Tennessee Post Game Thread (merged)

[Zarathustra]

Some thoughts on the TN game:

• TN is the most athletic team on UConn’s schedule this year. They are long, quick, pressure for 40 minutes and employ hockey line substututions.
• UConn started the game off like they would blow TN out of the gym. But some head-scratching turnovers and defensive breakdowns by the Huskies left the game tied at the half.
• The 2nd half started much the same as the first. But this time the Huskies kept their foot on the gas.
• Azzi came to play today. She not only lit it up scoring, but was probably UConn’s best defender.
• Sarah with another NPOY game….Ho, hum.
• Serah Williams played her best game at UConn today. Against a big and active TN frontline, Serah battled relentlessly, doing a lot of the dirty work in the paint.
• How about Kayleigh’s end-to-end drive. Reminded some of us old timers of Jen’s drive vs TN back in ’95. Then Kayleigh did it a 2nd Time. 🤩
• Really nice effort from Ash and Allie. Allie’s 3-pt shot at the end of the 3rd qtr blew the roof off PeoplesBank Arena.
• UConn’s win over TN today pretty much assures the Huskies of the #1 overall seed in the Big Dance. That’s not to say that no BE team will beat the Huskies this season…….Actually, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Take it to the Bank!!! 😎

Kudos to all the big scorers for the Huskies. But the two
end to end drives by K9 and Allie's killer strokes from beyond
the arc were "JUMP OUT OF YOUR SEAT" events!

 

[hoophuskee]

I agree, generally, but this season is different because we ARE deeper. The players are not worn down so the chances for an injury are lower. Also, on the flip side, you need to keep your players at peak physical condition. In the worst case scenario, in a close game at the final four, you want your players to be less tired than their players. That requires a balance of building conditioning without wearing them out.

I suspect they will be dialing back the practices. If so, the key players will need more game time.

I don't agree in the context you speak. Yes this year is different but the main concern is that we have little-to-no-competion so we have been forced to play our bench too much. As we saw last year vs Tenn, the chemistry of the team was lacking. That should be our worst fear. And what we saw late in the game even in those last 2 minutes the lazy pass from Sarah and the poor decision bounce pass from Ashlynn need to be worked on. Not the non-core players getting minutes that won't help an already very-well rested team. There is a reason why Geno said in this past potsgame that he didn't want to see a 30 point blowout at halftime. He needs his players to challenged. Them not being challenged enough which hinders their chemistry, just like last year that we saw vs Tenn, is the wrost case scenario.

 

[boontonbomber]

Sorry, what

By using the term "scrum" during a basketball game infers that multiple players are involved in the "physicality". And seldom during a held ball situation that no fouling is occurring, especially when it is happening with players on the floor.

Agree, that many grabbing fouls occur in those situations. What Azzi did was basically push Pauldo down to the floor. Easy call, but they didn't see it. Happens all the time, for both teams. If you're one of those who see UConn not getting calls, why do you think that's happening,?

 

[oldude]

C'mon, OD, yesterday's game is not my point. You can't really think that the UConn fans are less biased than, say, the Tennessee fans when it comes to officiating. Do you think that the UConn players generally are picked on by the refs? If so, how come?

You miss my point. It is simply that fans believe their team is the only one getting screwed by the refs. I don’t support that belief.

More importantly, Geno doesn’t buy it either. I think if you asked Geno about the refereeing in the game against TN, he would be perfectly happy with the way the game was called.

Both teams play agressive, physical defense. There were just 20 total fouls called: 11 on TN & 9 on UConn. UConn won the rebounding battle as well as the turnover battle. The refs let them play which, if you’re the better team, is exactly what you want.

The only time I will complain about the refs is if there is a continuous procession to the FT line, where the refs call every ticky-tack foul on both teams, turning the game into a foul shooting contest.

 

[fireford]

For those who can't get enough of Kayleigh's coast-to-coast x 2

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Condensed game if you're still Jonesing on it.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

For those who can't get enough of Kayleigh's coast-to-coast x 2

I couldn't believe they'd get burned 2 in a row. Those trees essentially never moved.

