[BillBradley]

Refs were not great.  That "charge" on Jones was ridiculous and they had a few other very bad calls too.

They got a deflection out-of-bounds wrong on Jump, but so did the announcers--it was deceptive from one angle.  But one of the first half turnovers should not have been a turnover.

---

Press conference.  Tara: "It boiled down to we had Lexie and they didn't." 
Looking ahead: "We are playing teams we know.  Let's see who has improved the most."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPMyuPm_Mg

Thx for finding the presser 81. It's worth listening to the Kansas coach talk about our team at the 34:00 mark. Lots of good insights from an opposing coach. "They went from big, to bigger, to enormous with Jones at the 3 and Lacie Hull playing point guard."

[BillBradley]

Refs were not great.  That "charge" on Jones was ridiculous and they had a few other very bad calls too.

They got a deflection out-of-bounds wrong on Jump, but so did the announcers--it was deceptive from one angle.  But one of the first half turnovers should not have been a turnover.

---

Press conference.  Tara: "It boiled down to we had Lexie and they didn't." 
Looking ahead: "We are playing teams we know.  Let's see who has improved the most."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPMyuPm_Mg

Thx for finding the presser 81. It's worth listening to the Kansas coach talk about our team at the 34:00 mark. Lots of good insights from an opposing coach. "They went from big, to bigger, to enormous with Jones at the 3 and Lacie Hull playing point guard."

[crackpot]

Get well soon.. something must have told me someone was missing because I never cheer loudly because I get somewhat embarrassed, but today I don’t know who I was cause I joined in the loud cheers today! So I cheered loudly for you… what a great game!!! Kansas bench antics didn’t bother the Cardinal too much… but Kansas did their best to no avail.

Thank you! Fair warning: being seated next to new people during tourney time several years back got me cheering loudly and I never looked back. The gentleman who sits in front of me told me I am the most annoying fan he's ever heard. (Thankfully, he's gotten used to it).

[crackpot]

Get well soon.. something must have told me someone was missing because I never cheer loudly because I get somewhat embarrassed, but today I don’t know who I was cause I joined in the loud cheers today! So I cheered loudly for you… what a great game!!! Kansas bench antics didn’t bother the Cardinal too much… but Kansas did their best to no avail.

Thank you! Fair warning: being seated next to new people during tourney time several years back got me cheering loudly and I never looked back. The gentleman who sits in front of me told me I am the most annoying fan he's ever heard. (Thankfully, he's gotten used to it).

[WBB fan]

Great points. Rewatching now, what is also impressive to me is how much Lexie works to get open on offense. Over and over she cuts in towards the basket and then pops back out to the arc, gets the pass and hits the shot. Or starts to pop out to the arc, then changes direction and cuts towards the basket for a backdoor layup. Her defenders just can’t keep up because she never stops moving.

wildjacko reminded me yesterday of a different kind of great performance: candice wiggins' 41 points against kristi tolliver's 36 points for maryland in 2008. great in a different way: the game was super close, and it was 2 great players matching up.

Yes, that game was classic! BTW, if anyone has a recording of that game, I would LOVE to get my hands on a copy.

BostonCard posted it on the WBB:Stanford vs Maryland thread.

[WBB fan]

Great points. Rewatching now, what is also impressive to me is how much Lexie works to get open on offense. Over and over she cuts in towards the basket and then pops back out to the arc, gets the pass and hits the shot. Or starts to pop out to the arc, then changes direction and cuts towards the basket for a backdoor layup. Her defenders just can’t keep up because she never stops moving.

wildjacko reminded me yesterday of a different kind of great performance: candice wiggins' 41 points against kristi tolliver's 36 points for maryland in 2008. great in a different way: the game was super close, and it was 2 great players matching up.

Yes, that game was classic! BTW, if anyone has a recording of that game, I would LOVE to get my hands on a copy.

BostonCard posted it on the WBB:Stanford vs Maryland thread.

[qwerty49]

Great points. Rewatching now, what is also impressive to me is how much Lexie works to get open on offense. Over and over she cuts in towards the basket and then pops back out to the arc, gets the pass and hits the shot. Or starts to pop out to the arc, then changes direction and cuts towards the basket for a backdoor layup. Her defenders just can’t keep up because she never stops moving.

