LEXINGTON, Ky. — Three days after Tennessee’s season reached its height at the top of a stepladder, the Lady Vols came crashing back to earth.
The SEC regular season women’s basketball champions were abused by Kentucky. They committed a flurry of turnovers in losing, 78-65, before a crowd of 7,965 at Memorial Coliseum on Sunday.
“Honestly, I think we just underestimated them,” Tennessee’s Meighan Simmons said. “We didn’t come ready to play.”
There was no underestimating the impact of 31 Tennessee turnovers. The season-high total doubled UT’s per game average of 15.5. They led to 33 points by the Wildcats.
The game unfolded from the start in a manner unlike Thursday night’s 82-72 victory over Texas A&M, which clinched the regular-season conference title for No. 8 Tennessee (23-6, 14-2 SEC).
Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell exhorted his players to win for departing seniors A’dia Mathies and Brittany Henderson and they responded with an inspired performance.
“I think they played with tremendous intensity and passion today,” Mitchell said. “When we do that, we’re a good basketball
team.”
Mathies played her part, scoring 16 points to share the team lead with Jennifer O’Neill. Mathies also had four steals and four assists.
Overall, No. 10 Kentucky (25-4, 13-3) had 32 more field goal attempts (82-49) than Tennessee and amassed a 38-18 edge in paint points. Despite being outrebounded 43-37, the Wildcats parlayed 19 offensive rebounds into an 18-11 advantage in second-chance points.
The Wildcats’ defense, though, was their greatest asset.
“That’s Kentucky’s strength: their defense and their pressure,” UT forward Cierra Burdick said. “They did a great job of getting into the passing lanes. They anticipated all our plays. I give them credit. But we should’ve come out and played better.”
Tennessee point guard Ariel Massengale returned from a right knee injury suffered Thursday and the Lady Vols started three guards to help with the ball-handling. Yet Tennessee coach Holly Warlick spent an early timeout pleading for composure, telling her players: “Don’t panic.”
“I thought they made us play fast,” Warlick said. “If you want to interpret that as panicking.”
All seven Lady Vols who played committed at least three turnovers.
Stalked by Mathies, Simmons had a team-high seven, which offset her team-high 17 points. Burdick, one of the team’s best passers, had six. Freshman Jasmine Jones had four in just 12 minutes.
Tennessee had 19 turnovers by halftime. Even Mitchell said, “That’s a lot of turnovers in a game.”
Still, the Lady Vols trailed just 36-32 at the break. The statistical tradeoff between their sloppy play and Kentucky’s 31.8 percent shooting from the floor was shaping up to be a real bargain.
But then UT committed another turnover to start the second half. Kentucky started pounding the ball inside, resulting in the fourth foul on Lady Vols forward Bashaara Graves.
Mathies, who started 1 for 9 from floor, later hit consecutive 3-pointers as the Wildcats’ lead grew as large as 19 points.
The Lady Vols will have four days to recover before starting the SEC tournament against the Arkansas-Florida winner at noon Friday in Duluth, Ga.
Tennessee vs Kentucky, March 3, 2013
The process begins in the trainer’s room. Center Isabelle Harrison sat out Sunday’s game after suffering a right knee injury Thursday. Warlick described her status as “week to week” and wasn’t sure whether Harrison would be available this weekend.
Guard Kamiko Williams tweaked the right ankle injury she suffered last month but managed to finish Sunday’s game.
“(Monday) marks the beginning of a new season,” Burdick said. “We just have to put this behind us, learn from it and get better.”
Dan Fleser covers Tennessee women’s basketball. Follow him at http://twitter.com/FleserKNS and http;//blogs.knoxnews.com/fleser.
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Comments » 102
LadyVolsFan71 writes:
Brackets are all set. UT gets winner of Florida/Arkansas. See everyone in Duluth.
arkyvol writes:
one team looked like it wanted to play this game; the other one didn't. the officiating didn't help.
utk722#1416382 writes:
Be honest, do you really think the officials and commentators were good, they sucked.
TheEffect writes:
Kentucky plays so intense and fast. A fun game to watch.
volfan2002 writes:
Time to get back to basics we have to pass the ball better than we did today. we have to stop all the dribbling and going one on one because Kentucky was waiting to strip the ball.
TheEffect writes:
You are right. Kentucky clearly wanted it more, and the officials kept the Cats from winning by an even larger margin with their horrible calls.
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
I suppose a lot of fans will trash the team after this one, but IMO it's about what we expected.
