12-21-2022, 12:14 AM
The pre-game projections proved on target. The Creighton article linked projected us winning 75-59 - a couple of made FTs and just one Jump three would have made that prediction exact. Posted above was eSPN line of us by 13.5 and we won by 13.
Lepolo was more than good and following orders, she frankly saved our bacon. Our O was pretty well stifled by Creighton and we had to resort to lots of passing around the perimeter and late shot clocks. Brink and Jones scored well and performed like AA's but almost every one of their made baskets were tough shots - very few easy. Jump was off tonight from three but will bounce back, and she had some nice cuts and drives for 2 pt. scores.
Our turnovers and FTs were awful. They have to be cleaned up. Too many unforced TOs and in our gym, we should be 80+% from the line.
Tonight Belebi should have played more. She was good and she was a good match up for the types of bodies and players Creighton has.
Brink continues to amaze. OTOH her high number of rebounds were due to many missed jumpers by Creighton and their lack of attacking the O glass.
Tara wasn't happy at half and pointed out a number of things that the team wasn't doing well. I'm sure she was even less happy after the game. I agree with her. We did not play well. We won because of superior size and better athletes. Their coach Flannery is a smart coach. He used tactics similar to what Tara has long used - play off the weakest scorer (Lepolo) and always double or triple on the best (Brink). Unfortunately for Creighton, Lepolo went off and Brink despite players in blue all over her, she is so good and still got her share of points.
Warnoing though: other teams will watch this game and the defense used agst us and we can't count on Lepolo to get 17 and 5 threes if they do - would love to see it, but it's not a good plan to expect that. Coaches need to figure adjustments to others hitting threes, better penetration, and better feeds into the post.
Lepolo was more than good and following orders, she frankly saved our bacon. Our O was pretty well stifled by Creighton and we had to resort to lots of passing around the perimeter and late shot clocks. Brink and Jones scored well and performed like AA's but almost every one of their made baskets were tough shots - very few easy. Jump was off tonight from three but will bounce back, and she had some nice cuts and drives for 2 pt. scores.
Our turnovers and FTs were awful. They have to be cleaned up. Too many unforced TOs and in our gym, we should be 80+% from the line.
Tonight Belebi should have played more. She was good and she was a good match up for the types of bodies and players Creighton has.
Brink continues to amaze. OTOH her high number of rebounds were due to many missed jumpers by Creighton and their lack of attacking the O glass.
Tara wasn't happy at half and pointed out a number of things that the team wasn't doing well. I'm sure she was even less happy after the game. I agree with her. We did not play well. We won because of superior size and better athletes. Their coach Flannery is a smart coach. He used tactics similar to what Tara has long used - play off the weakest scorer (Lepolo) and always double or triple on the best (Brink). Unfortunately for Creighton, Lepolo went off and Brink despite players in blue all over her, she is so good and still got her share of points.
Warnoing though: other teams will watch this game and the defense used agst us and we can't count on Lepolo to get 17 and 5 threes if they do - would love to see it, but it's not a good plan to expect that. Coaches need to figure adjustments to others hitting threes, better penetration, and better feeds into the post.