Tennessee Lady Vols at Arkansas Razorbacks, 2 PM ET Live Game Discussion
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 12:00 PM EST
in Lady Vols Basketball
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January 20, 2011
Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, AR 2:00 PM EST TV: CSS / ESPN3 Internet Audio: Lady Vols Network Live Stats: |
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20-2 (8-0 SEC) |
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16-4 (4-4 SEC) |
The Lady Vols hit the road for Fayetteville for their final game before their "bye" (the day off in the Sunday/Thursday SEC rotation). As with the Mississippi State game, we'll assume now that the Lady Vols are favored to win and, rather than talk about why they're favored, we'll look at what should be expected of Arkansas in the game.
Analysis of the Razorbacks follows, and this comment section will be our game discussion thread as always.
| Position | Name | Experience | Height | PPG | RPG | APG | |
|
G | Kamiko Williams |
So | 5-11 | 7.8 | 3.5 | 1.5 |
| C | Kelley Cain | Jr | 6-6 | 8.3 | 6.8 | 0.8 | |
| G | Meighan Simmons | Fr | 5-9 | 15.5 | 3.0 | 2.8 | |
| G-F | Shekinna Stricklen | Jr | 6-2 | 11.0 | 7.6 | 1.9 | |
| F | Taber Spani | So | 6-1 | 8.9 | 4.4 | 1.4 | |
|
G | C'iera Ricketts | Jr | 5-9 | 13.9 | 4.9 | 3.8 |
| C* | Sarah Watkins | So | 6-3 | 13.1 | 5.2 | 0.7 | |
| G | Lyndsay Harris | Jr | 5-9 | 12.9 | 4.1 | 2.4 | |
| F | Ashley Daniels | Jr | 6-2 | 8.0 | 6.7 | 1.1 | |
| F | Jamesha Townsend | Jr | 6-2 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 |
Wide-Angle Lens
Arkansas ran undefeated through their nonconference slate with their signature win a 67-57 home upset of then-#12 Oklahoma. Of their four nonconference losses, the loss to Florida looks a little less forgiveable now than it did when Florida was ranked #22, and the home loss to Ole Miss is the big upset they've been dealt. The Georgia road loss is perfectly understandable (and was a competitive 59-56 game), as was the road Vanderbilt loss. The home win against Kentucky stands out as the jewel in their SEC schedule. All in all, they're a good women's team with the capacity to upset at least the "near-elite" at home. They can also lose a puzzler or two, particular to teams that are familiar with them.
Tennessee will obviously be their biggest challenge, but their home advantage is a huge benefit for Arkansas.
The Players
Arkansas tends to run a shallow rotation; of their 17 (!!) players, four have started every game and Ashley Daniels started all but one (which she sat out due to injury). Only two bench players have played in 19 or 20 games (Yashira Delgado and Keira Peak, respectively); two played in 14, two played in 10, and three are candidates for Club Trillion. Against Tennessee, I'd expect to see only seven players get significant time, with perhaps a couple others rotated in for foul trouble concerns or to give starters breathers until the next media timeout.
The strength of Arkansas is that they know their roles well. Ashely Daniels is the rebounder, and Sarah Watkins and C'iera Ricketts are the inside-outside scoring threats. Keira Peak rotates in to primarily spell as the rebounder. The offense is keyed off of Ricketts, who serves as point and primary shooting guard. She loves to drive to the basket, which is why she leads the team in free throw attempts (4.8 / game).
Arkansas is one of the better shooting teams that Tennessee will face in conference, hitting 41% of their field goals and 34% from three. All seven of their primary players average better than 35% from the field, making them one of the few teams without a true Stephen Pearl on the roster. So far, they're averaging nearly 65.8 points/game (59.6 in SEC play ) and allowing 57.2 overall / 59.8 in conference.
Offense / Defense Strategies
On offense, Arkansas will look for one of two options: the pass into Watson or the drive by Ricketts. If neither of those are available, they will then pass around and see if one of the plan B players can get open. Ideally, they will continually come back to Ricketts and Watson throughout the shotclock. Lyndsey Harris is their three-point shooter and takes about 57% of all the team's three attempts. Overall, they don't shoot a lot from three (14 per game), but it's enough to keep the defense honest.
On defense, Arkansas has much better size than most of the SEC. With three starters above 6 feet tall and two at 5'-9", they won't have near the "over-the-head" problems that South Carolina did. Still, they've been getting outrebounded in conference (294 to 322), with most of the deficit on the offensive glass. With their size, Arkansas is more likely to try to zone Tennessee and keep the action in front of them. For as much as Watson means to the team, she's not likely able to handle Cain one-on-one, so the best option is to keep the ball from getting inside and hope that Tennessee's deep shooters run cold.