First, the championship was already won, U K was fired up with people knocking down 3's which weren't defended. Next, the L V's went with a 3 guard lineup and basically threw it all over the place. Really though, as was mentioned in the other thread which was mentioning the game, the tone was set early. U K came out slapping and knocking the ball out of the L V's hands and presto.........instant turnovers. Shooting wise, it was a horrible day for Spani and Burdick.
Layups were an adventure. To me, the biggest travesty was the way the call went just before the half. U K charges before Graves' foul, so they gave the Kats the basket PLUS a one and one.
Oh well, in spite of Kentucky playing a hard nosed game, getting a lot of calls, and coupled with the 34 or so Tennessee turnovers, plus injuries to Williams.........( Harrison never in the game ) a 13 point defeat is probably pretty darned good.
They never quit, fought several times, but it was really no surprise with this game played in the ceiling fan gym !
Now..........on to the tournament. If they can get people healthy, play a lot more turnover-free game, shooting/defending better etc..........and a neutral site ...........perhaps we'll see this bunch again and something tells me it will be a different outcome.
Congratulations Kentucky. You'll miss Mathies.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
If I were Holly I'd have sat every starter this game, after I got a handle on how the officiating was going.
Just risking more injury for nothing.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
I'd not worry too much over the turnover's.
UT got mauled, period. Neutral setting, decent reffing, UT's shooting 30 ft's per half.
As soon as I saw Graves get her 2nd foul, I knew this ghost was gone.
Really a mistake by Holly to even contest it.
WAY looking forward to the rematch.
golfman1975 writes:
How do you explain the last play of the first half? It was typical...
BxVol writes:
31 turnovers with only 6 assists, those numbers speak for themselves.
Hoping our Lady Vols are as healthy as they can be for the SEC Tournment as it should be a fight to the finish.
laraccoon writes:
even after watching the video they still made a moronic call , they were probably Ky. educated . oh well ,dump Arena what else can you expect.
jt45 writes:
Good post, turnovers cost them the game but there were several other factors involved that I think will be fixed before these two teams meet again. I hope that same group of officials goes somewhere else during the tournament, This loss could work in the LVs favor and be a big motivating factor in the next matchup if UK doesnt get knocked out early in the tournament.
We need Izzy healthy, graves is not enough on her own inside and rebounding, and blocking shots are Izzy,s strengths.
I couldnt watch the game but it sounded very ugly on the radio.
golfman1975 writes:
Not sure they had enough available players to sit the starters...but yes, that would have been a great
idea.
tomkats3242 writes:
We will see what kind of coach we have when we hear she pink slipped the officals of todays game. It was very clear that Kentucky was going to win regardless of how TN played. There were too many fouls not called on KY and it appeared to be an NBA called game. This is not basketball. Come coach, I want to see the pink slip so these officials can never call a TN game again. Maybe the SEC wanted it this way. Time will tell. It also appeared that some of the UT players did not or could not play up to their ability and should have been benched. IF you don't change your habits you will sit out the SEC and maybe the Dance after one.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
This should be up on espn3 later.
I'm going to cue to this point and watch.
It appears the refs called the block as happening AFTER the shot...and BEFORE time ran out; possible, but doubtful.
huntined#565710 writes:
Well like they sat WE LOST THE BATTLE BUT WE WON THE WAR..Ky had their day and deserved the win. With that many turnovers we should have lost by 30. Good chance these two teams meet again and it should be a good game. Got to be proud of these young Ladies as they have sure been better then they were picked to be.
AHOUSE writes:
I have been playing and watching basketball for over 65YRS and never, never, seen officials call a game as bad as this one.
Holly should have really gotten in their face after the foul at half time. When a foul is called , there is not a continuation of play.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Really, it wasn't unexpected. Perhaps we'd have seen a better game had we not already won the regular season title. There was NOTHING on the line with this one, and we played like it. (What's the school record for turnovers?)
That said, I agree with the comments about the officiating. The block call on Graves just before half was horse hockey.
It would be great if these two teams met again in the SEC tourney final game...with something important on the line.
notorange writes:
Box score Tenn 22-26 fts...Ky 7-12 got beat by a team that wanted it more can't blame the refs for this one..maybe we can beat them in the tourney.
willphill#241787 writes:
Officiating was horrible. However, 31 turnovers. I have never heard of that many in a college game. Perhaps the SEC needs to take a close look at the officials in the women's game. Also, the lady vols need to be tougher. They are too easily intimidated by a pressing defensive team.
soitgoes12 writes:
Tennessee shot a ton more free throws but you can question the refs every time kentucky plays. They could be called for a hand check or reach in foul every time down the floor. The refs simply don't know how to ref a Kentucky game. It's too fast for them. The call before half was atrocious. The ref blew his whistle and then had to basically make up a call at that point. The block/charge came way before the shot. It should have just been a 1 and 1 for Kentucky at that point. Didn't make a difference in the game really but it was painful to watch.
