. This, in my mind was not a surprise for a freshman to have a tough outing in this scenario. SC, again on the road, at some point in that game she was concussed (unless info has come out that it happened in practice) but continued to play. Not surprising she didn’t shoot well with a head injury.
So, IMO these two games (one with a serious injury) do not provide a sufficient sample size to project she would not have had a good game today or that she can’t play against top 5 teams. I believe that her complete body of work to date instead shows she could have been the piece that got us over the line today. That in no way is meant as a slight to the kids who did play.
I love her demeanor, a happy warrior for sure. She will help lead the LVs to big victories before her time here is done. Hopefully for four years.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I took your post to say that Mia had dropped from 2 to 7 in that dumb plus/minus measurement. I think there is something missing in the middle of the post perhaps.
Regarding Mia, however, you said she didn’t play well against top teams and then I think later specifically said she did not play well against top five teams and therefore would not have helped today so let me add this.
She did not have a great game on the road against a very experienced and disciplined UConn. This, in my mind was not a surprise for a freshman to have a tough outing in this scenario. SC, again on the road, at some point in that game she was concussed (unless info has come out that it happened in practice) but continued to play. Not surprising she didn’t shoot well with a head injury.
So, IMO these two games (one with a serious injury) do not provide a sufficient sample size to project she would not have had a good game today or that she can’t play against top 5 teams. I believe that her complete body of work to date instead shows she could have been the piece that got us over the line today. That in no way is meant as a slight to the kids who did play.
I love her demeanor, a happy warrior for sure. She will help lead the LVs to big victories before her time here is done. Hopefully for four years.

I just wrote a paragraph but decided to delete it, my sample size is 3 games, maybe I’m wrong about what I’ve seen. 2 more games I see where the guards will pressure the ball, and that’s Ole Miss and LSU, I hope she dominates both games if she plays.

 

[Dak1219]

x

 

[Lucy]

I just wrote a paragraph but decided to delete it, my sample size is 3 games, maybe I’m wrong about what I’ve seen. 2 more games I see where the guards will pressure the ball, and that’s Ole Miss and LSU, I hope she dominates both games if she plays.

I may have missed something, what was the third top 5 game? Regarding the deletion, I feel your pain, I’ve let some unintelligible posts go on here.
Yep hope she really shines v. Ole Mess and LSU. Worried about the concussion stuff though. Can be a lengthy recovery and sure don’t want to hurry it!

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I may have missed something, what was the third top 5 game? Regarding the deletion, I feel your pain, I’ve let some unintelligible posts go on here.
Yep hope she really shines v. Ole Mess and LSU. Worried about the concussion stuff though. Can be a lengthy recovery and sure don’t want to hurry it!

UCLA, UConn, and SC, usually is a week of no problems with concussion protocol, but I still haven’t seen anything confirmed on the injury.

 

[HerdLVol]

UCLA, UConn, and SC, usually is a week of no problems with concussion protocol, but I still haven’t seen anything confirmed on the injury.

I was glad to see her on the sidelines with the team. The way she was moving and cheering I suspect concussion protocol.

 

[Dak1219]

The Lady Vols really started to show what they could be today, but unfortunately came out of it on the short side of the stick. Talk about a difference two weeks can make. We still had some mental lapses at critical times during this game, but we gave ourselves a chance to win against a really good team. I really don't like talking about the officiating, but some of the calls today at critical moments were just awful. I still don't know how they called that last one on Janiah Barker. Absolutely horrible. I will say this, if we continue to improve from this game and reduce the mental lapses, this team will be in the SEC final and will give themselves a really good chance to make some noise in the NCAA tournament. We have 5 q-1 wins. Unfortunately, we most likely have no chance to host again this year. Really needed this game for that to happen, but we did look like a totally different team than the one we saw at South Carolina, so it's a great step forward.

 

[J-Dog 1313]

I took your post to say that Mia had dropped from 2 to 7 in that dumb plus/minus measurement. I think there is something missing in the middle of the post perhaps.
Regarding Mia, however, you said she didn’t play well against top teams and then I think later specifically said she did not play well against top five teams and therefore would not have helped today so let me add this.
She did not have a great game on the road against a very experienced and disciplined UConn. This, in my mind was not a surprise for a freshman to have a tough outing in this scenario. SC, again on the road, at some point in that game she was concussed (unless info has come out that it happened in practice) but continued to play. Not surprising she didn’t shoot well with a head injury.
So, IMO these two games (one with a serious injury) do not provide a sufficient sample size to project she would not have had a good game today or that she can’t play against top 5 teams. I believe that her complete body of work to date instead shows she could have been the piece that got us over the line today. That in no way is meant as a slight to the kids who did play.
I love her demeanor, a happy warrior for sure. She will help lead the LVs to big victories before her time here is done. Hopefully for four years.

