Louisville Crushes Tennessee

[JellyBean]

Tennessee is a year away so don't cross them off yet. This is not their year.

It does take a minute it, with this style of play. The Lady Vols gotta work on their shooting to really open up the System. Right now, the Lady Vols are getting it done with their defense which creates their offense. But I can see the Lady Vols, if everyone stays, really taking a step forward next year.

 

[uconnfan68]

This was a very public spanking for Tennessee. And they deserved every bit of it. The tiff between Spearman and Randolph was not just an inflection point. It was also revealing of the two teams. I have a feeling Spearman (and the rest of the team) were embarrassed by Istanbuloglu on the boards, but also Berry (of all people) practically out rebounded Tennessee by themselves. This ratcheted up their tempers until they finally flared. And just to be clear, after a slow start a few years ago, Istanbuloglu has really developed into a quality post, and especially someone who will dive for loose balls. Not many bigs will do that.

Istanbuloglu only played 4(?) minutes against us. I thought she was outstanding vs SC, and also thought Okot was the best big I’ve seen in a while. Both teams looked very impressive.

 

[TheGOAT23]

This has been an annual event for the last 15 years hasn't it?

Sounds like Dallas Cowboys’ fans every year.

 

[CardsWBBfan]

Stephanie Norman left! Sorry to hear. I thought she and Jeff were attached at the hip and shoulder….

Yes, she left after last season to join Molly Miller at Arizona State Univeraity, her alma mater.

 

[visitingcock]

Caldwell’s defensive “system” is one dimensional in its reliance on forcing turnovers. While that is a valuable tool, it is incomplete. It doesn’t help much in the half court. Even full-court puts you at a disadvantage when their players don’t know a system even if they are decent at one on one defense.

I don’t see them having a chance against decent point guards who can handle their press. There are a LOT of good point guards in the top half of the SEC

 

[EricSD]

Tennessee has the better athletes with exception to a few players on Louisville's side. On paper this should have been a Tennessee win. I think this really shows the maturity of Walz's system. Coach Caldwell is so young in her career and she hasn't had her system challenged like this at lower levels. On the other hand, Coach Walz has had more press heavy teams in the past, and he still likes to, but his approach just feels more well thought out. This kind of felt like a rookie system vs. a vetted system of similar caliber.

That's actually a really good point IMHO (the part I bolded). There isn't a single team in the top 25 (possibly not in the top 50) that uses the platoon system of substitution. There's a reason top teams play the way they do - it works. There's a reason NONE of the top teams use the platoon system - it doesn't work.

Arizona State, under Charlie Thorne, used the platoon system. Her teams were often in the NCAA's, but they best they ever did was the elite 8 twice. I'm just not sure it's a viable coaching strategy for elite teams.

 

[ucbart]

Um. There is a lot going on here, but can I throw in the fact that any coach who willingly takes Janiah Barker for her senior season at her 3rd school, is clearly just gathering players and not building a program. I'm sure that with Tennessee going back to Adidas and with the history of the program that the Lady Vols will have the most NIL $ in the country to give out, but if they keep getting the wrong players and playing that system, I don't think it'll go anywhere.

As for Walz, he's just an elite coach and always has been.