[pepper1]

Very good commentary from VG as usual.  Totally agree that, while Nneka's performance was one for the ages, the most important development for the team tonight was the extraordinary job Toni did at the point.  As VG said, her aggressive drives into the teeth of the defense were critical in loosening up the always tough & physical Vols D.  After a good second half against Princeton where she again was channeling Jamilla Wideman with her floor leadership, I'm almost ready to designate her as the Third Sister on the team and the first real PG the Cardinal has had in a number of years (hopefully not premature optimism).  I thought that there were also some good work done by the lesser luminaries in tonight's very watchable game: Taylor played solid & hit two nice 3's at important junctures, Bonnie was a lot more composed than in the Princeton game & has a really sweet stroke (some murmurs about Kate Starbird comparisons were heard in the crowd) and Lindy while having an off night (the foul on the 3 pt shot was the bonehead play of the night) still seemed to inspire the team with her unrelenting hustle.  Hopefully we can get better play going forward from Jos (deer in the headlights tonight) and Booth (totally overmatched by the Vols inside players) so that we are not totally dependent on the Sisters inside.  Amber showed some flash when she spelled Lindy before fast-tracking herself back to the pine with a bonehead turnover.

All in all, have to feel good about how the Cardinal did in this "measuring stick" game against a team with lots of talent.  The team is still very much a work in progress and it will be interesting to see how Tara develops the supporting cast around the now Three Sisters.

[pepper1]

Very good commentary from VG as usual.  Totally agree that, while Nneka's performance was one for the ages, the most important development for the team tonight was the extraordinary job Toni did at the point.  As VG said, her aggressive drives into the teeth of the defense were critical in loosening up the always tough & physical Vols D.  After a good second half against Princeton where she again was channeling Jamilla Wideman with her floor leadership, I'm almost ready to designate her as the Third Sister on the team and the first real PG the Cardinal has had in a number of years (hopefully not premature optimism).  I thought that there were also some good work done by the lesser luminaries in tonight's very watchable game: Taylor played solid & hit two nice 3's at important junctures, Bonnie was a lot more composed than in the Princeton game & has a really sweet stroke (some murmurs about Kate Starbird comparisons were heard in the crowd) and Lindy while having an off night (the foul on the 3 pt shot was the bonehead play of the night) still seemed to inspire the team with her unrelenting hustle.  Hopefully we can get better play going forward from Jos (deer in the headlights tonight) and Booth (totally overmatched by the Vols inside players) so that we are not totally dependent on the Sisters inside.  Amber showed some flash when she spelled Lindy before fast-tracking herself back to the pine with a bonehead turnover.

All in all, have to feel good about how the Cardinal did in this "measuring stick" game against a team with lots of talent.  The team is still very much a work in progress and it will be interesting to see how Tara develops the supporting cast around the now Three Sisters.