I agree with your post and that Mia would have taken some of the ball pressure off of Coop and probably eliminated some of the LVs' turnovers, giving them additional chances to scores. As to the game overall, in my opinion, the LVs' played a great game. This bodes well for the Ole Miss game. GBO.

 

[LadyVolsDiehard]

if spearman or Latham had done anything at all we win this game. 2 pts each is certainly not gonna cut it.

Our frontline period was awful against Texas. I just need for the trio to be more consistent when it comes to production. Latham will give us effort and defense however she's still lacking a scoring spark to her game at the 4. I've already said Latham should be a modern Pashen Thompson or Tamika Williams (u/conn) level type of player at the 4!

As for Zee, ugh, two games in a row she does this crap. She's one of the few players that don't deserve a "freedom based system". She takes games off and picks and chooses when she's gonna be "big time". The last time she played well was the UGA game and she was in front of her friends and family. Her refusal to get in the paint and work as a senior still blows my mind, she was handed a gift in the Texas with Cunningham and Oldacre not playing well inside and she opted to not take it! I know couch coaching gets ragged on in volnation but if I was the head coach she wouldn't get another start til she gives the effort and commitment in these areas!

 

[J-Dog 1313]

Our frontline period was awful against Texas. I just need for the trio to be more consistent when it comes to production. Latham will give us effort and defense however she's still lacking a scoring spark to her game at the 4. I've already said Latham should be a modern Pashen Thompson or Tamika Williams (u/conn) level type of player at the 4!

As for Zee, ugh, two games in a row she does this crap. She's one of the few players that don't deserve a "freedom based system". She takes games off and picks and chooses when she's gonna be "big time". The last time she played well was the UGA game and she was in front of her friends and family. Her refusal to get in the paint and work as a senior still blows my mind, she was handed a gift in the Texas with Cunningham and Oldacre not playing well inside and she opted to not take it! I know couch coaching gets ragged on in volnation but if I was the head coach she wouldn't get another start til she gives the effort and commitment in these areas!

Wouldn't it be great if the LVs had a Bashaara Graves or Izzy Harrison type of player in the LVs current system. I am hoping that the LVs will pick up someone in that ilk from the portal. If so, the post would set. GBO.

 

[LadyVolsDiehard]

Would it be great if the LVs had Bashaara Graves or Izzy Harrison in the LVs current system. I am hoping that the LVs will pick up someone in that ilk from the portal. If so, the post would set. GBO.

Kim definitely could benefit having post player development assistant coach. That person could develop the frontline and help Kim in this area as well.

 

[glv98]

Kim definitely could benefit having post player development assistant coach. That person could develop the frontline and help Kim in this area as well.

I don’t think they want a traditional post in this system. They’d play five guards if they could.

 

[brittannica]

The part that was silly was the claim that Mia would not have made a difference, a claim you can base on the Sakerlina game. Problem: basketball is not transitive.

Even if she just alleviated some of the burden on Coop that would be helpful. I have to give it to Kim… Having Cooper run point, while obviously suboptimal, was probably the best option available to us.

 

[brittannica]

I don’t think they want a traditional post in this system. They’d play five guards if they could.

They should ask poor Kellie about playing five guards. Bet she has some thoughts after playing the LV that way. But seriously feel like there is always a role for a more traditional post.

 

[knoxvol52]

Teams like Texas and South Carolina are going to draw numerous fouls on the opposing teams. They are a interior built teams who look for contact near the basket, of course they're going to get fouled more often..Lady Vols are a 5 out spread them out team who depends on the 3 point shot, last time I checked 3 point shooting teams do not get fouled nearly as often.. was there a few non calls that could've been made? Of course they were but until Lady Vols learn how to make Free Throws consistently and cut back on uncalled for turnovers just to begin with. The issue with the refs is way down on the list to complain about watching this team.

 

[Volfan2012]

Here is where we stand now. If we beat Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and LSU we finish fourth in the league. If we do all that and beat Vanderbilt and A&M we finish third. By beating A&M looks for certain to have seventh place locked up. If your not finishing in the top four you want to finish sixth or seventh to stay out of the SC bracket.
I will take third, fourth, sixth, or seventh. Please stay away from five. Even though four also puts you in that bracket you always want the double bye. Right now my opinion of where we will finish I would say sixth or seventh is the strongest possibility.

 

[GameTime]

I rewatched a lot of the game this morning....It seemed on most occasions when Texas drove to the basket, they either scored or we were called for a foul....When we drove through the lane to the basket, often our player would get bumped hard and no call...

In any event, our girls gave it their best...They fought all the way and can stand tall.

 

[Volfan2012]

Teams like Texas and South Carolina are going to draw numerous fouls on the opposing teams. They are a interior built teams who look for contact near the basket, of course they're going to get fouled more often..Lady Vols are a 5 out spread them out team who depends on the 3 point shot, last time I checked 3 point shooting teams do not get fouled nearly as often.. was there a few non calls that could've been made? Of course they were but until Lady Vols learn how to make Free Throws consistently and cut back on uncalled for turnovers just to begin with, the issue with the refs is way down on the list to complain about watching this team.

