The Tennessee women's basketball team has hit the court in earnest for practice. Won't be long until the first exhibition game, Nov. 5 against Carson-Newman College. The season opener is Nov. 15 against Baylor at Thompson-Boling Arena. In the meantime, here's five things worth noting in the early going:
Toughen Up
A lingering concern is this team's mental toughness. A first response will be the quality of practices. Sustaining consistent effort would be encouraging. After last season, there won't be much patience for slackers.
Cue The Competition
More experience ought to mean more competing this fall. Absorbing three freshmen won't be as daunting as assimilating seven first-year players was a year ago. The freshman should benefit from so many Lady Vols having fresh memories of their first season.
The Trainer's Room Shuffle
Center Kelley Cain, who's had multiple knee surgeries while at UT, made encouraging strides during the preseason and began the official practice season in full-go mode. But now the hoops volume is increasing dramatically. Forward Vicki Baugh, who's just under eight months removed from a second ACL knee surgery within a calendar year, is making cameos on the court.
Defense, Defense
The serious reclamation work involves this team staple. The Lady Vols have many questions to answer on this side of the basketball, beginning with the basics. Are they playing better together? Has their transition defense improved? Can they prevent opposing guards from creating havoc?
Getting To The Point
Briana Bass and Shekinna Stricklen have a year's worth of experience at this crucial position. Stricklen has overcome her reluctance about playing point and is off to a strong start. Freshman Kamiko Williams has maturing to do, but she's already demonstrated a knack for dribbling by defenders, which is a useful point-guard trait.
-Dan Fleser
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 14
xvolx writes:
looks like another long year.
CTOWNICON writes:
Dribble drive did kill us last year but that is when they have to learn to help each other on defense. If the opposing teams guard penetrates thats when the bigs have to be ready. They should also switch on screens that would help out alot on the perimeter. On offense they should pound the ball inside to Big Kelly or whoever we have in the post. I agree with the inside out game its easy and simple. They also need to set more screens and that would help Angie and the other shooters get better shots instead of dribbling so much time off the clock and having to take a bad shot. I think this year is going to be totally different. I think last year is under their skin and it itches and they are going to be a much better team this year and I think they are being underestimated this year and they are going to shock the critcs. Watch out people! I pray for no more injuries! Please! Just healthy lady vols this year!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Good comments by both long_vol and Ctown. Help-side defense is often a difficult concept for young players. It is not enough to know how to help out on the ball, it is necessary for help-side defenders to know where the ball MIGHT go NEXT and shade position accordingly and to do so continuously as the ball moves. It takes awhile for that to be an automatic process.
xvolx writes:
I'll agree with you on part of your post. You just don't know.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I think you might have missed part of my point. It is EXTREMELY difficult to stop a great ball-handler from penetrating one-on-one if the penetrator has enough room to work. Therefore, sound TEAM defense is essential. A help-side defender should cut off penetration on at least one side of the on-ball defender WITHOUT completely leaving her own player. Then, if it is necessary for a help-side defender to sell out completely to stop penetration, someone ELSE must be prepared to rotate to cover the player left alone. Good team defense requires ALL defenders to subtly yet continuously adjust their positions to cover all the evolving possibilities. As I said, this is hard to teach and hard for young players to learn.
kazoo writes:
The Vols are a personnel mashup--a group of players that lack cohesion....and in some cases, talent.
First, the point guard situation is crucial, as it is every year with every team--and this position shows what a mess this team is. Sticklen should be playing the 3 spot, not PG--to say she was out of position last year would be an understatement. Bass should get better, but she's tiny.
As for the rest, the team last year didn't look athletic enough to be really good at either end. Other than Johnson, it's a pretty big and slow group--which is why a Baugh comeback is absolutely crucial for this group. We can only up her knees hold up.
CTOWNICON writes:
I hope she is not in the same class as Dirty Diana! If so she is going to be a low down dirty drunk woman endangering the lives of innocent people on the road. I am sure that is what Geno taught her at Uconn. I pity the fools that committ to that school and play for that Hyena. Brittney Griner is the best player in the country and don't you forget it. Don't low rate her either because she turned Geno down and chose Baylor.
BigRMan writes:
If it's a Goodyear, we'll know it's at least a tire! (LOL)-Let's not tire of the season already!
reachkim00 writes:
Go Lady Vols. The players and coaches have my support 200%.. that's all I have to say about it.
Oh yeah, one more thing...
COMMENTS (0) | Add Comment.. This was at the end of Mikey_from_Whocares last post.. 0 comments 'cause 0 cares.
GO LADY VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!
jr2miles writes:
Cant wait for some Lady Vols basketball!!!!!! All true fans stand and lets get ready to cheer our team on no matter what..... Go Lady Vols!!!!!
CTOWNICON writes:
I don't pay attention to the he/she that is jealous of lady vol basketball and she is a drunk. Can you read or have you read that she was charged with drunk driving one night. Don't cover up her stupidity or yours. And no I am not a drunk and I have not been in the news being called one either, like Dirty Diana! I am sure Geno taught her that as well as how to pay recruits. Own up to it, be proud of being a mess!
CTOWNICON writes:
You can't say what is called for and what is not! Everybody on here is entitled to their opinion. Britney Griner to me is the best player in the country coming from the high school level. Being that she has not played collegiate ball yet I would think that you could comprehend that that is what I was referring to. I don't deny Taurasi's basketball skills just her judgement! So yes it is called for! She got behind the wheel drunk and endangered innocent lives on the road. Bad Judgement! So I don't have to cast aspersions on her character she did it to herself when she got behind the wheel drunk!
CTOWNICON writes:
You can keep the drugs up north! Smoke and sniff until you pass out. Maya Moore is good but she is not all that! Britney Griner on the high school level you idiot. How could you think I was referring to the collegiate level. She has not even played yet! You're so dumb! Keep up! She is the hottest thing smoking out of the high school level and everybody knows it, even Geno and the rest of the top programs because they all tried to recruit her! You will see first hand this year just how dominate she is!
CTOWNICON writes:
And I will say what I dam well please whether you think it is called for or uncalled for! I care nothing about Uconn's program so you can converse with Mike about that I am not interested. You can rest now!
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