Tennessee @ ND

[Shenandoah]

It's tough trying to root against both teams at once...I think I'll root for Tenn--that will be a first!

That's why I watched the Baylor/Texas game.

 

[Icebear]

Notre Dame starts 2 juniors, 2 sophomores, and a freshman. No seniors see significant minutes, as the top bench players are a junior (Cable) and a freshman (Westbeld). They are playing with house money this year.

Yes, but this year they are nothing special. Many teams normally at the top are in transition years, see Stanford and ND. It is not a strong year in WCBB. Neither of these TN nor ND teams would make to the FF most years playing as they did last night. I turned the game off at the half to record other shows.

 

[Icebear]

Unless Lloyd decides to turn pro.

That will not happen.

 

[HuskyNan]

Impressed how Tenn stayed together and responded to ND runs. Played much better than I expected them to (battled). Considering ND shot 60+ percent and were only down 3 at the half says something. Very impressive on the O boards. I was impressed how ND played a lot of players even when I thought some of them were struggling (Westbeld). Both teams potentially dangerous.

It's unfortunate that Tennessee plays to the level of its competition. Clearly, the LVs can play well, as they did last night, but I've seen games where these terrific athletes look slow and uninspired. It's a puzzle. To me, an elite team approaches every single game in the same way and plays to the same level, whether it wins or loses. Tennessee is obviously a very good team, a top 10 team, but it needs to reach that level of play every single game.

 

[Icebear]

A bit misleading, as Turner didn't play for ND. Score would've been closer.

It will not be closer the next time, UCONN has improved vastly since that game. Our bigs will have no problem at all with Turner. Our guards can give Loyd a much tougher time than TN did. We are much quicker than TN and our help defense is much more effective. Even with Turner ND was defenseless keeping TN off the boards, that will not be true with Tuck, Stokes, and Stewart. Neither team matches up well with UCONN.

 

[VolFan]

We did enough to win on the offensive end, missed paint points aside. Fewer turnovers than ND, same amount of made FG's from the floor, shot the ball well from 3. The difference was defense and rebounding. We've been out-rebounded now several times, and it's because we're getting comfortable and just expecting to dominate the boards. Defensively, we'd been holding people to about 50 pts a game and I think they thought we could just come in and do the same against arguably the best offensive team in the country, and our defense got embarrassed. I will offer no comment of the FT disparity (27-10) The encouraging thing moving forward is that we now know the offense can play coherently and score against a top team without turning the ball over, and we've seen our defensive potential throughout the year. Should we buckle down mentally on defense and build on what we did on offense against ND, we have a nice shot at running the table the rest of the season. In some ways, a big game for us, and in others, a massive disappointment.

 

[VolFan]

Also, I cannot wait to take Diamond to SouthBend next year. She and Jewell could put on a show. Jewell v. Diamond would be a 'shiny' tv matchup.

 

[Aluminny69]

Also, I cannot wait to take Diamond to SouthBend next year. She and Jewell could put on a show. Jewell v. Diamond would be a 'shiny' tv matchup.

They played in South Bend THIS year, won't they play in Knoxville next year?

 

[Aluminny69]

Also, I cannot wait to take Diamond to SouthBend next year. She and Jewell could put on a show. Jewell v. Diamond would be a 'shiny' tv matchup.

Some of the Tenn. records mentioned were a bit startling: NO Final Fours, or road victories against top ten teams since Candace Parker and Co. graduated in 2008.

 

[JoePgh]

It will not be closer the next time, UCONN has improved vastly since that game. Our bigs will have no problem at all with Turner. Our guards can give Loyd a much tougher time than TN did. We are much quicker than TN and our help defense is much more effective. Even with Turner ND was defenseless keeping TN off the boards, that will not be true with Tuck, Stokes, and Stewart. Neither team matches up well with UCONN.

In the second half last night, ND did a much better job of clearing their defensive boards, and also tuned up their offense to take advantage of Tennessee's overaggressive defense. You missed some very good offensive plays by ND in the second half.

