Vandy Takes Down TX

[bballnut90]

I'm not shocked that they won but the fact that they blew out Texas is astonishing. I know some are criticizing Texas right now, but they are undeniably a VERY good team with arguably the best collection of wins in the country (wins over current #2 UCLA, #3 South Carolina, #6 LSU, #10 Oklahoma, #12 Baylor, #14 Ole Miss, #18 Kentucky and #21 North Carolina). Their only losses were road games at LSU (lost by 5) and South Carolina (lost by 3), and they just got destroyed by Vanderbilt, who was up by 26 early in the second half and the game was over at halftime.

 

[broooce]

A little over 5000 attendance in an arena that has 14K + capacity. A game of this magnitude would be a sellout in CT, Columbia SC and Iowa City, among a few others.

 

[enigmatic]

perhaps the loss of pierre was addition-by-subtraction (chemistry-wise)

Probably so but I can't help but wonder what Vanderbilt would've been this season had Pierre decided not to transfer out.

 

[uconnfan68]

Didn’t get to watch. Why did Justice Carleton only get 7 minutes? Harmon only 18?

Injuries?

And Cunningham fouled out in 15 minutes. Texas outscored by 14 from the line.

 

[gold2323]

They looked UCONNISH

 

[ec33]

Vandy is clearly legit. I was hesitant to give them their due with the Mulkey OOC but have certainly proven they belong with the 2nd tier teams. Very impressive job by Shea Ralph.

 

[oldude]

Didn’t get to watch. Why did Justice Carleton only get 7 minutes? Harmon only 18?

Injuries?

Neither player was very effective. Vic was searching for some combination that could turn the game around, without success.

 

[oldude]

Fascinating game to watch. Vandy now officially for real with wins over Michigan, Oklahoma, LSU and Texas! Shea's team arrives one year early and that's without Pierre. (now at NC St)

Blakes a player of the year candidate, but the two keys to the win were:
1- play of the freshman point guard Galvan.
2- Vandy outrebounded TX.

Shea Ralph doing some serious coaching. When they run offense via Galvan it's the ol Oregon offense with Ionescu. When they run with Blakes, it's the Notre Dame offense with Miles, Citron, Hidalgo.

She even got 12 useful minutes from big DelRosario. Rather than complain about what she can't do, Shea switches the defence during the DelRosario minutes to play to her strength as a rim protector. This forced TX to change up, and allowed Vandy starting front line to get some rest.

No break for Vandy though, they still face Kentucky, bama and Tenn plus SEC tourney. Keep winning, and they now have chance at a #1 seed.

Your comments on del Rosario are spot on. Until last night’s game she had showed me absolutely nothing at LSU or Vandy. Last night, early in the game, TX’s Bigs were dominating the paint. Enter del Rosario who battled down low, particularly against Oldacre and neutralized TX size advantage.

 

[visitingcock]

Neither player was very effective. Vic was searching for some combination that could turn the game around, without success.

Still, 7 minutes for Carleton is weird especially considering Cunningham fouled out with only 15 minutes of PT.

I get searching for the right combination but 7 minutes?

 

[oldude]

Still, 7 minutes for Carleton is weird especially considering Cunningham fouled out with only 15 minutes of PT.

I get searching for the right combination but 7 minutes?

Vic is old school. He will sometimes send a message to a player by sitting them in a game, win or lose. I seem to recall that he did so with Harmon earlier in the season during a game TX lost.

 

[bballnut90]

A little over 5000 attendance in an arena that has 14K + capacity. A game of this magnitude would be a sellout in CT, Columbia SC and Iowa City, among a few others.

You can bet the next home game vs Kentucky will draw a LOT more fans.

 

[ConnecticutBB]

No doubt… Geno made an effort to call and congratulate Shea on this win.

 

[HopJim]

Watched game and some thoughts:
-Very odd. Vic Schaefer totally trashed his Texas team, saying they were the "softest" team he had ever coached. Very strange language for a coach of a top 5 team that had several great wins under their belt to put all the blame on his players. Remember this when the transfer portal opens.
-Vandy's guards are very good and will be difficult to trap by the UConn press. Unlike most teams, they keep the ball in the middle of the court and don't let themselves get trapped by the baseline or midline.
-I see alot of UConn in Vandy's offense. Very good shooting guards from all parts of the court and subs that come in for 5-7 minutes when the match ups work. They made few mistakes and at least last night, were patient working for an open shot.
-Recent post that Geno was looking for more offensive rebounding applies here. Vandy worked the offensive board the entire game, getting many more opportunities than Texas. Not a great part of UConn's game but seems like Geno knows he may need this skill in the playoffs.