AHOUSE writes:
You are right, can't blame the ref's for the loss, but they sure should send them back to school. It seemed like they had the whistle in the back pocket or somewhere close when KY was fouling.
underthehill writes:
I don't see this game as meaning Ky is the better team..I see it as a home court win..let's see how the SEC tourn goes..Ky and the Lady Vols should meet in the finals if Ky can make it..
jt45 writes:
I would bet money that game goes differently. The LVs will probably have to get by a hungry Texas A&M team again as well for that rematch to happen.
No easy roads for either team, at least LSU is in UKs side of the bracket, they are my pick to face the LVs in the championship game.
VolMoment writes:
Kentucky fan TheEffect!!!! The officals were the worst I have seen this year. And I used to officiate. I don't have Ky. blue binders on. I will call a call that goes for Tn. to be wrong if so. But these mauling to help the home team and see their coach talking to the officials as if they are friends has to stop. It is taking away from the players who put so much time in this effort. Oh well Ky fans who love coach cal don't care as long as they win.
Bobby Knight said it best on national TV "I don't know how a coach who got two programs *Memphis & UMass in trouble with the NCCA can wind up at Ky".
notorange writes:
That can be said about every game played in the sec both mens and womens, but 31 turnovers, 15 more fts attempted and still get beat by double digits tells me the the team did not compete...Just my opinion.
Volinflan writes:
I just want the Lady Vols a chance to play Kentucky, heads up basketball. Not one where the officiating was so one sided. Come on Kentucky in the tournament. Get to the final so we can play again.
richvol writes:
31 turnovers...31. 19 turnovers in the first half...19.
That is pathetic. Just awful but it is also typical.
I have talked about the LadyVols terrible ball handling all season and against their biggest rival this SEC season they turn it over 31 times.
There is no way this team can compete against elite teams as they are just too sloppy. Watch a UConn game and see how well they pass the ball. There is no excuse for a coach allowing a team with all these all-americans to be this poor at passing the ball. This is a BASIC skill that does not require all-american players to be able to pass the ball to one another.UT will NEVER gain elite status again until the coach fixes this glaring weakness.
wigmeister writes:
31 turnovers, 6 assists! Yuck!
jt45 writes:
Hard to play basketball when the opponent is allowed to play wrestling during defense from start to finish. This game reminded me of last years cheap charge call against strickland that cost the LVs the game, only this time they just made up calls as they went along. Next year they will need more than bad officiating to beat the LVs.
LVFL90 writes:
I've enjoyed watching these girls so much this year because they have really played as team, even with injuries and had a new hero every game with the exception of Simmons and Burdick who have been solid every game. I know the turnovers have been a problem but this year, I haven't had a lot of complaints with the officials. This game, however, I had to turn it off after a few minutes because the balding referee was so bad. Watched the second half and saw the frustration on everyone's face. I sincerely hope the SEC tournament uses refs from another conference.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
Okay, just watched it.
Walker and Graves were on the floor prior to the UK girl making the shot.
Yet, these are supposed to be "professional" college referees??
If there was a blocking foul, then there is no shot if the shot is made AFTER the foul.
underthehill writes:
Where did you watch it..
JimmyJoe writes:
The lady vols pulled a trae golden today... That being said...that was the worst call I've ever seen at the end of the half... If that was a logical call they could have actually called another foul on the person guarding the shot...and had two different players shoot free throws for a possible five point play... Holly should have had a come apart right there...
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
Great comments guys. Most of us agree we saw this one coming.
Now there was one play I simply loved. Kentucky was having their way early on, and as I said it set the tone. That play occurred after the Lady Vols saw how U K was getting away with mugging people early in the game, so at some point, it figured somebody for Kentucky was going to pay, if that was the way the game was going to be allowed to take place. Remember the play? Who was it, Burdick or Jones maybe? Fighting for the ball, our girl took the Kat and slammed her to the floor. I was hoping hey, "if we have to foul them, let's get our money's worth!"
