[magnus]

Random thoughts on the game.

1) very fortunate we tired out Cooke.  She couldn't miss halfway through the third quarter...and then a combination of Lexie Hull and fatigue set in to nullify her (unfortunately, Henderson picked up the slack).  

2) Boston looked to be tired at certain points in the 3rd quarter (especially after a stretch of stop-less play), but I wonder if she also was worse for the wear from all that full court running to and from her chair from all the 4th quarter substitutions.

3) What happened to Lacie in the second half.  When they pulled Wilson from the game, I think it was Lexie who picked up Cooke, and not Lacie (who stifled her a bit in the 1st half).

4) It appears that taller sharpshooters aren't a great matchup for Wilson?  I guess it's good that she next faces McDonald and not Bueckers

5) foul calling seemed to be inconsistent.  Very tight in the first half.  And then looser and looser in the second half (i feel like some of the "brinks" in the second half would have been called fouls in the 1st.  The non-call on the push was another example)

6) those last few seconds were a blur.  The game was over before I even realized Boston's putback would have counted.  So glad Lexie got back on D and the other girls swarmed to make a followup difficult.

[magnus]

Random thoughts on the game.

1) very fortunate we tired out Cooke.  She couldn't miss halfway through the third quarter...and then a combination of Lexie Hull and fatigue set in to nullify her (unfortunately, Henderson picked up the slack).  

2) Boston looked to be tired at certain points in the 3rd quarter (especially after a stretch of stop-less play), but I wonder if she also was worse for the wear from all that full court running to and from her chair from all the 4th quarter substitutions.

3) What happened to Lacie in the second half.  When they pulled Wilson from the game, I think it was Lexie who picked up Cooke, and not Lacie (who stifled her a bit in the 1st half).

4) It appears that taller sharpshooters aren't a great matchup for Wilson?  I guess it's good that she next faces McDonald and not Bueckers

5) foul calling seemed to be inconsistent.  Very tight in the first half.  And then looser and looser in the second half (i feel like some of the "brinks" in the second half would have been called fouls in the 1st.  The non-call on the push was another example)

6) those last few seconds were a blur.  The game was over before I even realized Boston's putback would have counted.  So glad Lexie got back on D and the other girls swarmed to make a followup difficult.

[M T]

NCAA extended highlights of the Stanford - So. Carolina game:  https://youtu.be/pgObOFn9WIc
Last 2:30 of the game:  https://youtu.be/gtfdS2doStE

Stanford Final Four Postgame Press Conference https://youtu.be/S4KfCODhwW8

Dawn Staley Final Four Pregame Press Conference  https://youtu.be/480JlNuqqfk
Amihere Pregame Press Conference  https://youtu.be/o8tu9vgBOIs

Dawn Staley Final Four Postgame Press Conferencce  https://youtu.be/RhpmVq3mnSM
Zia Cooke postgame  https://youtu.be/HCTprUX2Wto

---

According to the NBA (Is it different in the NCAA?):

What is the Official NBA “Kick Ball” Rule in Basketball?

[*]A player shall not kick the ball or strike it with the fist.

[*]Kicking the ball or striking it with any part of the leg is a violation when it is an intentional act. The ball accidentally striking the foot, the leg or fist is not a violation.
[/list]

NCAA WBB rules:

Section 6. Kick, Fist, Through Basket From Below

Art. 1. It is a violation when a player intentionally kicks the ball, strikes it with the fist or causes it to pass through the basket and enter the cylinder from below. (See Rule 9-15.2.b.)
Art. 2. Kicking the ball is striking it intentionally with any part of the leg or the foot. Accidentally striking the ball with the foot or leg shall not be a violation.

As I said previously, I believe it was intentional.
As you may remember, earlier this year, a ref made an erroneous call when he used this rule against Cameron(?) when she held the ball between her legs for a held ball.  (She didn't "strike" it.)

[M T]

NCAA extended highlights of the Stanford - So. Carolina game:  https://youtu.be/pgObOFn9WIc
Last 2:30 of the game:  https://youtu.be/gtfdS2doStE

Stanford Final Four Postgame Press Conference https://youtu.be/S4KfCODhwW8

Dawn Staley Final Four Pregame Press Conference  https://youtu.be/480JlNuqqfk
Amihere Pregame Press Conference  https://youtu.be/o8tu9vgBOIs

Dawn Staley Final Four Postgame Press Conferencce  https://youtu.be/RhpmVq3mnSM
Zia Cooke postgame  https://youtu.be/HCTprUX2Wto

---

According to the NBA (Is it different in the NCAA?):

What is the Official NBA “Kick Ball” Rule in Basketball?

