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

I played soccer and coach told us to keep taking shots. The more you shoot, the better the chance you’ll make shots.

This translates.

Coaches define what is a good shot then players take them. You can't permit an attitude of "I missed 2 threes, I'm not taking anymore this game". Just keep taking good shots.
 
I was pleased with the win until I read this thread this morning.....Most of you guys I call friend, but just try and relax and let the process of becoming what you desire, a very good team, evolve.
For the ladies of the site....
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For the men of the site...
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And when we all get there together....
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Big game next Wednesday preliminaries are over for a couple weeks.
Yeah, I think we're all just ready to see what this team can do. I like what they've done, but we just don't know. Need to see a game vs a team with comparable talent. I really want to believe this style will work.

It was interesting to hear KC talk briefly about the rotation. She said it was a longer answer than she could give briefly. In simple terms it's two balanced "teams" (think Cooper's squad/Whitehorn's squad) and then a third with "5 best" mixed in at strategic spots. Going to be interesting to see a game when we are playing from behind.
 
Coach Kim said if the game is close and comes down to the fourth quarter then the top five will play longer. Right now I'm thinking the top five are Spearman, Spear, Cooper, Whitehorn, and Spencer. I could say Puckett but she is playing herself out of top five with her 26 percent and 18 percent from the three. I expect his next game to be a close one in the fourth quarter so we'll see how Coach Kim plays it.
 
Against any team this roster has 10 players that can play.
The depth is very good.
As for top 5, right now overall with Spencer, Spearman, Whitehorn, and Cooper the 5th spot is debatable between Boyd, Ayodele, and Latham.
I believe that the more Latham and Ayodele plays the better the defense will become in the half-court and pressuring full-court.
Puckett and Darby are still transitioning to the system which is expected. I believe bringing Jewel Spear off the bench for a few games would help her adjust to playing with better talent. Again, with the addition of scorers that also impact the game in multiple ways it’s a different team now.
I also trust Cooper, Whitehorn, and Spencer taking and making 3s.
Teams can’t just leave them open and pack the lane due to their versatility.
 
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Yeah, I think we're all just ready to see what this team can do. I like what they've done, but we just don't know. Need to see a game vs a team with comparable talent. I really want to believe this style will work.

It was interesting to hear KC talk briefly about the rotation. She said it was a longer answer than she could give briefly. In simple terms it's two balanced "teams" (think Cooper's squad/Whitehorn's squad) and then a third with "5 best" mixed in at strategic spots. Going to be interesting to see a game when we are playing from behind.
Eventually, esp in tight situations, the best 7 or 8 will find their way to the floor. That always happens.
 
I thought they did a good job of taking it inside and dribble driving the paint when the 3's overall were not falling. Good to see they recognize that option is there.

1000%.
The athleticism of this team is a strength that overall as a team has been missing in the past.
They have five guards that can take their defender off the dribble and get an assist or a quality look to score.
Three forwards that can handle the ball out on the perimeter.
And this has nothing to do with the competition.
That is why Coach Caldwell has said they can continue to work on the half-court offense to get better looks and share the ball.
We saw that last night.
That does not mean they will not take the 3s when they have good open looks, and with the way they rebounded offensively that will be the key.
This is a potent offense with highly talented athletes. That is rare in WBB.
 
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Coach Kim said if the game is close and comes down to the fourth quarter then the top five will play longer. Right now I'm thinking the top five are Spearman, Spear, Cooper, Whitehorn, and Spencer. I could say Puckett but she is playing herself out of top five with her 26 percent and 18 percent from the three. I expect his next game to be a close one in the fourth quarter so we'll see how Coach Kim plays it.

You're right about Puckett's percentages but I try not to get too worried about 3-point percentage until a player has shot at least 40 on the season. Sample is too small to be a reliable predictor. Until then, it's more reliable to look at career averages. Over a career, she shoots about 50% on 2-pointers and 31% on 3-pointers.

Despite other players with better numbers, Puckett is CKC's #1 or co-#1 with Spear.
 
I was pleased with the win until I read this thread this morning.....Most of you guys I call friend, but just try and relax and let the process of becoming what you desire, a very good team, evolve.
For the ladies of the site....


For the men of the site...


And when we all get there together....
Hey GameTime,

Excellent post. The LVs had 3 to 4 3-pt shots that were halfway down but rattled out. If those dropped, they would have been over 33% which is equivalent to 50% from 2-pt range.

The level of hustle and intensity over 40 minutes was incredible. Sure, Western NC is not an elite team but generating 37 TOs is still impressive.
 
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.
And you made it to the very last paragraph before clubbing the dead horse. My “like” is only for the first five paragraphs!
 
the question that I have is how well will the initial defense impact a superior point guard.

I agree with mad-town two of Darby's threes and one of Puckett "popped out" that is discounting the number of threes shot without the feet set that were not even close.
 
