LADY VOLS V. LSU TIGERS: NCAA FINAL FOUR OPEN GAME THREAD

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 3:45 PM EDT in Lady Vols Basketball

	April 6, 2008, 9:30 EST TV: ESPN Live Stats
34-2 (overall) 13-1 (SEC) #1 Seed		31-5 (overall) 14-0 (SEC) #2 Seed

TENNESSEE LADY VOLS
00	Shannon Bobbitt	Sr.	5-2	G	9.8 ppg	3.0 rpg
3	Candace Parker	Jr.	6-4	F/C/G	21.6 ppg	8.3 rpg
5	Alberta Auguste	Sr.	5-11	F	5.1 ppg	2.8 rpg
14	Alexis Hornbuckle	Sr.	5-11	G	10.3 ppg	5.7 rpg
55	Nicky Anosike	Sr.	6-4	C	8.8 ppg	7.3 rpg
LSU TIGERS
5	Erica White	Sr.	5-3	G	7.7 ppg	3.1 rpg
12	RaShonta LeBlanc	Sr.	5-7	G	6.4 ppg	3.5 rpg
15	Quianna Chaney	Sr.	5-11	G	14.6 ppg	2.6 rpg
34	Sylvia Fowles	Sr.	6-6	C	17.2 ppg	10.0 rpg
54	Ashley Thomas	Sr.	6-0	F	5.4 ppg	4.8 rpg

The Lady Vols take on LSU tonight in Tennessee's 18th NCAA Final Four. Should the Ladies get revenge on the Tigers, one of only two teams to beat Tennessee in the regular season), they'll advance to the championship game against either Stanford (the other team to have beaten us) or Connecticut on Tuesday.

Leave your pre-, in-, and post-game thoughts below.

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Comments

Go Vady Lols!

Beat the Tady Ligers!

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

Stanford's giving UConn a run.

4:30 left and they're up 66-61. I don't know if I'd rather see a chance to beat Stanford after the earlier loss, or a chance to beat UConn for general principle.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

Well, no matter how I feel,

it looks like Stanford is it. Congrats to them.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I have money with a coworker on the lady vols

He went to LSU. Its amazing how interested I've become in women's basketball. That Uconn/Stanford game was well played. Maya Moore is a freshman? Wow! And is it just me or is Candice Wiggins reasonably hot? Of course, our Candace isn't bad looking either.

Go Lady Vols!

by kidbourbon on Apr 6, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply actions

I didn't see the game due to being

a poor college grad student w/out cable (sniff), but I wouldn't be surprised to hear of attractive ladies on the court. The most attractive physical aspect of any woman is health, and there isn't an unhealthy player out there.

And you're right; our Candace will have no trouble landing endorsements out there in L.A.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Pant

I didn't see the game, either, but I can just about guarantee that after just two trips up and down the floor, I would be the hottest person on the court.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Seeing the pep band reminds me

The trumpet section for South Alabama was absolutely smoking in Birmingham. They were incredible.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 9:40 PM EDT reply actions

The court

looks like it's got rounded corners the way it's painted. I would think that would free a player out.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

Shots are flat

I blame the peach.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

Orange?

Nectarine?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Flummoxed

What fruit looks like a basketball when you slice it open?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

tangerine?

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, our 12.5% shooting

is one point better than their 16.7% shooting...

Yeesh.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Blame the mystery fruit

It's the onectareach, I'm telling you.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

That would be one bizarre little citrus,

right there. Good for smoothies, though.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

(We've secretly switched the rims with

dried-out Spaghettio-O O's. Let's see if they notice...)

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 9:53 PM EDT reply actions

This game is ugly

About like a grade school game. I think we can win an ugly game because Candace's lack of scoring won't be as noticeable.

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

Good point

The first eight minutes were all caps UGLY. Now it's just Ugly.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe it's

ugli...

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

ugle'?

It's getting better tho.

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Big Syl about killed one of her teammates

with that block. Yikes!

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:05 PM EDT reply actions

How is Parker doing, btw?

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

Announcers gushing

Grimacing, but she just went on a six or so possession series, both offense and defense, scoring every time, every whicha way. She's smoking.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Started cold, Since Big Syl blocked her shot like

the bully in Jr High, she's gone off! She's hurting, but she's got heart and heart's enough.

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Parker

Wow. Monster.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 10:08 PM EDT reply actions

LSU's offensive strategy

Lob the ball toward the rim. Hope Fowles catches it. Fowles shoots and scores.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

Not a bad strategy when

playing against a one-armed Candace. If Fowles were to foul out, LSU would have absolutely no shot.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe the "Hack-a-Big-Syl" defense

will show up in the second half. 2-5 at the line so far (although she's a better shooter than that usually).

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Maximum Strength Clear-a-Syl!

;)

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Very nice!

(golf clap)

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks

(blush)

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

8-3 in fouls

We have 8. Expect some rough play from LSU in the second half. They can afford it.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

To be honest, they haven't needed to foul

we're shooting (and missing) a lot of 18 foot jump shots with no one within fouling distance.

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey, wvvol,

You coming to the Orange and White game, by any chance?

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think so

I hope to get down for a game in the fall though.

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Bummer.

But understandable.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought Jerry Punch did Nascar?

Thanks Dr Patrick for lesson in dislocated shoulders

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

Summitt needs to put someone in to

kneecap Big Syl. If the refs are going to let them abuse Candace, two can play that game.

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

I find it hard to believe there's no one

on that bench who can play better than Alexis Hornbuckle is right now.

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

Did you catch the shot of our fans?

Yeah, there's only been one, while there's been about a dozen of the LSU fans. There's a reason. We're just sitting there.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

There we go!

I'm standing up too!

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Missing 2 FT's probably means we're going to see

the Hack-A-Candace-Parker defense later on...

by wvvol on Apr 6, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

First to 45 wins?

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

Parker's not right

Huge flinch on a recent foul. Just threw the ball away. She's in pain.

Others are picking it up, though.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 6, 2008 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

In a way, this is a good wake-up call.

The team has become very, very dependent on Parker. That's understandable, but she's not here much longer. They're getting a feel for how much more they'll need to do when she's gone.

They have the talent; they just need the mentality.

by David Hooper on Apr 6, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions