Tennessee Lady Vols vs. South Carolina Lady Gamecocks: 7 PM EST
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 6:00 PM EST
in Lady Vols Basketball
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January 20, 2011
Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC 7:00 PM EST TV: FSN / ESPN3 Internet Audio: Lady Vols Network Live Stats: GameTracker |
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17-2 (5-0 SEC) |
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10-8 (2-3 SEC) |
We hear talk about trap games all the time; tonight's game is a most fitting example of a trap game. On paper, there is no advantage to be found for the Lady Gamecocks. Tennessee is bigger, faster, more explosive on offense, better at rebounding, and a nightmare on defense. If Tennessee is to lose this game, it will only happen because they buy into the tale of the tape...
| Position | Name | Experience | Height | PPG | RPG | APG | |
|
G | Angie Bjorklund | Sr | 6-0 | 11.8 | 3.2 | 2.4 |
| C | Kelley Cain | Jr | 6-6 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 0.6 | |
| G | Meighan Simmons | Fr | 5-9 | 16.2 | 2.8 | 2.6 | |
| G-F | Shekinna Stricklen | Jr | 6-2 | 10.3 | 7.1 | 2.0 | |
| F | Taber Spani | So | 6-1 | 8.4 | 4.4 | 1.5 | |
|
G | Ieasia Walker | So | 5-8 | 12.1 | 3.4 | 1.4 |
| G | La'Keisha Sutton | Jr | 5-9 | 9.8 | 2.8 | 3.9 | |
| F | Jewel May | Sr | 6-1 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 0.6 | |
| G | Courtney Newton | So | 5-10 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.1 | |
| G | Valeria Nainima | Sr | 5-5 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
Size
Let's just get the obvious out of the way: the Gamecocks are short. Their tallest players are 6'-1" Charenee Stephens and Jewel May. (I don't list Stephens starting above, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her on the court just to even things up a little bit.) Half the roster is 5'-8" or shorter, while only Briana Bass fits that category on UT's roster. There is absolutely no reason that Tennessee should not own the interior throughout the game.
Offense
With such a short team, South Carolina has to either rely on the dribble drive or get hot from three. Unfortunately for them, they are 26% on the year from downtown and only 39% overall from the field. Averaging about 60 points a game, South Carolina just doesn't have a lot of scoring threat. They get a lot of assists, suggesting they do pass well as a team, but they'll be passing into the teeth of the longest and toughest defense in the SEC. It's hard to see how they'll be able to break Tennessee out of a 2-3 zone and open up some lanes.
Defense
South Carolina's only hope rests on defense. Their short stature won't allow them to hold up directly to Tennessee's interior presence, but they're good at stealing the ball, averaging about 9 steals a game. If Tennessee gets sloppy with their passing, the Gamecocks can cut down UT's scoring chances and get some fast break opportunities. If Tennessee passes well and gets the inside matchups they want, South Carolina can only look on.
The list goes on and on in Tennessee's favor: rebounds, blocks, fouls, offense, defense, size, speed, and depth all point toward the Lady Vols, with steals being only slightly in South Carolina's column. For South Carolina to win, Tennessee will have to play down to their level. This is where the trap element comes in.
The South Carolina game is a paper blowout waiting to happen, but is on the road and sandwiched between more important Vanderbilt and Auburn games. Last Saturday featured the lights and energy of an ESPN Game Day doubleheader, and the Sunday game can reduce the SEC race to a two-team contest if Tennessee beats Auburn. If Tennessee takes care of business against Georgia and Auburn, this South Carolina game will be meaningless toward the conference race.
A game like this will show whether the Lady Vols have developed the focus necessary to play their best regardless of situation. If they come out and enforce their will on the game, they will pass an important maturity test. If they get sloppy and let South Carolina hang around, they'll have some mental adjusting to do as the season wears on.
Prediction: UT 88 - SC 50
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Bingo.
And if I wasn’t so averse to writing arrogant-sounding previews, I would have been a lot more straightforward with this one. “Trap” was the only possible spin that give South Carolina any hope in this one; if UT loses this, they deserve all the criticism they’ll get for it.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
By all accounts, it sounds like Bass is doing better.
I’m not sure she’ll ever be much more than near-Smallbone level anymore, but if she’s at least efficient and responsible with the ball, she may be quite sufficient.
It’s not like the team can have 13 starters, after all.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, but she's still an effective "the game's over" signpost.
It’s not potentially dangerous this time.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
Yup.
But I like my EndGame signs to be brutal and decisive, too. :-D
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
Also, while I basically assumed that UT would run a zone for most of the game,
I wouldn’t be surprised to see them run man defense a lot just to get the gals to hustle more. After Vandy, I think Summitt wants more from them.
It doesn't much matter, I think.
Still, more practice with zone is probably the best thing. Maybe once it hits 15-20 points.
And now I feel overconfident. 50-plus point final margin? Nope. But practicing zone up 20, sure.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
So, anybody hungry? I've got
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
by bobothevol on Jan 20, 2011 7:05 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
2-2 two minutes in.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Ungh.
Tennessee gets a rebound, the outlet pass to (someone?) gets intercepted by Stricklend’s head, goes to USC and they get a 3 out of it.
3 turnovers already.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Another turnover and a tough layin the other way.
7-2 USC.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Cain says STOP!
Baskettime.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
News: Pat Summitt a bit sick
Didn’t get to head to shootarounds today.
And South Carolina is doing all they need to right now: 11-4 with an and-one coming up.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
If I read between the lines, that's a stomach bug.
