WBB: GSAC

[GSAC Killer]

Just call me baby nostradamus!! I predicted that Beth would have a big year and she has her best game of the year against a pretty good Virginia Wesleyan teaM!!
29 points in the championship game is money!!!

Good start for the Lady Scots and Coach Pardue...

[scottiedoug]

I'm with y'all about the good start part for the Scots and Beth, but she's playing 39 and 40 minutes.  So is Katie.  That cannot be a good thing.  It's a long season.

[GottaHaveHeart]

Beth can't play those many minutes a game every night and have anything left when tourney time comes around. Surprised that neither Haley, Rachel or Robin played at all in Virginia. A couple of the players who played alot of minutes, playing with injuries.

Alex has a doctor appointment in Chattanooga Dec. 5. for a second opinion. Just kind of the normal thing to do if possibly facing surgery. She will make a decision after that visit.

[MCScotsFan]

I can't wait to see the ladies play tomorrow. I hope Alex's injury isn't as bad as it  sounds.

Happy to hear they won in VA!

Beth Reed has had all that bottled up inside her since her freshman year. Good to hear she's finally letting it out and playing to her potential. But you all are right--she can't play that long and that hard every game w/o risking injury and burnout.

[MCScotsFan]

Wow! I thought the Lady Scots played great tonight. They seemed "on" in every way. Defense, offense, ball handling, good passes, plays...they looked relaxed and confident. I saw a confidence in Flem that I haven't ever seen before. I think Coach Pardue is defenitely doing something right. I realize Centre wasn't the toughest opponent but they played a much better 2nd half than 1st half.

Mel is a thinker. Always thinking out there and it shows. Beth goes 90mph at all times . She plays a much better fast game than to try and slow her game down. Nat, though injured, was awesome. Kim surprised me with 13 points. I haven't seen that Kim since her freshman year. If she'd just bend those knees and get something behind her shots, she'd hit her 3's. Saxe has to find her rhythm and she's be unstoppable.

Honestly, I just thought the whole team did a good job. Can't wait til Sunday to see some more where that came from! 

[bkball1]

MC is solid but the league is bad. They will win hands down. What will hurt them is playing against a team with speed because MC doesn't have it they also have to hope nobody gets hurt because of their lack of depth. As mentioned in an earlier post it's a long season and to be averaging 35 plus minutes a game now will hurt later. They are very good I just hope they stay healthy.

[scottiedoug]

I was not able to be there but the box score indicates that more people played than in Va.  Any speed there? (draper, etc.).

[GottaHaveHeart]

He didn't sub until about 5 minutes in game left I think. Basically going with a 8 player rotation, as he did in Va. I thought he could have given his starters more rest in the first half up by 30 at one point. Game was never in doubt. Got alot of kids playing injured. Lots of ice packs seen after the game. Robin, Haley, Rachel not in playing rotation yet when it matters.

Only 3rd game of season. Overall lack of team foot speed is what stood out to me when they were pressing and on defense. Can't teach quickness. Getting beat alot off the dribble. Got to get better defensively.

Next game will be a true test. Oglethorpe returns 4 seniors I think.

[MCScotsFan]

yeah, it was 5 mns when he subbed. I was waiting and waiting for it to see what else we had on that bench. I was thinking the same thing...give those players a rest and let the others have some court time.

I realize your talking about their speed, and I think they play a much faster game than 3 years ago. Their game has changed so much since Smith and Carter played, to me, it looks like a different game altogether.

[scottiedoug]

Maybe there is a guard deficiency at Maryville.  Men and women too.

[mattgrubb]

congrats to B Reed on her team of the week accolade

[GSAC Killer]

Got to see my ladies for the first time since our lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and was really disappointed.. Yes they are 4-0 but they should be 4-0.. Teams they have played are not as talented.
Main things I was disappointed in was our lack of intensity on defense( Terrible defensively against Ogelthorpe, terrible foot speed, no help on the weak side and gicing up 85 points!!!!!), No structure within a half court setting on offense.. It was run and gun for the 30 minutes I was at the game.. Maybe that is there style this year but it won't get them anywhere come tournament time...

Like my buddy "GHH" stated earlier in the year Defense win championships and if they don't correct it they will be exploited by good teams...
Beth and Mel looked great... Summer was also impressive..Natalie Munday is not the Munday we had last year.. Looks out of shape and out of sync... Just didn't like their performance but hey its only one game...
Go Scots!!

[GottaHaveHeart]

My take on the game tonight....

          First, we need to get out of that press. We are not creating any turnovers or making the opposition use that much of the shot clock bringing it up. Playing a rotation of 8, we just wearing our players out. Conditioning is questionable, which it is very early in the year.
          Defense is awful.....no foot speed or technique. Leaving our feet on pump fakes. Everybody standing straight up, getting beat off the dribble, giving up the baseline, giving up coast to coast layups......No rotation or help. Not boxing out. Last 2 games, opposition got way too many open looks and layups. No in the passing lane anticipation, except from Beth and Mel.
          Offense is basically run and gun. I saw 1 set with 1 option. Saxe and Munday should be making a killing on the blocks. Would love to see a post, repost game, play inside out not outside in. Maybe a screen and roll 2 man game with Beth or Mel with Saxe or Munday. Something set, whatever it might be to show some structure and organization.
          No in-bound plays except for the lob to Saxe in the lane set and the corner screen play that everyone in the world runs. Against the press, no motion or screens to get anyone open or to advance ball up court. Players having to work too hard every possession. Too much standing around.
          Last 3 mins of game, nobody stepped up and took control with the attitude of I got to get open anyway I can and I want the ball in my hands. Lack of ball handlers was exposed tonight. Munday did a good job helping.
          Players were looking for some positve energy and direction, some confidence, some fire from the Coach. I didn't see that in any of the players' faces or his after any of the timeouts. He has got to get that "We ARE Going To Win This Game" message across, without any doubt. Players have got to believe in their system to succeed in situations like tonight.
           Coach got a nervous baptism in the HEAD COACHING position tonight. Up 21 with 12 minutes to go and had to hang on and survive 2 or 3 last second 3 attempts. Learning experience for all!!

We won though....4-0.....would rather win ugly than lose ugly.....
Next true test probably will be Carson Newman. Keep improving!!!! 

[GSAC Killer]

Carson Newman won't be a test.. You don't have the structure and FIRE to beat Carson Newman.. Carson Newman's coach was at the game yesterday and will expose all of the weakness you and I just stated..
Best of luck to the Scots.. They should be 8-1 by Christmas.

[GottaHaveHeart]

Saturday would be a good game to work on:

1) Implement some structure and organization, some new plays instead of this 
    run and gun mentality. Work on some half court sets, out of bounds plays.
2) Work on their "HALF" court defense. Get out of that full court press. Maybe
    use full after a timeout or something as a surprise element, but this full court 
    all game press needs to go.
3) Maybe most important, give Beth, Katie, Summer, and Munday some rest.
    Summer and Beth are playing way too many minutes. Katie and Munday could
    use the rest to help those nagging injuries.
4) An opportunity to play Rachel, Robin and Haley while resting those mention
    above. Foul trouble is bound to happen somewhere and he is going to have to
    play these 3. Give them some court time.

Alex goes to the doctor Tuesday. Praying for some good news.