[81alum]

I was at the game and spent much of it confused.  I was confused about the line-up, why we played without two bigs for the most part, when that is our strength and could have countered OSU's strength inside more.  I was confused as to why we so often had only one perimeter player out there who had the green light when OSU was totally packing the paint.  I was confused at the subbing, at how many 2 minutes and done subs we used and at how little bench scoring we got.  I was confused because so often we got a rebound, rushed it up court like we wanted to play fast but then passed to a wing, often Emma-Nnopu, who was as wide open as could be, and instead of shooting or attacking we just ran offense, which plays to OSU's strengths as a defensive team (they play better half court scouting report D than scrambling D off a fast break).  I was confused at how Lepolo was considered so indispensable she hardly came out but this game she mostly sat (still not 100%?  Then why did she play?). I was confused at why Betts and/or Prechtel did not get more run, given the style of play and the size of the other team inside.  I was confused about more but I guess that is enough confusion for one game.

I was also sad because we still can't shoot from outside, we had 5 assists all game, which is crazy low, the defense couldn't stop them early so they made it a tight game, and mostly because I sense the coaches do not have a good handle on things, that they are still struggling to figure out how to use the bench, even what sort of offense will work best with this team.  I do not sense the team coming together and improving as the team usually starts to do about now.  OSU played pretty well and is better than earlier this season because they have Gardiner back, but still and all, we should be better by more than we showed this game.  

I am losing hope that the shooting will come around or that the bench, which we touted as so good and so deep, will provide the scoring lift you need or the consistency you need.  We just seem to be making games harder than they could be or should be.  Five assists is all you need to know against a pretty non-aggressive, low pressure defense.  The game was frustrating, not because the team was bad like against USC but because aside from shooting not so well, they weren't that bad, and the game was still so close.  Are we really that much better than the bulk of the conference?  Sure doesn't look that way.  If we are not, well, most of the teams we are struggling to beat won't be making much noise in the NCAAs...

What an excellent summary of reasons for concern.  I particularly wondered why it was that Emma-Nnopu, who was 2/3 from three point range, would not take a transition 3 point shot even when left open.

Two tidbits from the chalk talk--Kate acknowledges that we have not been shooting well lately, and also acknowledged that we are working on our offensive rotation.  But as you note, this is WAY too late in the year for the coaches still to be uncertain about our offense, particularly when they have two all Americans to anchor it.  Taking Iriafen out allowed them to put Brink at the 5 and Jones at the 4--their natural positions.  But who goes everywhere else?

The nub of the problem is this: Iriafen, Betts, and Belibi seem to only be effective at the 5.  If they could more reliably make jumpshots (and Iriafen and Betts have sporadically shown this promise) then they could play alongside Brink without diminishing Brink's offense.  But having Brink play the high post while a second big plays the low post has not worked out so well--it not only pushes Brink out to the 4 it pushes Jones to the 3.

Or, to put it very simply, our strength is inside, and so opponents pack the paint and take that away.  This discombobulates the offense since we thus far do not have very many strong outside threats.  Take Jump away too, or if Jump has an off night, and we are looking at potential defeat or a very tight game.

Usually at this time of year the team is substantially improved and getting better.   That is the Tara way of things, the normal result of her terrific teaching over the season.  I've not seen improvement since the turn of the new year.  It feels unusual, and I am concerned.  There is not much time left, and we have 6 very difficult road games coming up soon.

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Probably referring to important play in fourth when ball went off Fran and Stanford awarded the ball.

I was pretty close to where the ball rolled out of bounds.  I haven't see a replay, but at the time I thought the ball had rolled over the line just before Belibi touched it.  However, I do not know who deflected it in the first place....was that also Belibi?

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The most optimistic take on this game was that we just beat a very underrated team that is catching on fire with very recent addition of #6 overall recruit Gardner, and who had a hot shooting night, while we had a tepid shooting night.  And still we won.

The most pessimistic take is that we struggled to beat a mediocre 11-9 team at home while the coaches are still experimenting, hoping to find something that works more consistently on offense, and not succeeding.  And we barely won.

