Hump Day (11/6) games: Ohio State, Notre Dame, Tennessee

[Plebe]

Oh, Margo, you had to go there, talking about how "there's only one UT, and we need to prove that it's us."



Hook 'em Horns!

 

[noirwestern]

That seemed to happen on Sunday in the 4th Q. Then again, Shepard needs to do her part in the big moments too. Mabrey tried to get her the ball on the block early in the 4th Q and she lost the pass out of bounds. Nerves maybe? Shepard also allowed a smaller Walker to grab a rebound away from her. This is new territory for Shepard so I'll be curious to see how she does in big moments and big games.

How so? UConn has been the little bullies stealing the big girl's lunch money since the first time we met.

 

[UConnCat]

How so? UConn has been the little bullies stealing the big girl's lunch money since the first time we met.

I don't understand your post.

 

[nwhoopfan]

30 more shot attempts. Wow.

Another bizarre stat: Cougs had 28 offensive rebounds but only scored 11 points as a result. Not sure how many points they got off of the 26 turnovers but probably similarly inefficient. Just complete ineptitude.

I wonder how long June can keep her job? There aren't exactly big expectations there, but at some point they gotta realize she's not doing enough.

 

[Plebe]

Another bizarre stat: Cougs had 28 offensive rebounds but only scored 11 points as a result. Not sure how many points they got off of the 26 turnovers but probably similarly inefficient. Just complete ineptitude.

I wonder how long June can keep her job? There aren't exactly big expectations there, but at some point they gotta realize she's not doing enough.

Do you know when her current contract expires? At places like WSU, they're often more inclined to let contracts play out. She did, after all, just take them on a deep WNIT run last year.

 

[noirwestern]

I don't understand your post.

Oops. Meant to highlight the part about Walker taking the rebound away from her but was leaving the house in a hurry and turned the wrong part of your observation blue.

 

[Bestiarius]

Not bullying. He’s just touting a great game by our freshmen and subs. The nine available players each played 18 to 24 minutes. During much of the game, upperclassmen starters, Jaime Nared, Mercedes Russell, and Meme Jackson were on the bench. The rest of the team (the four freshmen, senior sub, Kortney Dunbar, and redshirt junior, Cheridene Green) played similar minutes to the starters. Think about it. Why would we play our starters for any longer than necessary when we face Texas in just four days?

The problem with the post game coverage of this game is the total homerism by the press corps. I believe Holly writes the questions to be asked. You saw her angry reaction when a question was misinterpreted as a criticism. The reporter fell all over himself to turn it into Vol praise.

It's easy to score a lot of points when Troy seemed to think the 30 sec shot clock was actually 10 seconds. Lots of shots, mostly missed lead to high numbers of shots for Tenn. Troy had plenty of open 3's but just couldn't hit anything. If they were lucky and hit 50% of their 3's, they would have has 99 points in the game.

Regarding rebounding, it's so easy when the height disparity is so huge. Troy has a player who is not even 5 feet tall.

The point is, playing Troy should be an embarrassment to a team that considers itself an all time elite. No one is fooled. Yes the team seems to be better than last years, but bullying a severely over matches opponent is not nice.

 

[stwainfan]

That fast pace style is the the way Troy plays. The also try and press and create turnovers. That's ok when it works, when it doesn't. Well that leads to easy baskets for the other team.

 

[Plebe]

That fast pace style is the the way Troy plays. The also try and press and create turnovers. That's ok when it works, when it doesn't. Well that leads to easy baskets for the other team.

Doesn't change the fact that a program that wants to consider itself elite has no business going out of its way to schedule a team like that.

Nor does it change the fact that it's obscene to boast about "Lady Vol record books being rewritten" as a result of an opponent's complete ineptitude.

Would Pat Summitt be proud of this type of record-rewriting? Doubtful.

 

[LadyVols9]

Regardless of their season record for the year, I already love this team 50 times more than last year's. The biggest difference is that this team does not let up with a lead. They keep playing hard and racking up the score. For the last few years, TN has always played down and had so many close games against team just like Troy. They are having fun, smiling and making so many unselfish passes. I have also noticed that in nearly every interview, the returning players comment on how much better the chemistry is this year than last year. Wonder why?! (wink)

Also, the freshman are the most mature freshman I have seen at TN. They make mistakes but Davis is FAR better than anyone expected. Westbrook is really helping the team by having a true talented PG. We haven't had a real PG since Ariel. Texas will tell us a lot about their readiness.

