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February 16, 2012
Stark Vegas, MS 9:00 PM EST TV: CSS / ESPN3 Internet Audio: Lady Vols Network Live Stats: GameTracker |
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18-7 (9-3 SEC) |
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14-11 (4-8 SEC) |
Coming off the first truly Lady Vol-like performance in a long time, Tennessee hits the road to play a Mississippi State squad that is currently 8th in the SEC and not quite a shoe-in for the NIT. Sharon Fanning-Otis coaches perhaps the longest roster in the SEC with 15 total players, but only seven see any serious playing time. A win would make MSU's season, but they will have a tough challenge getting there.
For Tennessee, this isn't about the postseason. At all. This is about building some consistency and proving that Monday's beat down of Kentucky was more about Tennessee playing well than Kentucky playing poorly. It's really as simple as that, so let's get to the rosters.
| Position | Name | Experience | Height | PPG | RPG | APG | |
|
G | Meighan Simmons | So | 5-10 | 11.5 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| P | Glory Johnson | Sr | 6-2 | 13.6 | 9.2 | 1.2 | |
| PG | Ariel Massengale | Fr | 5-7 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 5.4 | |
| G-F | Shekinna Stricklen | Sr | 6-2 | 16.0 | 6.4 | 2.0 | |
| G | Taber Spani | Jr | 6-1 | 9.3 | 3.3 | 1.7 | |
|
PG | Diamber Johnson | Sr | 5-7 | 16.0 | 1.8 | 3.8 |
| G | Porsha Porter | Sr | 5-6 | 13.6 | 5.0 | 2.3 | |
| G | Kendra Grant | Fr | 5-11 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 0.6 | |
| C | Catina Bett | Sr | 6-5 | 5.9 | 3.9 | 0.3 | |
| F | Ashley Brown | Sr | 5-11 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 0.7 |
As an aside: I update the stats in the roster table within a day or two after the previous game, and updating the Lady Vols usually consists of tweaking an occasional digit after the decimal point. This time, most numbers happily went upward (except for Glory, who was Lisa Mattingly'd). Meighan Simmons's points per game went up by 0.5, which is an enormous swing this late in the season.
Ok, back to the roster.
Mississippi State will be significantly shorter than Tennessee tonight. They do have 6'-5" Bett in the middle as well as 6'-4" freshman Martha Alwal off the bench. Two of the three of Bett, Brown, and Alwal will start, so it's worth mentioning that Alwal is the team's leading rebounder at 7.8 boards per game. The rebounding game will be decided by Tennessee's will: they're tall enough to give Tennessee rebounding issues if Tennessee isn't aggressive on the glass, but not skilled enough to keep up with Tennessee otherwise.
Outside of rebounding, MSU will have to find a couple legitimate scoring threats, and in a hurry. They're averaging only 51.6 points in SEC play, including a 53-50 overtime win over Ole Miss (which awesomely featured away-and-away jerseys - MSU in Black/Maroon, and Ole Miss in Red). With short players and Tennessee's newfound 3-2 zone that stifled Kentucky, MSU won't find much room for passing and will have to rely on three point shooting to keep Tennessee's defense honest.
Three point shooting? MSU is averaging 24% in league play.
On Tennessee's side, the equation is simple: Keep Meighan Simmons rolling and bury the sophomore slump for good. Keep Stricklen aggressive and playing like a star. Get as many others on track as possible: Spani's three-ball, Manning's disruptive pressure, Baugh's athleticism, and Burdick's awesome shooting are just a few things that can get on a roll tonight.
This is a game that Tennessee can win handily, even if they're out of sync. The importance of this game isn't the win, but whether they play like Lady Vols instead of a very talented pickup team at the local rec center. It's always painful to say it, but Tennessee needs to be merciless and bury Mississippi State early - and then keep the gas pedal down until even Brianna Bass gets bored of scoring. This isn't about the win, but about the mentality. And it's not even about the postseason, but just simply being the best team they can be for one night.
Prediction: 95 - 49 Tennessee. Make it happen.
BassWatch™: Under-12 timeout of the first half.
0 recs | 111 comments
About a quarter to a third of the non-pep band crowd is comprised of UT fans.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Bama women had KY on the ropes by 23
but now it’s down to 8 with 11 min remaining
Bama hung 50 on them at the half
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Alabama has a few key players with 3 fouls and had to rest them for a bit.
For Kentucky, Samarie Walker and Keyla Snowden have 4 each, which might be a factor late. But Kentucky tends to steamroll teams with shallow benches.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
5 point game with 4 remaining.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Simmons makes her first basket and Stricklen tries to make her own shot early.