Regardless of fouls in the end we had six more turnovers and missed 6 free throws so all that certainly cost us the three points we needed to win the game. Supposed to be a team that takes care of the ball and can score at the free throw line we seem to be neither. Shooting in the 40's at the free throw line just shows no one is putting in the time and effort to get better there.
Just don't like the composition of this team not enough inside scoring and very poor perimeter shooting most of the time. Then when we get a decent shooting game we turn it over 23 times and lose anyway.

 

[knoxvol52]

Regardless of fouls in the end we had six more turnovers and missed 6 free throws so all that certainly cost us the three points we needed to win the game. Supposed to be a team that takes care of the ball and can score at the free throw line we seem to be neither. Shooting in the 40's at the free throw line just shows no one is putting in the time and effort to get better there.
Just don't like the composition of this team not enough inside scoring and very poor perimeter shooting most of the time. Then when we get a decent shooting game we turn it over 23 times and lose anyway.

I would like to add after the 1st quarter the Lady Vols did tighten the defensive effort up for rest of the game... Maybe from here on out we will see that kind of effort on defense. Like you stated though need to tighten up the Free Throw shooting percentage and quit making the turnovers, preferably the wth turnovers..

 

[1reVOLver]

After a few hours to let all—well, most maybe—of the emotions sediment, there are three takeaways for me.

1) Sad that we lost

2) really impressed with the way they battled

3) eating a generous portion of crow re the crap officiating.

Just before the game I had posted a critique of fans who always blame crappy refs and dreadful calls for everything. And then…the crappiest job of calling a game in recent memory.

 

[brittannica]

Teams like Texas and South Carolina are going to draw numerous fouls on the opposing teams. They are a interior built teams who look for contact near the basket, of course they're going to get fouled more often..Lady Vols are a 5 out spread them out team who depends on the 3 point shot, last time I checked 3 point shooting teams do not get fouled nearly as often.. was there a few non calls that could've been made? Of course they were but until Lady Vols learn how to make Free Throws consistently and cut back on uncalled for turnovers just to begin with. The issue with the refs is way down on the list to complain about watching this team.

Totally agree. We had (relatively) undersized players in the paint for a non-trivial amount of time in the third and fourth too.

 

[KTrain]

Potential of unfavorable ref calls should always be factored into the game plan. A slice of NIL money should be reserved to provide Happy Meals in the refs' changing area.

I had a friend that reffed HS for many years and he said in the before game/halftime Ref hospitality room. He said one HS always had a layout of food fit for a king. He said it was hard to get that out of his mind on the 50/50 calls, especially with him being a foodie. He also said after halftime running down the court a couple times had hard time keeping food down.

 

[Volfan2012]

Very long shot to finish in the top four, but keep doing what we can do and keep trying to get it all together. The post season is where we can still make our mark this season. I think we can play very well against anybody when we have the effort and desire to do so. The last two games have been our best effort even though we lost one of them. I think the same effort beats Ole Miss looking forward to see how we play.

 

[KTrain]

The LVs played a great game, but a loss leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. They proved that they can hang with a top ten team they just need to move it forward. They need to continue to play with the same grit and same attitude.

Everything would have been different if Mia had played, just a fact. That doesn't mean we would have won, I thought about it and it could have went in any direction if she played. Looking through orange tint the looks Mya got and missed maybe a more seasoned Mia hits those same looks. Cooper played a great game and basically was willing us to a win but if Mia played I think Coops TO's would have been cut in half. On the other side of that, if Mia had been controlling the ball maybe Coop don't hit those crucial 3s. Its just hard when a player/point guard who averages double digits is out and turnovers and missed FTs (Mia our best FT shooter) is basically what caused us the game sans the foul discrepancies.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Sometimes. Sometimes the crowd is flat wrong. I've seen Tennessee crowds boo calls like they were murder charges ... aaaaaand then you watch the jumbotron and go "oh, yeah, that was actually pass interference." Or a basketball player falls over - the crowd roars, as they were surely hit! - and then you watch the replay and realize that player deserved an Oscar. Or at least a Daytime Emmy.

That said, I totally agree about one team having no fouls while the other is in the bonus. Especially with how physical a defense they were playing that quarter. It's not that they committed a million fouls that weren't called. It's that you're asked to believe that *every* call, every 50/50, every questionable bump or hit -- all of Tennessee's were fouls, and Texas never ever fouled. Uh huh. Sure. Sure thing.

Yes sometimes those SIGNIFICANT reactions are wrong, and are magnified by extended TRENDS by officials, but visceral instant reactions are instinctive and go rewatch that 20 second mark sequence.

Possession, ball knocked loose with defenders arm reaching into our cylinder and NO FOUL

Followed by clear no illegal contact FOUL CALL

Notice also the INSTSNT reactions of our 2 players to the calls.

Followed by the extended analysis and the chorus of boos.