My fave was when she dove all out for that loose ball and got it, shielding it from the KU player who was lying a foot away.  On the replay angle you could see Lexie, upright at the time, make up her mind to sprint past the KU player and take the dive.  I will always remember her for that play.  All heart, so fitting for her past game at Maples. I would love to have a clip of that play.

[qwerty49]

Great points. Rewatching now, what is also impressive to me is how much Lexie works to get open on offense. Over and over she cuts in towards the basket and then pops back out to the arc, gets the pass and hits the shot. Or starts to pop out to the arc, then changes direction and cuts towards the basket for a backdoor layup. Her defenders just can’t keep up because she never stops moving.

My fave was when she dove all out for that loose ball and got it, shielding it from the KU player who was lying a foot away.  On the replay angle you could see Lexie, upright at the time, make up her mind to sprint past the KU player and take the dive.  I will always remember her for that play.  All heart, so fitting for her past game at Maples. I would love to have a clip of that play.

[Jskass]

Get well soon.. something must have told me someone was missing because I never cheer loudly because I get somewhat embarrassed, but today I don’t know who I was cause I joined in the loud cheers today! So I cheered loudly for you… what a great game!!! Kansas bench antics didn’t bother the Cardinal too much… but Kansas did their best to no avail.

Thank you! Fair warning: being seated next to new people during tourney time several years back got me cheering loudly and I never looked back. The gentleman who sits in front of me told me I am the most annoying fan he's ever heard. (Thankfully, he's gotten used to it).

Agreed -- I tend to be very vocal. My daughter and I still laugh about feeling sorry for Lindy LaRocque's Grandfather, as we sat behind him in the 2012 Final Four game against Baylor and probably were a bit too loud in our cheers!

[Jskass]

Get well soon.. something must have told me someone was missing because I never cheer loudly because I get somewhat embarrassed, but today I don’t know who I was cause I joined in the loud cheers today! So I cheered loudly for you… what a great game!!! Kansas bench antics didn’t bother the Cardinal too much… but Kansas did their best to no avail.

Thank you! Fair warning: being seated next to new people during tourney time several years back got me cheering loudly and I never looked back. The gentleman who sits in front of me told me I am the most annoying fan he's ever heard. (Thankfully, he's gotten used to it).

Agreed -- I tend to be very vocal. My daughter and I still laugh about feeling sorry for Lindy LaRocque's Grandfather, as we sat behind him in the 2012 Final Four game against Baylor and probably were a bit too loud in our cheers!

[Spiny_Norman]

Great points. Rewatching now, what is also impressive to me is how much Lexie works to get open on offense. Over and over she cuts in towards the basket and then pops back out to the arc, gets the pass and hits the shot. Or starts to pop out to the arc, then changes direction and cuts towards the basket for a backdoor layup. Her defenders just can’t keep up because she never stops moving.

My fave was when she dove all out for that loose ball and got it, shielding it from the KU player who was lying a foot away.  On the replay angle you could see Lexie, upright at the time, make up her mind to sprint past the KU player and take the dive.  I will always remember her for that play.  All heart, so fitting for her past game at Maples.  I would love to have a clip of that play.

I hope that the video team can also put together a reel of her steals. On one of them, she had been knocked to the ground, but it looked like she reached out as the Kansas player drove past her to poke the ball loose. Incredible focus and effort.

Also noteworthy - Brink finished the game with 0 fouls.

[Spiny_Norman]

Great points. Rewatching now, what is also impressive to me is how much Lexie works to get open on offense. Over and over she cuts in towards the basket and then pops back out to the arc, gets the pass and hits the shot. Or starts to pop out to the arc, then changes direction and cuts towards the basket for a backdoor layup. Her defenders just can’t keep up because she never stops moving.

My fave was when she dove all out for that loose ball and got it, shielding it from the KU player who was lying a foot away.  On the replay angle you could see Lexie, upright at the time, make up her mind to sprint past the KU player and take the dive.  I will always remember her for that play.  All heart, so fitting for her past game at Maples.  I would love to have a clip of that play.

I hope that the video team can also put together a reel of her steals. On one of them, she had been knocked to the ground, but it looked like she reached out as the Kansas player drove past her to poke the ball loose. Incredible focus and effort.

Also noteworthy - Brink finished the game with 0 fouls.

