WBB: STAN 75 UCLA 55 Pac 12 Tourney Champs!

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WBB: STAN 75 UCLA 55 Pac 12 Tourney Champs! - 81alum - 03-06-2021

Preview:

We have played UCLA twice this year. Way back on December 21 we prevailed 61-49, led by Belibi with 15 points, but giving up 19 to Onyenwere and 15 to Bessoir. Osborne was held down to 7 points and 1/7 three point shooting.

On January 22 we lost in Santa Cruz 66-70 after previously losing to Colorado to complete a two game skid. Williams led us with 19, Belibi Jones and Lexie were all in double figures but the bench gave us only 8 points. Brink had 4 in this, the last game she was not a starter. Much more troubling than a 66 point offense, however, was our defense. Onyenwere and Bessoir both did nearly as well as they did in December, but in this game Osborne went off for 24 points and Chou was in double digits too--they had 4 in double digits which made them a much more balanced offense than in December, with Osborne in particular being uncontrollable

In this loss Anna Wilson started but only played 10 minutes. Lacie came in for her and played 32. I don't remember the details behind that, but it seems that it was the one game this year that Wilson could not shut down the opponent's leading perimeter player. This is probably the most worrisome detail from the game since we cannot afford to let Osborne score 24 again, and I don't have an explanation for why she was so successful on Jan 22 and why Wilson sat.

In the wake of the two losses Tara focused on our inadequate rebounding. In the second UCLA game UCLA had 21 O boards and we had only 24 D boards, giving UCLA 18 second chance points. (We had 6 second chance points by comparison.) Belibi had only 2 rebounds in 16 minutes, Prechtel had 4 in 17 minutes, and Brink had 6 in 12 minutes, and after that game Brink got the starting job.

For defense, rebounding and boxing out will no doubt be the major focus for the game, in addition to finding a way to better control Osborne than we did last time. Last year it was Onyenwere who went off against us--so we can't neglect her either, although I think Brink, should she stay out of foul trouble, presents a much bigger challenge to Onyenwere's inside game. It is when Onyenwere hits her jumpers that we have more problems, as her step backs really cannot be defended.

On offense, we must contend with the UCLA pressure defense. I am surprised how well it has worked for them given their lack of depth. Officiating makes a big difference for them--loosely called "let them play" refs favor the UCLA game. And while they are not known for being a prolific three point shooting team, Bessoir and Chou and Osborne all hit multiple threes against us last time out--they were 8/22 while we were 2/10. Not only was our three point shooting weak against them, we did not take many shots, which indicates that the pressure defense was working.

Since that loss against UCLA we haven't lost again, of course, and Brink is a very different part of our team than she was. UCLA, in contrast, has lost to WSU and to OSU over that stretch, to balance against 7 wins--the best of which was last night against Arizona. In that game Arizona controlled everyone on the UCLA team except giving up 24 to Onyenwere, and UCLA controlled everyone on Arizona except giving up 24 to McDonald. We present a much for difficult offense to guard than does Arizona. Still, I think we are playing the second best team in the Pac 12, with no disrespect to Arizona, Oregon State, or Oregon. It is a fitting championship game.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - oldalum - 03-06-2021

After UCLA's loss to us, the UCLA coach blamed their lack of toughness. After their win, she attributed it to their stepped-up toughness.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - M T - 03-06-2021

"toughness" = Refs allowing anything but light (or not) brushes of the shooting hand?

To me, the AZ - UCLA game was an embarrassment to the PAC-12, not because of the slow offensive start, but because of the absolutely poor officiating. Clearly the refs are conspiring (with the front office?) to turn at least that game into Maul Ball. This is not using the rules of NCAA Basketball. This is not the game that has been played for the last 4 months.

If Stanford has to play under Maul Ball rules, there is no telling how bad it can be.

For instance, take a 2 minute stretch in the 4th quarter.

There was a bogus blocking call at 4Q 8:36. The defender has both feet in one spot just outside the protected zone, when the offensive player is at the foul line until contact. The defender doesn't shift her body to the side at all.

At 4Q 7:56, the UCLA player dribbles across the lane at a diagonal. Her defender is moving with her, but between her & the basket, not in front of her. The defender's knee knocks the offensive player's right foot, causing her to plunge head first to the floor. I think it is clearly blocking, but I can imagine an official not calling it. But the travesty is that they call the out of bounds against the defensive team. No defender was within 3' of the ball. Either it is a foul or the ball was out on the offense.

