12-18-2019, 09:55 PM
Well, that was a great way to end the game and quite the effort from Stanford.
WBB: Stanford 78 Tennessee 51
12-18-2019, 10:15 PM
(12-18-2019, 09:55 PM)Lorcan Wrote: Well, that was a great way to end the game and quite the effort from Stanford.
Very impressive team win for Stanford. A few stars/comments from the game tonight:
1. Prechtel is very skilled - she can score and rebound;
2. Lexie is a stat-stuffing machine, and was a rebounding fool (coming up with several in heavy traffic);
3. Kiana again demonstrated why she is the most indispensable player on a deep and very talented roster;
4. Best sequence was when Stanford, in the process of earning a shot clock violation on Tennessee, managed to block 3 Vol shots on that one possession;
5. Haley Jones . . . you think she had a meh game . . . and then you check the stat line and remember some lovely (and explosive) takes to the rack;
6. Really impressed with 0 and 25 for Tennessee, as well as Massingill (sp?). The depth differential made a significant difference as the Vols started hot, but cooled considerably with fatigue (or at least that's my sense). And Tara was substituting very liberally, rotating in fresh bodies;
7. Hannah Jump is a very nice weapon to have lurking on the perimeter (and one of these days, she is going to go 7-8, or thereabouts, from behind the arc);
8. Did I mention this team is deep? And extremely fun to watch? Well, they certainly are.
Congrats to the players and the staff on a job exceptionally well done tonight.
(12-18-2019, 09:55 PM)Lorcan Wrote: Well, that was a great way to end the game and quite the effort from Stanford.
Very impressive team win for Stanford. A few stars/comments from the game tonight:
1. Prechtel is very skilled - she can score and rebound;
2. Lexie is a stat-stuffing machine, and was a rebounding fool (coming up with several in heavy traffic);
3. Kiana again demonstrated why she is the most indispensable player on a deep and very talented roster;
4. Best sequence was when Stanford, in the process of earning a shot clock violation on Tennessee, managed to block 3 Vol shots on that one possession;
5. Haley Jones . . . you think she had a meh game . . . and then you check the stat line and remember some lovely (and explosive) takes to the rack;
6. Really impressed with 0 and 25 for Tennessee, as well as Massingill (sp?). The depth differential made a significant difference as the Vols started hot, but cooled considerably with fatigue (or at least that's my sense). And Tara was substituting very liberally, rotating in fresh bodies;
7. Hannah Jump is a very nice weapon to have lurking on the perimeter (and one of these days, she is going to go 7-8, or thereabouts, from behind the arc);
8. Did I mention this team is deep? And extremely fun to watch? Well, they certainly are.
Congrats to the players and the staff on a job exceptionally well done tonight.
12-18-2019, 10:26 PM
We win 78-51. I have mixed feelings about the victory.
On the one hand, we won by 27 points over a Top-25 team, which I'll always take. Even though their best player (Davis) scored 14 points, it took her 20 shots to get those points. No other player scored in double figures for them. We also held Tennessee to 28% shooting (26% from long range) which is great defense.
However, we also allowed them to grab 19 offensive rebounds and when compared to our 35 defensive rebounds, Tennessee had second chance opportunities on more than a third of their opportunities. Also, it seems like we slowed down somewhat on offense a few too many times and seemed hesitant on shooting the ball. I thought through our turnovers and missed easy shots, we left a few points out on the court.
Looking at the broader picture, though, this victory is impressive over a quality opponent. Next up is a matchup against Texas in Austin, our first real road test. Even though on paper Texas might not look like too much of a threat, they beat Tennessee and it will be the freshmen's first experience in a hostile atmosphere.
On the one hand, we won by 27 points over a Top-25 team, which I'll always take. Even though their best player (Davis) scored 14 points, it took her 20 shots to get those points. No other player scored in double figures for them. We also held Tennessee to 28% shooting (26% from long range) which is great defense.
However, we also allowed them to grab 19 offensive rebounds and when compared to our 35 defensive rebounds, Tennessee had second chance opportunities on more than a third of their opportunities. Also, it seems like we slowed down somewhat on offense a few too many times and seemed hesitant on shooting the ball. I thought through our turnovers and missed easy shots, we left a few points out on the court.
Looking at the broader picture, though, this victory is impressive over a quality opponent. Next up is a matchup against Texas in Austin, our first real road test. Even though on paper Texas might not look like too much of a threat, they beat Tennessee and it will be the freshmen's first experience in a hostile atmosphere.
We win 78-51. I have mixed feelings about the victory.
On the one hand, we won by 27 points over a Top-25 team, which I'll always take. Even though their best player (Davis) scored 14 points, it took her 20 shots to get those points. No other player scored in double figures for them. We also held Tennessee to 28% shooting (26% from long range) which is great defense.