You're right about Puckett's percentages but I try not to get too worried about 3-point percentage until a player has shot at least 40 on the season. Sample is too small to be a reliable predictor. Until then, it's more reliable to look at career averages. Over a career, she shoots about 50% on 2-pointers and 31% on 3-pointers.

Despite other players with better numbers, Puckett is CKC's #1 or co-#1 with Spear.

Nope. Talaysia Cooper and Samara Spencer are leading this team on the court and that’s who the group is following. Ruby Whitehorn, Kaniya Boyd, and Lazaria Spearman are about to join that group as well.
I have the upmost respect for Sara and Jewel, and realize they have to earn it just like everyone else.
There are different kinds of leaders and all teams have players they rely on in different ways.
I agree that Sara and Jewel is the team’s two most valuable leaders in communicating and setting a tone for team chemistry.
 
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the question that I have is how well will the initial defense impact a superior point guard.

I agree with mad-town two of Darby's threes and one of Puckett "popped out" that is discounting the number of threes shot without the feet set that were not even close.

There is no superior point guard against very good to elite defense. Defense travels. It’s like an elite DB vs a superstar WR. The defensive back doesn’t have to shut down the WR but cover well enough to limit the damage and come out with a dub.
That’s the same with this defense. They need to force enough pressure and extra possessions against good teams to come away with the dub.
Everyone keeps talking about who Tennessee hasn’t played but forget these teams haven’t faced Tennessee yet either.
It’s two sides to the debate.
 
Nope. Talaysia Cooper and Samara Spencer are leading this team on the court and that’s who the group is following. Ruby Whitehorn, Kaniya Boyd, and Lazaria Spearman are about to join that group as well.
I have the upmost respect for Sara and Jewel, and realize they have to earn it just like everyone else.
There are different kinds of leaders and all teams have players they rely on in different ways.
I agree that Sara and Jewel is the team’s two most valuable leaders in communicating and setting a tone for team chemistry.

Personally, I would agree with that (mostly), but I think in the clutch, CKC will have Puckett in for the final minutes of a tie ball game.

My five in the clutch would be,

Final 3 minutes in general: Spencer, Cooper, Whitehorn, Spearman, Spear

For a defensive stop: Spencer, Cooper, Whitehorn, Spearman, Latham

For a final offensive possession: Spencer, Cooper, Darby, Spear, Spearman
 
There is no superior point guard against very good to elite defense. Defense travels. It’s like an elite DB vs a superstar WR. The defensive back doesn’t have to shut down the WR but cover well enough to limit the damage and come out with a dub.
That’s the same with this defense. They need to force enough pressure and extra possessions against good teams to come away with the dub.
Everyone keeps talking about who Tennessee hasn’t played but forget these teams haven’t faced Tennessee yet either.
It’s two sides to the debate.
What about Paige Bueckers?
 
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….
It’s a multi million dollar deal for the premium seats and new premium club. If you’ve got the cash to buy it out, give him a call.
 
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It’s a multi million dollar deal for the premium seats and new premium club. If you’ve got the cash to buy it out, give him a call.
Yes. I knew it had to be a huge investment. That’s a lot of air time in a premium location. Just an aside at the incongruity of the sponsorship’s namesake. Who knows? It may keep the fire lit under the team!
 
the question that I have is how well will the initial defense impact a superior point guard.

I agree with mad-town two of Darby's threes and one of Puckett "popped out" that is discounting the number of threes shot without the feet set that were not even close.
I agree with your top statement, I think many people including myself wonder what happens when we play against excellent guards who are every bit as fast and athletic as ours. The argument that it doesn't matter how good a point guard is in breaking defenses is ludicrous, though I am not saying that we can't beat a team with a good point guard. Think of all the losses the LVs have had in recent years when teams like Auburn and Alabama made us turn it over so often. The most common reaction to those losses was something along the lines of "we need an elite point guard". I think point guard play especially matters against a good pressing defense given that excellent court awareness, quickness, and effective passes is what breaks the press the best. These skills are the bread and butter of point guards. That said, our platoons of defense may even break down good point guards due to fatigue. If not this year, I would bet for sure next year.
 
I agree with your top statement, I think many people including myself wonder what happens when we play against excellent guards who are every bit as fast and athletic as ours. The argument that it doesn't matter how good a point guard is in breaking defenses is ludicrous, though I am not saying that we can't beat a team with a good point guard. Think of all the losses the LVs have had in recent years when teams like Auburn and Alabama made us turn it over so often. The most common reaction to those losses was something along the lines of "we need an elite point guard". I think point guard play especially matters against a good pressing defense given that excellent court awareness, quickness, and effective passes is what breaks the press the best. These skills are the bread and butter of point guards. That said, our platoons of defense may even break down good point guards due to fatigue. If not this year, I would bet for sure next year.
"passing beats a trapping press",,,even a good PG can be the victim of a good trapping team,,,BUT,,,if the trap is set in the back-court instead of one-step-across the HC line,,advantage goes back tot he PG if a great BHer
 

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