 

[UConnCat]

Doesn't change the fact that a program that wants to consider itself elite has no business going out of its way to schedule a team like that.

Nor does it change the fact that it's obscene to boast about "Lady Vol record books being rewritten" as a result of an opponent's complete ineptitude.

Would Pat Summitt be proud of this type of record-rewriting? Doubtful.

I can understand scheduling a couple of easy (cupcake) games early in the season when you're counting on freshmen to play important minutes. Tennessee did that by playing E Tenn State and Wichita State early on. James Madison was game #2 and while down this year JMU is not a cupcake. But when games 7, 8 and 9 are against Central Arkansas, Alabama State and Troy, well that's not the Tennessee we're used to and not the way to grow the game.

 

[HuskyNan]

Regardless of their season record for the year, I already love this team 50 times more than last year's. The biggest difference is that this team does not let up with a lead. They keep playing hard and racking up the score. For the last few years, TN has always played down and had so many close games against team just like Troy. They are having fun, smiling and making so many unselfish passes. I have also noticed that in nearly every interview, the returning players comment on how much better the chemistry is this year than last year. Wonder why?! (wink)

Also, the freshman are the most mature freshman I have seen at TN. They make mistakes but Davis is FAR better than anyone expected. Westbrook is really helping the team by having a true talented PG. We haven't had a real PG since Ariel. Texas will tell us a lot about their readiness.

Westbrook seems like she's for real. I don't think anyone questions the kids' abilities, or heart, but there is a question about coaching when the games get tougher. The match-up with Texas should be illuminating.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I can understand scheduling a couple of easy (cupcake) games early in the season when you're counting on freshmen to play important minutes. Tennessee did that by playing E Tenn State and Wichita State early on. James Madison was game #2 and while down this year JMU is not a cupcake. But when games 7, 8 and 9 are against Central Arkansas, Alabama State and Troy, well that's not the Tennessee we're used to and not the way to grow the game.

If UConn playing 5 of its first 7 against ranked competition, and 3 of 7 against top 10 competition is bad for the game, then Tennessee doing the opposite must be good for the game right?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Kelsey Mitchell has now broken the Ohio State scoring record. She has 20 points so far. OSU leads 42-27 midway through 2Q.

I'm busy, so I'll ask. The prior record-holder was Lavender, Prahalis, or Smith?

 

[Plebe]

I'm busy, so I'll ask. The prior record-holder was Lavender, Prahalis, or Smith?

Lavender.

 

[Volup1]

The picture of Alabama’s Troy Siate University being a cupcake that this thread seems to suggest is not entirely accurate. Troy is a second tier school and a member of the Sunbelt Conference.

The Tennessee-Troy series came to be because the twin sister of Tennessee center, Nia Moore, who is now graduated, happened to be at Troy State. The two schools thought it would be nice to schedule a game for the sisters. That’s how it started.

This year Troy is in fact doing quite well in its pre-conference games. Troy’s record to date is 4-2 with the team’s two losses to SEC teams. Last month they came very close to beating Ole Miss in Oxford. The score was 96-93 in favor of Ole Miss. Troy and Tennessee played Alabama State a week apart: Troy State 93-Alabama State 63 and Tennessee 104-Alabama State 51.

So, coming into this past game there was no indication that the outcome would be as one-sided as it turned out. I was at the game and really don’t know what else Holly could have done short of running out the clock on every possession. So, I’m sincerely asking: What is it that posters think Tennessee should have done? What does Geno do when he finds his team in a similar mismatch?

 

[j66kicker]

The picture of Alabama’s So, coming into this past game there was no indication that the outcome would be as one-sided as it turned out. I was at the game and really don’t know what else Holly could have done short of running out the clock on every possession. So, I’m sincerely asking: What is it that posters think Tennessee should have done? What does Geno do when he finds his team in a similar mismatch?

Well, the reality is that because of the conference UConn is stuck in, Geno does find himself there. What he does not do is score 130+ points. Not yet anyway (God help TN if you ever meet up with UConn in the NCAA tourney). But anyway, let's assume there was really no way to avoid it last night. With all the bragging about records, etc., you would think TN just won a Final Four game or something. Troy? Really???

