SEC Women's Basketball Tournament: Tennessee / Auburn Game Thread
by David Hooper on Mar 7, 2009 12:00 PM EST
in Lady Vols Basketball
Email
Print
 |
March 7, 2009 |
 |
|
22-9 (9-5)
19(AP) 24(USA Today) |
28-2 (12-2)
6(AP) 5(USA Today) |
| Tennessee |
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
PPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
|
| G | 5 Angie Bjorklund |
6-0
|
-
|
So.
|
11.5
|
3.0
|
2.7
|
| F/G | 25 Glory Johnson |
6-3
|
-
|
Fr.
|
10.6
|
7.1
|
0.7
|
| F/G |
40 Shekinna Stricklen |
6-2
|
-
|
Fr.
|
13.2
|
6.0
|
3.1
|
| F/C | 2/44 Alex Fuller |
6-3
|
-
|
Sr.
|
8.0
|
6.2
|
1.4
|
| C |
52 Kelley Cain |
6-6
|
-
|
Fr.
|
8.3
|
5.2
|
0.6
|
| Auburn |
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
PPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
|
| G |
24 DeWanna Bonner |
6-4
|
-
|
Sr.
|
21.3
|
8.7
|
1.6
|
| F | 1 Trevesha Jackson |
6-0
|
-
|
Sr.
|
6.9
|
5.0
|
0.4
|
| G |
5 Alli Smalley |
5-8
|
-
|
So.
|
11.9
|
2.7
|
2.1
|
| G |
12 Sherell Hobbs |
5-11
|
-
|
Sr.
|
12.3
|
4.6
|
1.0
|
| G |
44 Whitney Boddie |
5-9
|
-
|
Sr.
|
11.0
|
4.5
|
8.2
|
(Note: Stats do not include Friday's performances; neither do they include SEC tournament wins in the conference records.)
With the season-ending win over Vanderbilt and the tournament win over Florida, Tennessee now has solid arguments to be ranked higher than both of those teams in the NCAA tournament. Factor in the strength of schedule argument, and it's almost assured that they'll be given better consideration than every SEC team except Auburn.
Now they face that same Auburn, who has only lost to Georgia and Vanderbilt in road games. Realistically, there's no way to actually pass Auburn in NCAA seeding, but a win against Auburn would both bring tremendous confidence to a young team and give Tennessee some strong arguments that they have fixed much of their season's problems and are a much more dangerous tournament team than their record would suggest.
But Tennessee first must learn how to stop Bonner. The 6-4 guard (!) just broke the Auburn school record for career points last night, and she dished out 35 against Tennessee in their previous meeting this year. Somebody besides Bass will have to step up on defense (unless Bass can figure out how to guard somebody a full foot taller than herself). If they can contain Bonner and minimize the turnovers on offense, the Lady Vols have a real chance. to avenge one more loss and move to the SEC finals.
In the previous two tournament games, some Ladies have stepped up while others have stumbled. Some, like Bjorklund, have been in both positions already. Tonight against Auburn, they'll need a solid team effort to win. It's something they can do; all they have to do is keep focused, play smart, and limit the turnovers.
GO LADY VOLS!!!
204 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Fuller should get the Bonner assignment.
She has the ability to play inside/outside against Bonner, and Cain looks lost when she gets more than 8 feet out from the basket (understandably). Switch Cain to Jackson and hope for the best.
Bonner scares me on the other side, too; hopefully she’ll get Stricklen as a defensive assignment which means Cain gets 6 inches and reach against Jackson. We have height throughout the lineup, but I’m a little worried. This is going to be Alex Fuller’s game.
Of course, by only being a little worried I mean I don't expect much.
We can move up to the 4 line if we win out, I suspect, so a win here is just a bonus for me. Not a huge amount of difference between the 4 and the 5 (honestly, I think we have a 25% chance at a 4 right now), but those two games at home could be big for this team.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
One thing that sticks out to me
Our starting lineup: 4 seniors and a sophomore
Your starting lineup: 3 freshmen (freshwomen?), 1 sophomore and 1 senior
So, I think Auburn is the better team this year, but Tennessee is in a fantastic position to be very good for the next few years.
War Eagle!
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
Probably.
