[MV72018]

I was very impressed with last night's victory. Outstanding game by Iriafen and Bosgana. I was particularly impressed by the high energy with which the team played, and with the confidence many Stanford players showed in taking and making tough shots. That's the level of energy the team will need to be competitive with and hopefully beat teams like South Carolina and UCLA. In short, last night's game made me more of a believer in this team than I was before. Congratulations to both the team and coaches on playing and coaching an excellent game.

[MV72018]

I was very impressed with last night's victory. Outstanding game by Iriafen and Bosgana. I was particularly impressed by the high energy with which the team played, and with the confidence many Stanford players showed in taking and making tough shots. That's the level of energy the team will need to be competitive with and hopefully beat teams like South Carolina and UCLA. In short, last night's game made me more of a believer in this team than I was before. Congratulations to both the team and coaches on playing and coaching an excellent game.

[81alum]

Agnes Emma-Nnopu going off against Nebraska right now, 20 points so far in the first half shooting 6-9 from three.

Good for Agnes!

Meanwhile, North Carolina State is taking it to Colorado.  If that continues, we likely will move up a spot to 3.  If anyone cares about rankings this early.

[81alum]

Agnes Emma-Nnopu going off against Nebraska right now, 20 points so far in the first half shooting 6-9 from three.

Good for Agnes!

Meanwhile, North Carolina State is taking it to Colorado.  If that continues, we likely will move up a spot to 3.  If anyone cares about rankings this early.

[CompSci87]

Agnes Emma-Nnopu going off against Nebraska right now, 20 points so far in the first half shooting 6-9 from three.

Good for Agnes!

Meanwhile, North Carolina State is taking it to Colorado.  If that continues, we likely will move up a spot to 3.  If anyone cares about rankings this early.

This year especially I'm realizing the rankings are about who hasn't lost yet. The Duke game could have gone either way, and we'd be ranked way lower if Duke had hit the open 3 at the end of regulation. 

That sounds negative, but what I really want to say is more that this year's team is special, and it's exciting to watch them play together, grow and improve.

[CompSci87]

Agnes Emma-Nnopu going off against Nebraska right now, 20 points so far in the first half shooting 6-9 from three.

Good for Agnes!

Meanwhile, North Carolina State is taking it to Colorado.  If that continues, we likely will move up a spot to 3.  If anyone cares about rankings this early.

This year especially I'm realizing the rankings are about who hasn't lost yet. The Duke game could have gone either way, and we'd be ranked way lower if Duke had hit the open 3 at the end of regulation. 

That sounds negative, but what I really want to say is more that this year's team is special, and it's exciting to watch them play together, grow and improve.

[martyup]

. . . but what I really want to say is more that this year's team is special, and it's exciting to watch them play together, grow and improve.

Yes, this team appears to have great chemistry and attitude.  Something messed up team chemistry and attitude last season.  We had games when we played like crap and didn't seem to care.  Was it the unhappiness of Betts due to lack of playing time?  Was it Jones sucking up all of the oxygen in the room?  Who knows.  I'm just glad that this team is playing great basketball and realizing their potential.

[martyup]

. . . but what I really want to say is more that this year's team is special, and it's exciting to watch them play together, grow and improve.

Yes, this team appears to have great chemistry and attitude.  Something messed up team chemistry and attitude last season.  We had games when we played like crap and didn't seem to care.  Was it the unhappiness of Betts due to lack of playing time?  Was it Jones sucking up all of the oxygen in the room?  Who knows.  I'm just glad that this team is playing great basketball and realizing their potential.

[M T]

Yes, this team appears to have great chemistry and attitude.  ....  I'm just glad that this team is playing great basketball and realizing their potential.

Moreover, I think this team could suffer some setbacks and still be positive going into subsequent games.  It's easy to be very positive when you're 6-0, but, should some team or official surprise them, I think they'll get right back on track.

Basketball is very much a game where a thousand distinct mils or calls from officials can alter a season.  A loss and a win are often separated by a bounce, a miss or make, or a bad call.  The team that does keep going will more often win in the long run.

Stanford blew past Indiana.  Duke was too close but Stanford pulled it out.  Stanford kept pulling away from FSU, even with the fouls called on Brink.  That was the positive I saw.

No doubt there are other teams that are talented and positive and well-coached.  I think Stanford is poised to take them on.

[M T]

Yes, this team appears to have great chemistry and attitude.  ....  I'm just glad that this team is playing great basketball and realizing their potential.

Moreover, I think this team could suffer some setbacks and still be positive going into subsequent games.  It's easy to be very positive when you're 6-0, but, should some team or official surprise them, I think they'll get right back on track.