However, we also allowed them to grab 19 offensive rebounds and when compared to our 35 defensive rebounds, Tennessee had second chance opportunities on more than a third of their opportunities. Also, it seems like we slowed down somewhat on offense a few too many times and seemed hesitant on shooting the ball. I thought through our turnovers and missed easy shots, we left a few points out on the court.
Looking at the broader picture, though, this victory is impressive over a quality opponent. Next up is a matchup against Texas in Austin, our first real road test. Even though on paper Texas might not look like too much of a threat, they beat Tennessee and it will be the freshmen's first experience in a hostile atmosphere.
On the one hand, we won by 27 points over a Top-25 team, which I'll always take. Even though their best player (Davis) scored 14 points, it took her 20 shots to get those points. No other player scored in double figures for them. We also held Tennessee to 28% shooting (26% from long range) which is great defense.
However, we also allowed them to grab 19 offensive rebounds and when compared to our 35 defensive rebounds, Tennessee had second chance opportunities on more than a third of their opportunities. Also, it seems like we slowed down somewhat on offense a few too many times and seemed hesitant on shooting the ball. I thought through our turnovers and missed easy shots, we left a few points out on the court.
Looking at the broader picture, though, this victory is impressive over a quality opponent. Next up is a matchup against Texas in Austin, our first real road test. Even though on paper Texas might not look like too much of a threat, they beat Tennessee and it will be the freshmen's first experience in a hostile atmosphere.
My write-up is done at the top. Lots of positives and few negatives.
I agree, Farm, that the one thing to criticize was our inability to box out and suppress their O-boards. On the other hand, that is Tennessee's absolute strongest claim to fame this year, so it is not entirely surprising that they did well in this category.
Also agree that the game at Texas will be very different for our youngsters. True hostile territory against another competitive team. Can we keep our focus up? Young teams tend to be erratic. Can we be steady? We are going to learn something more on Sunday about our team.
I agree, Farm, that the one thing to criticize was our inability to box out and suppress their O-boards. On the other hand, that is Tennessee's absolute strongest claim to fame this year, so it is not entirely surprising that they did well in this category.
Also agree that the game at Texas will be very different for our youngsters. True hostile territory against another competitive team. Can we keep our focus up? Young teams tend to be erratic. Can we be steady? We are going to learn something more on Sunday about our team.
My write-up is done at the top. Lots of positives and few negatives.
I agree, Farm, that the one thing to criticize was our inability to box out and suppress their O-boards. On the other hand, that is Tennessee's absolute strongest claim to fame this year, so it is not entirely surprising that they did well in this category.
Also agree that the game at Texas will be very different for our youngsters. True hostile territory against another competitive team. Can we keep our focus up? Young teams tend to be erratic. Can we be steady? We are going to learn something more on Sunday about our team.
I agree, Farm, that the one thing to criticize was our inability to box out and suppress their O-boards. On the other hand, that is Tennessee's absolute strongest claim to fame this year, so it is not entirely surprising that they did well in this category.
Also agree that the game at Texas will be very different for our youngsters. True hostile territory against another competitive team. Can we keep our focus up? Young teams tend to be erratic. Can we be steady? We are going to learn something more on Sunday about our team.
12-19-2019, 12:28 AM
Was a pleasure to attend this game and to watch the all-around team play. Also worth mentioning that Jerome added some steadiness to the team.
Did anyone happen to notice whether there were any recruits in attendance? I would think this would have been a terrific game to attend (for those not in school tomorrow or local)...
Did anyone happen to notice whether there were any recruits in attendance? I would think this would have been a terrific game to attend (for those not in school tomorrow or local)...
Was a pleasure to attend this game and to watch the all-around team play. Also worth mentioning that Jerome added some steadiness to the team.
Did anyone happen to notice whether there were any recruits in attendance? I would think this would have been a terrific game to attend (for those not in school tomorrow or local)...
Did anyone happen to notice whether there were any recruits in attendance? I would think this would have been a terrific game to attend (for those not in school tomorrow or local)...
I think what you mean is
Bob has shown me where the recruits are usually seated, but I never know how to distinguish them from the sisters and friends and other family members of the team who seem to be seated in the same area. For that it takes an expert :)
(12-19-2019, 12:28 AM)Jskass Wrote: Did anyone Bob happen to notice whether there were any recruits in attendance? I would think this would have been a terrific game to attend (for those not in school tomorrow or local)...Bob?
