02-22-2021, 09:50 PM
I am so thrilled that despite all the challenges this year, we took the Pac 12 championship outright for the first time in 7 years. That seems shocking to me that it has been that long--we have had some good teams, some final fours, some Pac 12 tournament championships, etc. in that span. But it has been a very long time since we won the regular season outright, and we did it!
That said, this was not our finest hour. Arizona played better defense against us than on New Year's Day, and our defense was not quite as good. McDonald was held to 0/6 from three point range and we cut off a lot of driving lanes, but she still got 20 points. But our offense was not as sharp as it should have been, even against an improved Arizona defense.
Jones's decision making tonight was the worst I have seen since she arrived on the Farm. It was not just the 7 turnovers, she made the horrible leading pass to Brink that got her the charging foul, she took a couple of quick shots when we needed to work clock, she seemed sloppy. There was a stretch where I could predict the mistake she was about to make just before she made it. It was that obvious--something was not right in her head tonight. The fabulous court vision that she usually has just seemed to desert her. And yet she had 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals on what looked like the worst night of her career. I think that just shows you what enormous talent she has, and what impossibly high standards we have come to expect. Even so...7 turnovers from one player in a critical game...she has room for improvement.
Anna Wilson did very well again against an All American. Several of McDonald's baskets came when Anna was resting. I will be outraged if Wilson does not rack up some honors for her defensive efforts this season.
Brink got nailed for a couple of very questionable fouls. But our coaches tell the players to count on a couple of bad calls every game--which means you can't commit more than a couple of legit fouls. And she did. It was a bit of regression on that front, and as we move into championship tournaments every other team is going to target her and try to figure out how to yank her chain. It has become a thing now.
Lexie has gradually been working herself into a much better place than she has been during much of the season. 16 points, 9 rebounds, two blocks--what a great stat line considering she was sharing so many opportunities with 3 other scorers.
And Williams...cannot say enough good about her...except PLEASE STAY ANOTHER YEAR! When shots were not dropping in the first quarter it was Williams who kept Arizona from opening up a big lead. But also 4 assists and only 2 turnovers. She showed her maturity by not taking shots too early in the half court.
All in all, how can we not be pleased that we beat another top ranked team, and not in a nail-biter? So I am pleased. Fortunately, any night one player is "off" we have so much talent that there are others that will be "on." And Jones's off night still had a lot good about it.
That said, this was not our finest hour. Arizona played better defense against us than on New Year's Day, and our defense was not quite as good. McDonald was held to 0/6 from three point range and we cut off a lot of driving lanes, but she still got 20 points. But our offense was not as sharp as it should have been, even against an improved Arizona defense.
Jones's decision making tonight was the worst I have seen since she arrived on the Farm. It was not just the 7 turnovers, she made the horrible leading pass to Brink that got her the charging foul, she took a couple of quick shots when we needed to work clock, she seemed sloppy. There was a stretch where I could predict the mistake she was about to make just before she made it. It was that obvious--something was not right in her head tonight. The fabulous court vision that she usually has just seemed to desert her. And yet she had 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals on what looked like the worst night of her career. I think that just shows you what enormous talent she has, and what impossibly high standards we have come to expect. Even so...7 turnovers from one player in a critical game...she has room for improvement.
Anna Wilson did very well again against an All American. Several of McDonald's baskets came when Anna was resting. I will be outraged if Wilson does not rack up some honors for her defensive efforts this season.
Brink got nailed for a couple of very questionable fouls. But our coaches tell the players to count on a couple of bad calls every game--which means you can't commit more than a couple of legit fouls. And she did. It was a bit of regression on that front, and as we move into championship tournaments every other team is going to target her and try to figure out how to yank her chain. It has become a thing now.
Lexie has gradually been working herself into a much better place than she has been during much of the season. 16 points, 9 rebounds, two blocks--what a great stat line considering she was sharing so many opportunities with 3 other scorers.
And Williams...cannot say enough good about her...except PLEASE STAY ANOTHER YEAR! When shots were not dropping in the first quarter it was Williams who kept Arizona from opening up a big lead. But also 4 assists and only 2 turnovers. She showed her maturity by not taking shots too early in the half court.
All in all, how can we not be pleased that we beat another top ranked team, and not in a nail-biter? So I am pleased. Fortunately, any night one player is "off" we have so much talent that there are others that will be "on." And Jones's off night still had a lot good about it.