[Maple Leaf]

Preview:

USC got very hot shooting the ball against ASU and earned the right to face us with a 71-65 win.  They shot 65% from the floor--breaking some records--and used a very active zone to frustrate ASU.  Four of their players scored in double digits--perhaps Endya Rogers and Alissa Pili were expected, but grad student Jordan Sanders and freshman Jordyn Jenkins were not.  They were 7/14 from three point range and had a balanced offense all over the court.

They do not look like the same team we defeated in December or in January--with Pili getting back into form after a long injury and the maturation of  their freshmen.  USC lost its final 3 regular season games but look quite good today.  They will be a serious opponent.

I worry about their active zone--it will force us to make treys, and if for some reason we are cold from long range it will be a difficult game.  ASU turned the ball over a lot trying to get the ball inside and failing. 

On the other end of the court, I can hardly believe they made a CTT defense look so terrible--hopefully Tara can have our team play better defense than ASU--but that is normally an ASU strength.

A possible weakness--USC seems very vulnerable to ASU pressure late in the game and gave back a chunk of lead.   USC also had 15 fouls and probably should have been called even more.

usc should always have more fouls called against them.

[Maple Leaf]

Preview:

USC got very hot shooting the ball against ASU and earned the right to face us with a 71-65 win.  They shot 65% from the floor--breaking some records--and used a very active zone to frustrate ASU.  Four of their players scored in double digits--perhaps Endya Rogers and Alissa Pili were expected, but grad student Jordan Sanders and freshman Jordyn Jenkins were not.  They were 7/14 from three point range and had a balanced offense all over the court.

They do not look like the same team we defeated in December or in January--with Pili getting back into form after a long injury and the maturation of  their freshmen.  USC lost its final 3 regular season games but look quite good today.  They will be a serious opponent.

I worry about their active zone--it will force us to make treys, and if for some reason we are cold from long range it will be a difficult game.  ASU turned the ball over a lot trying to get the ball inside and failing. 

On the other end of the court, I can hardly believe they made a CTT defense look so terrible--hopefully Tara can have our team play better defense than ASU--but that is normally an ASU strength.

A possible weakness--USC seems very vulnerable to ASU pressure late in the game and gave back a chunk of lead.   USC also had 15 fouls and probably should have been called even more.

usc should always have more fouls called against them.