WBB: Postseason tournament - Printable Version
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RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - old spanish trail - 03-22-2025
(03-22-2025, 08:42 AM)chimera Wrote:(03-22-2025, 04:33 AM)81alum Wrote:(03-21-2025, 04:58 PM)old spanish trail Wrote: .Coaching styles can be quite different, and different players mature emotionally at different paces, meaning that "fit" is indeed important. I think of Tara like Bill Walsh--coaches who treated their players as mature adults, almost professionally--in a day before they were actually professionals. Cori Close does indeed seem motherly and would be a better fit for a more vulnerable player. Both styles of coaching can be disastrous if taken to the extreme, and both can work if the fit is right.
Yes, thanks, and have to repeat I'm not biggly surprised. I love Tara, and believe Kate will do a terrific job, but Cory Close is indeed more "motherly" and was a better fit at that time in Betts' life. I don't think the "big girl" coach is still with us. And, as someone else mentioned, I will try to remember to be more sensitive to the fact that players might read comments made by rubes like us.
I have a hunch that the Cori Close style will not work so well in the era of paid college athletes. Being motherly with your employees is going to be a difficult combination to pull off.
The current state of college sports with NIL and the portal always in the back of mind, cannot be good for young athletes with mental health issues. There is already plenty of pressure playing a sport. Add in pressure when someone pays you hundreds of thousands of dollars and you are also using your social media to sell yourself, and you have heaps of pressure on them. Wait until they become employees with big paychecks. Employees have to perform a job or be fired. I cannot imagine athletes as employees who are not subject to the same rules as any other employee - perform or get replaced. More pressure there.
I feel for Betts and what she went through at Stanford and at UCLA. But she is also a highly paid athlete now. Can we still treat them as young people who need guidance and sometimes a little coddling and also as the pro athletes they are? Which predominates in the minds of fans? Are you a kid playing a sport? Aw, be kind, treat them like they are kids. Are they adult pro athletes who need to perform or there will be consequences? You are overpaid, you are not as good as we want, we need to replace you. Right now it is sorta both, and that doesn't really work.
Fair points made by both of you, but I think we'll have to wait until after this year, when the Bruins win their first NCAA championship, to see how it all works out.:)
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - VB Card - 03-22-2025
(03-22-2025, 04:42 AM)JohnR34231 Wrote:(03-21-2025, 03:40 PM)TheFarm07 Wrote: Based purely on anecdotal evidence, it feels like the wbb staff have not come off the greatest in recent years. If I recall correctly, going back to DiJonai's transfer farewell posting, didn't she thank her teammates, but not mention the staff?
Yeah, and from what I have read, it doesn't sound like Haley Jones was terribly happy with her Stanford experience either, despite all the success the team had with her there.
The ending of Haley's Stanford career left a bad taste in her mouth. It was a poor 2-3 months, in a great 4 years.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - liveoak - 03-22-2025
(03-21-2025, 01:43 PM)StanFanFam13 Wrote:(03-21-2025, 05:40 AM)Jskass Wrote: https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/44303007/women-march-madness-2025-ucla-bruins-lauren-betts-ncaa-tournament-women-basketball-star
there's a lot there. What could have been -- very complicated but also aspects saying the fit wasn't right (comment by Belibi about post type of play) -- but the assistant coach comment? So happy that Lauren made the right moves for herself/mental health even though at Stanford's loss.
Thanks for sharing. Like others, I am genuinely happy that Betts took the courageous step of asking for help when it came to her mental health—and I'm so glad she had the community and support structures that ensured she'd receive it. Before she is a player, she is a person. I want good things for her.
And I appreciate slightly expanded window into some of the events we've been speculating about for the past few years. Much of this confirms my assumptions (that the games she missed last season for UCLA were related to mental health, that she was not a natural fit for the system Stanford favored her freshman year, that here too she struggled with her mental health, and that at least some in the Stanford locker room—Jones in particular—actively supported the decision to transfer). Other pieces were new, most notably an unnamed member of the Stanford coaching staff referring to Betts as "big girl," even after allegedly being told she didn't like it. Also worth noting that reading online comments about her added to Betts' distress. While the internet is always going to be the internet, it's a good reminder to me to be mindful of my own posts. Here's what I hope is a fair (though perhaps not generous) take:
I'm pretty frustrated by the sentiment, as exemplified by Haley Jones' comment, that transferring was what Betts did to "choose herself." To me, the lesson—especially in light of some continued struggles at UCLA—is to ask for the help you need! At worst, this points to the broader risk of the transfer portal as a bandaid. I wonder what it would have looked like for Betts to open up to Tara and Kate the way she did to Cori Close and give them the chance to support her. There's a reasonable conversation to be had about how well Stanford overall prioritizes athlete mental health, but Mikayla Brewer's experience suggests to me that the women's basketball program specifically would have been supportive. It would be a shame if future players looked at her trajectory and either made unfair assumptions about Stanford or took it as a sign that all they need to change their fortunes is a change of scenery.
Perhaps a secondary lesson: to find the right place for you, make sure you are choosing for the right reasons. This article makes it sound as though Betts picked Stanford in part to "stick it to the haters," as it were. At bottom, if UCLA is the right place for Betts, so be it. Like I said, I wish her well as a person. And I'm not rooting against her as a player, but I can't say I'm cheering for her either.
It's also possible that the staff did not appear to Betts to be receptive to her issues. If one of the coaches was calling her "big girl" after they knew she didn't like it, I can see why a player might not feel open to discuss mental health issues with them. For me, I think she's a great player and I hope she wins a ring.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - Canalejas - 03-23-2025
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/college/article/ex-stanford-star-kiki-iriafen-handling-20235817.php
Quote:Ex-Stanford star Kiki Iriafen handling big expectations at hometown USC
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - Spiny_Norman - 03-24-2025
Juju Watkins was injured in tonight's game. Went down holding her knee and was carried off the court. Looked bad.
Kiki stepped up to lead USC to a dominant win over Mississippi State. She scored a season-high 36 points and like last year vs. Iowa State she was unstoppable.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - PVTree - 03-25-2025
Juju with the dreaded ACL injury. She's done for the season, and U$C's championship odds greatly diminish.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - HalloHaleakala - 03-25-2025
The heck was up with the fans booing Miss. St. whenever they had possession? So ignorant (NTM wholly unsportsmanlike). There was some incidental contact; obviously nothing nefarious or heinous about it. Too bad Watkins is hurt, but it's not those young ladies' fault. Injuries are a part of sports.
Stay ever so classytrashy, USC Jr. Waiting impatiently for Saturday to see them get bounced.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - Griffins78 - 03-25-2025
It was not an isolated incident. MS was very physical throughout the game, probably excessively and purposeful. They seemed to be trying to bully SC to get in their heads or intimidate them. I think the fans reflected the teams attitude that they were not going to back down. MS continued to be extra physical knocking down other players right before and soon after JuJu went down. Just before JuJu MS 6’6” post player fouls Kiki and throws her body and brings her arms down on Kiki’s head to knock her down. Didn’t even touch the ball.
The MS player that fouled JuJu did not play the ball - she ran through JuJu and caused the injury by pushing her as JuJu was planting her foot.
I think we would have reacted the same way.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - petersalas - 03-26-2025
No, I completely disagree that Stanford fans would have reacted the same way. USC fans were terrible at the last PAC 12 tournament. I was just cheering Stanford on and I was trash talked the entire championship game. Their fans made me experience something I have never before and it made uncomfortable. And this was with their team winning. JuJu is their star and deservedly so and hope the fans support women’s basketball long after she’s graduated and moved on, but regardless of what happened the other night, they would have treated Miss State the same way they did after what happened, but maybe not to the extent. I could clearly hear them calling for a flagrant and the play looked nothing like a flagrant from the replays. I’m disappointed in how her season ended because we’ve been part of too many season ending injuries and part of the wrong side of history that I never want this for anyone else. It’s just my opinion and take from how I was trash talked for cheering on Stanford.
(03-25-2025, 07:48 AM)Griffins78 Wrote: It was not an isolated incident. MS was very physical throughout the game, probably excessively and purposeful. They seemed to be trying to bully SC to get in their heads or intimidate them. I think the fans reflected the teams attitude that they were not going to back down. MS continued to be extra physical knocking down other players right before and soon after JuJu went down. Just before JuJu MS 6’6” post player fouls Kiki and throws her body and brings her arms down on Kiki’s head to knock her down. Didn’t even touch the ball.
The MS player that fouled JuJu did not play the ball - she ran through JuJu and caused the injury by pushing her as JuJu was planting her foot.
I think we would have reacted the same way.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - crackpot - 03-26-2025
(03-26-2025, 06:30 AM)petersalas Wrote: No, I completely disagree that Stanford fans would have reacted the same way. USC fans were terrible at the last PAC 12 tournament. I was just cheering Stanford on and I was trash talked the entire championship game. Their fans made me experience something I have never before and it made uncomfortable. And this was with their team winning. JuJu is their star and deservedly so and hope the fans support women’s basketball long after she’s graduated and moved on, but regardless of what happened the other night, they would have treated Miss State the same way they did after what happened, but maybe not to the extent. I could clearly hear them calling for a flagrant and the play looked nothing like a flagrant from the replays. I’m disappointed in how her season ended because we’ve been part of too many season ending injuries and part of the wrong side of history that I never want this for anyone else. It’s just my opinion and take from how I was trash talked for cheering on Stanford.
(03-25-2025, 07:48 AM)Griffins78 Wrote: It was not an isolated incident. MS was very physical throughout the game, probably excessively and purposeful. They seemed to be trying to bully SC to get in their heads or intimidate them. I think the fans reflected the teams attitude that they were not going to back down. MS continued to be extra physical knocking down other players right before and soon after JuJu went down. Just before JuJu MS 6’6” post player fouls Kiki and throws her body and brings her arms down on Kiki’s head to knock her down. Didn’t even touch the ball.
