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WBB: Stanford 84 -- Arizona 60 - Printable Version

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WBB: Stanford 84 -- Arizona 60 - 81alum - 02-06-2023

Preview:

We are now repeating our Pac 12 opponents, so I won't repeat the information in my preview for the last time we played Arizona, way back on January 2.  That information can be found here:
https://thecardboard.org/board/showthread.php?tid=23928

Our game on January 2 was a bit of a harbinger of things to come--while we won it comfortably, the Arizona defense was beginning to show the tactics that eventually made the next game at Cal into a "root canal," the next game at UCLA into a low-scoring and essentially tied game through three, and then the disaster at USC.  So Arizona now has much more information available to help its stingy defense emulate the success of USC, Washington, and the semi-successes of numerous other coaches.  Add to this the fact that this time it is at their place, which has had enormous crowds in recent years, and it is televised nationally on ESPN--and this looks for all intents and purposes like a far greater challenge than the game at Washington, and is of greater consequence.  Furthermore, the committee will have its first "reveal" of the top 16 teams in seed order at halftime of this game.  If we earn a disappointing seeding, one hopes it won't be a distraction in the second half.

The good news is that we also have the advantage of seeing how other teams have exposed Arizona's weaknesses.  Since we played them at Maples, Arizona is 6-3, having lost at Utah, at Colorado, and (most shockingly) at home to Washington State.  Recently they are hot--they went to LA and beat USC and UCLA on the road, and we are lined up to be on their home menu next.  Arizona is currently ranked 17,  Massey has them at 17, NET has them at 25.

Rather than review all the starters as I did 5 weeks ago, I will focus only on their last game, to give you a sense of their current state.  Against the USC defense that stifled us, Arizona scored 81 points--but only after 2 overtimes.  In regulation the teams tied at 58.  Arizona's offense was, frankly, pretty awful in the first half--they had scored only 18 points by halftime.  USC did to them what they did to us.

But (unlike us) Arizona solved the puzzle at halftime and had much better third, fourth, and overtime periods--to the point that the score looks like a decent offensive game, despite scoring only 6 points in quarter 2.

On defense, Arizona was badly hurt (drum roll) by Destiny Littleton, who scored 21, although Arizona held her to 3/11 three point shooting.  For the first three quarters, USC was held to 11, 13, and 12 points by the Arizona defense.  In the end, USC had 4 players score in the upper teens, so Arizona's defense started to go soft in the 4th and overtime, but since USC's did as well, Arizona was able to pull it out.

On offense, Cate Reese is coming off a monster 33 point game.  Remember that we could not score inside against USC.  Clearly Arizona found a way.  Guards Shaina Pellington and Jade Loville each added 17 points--no one else was in double figures.  Three point shooting was sedate except for Jade Loville, who was 3/5. 

We need to blanket Jade Loville--in our first game she victimized both Lepolo and Nivar until Tara put Belibi on her, and not only was Belibi effective defending her, Belibi also grabbed 5 O-boards.  Loville has to be our #1 priority.

Reese I think can be neutralized by Brink or at least kept within reasonable scoring parameters by Iriafen or the other bigs.

I think we showed in our first game that we can defend Arizona.  But Thursday will be a really good test to see whether our offense has indeed regressed, or whether we can find a way to score on a good defensive team that has been armed with the Washington and USC blueprints.

I am happy that we play Arizona first this weekend.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - BobK - 02-07-2023

Thanks again 81. We play Thursday 6:30 our time espn

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - crackpot - 02-07-2023

Thank you, 81. I think you've lowered the chance of me having nightmares tonight.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - mbdude - 02-09-2023

Arizona women’s basketball notebook: On facing Stanford, Helena Pueyo, supporting moms in McKale Center and more - Arizona Desert Swarm (azdesertswarm.com)

Go at the shot blocker

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - Card10Fan - 02-09-2023

Made it to Tucson for tonight’s game. Rumored to be sold out or a near sell out and that they will be giving away Adia Barnes bobble heads. Hoping we show some toughness and grit in what’s going to be a tough environment.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - martyup - 02-09-2023

I hope our team isn't as nervous as I am.

