Good thing the Lady Vols didn't put their preseason game plan on a billboard. You could see the contradiction just by driving to work.
Now, you can see it only at Thompson-Boling Arena, where Tennessee combined 3-point shooting with a tight zone defense to upend Texas, 73-57 on Sunday afternoon.
The game was a reminder that all the preseason talk about full-court pressure and aggressive, trapping defense was just that: talk. It also was a reminder that no matter how much the Lady Vols win, the 1997-98 season might never come again.
That team didn't just go 39-0 and win a national championship. It won by extending its defense to when the opponent got off the bus.
Video highlights from UT vs Texas
Some teams were so thrilled at advancing the ball past the mid-court line, they didn't care if the next pass landed in the first row. By the time they got within shooting range, the ball must have felt like it weighed 20 pounds and the basket seemingly had shrunk to the size of a thimble.
You didn't have to check the scoreboard to know how the game was going. You only had to observe the faces of UT's opponent.
By the time this regular season tipped off, I was naively expecting at least
an attempt at a sequel, especially after a couple of exhibition games put teeth in the preseason coach-speak. For example, in the opening exhibition against Carson-Newman, UT harassed the Lady Eagles from one baseline to the other, forcing 34 turnovers as well as countless harried expressions.
The eighth-ranked Lady Vols tried a full-court press once against Texas, which circumvented it with ease on the way to a basket. Later, the Lady Vols extended their defense to near the midcourt line. Texas promptly scored again.
That was the end of Tennessee's pressure defense.
"I think people are preparing for our full-court pressure," associate head coach Holly Warlick said. "We have to tweak it a little."
In the meantime, the Lady Vols have junked full-court pressure against anyone who hasn't trembled at the sight of their zone press. A half-court zone became their base defense against No. 21 Texas.
"We will play whatever it takes to win a basketball game," said Warlick, who is a longtime proponent of man-to-man defense.
When you make 11 of 21 3-point attempts, as UT did against the Longhorns, almost any defensive alignment will carry the day. But it's those off-shooting nights, such as in the loss to Virginia last month, that make you wonder if UT should give up so easily on the press.
Even in a best-case scenario, the press wouldn't be as overwhelming as it was in 1997-98, and not just because Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall aren't here to execute it. The women's game has evolved to the point where there are so many more skilled ball-handlers.
But the full-court press isn't all about forcing turnovers and creating general chaos. A team can get worn down even while beating it temporarily.
UT's greatest advantage is its depth of talent. A full-court game would enhance that advantage.
It also might create more of a role for senior Alicia Manning, who is falling by the wayside in the current setup. Two seasons ago, she made the SEC all-tournament team. Last season, in a 79-70 NCAA tournament victory over Marquette, Manning had 11 points and seven rebounds and excelled on defense. Sunday against Texas, she didn't play until the last three minutes.
"By no means have we decided she's not playing," Warlick said.
She's just not playing much.
The addition of three talented freshmen accounts, in part, for Manning's decreased playing time. So does her shortcomings as a shooter.
Yet she's a savvy player with great basketball instincts, and she plays as hard as anyone on the team. Those attributes don't matter as much when you're making a lot of 3-pointers.
UT might shoot its way deep into the NCAA tournament while using a full-court press only to bully its most infirm opponents. But it's not going to win a national championship with a conventional approach.
Eight days ago, UT wouldn't risk pressing a team as talented and athletic as No. 1 Baylor. Instead, the Lady Vols took their chances in what was basically a half-court game. They played hard and well.
And they lost by nine points on their home floor.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/johnadamskns.
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Comments » 8
DroopyDrawers writes:
John, good article. Alicia Manning needs to play more. I know the coaches want to get the two freshmen subs some playing time, but by golly, is this what you get for hustling. I would play Manning at least 20-25 minutes a game.
Manning should be the 1st girl off of the bench. She plays like she is 6'4". Manning is getting shafted by Holly Warlick.
Also, you can tell that Spani knee is hurting. I really like her release on the three ball and her foul shots.
oldster writes:
As a general rule a full court or 3/4 court press should be routinely used by a team which is smaller and quicker. It is best used by a team which is tall and quick, but it is rare to be both. The Lady Vols are tall and have good quickness -for tall people. The problem is, that the other teams - the good ones - have players just as quick or quicker which neutralizes the advantage of the Lady Vols height when it is spread out. You see where there is more room to go around it, height is of less importance. This is why taller teams like to use quarter court zones. The length is hard to pass over or around in a relatively confined place. So, Mr. Adams, if you are going to give lessons on how to coach to a coach of Pat Summitt's stature, you should first take basketball 101 and be able to outcoach a rec league coach.
bmaples writes:
Even after granting the earlier comments about "proper" use of the press, I still agree with John on two points:
1. We should press more, especially on makes.
2. Where is Manning? Why is she benched? Is she now incapable of doing what she did a few years ago, or is she in the doghouse?
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
could not agree more..i refer to my post on other texas win article....
seems as if coach summitt will not be held accountable if this team does not get to at least a final four....demoss and warlick will be
associate head coach Holly Warlick said. "We have to tweak it a little."
yet ..still very early in the season...
go lady vols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DroopyDrawers writes:
Pat will be held accountable because last night I saw her take charge more.
Holly Warlick is the culprit of Manning not playing more.
richvol writes:
Holly Warlick should not be the next head coach at Tennessee. She is not a recruiter and UT suffered with poor quality play until DeMoss returned. If she is responsible for Manning's decreased minutes then I really question her judgement. Manning has more basketball IQ than anyone on the team.
Longtime_Vol writes:
I have followed the LVs since the 70s and would like nothing better than to see them win another NC this year. I must confess that the performance to date of this group of seniors makes me feel like this objective is not likely to be realized. Prior LV championship teams had players who refused to lose and who could carry forward victory not only through skill but also by force of will. We have not seen this to date from this group.Interestingly enough, Manning exemplifies the playing style and attitude that drove those championship seasons. Like other readers, I also have trouble understanding her being relegated to the bench.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I thought the zone press would work better than it has so far. I thought the LVs combined size, length, quickness, and depth well enough to force the opposition to spend time getting the ball up the court and to force turnovers. It still looks like an attractive option in certain situations.
The thing is, really good pressing teams, and they can come in all shapes and sizes, make a full-time commitment to it and are able to employ it in different ways against different teams. Dropping back into a tight, active zone from the zone press should be easy and effective. I noticed the commentators in the Texas said that the LVs would often trap out of their zone, but I don't remember seeing much of that. I agree strongly that the team SHOULD trap in the corners but that can only work if every player knows her responsibilities, which can only be learned by concentrated practice.
I agree with most others that, whatever the staff's preferences, the system should match the players currently on hand rather than forcing the players to play a system for which they are not suited. If the staff wants to play a particular system, then it should recruit players who can play it.
It seems forever as if the LVs recruit the best offensive players they can find and then force them to learn and play a system based on defense and rebounding. IMHO, this has often led to teams which are deficient on defense and tentative on offense. I certainly do not deny the overall success of the program, but one always has the feeling that much of this is harder than it could be.
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