Bob has shown me where the recruits are usually seated, but I never know how to distinguish them from the sisters and friends and other family members of the team who seem to be seated in the same area. For that it takes an expert :)
I think what you mean is
Bob has shown me where the recruits are usually seated, but I never know how to distinguish them from the sisters and friends and other family members of the team who seem to be seated in the same area. For that it takes an expert :)
(12-19-2019, 12:28 AM)Jskass Wrote: Did anyone Bob happen to notice whether there were any recruits in attendance? I would think this would have been a terrific game to attend (for those not in school tomorrow or local)...Bob?
Bob has shown me where the recruits are usually seated, but I never know how to distinguish them from the sisters and friends and other family members of the team who seem to be seated in the same area. For that it takes an expert :)
One recruit at the Ohio State game and I didn’t see any last night. Of course on a school night mid week didn’t expect any
We think and thank you WBB fan it could have been the Harvard Westlake young woman
Adding I saw Harriel play last week and her team was up 55-10 at the half so I didn’t learn much
We think and thank you WBB fan it could have been the Harvard Westlake young woman
Adding I saw Harriel play last week and her team was up 55-10 at the half so I didn’t learn much
One recruit at the Ohio State game and I didn’t see any last night. Of course on a school night mid week didn’t expect any
We think and thank you WBB fan it could have been the Harvard Westlake young woman
Adding I saw Harriel play last week and her team was up 55-10 at the half so I didn’t learn much
We think and thank you WBB fan it could have been the Harvard Westlake young woman
Adding I saw Harriel play last week and her team was up 55-10 at the half so I didn’t learn much
12-19-2019, 09:19 AM
Unlike Farm, I'm fairly sanguine-to-ecstatic about our play last night. Yes, they definitely dominated the boards. But to be honest, they really *should* have - at every position but when Prechtel was matching up with Key, we were giving up inches and arm length. Every team with top recruits will have some kind of matchup problem against another team with top recruits, and in this game, we gave up length and height.
Given that, I do think our effort on the boards was pretty solid, and I think we did an excellent job clogging the paint and providing help-side defense to prevent marches to the basket. Indeed, the two or three times Davis or Horston were open and basically just paraded to the hoop, I thought to myself, "Why isn't Harper having them do that more?" Then I'd watch their next few trips on offense and realize how well we were closing down the lanes and preventing any kind of easy layups in the paint. And remember: we were without our first (Smith), second (Carrington) and fifth (Dodson) leading rebounders from last season, so it's an understandable work-in-progress with Carrington and Dodson both out.
More than anything, I was happy to see Williams back playing like the stud she's been for so much of the past two seasons. When her shots fall, her swagger returns, and when her swagger returns, everyone else plays better too.
Finally, I know some people are skeptical of Harper, but I thought she did a solid job coaching, especially on the defensive end. Tenn. came into the game ranked top ten in basically every team defense category - opponent points, opponent shooting %, opponent 3pt %, etc. - and we laid 78 points on them with most of our starters warming the bench for the last five minutes.
Plus: biggest margin for Stanford over Tennessee all time, and lowest points scored by Tennessee in the whole storied history of the series dating back to 1988. Really hard to complain on a night like that!
Given that, I do think our effort on the boards was pretty solid, and I think we did an excellent job clogging the paint and providing help-side defense to prevent marches to the basket. Indeed, the two or three times Davis or Horston were open and basically just paraded to the hoop, I thought to myself, "Why isn't Harper having them do that more?" Then I'd watch their next few trips on offense and realize how well we were closing down the lanes and preventing any kind of easy layups in the paint. And remember: we were without our first (Smith), second (Carrington) and fifth (Dodson) leading rebounders from last season, so it's an understandable work-in-progress with Carrington and Dodson both out.
More than anything, I was happy to see Williams back playing like the stud she's been for so much of the past two seasons. When her shots fall, her swagger returns, and when her swagger returns, everyone else plays better too.
Finally, I know some people are skeptical of Harper, but I thought she did a solid job coaching, especially on the defensive end. Tenn. came into the game ranked top ten in basically every team defense category - opponent points, opponent shooting %, opponent 3pt %, etc. - and we laid 78 points on them with most of our starters warming the bench for the last five minutes.
Plus: biggest margin for Stanford over Tennessee all time, and lowest points scored by Tennessee in the whole storied history of the series dating back to 1988. Really hard to complain on a night like that!
Unlike Farm, I'm fairly sanguine-to-ecstatic about our play last night. Yes, they definitely dominated the boards. But to be honest, they really *should* have - at every position but when Prechtel was matching up with Key, we were giving up inches and arm length. Every team with top recruits will have some kind of matchup problem against another team with top recruits, and in this game, we gave up length and height.
