[81alum]

Preview:

We get a second chance to beat Texas this year, after they came to Maples in November and beat us on our own floor.  Our thread from November is here:

https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...#pid332541

A lot has been made of our turnovers in that game, with the theory being that we are now much better at ball handling than we were then.  I hope that theory is correct, but while we had 20 turnovers in that game, we had 18 in our recent game against Maryland.  To me a more important stat was that our three point shooting was stone cold at 4/27.  Texas guarded us closely enough that it was difficult to get three point shots off, and they were quick enough that it was difficult to pass the ball into the paint in cuts.  We never really figured out how to solve their defense.

On the other end, Texas can score at all three levels.  Schaeffer--very unlike Tara--likes the mid range jumper, and his guards are specialists in stop-and-pop and coming off of screens.  We got their freshman sensation Rori Harmon in her second game, but she is much more mature now, and she torched us for 21 the first time.  Also in that game Texas bench player Aliyah Matharu came into the game in the fourth quarter and scored 17 points to win the game for them.  Harmon and Matharu are short, speedy guards who can manufacture their own shots.  Joanne Anna-Taylor is another short, speedy guard who has had an excellent tournament so far. 

6'4" Center Lauren Ebo is their main inside presence, but we shut her out in our first game.  Our defense has to be able to keep a bevy of speedy guards under control.  It is as if Texas had 3 Anna Wilsons on defense and each of them was capable of scoring 15 points or more unless guarded well.

I am not sure exactly what we need to do to break through the Texas defense.  Normally, close defenses are vulnerable to cuts to the basket and easy layups.  My guess is that Tara will be  having the team work on how to execute those cuts without turning the ball over. 

[81alum]

Preview:

We get a second chance to beat Texas this year, after they came to Maples in November and beat us on our own floor.  Our thread from November is here:

https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...#pid332541

A lot has been made of our turnovers in that game, with the theory being that we are now much better at ball handling than we were then.  I hope that theory is correct, but while we had 20 turnovers in that game, we had 18 in our recent game against Maryland.  To me a more important stat was that our three point shooting was stone cold at 4/27.  Texas guarded us closely enough that it was difficult to get three point shots off, and they were quick enough that it was difficult to pass the ball into the paint in cuts.  We never really figured out how to solve their defense.

On the other end, Texas can score at all three levels.  Schaeffer--very unlike Tara--likes the mid range jumper, and his guards are specialists in stop-and-pop and coming off of screens.  We got their freshman sensation Rori Harmon in her second game, but she is much more mature now, and she torched us for 21 the first time.  Also in that game Texas bench player Aliyah Matharu came into the game in the fourth quarter and scored 17 points to win the game for them.  Harmon and Matharu are short, speedy guards who can manufacture their own shots.  Joanne Anna-Taylor is another short, speedy guard who has had an excellent tournament so far. 

6'4" Center Lauren Ebo is their main inside presence, but we shut her out in our first game.  Our defense has to be able to keep a bevy of speedy guards under control.  It is as if Texas had 3 Anna Wilsons on defense and each of them was capable of scoring 15 points or more unless guarded well.

I am not sure exactly what we need to do to break through the Texas defense.  Normally, close defenses are vulnerable to cuts to the basket and easy layups.  My guess is that Tara will be  having the team work on how to execute those cuts without turning the ball over. 

[Spiny_Norman]

Game time is set for 6 pm Pacific on ESPN.

[Spiny_Norman]

Game time is set for 6 pm Pacific on ESPN.

[RuralFan]

I dread this second Texas game.  We just don't matchup well against Texas.  Our guards are tall and lanky, while Texas guards are short and extremely fast.  Our defensive focus is on denying drives to the basket and three point shots.  If anything we encourage mid range jump shots. while Texas specializes in mid range jump shots. On offensive we start by passing into a post, a pass that will be difficult with an aggressive Texas defense.  Even getting the ball in bounds and past half court will cause us trouble.

The good news is that we have had four months to prepare.  I hope I am wrong as to how difficult it will be for us and that Tara and our coaches have a plan.