I don’t know how she’s standing.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
Right now, I'm sure her main source of feeling sick isn't the bug, though.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
I think 12 people are going to come down with the runs tomorrow.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Stopped lurking to say
this is really well done. Exceptional toilet humor.
by Will Shelton on Jan 20, 2011 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
South carolina misses FT
But lane violation on the Vols.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
And then makes it.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Bjork is not playing well.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
I think she's accounted for 4 of our turnovers.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
And another turnover.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Quick 4 points for the Vols.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Effort much better for the Vols the past 3 go-outs.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Cain gets the O-Board
Spani hits the Alien 3. Vols 7 straight points.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
By the way, if anybody happens to find a non-ESPN3 feed, please leave a link.
I’ll catch the replay, but this Knoxville blackout makes no sense.
also blacked out in Lexington
very strange
by Will Shelton on Jan 20, 2011 7:25 PM EST up reply actions
Under-12:
12-11. 7-0 run for the Ladies, and the effort is there on both ends. South Carolina is playing legitimate defense though; this might be a race to 60.
It's tied up now 12-12.
Glory definitely the best player out there.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Spani is Sm-sm-sm-smokin'!
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
And 5 straight points for USC now.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
This game has a very odd feel.
It’s South Carolina’s game right now; I’m not sure the Ladies can actually wrest control, but I think it’s still possible to put it in the two to three possession range by the second half, but it’ll require more offensive effort than we’ve seen so far.
Well, then half of us have seen so far, apparently.
SoCar is really short.
Tennessee can pass over their heads all day long.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 7:36 PM EST up reply actions
Danged lucky to have a 7-point lead at the half.
33-26 is far more than they deserve.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
Somehow, it's 33-26 at the half.
I watched the entire thing, and I have no idea how this happened. What a mess of a first half.
46.7% FG for UT, 35.5% for SC.
That’s a part of it. 25-13 rebounding is the rest.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
Turnovers have to be in the 10-12 range, though.
Better than the 4 minutes of complete butt at the outset (although I guess it’s 29-14 since that, which …still doesn’t feel right).
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 7:51 PM EST up reply actions
How many suicides are they going to have to run for this half of play tomorrow?
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 7:54 PM EST up reply actions
You remember all those birds that dropped dead awhile back?
I think they forsaw this.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
We'll call it the Glory Johnson Effect.
Though Shekinna has more rebounds, Glory got them fouling.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 7:53 PM EST up reply actions
Aside: Shekinna is derivative for Shekinah, a Hebrew word to describe the presence of God.
Since that’s often referred to as the presence of the glory of God, having a Shekinna and a Glory on this team is quite amusing.
I think that Florida game is just as ugly.
Shooting percentages are worse, and turnovers are 12 UF, 9 UK.
That, and South Carolina has very little to offer on offense.
Just can’t take advantage of the opportunities consistently enough.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
Anger? ;-)
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Florida down to Auburn 30-27 right now.
______________________________________________
That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Losing to Auburn in basketball this year
is like losing to us in football. Go directly to the back of the power poll, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
(but do pay 200,000)?
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Not according to the NCAA!
You can ask for $200K if you’d like, though.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 8:25 PM EST up reply actions
32-30 right now under 12, Auburn.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
STEVE ADDAZIO IZ BEST COORDINATOR EVER
FLORIDA RUNNING POINT-A-MINUTE OFFENSE VURSE NATIONAL CHAMPI— oh.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Worst game of the year for the Vols? Yes/no?
Other contenders are the two losses, but SC doesn’t have the ability to capitalize like Baylor or Georgetown.
This is the worst I've seen them play, but it's all self-inflicted.
Georgetown may have been worse, but I don’t think Baylor was.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
I wish I could have seen the G'Town game.
That was probably the most telling game of the year.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
36-35 Auburn with under 5:30 to go.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
To be clear:
This is the second half.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
40-37 Auburn, under 3 left.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
This is really fun to watch, by the way.
The degree of Florida Fail is impressive. They’re still running a point-a-minute offense.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Good crowd for Auburn
new arena, above average opponent
by Will Shelton on Jan 20, 2011 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
Actually is a pretty nice crowd.
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That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
Wise layout in the new place
entire student section is the TV side, half court
by Will Shelton on Jan 20, 2011 8:55 PM EST up reply actions
They already are.
Frat Central is close enough to Mickey’s microphone that their melodious tones are in the background.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 8:48 PM EST up reply actions
Tennessee's outscored the Gamecocks 63-42 since the opening 4.
The game hasn’t been as close as it’s seemed to be, but ….sheesh. Not going to be telling the kids about this one, but these wins matter.
BTW - Hoop, this was the type of win I needed to see from the Ladies.
Road victory on nothing but guts against a motivated opponent.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 8:53 PM EST up reply actions
I was actually serious.
This matters way more for the tourney than an obliteration of an overmatched opponent at home. Although the latter is more fun.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 8:55 PM EST up reply actions
I knew you were serious
but it’s still amusing.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 8:56 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I'd rather have not answered that question at all.
However, if this was a loss there would be no way I’d pick the Ladies to get out of the Sweet 16. This was the result they needed, and with the rest of the SEC gunning for them, they better get used to this.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 20, 2011 8:57 PM EST up reply actions
U-G-L-Y though.
They won rebounding 48-26 and lost turnovers 24-10.
Shooting:
FG%: UT 48%, SC 33%
3P%: UT 56%, SC 19%
FT%: UT 67%, SC 44%.
If SC could hit the basket, they could very well have won that one. Now granted, Cain’s 6 blocks had some effect.
by David Hooper on Jan 20, 2011 9:00 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, 1-8 Auburn from the line
Which means they’ll be 23-25 against us.
______________________________________________
That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
SoCar's arena sound guy played their rooster call when the game ended.
Found that amusing for a 15 point loss.
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