WBB: Stanford 80 UCLA 60 - Printable Version
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WBB: Stanford 80 UCLA 60 - 81alum - 01-31-2024
Preview: UCLA
UCLA comes to Maples on Sunday at 1pm in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
UCLA is ranked 7 in the AP, 8 in the coach’s poll, and is currently 4th in the Pac 12 behind Stanford, Colorado, and Oregon State. They are 16-3, having lost to USC, Utah, and WSU, but having won against UConn, Ohio State, and Colorado. Massey has them at 8, NET at 7.
Last year we played UCLA three times. In our first game, which was at UCLA, we won 72-59 behind a strong game from Jones and Brink. Betts played 2 minutes. In the second game, at home, we won 71-66 again behind strong games from Jones, Brink, and in that game—Lepolo. Betts played 15 minutes in that 2nd game and had 12 points. In the third game, which was during the Pac 12 tournament, we lost 65-69. Kiki Rice had 22, including 12/13 free throws, and her performance was the primary reason for our loss. Brink had 19, Jones had 15, but no one else was in double digits. Jump had 0 points.
UCLA, however, is not the same team we played a year ago, and is not even the same team it was earlier this year. As last year’s freshmen guards gained experience—Jones and Rice-- UCLA has even better guard play this year than last. The Jones/Rice/Osborne trio may be the best such group in the country.
But UCLA’s post position is another matter. Senior 6’4” forward Emily Bessoir is out with injury, and that is a major loss. She was not only a tall inside presence, she shot the three very well. But UCLA has had Lauren Betts, who transferred from Stanford, to anchor the middle of the defense and the offense this year, and the offense was built around her. Betts was flourishing in that role, leading the team in scoring at 16ppg, rebounding at 9rpg, and supplying that critical missing piece—especially with Bessoir’s absence, to make UCLA a national championship contender. Betts, however, did not play last weekend and there has been a great deal of speculation and absolutely no definitive answers as to why. Close was extremely emotional in her press conference following the loss to WSU, Rice noted that “we miss Lauren both on and off the court,” and it did not seem like all was well. We all hope, of course, that Lauren Betts is well and if not, that she recovers fully and quickly. But I frankly would be surprised to see her playing this weekend given the tenor of that press conference. Still, I presume our coaches have to prepare to play her, since there really is no certainty about what is going on.
UCLA does have other posts, and they have some talent. Angela Dugalic is a 6’4” senior who transferred in from Oregon and has been getting quite a lot of time. She can shoot the three, scores about 9 ppg, and is a very capable player and is agile for 6’4”. She is good. But she was starting alongside Betts most of the year and has had to move into a different role.
Last weekend the fifth position was taken by Lina Sontag. Sontag is a 6’3” sophomore forward from Germany. She had been averaging about 16 minutes and 3 points. She did not score against WSU in 20 minutes.
UCLA also has Gabriela Jaquez coming off the bench. Jaquez is a 6’0” sophomore forward who has scored as many as 30 points in a game this year, although she has been quieter during Pac12 play.
Getting back to UCLA's three excellent guards--Kiki Rice, Londynn Jones, and Charisma Osborne—all three of whom we wanted to have at Stanford—are the heart of the team. Osborne and Jones are the best and more prolific three point shooters. Rice is stronger and taller. Both Osborne and Rice have better than a 2:1 assist to turnover ratios. All three of them consistently score in double digits. Figuring out how to defend all three of them simultaneously will be a major challenge.
UCLA has now had more than a week to reorganize after it (may) have lost Lauren Betts for a while, so I expect their team to be more determined and less shell-shocked than the team that stumbled through last weekend. It will be a team of great contrasts with us. If Betts does not play, and perhaps even if she does, we will have the advantage inside with both Brink and Iriafen. But they will have the advantage outside with three outstanding guards, keeping in mind that they completely shut Jump down in the Pac 12 tournament. It will be a fascinating chess match to see what Tara puts together.
All this said, I confess to a little foreboding and sadness about Betts, without of course knowing why. I hope she does travel with the team, and I hope Stanford fans give her a warm welcome. I'd like to think we are classy enough and caring enough to do so.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - Spiny_Norman - 01-31-2024
I was at the UCLA game last year at Pauley. Stanford had a 2 point lead in a close back-and-forth game after 3 quarters. Then UCLA went cold as ice and did not score for 8 minutes in the 4th quarter allowing Stanford to pull away.
UCLA perimeter shooting can be very streaky. Osborne was 4-18 in the LA game last year. Londynn Jones was 2-8. Rice was 1-6. But they try to make up for offensive shortcomings with relentless effort on the offensive boards. Obviously Betts makes a big difference there. Even with her out of the game vs. WSU, UCLA had 15 offensive rebounds. Stanford is going to have to match UCLA's intensity.