A walk, but at least she tried.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Great finish in the Florida State - Virginia Tech game.
VaTech was horrible at shooting freethrows and FSU hits a 3 to win 48-47 with 2 seconds left.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Good game with UGA at SC
but the SC player fouled the jump shooter with 4 sec left
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Another TO
but another BS 3 second call with Glory rebounding?
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Well this is an exciting game.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Mickey thinks their is a lid on the bucket
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Shame the GameTracker isn't working. I'd love to see the percentages.
1/16 combined shooting tells the story, though.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
On pace for, what?
A final of 20-0?
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Works for me.
;-)
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
I would love to hear what a coach would say
After a 20-0 game.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Which coach?
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
All of the above?
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
That does remind me to pull out the pacemaker, though.
The other pacemaker. ;-)
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
2 points in 5 minutes?
aurabass - February 16, 2012
So on pace for 16-0!
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
There are now more fouls on MSU than combined points.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Teams are 1/20 combined.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
And now we're tied after an offensive rebound for MSU.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
5-2 MSU.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Man, so much for my prediction.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Foul, Glory Johnson.
That’s the foul, mind you, I don’t know anything else that happened.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
My guess is she was pushing while trying to get out of the paint to avoid another three second call.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
/1.5 second call?
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
2 for 16 Vols 2 for 15 MSU
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Shot clock operator is asleep
and I can’t blame him
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Williams and Simmons hit long jumpers.
Vols lead 8-7.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
KY down by 7 to Bama 1:42 remain
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Simmons in the fast break
/tinkle
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Simmons just tried to drive against five defenders.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
12-10 Vols at the under 8.
Yeah.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Alabama up by 7 with 1:07 to go.
One of their starters has fouled out, too. UK has three players with 4 fouls, fwiw – Walker, Snowden, and Bishop.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Down to 4...
39 seconds.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
4 point game
4 seconds left. Kentucky’s gonna lose.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
Commit
ALL THE TURNOVERS
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
No, seriously, stop the turnovers.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
I wish GameTracker was working.
The halftime graphic would have been fun.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
11 freakin TOs and no time out?
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Just playing stupid turnover basketball
with zero poise against a sub par team
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Bama Wins
and we’re tied for first until we blow this game
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Alabama beats Kentucky 76-72.
That both gives UT a chance and tempers the conclusions from Monday’s game. Kentucky’s in a slump.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
[We've secretly switched the basketball with a men's ball.]
[Let’s see if anybody notices…]
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
20 POINTS WE WIN WOO!!!
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Just a thought...
Kentucky wins the tiebreaker because they lost to the last place team and the 6th place team instead of to the 4th and 5th place teams like Tennessee did. Isn’t this just a bit silly?
Caban - February 16, 2012
Well, things are breaking well at the moment.
The Georgia win was huge, and LSU appears to have Arkansas in hand. Both help Tennessee.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
And looking way too far into the future:
Kentucky may be their own worst enemy. It might come down to their upcoming game against South Carolina. If they beat South Carolina, it might put LSU above them and give UT the tiebreaker.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
/wrists
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
But fwiw,
They’d be tied as co-champs for the regular season. Tourney seeds don’t change that.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
After losing to Bama - KY could lose any of their final 3 games
since they are on a 3 game skid right now
Feb 20 vs #24 VAN
Feb 23 vs SCAR
Feb 26 @ MSST
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Beast Johnson move.
bobothevol - February 16, 2012
So I can still get my prediction if UT outscores MSU 73-36 in the second half.
That pretty much wraps up the stats, I think.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
By the way, this kind of offense isn't unusual for MSU.
On Sunday against Ole Miss, they shot NINE percent from three. 30% from the field, and 54% from the line.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
and we thought it was our defense?
aurabass - February 16, 2012
It's that too.
We’re in zone, which is encouraging them to jack threes. Which they can’t do well. They’re 25% so far, but only 27% on the season, so it’s no different.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Maybe there's something in the water down there.
GameTracker hasn’t come out of the locker room yet either.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Why is Glory shooting from that far away?
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Simmons rolled over Porter's leg on that.
Hope she’s ok.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
TENNESSEE GETS 2 POINTS MSU MUST CALL A TIMEOUT TO STOP THE TIDAL WAVE!!!!
/wrists
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Pace: 43 - 25.
Which means Tennessee has outscored MSU’s pace. That’s good, right?
…
..right..?
