University of Tennessee Athletics
@LadyVol_Hoops Report (12/4/15)
December 04, 2015 | Women's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --The #8/8 Lady Vols (6-1) will close out their eight-game home stand with a match-up against Virginia Tech at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee will look to extend its home winning streak against unranked foes to 45 with its last loss coming to Arkansas in 2012. Tennessee has never lost to Virginia Tech, sporting a 7-0 record all-time against the Hokies.
The teams last played each other in the Sweet 16 of the 1999 NCAA tournament, when UT beat Virginia Tech, 68-52, behind 27 points and eight rebounds from Chamique Holdsclaw. Tamika Catchings also grabbed eight boards and notched 15 points in the Lady Vol win.
On Friday, Head Coach Holly Warlick and guards Andraya Carter and Diamond DeShields spoke to the media at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Scouting Virginia Tech
This year's version of Virginia Tech is coming off a 64-59 road victory over Penn State on Thursday night.
This will provide some comparison for UT fans, as the Lady Vols defeated Penn State 74-66 earlier this season on November 18.
Virginia Tech will enter the contest with a 6-1 record. The Hokies are led in scoring by the backcourt duo of Vanessa Panousis (12.4 PPG) and Chanette Hicks (10.1).
"They're a really, really good basketball team, they've got great guards, they're quick, they press," Warlick said. "I think this is one of the best teams that is going to come into [Thompson-Boling] Arena. They're solid, they press, they run, they've got great outside shooters, they've got pretty strong inside play, and they're well-coached. We are going to have our hands full."
Virginia Tech loves to shoot the ball from outside. On the season the Hokies are 56-of-154 (.364) from the three-point line. They have made 20 more threes than their opponents in the first seven games. Panousis leads the way, firing in 23-of-52 (.442) from beyond the arc this season.
Diamond DeShields played against Virginia Tech during her one season at UNC. Virginia Tech defeated the Tar Heels, 50-47. Panousis scored the final seven points of the game and finished with 24 while DeShields was held to eight points, but she still collected seven rebounds and three assists.
"They are very well-coached," DeShields remembered. "They have good shooters, and we will have to stay disciplined. They are definitely a good team. This will be a good test for us and a good opportunity for us to get better."
What Needs To Be Said?
Head Coach Holly Warlick was not pleased with the Lady Vols' effort in the first half of their game against East Tennessee State on Wednesday. Instead of continuing to yell at the team, she didn't say a thing.
"There wasn't anything planned, it just was a reaction of mine," Warlick said. "I don't anticipate that I'll have to do that again. I hope that the understanding is that we have to do things different. We are not going to settle for being average."
ETSU grabbed an 18-16 lead with 7:16 remaining in the second quarter. This prompted Warlick to take the drastic step of sitting down and not coaching for the rest of the game. It was an odd site to see the head coach wander around the huddle and sit quietly on the bench, but it got the attention of the players.
"She's the head coach, and she thought that would motivate us or get us fired up, and it worked," Andraya Carter said. "Obviously, we don't ever want her to have to do that again. I think it's kind of a shame that she had to do that, as far as being so frustrated with our effort. It's something that we don't want to happen again."
"She said she would not coach effort and to let that be the last time she did that," Diamond DeShields said. "She probably didn't want to have to do that. It probably hurt her more than it hurt us. Seeing as it did light a fire under us, the outcome was good and it helped us."
Warlick let her assistants take the reins, and it worked, as the Lady Vols ended up winning the game against ETSU, 85-49.
"They've got to have some ownership, and they are better than how they are playing," Warlick said. "You still have to give great effort. I want them to learn from it and move forward."
Press All Night
The Lady Vols have at times pressed their opponent this season, but the press was even more effective against ETSU on Wednesday.
"That's our M.O., we like to press, we like to speed the game up," Holly Warlick said. Our press was very good the other day, so we are going to keep it on. Obviously, if it's not effective we would take it off. I thought it was solid when we started playing. It got us fired up; it got our fans fired up. When you press and get steals you get easy shots."
UT had 22 steals and forced 35 turnovers out of the Bucs. The 22 steals is tied for 11th most in school history and is the most since they recorded 22 against Alcorn State on Nov. 25, 2012. The plethora of steals led to 22 fast break points, a season high for the Lady Vols.
"Looking back to the past games, we are trying to redefine ourselves," DeShields said. "The first five games of the season were not who we are. We really wanted to lay the foundation and create a blueprint for who Tennessee is going to be for this season. We want to run and get pressure, and I think last game was a good start to what we want to do."
The press was effective from the outset, as ETSU wasn't able to cross half court until 1:33 had come off the clock. Overall, ETSU only took 37 shots in the game, which tied for the fewest field goal attempts allowed since the 1980-81 season.
"We have the athletes, we have the ability to press, we have the ability to run and we have the ability to make people turn it over," Warlick said. "We have to get out and play, and that requires effort. I think they understand that. I think they tasted success from pressing, speeding somebody up. I think there's a little more understanding of how we want to play."
"It's tough, it's definitely high-tempo," Andraya Carter said. "We got a few chances to get some easy baskets, some steals and some layups. I think those are high energy plays that really get you going. It might drain you a little bit, but when you're up and you`re going, I think it helps the tempo a lot."
Developing Leaders
The Lady Vols lost three vocal leaders from last year's team. Ariel Massengale, Isabelle Harrison and Cierra Burdick all were important figures to the 2014-15 Lady Vols.
In their absence, some new faces have been thrust into leadership roles.
"I think Jordan and me, and then Bashaara has stepped up vocally as well, which has been huge for her," Carter said. "It's a total maturity in her game and in herself. I think us three have been identified as the vocal leaders, but really a lot of people step up and talk and communicate or voice their opinions and say what's going on and we all just have to work on listening and hearing each other."
"Holly has definitely chosen some leaders, the team has picked some leaders, and some leaders have emerged," Carter continued. "Really we all just have to lead and you can lead in so many different ways. You can lead by example or doing the best you can out there. There are certain vocal leaders. Sometimes you have to lead, sometimes you have to follow and it's really just team dynamics that have developed and will continue to develop as the season moves forward."
It hasn't always been a smooth process.
"It's definitely more difficult than any of us thought it would be," DeShields said. "Trying to figure out who can step up is still in the process. We are coming along, and I am very optimistic about it."
The team is still figuring out who will take command out on the court. The top three scorers on the team were not playing for the Lady Vols at this time last year. DeShields, the team's top scorer at 14.1 points per game is still finding her role.
"Not that I have ever had a problem speaking out, but my challenge has been me sitting out due to my injury and not being with them. I haven't done the conditioning. I haven't done the workouts. I have only been practicing for three weeks now. I haven't really been to battle with them. I am trying to earn their trust so they will respect what I have to say. I don't want to be out of line with them. When I speak, I try to do it in a way like, `I know I haven't been there, but I am here now. I want to do what is best for the team.' That has been my challenge really. I think we are growing out of that."
The Lady Vols will look to continue growing together as they hit the road for the first time this season. After Sunday's game against Virginia Tech, Tennessee will play three straight games against tough competition on the road. It will force people out of their comfort zones and allow the team to grow together.
