Jessica Mooney will start her third consecutive game this season today against Liberty. The junior guard replaced Jence Rhoads in Coach Balcomb's starting lineup last Friday against Tennessee State. Mooney joins Jennifer Risper (guard), Hannah Tuomi (forward), Merideth Marsh (guard) and Christina Wirth (forward) for tip-off. The latter four have started every game this season.
Christina Wirth moved closer to the No. 19 position on VU's all-time scoring chart with 13 points last night against UT-Martin. The senior forward has netted 1,209 points thus far, 31 behind Carolyn Peck.
Chanel Chisholm continues to contribute solid minutes from the bench. The sophomore forward tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals against UT-Martin -- her fourth double-digit scoring effort this season. Chisholm averages 8.0 points and 3.9 boards in 14.6 minutes per contest.
Vanderbilt concludes its second set of back-to-back games against Liberty this afternoon. The 'Dores defeated Davidson and Virginia Tech on Nov. 28 and 29 to win the VU Thanksgiving Tournament earlier this year. Balcomb's squad challenges the Liberty Flames for only the second time in school history. The previous meeting ended in a Commodore victory, 54-44 in the East Region First Round of the NCAA Tourney in the 2002-03 season.
Balcomb's crew looks to win its third consecutive game today, after hosting three tilts in four days.
Showing posts with label arntz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arntz. Show all posts
Monday, December 22, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Nashville Sports Council speakers lunch
The star-backlit stage, line dancing floor and honky-tonk atmosphere of the Wildhorse Saloon was transformed into a sports talk paradise earlier today as head coaches from the SEC and Big East spoke to the Nashville community.
The Nashville Sports Council presented the Comcast Spotlight Sports Speakers Series earlier this morning at the Wildhorse Saloon on Second Avenue, and what a delicious event it was. Not only did I get to hear four outstanding coaches speak, but the food wasn’t half bad either.
After strolling into an unfamiliar setting – I’ve only been to this line dancing-palooza on the weekends or for a show (the Gin Blossoms rocked that place two summers ago) – I was greeted with the image of Bruce Pearl in his gray UT sweat suit and the intoxicating aroma of free food.
Naturally, I headed toward the meal, which was just as good as the Gin Blossoms performance awhile back, and waited to hear Pearl, Kevin Stallings, Buzz Williams, Marquette head basketball coach, and Stan Heath, South Florida head coach, speak.
The Nashville Sports Council used this event to create publicity for tonight’s SEC/BIG EAST Invitational pairing Vanderbilt vs. USF and Tennessee vs. Marquette, and these coaches headlined this luncheon special.
ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes introduced the four men, after admitting that he had tried to make it in Nashville as a country singer some years ago (no joke – he really confided that to us), and led a question and answer session with coaches.
Stallings fielded quandaries about his favorite country music song (“It’s hard to kiss the lips at night” by Vince Gill, which he clarified didn’t relate to his personal life at all), and whether he’d rather recruit a post player or a point guard (a point guard, seconded by Coach Heath). He also tackled the debate on how the extended 3-point arc has affected the game this season.
The Vanderbilt coach explained that he couldn’t compare this season’s team with last year’s when it comes to shooting, because of the personnel and style differences (after all, the 2008-09 squad doesn’t have one of VU’s all-time great 3-point shooters, Shan Foster).
Stallings and his counterparts did confide, however, that they have seen teams refuse to guard players taking the shot now, since the distance has created a lower percentage attempt, and that it’s actually harder to penetrate the lane now with defenses refusing to defend the new 3-point line.
VU’s lead man told the audience to look out for A.J. Ogilvy, Jeffery Taylor and Brad Tinsley tonight against USF. He noted that Ogilvy has tried to do too much in the past few contests, and that they’ve worked on focusing his game, while Taylor and Tinsley have produced well in the first nine tilts of their VU careers.
Stallings even addressed an audience member's question about whether North Carolina is unstoppable this season. He testified to the ability of the UNC team and acknowledged that it’ll take the moon and stars lining up correctly to defeat the Tar Heels, and that Roy Williams has really motivated his players to commit 100 percent to his defense.
The highlight of the event, however, actually came from a UT perspective. At one point during the Q/A, Pearl looked at Dykes and asked if the two of them had missed a message or something, since the three other coaches (Stallings, Williams and Heath) all were bald. Everyone got a good laugh out of that.
The Nashville Sports Council presented the Comcast Spotlight Sports Speakers Series earlier this morning at the Wildhorse Saloon on Second Avenue, and what a delicious event it was. Not only did I get to hear four outstanding coaches speak, but the food wasn’t half bad either.
After strolling into an unfamiliar setting – I’ve only been to this line dancing-palooza on the weekends or for a show (the Gin Blossoms rocked that place two summers ago) – I was greeted with the image of Bruce Pearl in his gray UT sweat suit and the intoxicating aroma of free food.
Naturally, I headed toward the meal, which was just as good as the Gin Blossoms performance awhile back, and waited to hear Pearl, Kevin Stallings, Buzz Williams, Marquette head basketball coach, and Stan Heath, South Florida head coach, speak.
The Nashville Sports Council used this event to create publicity for tonight’s SEC/BIG EAST Invitational pairing Vanderbilt vs. USF and Tennessee vs. Marquette, and these coaches headlined this luncheon special.
ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes introduced the four men, after admitting that he had tried to make it in Nashville as a country singer some years ago (no joke – he really confided that to us), and led a question and answer session with coaches.
