Tennessee Postgame Thread

[MSSportsGuy]

Was at the game and here is my moderately unbiased opinion.

UConn missted too many easy shots to win. No one on the team really tried to take the game over when needed. The lack of rim protection was a major factor. UT made a couple of 3s then began to settle for them. My thought was drive to the basket, they did, and the tide turned. An earlier poster said UConn gave it away but UT took it and responded to every challenge to hold on.

It was a great crowd and a lot of fun. I saw many more UConn fans than expected but everyone in my section behaved themselves on both sides. Big win for the LVs. UConn has some work to do before the tournament.

 

[cancontent]

You can be as tired as you want to be. That won’t change anything either. The BE will be the end of this program. They’ll get about 4-5 competitive games a year, and they lose all of them. And none in league play.

It would be no different had they stayed in the AAC either. There's nothing the team can do about it. The WBB program doesn't control which conference they play in. Like HuskyNan said, this is a tiring topic because there's nothing that can be done about for now.

 

[nickp91]

Kim Caldwell’s path is truly remarkable

• Assistant at Ohio Valley (D2)
• Assistant at Sacramento St
• HC at Glenville St (took team to D2 championship)
• HC at Marshall ( first March Madness since ‘97)
• 2nd Tennessee coach ever to beat UConn (Patt Summit)

 

[Zanzman]

I tried to pull the team along ..those of you who remember my posts from previous seasons understand...

My go to beverage during UCONN WBB games has been Mike's Hard Lemonade Mango flavor. When the team struggles I drink another Mike's and it tends to help ..I can't explain the Mojo...bit normally it works! Some games are 1 Mike's kind of games, others it's 1 per quarter... Tonight was a 6 Mike's game... It worked for stretches, but couldn't put the team over the top .. now I am buzzed... fortunately I don't have to drive home.

Looking for a great bounce back and great end of the season!!

Go Huskies

I disagree, despite shooting FAR below their average & a bit of home-bias from the refs, UConn would likely have won the game without the weird timeout as Paige was driving to the hoop and/or Sarah’s uncharacteristic
late foul that rest the shot clock.

The refs were no factor in this game UConn lack of defense and couldn’t put the ball in the hoop

 

[maple]

Well guys and gals, It was really frustrating watching the game. I have been trying to understand what the problem is with the inconsistency with this team. Many of you have made some really valid points, and I have to agree with a lot of the constructive criticism that has been made. We have been hearing the same thing in losses now for 5 years. Not aggressive enough. Not enough movement. Out rebounded. Etc. Etc. So, you can't help but wonder what is going on. But then I realized that this group especially the core upperclassmen have not really faced adversity together as a team for most of their careers here. Now I'm not one to make excuses for anyone. In fact, I hate excuses. But something really feels off and it is very evident when we are faced with stiffer and better competition.

Tonight, we got out hustled and out muscled. Tennessee seemed to want it more. We had that deer in the headlights look on many possessions. Honestly, we seemed very anxious for the majority of the game.

I'm just wondering could this disfunction be the result of the past few years with a splintered lineup. AE left for the W. Paige and Fudd have not had much time together in their careers here. Add Chen. AG is just getting back. Patterson is out. Ducharme is out. When you mix in the Sophs and Freshy's what you have is a team that doesn't have what I like to call combat experience together. KK and Sarah are stars in the making. Ash is coming around but very inconsistent, and with Ice, I just don't know. Jana is still underdeveloped. The jury is still out on everyone else.

I don't know what the cure is for our ills, but this team has to find a way to band together. Paige has to return to her freshman beast form. Azzi has to rediscover her confidence, or we may see a very quick exit from this year's tourney.

Agreed with everything but especially in bold.

Also, it feels sometimes like we lack star players who hate to lose. I’m sure no one on UConn likes to lose, but it doesn’t feel — to me — like it affects our star players them as personally as it did someone like DT, Maya, and Stewart. I’m not in their heads, so I maybe I’m wrong. I just don’t see the killer instinct in big games.

 

[HuskyNan]

When someone states playing in the Big East hurts us, it's not a complaint, but a legitimate observation, The teams we play the most games against are just not that competitive and tend to be very slow and non-athletic. When we play an athletic team , it's a big challenge for us.
Saying a player had an off night is not trashing a player.
Paige is a phenomenal player, but does not get to the rim going right that often and really can't finish with her left. Too many times she does mid-range pull ups, which are much harder shots.
On to the next game...

No one is disagreeing that the Big East could be hurting the Huskies. But there must have been 50 such observations over the season and, again, what can be done about it? It’s like complaining about the weather. After a while, it just becomes whining.

 

[freshler40]

i am kind of hoping this loss will trigger something with uconn fans. hopefully we can be more realistic about our goals this year now.

Why settle? We have great pieces; they need to step up and can. The coaches need to find and keep the right pieces on the floor at key times. Dig deep, settle down and play our game, establish ourselves early. Some serious self-examination is needed at all levels.

