Tennessee Lady Vols @ Mississippi State Bulldogs, 9 PM EST
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 7:00 PM EST
in Lady Vols Basketball
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February 16, 2012
Stark Vegas, MS 9:00 PM EST TV: CSS / ESPN3 Internet Audio: Lady Vols Network Live Stats: GameTracker |
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18-7 (9-3 SEC) |
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14-11 (4-8 SEC) |
Coming off the first truly Lady Vol-like performance in a long time, Tennessee hits the road to play a Mississippi State squad that is currently 8th in the SEC and not quite a shoe-in for the NIT. Sharon Fanning-Otis coaches perhaps the longest roster in the SEC with 15 total players, but only seven see any serious playing time. A win would make MSU's season, but they will have a tough challenge getting there.
For Tennessee, this isn't about the postseason. At all. This is about building some consistency and proving that Monday's beat down of Kentucky was more about Tennessee playing well than Kentucky playing poorly. It's really as simple as that, so let's get to the rosters.
| Position | Name | Experience | Height | PPG | RPG | APG | |
|
G | Meighan Simmons | So | 5-10 | 11.5 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| P | Glory Johnson | Sr | 6-2 | 13.6 | 9.2 | 1.2 | |
| PG | Ariel Massengale | Fr | 5-7 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 5.4 | |
| G-F | Shekinna Stricklen | Sr | 6-2 | 16.0 | 6.4 | 2.0 | |
| G | Taber Spani | Jr | 6-1 | 9.3 | 3.3 | 1.7 | |
|
PG | Diamber Johnson | Sr | 5-7 | 16.0 | 1.8 | 3.8 |
| G | Porsha Porter | Sr | 5-6 | 13.6 | 5.0 | 2.3 | |
| G | Kendra Grant | Fr | 5-11 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 0.6 | |
| C | Catina Bett | Sr | 6-5 | 5.9 | 3.9 | 0.3 | |
| F | Ashley Brown | Sr | 5-11 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 0.7 |
As an aside: I update the stats in the roster table within a day or two after the previous game, and updating the Lady Vols usually consists of tweaking an occasional digit after the decimal point. This time, most numbers happily went upward (except for Glory, who was Lisa Mattingly'd). Meighan Simmons's points per game went up by 0.5, which is an enormous swing this late in the season.
Ok, back to the roster.
Mississippi State will be significantly shorter than Tennessee tonight. They do have 6'-5" Bett in the middle as well as 6'-4" freshman Martha Alwal off the bench. Two of the three of Bett, Brown, and Alwal will start, so it's worth mentioning that Alwal is the team's leading rebounder at 7.8 boards per game. The rebounding game will be decided by Tennessee's will: they're tall enough to give Tennessee rebounding issues if Tennessee isn't aggressive on the glass, but not skilled enough to keep up with Tennessee otherwise.
Outside of rebounding, MSU will have to find a couple legitimate scoring threats, and in a hurry. They're averaging only 51.6 points in SEC play, including a 53-50 overtime win over Ole Miss (which awesomely featured away-and-away jerseys - MSU in Black/Maroon, and Ole Miss in Red). With short players and Tennessee's newfound 3-2 zone that stifled Kentucky, MSU won't find much room for passing and will have to rely on three point shooting to keep Tennessee's defense honest.
Three point shooting? MSU is averaging 24% in league play.
On Tennessee's side, the equation is simple: Keep Meighan Simmons rolling and bury the sophomore slump for good. Keep Stricklen aggressive and playing like a star. Get as many others on track as possible: Spani's three-ball, Manning's disruptive pressure, Baugh's athleticism, and Burdick's awesome shooting are just a few things that can get on a roll tonight.
This is a game that Tennessee can win handily, even if they're out of sync. The importance of this game isn't the win, but whether they play like Lady Vols instead of a very talented pickup team at the local rec center. It's always painful to say it, but Tennessee needs to be merciless and bury Mississippi State early - and then keep the gas pedal down until even Brianna Bass gets bored of scoring. This isn't about the win, but about the mentality. And it's not even about the postseason, but just simply being the best team they can be for one night.
