11-21-2014, 07:41 AM
A few more random observations about the game.
As I reflect on UConn and Texas, I wonder if we benefitted a lot from the plethora of fouls that the referees are calling so far this season--preventing the game from being very physical at all, and giving a younger, smaller team more of a chance. If the foul calling returns to something a bit more normal, do we have the physical presence required?Â
Texas dramatically cut back on our guard penetration. Their coach said that was their goal before the game, and they did it. Is it so easy to do? I could not recognize their defense. It had characteristics of zone and man in the first half. Anyone else figure out what they were doing? And short of launching (and missing) a million bombs, what is the proper counter?
I'm a bit worried about Erica McCall. In the summer league she was awesome, and in the exhibitions she looked so much improved over last year. Against Boston College she looked like a young Chiney, going 7/11 for 16 points. Against UConn she was 2/6 and played only 11 minutes--she jacked up a bunch of ugly mid range jumpers. Against Texas she was 1/2 in 19 minutes of play. Her offense virtually disappeared. Is it just the competition? Did something happen to her self-confidence? Did she get instructed to work on her jump shot? The change was sudden and dramatic. The coaches need to do something to get her back into the game.
Kaylee Johnson is a remarkable frosh. She gets a lot of rebounds, partly because that seems to be her role and we pull a lot of other players out to the perimeter. But she takes very few shots of her own. Is that by design, or should she become somewhat more aggressive about scoring?
Tara talked a lot about quickening the pace and rotating more players into the lineup to keep it fresh, particularly our guards. But Lili played 43 minutes and Amber played 29, despite being in foul trouble a lot of the night. This took a toll by the end. Bri was pretty effective for 13 minutes. Alex got only a few minutes, and Jasmine Camp seems to have vanished. I was expecting something more from these two redshirt juniors in anticipation of a fifth year for them next year. Now I wonder a bit. I've wondered about Jasmine ever since she had a terrific game against UConn her freshman year. Why has she not been more of a factor over the years, and what is in store for her?
As I reflect on UConn and Texas, I wonder if we benefitted a lot from the plethora of fouls that the referees are calling so far this season--preventing the game from being very physical at all, and giving a younger, smaller team more of a chance. If the foul calling returns to something a bit more normal, do we have the physical presence required?Â
Texas dramatically cut back on our guard penetration. Their coach said that was their goal before the game, and they did it. Is it so easy to do? I could not recognize their defense. It had characteristics of zone and man in the first half. Anyone else figure out what they were doing? And short of launching (and missing) a million bombs, what is the proper counter?
I'm a bit worried about Erica McCall. In the summer league she was awesome, and in the exhibitions she looked so much improved over last year. Against Boston College she looked like a young Chiney, going 7/11 for 16 points. Against UConn she was 2/6 and played only 11 minutes--she jacked up a bunch of ugly mid range jumpers. Against Texas she was 1/2 in 19 minutes of play. Her offense virtually disappeared. Is it just the competition? Did something happen to her self-confidence? Did she get instructed to work on her jump shot? The change was sudden and dramatic. The coaches need to do something to get her back into the game.
Kaylee Johnson is a remarkable frosh. She gets a lot of rebounds, partly because that seems to be her role and we pull a lot of other players out to the perimeter. But she takes very few shots of her own. Is that by design, or should she become somewhat more aggressive about scoring?
Tara talked a lot about quickening the pace and rotating more players into the lineup to keep it fresh, particularly our guards. But Lili played 43 minutes and Amber played 29, despite being in foul trouble a lot of the night. This took a toll by the end. Bri was pretty effective for 13 minutes. Alex got only a few minutes, and Jasmine Camp seems to have vanished. I was expecting something more from these two redshirt juniors in anticipation of a fifth year for them next year. Now I wonder a bit. I've wondered about Jasmine ever since she had a terrific game against UConn her freshman year. Why has she not been more of a factor over the years, and what is in store for her?