Actually, I’d completely buy it. I figure this game is a money in the bank game for us; I think our seed is pretty well set. I’d love the win, but this is your year in the SEC. We’ll see how it turns out.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
Should be a good game, though.
Stick around if you like. We’ll naturally be pulling for our Ladies, but the animosities that get built up with the men’s sports don’t happen here. (Except for UConn, which Auburn isn’t.)
And does this mean you're around for the game?
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
That was kind of what I've heard.
I’ll probably still see it anyway, but not this weekend.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions
It's typical director "I can improve this" syndrome.
I’ll leave the details out, though. Even if you didn’t mind, other people probably don’t want any spoilers.
Special effects are well-done, though. Of course, that’s about all Hollywood does well anymore.
/rant
I'd expect that from Frank Miller.
I’ll leave it at that.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
Not as much as you'd think.
I love his ability to construct shots, but his ability to hold a plot is a bit lacking.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions
We're kind of driving the Cain bandwagon at this point, aren't we?
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions
Looks like she re-aggravated her knee.
Well, it sounds like that at least.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
Can't put weight on the knee yet.
Moving slowly so far; hopefully she’ll be back for the second half.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
No, neutral radio feed.
Pretty quality so far.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions
Send Cain to the locker room for the half.
Keep your heads on straight, girls, and keep it within play when Cain gets back.
That's our best offensive advantage.
This puts Fuller on Bonner, which I wanted to see anyway. It’s up to Stricklen and Bjorklund to carry the offensive load for now.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions
Stepping up.
Four points so far and drew a foul to boot.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
That's unfortunate, in a way.
Getting Bonner in foul trouble would be a bit too much to hope for, though.
Brewer's doing a good job in her absence.
I think – and I say this without actually seeing the game – Johnson and Stricklen need to be able to drive.
And have we heard anything from Fuller?
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:54 PM EST up reply actions
Sounds like she's playing off Jackson.
For reasons I’ve stated before, I’m not too happy with this.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:54 PM EST up reply actions
Every little bit helps.
Right now we need the trainers to be the all-stars, though. We can keep it close in the meantime, I think.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions
Is this Auburn's best shot?
Maybe more importantly, is this our best shot with the personnel we have?
Remember that Stricklen's struggled in the first half these last few games.
I don’t expect much from her for the time being, and Bjorklund’s been quiet. Given that and Cain’s injury, this is as good as I can expect.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:03 PM EST up reply actions
He did.
I caught him online before anyone else probably noticed. I admire the hubris, though.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:05 PM EST up reply actions
I just wish it was hubris.
I mistakenly wrote the whole thing for LSU because I wasn’t paying attention. I’m just happy I corrected the rest of it.
In postgame yesterday,
the coaches noted that Florida was only defending UT on defense for 8-10 seconds at a time in the second half. That allowed Florida to build an offensive rhythm that helped them crawl back into the game. I wonder if they’re instructed to bleed time to keep Auburn on defense longer.
If so, could they start working the defense for an open look just a little sooner?
I haven't been paying that much attention to the clock.
It’s tough to track that listening to the game only. It seems like Auburn’s been playing tight D so far, so I don’t think that’ll work for now.
BTW, Brewer on Bonner now.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions
In your men's news;
South Carolina wins.
Auburn(!) wins over LSU.
Florida wins over Kentucky. Can’t spell “sucking it up” without UK.
Wow.
For some reason, I though UK/UF was tomorrow.
Florida’s win was great for UT. If they get back in the top 50 in RPI, UT will hugely benefit in the seeding.
Well, I have cable, I just don't have all the channels.
I watch enough sports to justify it, and Center Ice is a lifesaver for me, but I miss games like this. Apparently if I had the Fox Sports Network package, I could be watching.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
DirecTV gives you like 904 Fox Sports channels
but the good stuff is usually blacked out on the ones outside your area. I’m glad the SEC hasn’t blacked this out.
Unfortunately, no.
We’ll be getting dinner ready soon, so I’m not at the Library. That means Comcast internet, which means no ’360.
Apparently Bonner might've done the same thing on the other end, but wasn't called.
Didn’t see, so I can’t make a judgment.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
I still don't know if this is their best punch.
I think they can pull this off without Cain, though. We’ll see.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
I think so.
I’m not sure why they have one.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions
Landed badly on her knee.