[martyup]

Refs were not great.  That "charge" on Jones was ridiculous and they had a few other very bad calls too.

They got a deflection out-of-bounds wrong on Jump, but so did the announcers--it was deceptive from one angle.  But one of the first half turnovers should not have been a turnover.

---

Press conference.  Tara: "It boiled down to we had Lexie and they didn't." 
Looking ahead: "We are playing teams we know.  Let's see who has improved the most."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPMyuPm_Mg

I found the Kansas team presser even more enlightening than ours.  Coach Brandon spoke a length about Lexie and Cam and the depth of our team.  He was very complementary of Tara and our program.  Even the two Kansas players showed love to our team.

[martyup]

Refs were not great.  That "charge" on Jones was ridiculous and they had a few other very bad calls too.

They got a deflection out-of-bounds wrong on Jump, but so did the announcers--it was deceptive from one angle.  But one of the first half turnovers should not have been a turnover.

---

Press conference.  Tara: "It boiled down to we had Lexie and they didn't." 
Looking ahead: "We are playing teams we know.  Let's see who has improved the most."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPMyuPm_Mg

I found the Kansas team presser even more enlightening than ours.  Coach Brandon spoke a length about Lexie and Cam and the depth of our team.  He was very complementary of Tara and our program.  Even the two Kansas players showed love to our team.

[2006alum]

Also noteworthy - Brink finished the game with 0 fouls.

Tara has a funny reaction to that during the presser: "I wouldn't have minded seeing Cam get one foul." I think, perhaps, an allusion to her being a bit more aggressive. Once we got Jackson in foul trouble their interior offense really disappeared and that was around the same time we went on our epic 35-4 run.

[2006alum]

Also noteworthy - Brink finished the game with 0 fouls.

Tara has a funny reaction to that during the presser: "I wouldn't have minded seeing Cam get one foul." I think, perhaps, an allusion to her being a bit more aggressive. Once we got Jackson in foul trouble their interior offense really disappeared and that was around the same time we went on our epic 35-4 run.

[WBB fan]

Refs were not great.  That "charge" on Jones was ridiculous and they had a few other very bad calls too.

They got a deflection out-of-bounds wrong on Jump, but so did the announcers--it was deceptive from one angle.  But one of the first half turnovers should not have been a turnover.

---

Press conference.  Tara: "It boiled down to we had Lexie and they didn't." 
Looking ahead: "We are playing teams we know.  Let's see who has improved the most."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPMyuPm_Mg

I found the Kansas team presser even more enlightening than ours.  Coach Brandon spoke a length about Lexie and Cam and the depth of our team.  He was very complementary of Tara and our program.  Even the two Kansas players showed love to our team.

The Stanford players at the presser -- Cam and Lexie had more to say than the Kansas ones did, and comments were interesting. Maybe difference was because Stanford won and Kansas lost and the Kansas players were having a hard time dealing with that, but yes, they were positive re Stanford. Agree re the coaches, more substance from the Kansas coach IMO.  I was impressed with his demeanor, and the fact that he credited his team for what they'd accomplished both in this game and all season, no blaming them for the loss, rather crediting Stanford for the win. His comments were really interesting.

[WBB fan]

Refs were not great.  That "charge" on Jones was ridiculous and they had a few other very bad calls too.

They got a deflection out-of-bounds wrong on Jump, but so did the announcers--it was deceptive from one angle.  But one of the first half turnovers should not have been a turnover.

---

Press conference.  Tara: "It boiled down to we had Lexie and they didn't." 
Looking ahead: "We are playing teams we know.  Let's see who has improved the most."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPMyuPm_Mg

I found the Kansas team presser even more enlightening than ours.  Coach Brandon spoke a length about Lexie and Cam and the depth of our team.  He was very complementary of Tara and our program.  Even the two Kansas players showed love to our team.

The Stanford players at the presser -- Cam and Lexie had more to say than the Kansas ones did, and comments were interesting. Maybe difference was because Stanford won and Kansas lost and the Kansas players were having a hard time dealing with that, but yes, they were positive re Stanford. Agree re the coaches, more substance from the Kansas coach IMO.  I was impressed with his demeanor, and the fact that he credited his team for what they'd accomplished both in this game and all season, no blaming them for the loss, rather crediting Stanford for the win. His comments were really interesting.