RE: Baez87 - Spiny_Norman - 01-31-2024
(01-31-2024, 06:04 PM)Baez87 Wrote: At Wednesday’s practice, she implemented sets that provide the guards with space to penetrate the lane and become scorers, meanwhile working with the forwards to “set great ball screens for our guards,” make up for the rebounding that’s lost with Betts and pick it up on the defensive side.
We have great guards on this team,” sophomore Kiki Rice said Wednesday. “We’ve focused a lot on establishing the post in all of our games so far. Without her, we do have to recognize that, ‘OK, we have to bring back our attack mentality.’”
An underrated team defensive skill is how to switch off effectively on high ball screens. Pac 12 opponents (especially Colorado) use high ball screens a lot. Effective defense starts with excellent communication between players as they switch (or don't) and then recover to guard their assigned offensive player. Stanford does this pretty well, at least to my eyes they do. Something for fans to watch on Sunday.
Also the officiating can play a big role in this game. UCLA will want to attack the basket with its guards. When contact occurs (as it certainly will), will the refs call a foul or let them play? Will they favor the driver or the defender? Watch for UCLA to try to get Brink and Iriafen to the bench as soon as possible with foul trouble.
Baez87 - Baez87 - 01-31-2024
https://www.dailynews.com/2024/01/31/uclas-lauren-betts-day-to-day-with-no-updates-on-absence/
LOS ANGELES — UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close on Wednesday offered a guarded update on center Lauren Betts, who has missed the Bruins’ past two games for “undisclosed medical” reasons.
“She practiced a little bit today,” Close said. “She’s day to day and we’re starting to reintegrate her a little bit.”
Close didn’t go into details on the extent of Betts’ absence, what has caused it or a specific date of when she could return to game action, but she mentioned that UCLA will send out a press release with information Saturday.
I will share the article in the event that you can’t get through the paywall:
The hardest thing about this,” said Close, “is that we had designed so much around Lauren and so we hope to be able to get her back soon, but I think it’s a big shift.”
At Wednesday’s practice, she implemented sets that provide the guards with space to penetrate the lane and become scorers, meanwhile working with the forwards to “set great ball screens for our guards,” make up for the rebounding that’s lost with Betts and pick it up on the defensive side.
We have great guards on this team,” sophomore Kiki Rice said Wednesday. “We’ve focused a lot on establishing the post in all of our games so far. Without her, we do have to recognize that, ‘OK, we have to bring back our attack mentality.’”
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - crackpot - 01-31-2024
LOL. They're playing us. Saturday. How convenient.
As a primary ball handler, Rice had found comfort dictating the Bruins’ sets, getting Betts and her teammates going before looking to score herself. In the past two games, she’s had to learn how to balance facilitating and being a scorer without unnecessarily forcing the action.
To do so, it requires a transition in her mindset regarding the game plan.
For example, when the Bruins run screen-and-rolls, instead of immediately passing it to the post player because she’s defended by a smaller player, Rice will look to take advantage of a slower defender who has to step out and guard her.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - 81alum - 01-31-2024
(01-31-2024, 07:38 PM)crackpot Wrote: LOL. They're playing us. Saturday. How convenient..They play us Sunday. So they will give us a few hours notice ;)
Tara does the same thing about injuries--trying to keep our next opponent guessing. But Rice is certainly talking strategy that doesn't include Betts.
Beware the moving screens.
First, however, we have a team that I think may be better than UCLA coming to town.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - BillBradley - 01-31-2024
By far the biggest variable for both games this weekend is how the refs call the game. If they blow the whistle at every opportunity we could be in for a long weekend. I'm not just talking about Cam and Kiki staying out of foul trouble. I'm talking about the opposing guards (Juju, Kiki, Charisma, etc.) shooting a gazillion free throws because they attack the basket, throw their bodies into anyone and everyone, and fall down. Really hoping the refs don't reward that style of play.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - PalmTree - 01-31-2024
(01-31-2024, 10:08 PM)81alum Wrote:(01-31-2024, 07:38 PM)crackpot Wrote: LOL. They're playing us. Saturday. How convenient..
First, however, we have a team that I think may be better than UCLA coming to town.
Copy that. That said, I've been encouraged by the our young/non-starting guards and wings have played the last couple of weeks, and think we have a reasonable chance of at least splitting this weekend's games.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - TheFarm07 - 02-02-2024
No Betts in the game against Cal tonight
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - 2006alum - 02-02-2024
(02-02-2024, 09:00 PM)TheFarm07 Wrote: No Betts in the game against Cal tonightWell Cori did say she'd provide an update on Saturday....
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - 81alum - 02-03-2024
A few updates and notes based on UCLA's victory over Cal Friday night.
Betts was not on the bench. It appears that even though she has resumed some light practice with the team, that she did not travel to Berkeley. The trip to the Bay Area is short, however, and if she is healthy she might show up tomorrow.