---

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtRqKwMzgxI

Press Conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PrT1oai8B0

[81alum]

I was at the game and spent much of it confused.  I was confused about the line-up, why we played without two bigs for the most part, when that is our strength and could have countered OSU's strength inside more.  I was confused as to why we so often had only one perimeter player out there who had the green light when OSU was totally packing the paint.  I was confused at the subbing, at how many 2 minutes and done subs we used and at how little bench scoring we got.  I was confused because so often we got a rebound, rushed it up court like we wanted to play fast but then passed to a wing, often Emma-Nnopu, who was as wide open as could be, and instead of shooting or attacking we just ran offense, which plays to OSU's strengths as a defensive team (they play better half court scouting report D than scrambling D off a fast break).  I was confused at how Lepolo was considered so indispensable she hardly came out but this game she mostly sat (still not 100%?  Then why did she play?). I was confused at why Betts and/or Prechtel did not get more run, given the style of play and the size of the other team inside.  I was confused about more but I guess that is enough confusion for one game.

I was also sad because we still can't shoot from outside, we had 5 assists all game, which is crazy low, the defense couldn't stop them early so they made it a tight game, and mostly because I sense the coaches do not have a good handle on things, that they are still struggling to figure out how to use the bench, even what sort of offense will work best with this team.  I do not sense the team coming together and improving as the team usually starts to do about now.  OSU played pretty well and is better than earlier this season because they have Gardiner back, but still and all, we should be better by more than we showed this game.  

I am losing hope that the shooting will come around or that the bench, which we touted as so good and so deep, will provide the scoring lift you need or the consistency you need.  We just seem to be making games harder than they could be or should be.  Five assists is all you need to know against a pretty non-aggressive, low pressure defense.  The game was frustrating, not because the team was bad like against USC but because aside from shooting not so well, they weren't that bad, and the game was still so close.  Are we really that much better than the bulk of the conference?  Sure doesn't look that way.  If we are not, well, most of the teams we are struggling to beat won't be making much noise in the NCAAs...

What an excellent summary of reasons for concern.  I particularly wondered why it was that Emma-Nnopu, who was 2/3 from three point range, would not take a transition 3 point shot even when left open.

Two tidbits from the chalk talk--Kate acknowledges that we have not been shooting well lately, and also acknowledged that we are working on our offensive rotation.  But as you note, this is WAY too late in the year for the coaches still to be uncertain about our offense, particularly when they have two all Americans to anchor it.  Taking Iriafen out allowed them to put Brink at the 5 and Jones at the 4--their natural positions.  But who goes everywhere else?

The nub of the problem is this: Iriafen, Betts, and Belibi seem to only be effective at the 5.  If they could more reliably make jumpshots (and Iriafen and Betts have sporadically shown this promise) then they could play alongside Brink without diminishing Brink's offense.  But having Brink play the high post while a second big plays the low post has not worked out so well--it not only pushes Brink out to the 4 it pushes Jones to the 3.

Or, to put it very simply, our strength is inside, and so opponents pack the paint and take that away.  This discombobulates the offense since we thus far do not have very many strong outside threats.  Take Jump away too, or if Jump has an off night, and we are looking at potential defeat or a very tight game.

Usually at this time of year the team is substantially improved and getting better.   That is the Tara way of things, the normal result of her terrific teaching over the season.  I've not seen improvement since the turn of the new year.  It feels unusual, and I am concerned.  There is not much time left, and we have 6 very difficult road games coming up soon.

---

Probably referring to important play in fourth when ball went off Fran and Stanford awarded the ball.

I was pretty close to where the ball rolled out of bounds.  I haven't see a replay, but at the time I thought the ball had rolled over the line just before Belibi touched it.  However, I do not know who deflected it in the first place....was that also Belibi?

---

The most optimistic take on this game was that we just beat a very underrated team that is catching on fire with very recent addition of #6 overall recruit Gardner, and who had a hot shooting night, while we had a tepid shooting night.  And still we won.

The most pessimistic take is that we struggled to beat a mediocre 11-9 team at home while the coaches are still experimenting, hoping to find something that works more consistently on offense, and not succeeding.  And we barely won.

---

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtRqKwMzgxI

Press Conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PrT1oai8B0