[RuralFan]

I dread this second Texas game.  We just don't matchup well against Texas.  Our guards are tall and lanky, while Texas guards are short and extremely fast.  Our defensive focus is on denying drives to the basket and three point shots.  If anything we encourage mid range jump shots. while Texas specializes in mid range jump shots. On offensive we start by passing into a post, a pass that will be difficult with an aggressive Texas defense.  Even getting the ball in bounds and past half court will cause us trouble.

The good news is that we have had four months to prepare.  I hope I am wrong as to how difficult it will be for us and that Tara and our coaches have a plan.

[jonnyss]

not sure i am correct, but i was more worried about maryland. texas looked beatable against ohio state. i do worry about the dreaded schaefer flop.

[jonnyss]

not sure i am correct, but i was more worried about maryland. texas looked beatable against ohio state. i do worry about the dreaded schaefer flop.

[martyup]

I'm a little worried about our players getting into foul trouble against Texas because their M.O. is to drive and jump into their defenders (especially #5 and #11).  Hopefully the refs will nip this in the bud.

[martyup]

I'm a little worried about our players getting into foul trouble against Texas because their M.O. is to drive and jump into their defenders (especially #5 and #11).  Hopefully the refs will nip this in the bud.

[81alum]

I think Texas is a tougher game for us than UConn or South Carolina or NC State, for the match up reasons already mentioned.  This will probably be our toughest game in the tournament--which means I like our chances if we can get past them.

Here is my advice:  in this game, Jones must NOT play point guard.  Ever.  She had 5 turnovers in the last game and her high dribble is tailor made for steals by short, quick guards.  Wilson is going to need to be our primary ball handler, with a little help from Lacy.  And I sincerely hope  that 1) we are currently practicing how to break the press and 2) Tara designs back door cuts that will work without the pass being deflected or intercepted.

[81alum]

I think Texas is a tougher game for us than UConn or South Carolina or NC State, for the match up reasons already mentioned.  This will probably be our toughest game in the tournament--which means I like our chances if we can get past them.

Here is my advice:  in this game, Jones must NOT play point guard.  Ever.  She had 5 turnovers in the last game and her high dribble is tailor made for steals by short, quick guards.  Wilson is going to need to be our primary ball handler, with a little help from Lacy.  And I sincerely hope  that 1) we are currently practicing how to break the press and 2) Tara designs back door cuts that will work without the pass being deflected or intercepted.

[Maple Leaf]

I dread this second Texas game.  We just don't matchup well against Texas.  Our guards are tall and lanky, while Texas guards are short and extremely fast.  Our defensive focus is on denying drives to the basket and three point shots.  If anything we encourage mid range jump shots. while Texas specializes in mid range jump shots. On offensive we start by passing into a post, a pass that will be difficult with an aggressive Texas defense.  Even getting the ball in bounds and past half court will cause us trouble.

The good news is that we have had four months to prepare.  I hope I am wrong as to how difficult it will be for us and that Tara and our coaches have a plan.

The two teams in the Pac 12 that are somewhat similar to Texas in athletic ability and aggressive pressure hacking defense, they are Colorado and Arizona; UCLA is somewhat but not so much due to injury issues.  Stanford has been able to learn and adapt when it came to playing both Colorado and Arizona.  I would expect there has been the same learning experience with respect to Texas.   Stanford's overall length may present problems to the Texas players.  I was a bit surprised by how Texas struggled with on the ball pressure applied by OSU.

[Maple Leaf]

I dread this second Texas game.  We just don't matchup well against Texas.  Our guards are tall and lanky, while Texas guards are short and extremely fast.  Our defensive focus is on denying drives to the basket and three point shots.  If anything we encourage mid range jump shots. while Texas specializes in mid range jump shots. On offensive we start by passing into a post, a pass that will be difficult with an aggressive Texas defense.  Even getting the ball in bounds and past half court will cause us trouble.

The good news is that we have had four months to prepare.  I hope I am wrong as to how difficult it will be for us and that Tara and our coaches have a plan.

The two teams in the Pac 12 that are somewhat similar to Texas in athletic ability and aggressive pressure hacking defense, they are Colorado and Arizona; UCLA is somewhat but not so much due to injury issues.  Stanford has been able to learn and adapt when it came to playing both Colorado and Arizona.  I would expect there has been the same learning experience with respect to Texas.   Stanford's overall length may present problems to the Texas players.  I was a bit surprised by how Texas struggled with on the ball pressure applied by OSU.

