Tennessee Postgame Thread

[Fore!]

It’s a shortcoming for this year’s squad. Last year, while Aaliyah was only 6’3”, she was a fierce defender and rebounder in the paint. Before that Dorka then Liv. This year, Sarah is our best rebounder at 6’1”. As I said in my OP, I think UConn has to consider putting Aubrey in the starting lineup for added defense and rebounding.

I don’t disagree; however, her recovery timeline may not permit it yet.

 

[Fore!]

Time to reevaluate. Our best win is UNC. That’s just a fact. We can’t shoot the 3 against good competition. And the lineups Geno likes to roll with against the big east don’t cut it.

Kk was on a final four team as a starter. She’s proven tonight and against usc she’s dynamic and effective. She needs to be in the lineup consistently. We need to develop that chemistry. Aubrey showed she can be pivotal. Start to actually get her game time in the big east games. Shade is consistently ineffective in big games. Reevaluate her role. Just my honest take.

And something needs to be done about the passivity.

Paige was a great passer tonight but she needs to find her offensive mojo. Our season somewhat rests heavily on that. I’m her biggest supporter but I was somewhat disappointed tonight.

This team doesn’t look ready to stun South Carolina. And with our resume, I’m predicting a tough road to a final four. No signature win yet, and losses to our top 3 opponents. Just disappointing this evening.

Rough road to the final four for sure; it’ll be a rough road to the sweet 16 with these performances against better competition

 

[Fore!]

Just for comparison purposes, over her last 3 games, Juju Watkins is shooting 19/57 and 3/19 from the arc.

Better comparison would be to Hidalgo, who may be the best guard in the country. Not sure what her stats are, but she has as been over 30 the last few games going into tonight and seems to come up big in big games (at least against us she does)

 

[Fore!]

How many "wake up calls" are needed? If basketball's winningest coach hasn't been able to do it over all the years that Paige has been a Husky maybe it's time for all of us stubborn, bone-headed Boneyarders (that includes yours truly) to realize that it just ain't gonna happen. Paige takes the alpha dog role when she can take advantage of poor defense of mediocre teams but in big games against highly ranked competition she lays back for whatever reason. Waiting for the game to come to her? In big games that should not apply. It is in those times that the best player needs to set the example and take the lead. At this time of the season, a clear leader in the biggest games is needed.

Is it time to make Paige the primary ball handler , as she was as a freshman?

 

[Jumpy Radar]

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.

 

[jcoton56]

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

 

[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