[*]A player shall not kick the ball or strike it with the fist.

[*]Kicking the ball or striking it with any part of the leg is a violation when it is an intentional act. The ball accidentally striking the foot, the leg or fist is not a violation.
[/list]

NCAA WBB rules:

Section 6. Kick, Fist, Through Basket From Below

Art. 1. It is a violation when a player intentionally kicks the ball, strikes it with the fist or causes it to pass through the basket and enter the cylinder from below. (See Rule 9-15.2.b.)
Art. 2. Kicking the ball is striking it intentionally with any part of the leg or the foot. Accidentally striking the ball with the foot or leg shall not be a violation.

As I said previously, I believe it was intentional.
As you may remember, earlier this year, a ref made an erroneous call when he used this rule against Cameron(?) when she held the ball between her legs for a held ball.  (She didn't "strike" it.)

[CompSci87]

Great article from the Athletic with quotes from Val Whiting, Vanessa Nygaard, and others:

https://theathletic.com/2495640/2021/04/...eartbreak/

“Back then, when we were alternating between Stanford and Tennessee as the top team in the women’s game, I never imagined it would be so long,” Whiting said. “I didn’t even think about it until someone mentioned it last week, that we’ve gone almost 30 years without winning one, and it blew my mind.”

“We keep going,” Nygaard said, “so that we can be there when they win. I’ve been in the building every time they’ve played in the Final Four. I think a lot of alums feel that way, just waiting. .... We’re so close so much. This year, we’ll all be watching and texting each other and waiting. We’re always waiting. Waiting for a championship.”

[CompSci87]

Great article from the Athletic with quotes from Val Whiting, Vanessa Nygaard, and others:

https://theathletic.com/2495640/2021/04/...eartbreak/

“Back then, when we were alternating between Stanford and Tennessee as the top team in the women’s game, I never imagined it would be so long,” Whiting said. “I didn’t even think about it until someone mentioned it last week, that we’ve gone almost 30 years without winning one, and it blew my mind.”

“We keep going,” Nygaard said, “so that we can be there when they win. I’ve been in the building every time they’ve played in the Final Four. I think a lot of alums feel that way, just waiting. .... We’re so close so much. This year, we’ll all be watching and texting each other and waiting. We’re always waiting. Waiting for a championship.”

[PVTree]

Watched the game again. According to my (harsh) count, we missed 12 layups, including 6 by Lexie, 2 by Lacie, 2 by Fran, and 1 by Haley and Cam each.

Hopefully, we can improve on that for one last game.

[PVTree]

Watched the game again. According to my (harsh) count, we missed 12 layups, including 6 by Lexie, 2 by Lacie, 2 by Fran, and 1 by Haley and Cam each.

Hopefully, we can improve on that for one last game.

[BosCard]

Watched the game again. According to my (harsh) count, we missed 12 layups, including 6 by Lexie, 2 by Lacie, 2 by Fran, and 1 by Haley and Cam each.

Hopefully, we can improve on that for one last game.

I think South Carolina's defense got in our head a bit with all the missed layups.  

And Arizona is a very good defensive team.  Williams will be hounded by McDonald and Lexie will be guarded by a very good defender in Thomas.  But, there is no Boston on Arizona's back line waiting to swat shots.  So hopefully we make more of our layups in the national championship game.

[BosCard]

Watched the game again. According to my (harsh) count, we missed 12 layups, including 6 by Lexie, 2 by Lacie, 2 by Fran, and 1 by Haley and Cam each.

Hopefully, we can improve on that for one last game.

I think South Carolina's defense got in our head a bit with all the missed layups.  

And Arizona is a very good defensive team.  Williams will be hounded by McDonald and Lexie will be guarded by a very good defender in Thomas.  But, there is no Boston on Arizona's back line waiting to swat shots.  So hopefully we make more of our layups in the national championship game.

[Phogge]

You guys really need two threads... a game thread and a bitch at the refs thread.

The game was better with two refs, not three. They become less of a factor.

[Phogge]

You guys really need two threads... a game thread and a bitch at the refs thread.

The game was better with two refs, not three. They become less of a factor.

[PVTree]

You guys really need two threads... a game thread and a bitch at the refs thread.

The game was better with two refs, not three. They become less of a factor.

As I heard from a coach when the refs were increased from 2 to 3..."three times zero is still zero" :)

[PVTree]

You guys really need two threads... a game thread and a bitch at the refs thread.

