Tennessee Postgame thread

[Beemer]

Sorry, all due respect, you still don’t understand the value and importance of Nika. A basketball TEAM is about chemistry and cohesiveness. She could be the glue.
She may be even more valuable when everybody comes back. Scoring is a part of the game. She checks the intangible boxes.
Tangible boxes too. Rebounding. Out of this world. She doesn’t outlet pass, she takes it up the court and facilitates. She’s a stone wall out there. IMO she manhandled Tennessee’s point. She needs to be on the court. They’ll have 3 players that can score 20 any given night- Azzi Fudd, CW, and CD and E.
On really good teams, the best 5 on the floor is never the 5 best scorers. Like a really good stew, takes different ingredients to attain perfection.

I don't care what sport you're talking about, you need players like Nika on your team. Somehow, some way they make the team better when they're in the lineup even if & especially if it doesn't show up in the statistics. The only time you notice players like that is when they're not in the lineup and the team does not play as well it does with them in the lineup. Strange but true.

 

[TeamFirst!]

And Nika was +21, the two defensive stalwarts Led the team in that statistic.

What are they for the year is a lot more important and then factor in WHEN they are in the game. Mop up time or starting.

 

[amb3096]

Its interesting to read the expectations of the various fan bases. For UConn, its Final 4/NCAA Championship or bust. For the Lady Vols, its all over the place. I would think having a Top20 team with a chance at another 20+ game winning team next year (with one All American recruit, adding a strong transfer and Horston potentially coming back could make this a Top 10-15 team), would demonstrate progress. Amazing how long the Lady Vol fan's memories are - seems like all 50%+ of their fans compare everything to on their Board is Pat Summit - that is getting to be a LONG time ago.

Not sure who the transfer you're talking about is, or if it's hypothetical.

They lose Burrell, Green (who's already done), and Dye after this season. Maybe they lose Walker too. So ignoring the portal, that means there's no backup PG and they have the same thin depth in the frontcourt that they have now. Justine Pissott will not fix all of that. It's not a matter of living the Pat days, but looking forward to next season and thinking how good will they be relative to the rest of the SEC and the national picture. Certainly not a top 10-15 team, unless Pissott comes out and she's ready to play on day 1...a lot to ask of a freshman who isn't a top 5 player. Even then, all that does is make up for the loss of Burrell.

I'd like to see Tennessee get back to contender status, but it seems that they will continue to be in "Challenger" mode for the next few seasons until recruiting picks up.

 

[Zarathustra]

Actually 3

Wasn't it 3 without a field goal? Alexus Dye was one for two from the FT line.
Whatever. Great Defense!

 

[Plebe]

They lose Burrell, Green (who's already done), and Dye after this season. Maybe they lose Walker too. So ignoring the portal, that means there's no backup PG and they have the same thin depth in the frontcourt that they have now. Justine Pissott will not fix all of that. It's not a matter of living the Pat days, but looking forward to next season and thinking how good will they be relative to the rest of the SEC and the national picture. Certainly not a top 10-15 team, unless Pissott comes out and she's ready to play on day 1...a lot to ask of a freshman who isn't a top 5 player. Even then, all that does is make up for the loss of Burrell.

I get the concerns, but the portal is a complete game-changer in the modern recruiting landscape and its signficance cannot be ignored.

What success Tennessee has had this season has been in no small part due to contributions from transfers. Dye had a bad game yesterday but has been a big part of many wins.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Charisma is tricky........do you really think Coach K's charisma comes from his startling personality or the fact that he's won so many games? How about Tara at Stanford.........she's got the charisma of a librarian, yet the recruits keep on coming because she's at a great school and they win.......

Good job,
I have met Coach K. I worked his camp back in '83, his early days at Duke. He also recruited a kid from a Northern Virginia private school, where I was an assistant, so I met him then too.
He wows you with his attention to detail, obvious superior competence, and this granite hard integrity. I bet Tara is similar.
Maybe, Wooden-like.

 

[CL82]

Check out Mechelle Voepel‘s article on the game. She essentially gives Tennessee a pass because they were devastated by injuries.

 

[eebmg]

Agreed. I am by no means as familiar with the LV program as their fans, but this has been prevalent in the games I've watched. Burrell was the 2nd option behind Davis last season, and looked to be the go to player entering her senior season. Horston took that spot when Burrell was injured, but I've been saying all season long that she is rather selfish. She is the epitome of a volume scorer, and if you look at her season stats, she shoots the ball really poorly. But she's the only true elite level athlete/talent playing alongside a lot of nice role players, so she's had to force it. With Burrell back, there's another really solid option on the floor, but they don't seem to have any chemistry to utilize each other's talents.

I couldn't understand how they weren't a better team last season when they had Burrell, Horston, and Davis. Shows the value of chemistry.

Horston was not the player she is this year

 

[MD#12Fan]

Check out Mechelle Voepel‘s article on the game. She essentially gives Tennessee a pass because they were devastated by injuries.

Who said, "He who laughs last, laughs best".