It was helter skelter, running up and down the floor with no clear cut shots and when we got close to the basket, the ball hit the glass it seemed like 50 MPH. We tried. Our girls tried to get to the basket and were just out of control at times, thus drawing charges. It was a day when things just weren't going to go well for our girls. We've had games in TBA where we've played
like gang busters. The girls were tired, were banged up, had already won the SEC, so it was a tall order.
I'm extremely proud of the season where we beat good teams, especially after losing 5 starters from last season, and being picked 5th in the conference. IMO, the future looks really bright for the Lady Vols !
lstbodeanvol writes:
so if she sits the starting five we play 3 on 5 ??? dont have enough players for that of course KY has like 14
snowpeapod#263184 writes:
This was just an ugly game from start to finish for the Lady Vols. When Graves and Simmons pick up two early fouls each and have to sit you know you're in trouble. It didn't help that a lot of the turnovers were unforced. It also didn't help when Graves picked up # 4 within the first two minutes of the second half and definetly kept her from playing her type of game. With that said, give Kentucky some of the credit. They did seem to want it more than we did. IMO
DebKY writes:
Unfortunately, I didn't expect Tennessee to pull off a win in Lexington.
I would like to remind Mitchell in person about his negative remarks that he publicly made about Pat Summitt. During his first year as coach at UK, he was doing a press conference the day before the Louisville game. He talked about how he had grown up hating hating Louisville. Then he suddenly changed the subject and said that Pat Summitt was too old and needed to go to the house.
Go Big Orange!!
snowpeapod#263184 writes:
Johnny, I should have your post before adding mine. Although you're probably not, you sound like an idiot. All Holly did was take a team that was predicted to finish 5th in the SEC and win the regular season with only one loss and several key injuries. What do you expect?
Millisa writes:
Refs was HORRIBLE If Coach Pat would had been there She would had got in the ref's faces and let them have it. Lady Vols Get Back to Work
Teresa writes:
It wasn't even the same two KY players. Graves blocked (we'll call it that since the refs did, but it was a charge-she was out of control) Player 1. Player 1 passed the ball to Player 2 who shot the layup. They counted that basket & then let Player 1 shoot freethrows. Totally botched call. The most botched in the history of basketball.
Here's what Charlie Creme of ESPN said:
Charlie Creme @CharlieCreme
That ruling at the end of the half in TN-UK made absolutely no sense. You can't count a basket, but call a foul on the pass that preceded it
Charlie Creme @CharlieCreme
I am begging someone from the SEC office to give us all a legitimate explanation tonight or tomorrow.
LVFL90 writes:
That was Jasmine Jones and I'll bet they thought twice about challenging her again. Go Lady Vols!
Teresa writes:
KY shot 26 3s, UT shot 10. Teams shooting 3s don't often go to the line. UT was driving inside & getting shooting fouls called. There were only 3 more fouls called on KY. 20-17
Overall, it was a typical KY wrestling match, no matter who they play. However, JJ got the takedown of the game on the jump ball call.
rockypop writes:
Boy, for the only Tennessee team in the last who knows when to win an SEC championship, this one sure is getting a lot of criticism. Just like the '98 football Vols, winning a N/C can have its drawbacks. And, winning eight can have a lot of drawbacks. It's time to let the L/Vs get an opportunity to right the ship after a whole bunch of unexpected trauma.
oldster writes:
Turnovers are the worst thing that can happen in a game. Even if all a team shoots is 30% on the 30 possessions that were turnovers, they would score an additional 20 points. Moreover, they would have prevented at least some baskets that a team gets after creating a turnover. UK certainly caused a lot, but the Lady Vols just threw the ball away or directly to the Cats several times. Other times the Lady Vols just dribbled the ball directly into the Cats.
oldster writes:
Also, the Lady Vols were getting the ball stripped and the ball blocked trying to drive,but shot the ball pretty well from 12-15 feet. Why continue to drive? Shoot the pull ups and go rebound.
DICK_MASTERSON_N_TENN (Inactive) writes:
Wonder if HW teaches ball safety?? Another glaring example of Tennessee getting outcoached in every facet of the game. Its sad how far the LVs program has fallen.
orangecountyvols writes:
Deb,
You're right ! Actually, Mitchell should remember he wouldn't be anywhere without Pat. He was an assistant under her and now all of a sudden he is the 'greatest' thing going.
What Mitchell needs to do is worry about his Dapper Dan and not Pat Summitt.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
you folks who would even mention officiating when we deservingly should lose regardless with 31 turnovers are just sick------the whinning about refs is a constant here as if questional calls never go our way too------they even out over the course of a season and you whinners who think otherwise are just delusional excusemakers
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