 

[DefenseBB]

I’m with @Cuango on this one, totally. And especially about Kim. She took over an impossible job — a very difficult fan base, an AD that cut the funding for WCBB after Pat retired, and the patchwork of Portal players she’d inherited from Kellie. She had a very good recruiting class this season. A couple more decent classes and she can free herself from the portal.

As for her pressing game style, even Geno said about it, that’s what you do when you don’t have a good roster. He says he did something similar in the early years. But the point is to escape the need for it. And I’d also say that she’s already backed off partially from the ‘hockey line’ business. You can see it in the boxscore clear as day. She only plays 8 really, and mostly it’s Cooper Spearman Barker and Pauldo. The problem for her is that the press is physically and mentally tiring for her own team as much as for her opponents. In this game, Tennessee looked spent from mid-3rd quarter on. By mid-4th they were toast.

I like Kim as a coach, plus I feel for her. Tennessee has become a toxic job to be a WBB coach. She needs to show success quickly to hold onto that job, and for all the flaws with her team, if she can hang on for three more years, I have a feeling she’ll have built something. And how can you not root for someone who takes over this job very pregnant and somehow keeps it all together. She is a very formidable person.

As Sun Tzu so famously said, "keep your friends close but your enemies closer", I keep a keen eye on Tennessee and I strongly disagree with both @Cuango and @Bone Dog on their assessments.

#1. This freshman class is ALL Caldwell and was highly touted.
#2. The advent of the "portal" now makes every year an opportunity for a coach to bring in "her players" and she did with Barker ($600-800K), Wolfenbarger ($100K) and Robertson ($100-200K) and last year with Spearman, Cooper, Latham and Whitehorn. So how are these NOT her players???
#3. The "system" only works with discipline that while initially it looks like mass chaos, there is supposed to be process behind all the efforts including quick thinking, passing, shooting or drives to the basket and/or kick outs to the open perimeter shooter. Tennessee is NOT adept at that last part of the "system". Because they only hear "hoist more 3 point shots" and "have more shots than your opponent", they neglect getting "good shots" by passing or dribble/drive penetration and kicking the ball out to an open shooter.
#4. The roster is littered with poor shooters that was known before the season. I am leaving the Freshman out of this discussion as they were largely unknown shooters at this next level of competition but as I had written, Robertson did two years at GW in the A-10, moved onto SMU and woeful team in the ACC. She led SMU in scoring last year at 18.5 pts per game but this came on .325 and .312 shooting percentages, which is ATROCIOUS. Only our most positive LV fan @stwainfan felt her shooting would get better in a tougher conference which surprisingly it has but only to .335 and .318. Wolfenbarger was put at the end of the bench at LSU and has now been put at the end of the LV bench. Barker is at .457 and .324 which are mediocre as the teams star player. But the team as a whole is only .410 and .301 which is not good. The philosophy isn't terrible but better understanding on taking "better shots" vs. "any shot" needs to be understood. Their paltry assists of 274 vs. an uncanny 292 turnovers also belies the problem.

Mostly those on VolNation (a harsh cesspool of fans) despise this system and "hockey style line changes" as it prevents chemistry from developing. Caldwell also does not sit players for poor play.

By and large, I am not against the "system" but she needs to incorporate within a more structured approach. This team has a lot of great athletes but who are not knowledgeable team concept players as evidenced by their one on one play. That is solely on the coach and her staff.

Lastly, her post game pressers are atrocious. She never really accepts any blame on the loss and constantly criticizes the player. She has shown no ability to make adjustments in game or at half time. I do not think she will ever be successful to the standard that the Tennessee fans expect or what the University is implicitly asking by giving her all the NIL money and other AD support.

But as correctly pointed out, despite the VolNation protestations, Caldwell is only in year 2 of her contract, so barring a complete collapse and not making the NCAAT, she will be given more time. She better hope to retain this freshman class and bring in portal reinforcements.

 

[DefenseBB]

They proudly call that SEC tough defense. But, I think we adjusted and we got our licks in too. They let both sides play and I thought it was a fairly EVENLY called game.