[martyup]

I'm watching a recording of the TX vs tOSU game.  I must say that the TX bigs are slow and lumbering.  Brink, Belibi, Kiki, Jones, and Prectel all should be able to outplay them.

Their PG (#11 -- Allen-Taylor) is an energizer bunny and loves to flop when she's barely touched.  She frequently dribbles into the lane, jumps into her defender as she shoots, and then just falls down hoping for a foul call.  She is very handsy on defense.  I would guess that Wilson will cover her.  Tough assignment.

The other quick guard (#3 Harmon) is an excellent mid-range shooter.  I guess one of the Hulls will cover her.

tOSU had the ball trailing by 1 with 28 seconds to play.  They missed the shot, got the offensive rebound, put up another shot that was blocked.  Texas then was bringing the ball up the court and a tOSU (Braxton) player fouled #3, who should be given an Espy for best performance in faking a hard foul.  Just after that action the Texas head coach angrily yelled in Braxton's face, appearing to say "That's too much!"  

My antipathy for this TX team and its coach is deep.  I loathe their style of play.  If we can manage to beat this team, it might be the most satisfying win of the season for me.

[martyup]

I'm watching a recording of the TX vs tOSU game.  I must say that the TX bigs are slow and lumbering.  Brink, Belibi, Kiki, Jones, and Prectel all should be able to outplay them.

Their PG (#11 -- Allen-Taylor) is an energizer bunny and loves to flop when she's barely touched.  She frequently dribbles into the lane, jumps into her defender as she shoots, and then just falls down hoping for a foul call.  She is very handsy on defense.  I would guess that Wilson will cover her.  Tough assignment.

The other quick guard (#3 Harmon) is an excellent mid-range shooter.  I guess one of the Hulls will cover her.

tOSU had the ball trailing by 1 with 28 seconds to play.  They missed the shot, got the offensive rebound, put up another shot that was blocked.  Texas then was bringing the ball up the court and a tOSU (Braxton) player fouled #3, who should be given an Espy for best performance in faking a hard foul.  Just after that action the Texas head coach angrily yelled in Braxton's face, appearing to say "That's too much!"  

My antipathy for this TX team and its coach is deep.  I loathe their style of play.  If we can manage to beat this team, it might be the most satisfying win of the season for me.

[petersalas]

I’m not good with analyzing games or plays.. but I was at Maples and saw Texas beat Stanford with their maul baul… I just don’t see Texas beating Stanford a second time.. Lacie has gotten used to maul baul and has become Stanford’s steady point guard… I don’t expect anything but I hope to see a much better outcome!

[petersalas]

I’m not good with analyzing games or plays.. but I was at Maples and saw Texas beat Stanford with their maul baul… I just don’t see Texas beating Stanford a second time.. Lacie has gotten used to maul baul and has become Stanford’s steady point guard… I don’t expect anything but I hope to see a much better outcome!

[BostonCard]

Usually when something happens once, you think it is at least possible for it to happen again.  As we would expect in a 1 vs 2 seed, it will be a tough match up.  We should be favored.  It is by no means guaranteed we will win.

WRT Maryland, one can feel very good about the first three quarters of play and happy that we won comfortably enough at the end, while still being concerned that we didn’t finish stronger.

BC

[BostonCard]

Usually when something happens once, you think it is at least possible for it to happen again.  As we would expect in a 1 vs 2 seed, it will be a tough match up.  We should be favored.  It is by no means guaranteed we will win.

WRT Maryland, one can feel very good about the first three quarters of play and happy that we won comfortably enough at the end, while still being concerned that we didn’t finish stronger.

BC

[jfredmuggs]

When we played Texas last Fall we made just four threes in twenty-seven attempts, and for the most part they were not strongly contested threes. We only lost by four. We will not go 4/27 again. We outrebounded Texas by nine or ten in that game but turned the ball over twenty times. If we turn the ball over twenty times again, which we may, but make just an average percentage of our threes, say 9/27, we win handily. That’s my pinheaded analysis, and I will sleep well tonight.

