Posted by Kwitcherbellyachin on March 23, 2008 at 11:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just curious... how is it that a 1 seed Tennessee gets a 9 seed on that team's home court, yet a 1 seed Maryland team gets its opponent in College Park?

Posted by Cherokee on March 24, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The biggest problem with the women's game is that there just isn't enough fan interest in it, so they have to resort to playing NCAA Tourney games on a school's home court in order to get enough people into the seats to make the tourney financially feasible. UT has played in Knoxville many times, and although it is a bit silly that the #1 seed is now forced to play on #9 seed Purdue's home court, that's just part of women's basketball. As long as the Lady Vols play half decent, they should handle Purdue without much trouble.

Posted by Indianavol on March 24, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As a resident of West Lafayette, I am pumped about watching the Lady Vols play Purdue. The only thing better would be the football Vols playing the Boilers at Ross-Ade (they have no lights, but bring in temp lights for night games).

GO VOLS!!

Posted by 98reax on March 24, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I didn't think our Lady Vols played particularly well last night. They seemed to be hurrying passes and shots which looked nauseatingly sloppy. Bird seemed to be trying gimmick passes and herky jerky moves resulting in ugly, ugly turnovers which gave ORU early momentum. The game should have been over in 10 minutes. ORU was not intimidated by TN. They were terribly overmatched especially after losing one of their starters just moments after tipoff. Purdue is solid. They will make us pay for those kinds of mistakes. I'm happy to get the win. I'm happy to see us put up 90+ points. I'm ready to take the heat for critiquing our first game against a #16 seed, so bring it on. The above mentioned style of play would explain why "there just isn't enough fan interest" in the women's game. I love my Lady Vols but slop is no fun to watch. It's always gonna be second rate to the guys' game. There's some women's teams out there that bring fundamentals to the court. They may not be the best athletes, they may not be anywhere near the upper echelon of high school recruiting class, but they play the game with few unforced turnovers. When they get a shot opportunity, they know how to FINISH. They follow thru because their feet are set, they've learned and they've practiced perfect technique, their teammates are in position to block out their defender because they know they are undersized, they are not assuming the ball is going thru the net. When they make a pass, its a good catchable pass, not a "highlight" pass, not a telegraphed pass. A smart, 'move the ball around to find the open shooter' fundamental pass. They force their defender to defend. And when they do make a run and the time out is called, they run to their bench, without celebration, they get their coaching, play after play, until the game is decided. When they get the victory, they shake hands with their opponents, thank their fans, form a circle and give God the glory and ask His blessing on the next game, and THEN take their celebration to the locker room. I hope our Lady Vols will play fundamental basketball in OK City. After they have cut down the nets, celebrate with the fans who have followed them diligently and give a humble nod to those of us who are following them thru the screen.

Posted by topgun on March 24, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Golly gee, 98reax, I sure hope CPS reads and heeds your keen insights to basketball. Deep stuff--but, it is just a basketball GAME! SEC champs and seven NCs and we are slop? The little OFF button or the little arrow marked CH on the TV or remote will cure all your pain.

Purdue, if you are correct, will flat out kill us. We might want to forfeit now. Before tossing in the towel, however, a couple of points to ponder. In the ORU game, Pat had the subs in almost before the five minute TV time out. The subs played just about max minutes. Still, UT wins by nearly 40 points. What would have been the advantage of winning by 50 or more? Have a little fun, enjoy the game, and let the first team rest as much as possible.

You don't make a real strong case for the teams to do all of those wonderful things you offer because it seems that these marvelous teams lose. Look good, real basic, but lose? Winning isn't everything, but puts more NC banners in the rafters. You don't make a strong case for all of those players who don't make unforced errors, set their feet, FINISH the shot,etc., because these great players and great teams should win the NC every year. The only team to accomplish that is, of course, UTLV.

Frankly, I didn't get the point of how the winners circling up and giving God the glory was appropriate in a public arena. God likes us better than He does you losers?? A little arrogant, don't you think?

Somehow, I don't believe that God cares much about who wins a basketball game, or any sporting event, for that matter. If he did, ORU may have had a slight advantage. Oops, there is Notre Dame!!Who knows? If God is 14.9 billion light years out in the endless radii of endless space creating new planets, stars and galaxies, He might not want to guide every shot into or out of the goal. Praying loudly for better refs would be a different story. By the way, UTLV wins by 20+ over Purdue!!! GO VOLS

Posted by 98reax on March 25, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think you are reading much deeper than I am writing, topgun. I watch my Lady Vols because I am a Lady Vols fan. I am not dissing my team. I am simply making an observation with an opinion as to how they might be better. Yes, I know my name is not Pat Summitt, however, I bet you my autographed collection of her books that she would agree with my assessment. My point is, as good as LVs are, they COULD BE even better and more exciting to watch without all the turnovers and sloppy play. Those behind the back passes look great when they produce points. The circus shots and the highlight material is super exciting when the ball goes thru the net. When they result in turnovers, they just look dumb. With great athletes and the best coaching in the nation, which we have, fundamental basketball does not include slop. If you don't cringe at that sort of sloppy basketball, then you and I have an intirely different taste for sport. If you like watching bad passes and airball shots and missed open layups and free throws that's OK too. I don't like it but I love my team. If I didn't I would not be posting. And as far as giving God the glory, that's always appropriate in any arena, in any venue, after all, He did give them their talent. There's nothing arrogant about that. As for those other teams who practice fundamental bb skills, they do make pretty decent runs at teams. The reason they don't win championships is not because they play sound ball. It takes fundamental ball skills, a high bb IQ, great conditioning, and a great coach to win and look good doing so. I've been a LV fan for a long, long time. I always will be but I can be objective in doing so. Like Pat said, I won't be calling her to give her advice. If she ever asks, I will offer it. All that is fun, don't you think? As for the 20-point spread over Purdue, I certainly hope you are right.

Posted by topgun on March 25, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

98reax: Nothing personal. Actually, I liked your post. Might try using the "enter" key to break up the long paragraphs to make it easier to read. I was just teasing & pulling your chain a little bit. I did think you were just a wee bit too deep and too serious about a bunch of college-age athletes trying to have a little fun.

Personally, I have always adhered to the principles of Pres. Teddy Roosevelt's poem, "In the Arena". As a retired, VietNam era military fighter pilot, I know full well what the "arena" is all about. So, I don't complain too much when I am "watching" others who are in the arena and I'm not in there with them.

Like you, I have been a UTLV fan for decades and truly enjoy watching them play. Oh yeah, I like to see the LVs operate like a Swiss watch and do get a little upset when the LVs slack off and perform worse than they are capable of playing. BUT, Pat handles that pretty well! I am inclined to let Pat do what ever she wants in her coaching style. Her record is a little better than mine.

I think our LVs have a chance to win it all. Would love to see them win over Uconn for the NC.

Still think God is a little too busy creating mega-zillions of tons of space stuff per second and saving souls on our teeny little planet to be concerned about any outcome of any sporting event. But, please do not take my observations too seriously. GO VOLS!

Posted by 98reax on March 25, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There's no such thing as God being too busy. He knows all, sees all. I don't think He cares much about who wins or loses but I do know He cares and He wants us to give him the glory.

Pat says the team was a little over anxious in the ORU game because of the long period between SEC Tournament and NCAA First Round.. Hopefully tonight will be a better performance on our part. We should be more focused and run our sets better.