[Image: funny-face.gif]

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - 81alum - 02-09-2023

(02-09-2023, 01:04 PM)mbdude Wrote:  Arizona women’s basketball notebook: On facing Stanford, Helena Pueyo, supporting moms in McKale Center and more - Arizona Desert Swarm (azdesertswarm.com)

Go at the shot blocker
Interesting what Barnes had to say:
Quote:There are things to be learned from UW’s win. The Huskies were effective in getting Cameron Brink in foul trouble, which helped them win the rebounding battle 34-24. The Cardinal average 45.7 rebounds per game, so it was a brobdingnagian feat for Washington.

“If you rebound and make shots, I think you have a chance,” Barnes said. “And [Washington] really packed it in. It was interesting. Washington had multiple people around Cameron, and they left some people unguarded. I’m sure [Stanford is] gonna make changes and it’s gonna be hard, but I think [Washington] just played a really big game. And I think in this league if you catch anybody on any given night, everybody’s capable of winning.”
(02-09-2023, 02:16 PM)Card10Fan Wrote:  Made it to Tucson for tonight’s game. Rumored to be sold out or a near sell out and that they will be giving away Adia Barnes bobble heads. Hoping we show some toughness and grit in what’s going to be a tough environment.
It would be tough in any environment.  However, I sometimes wonder if it is possible for teams to feed on negative crowd energy just as they can feed on positive crowd energy.  Sometimes I think so.

Spike - Spike - 02-09-2023

We’re here in Tucson!
2 margaritas down and off to the game.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - crackpot - 02-09-2023

Holly Rowe is there, and Jones, Lepolo and Brink show off their bruises and stitches: https://twitter.com/sportsiren/status/1623803832991121410

Slap at Geno, or nah?

RE: Spike - Card10Fan - 02-09-2023

(02-09-2023, 04:57 PM)Spike Wrote:  We’re here in Tucson!
2 margaritas down and off to the game.

Did you get here early enough for a bobblehead? I got here an hour before tip and too late. Sitting in the small Stanford section fan behind the bench. A few parents here. Lots of Wildcat red. Going to be a full house.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - 81alum - 02-09-2023

Let us know how things look in practice.
The hockey game is going to go way over.  I wonder which channel they will shunt our game to.....I can't remember the last time an Stanford ESPN broadcast actually started on time on the appointed channel.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - M T - 02-09-2023

(02-09-2023, 07:17 PM)81alum Wrote:  The hockey game is going to go way over.  I wonder which channel they will shunt our game to.....I can't remember the last time an Stanford ESPN broadcast actually started on time on the appointed channel.

That's because we're on the west coast.  I'm sure the 10AM EDT games start on time.

Interesting a minute after the start time, they flash a teaser, indicating ther tip is at :40, but they didn't list an alternate channel.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - 81alum - 02-09-2023

Iriafen back in the starting lineup

ESPN saying 6:37 start on their separate feed, showing up on ESPN3 at the moment.  Who knows.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - mbdude - 02-09-2023

637 our time espn news

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - martyup - 02-09-2023

[Image: alright-team-lets-get-it-the-black-hokage.gif]
Looks like a packed house.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - Griffins78 - 02-09-2023

On ESPN News

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - martyup - 02-09-2023

Announcer said that Barnes' jacket is "terrific."  I say terrifically hideoous.
The announcers have nothing to say. Silence.

[Image: giphy.gif]

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - DaBears17 - 02-09-2023

I tuned in to watch a basketball game and a hockey fight broke out with 8.5 seconds in the 3rd period.

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - mbdude - 02-09-2023

That is an excessively long timeout

RE: WBB: Stanford @ Arizona Thursday 6:30 ESPN - martyup - 02-09-2023

That number 6 next to "Stanford" really pisses me off.