I agree that at this point UConn should beat either ND or Tennessee by 15-20 points, assuming everyone is healthy on both teams. But I wouldn't diminish UConn's "areas for improvement" as much as you appear to do. UConn has had a consistent problem this year with allowing too many offensive rebounds (although not a lot of second-chance points). South Florida, despite a lack of size, had about 20 offensive rebounds, as I recall. Sue Bird even remarked during the game that she sees rebounding drills in UConn's future. If that isn't fixed (and it probably will be), Tennessee could do some real damage there if the teams play in the tournament.

I think the margin of victory over ND on December 6 would have been about 10 points if Turner had been healthy and had played. I agree that it should be better now with the improved play by Moriah. I would like to think that Gabby would also add something to that margin, but unfortunately she has yet to prove herself in competitive games. I hope she gets that chance against South Carolina -- that is a team (big, but on the slow side) against which her skills should be very effective.

I was quite impressed with what I saw of Baylor last night. Their best player is Nina Davis, and their post players are not mobile at all, but they are effective. I would not expect them to lose in the Big 12, and I see them as nearly a certain Final Four team. I hope the regular season series with UConn can be restored as soon as next year.

 

[VolFan]

They played in South Bend THIS year, won't they play in Knoxville next year?

No, because they played in Knoxville for two consecutive years, we now go there for two consecutive years. not sure why it is this way, but I'm assuming something tv related.

 

[DobbsRover2]

In the second half last night, ND did a much better job of clearing their defensive boards, and also tuned up their offense to take advantage of Tennessee's overaggressive defense. You missed some very good offensive plays by ND in the second half.

I agree that at this point UConn should beat either ND or Tennessee by 15-20 points, assuming everyone is healthy on both teams. But I wouldn't diminish UConn's "areas for improvement" as much as you appear to do. UConn has had a consistent problem this year with allowing too many offensive rebounds (although not a lot of second-chance points). South Florida, despite a lack of size, had about 20 offensive rebounds, as I recall. Sue Bird even remarked during the game that she sees

Not necessarily saying that UConn isn't maybe allowing a few too many offensive rebounds, and I grumble when the opponents get even one, but the stats aren't that bad for this year's team and is affected by especially one huge factor that is a difficult one but is still maybe one that the team can try to work on in practice. And obviously Geno will likely be focusing on it.

1. If you take the total number of missed FGAs and say two-thirds of the missed FTAs (I'm guessing on what would be a reasonable amount for actual opportunities) and divide it by the opponents' offensive rebounds, last year's Huskies gave up one every 3.56 opportunities while this year's team is at a slightly poorer 3.40, which hopefully can be improved on.

2. On total offensive rebounds we do need to remember that UConn is playing a more up-tempo game this year and opponents are taking 2 more shots per game, giving them slightly more opportunities, though it is not a major factor.

3. The big change is that the opponents have increased their number of three-point attempts hugely from last year, from 28.0% last year to 32.9% of their shots this year, and I'm guessing that's partly due to the presence of the SWAT team in UConn's paint. To me, getting a rebound off a three-point miss is always tougher for the defense because it's much harder to figure out where a carom is going to go, and the shooter usually has the best view of where to go to retrieve it. But getting better at being prepared for a three-point miss is definitely something that the Huskies should probably be working on with the increase in opponents' attempts this year.

4. One stat that could mean something or nothing is that MoJeff's rate of defensive rebounds per minute has dropped hugely from 1 every 11.5 minutes last year to 1 every 16 minutes this year. The whole rebounding setup for the Huskies has changed hugely and Gabby Williams has emerged as a force to change up the stats, but it is possible with the higher percentage of opponent's three-point shots, that MoJeff might be able to track down a few more caroms. Kia on the other hand has a slightly better average on DRebs per minute than an also good-rebounding Hartley last year at 1 every 10.3 minutes, so she may be scooping up more of the caroms that used to go to MoJeff.

