Thoughts from a Tenn fan/Stanford-Tenn [merged]

[neutral_site]

There's a big difference between Doris Burke's idea about the way the game is played, and Van Gundy's proposal for more competition in women's basketball. OK, maybe two games a year between top teams is too much. But the idea that the top women's basketball teams should play each other is not turning the women's game into "men's lite." That's absurd. So, having some real competitive games makes it like the men's game? Come on.

I've been watching UConn (and other women's teams when on national TV) for years now and the games between the most competitive schools are thrilling. Just like our game the other night vs. Baylor. We lost, but I was on the edge of my seat for the first time in a long time in watching a UConn game. On the other hand, watching the Huskies (or other top schools) destroy a minor basketball team by 30-40 points, which happens far too often in the schedule, is not exactly exciting competition and it drags the game down.

And as for UConn and Tennessee fading into oblivion someday, well what has that got to do with the proposal? It was for the best of the moment. That could be any school whether it be Ohio State, Oklahoma, UCLA, Maryland, or even Old Dominion. If they're among the best, then the women's game needs more competitive games. Can you really argue, with a straight face, that the women's game should go on at its current level with the real competition coming in the late stages of the NCAA championship?

Ok, you've lost completely frigging lost me.

Many of the top teams PLAY each other already. In fact, just about every top team plays at least 2 tough competitors in the early season, if not more.

More than a few play some very good teams in-conference, too.

Many of the teams ASPIRING to be top teams play top teams.

I'm happy, you're not. How it goes.

 

[neutral_site]

The Cardinal shoots 53.6% for the game and absolutely annihilates the Lady Vols in the paint (40 to 18) and from the perimeter (43% from 3-point land). UT has absolutely no concept of what weak side or team defense is all about. Stanford basically only had three players that shot the ball all night and still the orange clad "defenders" couldn't stop what they know was coming.

The only people who think UT has a shot at a NC any time in the near future are drinking Orange Kool Aid. The UT program is shadow of what it use to be. You had a nice run ladies and Coach Summitt, but it's time to more over and prepare yourself for the inevitable...that UConn will eventually match and and leave UT in the dust in regard to overall NC's won and become the winningest WCBB of all-time, and that Geno will surpass PHS as the all-time winningest coach.

However, it would be wrong not the acknowledge the tremendous effort tonight by Stanford. After falling behind by 7 points early seven minutes into the game, the Cardinal roared back and outscored the Lady Vols by 26 points the rest of the way. Congrats to Tara and her team on a great performance!

As a UT fan, I pretty much agree. I mean, how dumb do you have to be to let Ogwumike AND everyone else score??

I don't know...I never liked this current senor class, and I never like how CPS and staff kept blaming the players for all the big losses.

The recruiting since the Candace Parker days has been woeful.

Now that Pat is losing her edge....that was one of the worst defensive games I've ever seen against a sub-par Stanford team, as you eloquently pointed out, 3 scorers. Stanford is always tough at Stanford, but to not guard the are OR the interior?? To look like babies on the boards??

Pretty pathetic effort.

 

[MarieM]

Tennessee just looked tired and miserable at the game, they didn't know what to do. I thought this was Tennessee's game since they have better players but i guess not.....

 

[neutral_site]

Pat cancelled the series for one reason and one reason only. She didn't want to sign up for a bunch of losses to the likes of Maya, Tina and others so she bailed. She's the one who cheated; herself, the team and the fans.

Could be, but I've not seen the woman run from much in her life.

I've got a lot of respect for both Geno and Pat. It took a while for Geno to grow on me, I hated him like any other UT fan.

You certainly have your angle.

I think you are dead wrong. But, know what?? We both "think" and neither of us "know".

To me, it was just bad for the game.

 

[neutral_site]

Tennessee just looked tired and miserable at the game, they didn't know what to do. I thought this was Tennessee's game since they have better players but i guess not.....

Boy , no kidding there...looked like they knew they hadn't prepared for the right kind of game.

Ridiculous they let Ogwumike go off. Hell, at least foul out trying. You always know you are going to get punked by the refe on the road (Dolson, at Baylor, Baugh, at Stanford) and you should be prepared for that.

Maybe the rest of Stanford could have picked up the slack; I've had made them prove it. I don't know that I've ever seen a Pat Summit team quit. This one did.

 

[MarieM]

VickyB looked like a underclassmen on that court, idk if it were her knees from all that traveling the team did in those 10 days or something was bothering her......
and putting A.Mass late in the second half just made Tenn. look desperate

 

[Icebear]

Just shows that the quit and collapse is still in this LV team. I just can't see how they are anything but an Elite Eight team.

 

[DaddyChoc]

N.O. contest

 

[Icebear]

For all the supposed athleticism of TN they had absolutely no answer for Nneka.

 

[Icebear]

Nnemkadi 19 for 27, 42 points. 16 rebounds final 97 - 80 as Pat sat calmly on the bench.

And that is the proof that everything has changed significantly in Pat's life.