Prediction: 95 - 49 Tennessee. Make it happen.
BassWatch™: Under-12 timeout of the first half.
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Bama women had KY on the ropes by 23
but now it’s down to 8 with 11 min remaining
Bama hung 50 on them at the half
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Alabama has a few key players with 3 fouls and had to rest them for a bit.
For Kentucky, Samarie Walker and Keyla Snowden have 4 each, which might be a factor late. But Kentucky tends to steamroll teams with shallow benches.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 9:12 PM EST up reply actions
5 point game with 4 remaining.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
Simmons makes her first basket and Stricklen tries to make her own shot early.
A walk, but at least she tried.
Great finish in the Florida State - Virginia Tech game.
VaTech was horrible at shooting freethrows and FSU hits a 3 to win 48-47 with 2 seconds left.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
Good game with UGA at SC
but the SC player fouled the jump shooter with 4 sec left
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Another TO
but another BS 3 second call with Glory rebounding?
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Well this is an exciting game.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
Mickey thinks their is a lid on the bucket
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Shame the GameTracker isn't working. I'd love to see the percentages.
1/16 combined shooting tells the story, though.
On pace for, what?
A final of 20-0?
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
I would love to hear what a coach would say
After a 20-0 game.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
All of the above?
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
That does remind me to pull out the pacemaker, though.
The other pacemaker. ;-)
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 9:14 PM EST up reply actions
2 points in 5 minutes?
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
So on pace for 16-0!
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
Teams are 1/20 combined.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
And now we're tied after an offensive rebound for MSU.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
5-2 MSU.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
Foul, Glory Johnson.
That’s the foul, mind you, I don’t know anything else that happened.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
My guess is she was pushing while trying to get out of the paint to avoid another three second call.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 9:24 PM EST up reply actions
/1.5 second call?
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
2 for 16 Vols 2 for 15 MSU
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Shot clock operator is asleep
and I can’t blame him
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Williams and Simmons hit long jumpers.
Vols lead 8-7.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
KY down by 7 to Bama 1:42 remain
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Simmons in the fast break
/tinkle
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
12-10 Vols at the under 8.
Yeah.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
Alabama up by 7 with 1:07 to go.
One of their starters has fouled out, too. UK has three players with 4 fouls, fwiw – Walker, Snowden, and Bishop.
4 point game
4 seconds left. Kentucky’s gonna lose.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
Commit
ALL THE TURNOVERS
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
No, seriously, stop the turnovers.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
I wish GameTracker was working.
The halftime graphic would have been fun.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 9:35 PM EST up reply actions
11 freakin TOs and no time out?
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Just playing stupid turnover basketball
with zero poise against a sub par team
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Bama Wins
and we’re tied for first until we blow this game
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Alabama beats Kentucky 76-72.
That both gives UT a chance and tempers the conclusions from Monday’s game. Kentucky’s in a slump.
Just a thought...
Kentucky wins the tiebreaker because they lost to the last place team and the 6th place team instead of to the 4th and 5th place teams like Tennessee did. Isn’t this just a bit silly?
Well, things are breaking well at the moment.
The Georgia win was huge, and LSU appears to have Arkansas in hand. Both help Tennessee.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
And looking way too far into the future:
Kentucky may be their own worst enemy. It might come down to their upcoming game against South Carolina. If they beat South Carolina, it might put LSU above them and give UT the tiebreaker.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
/wrists
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
But fwiw,
They’d be tied as co-champs for the regular season. Tourney seeds don’t change that.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 9:46 PM EST up reply actions
After losing to Bama - KY could lose any of their final 3 games
since they are on a 3 game skid right now
Feb 20 vs #24 VAN
Feb 23 vs SCAR
Feb 26 @ MSST
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Beast Johnson move.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
So I can still get my prediction if UT outscores MSU 73-36 in the second half.