Given that, I do think our effort on the boards was pretty solid, and I think we did an excellent job clogging the paint and providing help-side defense to prevent marches to the basket. Indeed, the two or three times Davis or Horston were open and basically just paraded to the hoop, I thought to myself, "Why isn't Harper having them do that more?" Then I'd watch their next few trips on offense and realize how well we were closing down the lanes and preventing any kind of easy layups in the paint. And remember: we were without our first (Smith), second (Carrington) and fifth (Dodson) leading rebounders from last season, so it's an understandable work-in-progress with Carrington and Dodson both out.
More than anything, I was happy to see Williams back playing like the stud she's been for so much of the past two seasons. When her shots fall, her swagger returns, and when her swagger returns, everyone else plays better too.
Finally, I know some people are skeptical of Harper, but I thought she did a solid job coaching, especially on the defensive end. Tenn. came into the game ranked top ten in basically every team defense category - opponent points, opponent shooting %, opponent 3pt %, etc. - and we laid 78 points on them with most of our starters warming the bench for the last five minutes.
Plus: biggest margin for Stanford over Tennessee all time, and lowest points scored by Tennessee in the whole storied history of the series dating back to 1988. Really hard to complain on a night like that!
Given that, I do think our effort on the boards was pretty solid, and I think we did an excellent job clogging the paint and providing help-side defense to prevent marches to the basket. Indeed, the two or three times Davis or Horston were open and basically just paraded to the hoop, I thought to myself, "Why isn't Harper having them do that more?" Then I'd watch their next few trips on offense and realize how well we were closing down the lanes and preventing any kind of easy layups in the paint. And remember: we were without our first (Smith), second (Carrington) and fifth (Dodson) leading rebounders from last season, so it's an understandable work-in-progress with Carrington and Dodson both out.
More than anything, I was happy to see Williams back playing like the stud she's been for so much of the past two seasons. When her shots fall, her swagger returns, and when her swagger returns, everyone else plays better too.
Finally, I know some people are skeptical of Harper, but I thought she did a solid job coaching, especially on the defensive end. Tenn. came into the game ranked top ten in basically every team defense category - opponent points, opponent shooting %, opponent 3pt %, etc. - and we laid 78 points on them with most of our starters warming the bench for the last five minutes.
Plus: biggest margin for Stanford over Tennessee all time, and lowest points scored by Tennessee in the whole storied history of the series dating back to 1988. Really hard to complain on a night like that!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeZF11IjSFQ
postgame interview with Prechtel - really like this young lady
and game replay on Pac12 today 1000am
postgame interview with Prechtel - really like this young lady
and game replay on Pac12 today 1000am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeZF11IjSFQ
postgame interview with Prechtel - really like this young lady
and game replay on Pac12 today 1000am
postgame interview with Prechtel - really like this young lady
and game replay on Pac12 today 1000am
12-19-2019, 09:58 AM
Stanford had 15 O boards. Not a brobdingnagian diff to Tennessee 19
I loved our rebounding. We grabbed the ball we held onto the ball my ball not yours. My pet peeve has been getting the rebound and then losing it. Call me thrilled
OTOH please play Pretchel over Jerome for 30 minutes
I loved our rebounding. We grabbed the ball we held onto the ball my ball not yours. My pet peeve has been getting the rebound and then losing it. Call me thrilled
OTOH please play Pretchel over Jerome for 30 minutes
Stanford had 15 O boards. Not a brobdingnagian diff to Tennessee 19
I loved our rebounding. We grabbed the ball we held onto the ball my ball not yours. My pet peeve has been getting the rebound and then losing it. Call me thrilled
OTOH please play Pretchel over Jerome for 30 minutes
I loved our rebounding. We grabbed the ball we held onto the ball my ball not yours. My pet peeve has been getting the rebound and then losing it. Call me thrilled
OTOH please play Pretchel over Jerome for 30 minutes
(12-19-2019, 09:58 AM)BobK Wrote: Stanford had 15 O boards. Not a of immense proportions diff to Tennessee 19Good plan regarding Prechtel, Bob, she needs more on-court experience, and we would benefit by getting more blocks, boards, and points! Although, she might not be as durable as Jerome and we need her to be healthy for another three years.
I loved our rebounding. We grabbed the ball we held onto the ball my ball not yours. My pet peeve has been getting the rebound and then losing it. Call me thrilled
OTOH please play Pretchel over Jerome for 30 minutes
(12-19-2019, 09:58 AM)BobK Wrote: Stanford had 15 O boards. Not a of immense proportions diff to Tennessee 19Good plan regarding Prechtel, Bob, she needs more on-court experience, and we would benefit by getting more blocks, boards, and points! Although, she might not be as durable as Jerome and we need her to be healthy for another three years.
