SEC Tennis

andfor said:
That guy is a really good player. They’ve had some top players the last few years. Sounds like the rest of the story is a drama.
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Seen some posts and his goodbye message. Sounds like he can't get rid of the itch to be a full time pro ASAP. Still can't figure out what difference another 4 months of college tennis would make to his success or lack of success on the pro tour. Good luck to him.
 
Baton Rouge challenger this week. I’m sure LSU coach Danny Bryan will be anti-sweating his own guys in the main draw. Can’t have Arutiunian and Pieczkowski go too far in it and miss indoors.
 
Pieczkowksi double-bageled his opponent in the 1st round. Arutiunian also won. They both play tomorrow in winnable matches and if they win that round probably unlikely they make it to Waco for the 9am match vs TCU.
 
Clemson_tennis said:
Pieczkowksi double-bageled his opponent in the 1st round. Arutiunian also won. They both play tomorrow in winnable matches and if they win that round probably unlikely they make it to Waco for the 9am match vs TCU.
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Pretty sure LSU has a couple of private jets and the tennis team uses them. Will be interesting to see if they make the first match or not.
 
Clemson_tennis said:
I would say Woodruff is ok since they just made the sweet 16 last year. But yeah this year’s Tennessee team does not look very good.

Alabama looks like the clear worst team this year. That poster who’s been calling for Husack’s job forever on here may be vindicated at last.
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I try to follow the Vols---but am lacking enthusiasm for Woodruff and the program these days. For one thing, Woodruff is a completely uncommunicative coach. He's the only coach among about 20 or more head coaches at Tennessee who never talks....ever...never talks about the program, holds no pressers before or during the season, doesn't comment on matches or players....nothing....ever. It's annoying, frankly. To be sure, non-rev, Olympic Sports coaches don't get much press attention; still, give the fans something. You'll get a few, very brief, pat comments about signees from an associate coach, and that's it. The other issue is program turnover: After watching excellent players like Walton, Monday, Matsui spend four years with the program, there has been constant turnover the last three years. Numerous players--domestic and international--have come in as freshmen or transfers and they're nearly all gone after a year, replaced by transfers and other signees who also soon disappear, replaced by another batch of signees and transfers. The portal is the main cause of the today's revolving-doors rosters, but some of it seems to be Woodruff as well. He's always struck me as a good coach, maybe very good, but there's been so much roster turmoil it's hard to know what to make of things now.
 
andfor said:
Pretty sure LSU has a couple of private jets and the tennis team uses them. Will be interesting to see if they make the first match or not.
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Pieczkowksi Into the QF at Baton Rouge Challenger. NCAA match starts at 9 am. Challenger match starts at 11 am. Does LSU really have a shot against TCU without him?
 
scmyers said:
Pieczkowksi Into the QF at Baton Rouge Challenger. NCAA match starts at 9 am. Challenger match starts at 11 am. Does LSU really have a shot against TCU without him?
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I don’t think so. With him I think they had a very real chance, like as close as 50/50 with how TCU has not looked amazing at the top so far.

If he loses today I wonder if he will make the quick less than 24 hour turnaround to play the 2nd match vs Texas or A&M. Another one where they will need him.
 
armchair said:
I try to follow the Vols---but am lacking enthusiasm for Woodruff and the program these days. For one thing, Woodruff is a completely uncommunicative coach. He's the only coach among about 20 or more head coaches at Tennessee who never talks....ever...never talks about the program, holds no pressers before or during the season, doesn't comment on matches or players....nothing....ever. It's annoying, frankly. To be sure, non-rev, Olympic Sports coaches don't get much press attention; still, give the fans something. You'll get a few, very brief, pat comments about signees from an associate coach, and that's it. The other issue is program turnover: After watching excellent players like Walton, Monday, Matsui spend four years with the program, there has been constant turnover the last three years. Numerous players--domestic and international--have come in as freshmen or transfers and they're nearly all gone after a year, replaced by transfers and other signees who also soon disappear, replaced by another batch of signees and transfers. The portal is the main cause of the today's revolving-doors rosters, but some of it seems to be Woodruff as well. He's always struck me as a good coach, maybe very good, but there's been so much roster turmoil it's hard to know what to make of things now.
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Year over year Woodruff does a very good job. It's not been too long since Monday and Walton were there, and last year he brought in grad student Kotzen who could have gone anywhere.

Managing players in the age of NIL and the portal has turned how coaches manage athlete retention on it's head. Many coaches are still adjusting across all sports. Heck Nick Saban left the college game because of it, recently so did Kansas State FB coach Chris Klieman. In the tennis world outside of Wake Forest, it's a little hard for me to say which coach has managed the new hellscape of NIL and transfer portal well.

I don't know Woodruff, but he does have standoffish personality, and might just be he's an introvert. He certainly could help himself promote the team and fire up some fan enthusiasm by jumping on the Vols radio or having his assistant do that once in a while. Not making excuses for the guy, but give him some time to adjust to the system.
 
SEC play already starts tomorrow.