Lina Sontag, a 6'3" backup forward who has been averaging 16 minutes given the injury to Bessoir, and who started and played 20 minutes against Cal, will reputedly be traveling to join her national team today. I'll believe it when I don't see her on the bench.
Izzy Antsey, a 6'4" backup senior forward from Australia, was also apparently not at Cal. She has not played since mid January, and has seldom played more than single digits this year. Still, with Bessoir, Betts, and Sontag all possibly out for Sunday she would have given UCLA some height.
I'm not sure whether any or all of this will happen--a UCLA press release is expected today that may tell us more. But one more thing happened at Cal that should catch our attention.
Charisma Osborne scored 32 points. No, she did not score 50, but she did score more than 20 in the first half. UCLA went to a guard oriented strategy and it worked beautifully for them. Rice had a very off night, with 0 points, 0 assists, and 4 turnovers. Jones scored 18 and Dukalic 12. Unlike USC, we can't key on just one player--not that it helped us last night! But it was Rice who "went off" and beat us with a 20+ point game last time we played UCLA, so their 3 or 4 headed monster is still formidable even if they wind up with only one "big" available.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - Card10Fan - 02-03-2024
Perimeter defense will be important. Rice, Osborne, Jaquez, Jones can all go off for 20 or more. I think rebounding will be key. UCLA hits the O boards hard.
Looks like almost a sellout with how few tickets remain. Let’s protect our home court and play a better all around game.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - Vandelay - 02-03-2024
Give Betts a warm welcome? Yeah, don't know about that. She should have stayed at Stanford.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - 81alum - 02-03-2024
(02-02-2024, 09:11 PM)2006alum Wrote:I have not found an update as of yet.(02-02-2024, 09:00 PM)TheFarm07 Wrote: No Betts in the game against Cal tonightWell Cori did say she'd provide an update on Saturday....
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - crackpot - 02-03-2024
Sunday game. ESPN. Chance of Missy: 84%
Chance that Missy will call many fouls on UCLA after looking at their bench: 0.003%
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - 81alum - 02-04-2024
I still have not seen the promised press release that was due out yesterday from UCLA. However, there is this press conference after the Cal game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TNhtHxCiFc&t=53s
Close talks about the transition to a guard oriented offense, among other things.
Asked about our loss to USC and how UCLA will prepare for us, she said the obvious: "At this time of year you are led by your guards, and I feel really good about our guards."
I think UCLA edits these press conference videos. There must have been questions about who played, who is coming back from injury, etc., but no questions of that sort were shown.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - PVTree - 02-04-2024
(02-03-2024, 10:09 AM)Card10Fan Wrote: Perimeter defense will be important. Rice, Osborne, Jaquez, Jones can all go off for 20 or more. I think rebounding will be key. UCLA hits the O boards hard.
Looks like almost a sellout with how few tickets remain. Let’s protect our home court and play a better all around game.
Wow, it seems that it is a sellout. I tried to purchase 2-3 tickets, and there were none together. I'll have to watch the game on TV.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - jonnyss - 02-04-2024
(02-04-2024, 10:58 AM)PVTree Wrote:(02-03-2024, 10:09 AM)Card10Fan Wrote: Perimeter defense will be important. Rice, Osborne, Jaquez, Jones can all go off for 20 or more. I think rebounding will be key. UCLA hits the O boards hard.
Looks like almost a sellout with how few tickets remain. Let’s protect our home court and play a better all around game.
Wow, it seems that it is a sellout. I tried to purchase 2-3 tickets, and there were none together. I'll have to watch the game on TV.
i have 3 lower sideline tickets available if you or anyone else wants them. pm me if you like.
edit - pvtree took 2, 1 seat remaining. center lower reserved at cost.
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - 2006alum - 02-04-2024
(02-04-2024, 10:01 AM)81alum Wrote: I still have not seen the promised press release that was due out yesterday from UCLA. However, there is this press conference after the Cal game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TNhtHxCiFc&t=53s
Close talks about the transition to a guard oriented offense, among other things.
Asked about our loss to USC and how UCLA will prepare for us, she said the obvious: "At this time of year you are led by your guards, and I feel really good about our guards."
I think UCLA edits these press conference videos. There must have been questions about who played, who is coming back from injury, etc., but no questions of that sort were shown.
Per a post on the Boneyard, during halftime of the Virginia Tech - UNC game, commentators said Betts wouldn't be available today. But apparently still no update from Close about what, precisely, is going on. In any case, wish her well, and wonder whether we'll ever see her play at Maples again, given conference realignment and uncertainty about what our non-conference schedule will be in the future.
Also, I think I saw that Lina Sontag left after the Cal game to go overseas for a commitment for her German national team, so it will be a really guard-heavy strategy we see from UCLA today...
RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Sunday 1pm - BobK - 02-04-2024
Also Dugalic gone. Both she and Sontag to Brazil Olympic trials. That’s down to 7