That pretty much wraps up the stats, I think.
By the way, this kind of offense isn't unusual for MSU.
On Sunday against Ole Miss, they shot NINE percent from three. 30% from the field, and 54% from the line.
and we thought it was our defense?
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
It's that too.
We’re in zone, which is encouraging them to jack threes. Which they can’t do well. They’re 25% so far, but only 27% on the season, so it’s no different.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe there's something in the water down there.
GameTracker hasn’t come out of the locker room yet either.
The UT-NIU baseball series...
will be “televised” on UTSports.com starting tomorrow night
I am freaking EXCITED about this baseball team!!!!!!!
and I went to NIU's main board to inform them...
man, that place is a trainwreck. I’ve finally found a group of fans who make Memphis fans seem reasonable.
There is a thread comparing their basketball team favorably to Indiana and one speculating on a move to the Big12.
Simmons and Massengale have been on the bench for a while.
It’s an 18-point lead, so it’s not necessarily punitive, but neither girl had a good night so far.
Yep. Catina Bett.
Their tallest girl. Just hands on knees, then slumped back.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 10:36 PM EST up reply actions
Bett just flat passed out
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Glad she's walking.
We’ve seen too many of those sudden drops turn out to be tragic. This doesn’t look to be the case.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
I think this game just put her to sleep too
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Good Grief what was that Miko?
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
shotclock in her head?
It was getting low.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
I guess Alicia has been put in deep permanent reserve
Kinda reminds me of Woolridge who had that 3 point explosion vs KY
and hasn’t been seen since.
Alicia went from being a starter to being a nonentity in a few short weeks
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Well there she is at 5:05
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Glory love the front of that rim
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Really - this isn't the way to wake up the crowd
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Not if it was Meigan on the drive it wasn't
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Simmons finally gets back in
and misses a FT
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Another MSU player hits the deck
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
This referee convention is too much
play basketball
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Breadsticks to Stricklen?
Johnson was more consistent, but Stricklen’s second half put this thing away.
Burdick fouls the shooter?
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
That's real optimism
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Glad I recorded it to replace the sheep counter
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Yup.
I’ve been up since 4:45 AM. I’m going to sleep well tonight.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 11:03 PM EST up reply actions
I'm up at 3 AM for work.
So, yeah, at least we won.
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Boom. Here comes the Boom. Braydy or not. Here comes the boy from the West.
Ouch.
And up until 10 in the game thread. Commitment.
by David Hooper on Feb 17, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
Sheniqua Stricklen gets the sticks?
Joe Campi’s TV name for Kinna
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
SEC results: everything has broken Tennessee's way so far.
Florida beating Vandy would be the capstone. I think that would actually give Tennessee the tiebreaker if the season ended today.
Have no clue how the tiebreaker works
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
First is head to head. (Obvs., I know.)
After that, they compare records against the highest-placed team in the conference and work down from there. So right now, head to head is a tie. So they would go to Georgia (who’s in second), and neither has lost to Georgia. So next is the pile at 8-5. If Vandy loses, LSU becomes the top of the 8-5 list, which favors Tennessee. If Vandy wins, then they’re atop the list, which favors Kentucky. But Kentucky has to play Vandy and South Carolina – the two teams they need to have high in the standings.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 11:09 PM EST up reply actions
But as far as the season goes, a tie is just a tie.
The tiebreakers are only for SEC tourney seeding.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks I get it
but Vandy is going to beat UF it seems
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
It'll be a close one.
Kentucky has Vandy and SC, and winning means they hurt themselves in the tiebreak. LSU has Georgia and Vandy, which is not easy. But no matter what happens, I don’t mind if Tennessee wins out and has the #2 seed in the tournament. It doesn’t really affect how things play out, as UT and UK appear to be the top two seeds no matter how it works out.
by David Hooper on Feb 16, 2012 11:17 PM EST up reply actions
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