There, fixed it for you.... 😂

 

[DefenseBB]

C'mon, OD, yesterday's game is not my point. You can't really think that the UConn fans are less biased than, say, the Tennessee fans when it comes to officiating. Do you think that the UConn players generally are picked on by the refs? If so, how come?

Let me say this-I think the "lack of calls" benefits a physical opponent vs. UConn as Geno and staff have been regularly citing to NOT FOUL, be in position, move your feet, communicate etc. whereas other opponents, whack, block, hack, push and grab sometimes so much so, the officials simply stop blowing the whistle. UConn then adjusts their game by doing the same thing.

Did UConn adjust yesterday? Yes but if this was a "fairly called game" which Tennessee normally commits 18.4 fouls per game and more against better opponents, Tennessee would have been in serious foul trouble and we would have run away from the game much earlier.

There were some really atrocious calls yesterday particularly by the male ref when he was out of position to make a call. I was at the game and the amount sound some the "hacking" created without a foul was astounding. So yeah 20 total foul calls while even, was atrocious.

 

[veivoli]

As I was watching a highlights reel from the game, after Kayleigh’s second length-of-the-court drive, and the glorious celebration that followed, I couldn’t help wondering if she is the happiest kid in D1 WCBB. She went far afield, all the way to the west coast, and finally she is home. She is well loved by her teammates, and her talents fit really well on this new team in the basketball capital of the world.

Welcome home, Kayleigh! This is where you belong.

I've said this in another thread, but think it's worth repeating: She must be relishing playing in a team where the offense doesn't consist of give the ball to our star and get out of her way so she can stuff her stats.

 

[Phil]

The starters did not need to be in at the end of this game.

I think it's considered an unwritten rule that the losing team has to throw in the towel, (call of the press, take out the top players, or otherwise signify that the result is obvious), before the team-leading has to call off the dogs. They can be exceptional situations such as the Syracuse game.

I also note that the season has seen quit a few examples of teams up by 16 or more points and having that lead evaporate, so while sometimes it seems like much more than a 10 point lead means the result can be written down, that have been quite a few significant size comebacks the season, so no team-leading by his few as 16 points should decide it's time to pump the brakes. And if you want examples of such margins overcome you need to look no further than, ohhh, let's say the first half of the UConn Tennessee game. Yes the lead get well beyond 16, but when it got close to 30, it was close enough to the end of the game that I think Geno felt this is a Azzi's last game against Tennessee (barring a meet up in the tournament) so letter play to the end.

 

[Phil]

CD. Future coach.

She's even starting off with the right initials.

 

[Phil]

Condolences to the wbb fans in South Bend, Knoxville , Columbia and elsewhere who tuned into the UConn Tenn game at halftime hoping to see the mighty Casey strike out: there is joy in Mudville tonight

Ah, so you're letting the cat out of the bag.

This game was orchestrated. Let UConn get out to a 16 point lead to feed the UConn fans. Then, let Tennessee come back and tie it, so basketball fans watching of the games and paying attention to scores will realize they need to be watching this game. Once you suck them in, they'll stay and boost the viewer numbers, then UConn can be UConn and blow them off the court. It was all for the ratings! </sarc>

 

[Phil]

If you want to take a short trip over to Volnation, you will surprisingly discover quite a few LV fans complaining about how the refs screwed TN yesterday…. 😱

But when you lose by 30, it’s really an enormous stretch to suggest that you lost because of the refs.

Trsut me, they are capable of enormous stretches. When a semi-reasonable fan pointed out that the foul calls were roughly even, they pounced. Yes! There should've been twice as many on UConn!

 

[TheGOAT23]

Great photo

Textbook!

I have wondered for a long time why it is that the refs seem to favor UConn's opponents, at least according to the Boneyard.

That’s all fan bases.

 

[boontonbomber]

You miss my point. It is simply that fans believe their team is the only one getting screwed by the refs. I don’t support that belief.

More importantly, Geno doesn’t buy it either. I think if you asked Geno about the refereeing in the game against TN, he would be perfectly happy with the way the game was called.

Both teams play agressive, physical defense. There were just 20 total fouls called: 11 on TN & 9 on UConn. UConn won the rebounding battle as well as the turnover battle. The refs let them play which, if you’re the better team, is exactly what you want.