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
The UT-NIU baseball series...
will be “televised” on UTSports.com starting tomorrow night
I am freaking EXCITED about this baseball team!!!!!!!
Caban - February 16, 2012
and I went to NIU's main board to inform them...
man, that place is a trainwreck. I’ve finally found a group of fans who make Memphis fans seem reasonable.
There is a thread comparing their basketball team favorably to Indiana and one speculating on a move to the Big12.
Caban - February 16, 2012
First free throws.
Wow.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Stricklen has come alive.
’bout time.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Rebounds: 40 to 20 in UT's favor.
I hadn’t picked up on that. I knew it was lopsided, but wow.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Refs watching video.
We needed some action in this game. ;-)
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Wow. A flagrant and we get Glory on the line.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Simmons and Massengale have been on the bench for a while.
It’s an 18-point lead, so it’s not necessarily punitive, but neither girl had a good night so far.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
That was UT's third foul all game long.
First MSU free throws coming up.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
I think a MSU player just passed out.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Yep. Catina Bett.
Their tallest girl. Just hands on knees, then slumped back.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Bett just flat passed out
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Glad she's walking.
We’ve seen too many of those sudden drops turn out to be tragic. This doesn’t look to be the case.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
I think this game just put her to sleep too
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Heh.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Good Grief what was that Miko?
aurabass - February 16, 2012
shotclock in her head?
It was getting low.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Your girl's coming in. ;-)
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
I guess Alicia has been put in deep permanent reserve
Kinda reminds me of Woolridge who had that 3 point explosion vs KY
and hasn’t been seen since.
Alicia went from being a starter to being a nonentity in a few short weeks
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Well there she is at 5:05
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Glory love the front of that rim
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Okay, this business of letting the game get interesting isn't acceptable.
Finish it.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Really - this isn't the way to wake up the crowd
aurabass - February 16, 2012
I'd much rather wake them up by blocking shots into the 23rd row.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
That was NOT a blocking foul.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Not if it was Meigan on the drive it wasn't
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Simmons finally gets back in
and misses a FT
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Another MSU player hits the deck
aurabass - February 16, 2012
50 POINTS WE WIN WOO!!!
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
These girls and putting contacts in after they've been on the floor...
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
This referee convention is too much
play basketball
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Breadsticks to Stricklen?
Johnson was more consistent, but Stricklen’s second half put this thing away.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Burdick fouls the shooter?
aurabass - February 16, 2012
20 seconds left and trailing by 14
and you foul somebody holding the ball in the backcourt?
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
That's real optimism
aurabass - February 16, 2012
No kidding.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
57-41.
Insomniacs will rejoice when they wake up.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Glad I recorded it to replace the sheep counter
aurabass - February 16, 2012
Yup.
I’ve been up since 4:45 AM. I’m going to sleep well tonight.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
I'm up at 3 AM for work.
So, yeah, at least we won.
bobothevol - February 17, 2012
Ouch.
And up until 10 in the game thread. Commitment.
David Hooper - February 17, 2012
Sheniqua Stricklen gets the sticks?
Joe Campi’s TV name for Kinna
aurabass - February 16, 2012
SEC results: everything has broken Tennessee's way so far.
Florida beating Vandy would be the capstone. I think that would actually give Tennessee the tiebreaker if the season ended today.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Have no clue how the tiebreaker works
aurabass - February 16, 2012
First is head to head. (Obvs., I know.)
After that, they compare records against the highest-placed team in the conference and work down from there. So right now, head to head is a tie. So they would go to Georgia (who’s in second), and neither has lost to Georgia. So next is the pile at 8-5. If Vandy loses, LSU becomes the top of the 8-5 list, which favors Tennessee. If Vandy wins, then they’re atop the list, which favors Kentucky. But Kentucky has to play Vandy and South Carolina – the two teams they need to have high in the standings.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
But as far as the season goes, a tie is just a tie.
The tiebreakers are only for SEC tourney seeding.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
Thanks I get it
but Vandy is going to beat UF it seems
aurabass - February 16, 2012
It'll be a close one.
Kentucky has Vandy and SC, and winning means they hurt themselves in the tiebreak. LSU has Georgia and Vandy, which is not easy. But no matter what happens, I don’t mind if Tennessee wins out and has the #2 seed in the tournament. It doesn’t really affect how things play out, as UT and UK appear to be the top two seeds no matter how it works out.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
70-67 Vandy leads and has the ball with 22 seconds left.
This is probably over.
David Hooper - February 16, 2012
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