 

[Orangutan]

Yes, but this year they are nothing special. Many teams normally at the top are in transition years, see Stanford and ND. It is not a strong year in WCBB. Neither of these TN nor ND teams would make to the FF most years playing as they did last night. I turned the game off at the half to record other shows.

I think this year's ND team is comparable to last year's Stanford or Maryland.

2014-2015 ND - 1.11 offensive points per possession, .81 defensive points per possession
2013-2014 ND - 1.13 OPPP, .81 DPPP
2013-2014 Stan - 1.08 OPPP, .84 DPPP
2013-2014 MD - 1.09 OPPP, .86 DPPP

ND is actually running ahead of both Stanford and Maryland's marks last year both offensively and defensively. And only slightly off of last year's ND team on offense.

I guess the counter argument is that these numbers are coming against easier teams due to the overall level of play being down, but even if you factor that in, I'd say ND this year is, at worst, on a par with last year's Maryland or Stanford.

 

[Beemer]

Work is going to be fun tomorrow. My AD is a huge Tennessee fan and she is at the ND/Tennessee game. She is going to be in a fun mood.

Call in dead. It is the only thing to do

 

[Tonyc]

First of all Tenn lost because of their defense allowing ND to shoot 70% most of the first half and 58% for the game. Second if you want to blame it on fouls which most occurred at the end of the game look at how many games Tenn won this year going to the line many more times then their opponents. The reason Tenn stayed in the game is Graves played like we all know she can play and Tenn shot 60% from trey. If Graves scores like she has and Tenn shoots from trey like they do this game would've been over much earlier. I thought Tenn would lose by 20+ I was impressed with their play. Still to this day going back to the UConn Tenn games Tenn still cant stop the back door plays. UConn killed Tenn with back door plays.

As far as trying to compare the UConn ND game to any other game you cant. UConn dosnt have to be firing on all cylinders to blow opponents out. UConn is at a different level then any other team in WCBB. The Stanford game was a fluke. UConn beat ND at ND with poor chemistry by 18 after trailing by 10 that's a 28 pt turn around.

Bottom line I thought Tenn play better then they have in quite sometime. They lost to ND who IMO is a top 3 team. Tenn lost on the road at ND and was in the game until late in the second half. Don't look for excuses as to why Tenn lost look at how they stayed in the game against a very good ND team and ask yourself why Tenn struggles against lesser teams. JMO

 

[Icebear]

I agree that at this point UConn should beat either ND or Tennessee by 15-20 points, assuming everyone is healthy on both teams. But I wouldn't diminish UConn's "areas for improvement" as much as you appear to do. UConn has had a consistent problem this year with allowing too many offensive rebounds (although not a lot of second-chance points).

UCONN situation on the offensive boards is more about holding opponents to bad shots and getting out and challenging them. When you shoot over 52% and hold opponents to low 30s it is not uncommon to get out rebounded on the offensive boards. Can they improve sure there is always for improvement.

 

[Icebear]

I think this year's ND team is comparable to last year's Stanford or Maryland.

2014-2015 ND - 1.11 offensive points per possession, .81 defensive points per possession
2013-2014 ND - 1.13 OPPP, .81 DPPP
2013-2014 Stan - 1.08 OPPP, .84 DPPP
2013-2014 MD - 1.09 OPPP, .86 DPPP

ND is actually running ahead of both Stanford and Maryland's marks last year both offensively and defensively. And only slightly off of last year's ND team on offense.

I guess the counter argument is that these numbers are coming against easier teams due to the overall level of play being down, but even if you factor that in, I'd say ND this year is, at worst, on a par with last year's Maryland or Stanford.

Sorry but I completely disagree. Plus one cannot compare between seasons very well if everyone seems to be weaker.

 

[Striper69]

Also, I cannot wait to take Diamond to SouthBend next year. She and Jewell could put on a show. Jewell v. Diamond would be a 'shiny' tv matchup.