Sum
While Kentucky and Georgia are the teams most likely to upset Tennessee, Arkansas would be the one most likely to pull it off because Tennessee underestimates then. They hover near top-25 rankings, are playing at home and have a well-defined team chemistry. They don't have the athleticism to keep up with Tennessee and are probably short on sleep trying to figure out how to slow down Glory Johnson. But if Tennessee thinks they can coast in this game, they can do a far better job of keeping up the offense than Mississippi State.
Still, you have to think Tennessee learned their lesson on Thursday, and that the lesson will stick at least through this game. 82 - 64 Tennessee wins.
Brianna Bass at the under-eight in the second half.
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Comments
Is Bjorklund healthy?
Going to withhold score predictions until that. And are we sure Cain can go, while we’re at it?
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Okay, having researched:
Cain can go, Bjorklund will be on the bench at best but I’m assuming no-go for her.
What I’d like to see happen:
Glory Johnson gets deployed as a foul-drawing machine on the interior and eats Sarah Watkins’ lunch. If that happens, and it happens early, I can see 86-51 or so. If it doesn’t….
What I think will happen:
South Carolina redux, with a little better effort. Let’s go with 76-57 and it not really feeling comfortable until about 12 minutes in the second half. Bass in at 10 minutes of the second half.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
Last I read, Cain was a go and Bjorklund was still held out of practice.
I haven’t heard anything definitive on Bjorklund, but the media guide lists Kamiko as the probable starter.
I initially had Angie but changed to Kamiko based on that.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I went to go parse the media guide to figure that out.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
But now that you mention it,
I wrote that prediction assuming Angie was in. Oh, well, it’s in print. I’ll stick with it.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
Same here.
Should be back by gametime, though (if Fulham-Spurs was actually, y’know, not 4-0 Fulham at the half with Spurs a man down, I might be talked into watching that for a while and delaying an errand until after that game).
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
"Live Game Discussion?"
“Open Game Thread” isn’t good enough for “David” Hooper, is it? ;-)
______________________________________________
That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
/sigh
That’s what I get for adding anything to the usual “UT vs. XXX, Whatever PM EST” headline I use. ;-)
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
:;sips tea::
We’re more civilized here.
;-)
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
Aside: I'm watching Simmons closely today.
I suspect she’s hit the freshman wall (more on this tomorrow).
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
I'm totally with you.
But if you’re writing on it, I’ll zip it.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
Doing the research on it now.
Should post tomorrow morning.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
So long as she doesn't go off for 25 points, right?
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
Won't matter.
Her efficiency going into today is horrid lately.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
Well, it will matter.
Depends on how many shots she takes to get to 25. If it’s 15, great. 35?
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 1:59 PM EST up reply actions
Baylor's up by 10 over A&M, 36-26.
Assuming the Lady Vols keep winning, this really helps their case for a #1 seed. An A&M win would not be a good thing.
A&M jumped the Ladies in the USA Today poll, too.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, been that way for a while.
I don’t worry about that too much, though. A&M has been on borrowed time for a few weeks; I don’t see the selection committee taking them over Tennessee so long as UT doesn’t give them a reason to do so.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
Foul counter is ready to roll.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 2:04 PM EST up reply actions
Glory gets the start!
Stricklen shows up as a guard, Simmons has the point.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Simmons hasn't shot well recently, but she's still improving as a point.
I like the move; it gives Stricklen a lot of flexibility.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
No kidding.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 2:15 PM EST up reply actions
Under 16:
Choppy game so far; Arkansas seems to be enjoying the 3-ball early, and Watkins likes playing a ways away from the basket, which makes Cain uncomfortable. Arkansas has the rebound edge early, which may be a function of airmailing a bunch of threes early.
Tied at 5.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Found some stats!
On the Arkansas site, so they’re a little weird-looking.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
If Arkansas's going to leave Stricklen unguarded on the perimeter, she's going to punish them hard for it.
Second three of the game.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
8 points early.
Wonder when they’ll realize she can win games single-handedly.
I’m voting for 2 minutes after the game is over.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 2:19 PM EST up reply actions
Arkansas is crashing the boards and generating a ton of contact.
Summitt needs to help the interior out a bit.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Under-12:
I wonder when Stricklen’s going to actually start getting defended. Hasn’t missed a shot yet and is already in double-digits. Arkansas still has the board edge, but there have been some weird bounces so far; the Hogs are also sending their entire team to the interior. No fouls yet on Arkansas, for that matter. It probably doesn’t help that Summitt is on the defensive end this half.
