(11-30-2019, 11:16 PM)81alum Wrote: Are we the best team in the country? We probably have the greatest potential for getting even better than we are at the moment--given that freshmen get better and given that we have injured players who hopefully are coming back.
Why don't we put teams away when we have the lead in the second half? That is a hallmark of inexperience. That will get better--perhaps not until we lose a game that way.
As for this game, as I noted above, we outplayed MSU in virtually every single category--except our 20 turnovers. And that is the MSU strategy. That is what Vic Shaeffer trains his team to do. We were the superior team--good enough that we could spot MSU 14 extra possessions (they had 6 turnovers) and still beat them.
Other unbeaten teams include UConn, A&M, Oregon State, and Louisville. Are we better than all of those teams? Hard to know without playing them, but we are better than Mississippi State. Louisville had the most impressive win. UConn hasn't really played anybody yet. A&M had a shaky win against Rice so no better than us, surely. Oregon State beat 19 Miami, but that was no better than our win over Syracuse.
Louisville is the only logical team to possibly pass us. But while it beat Baylor, it really has only one quality win over a ranked opponent while we have three.
Yes, we deserve to be #1--for now.
Now, if we get Carrington and Williams and Dodson back, all healthy, after the two week break, then watch out.
As for Williams, this from AP:
Quote:The Cardinal lost Williams to an apparent knee injury with 3:24 left in the game as she fell hard to the floor. Williams favored her right knee as, unable to put weight on it, she was helped off the court. She later came back and sat on the bench with ice taped to her knee.
But on the WBB Facebook page they have posted video of the awards ceremony. Ki is standing in the center of the team holding a sign. Her leg is obscured from view, but she is happy, cheering on Nadia, and seems to moving on it. She clearly was not in great pain. Let's hope it was just a contusion and nothing more serious. She has a couple of weeks to get healthy. As do Carrington and Dodson.
By the way, did Dodson travel with the team? Carrington and Brewer seemed to be there, but I never saw Dodson. Anyone spot her on the bench?
Dodson was at the game, wearing her customary boot. Kiana’s knee was wrapped in ice during the post-game awards ceremony. She was walking with a limp in the airport. Given the nature of her take-down during the game—she laid face down after her much-larger tormentor got up and walked away—I was concerned for her health! If she escapes with a just bruised knee, we (and she) will be fortunate.