She’s in the back getting a MRI. Hopefully she’s okay and the trainers can work a miracle.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:16 PM EST up reply actions
And in your "100% from the field watch":
Manning’s 3-3.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
Yes.
Basically, it’s a beef and noodle soup. Our version includes green onions and water chestnuts.
The coolest part is that you put raw meat into it right before you set it on the table. It’s cut very thin, so the near-boiling water cooks it very quickly.
It's supposed to be spicy as hell.
I haven’t had it before, but there are more than a few people at work who like it.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
Culinary Queen helps out:
The Mrs. says our stuff is more like Pho Tai, which isn’t as spicy. Pho Bo usually has meatballs and is much spicier.
Ah.
I didn’t know there was a delineation there.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions
heh.
It’s not always spicy, and it usually isn’t when you get it at a restaurant. But it’s awesome stuff. Very clean taste, and usually one of the cheaper meals on the menu at restaurants. Also, it’s really filling.
So.
We’re up by 5. Cain’s been out most of the game, Glory Johnson has 3 fouls and 4 points. Stricklen has 2 fouls and 4 points. Bjorklund has two fouls and no points. Bonner has 14 points and is 7 off from her average.
Cain’s probable for the second half. We know we’ll see Bjorklund again. Stricklen’s been a second-half player the last few games. Glory is, well, Glory. And Brewer almost has a double-double.
In other words, we’re up by 5 and we still haven’t thrown our best punch yet.
If we pull this game out, the ball has to go to the bench.
18 points off the bench in the first half is huge. I want to see Brewer get her double-double, but I want to see Cain back.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:32 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I know.
Normally the bench isn’t known for their massive contributions. I’m sure KenPom has some stats on average bench points per game, but from what I can tell, 18 is good.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
2 points and 2 fouls.
Um. Just because you have 5 to give doesn’t mean you need to race to 5.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions
Again, not sure either way.
Generally speaking, on radio I’ll trust the refs because I don’t know either way.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:48 PM EST up reply actions
Good.
These guys like using only last names, so when they said “Johnson”, i got a little worried.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions
I don't know if it's sloppy play or what.
I suspect – and I’d love to see more info on it – the Auburn vets know how to draw fouls or make it look like they’ve been fouled more than the Vols do at this point.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:54 PM EST up reply actions
Careful.
Can’t let this game get past 10 or 12 down at this point; Auburn’s too good to let this happen.
Bonner with 3, I think.
I can’t tell the difference between Bonner and Boddie unless I’m paying close attention, though.
Looks like the call was on Hobbs.
Way to go, announcer.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 7:58 PM EST up reply actions
Need to hold Auburn on a few occasions, too.
This is bad Tennessee.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 8:00 PM EST up reply actions
A minute ago Dave said of the 23 fouls called, 10 were offensive.
We’ve had 2 offensive fouls since then.
We've stopped the bleeding for now.
There’s ground to make up, and it needs to come from somewhere. Bjorklund found her touch.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
Or just try to play with 4.
Stricklen’s taking (and missing) a shot every time she touches the ball.
Have fun.
That feels ….appropriate, somehow.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions
That's fine. So long as they're not in the same bracket as UConn.
I may be the only person who’s happy that series is cancelled. It got to be too much of a circus with all the drama the netwroks tried to play out of it.
The Ted Valentine Path to Success, it would seem.
31 fouls called already.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions
Dinner's up.
I’m going to have to sign out. Hopefully the bad juju goes with me and a miracle comeback happens.
Either way, thanks for swinging by. Always appreciated.
The foul total for this game is going to be obscene.
I suspect we’ll see more fouls than there were minutes played.
Auburn moves on.
78-58. I wonder if the gals just ran out of gas; Auburn’s good, but they’re not 25-points-better-in-a-half good. The time off can’t help but be a good thing.
Wanna to a post-mortem?
I’ll front it when I can, but we’re going to be out for a while this evening. If not, don’t worry about it; I’ll tap something up when we get back.
Nobody else saw the game, right?
I can do one.
by Chris Pendley on Mar 7, 2009 8:43 PM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Rocky Top Talk
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
SHOP THE ROCKY TOP TALK STORE
Animated Drive Charts
RTT Classics
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
