[81alum]

My question is this: why does our team leave the floor before the national anthem and return only after it is concluded?  It is striking to see the other team standing respectfully while we are gone . PLEASE NOTE: I am not interested in arguing whether our reason for being absent is good, bad or indifferent. But I would like to know why we are absent and what has to. Hanger before we reappear .

They started doing this last year, and I asked anyone here for a theory and didn't get an answer.  So far I've not spent a chalk talk question on it.  I guess I am a bit afraid of the answer--if it is a Colin Kaepernick type thing I might respect that,  but I wouldn't want the team becoming the center of attention for the wrong reasons.  So for a year and a half I have not asked and they have not told. 

By the way, the Stanford Band DID play the national anthem on Sunday-and I love their version, always have.  We used to have many grade school choirs, Stanford soloists, and a variety of townies come by to perform, but so far this year it has been the same boring recording--until Sunday.  I was delighted to hear the Arthur P. Barnes version for the first time--ever in my memory--at a WBB game.

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Having rewatched the game now, I think the issues of who did or did not defend the three point line is pretty moot.  It is clear that Tara had us play in a sagging man defense most of the game.  This makes a lot of sense, as Dawn herself acknowledged that South Carolina is not a particularly good three point shooting team, and since everyone knows they are an excellent rebounding team.

What does the sagging man do for us?  It allows us to do MUCH better on our rebounds, and to have many more opportunities to double up on the talented South Carolina post players, since all five of our players are closer to the paint.  It also tends to make it hard for guards to drive to the basket since we can make the paint so congested.

What does the sagging man do to hurt us?  Much like a zone, it makes us vulnerable to the three point shot.  Playing halfway may not give you enough time to close if you have someone with a quick release, and it also creates the possibility that you might foul a three point shooter by flying towards them while trying to close.

Both coaches alluded to this after the game, Tara's comment about the our defense having to "pick its poison" and Dawn's comment about her offense having to learn "to take what the defense gives you."

All in all, I think this was the right strategy--just as it was the right strategy for SC to play close man and not sagging man on a shooter like Hannah Jump.  It may also reflect Tara's concern that we don't have the same quickness for a tight man defense that the Hulls and Wilson gave us.  This may be our new base defense--sort of half way between a man and a zone.

However, I seriously doubt that we shall see a sagging man used against FGU on Friday.

[81alum]

My question is this: why does our team leave the floor before the national anthem and return only after it is concluded?  It is striking to see the other team standing respectfully while we are gone . PLEASE NOTE: I am not interested in arguing whether our reason for being absent is good, bad or indifferent. But I would like to know why we are absent and what has to. Hanger before we reappear .

They started doing this last year, and I asked anyone here for a theory and didn't get an answer.  So far I've not spent a chalk talk question on it.  I guess I am a bit afraid of the answer--if it is a Colin Kaepernick type thing I might respect that,  but I wouldn't want the team becoming the center of attention for the wrong reasons.  So for a year and a half I have not asked and they have not told. 

By the way, the Stanford Band DID play the national anthem on Sunday-and I love their version, always have.  We used to have many grade school choirs, Stanford soloists, and a variety of townies come by to perform, but so far this year it has been the same boring recording--until Sunday.  I was delighted to hear the Arthur P. Barnes version for the first time--ever in my memory--at a WBB game.

---

Having rewatched the game now, I think the issues of who did or did not defend the three point line is pretty moot.  It is clear that Tara had us play in a sagging man defense most of the game.  This makes a lot of sense, as Dawn herself acknowledged that South Carolina is not a particularly good three point shooting team, and since everyone knows they are an excellent rebounding team.

What does the sagging man do for us?  It allows us to do MUCH better on our rebounds, and to have many more opportunities to double up on the talented South Carolina post players, since all five of our players are closer to the paint.  It also tends to make it hard for guards to drive to the basket since we can make the paint so congested.

What does the sagging man do to hurt us?  Much like a zone, it makes us vulnerable to the three point shot.  Playing halfway may not give you enough time to close if you have someone with a quick release, and it also creates the possibility that you might foul a three point shooter by flying towards them while trying to close.

Both coaches alluded to this after the game, Tara's comment about the our defense having to "pick its poison" and Dawn's comment about her offense having to learn "to take what the defense gives you."

All in all, I think this was the right strategy--just as it was the right strategy for SC to play close man and not sagging man on a shooter like Hannah Jump.  It may also reflect Tara's concern that we don't have the same quickness for a tight man defense that the Hulls and Wilson gave us.  This may be our new base defense--sort of half way between a man and a zone.

However, I seriously doubt that we shall see a sagging man used against FGU on Friday.