Basketball is very much a game where a thousand distinct mils or calls from officials can alter a season.  A loss and a win are often separated by a bounce, a miss or make, or a bad call.  The team that does keep going will more often win in the long run.

Stanford blew past Indiana.  Duke was too close but Stanford pulled it out.  Stanford kept pulling away from FSU, even with the fouls called on Brink.  That was the positive I saw.

No doubt there are other teams that are talented and positive and well-coached.  I think Stanford is poised to take them on.

[M T]

Alexa Phillippou from ESPN talks about it in this column. The main issue seems to be Mulkey challenging players, including Reese, for their defensive effort (or lack thereof). LSU has plenty of time to figure things out. Their schedule is soft as goose down until they start SEC play in January. I think they will be just fine by the time March rolls around.

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-bask...ly-2023-24

Whatever the issue is that was causing Reese not to play, I have to say my respect for Mulkey has risen to epsilon because she hasn't publicly thrown Reese under the bus.  But Reese will be in the next game.

[M T]

Alexa Phillippou from ESPN talks about it in this column. The main issue seems to be Mulkey challenging players, including Reese, for their defensive effort (or lack thereof). LSU has plenty of time to figure things out. Their schedule is soft as goose down until they start SEC play in January. I think they will be just fine by the time March rolls around.

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-bask...ly-2023-24

Whatever the issue is that was causing Reese not to play, I have to say my respect for Mulkey has risen to epsilon because she hasn't publicly thrown Reese under the bus.  But Reese will be in the next game.

[magnus]

UNC leading USoCar at the half,  29-26

[magnus]

UNC leading USoCar at the half,  29-26

[BobK]

23 fouls in the first half of NC vs SC

[BobK]

23 fouls in the first half of NC vs SC

[WBB fan]

SC overcame NC in the 2nd half, final 65-58, with Oregon transfer Paopao the player of the game. It was a tight game all the way.

Florida State lost to unranked Arkansas (6-1 record pre-game, now 7-1) 71-58 -- makes our win look not quite as good.

[WBB fan]

SC overcame NC in the 2nd half, final 65-58, with Oregon transfer Paopao the player of the game. It was a tight game all the way.

Florida State lost to unranked Arkansas (6-1 record pre-game, now 7-1) 71-58 -- makes our win look not quite as good.

[Lorcan]

Indiana escaped Maine, 67-59 in Mackenzie Holmes' homecoming game - so our foes this season dodged another loss. Duke barely escaped Georgia in overtime. 

In other news, Oregon is currently down 63-27 to Portland. Oregon already got crushed by Santa Clara this season - so things seem to be getting off the rails for the Ducks this year.

[Lorcan]

Indiana escaped Maine, 67-59 in Mackenzie Holmes' homecoming game - so our foes this season dodged another loss. Duke barely escaped Georgia in overtime. 

In other news, Oregon is currently down 63-27 to Portland. Oregon already got crushed by Santa Clara this season - so things seem to be getting off the rails for the Ducks this year.

[Card10Fan]

1701397370[/url]']
SC overcame NC in the 2nd half, final 65-58, with Oregon transfer Paopao the player of the game. It was a tight game all the way.

Florida State lost to unranked Arkansas (6-1 record pre-game, now 7-1) 71-58 -- makes our win look not quite as good.

Nivar logged 2 minute in the Carolina loss. I’ve watched a few of their games and I would say she’s had a pretty uninspiring start to her first season in Chapel Hill.

[Card10Fan]

1701397370[/url]']
SC overcame NC in the 2nd half, final 65-58, with Oregon transfer Paopao the player of the game. It was a tight game all the way.

Florida State lost to unranked Arkansas (6-1 record pre-game, now 7-1) 71-58 -- makes our win look not quite as good.

Nivar logged 2 minute in the Carolina loss. I’ve watched a few of their games and I would say she’s had a pretty uninspiring start to her first season in Chapel Hill.

[81alum]

SC overcame NC in the 2nd half, final 65-58, with Oregon transfer Paopao the player of the game. It was a tight game all the way.

I am so, so old school.  This does not strike me as wrong, but irritating, I guess.  Most teams used to go through rebuilding periods where the skill of the coach at player development came into play.  But Oregon just became a minor league feeder team for South Carolina.

[81alum]

SC overcame NC in the 2nd half, final 65-58, with Oregon transfer Paopao the player of the game. It was a tight game all the way.

I am so, so old school.  This does not strike me as wrong, but irritating, I guess.  Most teams used to go through rebuilding periods where the skill of the coach at player development came into play.  But Oregon just became a minor league feeder team for South Carolina.