16-12 Ladies.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Arkansas's finally getting called for stuff.
Likely won’t be any foul trouble in the first half, but still good to see.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
The bank is open!
Alicia Manning just made a deposit.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Under-8:
20-14 Ladies. Arkansas can’t hit anything from beyond the arc, but they’re trying (1-9). Stricklen, meanwhile, is leaving trails of smoke whenever she shoots – 5-7 and 13 points already.
Taber Spani and Manning lead the Ladies in rebounding, which tells you everything you need to know about that. The Ladies are leading in rebounding, but bricks bounce everywhere from a missed three, and there have been a ton of those.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Under-4:
This is a battle. I still don’t think the game has settled, but Tennessee is doing just enough to stay 2-3 possessions up. 28-23.
From the red alert file: UT is shooting 50% from beyond the arc and Arkansas is shooting 12.5% from three.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
On the other hand, Arkansas isn't guarding at all out there.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 2:45 PM EST up reply actions
Here comes a mini-run.
Now it’s 39-27. Kamiko, Spani three, Spani again, Stricklen three.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Stricklen finally misses a three.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
....then promptly draws a charge.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
Summitt is smarter than you, vol. 923.
30.3 seconds left in the first half and the ball? Call TO.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
No luck.
Ladies go into the half up 39-27. Awkward, unsustainable for the most part, but good enough to handle. Arkansas simply has to account for the gals on the perimeter; Simmons still isn’t on the board yet, but Stricklen is making up for a lot right now. So is Spani, for that matter. Also a complete non-factor: Kelley Cain, who’s on two fouls right now and doesn’t know how to defend Watkins (who’s reminding me of Chism playing the five).
The rebounding advantage is huge – 20-13 on a bunch of wacky boards. Watkins is sitting on two fouls.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
How to address the second half:
If Arkansas comes out in zone again, keep hammering away from beyond the arc. Spani and Stricklen are both stroking it, and if Simmons happens to get in a groove*, it’s over. If Arkansas comes out in man, go at Watkins hard – Glory can own the second half by that alone. Get Watkins on three with Brewer/Glory, then bring Cain in to cause problems. She can’t defend Watkins, so don’t ask her to.
Arkansas still has a run in them; I don’t know how the Ladies will respond when the Hogs hit a couple of threes in a hurry.
*yeah, I know.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Sure enough, there's a charge. Three fouls on Cain.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
Watkins just picked up her third.
Thanks, Glory (I think) – either her or Brewer drew that.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Simmons was using a back-down dribble from 35' out.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Sure enough, two threes in a row from Arkansas.
41-35 and Summitt calls TO.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
I hate being right.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
Back again.
Caught some of it on the car radio, but still. Looks like the Ladies are mildly off-kilter.
This is a wacky game.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
That block call was ...generous.
Guess her feet were moving.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Baylor squeaks it out against A&M, 63-60.
That loss may be the best thing on A&M’s resume, even including their win over Oklahoma.
They play twice, I think.
Does the B12 use divisions in the women’s game, too?
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
Okay, the Ladies are back in it.
Was getting a little bit concerned there.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
delete this
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:22 PM EST up reply actions
Glory's rebounding reminds me of Pee-Wee football.
The hardest thing with the little kids is teaching them that contact isn’t a bad thing. Once they understand that hitting (and getting hit) doesn’t hurt like they think it does, they’re ok.
Throwback!
Nobody else on the team has that move save Baugh.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
So, you feeling comfortable, Hoop?
I’m feeling pretty comfortable.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
::checkmark::
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
The best answer to a zone defense is a consistent 30-foot shot.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Zone extension.
Simmons needs to work on her halfcourt shot to break zone.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
Great. Give her MORE reason to take shots.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
I figure she can't hit anything else anyway, so why not.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, nothing that's happened today is going to make me change anything.
Having difficulties bringing it together, though.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
I figure most freshman walls happen shortly after the college season plays more games than the high school season.
Curious if that’s happened to Tobias at all as well.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:36 PM EST up reply actions
shhhhhh
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:36 PM EST up reply actions
Nope.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:47 PM EST up reply actions
::bows::
I’ve been trying to figure out how close they’ll get to it (I know I’ve got it, but I want to be precise).
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:45 PM EST up reply actions
I think the 76 is a little more likely than the 57.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
Garbage-time threes.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
Well, they need to make some of these shots.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
Stricklen gets the plug.
Great point by the announcers, though: our #4 scorer just torched the Hogs today.
See above.