How about the knee to the neck at 4Q 7:01? Not intentional, but a blatant foul before the whistle blew. (Notice the scratch down the her entire forearm as she's being pulled up from the floor. I wonder when that happened.) The officials didn't call that. (Once they miss it live, they can't call it from replay unless it was intentional. I didn't notice a make-up call either.)

(Damn Slng and/or PAC-12! I dutifully used Sling's "Record Series" to record the tournament. But I have no Stanford games (nor Az-UCLA). For instance, one recording says "Stanford vs Oregon State", recorded at 5PM on Friday for 3 hours. But Sling recorded it on the AZ channel, where they ran WSwim instead (despite what was on the guide during that time). I've got more of this tourney where the program recorded is not the program in the schedule. Currently, the Sling schedule does not list the AZ-UCLA game between now and Monday midnight. Also their AirTV adapter has to be power cycled once a day or so because it wedges with different kinds of failures. At the start of the 3rd quarter in Stanford-OSU, it went into spinny-mode on the channel I was watching - even after a reboot - but worked on my laptop.)

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - BobK - 03-06-2021

Thanks 81. Great write up once again
MT not sure from your post if you heard the announcers but their comments echo yours. As in “I’ve never seen this and don’t want to again”. “I’m confused by this “. Doubt a conspiracy however :)

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - M T - 03-06-2021

(03-06-2021, 08:53 AM)BobK Wrote: Doubt a conspiracy however :)

I don't believe that major a change in how games are called was individually decided by each of the 3 refs every time they didn't blow their whistle.

I'm not saying they conspired to give team X or player Y an advantage, but I believe at least that set of refs agreed to Maul Ball for at least that game. Maybe it came down from the head of the referees, or from the conference.

It is one thing to say you never want to see that again, and it is another thing to say that the officials should have seen & called that foul. Mary Murphy said "I don't think I've ever seen that, which I could say about a number of things that I've seen in this game." I took that as close to open criticism of the officiating as the PAC-12 would allow.

Officials: Bob Scofield, Tiffany Bird, Michael Price

mtaguchi@yahoo.com - Griffins78 - 03-06-2021

(03-06-2021, 08:38 AM)M T Wrote: "toughness" = Refs allowing anything but light (or not) brushes of the shooting hand?

To me, the AZ - UCLA game was an embarrassment to the PAC-12, not because of the slow offensive start, but because of the absolutely poor officiating. Clearly the refs are conspiring (with the front office?) to turn at least that game into Maul Ball. This is not using the rules of NCAA Basketball. This is not the game that has been played for the last 4 months.

UCLA gets away with a lot of pushing, shoving, etc using their opponents momentum when they’re crashing the boards or jumping for the rebound to keep them flying by the ball. Instead of swiping at the ball or pushing the shoulders - which would be visible to the referees - instead, they push the hips or below. Opponents go flying by with no call

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - chimera - 03-06-2021

That UA/UCLA was indeed horrible. I was scared for the players. The refs totally lost control of the game. I hope we get a reasonably called game on Sunday, not allowing a mosh pit where players are on the floor every play but not ticky tacky silly stuff either. Maybe the refs were directed to let them play. But that was not what I call basketball, it was a mess.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - BobK - 03-06-2021

Price is the worse ref ever. Missy is excellent compared to Price

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - 81alum - 03-06-2021

(03-06-2021, 09:32 AM)BobK Wrote: Price is the worse ref ever. Missy is excellent compared to Price

You know what you have just done, Bob! Guaranteed us Missy!

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - BobK - 03-06-2021

Missy was the worse for years. Not anymore. Now she will at times stop a game to be in the spotlight but today she is one of the better refs

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - Softball Fan - 03-06-2021

I don't like it when refs allow rough play with no fouls called. I'm worried players from either team can get hurt and sometimes it can go to the extent of bad feelings between players. Having said that I believe the Hull sisters, Wilson, and Brink can dish out tough defense as well as other players in the PAC-12.