Texas at Alabama - nice for Texas to get the worst SEC team right after indoors to let them take it a bit easy just a few days after the title.

LSU at Georgia - upset alert for LSU

Florida @ Auburn - upset alert for Florida

Tennessee @ Kentucky - both teams need to get a W on the board badly

South Carolina @ Oklahoma
Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State
Ole Miss @ Texas A&M

^These three matches would be more interesting at upset alert if they were at the other location. But the favorites should get it done on their home courts.
 
Someone who has some intel on gator women’s tennis has to fill me in on three things:
1) why Nicholson transferred this year and is on our roster if she cannot play (fall at GT)
2) did our other best player Emily seibold simply quit the team after ITA Indoors? No longer on roster and nowhere to be seen vs Auburn today

And 3) by god has anyone ever taught Pawlak how to poach - I’ve never in my life seen someone routinely leave so early on poaches such that she gets beat down the line like a child every time

Attended Auburn at UF today expecting an elite battle…but w Seibold gone, Nicholson still wandering around on sidelines, and one of our doubles players playing 4.0 quality doubles…this isn’t off to a great start
 
I can only imagine the NCAA must have recently ruled the 26 yo grad transfer Seibold ineligible or something - do these determinations not happen…before the players start competing?
 
Impressions of UF’s much improved but not title contending without Seibold or Nicholson team:

Paskauskas (soph) and Brooke Black (fr) are absolute grinders and gamers - if I had to put someone on a court to play a tiebreak for me for a million dollars, give me either of them, so smooth, so smart, what a core to build around in the next couple years

Gynina (jr) has huge power and talent but simply a bit overmatched by Bennett at 1 today - losing 3,3

Houghton played an uneven match, was up 5-3 40-0 and let the match get away after failing to close that opportunity

Nong I hope has more to offer than she did winning 3 games at 6 today

And Pawlak (fr) is among the more confusing players I’ve ever seen, struggling and going down in straights at 5 despite beating #1 Bennett in the fall - big forehand, little brains, little grind, and misses more balls by 5+ feet than any serious men’s or women’s college player I’ve ever seen - think Ostapenko but less consistent and with less of a plan B - hopefully she’ll grow this year realizing she cannot just win 2-3 ball points like she could in junior tennis, some obvious potential if she harnesses the power
 
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Pretty wild day to start SEC play. Several 4-3 matches

South Carolina upsets Oklahoma in Norman.

A&M barely survives Ole Miss. The Rebs really had several chances to win it. Their first loss. Shows they can play with good teams after a soft schedule to start the year.

Miss State barely survived Vandy after a rally on court 3.

Also Kentucky got a W over Tennessee
 
Texas barely won. The first match to finish ended up being the difference. At #2 Jovanovic was up 4-1 and lost 5 straight games and Ivanovski won it 6-4. Would’ve been a Miss State win if he had held that lead.

Arkansas blew 3 team match points against SC. Pougault had a 5-4 40-15 lead on Avram at #5 while returning. Avram saved all 3 match points and then won the set 7-5. Da Silva then clinched on #1 6-4 in the third.

Gamecocks go 2-0 on the road to start the SEC season. Goffi is doing it again somehow
 
SavvyStringer said:
AND keep in mind that's still working within the old structure of 4.5 scholarships and $0 NIL dollars. That's strict team and talent development.
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Wow I didn’t know he had $0 NIL. SC’s best men’s sport for a while should have more than that.

Yeah he’s doing it without any flashy new signings or any transfers this year. Lost Gamecock legend Thompson, no more Hoole, Sarr transferred…

Da Silva and Daryabeigi are good players but them shaping into solid #1 and #2 players is indicative of good development.

Not to mention success coming so far even with Karahan’s form falling off a cliff after he had been promising last year.

Long way go to this season of course but already a great coaching job from Goffi.

That’s that Clemson Tiger brain still working strong, even if he’s using it for evil purposes now
 
Really nice win from UF women vs Oklahoma today

Dropped another dubs point but came out firing in singles and won it w depth (2,4,5,6)

Nong played so much better at 6 than the other day vs a very tenacious opponent, dictating w the heavy forehand and making some nice finishes at the net

Brooke Black just a stud again, shrugging off some tough breaks in 2nd set against an unconventional slicer / dicer to roll through the 3rd

Houghton and Pawlak managed to be aggressive while giving away far fewer free points than the other day vs Auburn

Two thumbs up, ladies
 
collegetennisisthebest said:
A&M played without their number 2 (Montsi) and number 4 (Pires) against Vanderbilt. Frusina has been a disappointment for them.
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I think Pires was dropped due to form. He had lost 4 in a row before that match and did play doubles. But Montsi may be injured. The Freshman Molder and Papamalamis have played well for A&M, but everyone else has been mediocre to disappointing.
 
Number 1 Georgia women lose to number 35 Vanderbilt. Mike J., where are you.....men dawgs lose to number 70 and the women dawgs lose to a non top 25 team......Mike J., you must be elated.
 
