#9 Tennessee Lady Vols vs. #4 Baylor Lady Bears Season Opener Game Thread
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 4:00 PM EST
in Lady Vols Basketball
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PrintThe Tennessee Lady Vols open up tonight at home against the Baylor Lady Bears at 5 PM Eastern. This game will be one of the biggest early attractions of the season, in part because it will be the debut of Baylor's 6'-8" freshman giantess Brittney Griner. Her matchup against Tennessee's Kelley Cain will likely be the feature of the night.
Coverage:
- TV: ESPN2
- Online: ESPN360, Lady Vols Radio, GameTracker
| Position | Name | Experience | Height | PPG | RPG | APG | |
 |
G | Angie Bjorklund | Jr | 6-0 | 12.3 | 3.0 | 2.6 |
| G | Taber Spani | Fr | 6-1 | - | - | - | |
| F | Glory Johnson | So | 6-3 | 10.2 | 7.2 | 0.6 | |
| G-F | Shekinna Stricklen | So | 6-2 | 13.3 | 5.9 | 3.0 | |
| C | Kelley Cain | So | 6-6 | 8.2 | 5.3 | 0.6 | |
 |
G | Kelli Griffin | Jr | 5-8 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
| G | Melissa Jones | Jr | 5-10 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 1.5 | |
| F | Morghan Medlock | Jr | 6-1 | 6.9 | 4.5 | 0.4 | |
| P | Ashley Field | So | 6-2 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 0.1 | |
| P | Brittney Griner | Fr | 6-8 | - | - | - |
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I'm in and out here this evening
but this girl for Baylor looks like She-Goliath out there – are we sure Cain is 6’6"? Because she looks more than two inches taller.
Great crowd for the season opener though
Heh.
Maybe Griner wears platform shoes…
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 5:14 PM EST up reply actions
I'll be spotty too.
I don’t know if I’ll make the whole game. We have curling later tonight.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 5:15 PM EST up reply actions
3 and a half minute scoreless streak let Baylor get back into it.
2 fouls on Cain already. Griner’s going to be trouble.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
She seems to have a knack for drawing fouls.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
Griner for drawing them, or Cain for committing them?
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
Griner for drawing them.
She leans into defenders as she shoots.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions
That block had some attitude with it
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 5:35 PM EST reply actions
26-26 Baylor lead at the half.
Tennessee is really fortunate for that. They’re probably outplaying Baylor slightly, but their shooting has been absolutely horrible. Baylor’s shooting % is low too, but their shots have been more contested than UT’s.
Score?
Can’t be 26 all if they lead. I’m planning on watching half #2
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions
That's not too bad
One possession game. Which in basketball may as well be a tie.
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah.
UT really should be leading, though.
One note: they’re using a lot of zone defense, which is odd for Summitt but is a ton of respect for Griner. It’s working pretty well, too.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions
That Cain foul was BS but Lady Vols up by three 26 - 29
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 6:11 PM EST reply actions
and 4th foul on Griner after ball stolen from her
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 6:11 PM EST up reply actions
AWESOME
you’re ahead of 360 but I don’t care.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 6:12 PM EST up reply actions
you dont have cable right?
so no ESPN2 for you?
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 6:13 PM EST up reply actions
should be able to now that Griner is on the bench
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 6:12 PM EST up reply actions
I see that we're winning now
And that Griner is in serious foul trouble. Great play!
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 6:12 PM EST reply actions
Did they expand the baselines in the offseason?
There’s a lot of space around the goal (out of bounds) that I haven’t seen before.
My question:
How many commercials can they run? Seriously.
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 6:22 PM EST reply actions
36-38
baylor responding well after timeout and Vols run
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 6:27 PM EST reply actions
But we're in the one-and-one already.
At the 12:57 mark. Woo!
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
there we go - fatten the lead up again 38 - 46
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
That was a near-disaster tuned into a fantastic sequence.
Tennessee has looked fantastic these last two minutes.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
So anybody think Gran would take the Memphis job?
Gonna be totally P.O.’d if Memphis hawks one of our chimera heads
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 6:32 PM EST reply actions
I don't know enough about him one way or the other.
He may, but Memphis is an 8-4 spot at best.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
Btw
Not a fan of this “commercial/play/commercial” thing. There should be more game time than commercial time.
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 6:33 PM EST reply actions
I hate timeouts before the TV timeout.
It decimates the flow of the game.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 6:35 PM EST up reply actions
Man, that timeout was really useful for Baylor.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
For real
And just look at that steals graphic. 9-1. Nice.
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
Brewer just picked up her fourth.
I’m, um, not sure how that happened. To put it mildly.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
That's because I'm not sure it happened
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
Here comes Baylor, two quick Tennessee fouls.
That second one was legitimate.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
She has a sort of Jabbar skyhook.
It’s closer in, but it’s something Griner can’t deal with.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
Skyhook implies some kind of arc, which doesn't always happen.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
Cain just lofted a nasty brick hook shot.
Little softer next time.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
It's amazing what a year of coaching can do.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
I'm pretty sure they just interrupted the game to go to commercial
AGAIN
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 6:46 PM EST reply actions
Bailout call on the drive.
She was out of control.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
Your storylines of the game:
- Cain v. Griner
- Stricklen dominating the rest of the floor
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
And Cain has four now, too.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 6:50 PM EST up reply actions
No kidding.
Not only just Cain v. Griner, but what happens when the two are removed.
Both teams went into slumps without their centers, but it took a slow, prolonged stretch for Baylor to take advantage, while Tennessee ran right over Baylor once Griner was on the bench.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 6:57 PM EST up reply actions
Also:
- terrible three-point shooting (3/19 – yikes)
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 7:03 PM EST up reply actions
Much of that was the cold streak in the first half.
They called two very quick fouls on Cain, which sent her to the bench. For about 10 minutes, UT never went inside, instead just lobbing from the perimeter. And they went stone cold.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 7:05 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, and it ended up not mattering today.
Still, it may matter at sone point.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 7:08 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah.
Clearly, Cain makes this thing go. It’ll be nice to have solid backup for her.
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
Cain has Griner dead to rights.
She’s faking to get Griner to jump, then shoots with Griner on the way down.
Is it too much of a jinx to say:
This is a great way to open the season?
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
I don't think so.
Surely the first 38 minutes are worth noting. Now go get the last 2!
by David Hooper on Nov 15, 2009 7:02 PM EST up reply actions
Can Pat teach Bruce
How to teach FTs?
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 7:01 PM EST reply actions
Cain's fouled out of the game
Still, excellent effort. It’s weird; she went 6/12 and I’m thinking she underperformed.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
Good call on the charge there
Out of control, Bjorklund was set.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
Wow.
From Gamecast: Tennessee’s shooting 37%, Baylor’s shooting 39%. On the other hand, Tennessee’s 22/73 while Baylor’s 18/47.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
No kidding.
But this is showing why those matter, and why those things translate to wins.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks!
It’s entertaining as long as everyone remembers what brought the phrase into the national lexicon.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
Nice ball control by Strickland.
bounce it off a Bear, then dance out of the way as it rolls out of bounds.
Now I think you can say it's been a good start to the year
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2009 7:08 PM EST reply actions
What now? I didn't get that
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 15, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
Great coaching by Summit
thats what won us this game
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Nov 15, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
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