That's what Tenn. is missing right now- a DD-type player. Next season will be great if they can replace Izzy.

 

[BRS24]

Always enjoyable watching Margo's videos. It seems that she is running around a thought and not coming out and directly calling out the coaches. But, IMHO the best part was her comments on Dee Kantnor ... says that she always has it out for TN, and here I was thinking she didn't like UConn & Geno.

 

[Buckaroobanzai]

The Tennessee "bigs" are good athletes, can shoot the ball but are slow. Its guards were mediocre offensively and were unable to anything to impede Loyd. Diamond DeShields could change everything in Knoxville next year provided that she doesn't try to take ALL of the shots. If she tries to get the entire team involved in the offense, a Final Four appearance is likely.

Notre Dame is quick and young and depends way too much on Loyd. If Tennessee had guard(s) who could face guard her, she would have been less a force of nature and someone else (Turner?) would have had to step up. I do believe that ND is going to be a real force in the NCAA tournament.

 

[j66kicker]

Always enjoyable watching Margo's videos. It seems that she is running around a thought and not coming out and directly calling out the coaches. But, IMHO the best part was her comments on Dee Kantnor ... says that she always has it out for TN, and here I was thinking she didn't like UConn & Geno.

I got a kick out of that too: "Everybody knows Dee Kantner and Tennessee don't mix."

 

[chrissaran]

How long will Holly Warlick last?

 

[CL82]

It's unfortunate that Tennessee plays to the level of its competition. Clearly, the LVs can play well, as they did last night, but I've seen games where these terrific athletes look slow and uninspired. It's a puzzle. To me, an elite team approaches every single game in the same way and plays to the same level, whether it wins or loses. Tennessee is obviously a very good team, a top 10 team, but it needs to reach that level of play every single game.

Nan, I think you are biased based upon your rooting interest. Let downs and trap games are the norm in sports. That Geno has managed to keep them to a minimum over the years is part of his genius. (Geno-ness?)

 

[BRS24]

Nan, I think you are biased based upon your rooting interest. Let downs and trap games are the norm in sports. That Geno has managed to keep them to a minimum over the years is part of his genius. (Geno-ness?)

I agree with Nan. The one constant that Geno and CD bring to the UConn program is the expectation of 100% at every level - practice, plays, games, regardless of the opponent or score. The players know that even if they are wining by double digits, if they are not executing the way it's expected, there will be some interesting discussions while sitting next to CD, and sometimes, a benching that lasts for most of the game. Call me a romantic, but it's like John Wooden teaching his players each year, how to put on their socks. It was always the same.

 

[Buzzyboy]

It's unfortunate that Tennessee plays to the level of its competition. Clearly, the LVs can play well, as they did last night, but I've seen games where these terrific athletes look slow and uninspired. It's a puzzle. To me, an elite team approaches every single game in the same way and plays to the same level, whether it wins or loses. Tennessee is obviously a very good team, a top 10 team, but it needs to reach that level of play every single game.

You are so right about elite teams (UConn) playing each game and each possession at the same level, almost constantly. I'm sure there's been a letdown here or there but with Geno, it's been very, very short-lived. That's what has helped contribute to the Huskies great success if never (or almost never) taking a single play off. That's like going to see a Broadway matinee with a sparse crowd. Some performers will never give anything but their best performance, no matter the circumstance. Would you have it any other way but to see a players best, minute after minute?

 

[Buzzyboy]

I agree with Nan. The one constant that Geno and CD bring to the UConn program is the expectation of 100% at every level - practice, plays, games, regardless of the opponent or score. The players know that even if they are wining by double digits, if they are not executing the way it's expected, there will be some interesting discussions while sitting next to CD, and sometimes, a benching that lasts for most of the game. Call me a romantic, but it's like John Wooden teaching his players each year, how to put on their socks. It was always the same.

I wish I had read your post before I submitted mine because though we said it a bit differently than one another, the whole context of your post and mine is quite similar. Well done!