The only time I will complain about the refs is if there is a continuous procession to the FT line, where the refs call every ticky-tack foul on both teams, turning the game into a foul shooting contest.

I don't support that belief , either. It's just that I would expect Boneyarders, in general, to be more sophisticated fans, who are able to watch games in a bit less biased manner. So much for that. Thanks for your usual thoughtful comment.

 

[oldude]

I don't support that belief , either. It's just that I would expect Boneyarders, in general, to be more sophisticated fans, who are able to watch games in a bit less biased manner. So much for that. Thanks for your usual thoughtful comment.

I think most BY’ers are pretty knowledgeable basketball fans when it comes to players fouling. Essentially understanding that refs get it right most of the time and occasional bad calls or missed calls tend to even out. But I have noticed that in some games, particularly physical ones like the matchup with TN, some UConn fans will get lost in the rabbit hole on what they perceive to be a bad call or non-call that goes against the Huskies.

With that said, the Boneyard isn’t even close to the apoplectic reactions that consume VolNation relative to fouls, particularly after a loss. I must confess that I do occasionally like to read the comments over there, purely for the purpose of entertainment.

 

[Tonyc]

Let me settle the ref problem. Its very easy Give the Whistle to Me I have a better view from my TV screen than they do. LOL

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Kim is over her head and I suspect the poor thing, million dollar contract and all, knows it. I can't imagine what the practices look like. I suspect she's adopted her childishly simple (for lack of a better word) strategy because she lacks the ability to devise a real offensive and defensive scheme, let alone 2, 3 or 4. It wasn't by accident that the point guard got stripped in her first play of the game.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I think most BY’ers are pretty knowledgeable basketball fans when it comes to players fouling. Essentially understanding that refs get it right most of the time and occasional bad calls or missed calls tend to even out. But I have noticed that in some games, particularly physical ones like the matchup with TN, some UConn fans will get lost in the rabbit hole on what they perceive to be a bad call or non-call that goes against the Huskies.

With that said, the Boneyard isn’t even close to the apoplectic reactions that consume VolNation relative to fouls, particularly after a loss. I must confess that I do occasionally like to read the comments over there, purely for the purpose of entertainment.

It would be depressing to check out except they're so darn good at it. Still, nothing like "he gave Maya's mother a job" days!

 

[oldude]

Kim is over her head and I suspect the poor thing, million dollar contract and all, knows it. I can't imagine what the practices look like. I suspect she's adopted her childishly simple (for lack of a better word) strategy because she lacks the ability to devise a real offensive and defensive scheme, let alone 2, 3 or 4. It wasn't by accident that the point guard got stripped in her first play of the game.

Yea, reading Volnation you would think that Kim’s days are numbered. Of course, Volnation is not the TN AD or President who hired Kim and presumably would be responsible to fire her. Ultimately, what TN does for the rest of the season will dictate whether she goes or stays. Unfortunately, TN is heading into a brutal month of basketball where they will face SC, TX, Ole Miss, OK & Vandy among others.

 

[Tonyc]

Yea, reading Volnation you would think that Kim’s days are numbered. Of course, Volnation is not the TN AD or President who hired Kim and presumably would be responsible to fire her. Ultimately, what TN does for the rest of the season will dictate whether she goes or stays. Unfortunately, TN is heading into a brutal month of basketball where they will face SC, TX, Ole Miss, OK & Vandy among others.

Back in the ole days Tenn had a board called the Summitt. Boneyarders would go over and post and it was terrible. Then the Vols started posting to the Boneyard and it became a war. Believe it or not Vol nation is a little bit calmer but still.....................

 

[Basingstoke]

This may be sacrilegious, but I would like Kim to stay and evolve and grow so that her coaching becomes more than a (relatively effective) one-trick pony. Hopefully, she will be given the encouragement to look in the mirror and see that there are tremendous holes in what her teams have been coached to both achieve and withstand from opponents.
One of the tremendous things that I glean from Geno interviews is that he, CD and their staff give their teams the tools to achieve and, equally important, be able to frequently self-correct (perhaps being given a well-timed nudge) within a game.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Yea, reading Volnation you would think that Kim’s days are numbered. Of course, Volnation is not the TN AD or President who hired Kim and presumably would be responsible to fire her. Ultimately, what TN does for the rest of the season will dictate whether she goes or stays. Unfortunately, TN is heading into a brutal month of basketball where they will face SC, TX, Ole Miss, OK & Vandy among others.