[WBB fan]

SC overcame NC in the 2nd half, final 65-58, with Oregon transfer Paopao the player of the game. It was a tight game all the way.

I am so, so old school.  This does not strike me as wrong, but irritating, I guess.  Most teams used to go through rebuilding periods where the skill of the coach at player development came into play.  But Oregon just became a minor league feeder team for South Carolina.

I feel the same way

[WBB fan]

SC overcame NC in the 2nd half, final 65-58, with Oregon transfer Paopao the player of the game. It was a tight game all the way.

I am so, so old school.  This does not strike me as wrong, but irritating, I guess.  Most teams used to go through rebuilding periods where the skill of the coach at player development came into play.  But Oregon just became a minor league feeder team for South Carolina.

I feel the same way

[mbdude]

TCUs top 3 scorers are all transfers; Conner from AZ, Prince from Ore, and Nnopu

[mbdude]

TCUs top 3 scorers are all transfers; Conner from AZ, Prince from Ore, and Nnopu

[stopandpop]

Besides our game with Gonzaga this Sunday, UCLA travels to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks who upset Florida State.  I'm looking at their 4 leading scorers and they are not a very big team.  Scott, their leading scorer (23.3 ppg) is 5'9.  Spencer (11.8) is 5'7, Daniels (11.1) is 5'8 and Puffenburger (10.6 ppg/12.6 reb.) is a modest 6'2.

They may put up a fight, but UCLA's superior size and overall talent will prevail.

[stopandpop]

Besides our game with Gonzaga this Sunday, UCLA travels to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks who upset Florida State.  I'm looking at their 4 leading scorers and they are not a very big team.  Scott, their leading scorer (23.3 ppg) is 5'9.  Spencer (11.8) is 5'7, Daniels (11.1) is 5'8 and Puffenburger (10.6 ppg/12.6 reb.) is a modest 6'2.

They may put up a fight, but UCLA's superior size and overall talent will prevail.

[M T]

Shades of 2020-2021, on Saturday, Xavier (0-7) canceled their game vs ASU for Saturday afternoon because they didn't have enough available players.  No statement was made about why they didn't have enough players.  Xavier had 9 players play in a game on Friday afternoon at ASU.

[M T]

Shades of 2020-2021, on Saturday, Xavier (0-7) canceled their game vs ASU for Saturday afternoon because they didn't have enough available players.  No statement was made about why they didn't have enough players.  Xavier had 9 players play in a game on Friday afternoon at ASU.

[81alum]

Duke went ahead of South Carolina after a big run in the 3rd, but South Carolina ground them down in the fourth and won 77-61.  All five South Carolina starters wound up with 11-15 points.  South Carolina with 23 free throw attempts and Duke with 2.

[81alum]

Duke went ahead of South Carolina after a big run in the 3rd, but South Carolina ground them down in the fourth and won 77-61.  All five South Carolina starters wound up with 11-15 points.  South Carolina with 23 free throw attempts and Duke with 2.

[JohnR34231]

Besides our game with Gonzaga this Sunday, UCLA travels to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks who upset Florida State.  I'm looking at their 4 leading scorers and they are not a very big team.  Scott, their leading scorer (23.3 ppg) is 5'9.  Spencer (11.8) is 5'7, Daniels (11.1) is 5'8 and Puffenburger (10.6 ppg/12.6 reb.) is a modest 6'2.

They may put up a fight, but UCLA's superior size and overall talent will prevail.

Score is 50-30 UCLA at halftime. Betts of course is UCLA's leading scorer.
Arkansas is not putting up much of a fight.

[JohnR34231]

Besides our game with Gonzaga this Sunday, UCLA travels to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks who upset Florida State.  I'm looking at their 4 leading scorers and they are not a very big team.  Scott, their leading scorer (23.3 ppg) is 5'9.  Spencer (11.8) is 5'7, Daniels (11.1) is 5'8 and Puffenburger (10.6 ppg/12.6 reb.) is a modest 6'2.

They may put up a fight, but UCLA's superior size and overall talent will prevail.

Score is 50-30 UCLA at halftime. Betts of course is UCLA's leading scorer.
Arkansas is not putting up much of a fight.

[Hoops9092]

Didn't see this posted anywhere but how about Lindy and UNLV beating Arizona 72-53! UNLV is now off to an 8-0 start and one of the first teams voted just outside the top 25. This being her 4th year at UNLV, I expect a BCS program in the near future to snag her.