 

[psconn]

Check out Mechelle Voepel‘s article on the game. She essentially gives Tennessee a pass because they were devastated by injuries.

Geez. Green wasn't even starting. Attention all those VolNation posters talking about ESPN's UConn bias...

Hey Mechelle, see that skinny blonde kid on the UConn bench? Yeah, the one with the knee brace. That's the reigning National Player of the Year, Wooden Award winner, ESPY honoree Paige Bueckers. Yeah, she started and was pretty good. Go introduce yourself.​

​

Right next to her? Oh, that's Caroline, starting 2-guard and our leading scorer since the blonde kid went out. She won't be playing either. CL82 says she's pretty good, too. [ ]​

​

OBTW, we lost Aubrey Griffin also. She tore out Tennessee's heart in Knoxville, if you recall. Yeah, she's pretty good too. Which team do you think has had more to overcome? Maybe put Tennessee's pity-party on hold.​

Reminder: UConn races past rival Tennessee behind Aubrey Griffin

 

[CL82]

Geez. Green wasn't even starting. Attention all those VolNation posters talking about ESPN's UConn bias...

Hey Mechelle, see that skinny blonde kid on the UConn bench? Yeah, the one with the knee brace. That's the reigning National Player of the Year, Wooden Award winner, ESPY honoree Paige Bueckers. Yeah, she started and was pretty good. Go introduce yourself.​

​

OBTW, we lost Aubrey Griffin also. She tore out Tennessee's heart in Knoxville, if you recall. Yeah, she's pretty good too. Which team do you think has had more to overcome? Maybe put Tennessee's pity-party on hold.​

Reminder: UConn races past rival Tennessee behind Aubrey Griffin

And I hear that Caroline Ducharme is not too bad either.

 

[psconn]

I have to confess I did not watch the game live by choice. I was so afraid that UConn would come out like they did in the 1st quarter against Creighton and I wanted the option of fast forwarding through the non-game time if it got out of hand to reduce the pain-time.

And I hear that Caroline Ducharme is not too bad either.

Oh, crap. Thanks.

 

[Argonaut]

Check out Mechelle Voepel‘s article on the game. She essentially gives Tennessee a pass because they were devastated by injuries.

This bit got me:

Injuries are a part of sports, and most teams -- including UConn -- have dealt with them or are currently dealing with them. But some injuries take a bigger toll than just the loss of the player's production. They affect a team's psyche.

I didn't see her worrying about UConn's psyche at Georgia Tech -- without Paige...without Nika... without Azzi. She was just fanning the flames of Geno's doom and gloom post game presser.

But the whole network is one big UConn bootlicker, right? Right.

 

[Plebe]

Check out Mechelle Voepel‘s article on the game. She essentially gives Tennessee a pass because they were devastated by injuries.

I don't know that she's giving them "a pass". She's correct to point out that TN's slump began after Green's injury. Sometimes the impact of a personnel loss cannot be fully measured in stats. As it was, TN was long overdue for a "market correction" with all their narrow escapes, and they could ill afford any upset to the components propping up their house of cards.

Voepel also quotes Harper as giving UConn credit:

Harper praised the Huskies, who had 18 assists to the Lady Vols' seven.​

​

"They're such great passers," she said. "So if you do have a breakdown, they capitalize on it. Don't take anything away from UConn. Everyone knows one of the best things they do is run an efficient offense. They did a great job. But I think that's where we have to be a little more focused, a little more precise. We gave up too many easy opportunities for them."​

Women's college basketball Power Rankings: Is it time for Tennessee to panic as it tumbles out of the top 10?

After losing three of its last four games, Tennessee is headed in the wrong direction with five weeks until Selection Sunday. UConn returned to the top 10.

www.espn.com

 

[Cuango]

Two points not mentioned:
-For anyone who watches replays, focus on Edwards under the basket. Some big Vol bodies were being moved out. Nice game - played to her strengths.
-ONO drove to the basket several times against a taller/bigger player. Not the smoothest moves, but for those of us that have waited 4 years for her to make this move in big game, I was thrilled. For the most part, she also did not slap down on her many blocks either.

Not sure why the shot fake is so rarely used by todays young players?

 

[CL82]

Not sure why the shot fake is so rarely used by todays young players?

They are “keeping it real?”

 

[Newfie]

Charisma is tricky........do you really think Coach K's charisma comes from his startling personality or the fact that he's won so many games? How about Tara at Stanford.........she's got the charisma of a librarian, yet the recruits keep on coming because she's at a great school and they win.......

I’m a librarian, I think I’m insulted!

 

[amb3096]

I get the concerns, but the portal is a complete game-changer in the modern recruiting landscape and its signficance cannot be ignored.

What success Tennessee has had this season has been in no small part due to contributions from transfers. Dye had a bad game yesterday but has been a big part of many wins.

That's true. But it's hard to speculate beyond what is the known roster. Maybe Kellie lands a Rickea Jackson type player, or maybe she lands no one.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Since what seems like forever UConn has a GOOD DAY.

What a joy. The best part was seeing Azzi smile so much! And Evina. And the bench.