I loved our rebounding. We grabbed the ball we held onto the ball my ball not yours. My pet peeve has been getting the rebound and then losing it. Call me thrilled
OTOH please play Pretchel over Jerome for 30 minutes
12-19-2019, 11:53 AM
Merc story by Elliott Almond:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/12/19/h...-the-land/
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/12/19/h...-the-land/
12-19-2019, 02:26 PM
(12-19-2019, 09:19 AM)2006alum Wrote: Unlike Farm, I'm fairly sanguine-to-ecstatic about our play last night. Yes, they definitely dominated the boards. But to be honest, they really *should* have - at every position but when Prechtel was matching up with Key, we were giving up inches and arm length. Every team with top recruits will have some kind of matchup problem against another team with top recruits, and in this game, we gave up length and height.
Yeah, of course we can always find things to improve on, but a four quarter (we outscored them in each of the quarters), 27 point win over a top-25 team. I'll take that any day.
BC
(12-19-2019, 09:19 AM)2006alum Wrote: Unlike Farm, I'm fairly sanguine-to-ecstatic about our play last night. Yes, they definitely dominated the boards. But to be honest, they really *should* have - at every position but when Prechtel was matching up with Key, we were giving up inches and arm length. Every team with top recruits will have some kind of matchup problem against another team with top recruits, and in this game, we gave up length and height.
Yeah, of course we can always find things to improve on, but a four quarter (we outscored them in each of the quarters), 27 point win over a top-25 team. I'll take that any day.
BC
(12-19-2019, 02:26 PM)BostonCard Wrote: Yeah, of course we can always find things to improve on, but a four quarter (we outscored them in each of the quarters), 27 point win over a top-25 team. I'll take that any day.
My thought as I left Maples was that the team played like the tide. Steadily coming at you and there's nothing you can do about it. Try to stop it in one spot or two or three and the others just flood in their place. Fight the tide and it will wear you down in the end.
I'm sure Tara loves the fact that she can keep rotating players, forcing different match-ups for the defense. I think that also is going to keep our foul numbers down. Belibi fouled out, but I think Tara left her in so she'd learn (in the future) how to play differently when she's got too many fouls.
Who believes we got out rebounded?? Under our basket, we got 15 out of 40 rebounds (37.5% !!) while under their basket we got 35 out of 54 (64.8%). 37.5 + 64.8 = 102.3 (so TN would be at 97.7) Plus, I like the fact that we had 9 blocks to their 5. That's against a taller team.
On the TV, they were touting TN's rebounding & defense at the start of the game. In the seconds after the game was over, probably when the announcers had a chance to look at the final stats, Stanford's defense was finally acknowledged. That's ok. Let everyone talk about scoring, while the defense winds up beating them. A good defensive team rarely has off nights on defense.
We didn't steal the ball anywhere near the pace of the previous game, but we managed an advantage (7-6). Maybe TN was focussed on that. But I felt Stanford didn't take the risks (probably with good reason).
All this said, we have lost enough of our depth to injuries that we are one more injury from dropping our play significantly. I don't think it is against NCAA rules to wish/pray/chant the best of health to our players!
P.S. I don't know what the origin is of "Next Starts Now", or even really what it is supposed to mean. But, I did notice the use of a logo "Next Begins Here" by UTAustin (non-athletics).
(12-19-2019, 02:26 PM)BostonCard Wrote: Yeah, of course we can always find things to improve on, but a four quarter (we outscored them in each of the quarters), 27 point win over a top-25 team. I'll take that any day.
My thought as I left Maples was that the team played like the tide. Steadily coming at you and there's nothing you can do about it. Try to stop it in one spot or two or three and the others just flood in their place. Fight the tide and it will wear you down in the end.
I'm sure Tara loves the fact that she can keep rotating players, forcing different match-ups for the defense. I think that also is going to keep our foul numbers down. Belibi fouled out, but I think Tara left her in so she'd learn (in the future) how to play differently when she's got too many fouls.
Who believes we got out rebounded?? Under our basket, we got 15 out of 40 rebounds (37.5% !!) while under their basket we got 35 out of 54 (64.8%). 37.5 + 64.8 = 102.3 (so TN would be at 97.7) Plus, I like the fact that we had 9 blocks to their 5. That's against a taller team.
On the TV, they were touting TN's rebounding & defense at the start of the game. In the seconds after the game was over, probably when the announcers had a chance to look at the final stats, Stanford's defense was finally acknowledged. That's ok. Let everyone talk about scoring, while the defense winds up beating them. A good defensive team rarely has off nights on defense.
We didn't steal the ball anywhere near the pace of the previous game, but we managed an advantage (7-6). Maybe TN was focussed on that. But I felt Stanford didn't take the risks (probably with good reason).
All this said, we have lost enough of our depth to injuries that we are one more injury from dropping our play significantly. I don't think it is against NCAA rules to wish/pray/chant the best of health to our players!
