Game Thread: Western Carolina v Lady Vols, Tues. Nov 26; Home-FCC; 7PM; SEC TV network

[madtownvol]

Impressive hustle over 40 minutes.

Had a few breakdowns but defense was on the whole suffocating.

Tess and Jillian looked really good!

Another great game from Cooper.

One thing you can say about this team is they don’t play down to the level of competition.

very impressive to score over a hundred while seemingly missing every shot


On to FSU ( and hopefully payback time)

 

[madtownvol]

Not really. Coming off a 10 day layoff and playing without a solid scorer tonight this was a legit beat down. I think they were dialing it back some and just working on the execution while still winning by 50+.
Oklahoma scored 76 points against Southern. I believe if Tennessee played Southern tonight they would score a lot more than 76 points.
Point is, I believe Tennessee is as good as Oklahoma or any other team in the SEC.
GBO!

As strange as it seems but fatigue (from ten days of death practices) may have impacted the shooting.

 

[BruisedOrange]

I think we need to find a different sponsor for the front row chairs.
“Harper Auto Square” just ain’t hitting this new vibe, there Mr. White….

"Caldwell Shooting Supplies" has a nice vibe...

 

[feathersax]

Wynn ruptured her Achilles tendon

OWWW! Thought it was an ankle when seeing her on t.v. Hope she heals quickly.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Only 7 turnovers. Only 7!!!!!

Wish I could like this a hundred times

I wonder if comparing this to last season(s) is an illustration of the psychological concept that trying not to do something actually only increases your likelihood of doing it. It's like the old "close your eyes and try not to picture a white bear" mind game.

It's easier to stop doing something if you can replace it with a positive goal that's more immediately rewarding.

Different players have different mindsets and comfort zones, but I'd think it's a much more positive mindset to run toward the offensive end with the goal of passing to or taking the first good, open shot, than it is to walk toward the offensive end thinking "let's run our offense and try not to turn the ball over this time."

 

[Volfan2012]

The lowest percentage we could've shot and still won this game was 21 percent. That would've been 19 field goals and 5 threes for 43 points and 8 free throws for 51 points.

 

[Coach Jumper]

The lowest percentage we could've shot and still won this game was 21 percent. That would've been 19 field goals and 5 threes for 43 points and 8 free throws for 51 points.

we simply cannot rely on volume alone for offense

 

[Volfan2012]

we simply cannot rely on volume alone for offense

I know were going to need to shoot as well as the other team. Not always going to have 51 shot advantage. Probably needs to discuss 41 threes may need less and more shots in the paint and trying to get to the foul line.

 

[Coach Jumper]

I know were going to need to shoot as well as the other team. Not always going to have 51 shot advantage. Probably needs to discuss 41 threes may need less and more shots in the paint and trying to get to the foul line.

its not the number of 3's that concerns me as this offense is designed for it and very few were forced...it is the proficiency...less than 35% is not good

30.5% puts us at #183 in the NCAA

If 3's are to be our bread and butter,,,this has to be a focus

 

[Volfan2012]

its not the number of 3's that concerns me as this offense is designed for it and very few were forced...it is the proficiency...less than 35% is not good

In that case you have to live and die with the results. They can't shoot it much worse if they played ten times.

 

[VolBall09]

Woke up this morning feeling really happy for the girls. Especially some of our returners. Seeing the uninhibited joy they are playing with already is really fun to watch.

I was really hard on a player like Ace last season. This season she is growing leaps and bounds. Do I think she’ll be part of the main rotation? No.

Am I confident she could step on the floor and give her all at a moments notice now? Yes.

Her defense and energy last night were night and day compared to her first couple of games. That is coaching AND being coachable. Pretty clear Kim is one of the special ones who can take her vision and convey it in a way players want to do it and want to get better.

The highlight on ESPN for our game is Ace ripping a 3 ball, hand in her face, with a really nice quick release. Has to feel special for the near hometown girl.

Tess also had a new pep in her step yesterday. She is looking fitter and faster all the time. At one point it was mentioned the previous staff were working on bulking her up which is crazy. No wonder she couldn’t keep anyone in front. Poor girl was eating peanut butter for 3 meals a day.