Stallings fielded quandaries about his favorite country music song (“It’s hard to kiss the lips at night” by Vince Gill, which he clarified didn’t relate to his personal life at all), and whether he’d rather recruit a post player or a point guard (a point guard, seconded by Coach Heath). He also tackled the debate on how the extended 3-point arc has affected the game this season.
The Vanderbilt coach explained that he couldn’t compare this season’s team with last year’s when it comes to shooting, because of the personnel and style differences (after all, the 2008-09 squad doesn’t have one of VU’s all-time great 3-point shooters, Shan Foster).
Stallings and his counterparts did confide, however, that they have seen teams refuse to guard players taking the shot now, since the distance has created a lower percentage attempt, and that it’s actually harder to penetrate the lane now with defenses refusing to defend the new 3-point line.
VU’s lead man told the audience to look out for A.J. Ogilvy, Jeffery Taylor and Brad Tinsley tonight against USF. He noted that Ogilvy has tried to do too much in the past few contests, and that they’ve worked on focusing his game, while Taylor and Tinsley have produced well in the first nine tilts of their VU careers.
Stallings even addressed an audience member's question about whether North Carolina is unstoppable this season. He testified to the ability of the UNC team and acknowledged that it’ll take the moon and stars lining up correctly to defeat the Tar Heels, and that Roy Williams has really motivated his players to commit 100 percent to his defense.
The highlight of the event, however, actually came from a UT perspective. At one point during the Q/A, Pearl looked at Dykes and asked if the two of them had missed a message or something, since the three other coaches (Stallings, Williams and Heath) all were bald. Everyone got a good laugh out of that.
Monday, December 15, 2008
High-flying freshmen in the SEC
The SEC recently recognized VU freshman Jeffery Taylor, men’s basketball, with its Freshman of the Week Award for his 18-point performance against Alabama A&M last week.
Here’s a look at freshmen from other SEC Eastern Division schools, who are performing well thus far:
Erving Walker
Florida guard, No. 11, 5-8/161 lbs.
The youngster from Brooklyn, N.Y. was averaging 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists up to the Gators’ contest with Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 10. Walker has also earned a starting position in UF’s last three games, including the Florida Gulf Coast matchup.
Trey Thompkins
Georgia forward, No. 33, 6-9/247 lbs.
The freshman forward from Lithonia, Ga. comprises one of the Bulldogs’ top-two scorers, averaging 11.8 points with 5.5 rebounds in four games (updated to UGA’s game against Virginia Tech on Dec. 9). Thompkins has started the last two contests for Head Coach Dennis Felton. The SEC recognized the UGA forward as FOW on Dec. 1.
DeAndre Liggins
Kentucky guard/forward, No. 34, 6-6/202 lbs.
The newcomer from Chicago totals 20.9 minutes per game with 7.4 points and a combined 34 assists -- tallied up to the Wildcats’ tilt with Indiana on Dec. 13. The SEC recognized Liggins as FOW on Dec. 8.
Scotty Hopson
Tennessee guard, No. 32, 6-7/185 lbs.
Hopson, out of Hopkinsville, Ky., totals 9.5 points per game with 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists. The SEC recognized Hopson as FOW on Nov. 17 for his 17-point, debut performance against UT-Chattanooga. The UT freshman has also been acknowledged as SEC Newcomer of the Year.
* South Carolina hasn't listed a freshman player on its roster.
Has anyone seen the above freshmen, including Taylor, play, and if so, how do they look?
“Taylor claims SEC FOW Award” Read
Here’s a look at freshmen from other SEC Eastern Division schools, who are performing well thus far:
Erving Walker
Florida guard, No. 11, 5-8/161 lbs.
The youngster from Brooklyn, N.Y. was averaging 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists up to the Gators’ contest with Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 10. Walker has also earned a starting position in UF’s last three games, including the Florida Gulf Coast matchup.
Trey Thompkins
Georgia forward, No. 33, 6-9/247 lbs.
The freshman forward from Lithonia, Ga. comprises one of the Bulldogs’ top-two scorers, averaging 11.8 points with 5.5 rebounds in four games (updated to UGA’s game against Virginia Tech on Dec. 9). Thompkins has started the last two contests for Head Coach Dennis Felton. The SEC recognized the UGA forward as FOW on Dec. 1.
DeAndre Liggins
Kentucky guard/forward, No. 34, 6-6/202 lbs.
The newcomer from Chicago totals 20.9 minutes per game with 7.4 points and a combined 34 assists -- tallied up to the Wildcats’ tilt with Indiana on Dec. 13. The SEC recognized Liggins as FOW on Dec. 8.
Scotty Hopson
Tennessee guard, No. 32, 6-7/185 lbs.
Hopson, out of Hopkinsville, Ky., totals 9.5 points per game with 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists. The SEC recognized Hopson as FOW on Nov. 17 for his 17-point, debut performance against UT-Chattanooga. The UT freshman has also been acknowledged as SEC Newcomer of the Year.
* South Carolina hasn't listed a freshman player on its roster.
Has anyone seen the above freshmen, including Taylor, play, and if so, how do they look?
“Taylor claims SEC FOW Award” Read
Thursday, December 11, 2008
SEC Coaches' All-Freshmen Selections
Freshmen Chris Marve, a unanimous selection, Brandon Barden, Kyle Fischer and T.J. Greenstone were named to the SEC Coaches' All-Freshman Team today.Let us hear what you think about the selections, and whether any other VU freshmen deserved to join the conference squad.
"Marve unanimously named to All-SEC" Read
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