P.S. I don't know what the origin is of "Next Starts Now", or even really what it is supposed to mean. But, I did notice the use of a logo "Next Begins Here" by UTAustin (non-athletics).
(12-19-2019, 09:19 AM)2006alum Wrote: Unlike Farm, I'm fairly sanguine-to-ecstatic about our play last night. Yes, they definitely dominated the boards. But to be honest, they really *should* have - at every position but when Prechtel was matching up with Key, we were giving up inches and arm length. Every team with top recruits will have some kind of matchup problem against another team with top recruits, and in this game, we gave up length and height.
I am nitpicking for the most part. As you pointed out, we set a margin of victory and scoring defense record in our rivalry with Tennessee last night. We are playing very well and this without one of our most important senior leaders in Carrington and some post defense in Dodson. I really hope that we can get them back sooner than later. If we are already exhausting teams with our depth, imagine what adding these two players back into the rotation would mean.
I guess for me, as we continue to win and win impressively most of the time, my expectations about the team's potential and chances of making a deep postseason run rises. In the last few years, I tempered my optimism knowing that UConn with Stewart and Jefferson, a Notre Dame with Ogunbowale and Turner, a South Carolina with an A'ja Wilson, an Oregon with Ionescu and Hebard was out there and we didn't have the firepower to get through multiple top tier teams to win. Yea, we've scored upsets over most of those teams, but to string potentially multiple wins together in the NCAA tournament seemed like too tall of an order.
Now I know it's still pretty early in the season and there's a lot that can still happen, but the freshmen have shown that they are quickly acclimating themselves to collegiate level playing and contributing immediately and significantly, Lexie has picked up where she left off before her early season injury last year, Fingall if not completely at 100% is still recovered enough to add the inside presence we missed while she was out, and Kiana is providing the veteran leadership, especially with DiJonai being out.
Plus we are winning tough games without Carrington and Dodson and some of them by healthy margins. Which all increases my hopes for this season and with that, higher expectations on what we can approve on, when we face an Oregon or a Baylor in the Final Four potentially.
But that doesn't mean that I can't see or appreciate the performances the players have put up so far.
(This post was last modified: 12-20-2019, 12:54 AM by TheFarm07.)
(12-19-2019, 09:19 AM)2006alum Wrote: Unlike Farm, I'm fairly sanguine-to-ecstatic about our play last night. Yes, they definitely dominated the boards. But to be honest, they really *should* have - at every position but when Prechtel was matching up with Key, we were giving up inches and arm length. Every team with top recruits will have some kind of matchup problem against another team with top recruits, and in this game, we gave up length and height.
I am nitpicking for the most part. As you pointed out, we set a margin of victory and scoring defense record in our rivalry with Tennessee last night. We are playing very well and this without one of our most important senior leaders in Carrington and some post defense in Dodson. I really hope that we can get them back sooner than later. If we are already exhausting teams with our depth, imagine what adding these two players back into the rotation would mean.
I guess for me, as we continue to win and win impressively most of the time, my expectations about the team's potential and chances of making a deep postseason run rises. In the last few years, I tempered my optimism knowing that UConn with Stewart and Jefferson, a Notre Dame with Ogunbowale and Turner, a South Carolina with an A'ja Wilson, an Oregon with Ionescu and Hebard was out there and we didn't have the firepower to get through multiple top tier teams to win. Yea, we've scored upsets over most of those teams, but to string potentially multiple wins together in the NCAA tournament seemed like too tall of an order.
Now I know it's still pretty early in the season and there's a lot that can still happen, but the freshmen have shown that they are quickly acclimating themselves to collegiate level playing and contributing immediately and significantly, Lexie has picked up where she left off before her early season injury last year, Fingall if not completely at 100% is still recovered enough to add the inside presence we missed while she was out, and Kiana is providing the veteran leadership, especially with DiJonai being out.
Plus we are winning tough games without Carrington and Dodson and some of them by healthy margins. Which all increases my hopes for this season and with that, higher expectations on what we can approve on, when we face an Oregon or a Baylor in the Final Four potentially.
But that doesn't mean that I can't see or appreciate the performances the players have put up so far.
My hopes are rising, too, Farm, but I still have a little fear that the teams we have beaten are turning out not to be the elite teams they were expected to be. Gonzaga and Mississippi State are the best two teams we have played by considerable margins, and neither one looks like a final four team to me--and we barely got past Gonzaga. Can we beat a final four team? Can we beat Oregon, UConn, or maybe Baylor, South Carolina? Can we beat Oregon State--twice?
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
My hopes are rising, too, Farm, but I still have a little fear that the teams we have beaten are turning out not to be the elite teams they were expected to be. Gonzaga and Mississippi State are the best two teams we have played by considerable margins, and neither one looks like a final four team to me--and we barely got past Gonzaga. Can we beat a final four team? Can we beat Oregon, UConn, or maybe Baylor, South Carolina? Can we beat Oregon State--twice?
