[81alum]

A superb first half.  I too was not that happy with the second half, but I think our strategy was significantly altered by our lead.  It seemed to me that the team must have been instructed in the second half not to start plays until the shot clock was at least half way down.  We wanted to slow the pace and eat as much clock as possible.  That took away a lot of opportunities and West Virginia caught on--defending well at the end of the shot clock and causing some bad shots and shot clock violations. 

So our offense did seem more stale to me in the second half.  But here is an odd thing:  despite my impressions we scored almost as many points (34 compared with 38) despite having our shooting percentage collapse from 53.8% in the first half to only 32.1% in the second half.  The difference was largely FTs--we scored 7 in the first half to 16 in the second.

What more can we say about Amber?  We are witnessing the development of a star.  Norfolk was Amber's national debutante ball.  8-14 shots and 6-7 FTs!  5 assists to 0 (zero!) turnovers.  She was the main reason we had only 6 turnovers against a team famous for steals and defense.    But did anyone notice that Amber led the team in rebounds?  Actually, she was tied with Jos for 7, but still, a point guard with 7 rebounds?

One big advantage for us was that the refs decided to call the game fairly close.  West Virginia exceeded even their very high average 18 fouls per game and picked up 23 tonight.  They wound up with 3 players at 4 fouls each and another at 3.  All those fouls made it difficult for West Virginia to play their normal maul-ball.

Our coaching was brilliant in at least two ways.  First, on defense, we did something that effectively neutralized West Virginia's vaunted high-low game for almost the whole game.  Bussie was only 4-13.  Second, on offense, as others have pointed out, we made them pay dearly for their overly aggressive man-to-man with a string of varied back door cuts. 

With all the positives, I hate to mention a couple of negatives, but I am sure Tara will.  What is going on with Toni?  She went 2-14 and looked a little off balance at times.  I think those two she made may both have been on fast breaks--her jump shot just seemed slightly off, rattling around and coming out a few different times.  She did go 5-6 at the line and had 3 steals, and played good defense, so she did her part to contribute, but I'm sure she is frustrated with her shot. 

Sarah gave us good minutes on defense and absorbed some fouls, but she nabbed only 1 rebound and made one basket.  She doesn't seem quite all the way back to me.  But we really needed her with the fouls on Nneka and Chiney and she helped defensively, altering some shots.

Jos played 38 minutes--that might be a record for her, and her defense seemed very solid.  I saw her beaten a couple of times (once leading to an and-1) but for 38 minutes being beaten once or twice is not bad at all.  Plus 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 7 points and she definitely held up her end of things.

Chiney honestly did not look like her knee was bothering her at all.  She scored more points at the FT line than in FGs.  Nneka was her usual indomitable self but the two of them definitely did not dominate the rebounds as they are used to--just 11 between the two of them and only 4 offensive rebounds. 

Now, we have most of a week to worry about South Carolina!

[81alum]

A superb first half.  I too was not that happy with the second half, but I think our strategy was significantly altered by our lead.  It seemed to me that the team must have been instructed in the second half not to start plays until the shot clock was at least half way down.  We wanted to slow the pace and eat as much clock as possible.  That took away a lot of opportunities and West Virginia caught on--defending well at the end of the shot clock and causing some bad shots and shot clock violations. 

So our offense did seem more stale to me in the second half.  But here is an odd thing:  despite my impressions we scored almost as many points (34 compared with 38) despite having our shooting percentage collapse from 53.8% in the first half to only 32.1% in the second half.  The difference was largely FTs--we scored 7 in the first half to 16 in the second.

What more can we say about Amber?  We are witnessing the development of a star.  Norfolk was Amber's national debutante ball.  8-14 shots and 6-7 FTs!  5 assists to 0 (zero!) turnovers.  She was the main reason we had only 6 turnovers against a team famous for steals and defense.    But did anyone notice that Amber led the team in rebounds?  Actually, she was tied with Jos for 7, but still, a point guard with 7 rebounds?

One big advantage for us was that the refs decided to call the game fairly close.  West Virginia exceeded even their very high average 18 fouls per game and picked up 23 tonight.  They wound up with 3 players at 4 fouls each and another at 3.  All those fouls made it difficult for West Virginia to play their normal maul-ball.

Our coaching was brilliant in at least two ways.  First, on defense, we did something that effectively neutralized West Virginia's vaunted high-low game for almost the whole game.  Bussie was only 4-13.  Second, on offense, as others have pointed out, we made them pay dearly for their overly aggressive man-to-man with a string of varied back door cuts. 

With all the positives, I hate to mention a couple of negatives, but I am sure Tara will.  What is going on with Toni?  She went 2-14 and looked a little off balance at times.  I think those two she made may both have been on fast breaks--her jump shot just seemed slightly off, rattling around and coming out a few different times.  She did go 5-6 at the line and had 3 steals, and played good defense, so she did her part to contribute, but I'm sure she is frustrated with her shot. 

Sarah gave us good minutes on defense and absorbed some fouls, but she nabbed only 1 rebound and made one basket.  She doesn't seem quite all the way back to me.  But we really needed her with the fouls on Nneka and Chiney and she helped defensively, altering some shots.

Jos played 38 minutes--that might be a record for her, and her defense seemed very solid.  I saw her beaten a couple of times (once leading to an and-1) but for 38 minutes being beaten once or twice is not bad at all.  Plus 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 7 points and she definitely held up her end of things.

Chiney honestly did not look like her knee was bothering her at all.  She scored more points at the FT line than in FGs.  Nneka was her usual indomitable self but the two of them definitely did not dominate the rebounds as they are used to--just 11 between the two of them and only 4 offensive rebounds. 

Now, we have most of a week to worry about South Carolina!