If Vanderbilt men win on Sunday at Ole Miss, Vanderbilt men will be in sole possession of first place in the SEC.....with a 5-1 record....

who had that on their prediction card at the beginning of the year?
 
Auburn really took care of business today against Alabama.
Georgia rebounded and really played well at Mississippi State.
Mississippi State can't keep sending Ferrer Guimares out to play 6 singles....If they do, they are down 1-0 to start every match against a good team.

I was very impressed by Vaksmann. He put a beatdown today on Noah Johnston

First year coach at Ole Miss....got a really nice win today over a solid Vandy team.
 
The SEC is kind of imploding on itself with lower ranked teams winning every week. But the formula rewards that more than the losses hurt so it’ll end up being a good thing for the league. Could have as many as 7-8 SEC regional hosts and we could see every team in the league make the tournament if Tennessee can get a win or two.
 
Clemson_tennis said:
The SEC is kind of imploding on itself with lower ranked teams winning every week. But the formula rewards that more than the losses hurt so it’ll end up being a good thing for the league. Could have as many as 7-8 SEC regional hosts and we could see every team in the league make the tournament if Tennessee can get a win or two.
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This next weekend...is Tennessee's best shot....they host Arkansas and Alabama on Friday and Sunday. When the new rankings come out this week, there will be 7 SEC teams in the top 16. Texas at 3 ; LSU at 6 ; Miss. State at 7 ; A&M at 11 ; Georgia at 12 ; Vandy at 13 and S. Carolina at 14.
In the top 25...Auburn at 18 ; Florida at 22 ; and Ole Miss at 23

That being said, I do not see the SEC getting 7 teams into the sweet 16. Columbia and Stanford are two teams (if healthy) that could knock off SEC teams in regionals. if Florida can get Ganesan back, they can do some damage in the SEC tournament.
 
I can’t believe Claverie almost beat Chan. That match going 4-3 down to a final tiebreak with TCU winning doubles.

SEC really would have had a path to 8 hosts had Florida won that.
 
vols at gator's women's match is a good one, and i'll vomit if UF loses it

UF currently up 3-2, they had a match point in the deciding doubles match and lost it, and they've had four match points (a 40-0 service game) on Pawlak's court so far
 
so, one of the craziest finishes to a dual match i've seen, and i've seen a good many

Pawlak squanders 4 more match points in the 3rd set TB, up 6-3 and 8-7...and then down 8-9 in the TB she hits a ball down the line that looked...very close...
 
Tennessee player calls it out, far sideline from umpire, overruled, and enough overrules in the match that it also carries a penalty that hands UF the tiebreak and the match

I think it did just catch, but the balls on that umpire to make that stand at that point in the match, props
 
mikej said:
Tennessee player calls it out, far sideline from umpire, overruled, and enough overrules in the match that it also carries a penalty that hands UF the tiebreak and the match

I think it did just catch, but the balls on that umpire to make that stand at that point in the match, props
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assume there was a far side line official that either confirmed or corrected the call far side typically is on the camera side so unseen
 
JLyon said:
assume there was a far side line official that either confirmed or corrected the call far side typically is on the camera side so unseen
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Didn’t see anyone else weigh in in the call, almost immediate overrule from umpire

Regardless I do think ump got it right, just a wild way to finish a dual match
 
This is a huge weekend for both Mississippi State and Georgia as they both have 2 challenging matches on the road.
Can Vanderbilt get one home win this weekend against 2 tough opponents....?

this has been the year of upsets in the SEC.
I certainly did not see the Sooners beating the Longhorns last weekend. What will be the upset of the weekend?

Friday March 20th
#3 Texas at #13 Vanderbilt
#6 Mississippi State at #9 Texas A&M
#37 Arkansas at #7 LSU
#11 Georgia at #19 Ole Miss
#27 Kentucky at #16 South Carolina
#20 Florida at #41 Alabama
#14 Auburn at #17 Oklahoma

Sunday March 22
#3 Texas at #27 Kentucky
#6 Miss. State at #7 LSU
#11 UGA at #13 Vandy
#14 Auburn at #37 Arkansas
#41 Bama at #17 Oklahoma
#20 Florida at #48 Tennessee


of course, the big non SEC mens match of the weekend is #1 Virginia at #4 Wake Forest on Sunday
Arizona can really move up in the rankings this week. They host #8 Baylor and #2 TCU.
The womens dream match of the weekend is #4 Auburn at #1 Georgia.
 
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say no upsets this weekend (that actually is going out on a limb this year in the SEC). Except OU over Auburn which isn’t really an upset in Norman despite the rankings
 
Match of the year candidate between Kentucky and South Carolina. All six singles courts went to a 3rd set and were all around the same, even point early in the 3rd at the same time. No match was ahead of the others. The first match to get off the court didn't happen until like 2 hours and 40 minutes in. After SC had a 3-0 lead, Kentucky fought back to make it 3-2.

Then there were dueling 3rd-set tiebreaks on courts 1 and 4, where UK was fighting off match points simultaneously before SC eventually clinched on #4 7-5, while #1 was abandoned at 10-9 for Stephenson.
 
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