 

[HuskyNan]

The picture of Alabama’s Troy Siate University being a cupcake that this thread seems to suggest is not entirely accurate. Troy is a second tier school and a member of the Sunbelt Conference.

The Tennessee-Troy series came to be because the twin sister of Tennessee center, Nia Moore, who is now graduated, happened to be at Troy State. The two schools thought it would be nice to schedule a game for the sisters. That’s how it started.

This year Troy is in fact doing quite well in its pre-conference games. Troy’s record to date is 4-2 with the team’s two losses to SEC teams. Last month they came very close to beating Ole Miss in Oxford. The score was 96-93 in favor of Ole Miss. Troy and Tennessee played Alabama State a week apart: Troy State 93-Alabama State 63 and Tennessee 104-Alabama State 51.

So, coming into this past game there was no indication that the outcome would be as one-sided as it turned out. I was at the game and really don’t know what else Holly could have done short of running out the clock on every possession. So, I’m sincerely asking: What is it that posters think Tennessee should have done? What does Geno do when he finds his team in a similar mismatch?

You're talking about issues no one has raised. The point is (again) - why are Tennessee fans coming to the Boneyard to boast about record books being rewritten, etc when it's the #11 ranked team vs an unranked team? It's not like the LVs beat Notre Dame or South Carolina by 60.

 

[Plebe]

The Tennessee-Troy series came to be because the twin sister of Tennessee center, Nia Moore, who is now graduated, happened to be at Troy State. The two schools thought it would be nice to schedule a game for the sisters. That’s how it started.

Thanks for sharing this tidbit. It made me curious about the backstory and led me down a rabbit hole of research, which only led to more questions.

Troy and Tennessee have only played twice previously, and all three of their games have been in Knoxville. The first time was in the 2013-14 season, when Nia Moore was a sophomore. Nia's online bio states, "Twin sister, Annaya, played basketball at Troy (Ala.) University and is now a manager for the Lady Vols." However, further research reveals that Annaya never played a single minute for Troy, as her college playing career ended before it began, sadly, due to a foot injury.

Setting aside the obvious inaccuracy in the online bio, I guess you're saying that the two schools decided to set up a Moore sister matchup before before either sister even started her freshman year? I find that a bit ... odd. But I suppose it's possible.

Another issue is that the two schools didn't play in 2014-15 or 2015-16, but then they played again last year in Knoxville. Even if the Moore sister connection was the reason for starting the "series" (if you can call it that) back in 2013-14, why was the "series" suspended for two years and then resumed last year? And even more importantly, why have all of their games been played in Knoxville, and never at Troy?

 

[HoopsFan21]

The picture of Alabama’s Troy Siate University being a cupcake that this thread seems to suggest is not entirely accurate. Troy is a second tier school and a member of the Sunbelt Conference.

The Tennessee-Troy series came to be because the twin sister of Tennessee center, Nia Moore, who is now graduated, happened to be at Troy State. The two schools thought it would be nice to schedule a game for the sisters. That’s how it started.

This year Troy is in fact doing quite well in its pre-conference games. Troy’s record to date is 4-2 with the team’s two losses to SEC teams. Last month they came very close to beating Ole Miss in Oxford. The score was 96-93 in favor of Ole Miss. Troy and Tennessee played Alabama State a week apart: Troy State 93-Alabama State 63 and Tennessee 104-Alabama State 51.

So, coming into this past game there was no indication that the outcome would be as one-sided as it turned out. I was at the game and really don’t know what else Holly could have done short of running out the clock on every possession. So, I’m sincerely asking: What is it that posters think Tennessee should have done? What does Geno do when he finds his team in a similar mismatch?

They work on their half court game typically. Geno starts doing that if up by more than 30. They work on the things the team is not good at rather than just try to see how many points they can score against an over-matched opponent. The team is full of highly recruited D-I athletes, he knows they can score 150, but that doesn't make the team any better or get them ready for playing ND, South Carolina, UCLA, Texas, Maryland, Louisville, Stanford, and of course the NCAA tournament.

 

[UConnCat]

You're talking about issues no one has raised. The point is (again) - why are Tennessee fans coming to the Boneyard to boast about record books being rewritten, etc when it's the #11 ranked team vs an unranked team? It's not like the LVs beat Notre Dame or South Carolina by 60.