What do you mean "unfortunately" @oldude.😉

 

[oldude]

What do you mean "unfortunately" @oldude.😉

Well, here’s my take. I want UConn to have as many Quad1 wins as possible when the Selection Committee gets around to seeding the tournament. That means that I want to see teams UConn has beaten, like Louisville, MI, Iowa, USC, tOSU & TN, keep on winning, so that there is absolutely no doubt that UConn is the #1 seed.

This may or may not be important if UCLA wins out as they will likely have more Quad1 wins than UConn. That probably won’t matter, except that I can forsee Cori Close making some noise about how they played a much tougher schedule.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Well, here’s my take. I want UConn to have as many Quad1 wins as possible when the Selection Committee gets around to seeding the tournament. That means that I want to see teams UConn has beaten, like Louisville, MI, Iowa, USC, tOSU & TN, keep on winning, so that there is absolutely no doubt that UConn is the #1 seed.

This may or may not be important if UCLA wins out as they will likely have more Quad1 wins than UConn. That probably won’t matter, except that I can forsee Cori Close making some noise about how they played a much tougher schedule.

Well Tenn has 6 more SEC games and is not predicted to win more than 2. Predicted to place 6th. I have to keep reminding myself I have nothing against the Vols, just their fans.

 

[DEpup]

Well, here’s my take. I want UConn to have as many Quad1 wins as possible when the Selection Committee gets around to seeding the tournament. That means that I want to see teams UConn has beaten, like Louisville, MI, Iowa, USC, tOSU & TN, keep on winning, so that there is absolutely no doubt that UConn is the #1 seed.

This may or may not be important if UCLA wins out as they will likely have more Quad1 wins than UConn. That probably won’t matter, except that I can forsee Cori Close making some noise about how they played a much tougher schedule.

It wouldn't be terrible either if Utah and Notre Dame could put some things together and move up the Net. Bransford is back so there is some hope for ND.

 

[BBallF]

I think the metamorphosis for this team has already happened - every year is different. Last year it was this TN game that woke them from the winter doldrums. This year I think it was just confirmation of what has already occurred. Yes, there is more tinkering to do and tightening things up so today's Q2 doesn't happen, but who will be in there, the adjustments available on defense and offense, and the various line-ups that work are solid. The roles for each player have been defined. There is a nine player rotation with K9, Blanca, Allie, and Jana off the bench, and a few more emergency pieces in Caroline, Ayanna, and Kelis that will likely get more run in the next 8 games to see what they can bring with consistency.

I would agree that it has begun, not already happened. Every season is an evolution of the team of that year to an NCAA version of themselves. There were things yesterday and the game before that were new, some subtle, some obvious.

For example, yesterday's second half was the best "game" Serah has played with us. It wasn't just the points which was the obvious part, it was the elevation on her shots, her movement on the offense, her defense, her hustle to get down court. For Allie, the shooting and scoring have been obvious, but her defense has improved and her passing as well. The confidence level on her stroke is sky high and that turns a shooter into an assassin. How about Kayleigh? She was possessed yesterday and even more fearless than before. Those 2 full court drives were game breakers. Ash's shot is way back and she has great belief all her shots are going in. All of these elements, and there are more including Jana and the new found physicality yesterday and what began right before her injury have been evolving over the season.

True, Geno has his rotation, he knows what works, but he too is still learning. He has said as much even before yesterday's game. You are going to see a better version of yesterday's team tomorrow and then in April too.

I just don't know what the ceiling is for this team. Will the defense get much better? Is that even possible? Will the offense improve? A 48 point second half against that team yesterday was pretty impressive.

Rather than speculating, I'm just going to sit back and watch and really enjoy.

 

[Centerstream]

I'm wondering...when listening to the play by play announcer, did anyone else think that Dave O'Brien was making a WBB broadcasting comeback?