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
12-20-2019, 10:40 AM
(12-20-2019, 10:02 AM)81alum Wrote: My hopes are rising, too, Farm, but I still have a little fear that the teams we have beaten are turning out not to be the elite teams they were expected to be. Gonzaga and Mississippi State are the best two teams we have played by considerable margins, and neither one looks like a final four team to me--and we barely got past Gonzaga. Can we beat a final four team? Can we beat Oregon, UConn, or maybe Baylor, South Carolina? Can we beat Oregon State--twice?
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
I agree with you 81. I'm just taking this season one game at a time. Pac-12 season will tell the story. I don't believe we're near FF level yet, but we still have upside and there's always room for improvement. The injuries to Dodson and Carrington worry me though. And I can't pinpoint the reasons, but I just have a sense we need a bit more offensive consistency to make a deep run.
(12-20-2019, 10:02 AM)81alum Wrote: My hopes are rising, too, Farm, but I still have a little fear that the teams we have beaten are turning out not to be the elite teams they were expected to be. Gonzaga and Mississippi State are the best two teams we have played by considerable margins, and neither one looks like a final four team to me--and we barely got past Gonzaga. Can we beat a final four team? Can we beat Oregon, UConn, or maybe Baylor, South Carolina? Can we beat Oregon State--twice?
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
I agree with you 81. I'm just taking this season one game at a time. Pac-12 season will tell the story. I don't believe we're near FF level yet, but we still have upside and there's always room for improvement. The injuries to Dodson and Carrington worry me though. And I can't pinpoint the reasons, but I just have a sense we need a bit more offensive consistency to make a deep run.
12-20-2019, 11:45 AM
(12-20-2019, 10:40 AM)qwerty49 Wrote:(12-20-2019, 10:02 AM)81alum Wrote: My hopes are rising, too, Farm, but I still have a little fear that the teams we have beaten are turning out not to be the elite teams they were expected to be. Gonzaga and Mississippi State are the best two teams we have played by considerable margins, and neither one looks like a final four team to me--and we barely got past Gonzaga. Can we beat a final four team? Can we beat Oregon, UConn, or maybe Baylor, South Carolina? Can we beat Oregon State--twice?
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
I agree with you 81. I'm just taking this season one game at a time. Pac-12 season will tell the story. I don't believe we're near FF level yet, but we still have upside and there's always room for improvement. The injuries to Dodson and Carrington worry me though. And I can't pinpoint the reasons, but I just have a sense we need a bit more offensive consistency to make a deep run.
Agree with all of this, but I think Gonzaga is excellent. Not familiar enough with the women's college hoops landscape to say if they are/are not a Final Four team, but they have a very strong and balanced roster and appear well-coached. They are going to be a tough out in the NCAAs . . . for anyone. Whether that occurs before or after Elite 8 game . . . hard to say. But then again, you could say that about 10 teams, I bet.
(12-20-2019, 10:40 AM)qwerty49 Wrote:(12-20-2019, 10:02 AM)81alum Wrote: My hopes are rising, too, Farm, but I still have a little fear that the teams we have beaten are turning out not to be the elite teams they were expected to be. Gonzaga and Mississippi State are the best two teams we have played by considerable margins, and neither one looks like a final four team to me--and we barely got past Gonzaga. Can we beat a final four team? Can we beat Oregon, UConn, or maybe Baylor, South Carolina? Can we beat Oregon State--twice?
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
I agree with you 81. I'm just taking this season one game at a time. Pac-12 season will tell the story. I don't believe we're near FF level yet, but we still have upside and there's always room for improvement. The injuries to Dodson and Carrington worry me though. And I can't pinpoint the reasons, but I just have a sense we need a bit more offensive consistency to make a deep run.
Agree with all of this, but I think Gonzaga is excellent. Not familiar enough with the women's college hoops landscape to say if they are/are not a Final Four team, but they have a very strong and balanced roster and appear well-coached. They are going to be a tough out in the NCAAs . . . for anyone. Whether that occurs before or after Elite 8 game . . . hard to say. But then again, you could say that about 10 teams, I bet.