Seven of nine was nice to look at and so was Azzi's three-point shooting (ka-boom kooshhh). But what I really liked about Azzi was early in the game when she dribbled past the right elbow, put on a quick juke move and then floated to the right for a nine-footer (which missed, but still). Then, toward the end of the third, from the left wing she faked a pass and with two hard dribbles she was in the lane and splashed a 13-footer. The mid-range! So fine from inside the line.

 

[Argonaut]

Charisma is tricky........do you really think Coach K's charisma comes from his startling personality or the fact that he's won so many games? How about Tara at Stanford.........she's got the charisma of a librarian, yet the recruits keep on coming because she's at a great school and they win.......

I'm quite the charismatic librarian, tyvm.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Sorry, all due respect, you still don’t understand the value and importance of Nika. A basketball TEAM is about chemistry and cohesiveness. She could be the glue.
She may be even more valuable when everybody comes back. Scoring is a part of the game. She checks the intangible boxes.
Tangible boxes too. Rebounding. Out of this world. She doesn’t outlet pass, she takes it up the court and facilitates. She’s a stone wall out there. IMO she manhandled Tennessee’s point. She needs to be on the court. They’ll have 3 players that can score 20 any given night- Azzi Fudd, CW, and CD and E.
On really good teams, the best 5 on the floor is never the 5 best scorers. Like a really good stew, takes different ingredients to attain perfection.

On the other hand, and with all due respect, your opinion of what I may or may not understand doesn't really alter my opinion. With six backcourt players available for unrestricted minutes and the other five being Paige, Christyn, Caroline, Evina and Azzi, Nika's minutes are likely going to get squeezed significantly. She'll probably get 15-20 and they will probably be impactful. Not slamming anybody, it's just a crowded backcourt (if we get to that point).

 

[Gus Mahler]

I am not shocked UConn won but I will say I didn't expect a beat down without Ducharme. But Azzi? Wow, what a game. She got all those shots in the flow of the offense.

This game really did look like some of the old battles between the two. UT has a very good roster that got a lot of their wins off defense, rebounding, and out muscling the competition, while UConn always seemed to have a flow to their game that was difficult to defend.

No this year hasn't been the dream season UConn fans and others anticipated but this team looked pretty darned good yesterday even without PB and CD. Get those two back and the Huskies will be tough in March.

Right now UT is struggling and looking a little Warlick esque. I like Harper and believe she has done a good job to stop the bleeding the past few years and get things moving in a better direction but I get the feeling something is going on with them right now. If it stops they can still be a factor in the tournament but right now they look like a 2nd round team at best.

Enjoyed your post. I can't help wondering if Burrell's return has disrupted the chemistry. And losing their heart and soul player (Green) is no small thing.

 

[psconn]

Since what seems like forever UConn has a GOOD DAY.

What a joy. The best part was seeing Azzi smile so much! And Evina. And the bench.

Seven of nine was nice to look at and so was Azzi's three-point shooting (ka-boom kooshhh). But what I really liked about Azzi was early in the game when she dribbled past the right elbow, put on a quick juke move and then floated to the right for a nine-footer (which missed, but still). Then, toward the end of the third, from the left wing she faked a pass and with two hard dribbles she was in the lane and splashed a 13-footer. The mid-range! So fine from inside the line.

Did someone say Seven of Nine?

 

[Gus Mahler]

Did someone say Seven of Nine?

Yes! I started to capitalize "Nine" but didn't want to make it too obvious.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Horston was not the player she is this year

Horston better this year.... but still cannot hold onto the basketball 26 pts yeaterday..... but with 7 turnovers

 

[CL82]

Seven of nine was nice to look at

Lol, I see what you did there.

 

[Charliebball]

I'm quite the charismatic librarian, tyvm.

Shhhhhhhhh....!!!!!.......

 

[Charliebball]

I’m a librarian, I think I’m insulted!

sorry..............perhaps I'll change it to a funeral director..........was going to say accountant but I bet we've got many of those out there!!

 

[psconn]

Just watched the game again. Our team needs find a way to bring that passion and energy every time out no matter who we're playing. I be a total believer in our post-season chances if we can roll through the remainder of the schedule playing like this. I never want to see 1st quarter Creighton again.

 

[MSGRET]

Regarding "no concussion for Caroline," I don't trust that. A kid who got hit in the head and wasn't feeling well sounds like a kid with a concussion. I hope they do more for her than just a sidelines test. She should go to a neurologist for a full work-up. She looked bad in the previous game when she came out. If it's not a concussion, then medical staff should find out what it is.

Too many times in sports concussions go ignored or not properly assessed. As a dad first, I would want my daughter thoroughly checked by a specialist before concluding she was OK, and sent back onto the court.

Safety first.

So Dr. Fairfield Fan, do you know that they didn't have her looked at after the game, or just think that. I believe the reason she did not play was because the medical staff thought it was best for her to rest, not Geno. I've had concussion's with one of them that was so bad that I had a week's stay at Landstuhl Army Hospital, others were a couple of aspirins and some rest. So unless you are privey to what happened and what was diagnosed then leave it to the people that do.