 

[glv98]

That stretch at the end of January and the beginning of February is going to be the most severe litmus test imaginable. In a four out of five game stretch, they'll play four top ten teams in Texas, South Carolina, UConn, and LSU. Again. I have no idea what this team is going to do. It will be interesting. One thing is for certain - come February 10th we'll have a good idea of what Tennessee has put together this year.

IMO CKC pretty much bought herself a full pass on this year with the knockout recruiting class. Whatever success she has this year is a bonus since this is likely to be her least talented team for a long time. Outside of a complete collapse, which is hard to see with this team, she's pretty much on house money this year.

I wonder if comparing this to last season(s) is an illustration of the psychological concept that trying not to do something actually only increases your likelihood of doing it. It's like the old "close your eyes and try not to picture a white bear" mind game.

Lots of things about last year were inexplicable, but one of those things was that some of our lowest turnover games were still losses. And some of the higher t.o. ones we still won. Whatever, the assist/t.o. ratio so far is an outstanding improvemet. Gotta keep in mind the really low level of competition though.

its not the number of 3's that concerns me as this offense is designed for it and very few were forced...it is the proficiency...less than 35% is not good

30.5% puts us at #183 in the NCAA

If 3's are to be our bread and butter,,,this has to be a focus

In that case you have to live and die with the results. They can't shoot it much worse if they played ten times.

3 pt shooting has been CKC's concern since summer workouts. No one is consistent.

I hate "live or die by the 3". Esp when you're not a strong 3 pt shooting team. Why would you do that? If they're not falling, this team is plenty versatile enough to try another offensive approach. Don't just keep chucking, or settling cuz "that's what we do".

Tess also had a new pep in her step yesterday

I'm really happy for Tess to make positive contributions. BUT, her history has been she plays well against lesser competition but struggles against good teams. Hope she's able to turn that around this season. We really need a consistent 3 pt shooter.

 

[Coach Jumper]

In that case you have to live and die with the results. They can't shoot it much worse if they played ten times.

they can and get by with it for now
next two games will be very telling #39 and #3,,then we feast on four cupcakes and one tart in the next 5 games,,,then SEC

 

[Coach Jumper]

3 pt shooting has been CKC's concern since summer workouts. No one is consistent.

I hate "live or die by the 3". Esp when you're not a strong 3 pt shooting team. Why would you do that? If they're not falling, this team is plenty versatile enough to try another offensive approach. Don't just keep chucking, or settling cuz "that's what we do".

I'm really happy for Tess to make positive contributions. BUT, her history has been she plays well against lesser competition but struggles against good teams. Hope she's able to turn that around this season. We really need a consistent 3 pt shooter.

You can't be a one-trick-pony for long.

Tess has truly upped everything about her, personally, physically and gamefully...very proud of her

 

[glv98]

You can't be a one-trick-pony for long.

I'm afraid for this year, we're just going to hope a couple of our very streaky 3 pt shooters catch fire on the right nights. Esp if Jewel is out for long. Hard to see veteran players suddenly improve to be consistent outside shooters. Would be great, but probably not. Coop, who's still a young player (!) may be one who can, just bc she's so talented.

In the future though, hopefully and apparently we have some consistent help on the way.

 

[VolBall09]

IMO CKC pretty much bought herself a full pass on this year with the knockout recruiting class. Whatever success she has this year is a bonus since this is likely to be her least talented team for a long time. Outside of a complete collapse, which is hard to see with this team, she's pretty much on house money this year.

Lots of things about last year were inexplicable, but one of those things was that some of our lowest turnover games were still losses. And some of the higher t.o. ones we still won. Whatever, the assist/t.o. ratio so far is an outstanding improvemet. Gotta keep in mind the really low level of competition though.



3 pt shooting has been CKC's concern since summer workouts. No one is consistent.

I hate "live or die by the 3". Esp when you're not a strong 3 pt shooting team. Why would you do that? If they're not falling, this team is plenty versatile enough to try another offensive approach. Don't just keep chucking, or settling cuz "that's what we do".

I'm really happy for Tess to make positive contributions. BUT, her history has been she plays well against lesser competition but struggles against good teams. Hope she's able to turn that around this season. We really need a consistent 3 pt shooter.

I don’t actually think Tess played super well last night nor do I expect her to be a major contributor. If she can come in and can a three now and then that will be great.

What I did notice is she was moving so much better. Both up and down and laterally. She looks so much faster and more comfortable on the floor. The conditioning and training are paying off for everyone from the top of the roster to the bottom.

