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Simmons was a Junior this year. I agree with you about her not able to cope with the pressure. I would hope the coaches will find someone in Sports Psychology to help. She could be the POY next year if she could play as well in the higher pressure games as in others.

Yes, they had their problems. However, I would argue nowhere near the problems The Vols have had. Why?---because look at all the players with at least some experience they had ready for a chance to play, whereas Tenn was left with a very short bench. So many freshmen in key rolls.

So far this year, anytime KW has been on the floor, she has shown very good basketball skill. I've enjoyed her play all year.

Early in the game, twice straight I saw a Vol get slapped on the wrists causing the ball to go out of bounds & ruled ORU's ball. I think it was just very poor officiating in this game or maybe the fouls against ORU were just make up calls by a ref other than Jules Gallien.

The first problem is to win 3 games to get to Baylor. If the top seeds win after the 1st two games, then I agree Tenn might have a better chance getting to the final 4 as a 3 seed. However, as it is, they may now be more likely to make it as far as the elite 8 than if they had to go through Duke.

Instead of Spani getting a lot of credit for a Vol win, Simmons, great at times, couldn't hit and at least twice had the ball flicked away and stolen during a drive towards the basket. Ariel having the ball taken away by a single defender in open court hurt. This team is just not mature and tough nor do they have enough killer instinct to win like they should.

Faith Dupree started out ok at Chattanooga but Ashlen Dewart got lots of minutes. I think Dupree was hurt in the 3rd game. I don't think she played again until about the 15th game of the season. I could be wrong about that but in the last thirteen games she has played from a low of 4 min to a high of 14 minutes in any game. Chattanooga won the Southern Conf and Dewart was Player-of-the Week.

Holly, being a Harley rider, is not a "Mulkey" type nor is she a reserved motherly type. As long as the Vols keep wining, I'll support her coaching style.

Does a tiebreaker for regular season champion exist? If so and all the 13-2 teams win out, then The Vols would have to win at least one of their last two games to Guarantee the Championship. There are circumstances where Ga could still win it since they beat Ky.

Ark lost big to Ga. at Ga. I'm sure playing at home they will have much more "want to win" against The Vols. A healthy Harrison would make things much easier for the Vols but as long as they continue to play defense like the last game, they will do fine. I expect Graves to have a much better game Sunday. She and Burdick should produce some good points inside.

I agree a final 4 is doubtful. With a good seed, they could make the Elite 8.

The next two weeks are going to be very interesting. I expect the Vols to take care of Auburn in Knoxville but am a little concerned about the trip to Ark. They should be able to handle A&M in Knoxville as long as they play smart, alert defense and use their heads when passing the ball. They have the talent as long as no more injuries happen. I doubt they will have any trouble looking ahead to Ky. Win the games up to March 3 and the game in Lexington, with a sold out crowd, should have a lot of emotion. Win out and a 2 seed in the tourney is very possible. If the unthinkable were to happen and they lose to Ark plus another game or two and who knows where they might end up. I know they have the talent to win the SEC if they keep the right mental attitude.

Before I get hammered. I do know how to spell "steal". That is just one of many mistakes I'm capable of making.

Mickey Dearstone broadcasts FOR the Lady Vols. One would expected him to be for the Vols. The CSS or ESPN people should make an effort to be as neutral as they can be.

Graves has the mental attitude that's needed but missing from too many basketball players. Along with having great BB aptitude, this makes her extremely valuable to the team.

Last year Baugh played hurt, now Harrison. Having Jones and soon Burdick back still gives some hope.

. .richvol writes: ...Geno or Muffet would have this team undefeated."

Nonsense! Those two have had many years to develop their teams. Geno went 12-15 his first year as Head Coach at UConn (losing record), then went 14-13 his second year. It took him his 6th (Sixth) year to get past the second round. That after he had worked as an assistant coach, the most prominent position being at Univ of Va.

I can see a lot of improvement in the way the team plays but once bad habits are formed, it’s difficult to overcome. The Vols have to play Ky in Lexington. I fully expect them to have more confidence in themselves than they had against ND. With Izzy hurt and Burdick still out or at least not playing for a while, the rest of the team better be on top of their game.

Love the team, and love the staff! A top SEC team that will within two years (maybe sooner) be in the Final Four. Coach has them playing more like the Head Coach is in her 2nd or 3rd year instead of just her first. Only a year since Vols went to the Elite 8 and they won’t go more than one year without going that far again. The sooner, the better. I expect either a regular season or a tournament championship in the SEC this year. I have confidence they can do it – just hope the players keep up theirs..

A players reputation certainly does affect the way fouls are called.

98reax; You are correct that Diggins gets away with a lot of fouls that aren't called and questionable calls go her way. The Vols have a couple of players who could do a good job guarding her except for those facts. As for BG, she is not a sweet girl. She gets a lot of clean blocks but isn't all that innocent either.

I did notice they got the ball inside but our posts were swarmed upon and had a hard time protecting the ball from all those arms. The one time I saw them pass the ball back outside, it resulted if Vols points. The blocks called with Izzy and Graves trying for a layup got a comment from Mickey about the blocks coming from behind. (Watching while listening to Mickey told what happened before seeing it on TV with all the delay)

I don't want to see elbows flying but sure wish Izzy would develop more of a "Glory J" attitude and play. Hope she toughens up and not let opponents get her down. I enjoy watching her play but she has much more potential. Maybe another pound or two would help.

VU home court always makes it tough on visitors. They haven't lost at home so far this year. The younger Vols are in for a different experience mainly because of the placement of team benches. I assume they are still at each end of the court. The Vols are by far the best team but must come to play 40 minutes.

Exactly! I had one son who tried that much harder to not disappoint when given a pat on the back. I had another who would take advantage of me if he thought the situation didn't bother me too awful much.

My wife complains I am a perfectionist. I think I just want them to go undefeated and wouldn’t say anything if I didn’t think it possible.

I know the Vols play defense called for by the coaches and are young, but it seems to me when having trouble on defense, they require a little more coaching than some to correct the problem. They are very smart persons, just need to use their head. I appreciate the fact that at least they are talented enough to overcome any flaws when playing most anyone.

One other thing that concerns me, with some tougher games coming up, is the unforced turnovers caused by passing into traffic with no clear opening. This happens most often early in the game. Vols, please come out ready from the tip off

I felt the same. Most of those passes should have never been necessary. That was my biggest complaint next to not being able to react quickly enough early in the game to their sticky defense.

We saw that several years ago with one or two Lady Vols. I can't remember the players. It's something that's very entertaining when they are playing good and winning and can pass without turning it over. (Just don't get Over confident).