 

[oldude]

Note to all: take a look at Vic’s postgame comments. “We have no heart.” “We weren’t tough enough.” He laments paying “these kids 100’s of thousands of dollars. Suggests he’s going to, “call my AD and apologize.” He does say it’s his fault. But I can only imagine what the Longhorns next practice will be like.

 

[jaundicedeye]

I'm not shocked that they won but the fact that they blew out Texas is astonishing. I know some are criticizing Texas right now, but they are undeniably a VERY good team with arguably the best collection of wins in the country (wins over current #2 UCLA, #3 South Carolina, #6 LSU, #10 Oklahoma, #12 Baylor, #14 Ole Miss, #18 Kentucky and #21 North Carolina). Their only losses were road games at LSU (lost by 5) and South Carolina (lost by 3), and they just got destroyed by Vanderbilt, who was up by 26 early in the second half and the game was over at halftime.

I agree that Texas is a very good team. They are right there in the big 4 (now 5). That loss to SC, at SC, was irritating to me. In a game decided by only 3 pts SC shot 26 FT while Texas shot 13 FT. I can't help but think Dawn and the packed house got some home-court favor.

 

[browns]

I would say Blakes is probably national player of the year if vandy ends the season with only two losses. And Galvan and Ralph are winning national awards too.

Blakes is going to beat out SS when Uconn is undefeated?..not happening!!

 

[jaundicedeye]

Note to all: take a look at Vic’s postgame comments. “We have no heart.” “We weren’t tough enough.” He laments paying “these kids 100’s of thousands of dollars. Suggests he’s going to, “call my AD and apologize.” He does say it’s his fault. But I can only imagine what the Longhorns next practice will be like.

Vic's comments were a little over the top. I feel badly for the players. If they were feeling down, they might have a hard time getting up. Time for the seniors to show their leadership.

 

[oldude]

One additional comment about Vandy. You can make the case that right now that Vandy’s backcourt duo of Galvin and Blakes is playing as well as any backcourt in the nation. Think back to all those poised, talented AA guards that UConn produced. Who was their position coach and mentor? None other than Shea Ralph. She is the “guard whisperer.”

 

[BobbyJ]

Note to all: take a look at Vic’s postgame comments. “We have no heart.” “We weren’t tough enough.” He laments paying “these kids 100’s of thousands of dollars. Suggests he’s going to, “call my AD and apologize.” He does say it’s his fault. But I can only imagine what the Longhorns next practice will be like.

Poor Vic. On his watch this heart problem must have just developed since he wasn't saying anything about it after his soft, heartless crew beat UCLA and SC earlier this season. Then it was all 'Hook Em Horns' and I'm so proud of my team. Keep commiserating and blabbing to the media Vic and that portal door could swing wide open in a couple of months.

 

[donalddoowop]

Vic seems to complain as much as Dawn does.

perhaps the loss of pierre was addition-by-subtraction (chemistry-wise)

I remember reading last season where Shea said she did not want her back. After entering the Portal, Pierre withdrew but then re-entered. Something was happening there.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

What did you all think about having Booker guard Galvan? I can appreciate the attempt, but after a while he was just wasting Booker’s energy because she was kinda get taken behind the woodshed. I already think that Booker gets lost on offense until the end of games. Not all games, but too many for my taste. I guess he’s also trying to push Rori’s buttons? Have no idea what’s going on there.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Vic seems to complain as much as Dawn does.
I remember reading last season where Shea said she did not want her back. After entering the Portal, Pierre withdrew but then re-entered. Something was happening there.

My guess was Pierre wanted some of those shot attempts by Blake.

 

[oldude]

What did you all think about having Booker guard Galvan? I can appreciate the attempt, but after a while he was just wasting Booker’s energy because she was kinda get taken behind the woodshed. I already think that Booker gets lost on offense until the end of games. Not all games, but too many for my taste. I guess he’s also trying to push Rori’s buttons? Have no idea what’s going on there.

Booker on Galvin was an act of desperation by Vic. She was eating up Harmon, which is why Harmon earned a spot on the bench.

 

[Kat]

Nice game for Shea's team. They are very good at home. But the team that's got my attention is UCLA. They are dominating in a very tough conference, at home or on the road, and they don't rely on just one player.

 

[oldude]

Nice game for Shea's team. They are very good at home. But the team that's got my attention is UCLA. They are dominating in a very tough conference, at home or on the road, and they don't rely on just one player.

Yes UCLA is dominating in the Big 10. But let’s not forget that UConn pretty much dominated the top teams in that same conference with big wins over tOSU, Iowa & USC along with a tighter win vs MI, a game that UConn was up 20+ points in the 2nd half.