Really think Wells must still be hampered with her knee because she is truly the only one who doesn’t look completely different physically.

 

[lvocd]

Okay, I'll play the role of the broken record again. You're welcome:

Gotta keep in mind the team is still very much in the learning stage after only 5 games, 6 including the exhibition. Six games is only 240 minutes, or 4 hours, of time to grow and learn and build chemistry with each other, against an opponent in a game setting other than each other and the practice guys.

My hope is we'll see things beginning to smooth out more at about 10-12 games in, but even then there'll still be work to do. This whole unlearning of longtime mental and physical habits and then turning around and working to form completely new mental and physical habits really is quite a daunting task to take on.

We can all see they're making progress. Really, they're further along at this point than I envisioned months ago that they would be. But obviously there's still work to do. It's pretty exciting and encouraging to me that this group makes discernible progress one game to the next. It's impressive.

They'll learn a lot about themselves from Florida State and Iowa, then that'll give them what they need to take another wrung up the ladder on their way to putting it all together.

It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record* It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record*It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record*
It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record*It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record*It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record*
It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record*It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record*It's early.*blemish in record* It's early. *blemish in record*

 

[Coach Jumper]

...They'll learn a lot about themselves from Florida State and Iowa, then that'll give them what they need to take another wrung up the ladder on their way to putting it all together.

trouble is they won't have good competition too prove they learned anything for five game

 

[RebKell]

 

[VolBall09]

trouble is they won't have good competition too prove they learned anything for five game

We literally play Iowa right after that.

 

[lvocd]

It makes me happy that Jill had a great game and so was asked to appear at the post-game presser. She's such a sweetheart, and deserves to have a great year. Good start tonight, and the timing is right heading into the next two games.

Love these Lady Vols!

P.S. Ruby is really strong in these pressers.

 

[RebKell]

Found another one.

 

[VolBall09]

It makes me happy that Jill had a great game and so was asked to appear at the post-game presser. She's such a sweetheart, and deserves to have a great year. Good start tonight, and the timing is right heading into the next two games.

Love these Lady Vols!

Jill looked fantastic last night. So much more confident and just played free. She was moving without the ball, posting up, calling for the ball. That’s what we need out of her. Didn’t see her hesitate once, which has been her biggest issue.

Hopefully she can build on that, we are going to need her frame in the SEC. Especially if Zee gets in foul trouble, which she seems prone to lol.

 

[lvocd]

Found another one.

Great interview! I recommend folks watch this because he has some terrific insights.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Game breakdown:
The Coach Caldwell era in the opening month of the season has built a foundation for instant success and future prominence in WBB.
Tennessee as a team is receiving accolades they hadn’t achieved in years and individually players are standing out while making a case for end of year honors/awards. Congrats to Talaysia recently for earning SEC Player of the Week, an award that Whitehorn, Spearman, Spencer, and others could earn as the season progresses.
Tennessee has five players averaging double figures and two others averaging 9 ppg.
Which makes this even more impressive is neither of the seven top scorers through five games are Boyd, Ayodele, Hollingshead, and Latham.
The way each of these four players can impact the game without taking a lot of shots is a cheat code for this team that is thriving off of defensive pressure and rebounding.
People forget that Ayodele started at center for Pittsburgh and gives it 100% every second she’s on the court. At a young age, Latham and Boyd are top tier competitors that get after it every single possession.
With five players that can score 20 or more points in a game (Spencer, Spearman, Spear, Whitehorn, and Cooper), this team has something in those four that has been missing for years which is elite level intangibles.
Which in my opinion, has led to a slow start for Sara. She simply has to adjust from being a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th scoring option in her previous years to being more of a glue player now to get a few looks offensively while rebounding and playing fundamentally sound defense.
There’s no shame in it. Can’t keep trying to force the offense which leads to bad turnovers when her teammates are able to score in one or two dribbles after making their move and getting into their shot.
That’s not her style.

Jill looked fantastic last night. So much more confident and just played free. She was moving without the ball, posting up, calling for the ball. That’s what we need out of her. Didn’t see her hesitate once, which has been her biggest issue.

Hopefully she can build on that, we are going to need her frame in the SEC. Especially if Zee gets in foul trouble, which she seems prone to lol.