The game was better with two refs, not three. They become less of a factor.

As I heard from a coach when the refs were increased from 2 to 3..."three times zero is still zero" :)

[yvonne]

Great article from the Athletic with quotes from Val Whiting, Vanessa Nygaard, and others:

“We keep going,” Nygaard said, “so that we can be there when they win. I’ve been in the building every time they’ve played in the Final Four. I think a lot of alums feel that way, just waiting. Stanford basketball is kind of the equivalent of Manchester United, where it’s like victory and tragedy are so intertwined. We’re so close so much. This year, we’ll all be watching and texting each other and waiting. We’re always waiting. Waiting for a championship.”

Am I missing something? What has Stanford women's basketball been through that compares with the Manchester United tragedy?

[yvonne]

Great article from the Athletic with quotes from Val Whiting, Vanessa Nygaard, and others:

“We keep going,” Nygaard said, “so that we can be there when they win. I’ve been in the building every time they’ve played in the Final Four. I think a lot of alums feel that way, just waiting. Stanford basketball is kind of the equivalent of Manchester United, where it’s like victory and tragedy are so intertwined. We’re so close so much. This year, we’ll all be watching and texting each other and waiting. We’re always waiting. Waiting for a championship.”

Am I missing something? What has Stanford women's basketball been through that compares with the Manchester United tragedy?

[PVTree]

I don't follow the English Premiere League much ever since Chicharito left ManU, but I take this to mean that Stanford has been so close to winning a championship, but hasn't been able to achieve it. Perhaps that's the tie in between the two.

---

Just read that there actually was a Manchester United tragedy some 60 years ago where a plane crash was involved. If that's the tragedy she was referencing, then I'm also baffled to see a link.

[PVTree]

I don't follow the English Premiere League much ever since Chicharito left ManU, but I take this to mean that Stanford has been so close to winning a championship, but hasn't been able to achieve it. Perhaps that's the tie in between the two.

---

Just read that there actually was a Manchester United tragedy some 60 years ago where a plane crash was involved. If that's the tragedy she was referencing, then I'm also baffled to see a link.

[JohnR34231]

You guys really need two threads... a game thread and a bitch at the refs thread.

The game was better with two refs, not three. They become less of a factor.

As I heard from a coach when the refs were increased from 2 to 3..."three times zero is still zero" :)

People used to just bitch about the refs just when they lost. Now they do it all the time.
It is kind of de rigueur these days in post game discussions.

[JohnR34231]

You guys really need two threads... a game thread and a bitch at the refs thread.

The game was better with two refs, not three. They become less of a factor.

As I heard from a coach when the refs were increased from 2 to 3..."three times zero is still zero" :)

People used to just bitch about the refs just when they lost. Now they do it all the time.
It is kind of de rigueur these days in post game discussions.

[CompSci87]

I don't follow the English Premiere League much ever since Chicharito left ManU, but I take this to mean that Stanford has been so close to winning a championship, but hasn't been able to achieve it. Perhaps that's the tie in between the two.

---

Just read that there actually was a Manchester United tragedy some 60 years ago where a plane crash was involved. If that's the tragedy she was referencing, then I'm also baffled to see a link.

I didn't know what Nygaard was referring to. Now that I do, I agree it's quite over the top as a comparison.  On the Stanford side, I believe what she was thinking of was the many injuries that ended Stanford title runs over the years, not least her own ACL tear (plus Folkl's) that led to the Harvard loss.

[CompSci87]

I don't follow the English Premiere League much ever since Chicharito left ManU, but I take this to mean that Stanford has been so close to winning a championship, but hasn't been able to achieve it. Perhaps that's the tie in between the two.

---

Just read that there actually was a Manchester United tragedy some 60 years ago where a plane crash was involved. If that's the tragedy she was referencing, then I'm also baffled to see a link.

I didn't know what Nygaard was referring to. Now that I do, I agree it's quite over the top as a comparison.  On the Stanford side, I believe what she was thinking of was the many injuries that ended Stanford title runs over the years, not least her own ACL tear (plus Folkl's) that led to the Harvard loss.

[WBB fan]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...071213002/

Good column from USAToday.

USA Today print edition AND USAtoday.com have both been doing a really good job of following the women's tournament. Worth noting, several of the stories that are have first appeared on USAToday.com showed up in the print edition a day or two later, including a really good one on Kiana. They've also had the feature story on Anna that has been mentioned, plus a one highlighting Ashten after the Louisville game.

[WBB fan]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...071213002/

Good column from USAToday.

