03-21-2017, 07:26 PM
I think the game against Texas will be the hardest barrier to getting back to the final four. Texas beat us the last two years in a row until we got their number in November, but they will be much better prepared physically and psychologically than last time. They could be considered vulnerable, give that they lost 4 of their last 6 regular season games, but I never like rematches. Plus the first quarter against NC State Texas looked just awesome. If they play like that consistently they would mow down a lot of opponents.
If we get past Texas we might play a team we beat last year and the team that is taking Lili next year. There will be a big psychological motivation to beat them to get the final four and our players will have the confidence that we can do it. Confidence = made three point shots. And while I do not wish an injury on anyone--no one who was a Stanford fan in 1998 can ever, ever be pleased to benefit from someone else's injury--it is nevertheless true that this will be a substantial diminishment to Notre Dame's chances. Notre Dame already plays a three guard lineup, they will have to bring another big in, and the forward with the next most minutes is freshman Erin Boley, who has started 8 games this year. She is not a bad player--we talked about her in our recruiting threat-- but she is no Brianna Turner, and she is a freshman.
So...I now wonder if we should consider Ohio State the favorite in that game. Maybe they are the biggest challenge now. Well, Tara will have to scheme for all three other teams.
If we get past Texas we might play a team we beat last year and the team that is taking Lili next year. There will be a big psychological motivation to beat them to get the final four and our players will have the confidence that we can do it. Confidence = made three point shots. And while I do not wish an injury on anyone--no one who was a Stanford fan in 1998 can ever, ever be pleased to benefit from someone else's injury--it is nevertheless true that this will be a substantial diminishment to Notre Dame's chances. Notre Dame already plays a three guard lineup, they will have to bring another big in, and the forward with the next most minutes is freshman Erin Boley, who has started 8 games this year. She is not a bad player--we talked about her in our recruiting threat-- but she is no Brianna Turner, and she is a freshman.
So...I now wonder if we should consider Ohio State the favorite in that game. Maybe they are the biggest challenge now. Well, Tara will have to scheme for all three other teams.