 

[freshler40]

With regards to the 17 offensive boards...that was only 4 more than the 13 "O" Boards that UConn pulled down. And, Tennessee only had 2 more 2nd chance points than we did: Tenn: 12 UConn: 10

This doesn't meet the eye test as it's important as to when the above happens at critical times during the game.

 

[Soxx]

I want to talk about Shade. There is a pattern of these kind of performances when we step up and play better competition. I really don't want to hear that she had a "bounce-back" game if she plays or shoots well against Providence. That simply won't be true. When the announcers/commentators say things like that they are disrespecting the audience.

Agreed—not great. But I put that focus much more intensely on Fudd and Bueckers.

 

[Jim R]

This team is allergic to making wide open shots in big games. Because we are a jump shooting team with limited athleticism that can't rebound, we lose. Plain and simple.

I hate to say this, but Paige, and her unwillingness to be an aggressive scorer in the first half of games, is also the reason for this. We were up 39-32 with the ball and threw it away. Geno had some head scratching lineups in there at the end of the half.

Are you telling me that being just a jump shooting team won’t win us the WCBB championship, that we do need to develop an inside game, to include rebounders? Love the coaching staff, but, the last few years the development of the team’s inside game has suffered…and, against bigger and better teams, it shows. But, hoping for the best since we’ll always have great effort.

 

[Soxx]

Really Disappointing. Some thoughts.

• If you told me TN would have more TOs and we would have more shot attempts, I would have taken it
• Our 3 point shooting and layups were terrible
• I actually think what killed us was our inability to keep them out of the lane
• KK, AG and SS played well
• Jana really just isn't ready for these games
• We also don't jump towards the ball when rebounding (except for Aubrey)
• What is the point of having Azzi in with 3 fouls when she doesn't play D
• Our 3 point shooting doesn't show up in big games.
• Shade, Paige, Azzi and Chen were a combined 11-37

If I am on the committee I look at us and see no high-quality wins. Ii predict our ceiling is the bottom 2 seed, but probably a 3 seed.

Disagree with yr comment on Azzi’s D—having 3 fouls limited her ability to play her best D. But when not in foul trouble, she is an intense defender and often stops skilled players trying to get to the key.

 

[Soxx]

We need a post player - I know we are not at practice but Ice did not play ???
We cannot go far in the tourney with no post players - we can still win the big east. I would bet on ICE vs Jana this year

I wonder why he keeps starting Jana. Does she ever win the opening tip? Given her size, that’s just kind of odd.

 

[WiseWillie]

It is baffling & frustrating that Geno's timeouts seldom result in a successful play. The players just don't execute what is drawn up on the board. It has become a game- changing pattern for the past several seasons.

I tried to pull the team along ..those of you who remember my posts from previous seasons understand...

My go to beverage during UCONN WBB games has been Mike's Hard Lemonade Mango flavor. When the team struggles I drink another Mike's and it tends to help ..I can't explain the Mojo...bit normally it works! Some games are 1 Mike's kind of games, others it's 1 per quarter... Tonight was a 6 Mike's game... It worked for stretches, but couldn't put the team over the top .. now I am buzzed... fortunately I don't have to drive home.

Looking for a great bounce back and great end of the season!!

Go Huskies

Love your take PAHuskyFan. Take it easy though. Super Bowl coming up if you happen to be a Eagles fan but don't overdo it on Mike's. You need to be in good shape to pull them along when they meet the Gamecocks.

 

[CTBballfan243]

UConn and Tenn are two evenly matched teams talent wise. If they played again tomorrow UConn would have decent chance of winning. UConn will continue to battle and do the best they can. The season is not over.

 

[Vancat]

Too many bunnies missed.

 

[CTrefugee]

When she recovers, I say go with Ice. At the very least, she will not be a negative.

 

[WiseWillie]

UConn hasn't had much time healthy with Paige in and out, Azzi in and out, Aubrey back, multiple new pieces like Jana, Chen and Sarah. Whether it's in March or next season or 2028, there's always something to learn and grow from.

Spoken like a true, diehard Husky who is living in the past and who like us all reveled in the fantastic run of 11 NC's. But that ended in 2016. It's a different landscape now. It is time to move on and realize a run like that will never happen again. This is a good team with some talented players and deserves our support and commitment but it is time to realize that a NC is not going to happen this year and to keep hoping for another is maybe not the best way to support this team with the unending refrain of there's always next year or the year after ... or the year after that.

 

[GoUconn7961]

I've said this before, in big games the team lacks a killer instinct.
I'm not going to criticize any one player or point out the obvious.
We need another Taurasi style recruit. Someone that holds their teammates accountable like Jen Rizzotti did. You know the type of player - some selfishness and a LOT of attitude all in one.

EDIT: I think they really missed Ice last night. She's a better rim protector.

 

[jaydee602]

I hate to say this, but these Huskies are Not Ready for Primetime

The score was tied with 2 minutes left in the game. It was a two point game with 20 seconds left.
Give Tennessee credit. Our Huskies didn't have their best game, but they lost in the last 10 seconds.
Not sure primetime was the reason!