The MS player that fouled JuJu did not play the ball - she ran through JuJu and caused the injury by pushing her as JuJu was planting her foot.
I think we would have reacted the same way.
Completely agree. While I might have also been yelling at the refs had it been one of ours, watching the replay of Juju collapsing made my stomach sink to the floor, especially because there was so little contact. If she'd gotten a hard hit my mind would not have immediately gone to those 3 nasty letters.
I would consider myself one of the rudest Stanford fans, but I say that because nearly all of our fans just sit there quietly mumbling when something happens to one of our players. Heck, we're not even great at cheering (though maybe getting better?).
I only remember one time where I thought our fans were rude--in 2000 at a game at St. Mary's. The refs were being problematic, and the Stanford fans around me were going absolutely berzerk and screaming all kinds of nasty stuff. I felt like I'd landed on another planet. I still wonder where they came from...
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - Spiny_Norman - 03-28-2025
Is Cori Close making a subtle dig at Stanford in this comment? Bolding is mine.
Quote:“I think we should try to get [Lauren Betts] a touch every single time in transition off a missed basket stop,” Close said. “But the great luxury of having Lauren is that she also creates really good opportunities for our other players. . . We always say no robots allowed. We want to have them be basketball players that are reading situations and making plays out of that.”
https://www.si.com/college/ucla/women-s-basketball/bruins-cori-close-ole-miss-rebels-sweet-16-ncaa-tournament
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - crackpot - 03-29-2025
(03-28-2025, 01:31 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: Is Cori Close making a subtle dig at Stanford in this comment? Bolding is mine.
Quote:“I think we should try to get [Lauren Betts] a touch every single time in transition off a missed basket stop,” Close said. “But the great luxury of having Lauren is that she also creates really good opportunities for our other players. . . We always say no robots allowed. We want to have them be basketball players that are reading situations and making plays out of that.”
https://www.si.com/college/ucla/women-s-basketball/bruins-cori-close-ole-miss-rebels-sweet-16-ncaa-tournament
Probably, yeah.
Every time I woke up in the middle of the night, I kept wondering if Betts was still in the paint. Seriously, 6-10 seconds and the refs don't even blink. It's been like that all season. She must mesmerize them or something.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - Maple Leaf - 03-29-2025
Domers lost to Agnes Emma-Nnopu and her TCU teammates. Very happy for Agnes. TCU's starters are all transfer, four of them including Agnes faced each other in the 'Old' Pac-12.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - JohnR34231 - 03-29-2025
(03-29-2025, 12:08 PM)Maple Leaf Wrote: Domers lost to Agness Emma-Nnopu and her TCU teammates. Very happy for Agness. TCU's starters are all transfer, four of them including Agness faced each other in the 'Old' Pac-12.
ND's three stars were 10-44 from the floor. Picked a bad day to have a bad day.
P.S. When teams are all transfers you can't help wondering a bit. Is this really college basketball?
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - Jskass - 03-29-2025
Campbell excellent coach who will undoubtedly build teams and did transfer portal initially — remember if you look at those starters he probably had developed relationships with them all several years ago as a UO assistant.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - JohnR34231 - 03-30-2025
UCLA beating LSU with Betts on the bench in foul trouble.
Impressive.
The Bruins pull it out.
They are a good team. With or without Betts in there. I'll give them that.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - jonnyss - 03-30-2025
(03-30-2025, 01:13 PM)JohnR34231 Wrote: UCLA beating LSU with Betts on the bench in foul trouble.
Impressive.
The Bruins pull it out.
They are a good team. With or without Betts in there. I'll give them that.
jaquez big in the final minutes. to my eyes jaquez was the star of the mcdonald's all-american game her senior year.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - Spiny_Norman - 03-30-2025
Jaquez came up big like her brother did for the UCLA men in 2021. Pretty cool that both Jaquez kids have played or will play in a Final Four.
The other star for the Bruins today was Oregon St transfer Timea Gardner. She scored 15 points in 22 minutes off the bench, all on 3 pointers.
BTW, UCLA has 9 McDonalds All Americans on its roster this season.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - qwerty49 - 03-31-2025
(03-30-2025, 01:13 PM)JohnR34231 Wrote: UCLA beating LSU with Betts on the bench in foul trouble.
Impressive.
The Bruins pull it out.
They are a good team. With or without Betts in there. I'll give them that.
They get bonus points for eliminating any future sideline shots of Mulkey’s tantrums for the next couple of weeks.
RE: WBB: Postseason tournament - BostonCard - 03-31-2025
USC was the only #1 across the men and women not to make the final four. Tough end to Kiki’s career. 3/15 shooting and only 10 points, playing all 40 minutes.
Now that the final four is UCLA, UConn, Texas, and South Carolina, I’m rooting for the sweet meteor of death (though failing that, South Carolina).
BC