Stanford's speed and superior skill level favors refs who don't have the anything goes attitude.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - martyup - 03-06-2021

In the post game interview of UCLA's coach, she stated the she has been encouraging her players to play "tougher." She further defined it as being more physical. The clear implication was that she approved of her players' thuggish behavior on the court. Even though AZ was giving as much as they were taking, I don't like it when a coach encourages this kind of play.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - 81alum - 03-06-2021

(03-06-2021, 11:11 AM)martyup Wrote: In the post game interview of UCLA's coach, she stated the she has been encouraging her players to play "tougher." She further defined it as being more physical. The clear implication was that she approved of her players' thuggish behavior on the court. Even though AZ was giving as much as they were taking, I don't like it when a coach encourages this kind of play.

Sadly, Cory Close has always been this way. I remember UCLA beating on Chiney mercilessly, prompting Tara to make a comment about sumo wrestling under the basket.

(03-06-2021, 10:22 AM)BobK Wrote: Missy was the worse for years. Not anymore. Now she will at times stop a game to be in the spotlight but today she is one of the better refs

So, have you forgiven her for ousting us from the NCAAs against Colorado in Boise? Was that 2002? Perhaps she has improved, but she will forever be the very worst ref in wbb in my book. If I had the name of the head referee during The Play I would never forgive him either, for similar reasons.

But purely due to self-interest, I hope the worst referee in WBB treats us better next game!

RE: WBB: Stanford vs UCLA 5pm Sunday ESPN2 - RuralFan - 03-06-2021

(03-06-2021, 10:39 AM)paloalto Wrote: I don't like it when refs allow rough play with no fouls called. I'm worried players from either team can get hurt and sometimes it can go to the extent of bad feelings between players. Having said that I believe the Hull sisters, Wilson, and Brink can dish out tough defense as well as other players in the PAC-12.

Stanford's speed and superior skill level favors refs who don't have the anything goes attitude.

I cringe every time I hear a WBB coach plead for more aggression or toughness. IMHO basketball should be about skill and quickness and intelligence, but I often feel this is not the direction that WBB is headed.

Leftcoast - Leftcoast - 03-06-2021

Quote:I don't believe that major a change in how games are called was individually decided by each of the 3 refs every time they didn't blow their whistle.

It happens a lot though, right? Basketball refs try very hard to be consistent within a game and once a (bad) standard has been set it tends to take hold in the name of consistency. I’ve seen this over and over in the Pac-12 and elsewhere.

RE: WBB CCG: STAN vs UCLA (5pm Sunday ESPN2) - CompSci87 - 03-06-2021

It seems like there's an unwritten rule to "let them play" in tournament games, as no one wants to see the best players riding the bench because of ticky-tack fouls. But that stops working when players don't hold up their end and try to play a clean game, but instead try to get away with as much maul ball as possible.

Before it gets to that point, the refs have to remember their job is to let them play basketball, not let them play rugby. Letting the "tougher" team foul at will is not letting them play the sport of basketball.

Besides uncalled fouls, I felt the refs were too slow to whistle for jump balls, instead letting the players wrestle and scrum for a while.

RE: WBB CCG: STAN vs UCLA (5pm Sunday ESPN2) - bl82 - 03-06-2021

Does Andrew Vlahov have a daughter yet...?

RE: WBB CCG: STAN vs UCLA (5pm Sunday ESPN2) - triangle2 - 03-06-2021

(03-06-2021, 05:48 PM)bl82 Wrote: Does Andrew Vlahov have a daughter yet...?

As a matter of fact...

https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/rising-basketball-star-ruby-vlahov-follows-in-dad-andrews-footsteps-as-one-of-seven-aussie-teenagers-to-attend-nba-womens-academy-next-generation-showcase-ng-b881480544z

Perhaps she's in the US for high school?

https://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/marist-spartans-(eugene,or)/girls-basketball/roster.htm

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/03/7c472c3d959018/meet-the-6a-5a-4a-high-school-basketball-alltournament-selections.html

RE: WBB CCG: STAN vs UCLA (5pm Sunday ESPN2) - BobK - 03-06-2021

Wow thanks BL

CompscI the lack of a jump ball call until many seconds of tussle was very poor So agree

RE: WBB CCG: STAN vs UCLA (5pm Sunday ESPN2) - crackpot - 03-06-2021

What is the over/under on Missy's reviews in Sunday's game. It is on EPSN2, after all.