12-20-2019, 12:06 PM
Fran Fraschilla has a great post on Tara's Princeton offense. There is so much movement in real time that it is hard to see all the pieces other than the end result like Lexie open for a three or Jones open for a straight line drive. Fran breaks it down and shows how it all comes out of Tara's offense. The offense keeps stressing the defense to the point that something breaks down and we have an open shot. In real time, I thought Jones' drive was just her athleticism or bad defense but Fraschilla shows how it came out of the Princeton and a rejected screen. Fingall's cut drew the player defending her and thus she couldn't help defend Jones who had an uncontested layup. Or if she had, Jones would have passed to Fingall for an easy layup.
https://twitter.com/franfraschilla/statu...51904?s=20
https://twitter.com/franfraschilla/statu...51904?s=20
Fran Fraschilla has a great post on Tara's Princeton offense. There is so much movement in real time that it is hard to see all the pieces other than the end result like Lexie open for a three or Jones open for a straight line drive. Fran breaks it down and shows how it all comes out of Tara's offense. The offense keeps stressing the defense to the point that something breaks down and we have an open shot. In real time, I thought Jones' drive was just her athleticism or bad defense but Fraschilla shows how it came out of the Princeton and a rejected screen. Fingall's cut drew the player defending her and thus she couldn't help defend Jones who had an uncontested layup. Or if she had, Jones would have passed to Fingall for an easy layup.
https://twitter.com/franfraschilla/statu...51904?s=20
https://twitter.com/franfraschilla/statu...51904?s=20
12-20-2019, 12:42 PM
(12-20-2019, 11:45 AM)teejers1 Wrote:(12-20-2019, 10:40 AM)qwerty49 Wrote:(12-20-2019, 10:02 AM)81alum Wrote: My hopes are rising, too, Farm, but I still have a little fear that the teams we have beaten are turning out not to be the elite teams they were expected to be. Gonzaga and Mississippi State are the best two teams we have played by considerable margins, and neither one looks like a final four team to me--and we barely got past Gonzaga. Can we beat a final four team? Can we beat Oregon, UConn, or maybe Baylor, South Carolina? Can we beat Oregon State--twice?
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
I agree with you 81. I'm just taking this season one game at a time. Pac-12 season will tell the story. I don't believe we're near FF level yet, but we still have upside and there's always room for improvement. The injuries to Dodson and Carrington worry me though. And I can't pinpoint the reasons, but I just have a sense we need a bit more offensive consistency to make a deep run.
Agree with all of this, but I think Gonzaga is excellent. Not familiar enough with the women's college hoops landscape to say if they are/are not a Final Four team, but they have a very strong and balanced roster and appear well-coached. They are going to be a tough out in the NCAAs . . . for anyone. Whether that occurs before or after Elite 8 game . . . hard to say. But then again, you could say that about 10 teams, I bet.
Gonzaga is excellent, and we will know more about them later tonight as they take on Missouri State in their biggest remaining test this season outside of a weakened BYU. It’s possible if they win tonight, they may be able to march through the rest of their schedule.
(12-20-2019, 11:45 AM)teejers1 Wrote:(12-20-2019, 10:40 AM)qwerty49 Wrote:(12-20-2019, 10:02 AM)81alum Wrote: My hopes are rising, too, Farm, but I still have a little fear that the teams we have beaten are turning out not to be the elite teams they were expected to be. Gonzaga and Mississippi State are the best two teams we have played by considerable margins, and neither one looks like a final four team to me--and we barely got past Gonzaga. Can we beat a final four team? Can we beat Oregon, UConn, or maybe Baylor, South Carolina? Can we beat Oregon State--twice?
So I am ecstatic with how we are doing so far, but in a reversal of Stanford WBB history the real test is going to be the Pac 12. UCLA and Arizona look very good this year, Oregon State is ahead of its rebuilding schedule just like us, and Oregon is basically a pro team that beat team USA. I worry that we (and the players) should not get ahead of ourselves. It is possible as Tara said that all 4 final four teams are playing in the Pac 12 now and we haven't yet had to match up with them. It was less than a year ago that Oregon pasted us on our own floor, and they have not gotten any worse.
Yet Tara is a brilliant educator, and her teams usually improve steadily throughout the year. I would not rule anything out at this stage--but my hopes for this year won't really peak unless we go to the state of Oregon and return with two victories. If we do that then the sky is the limit.
I agree with you 81. I'm just taking this season one game at a time. Pac-12 season will tell the story. I don't believe we're near FF level yet, but we still have upside and there's always room for improvement. The injuries to Dodson and Carrington worry me though. And I can't pinpoint the reasons, but I just have a sense we need a bit more offensive consistency to make a deep run.
Agree with all of this, but I think Gonzaga is excellent. Not familiar enough with the women's college hoops landscape to say if they are/are not a Final Four team, but they have a very strong and balanced roster and appear well-coached. They are going to be a tough out in the NCAAs . . . for anyone. Whether that occurs before or after Elite 8 game . . . hard to say. But then again, you could say that about 10 teams, I bet.
Gonzaga is excellent, and we will know more about them later tonight as they take on Missouri State in their biggest remaining test this season outside of a weakened BYU. It’s possible if they win tonight, they may be able to march through the rest of their schedule.
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