USA Today print edition AND USAtoday.com have both been doing a really good job of following the women's tournament. Worth noting, several of the stories that are have first appeared on USAToday.com showed up in the print edition a day or two later, including a really good one on Kiana. They've also had the feature story on Anna that has been mentioned, plus a one highlighting Ashten after the Louisville game.

[Phogge]

The Man U team plane crashed in Winter 1958 attempting to take off from Munich. After two aborted attempts it couldn't make speed in the slush and crashed into a house. 23 died. Spared was the great Bobby Charlton who as England's captain hoisted the World Cup in 1966.

Other crashes involving teams were the Cal Poly football crash, Marshall U football and Evansville and Oklahoma State men's hoops.

Has Nygaard clarified her comment?

[Phogge]

The Man U team plane crashed in Winter 1958 attempting to take off from Munich. After two aborted attempts it couldn't make speed in the slush and crashed into a house. 23 died. Spared was the great Bobby Charlton who as England's captain hoisted the World Cup in 1966.

Other crashes involving teams were the Cal Poly football crash, Marshall U football and Evansville and Oklahoma State men's hoops.

Has Nygaard clarified her comment?

[DC 86]

Spared was the great Bobby Charlton who as England's captain hoisted the World Cup in 1966.

Bobby Moore the captain.

[DC 86]

Spared was the great Bobby Charlton who as England's captain hoisted the World Cup in 1966.

Bobby Moore the captain.

[CompSci87]

The Man U team plane crashed in Winter 1958 attempting to take off from Munich. After two aborted attempts it couldn't make speed in the slush and crashed into a house. 23 died. Spared was the great Bobby Charlton who as England's captain hoisted the World Cup in 1966.

Other crashes involving teams were the Cal Poly football crash, Marshall U football and Evansville and Oklahoma State men's hoops.

Has Nygaard clarified her comment?

I took it out of context, perhaps. There has not been any outrage or calls for her to clarify it. Frankly I would just have left that sentence out when I brought the quote here if I'd known Manchester United players died.

[CompSci87]

The Man U team plane crashed in Winter 1958 attempting to take off from Munich. After two aborted attempts it couldn't make speed in the slush and crashed into a house. 23 died. Spared was the great Bobby Charlton who as England's captain hoisted the World Cup in 1966.

Other crashes involving teams were the Cal Poly football crash, Marshall U football and Evansville and Oklahoma State men's hoops.

Has Nygaard clarified her comment?

I took it out of context, perhaps. There has not been any outrage or calls for her to clarify it. Frankly I would just have left that sentence out when I brought the quote here if I'd known Manchester United players died.

[Sam Leopold]

If you are communicating by text messages, you don't know the true meaning of the term "tragedy."

[Sam Leopold]

If you are communicating by text messages, you don't know the true meaning of the term "tragedy."

[CompSci87]

If you are communicating by text messages, you don't know the true meaning of the term "tragedy."

Yes, those darn kids. Nygaard is 46. Can we stop piling on her for one over the top comparison?

[CompSci87]

If you are communicating by text messages, you don't know the true meaning of the term "tragedy."

Yes, those darn kids. Nygaard is 46. Can we stop piling on her for one over the top comparison?

[crackpot]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...071213002/

Good column from USAToday.

USA Today print edition AND USAtoday.com have both been doing a really good job of following the women's tournament. Worth noting, several of the stories that are have first appeared on USAToday.com showed up in the print edition a day or two later, including a really good one on Kiana. They've also had the feature story on Anna that has been mentioned, plus a one highlighting Ashten after the Louisville game.

Lindsay Schnell used to cover women's basketball for one of the Oregon papers, so she knows her stuff.

[crackpot]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...071213002/

Good column from USAToday.

USA Today print edition AND USAtoday.com have both been doing a really good job of following the women's tournament. Worth noting, several of the stories that are have first appeared on USAToday.com showed up in the print edition a day or two later, including a really good one on Kiana. They've also had the feature story on Anna that has been mentioned, plus a one highlighting Ashten after the Louisville game.

Lindsay Schnell used to cover women's basketball for one of the Oregon papers, so she knows her stuff.

[martyup]

How many times have Tara's teams won 30 games in a season?

[martyup]

How many times have Tara's teams won 30 games in a season?

[terry]

How many times have Tara's teams won 30 games in a season?

Tara has had 16 30-win seasons in her 34 seasons at Stanford, I believe.

[terry]

How many times have Tara's teams won 30 games in a season?

Tara has had 16 30-win seasons in her 34 seasons at Stanford, I believe.