 

[DaddyChoc]

For all the supposed athleticism of TN they had absolutely no answer for Nneka.

thats crazy... how many did she have against UConn and who was guarding her, FARIS?

 

[cardfan]

thats crazy... how many did she have against UConn and who was guarding her, FARIS?

for 23 min.

 

[blkkirk]

I will eat some crow. I thought Tenn would win the game. Stanford played way better than I expected. Career night for Dr. N.O. If they play like that add another team to the teams that have a real shot at a championship.

I do think Tenn is better with Mass. Simmons is a black hole and appears to divide the team in my opinion. She promotes the come down and jack up a shot offense. This game made the coaching staff look bad in my opinion.

 

[huskeynut]

Don't expect Tennessee and Uconn to renew anytime soon.

As to Van Gundy's comments on who plays who, I'm sure you are aware that the Baylor/ Uconn series may not be renewed. Why you may ask. It seems ESPN wants the game in January for Big Monday. Baylor doesn't want a non-conference game once they start their conference schedule. I don't blame Baylor for saying no. ESPN sees money, not what the individual programs find best for them.

Leave Baylor/ Uconn in December and stop messing with rivalries because of $$$$!

 

[blkkirk]

Stanford shot them out of the gym. Turned them on each other. Took the heart out of them. Major props to Stanford.

 

[cardfan]

N.O. contest

loved that headline!

 

[Icebear]

thats crazy... how many did she have against UConn and who was guarding her, FARIS?

DC, yes, most often it was Faris. TN has players that are 6'1-6'4" (Manning, Baugh, Johnson, Stricklen) all according to LV fans supposedly more athletic than Faris who at 5'11" was covering a player 3" taller.

Card, as far as 23 minutes. Getting a player off the floor is, also, part of a defensive strategy. It is the smart team that tries to deny a team its best player by finding a way to remove that player from the court.

 

[Icebear]

I do think Tenn is better with Mass. Simmons is a black hole and appears to divide the team in my opinion. She promotes the come down and jack up a shot offense. This game made the coaching staff look bad in my opinion.

That m.o. was the way she played in the McDonald's game and every time I have seen her. She is a shoot first player and for that reason an ill fit for a point guard. When she is hot she can be devastating but most nights less so and when she is not she is, also, devastating but not to the team intended as she continues to shoot. The only answer is to get her off the court. Onhte other hand Bass at a generous 5'2" was hardly the answer against the trees of Stanford.

 

[Wbbfan1]

I was surprised at the margin of victory last night, but not the victory itself. Stanford is tough to beat on their home court Since the 2007/2008 season Stanford has managed to beat Tenn on their home court. I believe their home court winning streak is at 68 games since their last loss. Not as good as UConn's 91 game home court winning streak, but still impressive.

I think its a mistake to under estimate Tenn and say they won't make the Final Four. The individual talent is on the team. The question is can the coaching staff get them to play like Tenn teams of old come tournament time. Hasn't happened in the last three years, but that doesn't mean they won't do it this year.

 

[blkkirk]

I have been in agreement with you wbbfan1. However, they continue to make our opinion of them better than there collective performances. Unbelievable how individually talented they are. `I always thought it was a lack of good coaching and last night solidified that. The first thing I would do is hire one head coach and then bench Simmons.

 

[RoyDodger]

And that is the proof that everything has changed significantly in Pat's life.

And that's very sad. It was much more fun to dislike Pat and the University of Tennessee Lady Vols when she was healthy. Not so much now.

 

[JS]

N.O. contest - loved that headline!

Well I for one think you have something to answer for, cardfan. I'm tired of ranked teams padding their offensive stats at the expense of the geographical schools.

Yesterday No. 3 Notre Dame scored 90 on Central Florida; No. 9 Duke ran up 107 against UNC Wilmington; No. 4 Stanford hung 97 on UT Knoxville . . . So I ask, where is your shame?

 

[RoyDodger]

Don't expect Tennessee and Uconn to renew anytime soon.

As to Van Gundy's comments on who plays who, I'm sure you are aware that the Baylor/ Uconn series may not be renewed. Why you may ask. It seems ESPN wants the game in January for Big Monday. Baylor doesn't want a non-conference game once they start their conference schedule. I don't blame Baylor for saying no. ESPN sees money, not what the individual programs find best for them.

Leave Baylor/ Uconn in December and stop messing with rivalries because of $$$$!

In arguing for more top competition in women's basketball, I'm fully aware of the reality of the game, i.e., that the schools contract with each other over non-conference games and that TV plays a big role in which teams play and when. And also that a great coach like Pat Summitt can show her personal animosity towards a good opponent by refusing to play them, thus depriving the fans and her team of some first-rate competition.

But then I look at the schedule and I see the #2 team in the country, our UConn Huskies, playing tonight against a team like the College of Charleston which is currently 2-7, having lost to the likes of Coastal Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Charleston Southern, Furman, Davidson, and Appalachian State, and I wonder.

 

[Icebear]

And that's very sad. It was much more fun to dislike Pat and the University of Tennessee Lady Vols when she was healthy. Not so much now.