[CompSci87]

Also noteworthy - Brink finished the game with 0 fouls.

Tara has a funny reaction to that during the presser: "I wouldn't have minded seeing Cam get one foul." I think, perhaps, an allusion to her being a bit more aggressive. Once we got Jackson in foul trouble their interior offense really disappeared and that was around the same time we went on our epic 35-4 run.

That reminded me of something I heard Tara say a long time ago, to the effect that although she doesn't want her players to get into foul trouble, if her team doesn't get called for any fouls, they aren't being aggressive enough.

[CompSci87]

Also noteworthy - Brink finished the game with 0 fouls.

Tara has a funny reaction to that during the presser: "I wouldn't have minded seeing Cam get one foul." I think, perhaps, an allusion to her being a bit more aggressive. Once we got Jackson in foul trouble their interior offense really disappeared and that was around the same time we went on our epic 35-4 run.

That reminded me of something I heard Tara say a long time ago, to the effect that although she doesn't want her players to get into foul trouble, if her team doesn't get called for any fouls, they aren't being aggressive enough.

[M T]

The Stanford players at the presser -- Cam and Lexie had more to say than the Kansas ones did, and comments were interesting. Maybe difference was because Stanford won and Kansas lost and the Kansas players were having a hard time dealing with that, but yes, they were positive re Stanford. Agree re the coaches, more substance from the Kansas coach IMO.  I was impressed with his demeanor, and the fact that he credited his team for what they'd accomplished both in this game and all season, no blaming them for the loss, rather crediting Stanford for the win. His comments were really interesting.

Yes, kudos to the KU coach.  He did a great job in the press conference.  It seems he has a good head on his shoulders and not overly dramatic as some coaches are.  I expect he will do well.
Ahh...  Coaching at KU since 2015, he just got a contract extension for 4 years.   If you're curious his contract is included in this article.   (He would have gotten a $100K bonus if the team had gone to the Sweet 16.)

[M T]

The Stanford players at the presser -- Cam and Lexie had more to say than the Kansas ones did, and comments were interesting. Maybe difference was because Stanford won and Kansas lost and the Kansas players were having a hard time dealing with that, but yes, they were positive re Stanford. Agree re the coaches, more substance from the Kansas coach IMO.  I was impressed with his demeanor, and the fact that he credited his team for what they'd accomplished both in this game and all season, no blaming them for the loss, rather crediting Stanford for the win. His comments were really interesting.

Yes, kudos to the KU coach.  He did a great job in the press conference.  It seems he has a good head on his shoulders and not overly dramatic as some coaches are.  I expect he will do well.
Ahh...  Coaching at KU since 2015, he just got a contract extension for 4 years.   If you're curious his contract is included in this article.   (He would have gotten a $100K bonus if the team had gone to the Sweet 16.)

[DaBears17]

Women's NCAA tournament 2022 - Why Iowa and Baylor lost and South Carolina's offense looked shaky (espn.com)

"The three top candidates for player of the year were in action and none of them was particularly good. Boston rebounded well, but her tough shooting day was a big reason for South Carolina's offensive struggles. Smith was stymied by a smaller South Dakota defense. Clark had one of the toughest games of her career.

Instead, Stanford's Lexie Hull shot her way to a career-high 36 points. Hull is considered the third-best player on her own team, but had the biggest scoring output of anyone on Sunday."

[DaBears17]

Women's NCAA tournament 2022 - Why Iowa and Baylor lost and South Carolina's offense looked shaky (espn.com)

"The three top candidates for player of the year were in action and none of them was particularly good. Boston rebounded well, but her tough shooting day was a big reason for South Carolina's offensive struggles. Smith was stymied by a smaller South Dakota defense. Clark had one of the toughest games of her career.

Instead, Stanford's Lexie Hull shot her way to a career-high 36 points. Hull is considered the third-best player on her own team, but had the biggest scoring output of anyone on Sunday."

[81alum]

I found the Kansas team presser even more enlightening than ours. 

I agree, and that is usually the case.  I love Coach Tara for so many reasons, but she has always been somewhat guarded in her public statements.  I rarely get any deep basketball insights from her press conferences.  Even the little "before and after" interviews that reporters do with her at halftime are predictably the same.  "I think so-and-so helped us...and so and so came in and helped us"  "We need to do a better job taking care of the ball..."  etc. 



