Game plan for facing Lady Vols is consistent
The strategy has been handed down through the SEC women’s basketball season to the point where a scouting report seems more like a manual.
“The best way you play Tennessee,” Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said, “is you have to attack.”
Blair was speaking Sunday afternoon, after his team stalked the Lady Vols until they missed 11 consecutive field goal attempts at game’s end. The Aggies took advantage, erasing an 11-point deficit to win 61-59.
Alabama (15-10, 3-9) will plan accordingly for a visit from Tennessee (16-9, 7-5) at 8 p.m. EST Thursday at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The game will be streamed online at SECN+ and broadcast on the Lady Vols’ radio network.
The Lady Vols will be playing their first game at Coleman since 2010. Alabama had been playing their games at Foster Auditorium since 2011.
There was an echo Sunday in Blair’s strategic advice regarding Tennessee. After Ole Miss upset UT 67-62 in Oxford, Miss., on Jan. 12, Rebels coach Matt Insell recounted some timeout conversations with his players. Even after UT opened a 13-point lead in the third quarter, he advised them: “We’re fine. Just keep playing, and they’re going to give you a chance to win.”
In four of Tennessee’s five conference losses, the opposition has prevailed by digging deeper in the fourth quarter. Mississippi State and Ole Miss made more clutch shots and converted free throws. Georgia forced some key turnovers. Texas A&M made a defensive stand and gathered more rebounds. All four teams gave themselves a chance, however, by staying aggressive.
“I think that’s a good strategy for teams, to be physical with us,” UT guard Alexa Middleton said. “We just have to be able to be more physical and have the toughness to play through those things.”
Middleton was speaking Monday night on the WNML radio show “Lady Vol Illustrated.” She lamented Tennessee not getting the ball inside more to center Mercedes Russell Sunday during the fateful fourth quarter. Middleton also conceded that the missed shots had a ripple effect.
“It’s always kind of (tense) when you miss so many shots in a row,” she said. “It shouldn’t but it plays over on defense. You don’t have that energy you have when you’re playing well on both ends.”
The Lady Vols’ offensive struggles Sunday came just three days after they made six of eight shots in the final quarter, turning a tie score into a 77-66 victory over Missouri. Thursday’s shots weren’t much different than Sunday’s.
Furthermore, an aggressive approach has worked for UT as well as against it. A case in point was a 76-74 upset of conference leader South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., on Jan. 30.
Middleton believes the quest for consistency should center on UT’s mind-set.
“I think maybe our mental toughness,” she said. “Like going into games knowing we have to be dialed in and completely focused on that game. I don’t think we always do that.”
Middleton revisited the thought Wednesday, suggesting the players police themselves more diligently. UT coach Holly Warlick spoke to her share of the responsibility as well.
“When they’re on, they are unbelievably outstanding,” Warlick said. “I think at times they may get distracted. It’s got to be up to me to bring them back.”
The Lady Vols’ focus for Thursday ought to be served by their memories. A 54-46 loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 25 last season constituted the season’s low point.
“I just remember I’ve never seen our coaching staff not just so mad but so disappointed,” Middleton said. “I really think that resonated with us girls.”
Warlick recalled being the maddest she’s ever been as Tennessee’s head coach.
“There’s no need for me to have to do that; there’s just no need,” she said. “This is a prideful group. They know what needs to be done. You’ve got to go out and do it.”