[81alum]

PICK AND ROLL

Obviously, both Amber and Lili have no trouble positioning themselves for 3-POINTERS, keeping the screener between themselves and their defenders to get the shot off, because they know how to use a PICK. So why, time and again in the Texas game when driving to the basket, did they choose to drive ON THE DEFENDER'S SIDE of the screen, negating the value of the PICK? Skilled as they both are, they were successful many times, of course. But that's making it more difficult than necessary ... UNLESS you're setting up the ROLL part of the PICK AND ROLL. However, I only saw one attempted lob to a screener all night (which was picked off, unfortunately).

Still, why aren't there some passes to the screeners off all these drives? Are the screeners not putting themselves in good positions for receiving the ball, or are the dribblers just deciding to drive every time? It seems the screeners/ROLLERS would be open at least some of the time, and passing to them would eventually lead to less pressure on the penetrators.

As an aside: Has anyone noticed that Kaylee has only one turnover in three games? For a big, playing in a crowd under the basket, that's terrific! She has been a find.

Good points, all.  In the exhibition games the screener always broke for the basket with a hand up, but rarely got a pass.  Against Texas I don't think I ever saw the screener break to the basket with a hand up.  Perhaps it was some sort of Texas-specific strategy, but it was odd.  And clearly, our team can get a whole lot better at executing the pick and roll--both the picks and the rolls.

The Texas defense seemed to flummox us.  I think they had a three person triangular zone in the center with two guards manned up on Amber and Lili.  Instead of a box-and-1 it looked like a triangle-and-2--if there is such a thing.  Or maybe it was just a very active 3-2 zone.  (I've tried to find the game on replay but have failed so far.)  In any case, they limited penetration inside, but this left Bonnie and Karlie and Taylor open at the perimeter 4 and the 3.  In fact, those 3 took 15 three point shots and made just 3.  I wondered why Tara did not let McPhee play out there some more--she was 1/1 from three, and could not have shot any worse than her teammates.

So remember the last couple of years when they choked the inside to deny Chiney the ball, and this forced us to make three point shots to draw the defense out?  Something similar seems to be possible when it comes to denying penetration.  I predict that each game the opponents will choke the lanes until we prove we can score treys.  Bonnie and Karlie (and McPhee?) need to strike fear into their hearts and force them to come out to defend.

As for New Mexico, they averaged much higher attendance than we did last year.  Be prepared for 8000 absolutely loud and screaming fans on Monday night.  Not the friendliest place to get back on track.

[81alum]

PICK AND ROLL

Obviously, both Amber and Lili have no trouble positioning themselves for 3-POINTERS, keeping the screener between themselves and their defenders to get the shot off, because they know how to use a PICK. So why, time and again in the Texas game when driving to the basket, did they choose to drive ON THE DEFENDER'S SIDE of the screen, negating the value of the PICK? Skilled as they both are, they were successful many times, of course. But that's making it more difficult than necessary ... UNLESS you're setting up the ROLL part of the PICK AND ROLL. However, I only saw one attempted lob to a screener all night (which was picked off, unfortunately).

Still, why aren't there some passes to the screeners off all these drives? Are the screeners not putting themselves in good positions for receiving the ball, or are the dribblers just deciding to drive every time? It seems the screeners/ROLLERS would be open at least some of the time, and passing to them would eventually lead to less pressure on the penetrators.

As an aside: Has anyone noticed that Kaylee has only one turnover in three games? For a big, playing in a crowd under the basket, that's terrific! She has been a find.

Good points, all.  In the exhibition games the screener always broke for the basket with a hand up, but rarely got a pass.  Against Texas I don't think I ever saw the screener break to the basket with a hand up.  Perhaps it was some sort of Texas-specific strategy, but it was odd.  And clearly, our team can get a whole lot better at executing the pick and roll--both the picks and the rolls.

The Texas defense seemed to flummox us.  I think they had a three person triangular zone in the center with two guards manned up on Amber and Lili.  Instead of a box-and-1 it looked like a triangle-and-2--if there is such a thing.  Or maybe it was just a very active 3-2 zone.  (I've tried to find the game on replay but have failed so far.)  In any case, they limited penetration inside, but this left Bonnie and Karlie and Taylor open at the perimeter 4 and the 3.  In fact, those 3 took 15 three point shots and made just 3.  I wondered why Tara did not let McPhee play out there some more--she was 1/1 from three, and could not have shot any worse than her teammates.

So remember the last couple of years when they choked the inside to deny Chiney the ball, and this forced us to make three point shots to draw the defense out?  Something similar seems to be possible when it comes to denying penetration.  I predict that each game the opponents will choke the lanes until we prove we can score treys.  Bonnie and Karlie (and McPhee?) need to strike fear into their hearts and force them to come out to defend.

As for New Mexico, they averaged much higher attendance than we did last year.  Be prepared for 8000 absolutely loud and screaming fans on Monday night.  Not the friendliest place to get back on track.