Big Monday Game Thread: #7 Kentucky @ #11 Tennessee, 7 p.m. ET and #3 Connecticut @ Oklahoma, 9 p.m. ET - ESPN2
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 6:03 PM EST
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ESPN2's Big Monday coverage today features four top-notch programs in the realm of women's basketball. The first game of the evening, #7 Kentucky at #11 Tennessee, will have the on-site services of one of our own, M Robinson, to tell us all the things one can only know when sitting in Thompson-Boling Arena.
Preview: Nate says there's no doubt Tennessee has more to lose tonight and they better hope they're not losing the ball, as turnovers will be the key statistical battleground to watch.
Game notes: Tennessee | Kentucky
Additional linkage: For more Tennessee-centric coverage, check out SBN's Rocky Top Talk
The nightcap features the return of Geno and the Huskies to Norman, Okla. to face off with Sherri Coale's Sooners. The series, rather lopsided at 9-0, has an average score of 86.3 to 66.1 including a 86-45 Valentine's Day massacre at Hartford's XL Center last season.
Preview: The Sooners posted their Five Things to Watch tonight and keyed on some interesting points, starting with playing the game, not the name. This one is curious to me this season for a couple of reasons - one, this isn't the UConn of old, or not quite anyway. And two, this is the Big 12 - do they use this advice against conference games with Baylor and Texas A&M or even when thinking about themselves, as well? This league has become one with their own names to watch, so I don't see the intimidation factor here. But who knows? Maybe they are indeed psyched out by mighty UConn.
Another thing not mentioned in the game notes or "five things" for OU is the health and presence of 6-3 F/C Joanna McFarland. She was out for a bit with her jaw wired shut after she broke it in Stillwater during Bedlam Part 1 (oops) but returned to the court two games ago at Baylor. McFarland is OU's leading rebounder and limiting UConn possessions while extending OU possessions seems to be paramount to getting points on the board. This is particularly the case since the Sooners are 12-0 when scoring 67 or more points and UConn only gives up 44 points a night. OU will need to get as many scoring opportunities as humanly possible to stay competitive.
Game notes: Oklahoma | Connecticut
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"Play the Game, Not the Name"
We’ve heard this before, and it is just as true of UConn now as it was then: http://archive.stanforddaily.com/?p=1017178
"Mystique? What number is she?" ~ Susan King Borchardt
No one needs to tell Kentucky the same about Tennessee—they can already smell the blood in the water.
"I'm just playing [a center] on TV" ~Taj McWilliams-Franklin
by Shannon Cotterell on Feb 13, 2012 6:41 PM EST reply actions
Lots of Pink and Orange in the crowd at Tennessee
Very nice crowd, fans are wearing Pink shirts that say “Love Pink, Bleed Orange”
I like this saying...
maybe cuz I bleed another shade of orange! Go Pokes!!
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 7:08 PM EST up reply actions
Huge Eruption
Crowd goes into a loud eruption of cheers when Pat Summitt was introduced
Simmons!
Back-to-back triples…the last looked pretty long too…if she stays hot like this that’s gotta help the Lady Vols for sure.
Simmons is on Fire!
Opens up with two 3 pointers to start the game
Speaking of the crowd...
I presume it’s pretty full, yes?
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 7:12 PM EST up reply actions
Another Kentucky foul...
Their fourth already…I think that could def be a factor if the game keeps getting called fairly tight.
Everything falling for Tennessee
70+ % to <10% shooting?? Yikes. 14-6 sounds pretty good after those numbers…
Simmons is FIRED UP!!
The emotion that she’s playing with and exuding is infectious as her teammates are fired up
From the replay both ladies were obvy already out of bounds. But damn. That is a pretty extreme call for that play.
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
that was a pretty vicious throw
don’t spike your opponent, k?
I am the victim of a basketball jones.
That’s true too. I can see why they did it. But.
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 7:26 PM EST up reply actions
Yes it was
But the word is that Dee Catner doesn’t like Glory for whatever reason and has always had it out for her
It's always bad when you know the official's names and call history.
The only reason I ever want to know an official’s name is if I recognize her/him from being a player in the past.
"I'm just playing [a center] on TV" ~Taj McWilliams-Franklin
by Shannon Cotterell on Feb 13, 2012 7:28 PM EST up reply actions
No kidding.
We’re not exactly fans of her at the moment.
That said, it was Mattingly who made the technical call. And boy, did that get the crowd into the game.
by David Hooper on Feb 14, 2012 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
The turnovers
Nate alluded to…adding up – slowly but surely. “A touchdown lead” for Tennessee, so says the announcing crew before the commercial break.
