Tennessee Lady Vols / LSU Lady Tigers Open Game Thread
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 7:30 PM EST
in Lady Vols Basketball
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PrintTennessee gets to play their sibling rivalry in the SEC...
 |
February 26, 2009 |
 |
|
19-8 (8-4)
18(AP) 23(USA Today) |
15-9 (8-4)
NR(AP) NR(USA Today) |
| Tennessee |
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
PPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
|
| G | 5 Angie Bjorklund |
6-0
|
-
|
So.
|
11.4
|
3.0
|
2.8
|
| F/G | 25 Glory Johnson |
6-3
|
-
|
Fr.
|
11.0
|
7.3
|
0.7
|
| F |
40 Shekinna Stricklen |
6-2
|
-
|
Fr.
|
12.7
|
5.9
|
2.8
|
| F/C | 2/44 Alex Fuller |
6-3
|
-
|
Sr.
|
8.0
|
6.0
|
1.4
|
| C |
52 Kelley Cain |
6-6
|
-
|
Fr.
|
7.7
|
5.0
|
0.5
|
| LSU |
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
PPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
|
| F |
44 Kristen Morris |
6-2
|
-
|
Sr.
|
5.5
|
3.9
|
0.5
|
| F | 55 LaSondra Barrett |
6-2
|
-
|
Fr.
|
11.0
|
5.8
|
1.2
|
| G |
1 Katherine Graham |
5-11
|
-
|
So.
|
5.3
|
5.0
|
2.8
|
| G | 3 Latear Eason |
5-8
|
-
|
So.
|
3.4
|
2.1
|
2.1
|
| G |
23 Allison Hightower |
5-10
|
-
|
Jr.
|
14.4
|
4.5
|
2.8
|
The Lady Vols and the Lady Tigers share more in common than either would probably care to admit right now. Both teams turned over their entire starting roster to graduation after last year. (Hightower averaged about 20 minutes a game last year but was not a starter; the rest of LSU's starting lineup averaged 23 minutes per game combined.) LSU has also had some struggles with consistency, though they have gone largely unreported due to the Lady Vols' far more spectacular roller coaster ride.
LSU is always a tough place to play, and they need this one worse than Tennessee does. A win here may make the difference between the NCAA tourney or the NIT for the Lady Tigers; a UT win carries more importance for the SEC tourney than the NCAA's. Whoever wins will get a bye in the first round of the SEC tournament, so it's not exactly a slouch game at that.
Note: LSU's starting lineup is short. I would expect them to press the tempo and try to outrun the Lady Vols. In turn, the Lady Vols must press the interior game where Cain has been unstoppable recently - even against much larger competition. This is a battle of wills between two very young squads.
GO LADY VOLS!
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Comments
Um.
Ouch. A lot. Aside from the shooting percentages – and the score – it’s not too bad. But the Baby Vols are down 11.
One sliver of hope:
Both starting forwards for LSU have 2 fouls already. With luck, they’ll get a couple more early in the second and be hamstrung.
Two slivers of hope:
Kelley Cain is 2-2.
by Chris Pendley on Feb 26, 2009 9:51 PM EST up reply actions
Halftime: 35-20 LSU leads.
The prospects in this one are not good. Not good at all. The biggest concern is that LSU is a great bellwether for tournament play; it’s a strange place to go and the environment can be very distracting.
The biggest problem is the 28% shooting, which is absolutely sucking the life out of the offense. They are outrebounding LSU, which is good to see, but rebounding can only atone for so much. I think the key will be to force an inside game. LSU’s bigs are sketchy on fouls and UT has a lot to give. Pound the ball inside, create foul problems, and get a bunch of easy baskets to start the half. Once the score starts rolling, then open up.
And yes, Raise Cain.
Is that going to be the new driving point?
I swear, I think we’re piloting the Kelley Cain bandwagon at this point.
by Chris Pendley on Feb 26, 2009 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
Missed one foul:
Morris had 3 in the first half. Pound it inside!
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
Looking at the stats:
Really, it’s just a matter of making shots. They’re dominating most everywhere else (save blocks), but 5-23 inside the arc is never going to win anything other than heartbreak.
I was hoping you could answer that.
I don’t get to see much of the team. She’s getting boards at least.
by Chris Pendley on Feb 26, 2009 9:54 PM EST up reply actions
I don't have this game on.
I’ll have to check the number of minutes she plays. But she was starting only about 3 weeks ago or so, then suddenly went down to about 5 minutes a game for a while.
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions
Check the old game threads?
I seem to recall her getting injured in one of the games (Duke?).
by Chris Pendley on Feb 26, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions
I remember that.
She was injured in win #1,000 against Georgia. It was in the first 20 seconds of the game or so – came down on her ankle funny when pivoting, IIRC.
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 9:58 PM EST up reply actions
After Georgia, Alicia's minutes:
Florida: 13
Alabama: 25
Duke: 17
Kentucky: 9
MSU: 4
Hmmm…. I don’t think the problem was injury, then. Unless there was another injury there.
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
35-20 halftime
and not in the good way.
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
Nah.
That big “Garcia Did My Roof” banner they rotate beside the court. It’s Mutual of Omaha now!
Tie game!
I think I'm missing it...
as in Raise the Roof!?
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
We'll have to deal with Hightower for the rest of the game.
No fouls on her and she’s the leading scorer for LSU.
She's a guard, and we've played a lot of inside offense.
Their bigs are in danger of foul trouble.
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
I'm using the Safari 4 beta and it put some replies under the wrong comment.
Tie Game! 53. 6:30 to go.
I'll take your word for it.
But I hope not.
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, boy.
7.9 seconds left. Tie game. 4th foul on Bjorklund. LSU to shoot 1-1 (I think) with a 53% shooter.
Oy.
That may make Tennessee’s best hope a 6 seed. They absolutely have to win out the season now, or the tourney seeding is going to be horrific.
by David Hooper on Feb 26, 2009 10:59 PM EST up reply actions
GO TENESSEE!
friggin right dood. tennesee isn’t gonna own this year but they are doing pretty good and they are having a rebuilding year! shows you how great they will be soon!
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