Indeed, it is always sad to see people who have been vibrant sentient human beings steadily lose all of the things that have made them forces in the lives of people around them.

Yesterday I was doing Christmas communions with shut-ins and at the nursing homes and spent time with four women and one man who were vibrant 50-60 somethings when I came to this parish. All five have different stages of dementia. Two still recognize me, one barely, and the last two not at all. It made me stop and count the number of families around me who are dealing with this. Besides the five I saw yesterday I counted another four. Nine families in my small town congregation affected by this horrible disease. What is stolen from all these people is the wonderful relationships they had which become reduced to a single direction of caregiving.

Blessedly, I ran into a mother and grandmother who were there to visit two of my members and and together we shared communion with one of the ladies I was visiting. It is always a moment of grace to see how the words of the liturgy and the sacrament come back to many who struggle to remember much of anything. Please remember those who cannot remember you.

 

[pinotbear]

In arguing for more top competition in women's basketball, I'm fully aware of the reality of the game, i.e., that the schools contract with each other over non-conference games and that TV plays a big role in which teams play and when. And also that a great coach like Pat Summitt can show her personal animosity towards a good opponent by refusing to play them, thus depriving the fans and her team of some first-rate competition.

But then I look at the schedule and I see the #2 team in the country, our UConn Huskies, playing tonight against a team like the College of Charleston which is currently 2-7, having lost to the likes of Coastal Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Charleston Southern, Furman, Davidson, and Appalachian State, and I wonder.

I'm sure other BY's know the details better than I do, but I believe it's because the long-time Charleston coach is at least a casual friend of Geno's, and she(?) is retiring at the end of this year. So, bringing the Traveling Circus to her gym is a gesture of support.

 

[pinotbear]

Plus, Charleston is just a cool city. First-rate golf courses in the surrounding coastal lowland, too.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Stanford Blog - Link

 

[connboy77]

UT/UConn will play again; I did not agree with or like that Pat canceled the series.

If she had evidence of Geno cheating, then that should have been handled in the proper channels, but NOT at the expense of the women who play the game.

I know a lot more about Geno now than I did even a few years back, so I think it has more to do with a personal issue than a "rules" deal.

I don't know if you post on The Summitt or not, but I don't think the posters there would agree with you. Thanks for posting here.

 

[pap49cba]

I'm sure other BY's know the details better than I do, but I believe it's because the long-time Charleston coach is at least a casual friend of Geno's, and she(?) is retiring at the end of this year. So, bringing the Traveling Circus to her gym is a gesture of support.

"Stepping stone Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said a lot of schools use games with Connecticut to try and improve their programs.
“Over the years we’ve been to a lot of places where a game is sold out for the first time. In a lot of cases it has created a little more awareness of the (home) team,” Auriemma said. “A bunch of people might come out tomorrow night to see Connecticut, not the College of Charleston. But that’s OK, as long as they like what they see. They’ll say ‘I’m going to go see another game.’ It has to start somewhere, and not everybody is as forward thinking as (College of Charleston coach) Nancy Wilson. ‘Bring Connecticut in here and they might beat us by a bunch but it’s worth it.’ People will come out (Wednesday) and see a good performance by us and the kids on Charleston’s team, and a bunch are going to come back out.”
Getting the game
In looking at his 2011-12 schedule, Auriemma felt like he needed to fill an 11-day break between the Baylor game and the Huskies’ next scheduled game Dec. 29 against Fairfield.
Neal Eskin, the executive associate athletic director for the school, had worked with Hull at Maryland and gave his former co-worker a call pitching the game.
“Neal called me out of the blue and asked if we were interested in playing Connecticut at home. We talked about the details, what dates might work, and he gave me a two-day window to fit it in,” Hull said."

 

[RoyDodger]

"Stepping stone Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said a lot of schools use games with Connecticut to try and improve their programs.
“Over the years we’ve been to a lot of places where a game is sold out for the first time. In a lot of cases it has created a little more awareness of the (home) team,” Auriemma said. “A bunch of people might come out tomorrow night to see Connecticut, not the College of Charleston. But that’s OK, as long as they like what they see. They’ll say ‘I’m going to go see another game.’ It has to start somewhere, and not everybody is as forward thinking as (College of Charleston coach) Nancy Wilson. ‘Bring Connecticut in here and they might beat us by a bunch but it’s worth it.’ People will come out (Wednesday) and see a good performance by us and the kids on Charleston’s team, and a bunch are going to come back out.”
Getting the game
In looking at his 2011-12 schedule, Auriemma felt like he needed to fill an 11-day break between the Baylor game and the Huskies’ next scheduled game Dec. 29 against Fairfield.
Neal Eskin, the executive associate athletic director for the school, had worked with Hull at Maryland and gave his former co-worker a call pitching the game.
“Neal called me out of the blue and asked if we were interested in playing Connecticut at home. We talked about the details, what dates might work, and he gave me a two-day window to fit it in,” Hull said."

Well, the inspiration factor is certainly another way of looking at it.