I view Thursday’s game versus Tennessee as perhaps the biggest to date for this team and a major “indicator” as to where NC has the program. A close loss or a win shows that any hangover from this recent losing streak is over and the team and coaches were prepared to bounce back to maybe being the very good (top 10ish) team they were until a few weeks ago.

However a blowout loss or a sloppy loss tells me the problems for this team are deep and the prospect for a good run in either the SEC or NCAA tourney are dim at best.

I think even the most optimistic Lady Tiger fan would agree that there is something to be very concerned about (off court) if we do not show up Thursday. Beyond the implications of our SEC and NCAA seed, losing badly to UT makes the Alabama game (a few weeks ago a very likely win) even more a must win as 7-9 in SEC even with our high RPI will mean a 7ish seed meaning we will have to face a 2 seed second round at home (ala Louisville, Stanford etc.).

I have been optimistic most of this season, but the Arkansas game was more than just a loss on the court. The players look lost and the chemistry between them and the coaches looks very strained. I feel like we are all “missing something” that could go deeper. I hope I am wrong and I have confidence we will play TN very hard, like we did when we won in Knoxvegas earlier this year. But, if we do not play well and show 40 minutes effort, I believe we have to assume we have bigger issues than just wins and losses.

For the last 10 games of last season and the first 20 or so this year, we have been a top 10 (and at times better) team. We have beaten quality teams and not had a “bad” loss. The seniors were leading and the younger players were showing signs of real talent as we built a bench that could go 5 deep. We were in position to win the SEC and have at worst a #2-3 seed playing the toughest RPI schedule to date in the country. And then the wheels fell off. Getting behind 22-4 at 5-7 UGA, losing home games to quality teams, but teams we should beat. And then last weekend losing at home after leading by 15 in second half to 4-9 Arkansas. We have fallen out of the AP top 25 for the first time in recent memory (2 years?) and are in real danger of finishing 6-9th in SEC. Our on court leader JK, looked like she was holding back in the last press conference and NC continues to point out the bright spots in the current losing streak. Needless to say something is very wrong when a team that starts 3 seniors who make up 70% of the 3 pointers, 48% of the points and 70% of the blocked shots is playing like this late in the year. Not to say we do not have a good core returning, but as far as leadership, this year’s seniors have seen a lot and have experience in 3 NCAA torments.

I have been “hot and cold” on NC from day one and was 100% ready to acknowledge that she was doing a very good job in many areas and that my worries mid-year last season were unfounded…but now, I think most fans would agree if we finish the year anywhere close to how we have played the last few weeks, the program has major issues. Still plenty of time to get back on track and just as many reason to think we will end on a high note…but a poor showing Thursday is a very bad sign. I always root for the team and that includes the coaches, but curios to know if others feels there may be deeper issues here.

This post was edited on 2/26/14 at 9:12 am