 

[Vancat]

I've said this before, in big games the team lacks a killer instinct.
I'm not going to criticize any one player or point out the obvious.
We need another Taurasi style recruit. Someone that holds their teammates accountable like Jen Rizzotti did. You know the type of player - some selfishness and some bad all in one.

Anyone who mentions The Rizz gets a thumbs up from me. And agree, we need a killer. I'm kind of disappointed in some of our players- won't mention any names.

 

[my2cents]

No one is disagreeing that the Big East could be hurting the Huskies. But there must have been 50 such observations over the season and, again, what can be done about it? It’s like complaining about the weather. After a while, it just becomes whining.

Have you ever noticed how close, 'winning' and 'whining' are words that are really close? lol.

 

[SLY63]

After a some time to let the loss sink in, IMO it came down to 2 things

1. Missing open shots (3's and lay-ups)
2. Inability to stop TN penetration and no inside presence on D. Think about it TN rarely hoisted 3's in the 2nd half because the got to the basket so easily.

 

[martyn]

What is your solution, exactly?

Don't think he suggested he has a solution, maybe because there isn't one, not now anyway.

 

[jumpstart]

UCONN will be the gold standard for WBB for years to come. You guys are going to lose some games along the way. This era is much different with the money and facilities upgrade with WBB across the board. The gold standard is still UCONN.

 

[Charliebball]

This loss came down to UConn's offense not performing up to its potential and the team's inability to keep their cool under trying circumstances, both troubling patterns that we've become all too familiar with this season.......UConn is still capable of beating any team in the country when they play their best but it remains to be seen if they can play their best against strong competition.......

 

[WiseWillie]

Even though I'm admittedly bad at math, I respectfully disagree. The team did shoot below their average. I also chose who I thought were the 5 best opponents so far this year (choosing a 6th was too subjective a call for me), and even averaging those numbers out, they still shot below average.

View attachment 106826

Thanks, OviedoFLHusky.

What stands out with these stats besides the overall shooting performance is the low PCT of 3's against better opponents. The players who were thought to be our strong perimeter shooters for many reasons, not the least of which is facing better, more athletic competition than faced in the BE, are simply not producing in those games.

 

[PacoSwede]

Not surprised to see the +/- for Aubrey. Something this team lacks is athleticism. It’s built with great shooters. The efficiency goes out the window when you can’t get open. Aubrey was able to match up on both ends of the floor. A dynamic we definitely need.

it's about time to revisit the "great shooters" myth. these great shooters are missing shots that are wide open, which i find most disturbing. if they were missing the tough shots that's to be expected, but they're missing (or refusing to take) shots that are invited by the foe's defensive missteps. oddly, this happens repeatedly in some games yet in others (never in the tougher contests) they morph into sharpshooters.

 

[ABCDFE]

Maybe 1-5. She made 2 threes, 2 pull up midrange Js from the foul line area, and had one mid range bank shot from about 10 (then missed another shorter one right after). She airballed a 5 footer early, threw up a wild shot in the paint to end the third and missed a 10 foot runner badly in the fourth right after she traveled. But she missed a couple 15-18 footers too, so maybe 1-5 inside of 15.

Whatever the exact numbers, her inability to get points around the rim or get to the line was a problem again. Your top scorer needs to find ways to score other than Plan A. If the jumper is off, get to the rim. Get to the line. We have Chen/KK/Fudd out there to rotate back - when’s the last time you saw Paige attack the offensive glass and get a putback or draw a foul? Shes averaging less than 3 FTs a game. The only two she got today were because Tennessee pushed their own player into her. And she probably should have finished that one and had one FT instead.

I honestly get frustrated watching her these days. As a freshman, I always felt like she had an answer to your answer. If you took one thing away, she’d beat you another. I don’t feel that way any more. You can let her shoot her 15-18 footers all night and even if she makes most of them, it won’t be enough. Her three is too inconsistent and she treats the charge circle like it’s hot lava, so she’s out of answers very quickly.

The point of our guards not driving and getting to the foul line is a great point. We can’t always count on our jump shot to be working. Really hope this teams upperclassman play with more urgency. We also need Shade to be more effective in these types of games. But wishful thinking is just that. Sometimes you are who you are. If you don’t have a killer mentality and that dawg and fight in you then it’s hard for someone to pull that out all of a sudden

 

[ABCDFE]

I thought the Huskies outplayed the Vols.
We did pretty good except we couldnt hit our bunny shots. There was at least 10 lay-ups or easy right-under-the-basket shots we usually make that was just not falling tonight.
10 shots is 20 points that easily would have made the difference.
One other problem is how we let them drive thru us and get some layups at the end of the game which THEY did not miss.

This will be a good thing for us to learn from. Now we know what to work on.

You’re saying we don’t work on layups?

 

[PacoSwede]

...

Something that someone observed in the chat was striking; I can't remember it word for word, but it was a question of How can everyone on the team go cold all at once? It's a good question. Does the answer have to do with a lack of leadership? -- A lack of someone providing that inspiration and motivation to the others to perform at their best? -- A lack of someone providing the example of performing at a high level for others to follow?...

someone like nika, a fierce dog, whose contribution was vastly underrated by many and, i often feared, would be lacking this season.