Not to mention the years we had to listen to LV fans laugh about UConn playing Holy Cross or other teams they didn't deem worthy. Those fans would boast about the tough LV schedules that Summitt would put together and how she'd never consider playing a team like Holy Cross. The tables have turned and some of us are just pointing that out.

 

[Skyhawk92]

Troy was down 30 at half, instead of making adjustments the coach tells the team to shoot before 7 seconds runs off the shot clock.

 

[Go/huskies]

Westbrook seems like she's for real. I don't think anyone questions the kids' abilities, or heart, but there is a question about coaching when the games get tougher. The match-up with Texas should be illuminating.

Tennessee and Texas are about even on talent level, but Nared should be the best player on the court. Holly has questions marks as a coach, but so does The Texas coach I’m picking TENN for the win.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Do you know when her current contract expires? At places like WSU, they're often more inclined to let contracts play out. She did, after all, just take them on a deep WNIT run last year.

I'm not sure how long her contract is currently. Kinda crazy that UW has seen 4 head coaches since Daugherty has been at Wazzu (Jackson, McGuff, Neighbors, Wynn).

 

[Plebe]

I'm not sure how long her contract is currently. Kinda crazy that UW has seen 4 head coaches since Daugherty has been at Wazzu (Jackson, McGuff, Neighbors, Wynn).

I actually looked it up last night. She's currently on an extension that goes through 2018-19.

Curiously, she had considerably more success in her time at UW than she's had at Washington State: two Sweet 16s and an Elite 8.

 

[Phil]

Thanks for sharing this tidbit. It made me curious about the backstory and led me down a rabbit hole of research, which only led to more questions.

Troy and Tennessee have only played twice previously, and all three of their games have been in Knoxville. The first time was in the 2013-14 season, when Nia Moore was a sophomore. Nia's online bio states, "Twin sister, Annaya, played basketball at Troy (Ala.) University and is now a manager for the Lady Vols." However, further research reveals that Annaya never played a single minute for Troy, as her college playing career ended before it began, sadly, due to a foot injury.

Setting aside the obvious inaccuracy in the online bio, I guess you're saying that the two schools decided to set up a Moore sister matchup before before either sister even started her freshman year? I find that a bit ... odd. But I suppose it's possible.

Another issue is that the two schools didn't play in 2014-15 or 2015-16, but then they played again last year in Knoxville. Even if the Moore sister connection was the reason for starting the "series" (if you can call it that) back in 2013-14, why was the "series" suspended for two years and then resumed last year? And even more importantly, why have all of their games been played in Knoxville, and never at Troy?

I wondered about the rationale, and after your research, I guess I'm still wondering. Doesn't fully add up.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Curiously, she had considerably more success in her time at UW than she's had at Washington State: two Sweet 16s and an Elite 8.

Yeah she had some decent success initially at UW. Seemed like diminishing returns the longer she was there. It had gotten fairly stagnant. I had no problem w/ the school letting her go. Jackson came in w/ a good resume, there was no way to know what a disaster she would end up being.

Huh. Looking at wikipedia, the coach prior to Daugherty, Chris Gobrecht, had 3 Sweet 16's and an Elite 8. They only show 1 Elite 8 for Daugherty and otherwise a steady diet of first round losses. Much higher winning % for Gobrecht too, both in conference and overall. My impression from Daugherty's tenure at UW was that she was mediocrity personified. Not bad, but not that good either.

 

[Plebe]

Huh. Looking at wikipedia, the coach prior to Daugherty, Chris Gobrecht, had 3 Sweet 16's and an Elite 8. They only show 1 Elite 8 for Daugherty and otherwise a steady diet of first round losses. Much higher winning % for Gobrecht too, both in conference and overall. My impression from Daugherty's tenure at UW was that she was mediocrity personified. Not bad, but not that good either.

That's strange. I got the info from Daugherty's wikipedia page: June Daugherty - Wikipedia

 

[nwhoopfan]

I thought if it was on the internet it had to be true! Well some of the wiki entries are a bit contradictory.

 

[Plebe]

I thought if it was on the internet it had to be true! Well some of the wiki entries are a bit contradictory.

Hmm. Upon further investigation, I think the page you saw is correct. The main discrepancy was in 2001-02, when UW indeed played in the WNIT, not the NCAA tournament.

Daugherty's operatives must be meddling with the wikipedia page.