[jfredmuggs]

When we played Texas last Fall we made just four threes in twenty-seven attempts, and for the most part they were not strongly contested threes. We only lost by four. We will not go 4/27 again. We outrebounded Texas by nine or ten in that game but turned the ball over twenty times. If we turn the ball over twenty times again, which we may, but make just an average percentage of our threes, say 9/27, we win handily. That’s my pinheaded analysis, and I will sleep well tonight.

[BosCard]

This is going to be a very tough game but I have faith in Tara and the team.  I would not want to face this team a second time after having beaten them the first time because Tara is a master at strategy and making adjustments.  And this is a very experienced team of primarily juniors and seniors who 1) can execute Tara's game plan and 2) know they have what it takes to win it all.

[BosCard]

This is going to be a very tough game but I have faith in Tara and the team.  I would not want to face this team a second time after having beaten them the first time because Tara is a master at strategy and making adjustments.  And this is a very experienced team of primarily juniors and seniors who 1) can execute Tara's game plan and 2) know they have what it takes to win it all.

[2006alum]

Lately our WBB threads have seemed pretty dang crabby, nit-picky, and cantankerous for a team that's defending a championship and that itself plays with such joy.

Vegas suggests there's a decent chance our run ends tonight (Stanford is only -6.5), and if it does, let's enjoy the rest of it and appreciate how fantastically lucky we've been to have Tara (mask, no mask, half mask, whatever) leading this team. Let's be grateful that our team seems to love each other as much as they do, that even the people getting roleplay minutes seem to be loving every minute of it. Let's be grateful for departing seniors Wilson, the Hulls, and Jerome, all of whom have shown tremendous leadership on and off the Court and are truly the best stewards for our Alma Mater we could ever ask for.

And here's hoping we get to keep watching them for two more games after tonight!

[2006alum]

Lately our WBB threads have seemed pretty dang crabby, nit-picky, and cantankerous for a team that's defending a championship and that itself plays with such joy.

Vegas suggests there's a decent chance our run ends tonight (Stanford is only -6.5), and if it does, let's enjoy the rest of it and appreciate how fantastically lucky we've been to have Tara (mask, no mask, half mask, whatever) leading this team. Let's be grateful that our team seems to love each other as much as they do, that even the people getting roleplay minutes seem to be loving every minute of it. Let's be grateful for departing seniors Wilson, the Hulls, and Jerome, all of whom have shown tremendous leadership on and off the Court and are truly the best stewards for our Alma Mater we could ever ask for.

And here's hoping we get to keep watching them for two more games after tonight!

[BostonCard]

Lately our WBB threads have seemed pretty dang crabby, nit-picky, and cantankerous for a team that's defending a championship and that itself plays with such joy.

It probably reflects a bit of a sense of anxiety.

BC

[BostonCard]

Lately our WBB threads have seemed pretty dang crabby, nit-picky, and cantankerous for a team that's defending a championship and that itself plays with such joy.

It probably reflects a bit of a sense of anxiety.

BC

[martyup]

"Hey Texas, we get to play again.  Remember the last time we played?  We do."

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[martyup]

"Hey Texas, we get to play again.  Remember the last time we played?  We do."

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[cardfan77]

I am quite anxious and nervous!  Let’s go Card!

[cardfan77]

I am quite anxious and nervous!  Let’s go Card!

[martyup]

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That's a great early foul call on Texas.  That will, hopefully, slow down their handsy defense.

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But then Brink gets mugged under the basket and there is no call.

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Harmon is going to get her points tonight.  We just have to limit her teammates.  Tough assignment for Wilson.

[martyup]

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That's a great early foul call on Texas.  That will, hopefully, slow down their handsy defense.

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But then Brink gets mugged under the basket and there is no call.

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Harmon is going to get her points tonight.  We just have to limit her teammates.  Tough assignment for Wilson.

[M T]

What is this BS about Stanford as offense and Texas as defense?
Season average:  Stanford 74.4 - 56.8  Texas 72.5 - 56.7

[M T]

What is this BS about Stanford as offense and Texas as defense?
Season average:  Stanford 74.4 - 56.8  Texas 72.5 - 56.7

[Leftcoast]

We’re struggling to inbound after made baskets.  Five turnovers already-Yikes!

[Leftcoast]

We’re struggling to inbound after made baskets.  Five turnovers already-Yikes!

[mbdude]

Still same out of bounds plays!

[mbdude]

Still same out of bounds plays!