They didn’t respect Stricklen on the perimeter; maybe they forgot she can play all five positions. (She isn’t any good at the 5, but she could do it with a very small lineup.) Leave her unguarded early and she just goes off – it’s their own fault, really.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
Yet if they come out to guard her, they get torched inside.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
Cain was having an awful game.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
Still recovering?
Glory mentioned in an interview that Cain is the heart of their communications on the floor, and that her absence made things tough on them for the last game or two.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
Possibly.
Watkins is an awful matchup for her, though; I can’t emphasize that enough. You missed it, but any five who can go more than 7 feet away from the basket and be a scoring threat is going to be impossible for Cain to handle. It’s almost better to go zone, or switch Cain to the four and put Glory on the five.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:55 PM EST up reply actions
Very true.
I saw her shooting at the end. Watkins can’t go against Cain in the middle, but Cain can’t keep up with her in the open floor.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think that Arkansas has any good way to guard Tennessee.
Once UT eased up on the turnovers, it was over.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
They didn't really ease up on the turnovers, though.
They just stopped turning it over for a couple of minutes here and there.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
True.
Just enough to pull away. Not enough to approach my prediction.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
Can Glory repeat that move?
That’s indefensible unless she crashes into someone mid-jump.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
There are little bits and pieces, but I don't think it's worth it.
To wit:
- Stricklen was left open consistently in the first half and was able to freely bomb away.
- Cain’s issues defending fives who can operate away from the rim.
- Simmons’ continued …problems (which I’ll get into later).
The first two points can be addressed during Kentucky.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:02 PM EST up reply actions
Cain's knee problems appear to have left some permanent limitations.
She never takes charges either – likely to avoid getting knocked down too much.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
Glory's also taking tipoff.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
Another reason I really hated losing Elizabeth Williams to Duke.
Not Cain specifically, but having another power post in the younger ranks would be a huge deal.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
But with the exception of Griner (who doesn't shoot threes), there aren't any 5s that we can't rotate a 4 onto for defense.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
I don't know how you solve Griner.
I think the answer is to deny her the ball in the first place, but then how do you keep her off the glass?
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:05 PM EST up reply actions
The answer is to outperform the rest of Baylor by more than she outperforms your post.
Baylor’s one weakness is that they rely on Griner to the detriment of developing the rest of their team. Not the players individually, but the team itself. Mulkey crutches on Griner hard. I can’t blame her at all (it’s smart), but it has consequences if anybody can exploit them.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
That's one answer.
I don’t know if that’s the only answer, though.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:11 PM EST up reply actions
For Griner personall, get the ball inside her.
She’s too tall to reach down for it if you’re under her armpit. From there, you can pass and make it hard for her to turn to defend.
But yeah, she deserves a lot more credit than “just” being 6’-8".
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
Hopefully we don't have to answer this question again.
….because someone else takes care of Baylor first.
::cough::
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
Would be nice.
Baylor’s the main reason I want a #1 seed. They’re obviously going to get one, and I’d pencil Connecticut as another. That leaves Tennessee, Stanford, and Duke fighting it out for the remaining slots. Unless Duke loses two, they’re getting one. Tennessee has H2H over Stanford, but I am a little nervous about cutting it that close.
I wouldn’t mind being in the same bracket as Duke, but I’d much rather save the other three for the Final Four – if at all.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
From a revenge standpoint:
I want to knock off Georgetown, and I’d love to get another crack at Baylor. But I’ll be irrationally angry if someone else takes care of …well, you know.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
Your ideal bracket?
G’Town in the S16, Duke/Stanford in the E8. F4: Baylor. NC: UConn.
Izzat about right?
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
Pretty much.
I think the Penguins’ ’09 Stanley Cup run spoiled me. (Beat Philly in 6, Washington in 7, destroyed Carolina in 4, and then beat Detroit in 7. All wins on the road, and with the exception of the ’Canes, all rivals to some extent.)
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
I want a Stanford rematch in the NC game.
The main reason is that, of all the major teams, I like Stanford the best (after Tennessee, obviously). If Tennessee does lose, I want it to be to a team I like. I guess Duke would be #3 on that list.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
Still way to early for conclusions, but Alabama is actually leading Kentucky early in the second.
A fairly even game, stats-wise. If Kentucky loses, they’re done in the regular season. No way they can catch both Tennessee and Georgia with three conference losses. It also takes a lot of luster out of the Monday game, which is bad for Tennessee. The last thing they need is to think the game is meaningless. (Even if it is.)
Kentucky needs to pull this out.
They’re one of the few wins close to marquee available in-conference right now.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:35 PM EST up reply actions
I think they will.
Alabama’s shooting way over their heads at nearly 50% so far.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
And if Kentucky wins, they should remain ranked when Tennessee plays them.
