Lady Vols Basketball vs. LSU Tigers: 2 PM EST
by David Hooper on Jan 2, 2011 1:00 PM EST
in Lady Vols Basketball
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January 2, 2011
Maravich Center, Baton Rouge, LA 2:00 EST TV: SEC Network / ESPN3 Internet Audio: Lady Vols Network Live Stats: GameCast |
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12-2 |
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10-4 |
Conference play begins at Red Stick against Tennessee's traditional SEC rival. Roster information and some info follows after the jump.
| Position | Name | Experience | Height | PPG | RPG | APG | |
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G | Angie Bjorklund | Sr | 6-0 | 12.1 | 3.4 | 2.8 |
| C | Kelley Cain | Jr | 6-6 | 7.8 | 5.2 | 0.8 | |
| G | Meighan Simmons | Fr | 5-9 | 16.7 | 3.1 | 2.2 | |
| G-F | Shekinna Stricklen | Jr | 6-2 | 10.5 | 6.9 | 2.2 | |
| F | Glory Johnson | Jr | 6-3 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 1.0 | |
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G | Adrienne Webb | So | 5-9 | 15.0 | 4.3 | 1.6 |
| F | LaSondra Barrett | Jr | 6-2 | 14.3 | 4.9 | 4.0 | |
| G | Katherine Graham | Sr | 5-11 | 9.8 | 6.8 | 0.5 | |
| F | Taylor Turnbow | Jr | 6-2 | 6.8 | 2.4 | 0.7 | |
| G | Latear Eason | Sr | 5-8 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 4.3 |
Of LSU's four losses, one was a close match against #12/13 Ohio State and another was against UConn. They're not a bad team at all, even if they're not ranked at the moment. The starting roster is a bit smaller than is customary for LSU, but they do have height on the bench: freshmen Theresa Plaisance (6'-5") and Shanece McKinney (6'-4") each average about 6 minutes a game, while 6'-3" junior Swayze Black gets about 10 minutes in relief duty. That gives Tennessee a definite height advantage, but not so dominant as to completely overwhelm as is often the case against smaller schools. However, having your height represented by freshmen is a bit of a scary prospect, and LSU will need them at their sharpest to keep up with the increasingly capable rotation of redwoods that Summitt will roll out.
LSU's best advantage is experience and continuity; all of their projected starters have started every game they played (Barrett missed one). It's a team that hasn't had to tinker with its lineup, so the players should understand each other well when the starters are on the floor. That continuity has resulted in over 200 assists on the year despite not being a high-scoring squad. They're a defense first team, averaging only 65 points a game and holding opponents to 52. If they fall behind to the Lady Vols, they will have to find a consistent scoring threat to catch up; if they get a solid lead, they can slow the pace down and lean on defense.
The talent at LSU isn't at their normal levels, and it's not at Tennessee's level. LSU, however, is not prone to mistakes. They don't get in foul trouble and they don't get careless with the ball. Tennessee will have to beat them straight-up to open conference play with a win, and to help us forget the pain of the last two Tennessee games (not Lady Vols games).
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Bjorklund / Simmons / Spani / Stricklen / Johnson?
by Chris Pendley on Jan 2, 2011 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
Huh. Florida is housing Arkansas 38-22 at halftime.
That should be the last of the undefeateds in the SEC so long as Florida remembers to come out of the locker room for the second half.
LSU's getting good bounces on the offensive glass early.
We’ll list that as another form of unsustainable luck.
Things I like:
LSU can’t contain Tennessee’s post play.
LSU’s rebounding has been (mostly) the product of lucky bounces off the rim (or the corner of the backboard).
LSU hasn’t been able to keep the pace down.
Things I don't like:
too many early fouls, especially away from the ball
LSU is getting around boxouts
From what I can tell, the refs are spotty tonight.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 2, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
Or just calling it absurdly, absurdly tight.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 2, 2011 2:19 PM EST up reply actions
So I have LVs on the 3 the the Steelers game on TV.
Right now, Colt McCoy is a glorified punching bag for Pittsburgh’s pass rush.
Rebounding has favored Tennessee as of late.
LSU, after getting 5 very quick offensive boards, has none since. Regression.
Tennessee seems to have figured out the refs recently.
The lead and only 1 foul in the last 4 minutes.
Oh, and Cain's early beastmode has kept Tennessee from having to rely on three balls.
Only three attempts from long so far (all misses).
35-29 at the half.
Tennessee hasn’t hit a single three, but they really haven’t tried much either. They know they own the interior and are playing for that strength. 13 fouls, but nobody with three yet. Yikes the refs are tight tonight.
Glory is easily POG so far with 13 points and 9 rebounds. She’s all over the place and LSU can’t stop her.
Wait ... what?
ESPN showed Arky losing to Florida all the way up to the final score: 64-53 Arky. Can’t be. Somewhere along the line they must have had an error in the inputs.
No points for Stricklen or Bjorklund so far.
And Simmons has a two and two free throws. Cain and Johnson are destroying LSU on offense.
47-35 UT with 15 minutes left.
LSU burns their penultimate timeout because Tennessee is having their way with the Lady Tigers in the interior on both ends.
Glory Johnson has her double-double now as well.
Ok, this is odd.
Several comments just disappeared on me. I saw that the Snail was back and I think I even replied, but that’s all gone.
Part of me wants Tennessee to go without any threes, just to show them that they can win without it.
But a single three would tear LSU’s heart out.
10 points at just under 2?
I don’t think their heart is doing much of anything at this point.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 2, 2011 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
She's had to.
With all the perimeter foul trouble, if she came out flat the ladies would be toast.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 2, 2011 4:00 PM EST up reply actions
I'm waiting for the refs to add three additional 3-pointers for LSU.
Game’s over, right? So they can do that?
Edsall to Maryland.
The Dread Pirate Leach is still looking for a port to raid.
Also, really rough break for UConn. I’m laughing cackling with glee heartbroken for them.
Weird to can the Fridge for Edsall.
I don’t doubt that E is a good coach, but so was Ralph. I don’t see the gain that’s worth the change.
I suspect it was last-second panic.
Meanwhile, my plans to actually go to a Maryland game ever can safely be scuttled for the near future.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 2, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
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