[81alum]

We are also playing our best basketball of the season.  :•}

81alum, I always appreciate your analysis and also taking the cautious side of things, it's a nice contrast to other viewpoints, but martyup is also correct, that we are playing very well too. 

Rueck and co. will have to contend with us as well and find ways to defend us. I imagine OSU posters are fretting about our tournament record 15 made three pointers and our deep bench on their end.

Having said that, I agree that the Beavers are tough and I also don't see us replicating the fourth quarter blowout we had last time either. I think the key against Oregon State is seeing if we can get Taylor Jones in foul trouble; while they have a plethora of high quality guards and wings, which was reinforced by Von Oelhoffen's arrival, they are not as deep in their frontcourt, especially as a scoring threat, beyond Jones. They have 6'9" Mitrovic, but she is not as polished as Jones.

Luckily for us, we have good perimeter defenders with Williams, Wilson, the Hulls and even Jump and Jones to match up against them. If we can force Taylor Jones to the bench, and exploit mismatches with Brink or our Jones inside, we might have an advantage there. If the Beavers get hot from long range, it will be a long night, but they are also known for going into an occasional shooting funk, especially if their Jones is not out on the floor as a different look. But, as you pointed out, OSU is playing well and it will be unlikely their level will drop significantly, even against our defense. We'll have to score as well on our end, but I think we have the firepower to do so.

Anyway, I always look forward to your analysis 81alum and I hope you keep it up, but I thought I would provide my two cents as well.

If I were to bet, I would certainly bet on us.  But I am sure Tara and the coaches always do a worst case analysis of the other team.  If we are prepared for OSU at their best then we might enjoy a blowout like today if they are less than their best.  Their best looks pretty good just now, but as you both point out, so does ours.

Yes, OSU's weakness is depth in the post since Kennedy Brown went down.  I don't think Prechtel was healthy when we last played them.  Rotating Brink and Belibi and Prechtel against Taylor Jones to stay fresh and wear her down (and get her in foul trouble) sounds like a possible strategy.

The key is defense on both Goodman and Oelhoffen simultaneously.  Perhaps Wilson on Oelhoffen and Lexie on Goodman?  As I think about the matchup issues, one thing always reassures me:

Tara is a genius.

[81alum]

We are also playing our best basketball of the season.  :•}

81alum, I always appreciate your analysis and also taking the cautious side of things, it's a nice contrast to other viewpoints, but martyup is also correct, that we are playing very well too. 

Rueck and co. will have to contend with us as well and find ways to defend us. I imagine OSU posters are fretting about our tournament record 15 made three pointers and our deep bench on their end.

Having said that, I agree that the Beavers are tough and I also don't see us replicating the fourth quarter blowout we had last time either. I think the key against Oregon State is seeing if we can get Taylor Jones in foul trouble; while they have a plethora of high quality guards and wings, which was reinforced by Von Oelhoffen's arrival, they are not as deep in their frontcourt, especially as a scoring threat, beyond Jones. They have 6'9" Mitrovic, but she is not as polished as Jones.

Luckily for us, we have good perimeter defenders with Williams, Wilson, the Hulls and even Jump and Jones to match up against them. If we can force Taylor Jones to the bench, and exploit mismatches with Brink or our Jones inside, we might have an advantage there. If the Beavers get hot from long range, it will be a long night, but they are also known for going into an occasional shooting funk, especially if their Jones is not out on the floor as a different look. But, as you pointed out, OSU is playing well and it will be unlikely their level will drop significantly, even against our defense. We'll have to score as well on our end, but I think we have the firepower to do so.

Anyway, I always look forward to your analysis 81alum and I hope you keep it up, but I thought I would provide my two cents as well.

If I were to bet, I would certainly bet on us.  But I am sure Tara and the coaches always do a worst case analysis of the other team.  If we are prepared for OSU at their best then we might enjoy a blowout like today if they are less than their best.  Their best looks pretty good just now, but as you both point out, so does ours.

Yes, OSU's weakness is depth in the post since Kennedy Brown went down.  I don't think Prechtel was healthy when we last played them.  Rotating Brink and Belibi and Prechtel against Taylor Jones to stay fresh and wear her down (and get her in foul trouble) sounds like a possible strategy.

The key is defense on both Goodman and Oelhoffen simultaneously.  Perhaps Wilson on Oelhoffen and Lexie on Goodman?  As I think about the matchup issues, one thing always reassures me:

Tara is a genius.