It’s all paper at that point, but it’d be a nice touch.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
How much time left?
There comes a point where that doesn’t regress.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
Alabama?
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
UK leads now.
Alabama went on a bit of a cold streak at the wrong time.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:44 PM EST up reply actions
70-61 UK now.
The dam appears to have broken.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
Good.
Sounds mean, but Kentucky is a better-quality game if they snag this win.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:46 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, absolutely.
Kentucky winning is in all ways better for Tennessee. The only opposing logic is that a three-loss UK gives up one more game in hand to Tennessee, but if UT needs that third game this late in conference play, they have much bigger problems on their hands than Kentucky.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
And now Alabama's fouls are mounting up.
No starters with 3 yet, but UK’s getting a lot of free throws in recent minutes.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:44 PM EST up reply actions
Looking ahead, there are only 3 games left that Tennessee could respectably lose.
At home vs. UK and UGA, and on the road to Vandy. Other than that, there’s a roadie to Mississippi and two home games against Florida and LSU.
13-3 is the absolute, absolute bottom for this team. 16-0 or 15-1 are most likely.
16-0 better happen.
If 15-1 happens, I don’t think this is even a Final Four team.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
I haven't figured out if UK or UGA worries me more.
I’m leaning toward UK simply because they’re really good at drawing fouls. We have the depth for that, but it’s a disruption nonetheless. That and they steal well.
But yeah, 16-0.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
On some level, I don't care if those games are tough.
I want them to be tough. 16-0 needs to happen regardless of how hard the games are.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
Same here.
The team needs as many tough games as they can get right now, and only three or four teams in the SEC can do that. And Auburn didn’t.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
Auburn, btw, is wrapping up South Carolina right now.
30ish to go with a 5 point lead.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
All in all, I'm thrilled that Kentucky is doing well in women's ball.
Unfortunately, Georgia will never get the national publicity they deserve. Kentucky will; they’re the only team apart from Tennessee and LSU that can do that.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, hey. Just realized that Duke and UConn play tomorrow night.
It’s in Connecticut, but it has the potential to be as good as the Tennessee / Stanford game.
And the UGA game is on the '3 now.
Here, if you’re interested. I’m going to leave it up in the background for a while. I’d like a little more info on UGA for when they come up.
LSU in breast cancer colors for this one.
Full-on pink for the home team and black for the road team. I like the color / color jersey games. No real reason to enforce white if the two teams can get away with sufficiently contrasting colors.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
Quick note: even though the shots haven't been falling, UGA is good at getting the ball inside.
Mostly by passing to the post, but a couple nice drives as well.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
Tennessee's game had guadruple the attendance for Arkansas's home SEC games this season.
The Summitt Effect.
wow, guadruple must be really big--I've never even heard of it!
;-)
by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 30, 2011 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
/tinkle
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
DePaul's really putting the screws to West Virginia, 50-30 with about 15 minutes to go.
That only really matters if Tennessee is on the 2/3 seed line.
I'm watching the NHL All-Star Game.
There’s no defense being played at all.
It’s like the first half of the MSU game.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
There never is in the All-Star game though, right?
Restrictions on defense and all?
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
And nobody wanting to be there, yup.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
by Chris Pendley on Jan 30, 2011 5:31 PM EST up reply actions
I can't blame 'em.
I think that A-S games midseason are generally a bad idea. But I can’t see having it in mid-July either. No real winning scenario. If I were an All-Star, I’d be playing to avoid contact and injury. To heck with winning that thing.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 5:34 PM EST up reply actions
Georgia player smaked her head on the floor really hard.
Didn’t even try to get up. She’s shaking as they raise her to a sitting position. Not good at all.
Looks like it's lower back pain that's the problem though.
Surprised, because it was her head that hit the hardest. But she got caught mid-air trying to block a shot that never happened. Got spun around in the air when she landed on the LSU player and fell headfirst.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 5:38 PM EST up reply actions
LSU's up 27-21 at the half.
….ew. I’m guessing this hasn’t been pretty.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
It hasn't.
And I just now get home to see 45-38 in the closing minute. If Georgia’s lucky, they’ll end on the point-a-minute program.
But lots of bad basketball.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 6:53 PM EST up reply actions
Final: 47-41.
Tennessee now has a 2-game lead on the field. Beat Kentucky and Georgia, and win the SEC regular season.
Lose anything, and worry mightily about the tournament.
by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2011 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, hey. Stricklen had 6 three-pointers.
So according to Bobo’s sig, that makes $$$$$$tricklen, (333333jorklund)^2, and $$$$$$$$immons.
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