RE: WBB: Stanford 70 -- UC Davis 45 -
TheWildJacko - 11-22-2025
(11-22-2025, 02:13 PM)stopandpop Wrote: (11-21-2025, 04:02 PM)BosCard Wrote: (11-21-2025, 01:21 PM)stopandpop Wrote: (11-21-2025, 01:20 AM)BostonCard Wrote: Massey has us rated 19th in the country; our offensive rating is 30th, while our defense is rated 19th.
Caveats abound about small sample sizes and overmatched opponents.
BC
It's obvious by now that Kate will not be changing the offense anytime soon, so we should look for bright spots and last night there were a few. I don't know what happened to Somfai in the Gonzaga game, but she looks like a controlled 'freight train' driving the ball and scoring from the high post and other spots on the perimeter or stepping out for baseline jumpers and 3-pointers, which she made a few. Of our 3 touted freshmen, Lara has become an immediate impact player for the Cardinal and potential double-double machine, along with Agara. One concern; Lara is still prone to fouling and she needs to clean that part of her game up as the season moves forward.
What I'm noticing about Nunu this season is she's letting the game come to her, rather than forcing things. With only one field goal and a couple of free-throws at the end of the first half, Agara went to work in the 3rd. quarter, imposing herself against UC Davis and their 6'4 post, especially on the offenive boards. She will continue to up her game come Conference, but at 6'2, she will give up size and length to a number of ACC opponents and hopefully a more developed Eschmeyer and/or Umeh will allow Nunu to move to power forward.
Not sure what to make of Ogden. In the first few minutes of the game she made two great slashing moves to the basket, pulling up twice for jumpers that swished through the net and I thought 'OMG! Those are Lexie Hull moves, but after another field goal in the second quarter, Ogden was silent. Ogden looked great against Gonzaga and pretty good against Cal Poly, but in other games, she has been a non factor. If Courtney can give us more offensive consistency, she becomes a third threat that other teams must worry about.
Agree about Swain. I'm wondering if she's having trouble adapting to Kate's offense, which is quite structured.
As suspected, Kate played Eschmeyer more minutes (15:47), actually more minutes than MAS (11:34) and while she does need more work, she looked at lot more confident out there than in previous games. I especially liked her drive to the basked from the high post for an easy layup she barely missed, but grabbed the rebound and got the put-back. I don't mind the 2 3pointers she took (and missed), because she didn't hesitate and her form looked good. There was a moment in the 2nd. quarter when Kate was playing: Agara, Somfai and Eschmeyer all at the same time. Yes, defense has to improve, but I still believe that those three on the front line will eventually be one of Stanford's keys to success.
Ogden has embraced her role as the glue player. Strong defense and taking the open shots that are there but not necessarily the primary option on offense. And I think Ogden is our best perimeter defender. Quick enough to stay with most guards and long enough to alter shots. And unlike last year she’s cut down on the fouls. When we play Notre Dame, I could see Ogden being the primary defender on Hidalgo.
Agree, Ogden is a good defender, but if you happened to watch Notre Dame squeak out a win against visiting USC yesterday, Hidalgo destroyed 6'1 guard/wing Kennedy Smith, considered one of the best defensive players in the country. No one on the USC team could stop her. Defensively, Hidalgo stole the ball multiple times- against Smith, Jazzy Davidson, and others. In an earlier game she had 16 steals along with 44 points. When Stanford plays Notre Dame, the only way to slow her down is: 1) have Somfai (and not Lepolo) bring the ball upcourt and 2) double team her when she crosses midcourt with the ball, forcing her to pass. One plus for the Cardinal, Notre Dame is somewhat vulnerable inside.
Not doubting the threat that Hidalgo poses, but curious as to why you’d pick Somfai in particular to bring the ball up against her?
RE: WBB: Stanford 70 -- UC Davis 45 -
2006alum - 11-22-2025
I'm not seeing why we'd want Somfai either. She's 6'3" and Hidalgo is 5'6". That's a recipe for constant pocket picking. I'd go with Clardy or Swain, who are both faster and generally pretty good against pressure.
RE: WBB: Stanford 70 -- UC Davis 45 -
BostonCard - 11-22-2025
I think the logic is that Hidalgo wouldn't be guarding Somfai, but I agree it doesn't make sense. I might have Leopolo and Swain or Clardy and have whoever is not being guarded by Hidalgo bring the ball up. FWIW, both Lepolo and Clardy have a better than 3:1 assist/TO ratio (20/6 and 18/6, respectively).
BC
RE: WBB: Stanford 70 -- UC Davis 45 -
2006alum - 11-22-2025
(11-22-2025, 05:10 PM)BostonCard Wrote: I think the logic is that Hidalgo wouldn't be guarding Somfai, but I agree it doesn't make sense. I might have Leopolo and Swain or Clardy and have whoever is not being guarded by Hidalgo bring the ball up. FWIW, both Lepolo and Clardy have a better than 3:1 assist/TO ratio (20/6 and 18/6, respectively).
BC
Ah. Well having watched Hidalgo pick U$C's half court offense apart, it seemed like she was on whoever was bringing up the ball, regardless, until U$C survived and got into their half court set. I think she'd relish the opportunity to press Somfai up the court regardless of who her man assignment ultimately is.