I know this will never happen for obvious reasons, but I would die for an opportunity to hear Tara give a 60 minute lecture on her offensive and defensive philosophies.  There is just so much there that she will never share publicly.



Often it is the opponents' coaches who give more specifics, and this press conference was a case in point.

---

  Even the two Kansas players showed love to our team.

I love this about WBB.  Reminds me of Jones comforting Boston last year.  We fans need to remember that many WBB players know each other and have friendships and respect that transcends team boundaries.  There is no reason the players on one team should not admire the players on another, or recognize their humanity.

I seldom see that level of cross-team connection in men's sports--not "never," but rarely.  It is a subtle difference at times--and like anything it is not universal or complete-- but one which I really like to see when it appears.

[81alum]

I found the Kansas team presser even more enlightening than ours. 

I agree, and that is usually the case.  I love Coach Tara for so many reasons, but she has always been somewhat guarded in her public statements.  I rarely get any deep basketball insights from her press conferences.  Even the little "before and after" interviews that reporters do with her at halftime are predictably the same.  "I think so-and-so helped us...and so and so came in and helped us"  "We need to do a better job taking care of the ball..."  etc. 



I know this will never happen for obvious reasons, but I would die for an opportunity to hear Tara give a 60 minute lecture on her offensive and defensive philosophies.  There is just so much there that she will never share publicly.



Often it is the opponents' coaches who give more specifics, and this press conference was a case in point.

---

  Even the two Kansas players showed love to our team.

I love this about WBB.  Reminds me of Jones comforting Boston last year.  We fans need to remember that many WBB players know each other and have friendships and respect that transcends team boundaries.  There is no reason the players on one team should not admire the players on another, or recognize their humanity.

I seldom see that level of cross-team connection in men's sports--not "never," but rarely.  It is a subtle difference at times--and like anything it is not universal or complete-- but one which I really like to see when it appears.

[BostonCard]

Not a surprise; Kansas is not playing another game this year so all the coach has to do is not throw his players under the bus.  Tara has to think of the next game, and like a lot of coaches won’t say more than the absolute minimum to get past the press conference.

Even the little "before and after" interviews that reporters do with her at halftime are predictably the same.  "I think so-and-so helped us...and so and so came in and helped us"  "We need to do a better job taking care of the ball..."  etc. 

Lol, spot on!

BC

[BostonCard]

Not a surprise; Kansas is not playing another game this year so all the coach has to do is not throw his players under the bus.  Tara has to think of the next game, and like a lot of coaches won’t say more than the absolute minimum to get past the press conference.

Even the little "before and after" interviews that reporters do with her at halftime are predictably the same.  "I think so-and-so helped us...and so and so came in and helped us"  "We need to do a better job taking care of the ball..."  etc. 

Lol, spot on!

BC

[Baez87]

BostonCard: "…so all the coach has to do is not throw his players under the bus…"

Kelly Graves has been actively throwing his players under the bus in the past few weeks, especially after the last game. Seems like this is the time of the year to send your players into the off-season with appreciation and goodwill unless you are getting ready to desert the ship. Also, with the transfer portal beckoning, a coach that doesn’t thank his or her players for a season of sacrifice, dedication, and hard work, might well be ushering them into the transfer portal.

[Baez87]

BostonCard: "…so all the coach has to do is not throw his players under the bus…"

Kelly Graves has been actively throwing his players under the bus in the past few weeks, especially after the last game. Seems like this is the time of the year to send your players into the off-season with appreciation and goodwill unless you are getting ready to desert the ship. Also, with the transfer portal beckoning, a coach that doesn’t thank his or her players for a season of sacrifice, dedication, and hard work, might well be ushering them into the transfer portal.

[Jskass]

He sure is acting like someone who is leaving- especially retiring given his folded arms on bench and not coaching recently. He bears responsibility for various decisions.

[Jskass]

He sure is acting like someone who is leaving- especially retiring given his folded arms on bench and not coaching recently. He bears responsibility for various decisions.

[BostonCard]

Even though it should be a relatively easy thing, not all coaches can refrain.

BC

[BostonCard]

Even though it should be a relatively easy thing, not all coaches can refrain.

BC