[81alum]

Late to this by a mile, but overall, I thought we played really well given that 1/3 of our workforce, much like the country, is currently out sick. Slow start, but I will give the benefit of the doubt to the fact that it's their first game back after Christmas, it's our second worst PAC-12 away game setting (after Colorado), and I'm sure it was a bit of an adjustment to losing half our post players. From Q2 on, I thought we looked pretty great, and Iriafen is looking really solid. What do we do once we have Brink, Iriafen, AND Betts?!

One statistical curiosity concerns the relationship between the number of shots Jones takes in a game, and our winning record:

More than 8 shots: 6-0.
7-8 shots: 1-1.
6 shots: 1-2. 

And of course @Gonzaga, w/o Jones, we won a squeaker.

If I'm Tara, I'm telling Haley to stay aggressive and keep looking to shoot. I know some of us were divided on this, but even with her terrible shooting % against Tennessee, (3 of 18), I still felt like she was dictating the game, controlling the pace, and discombobulating on defense enough to be worth all those missed shots.

Generally I agree with this.  Jones has been turnover prone at times and it is usually when she is trying too hard to get the ball to teammates.  Take the easy assists when they are available but otherwise manufacture your own shot.  Then the other team is forced to double/triple Jones and THEN the assists become easy as defenders leave their assignments to help on Jones. 

So by thinking about scoring scoring first and assisting second, she might actually wind up with more assists. 

That said, there are certain days when most of her shots are just a little bit off, and they are not falling for her.  On those days we need Brink or Lexie to become more aggressive.

[81alum]

Late to this by a mile, but overall, I thought we played really well given that 1/3 of our workforce, much like the country, is currently out sick. Slow start, but I will give the benefit of the doubt to the fact that it's their first game back after Christmas, it's our second worst PAC-12 away game setting (after Colorado), and I'm sure it was a bit of an adjustment to losing half our post players. From Q2 on, I thought we looked pretty great, and Iriafen is looking really solid. What do we do once we have Brink, Iriafen, AND Betts?!

One statistical curiosity concerns the relationship between the number of shots Jones takes in a game, and our winning record:

More than 8 shots: 6-0.
7-8 shots: 1-1.
6 shots: 1-2. 

And of course @Gonzaga, w/o Jones, we won a squeaker.

If I'm Tara, I'm telling Haley to stay aggressive and keep looking to shoot. I know some of us were divided on this, but even with her terrible shooting % against Tennessee, (3 of 18), I still felt like she was dictating the game, controlling the pace, and discombobulating on defense enough to be worth all those missed shots.

Generally I agree with this.  Jones has been turnover prone at times and it is usually when she is trying too hard to get the ball to teammates.  Take the easy assists when they are available but otherwise manufacture your own shot.  Then the other team is forced to double/triple Jones and THEN the assists become easy as defenders leave their assignments to help on Jones. 

So by thinking about scoring scoring first and assisting second, she might actually wind up with more assists. 

That said, there are certain days when most of her shots are just a little bit off, and they are not falling for her.  On those days we need Brink or Lexie to become more aggressive.