Both teams
Both teams are going their bench early
FG%
Kentucky is only shooting 26% from the field while Tennessee is shooting
Pat Summitt
She is very active and engaged in the huddles during the media timeouts
Kentucky is controlling the boards
They are doing very good on the boards, especially offensively
And the basket
That was def solid; and the o board off her miss at the line for the putback. That’s hustle right there…
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 7:39 PM EST up reply actions
Zone Defense
Tennessee’s zone is causing a lot of problems for Kentucky
Big time run. Big big big. If Tennessee keeps playing this … desperate … then I don’t know if Kentucky can keep up.
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
I LOVE
THE BIG HEADS!! They are so very fun!!
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions
Did I just see
A Betty White bighead too??? HAHAHAHA!!
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 8:15 PM EST up reply actions
Brianna Bass
She’s getting a lot of playing time today
Tennessee 46, Kentucky 28 - Halftime
The whole first half I kept thinking the Lady Vols would cool off. Or the Wildcats would stop playing so poorly. But it never really happened. Now, it’ll be interesting to see if Tennessee can keep this up in the second half or really if they’ll even need to. Up by 18 is not what I expected at all.
WVU/Notre Dame highlights at half
Didn’t get to see the game, so I’m def interested to see the highlights. Sounds like ND just kinda wilted at the end when the Mountaineers went to work.
Kentucky
Looking like they got their arses chewed during the break. Have come out a bit more on point this half.
Bria Goss
She’s really being aggressive in attacking the basket and finishing
Wide open Stricklen
And she hesitated. Yes, she made the shot. But she hesitated. That concerns me about her sometimes…
Nice No look pass from Stricklen to Johnson
Game is getting out of hand for Kentucky
Samari Walker with the charge...
her 3rd foul. There is NO WAY Kentucky can make up 24 points. Or even 2.4 points at this rate.
TV talking abt Baylor
I don’t think they’re losing any time soon. I’ll see them IRL in Stillwater on Wednesday. I have bad feelings it’s gonna be rough…
Me either!
Not even one little bit of me thought this game would be such an epic blowout.
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
Lady Vols with the wire-to-wire W
Tennessee pounds Kentucky into the ground to the tune of 91-54. Wowww.
OK! Now time for some UConn/OU!
Sherri Coale looks … ummmm … electric in that color of pink! Wow #HurtsMyEyes
Wow. No confidence from OU homers...
This is a tweet from Dean Blevins, a local sports broadcaster who also happened to play football at OU. Not a lot of confidence that the Sooners can make this a game, eh?
Admirable 4 Sherri Coale to play close friend Geno & UConn a few times. But enough already. 0-10 after 2night, including 41 pt loss last yr.
Ellenberg is ICE COLD.
As is pretty much everyone else for OU.
OK – so maybe Dean Blevins was right. 19-4, 13:48 – 1st half.
Kiah Stokes has improved immensely...
Such a sweet kid.
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by Holly C. Tanneyhill on Feb 13, 2012 9:22 PM EST reply actions
As much as I complain
About the fact that they only talk about Whitney Hand every single dang time they talk about OU, she’s the only one playing with poise thus far. She is pretty much all of OU’s offense to this point.
That he hates OU
LOL – no positive connections…as a Texas Longhorn, it has been widely publicized that he is not a fan of the Sooners at all. BUT. He is a fan of basketball and a fan of the local area. He’s also been seen at small college games (men’s and women’s), high school games (men’s and women’s) and of course, the famous flag footballing at OSU.
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 9:52 PM EST up reply actions
I do hear
That he is rooting for OU today though…I wasn’t sure if that was going to be the case or not when I heard he was there. LOL
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 10:00 PM EST up reply actions
UConn doesn't like these calls as Dolson picks up her 2nd...
but I agree with the commentary. You have to adjust to the game, to the opponent, to the refs.
UConn 37, Oklahoma 28 - HALFTIME
OU is hanging tough with UConn getting into a little foul trouble and going a smidge cold toward the end of the half. Sooners trailed by as many as 17 early on in this one. The crowd is (sorta) back in it too, so that’s nice for the Sooners.
Stats
Bria Hartley & Tiff Hayes with 12 each, Hartley also with 7 boards. Whitney Hand the only Sooner in double-digits with 10
by Jessica Lantz on Feb 13, 2012 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
UConn 45, OU 32 - 15:44, 2nd half
Aparrently Geno was given a warning at the timeout after he went a little rabid towards one of the refs. Lulz.
UConn
Is deadly off the inbounds play. Every time they convert, whether there’s 2 seconds or 22 seconds on the shot clock.
Every time I think OU is going to implode on themselves
They do something good. Dolson picks up her 3rd foul, Kaylon Williams hits the and-one and OU cuts the lead to 11.
UConn 61, OU 50 - 3:33, 2nd half
Still respectable…that’s pretty much all that you could expect. The Sooners are a rebuilding team this season, no bones about it.
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