[Hoops9092]

Didn't see this posted anywhere but how about Lindy and UNLV beating Arizona 72-53! UNLV is now off to an 8-0 start and one of the first teams voted just outside the top 25. This being her 4th year at UNLV, I expect a BCS program in the near future to snag her.

[Spiny_Norman]

An insightful article about Lauren Betts' transformation at UCLA. Her decision to transfer wasn't all about playing time.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/stor...ts-feature

When players need to work on their basketball skills, they hit the gym. But at UCLA, when they need to work on their mental skills like Betts, they hit the “mind gym.” The program’s comprehensive mental conditioning regimen has been a secret to unlocking the sophomore center’s full potential after a disappointing freshman season crushed her confidence. . . 

The program was a key point in Close’s recruiting pitch to Betts out of the transfer portal. “I knew that her potential was a 10,” Close said, “but I knew that her confidence was not a 10 yet.”

With her pick of colleges, Betts chose Stanford, lured by the program’s prestige and legendary coach Tara VanDerveer. But because of the pandemic, she was not able to visit the school before committing. She understood the transition to college would come with inevitable speed bumps, especially in a deep post position group, but it wasn’t just a diminished role on the court that didn’t meet the top prospect’s expectations.
 
“A lot of the things I would say that people assume that I knew, that’s not what I was told,” Betts said. “It’s tricky to really go into specifics. I wouldn’t say anything specific happened, but I would say it was a long period of just not what I wanted as a freshman. … I didn’t feel like I could see myself playing there for four years.”
 
The experience eroded Betts’ self-belief to the point that Close didn’t think Betts’ confidence would return to its peak until late December or January. Then she dominated in her UCLA debut with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes as the Bruins crushed Purdue 92-49 in their season opener.
 
Close stresses that Betts is no average center. During the team’s summer conditioning tests that included on-court sprints and a mile run, Betts made all the time benchmarks for the guards. When the Bruins switched every screen against Purdue, Betts didn’t get beat on defense one time, Close said. For defensive inspiration, Close shows Betts clips of San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama. UCLA’s star center can be that type of defensive presence, the 13th-year coach believes.  “She’s not one-dimensional,” Close said.
 
After her confidence was buoyed by her elite recruiting status and basketball success as a child, Betts is starting to believe her versatility can extend beyond the basketball court. At UCLA, her self-image doesn’t have to depend solely on how many points she scores or how many rebounds she grabs. Expanding her perspective has only helped improve her play.

[Spiny_Norman]

An insightful article about Lauren Betts' transformation at UCLA. Her decision to transfer wasn't all about playing time.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/stor...ts-feature

When players need to work on their basketball skills, they hit the gym. But at UCLA, when they need to work on their mental skills like Betts, they hit the “mind gym.” The program’s comprehensive mental conditioning regimen has been a secret to unlocking the sophomore center’s full potential after a disappointing freshman season crushed her confidence. . . 

The program was a key point in Close’s recruiting pitch to Betts out of the transfer portal. “I knew that her potential was a 10,” Close said, “but I knew that her confidence was not a 10 yet.”

With her pick of colleges, Betts chose Stanford, lured by the program’s prestige and legendary coach Tara VanDerveer. But because of the pandemic, she was not able to visit the school before committing. She understood the transition to college would come with inevitable speed bumps, especially in a deep post position group, but it wasn’t just a diminished role on the court that didn’t meet the top prospect’s expectations.
 
“A lot of the things I would say that people assume that I knew, that’s not what I was told,” Betts said. “It’s tricky to really go into specifics. I wouldn’t say anything specific happened, but I would say it was a long period of just not what I wanted as a freshman. … I didn’t feel like I could see myself playing there for four years.”
 
The experience eroded Betts’ self-belief to the point that Close didn’t think Betts’ confidence would return to its peak until late December or January. Then she dominated in her UCLA debut with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes as the Bruins crushed Purdue 92-49 in their season opener.
 
Close stresses that Betts is no average center. During the team’s summer conditioning tests that included on-court sprints and a mile run, Betts made all the time benchmarks for the guards. When the Bruins switched every screen against Purdue, Betts didn’t get beat on defense one time, Close said. For defensive inspiration, Close shows Betts clips of San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama. UCLA’s star center can be that type of defensive presence, the 13th-year coach believes.  “She’s not one-dimensional,” Close said.
 
After her confidence was buoyed by her elite recruiting status and basketball success as a child, Betts is starting to believe her versatility can extend beyond the basketball court. At UCLA, her self-image doesn’t have to depend solely on how many points she scores or how many rebounds she grabs. Expanding her perspective has only helped improve her play.