[chimera]

Give USC credit.

They scouted Stanford well, prepared a good defensive scheme, and executed it well.  Stanford's offense looked stagnant at times.   IMO that was due in large part to a well coached, aggressive defense.

For the long term I would like to see Tara recruit a top-level, mid-range shooter.  I recall Paige Bueckers hitting mid-range jump shots from everywhere on the court. It can break a team's defense.   For the most part Stanford makes points from behind the 3 point arc or close to the basket with not much mid-range capability.

both haley and brooke are excellent mid-range shooters. we just haven't been running those plays.  i believe brooke hit the one mid-range shot she took today.

I agree that Haley and Brooke are very capable of hitting mid-range shots and we're not executing the mid-range game. Earlier in the season, Brooke was hitting mid-range shots. I would like to see Brink shooting mid-range shots as well since her 3-point shooting has (for now) deserted her.  I believe she would create more problems for our opponents and add a key dimension to her game.  So many PAC-12 teams seem to have a player or two who excels in that area.  Lexie and Kianna were great in this area.  

I'm also wondering if anyone thinks that 'SC is simply not a good match-up for us?  As a comparison, we matched up especially well against South Carolina and have matched up well against them in our other games.  Would like your thoughts on this.

Agree with your thoughts about the mid-range.  We did that more earlier and I kinda think it is better to try some mid-range stuff when you shoot a bunch of threes and hit 15% of them or whatever.

As far as USC being a bad match-up, I don't think they are particularly bad for us.  They deserve credit for a great defensive game for sure.  Maybe the whole team has the flu or something.  USC sure had more energy and pace than we did.  They were more aggressive by far.  We seemed a step slow on offense (yuck) and defense (reaching and fouling).  The more I think of it the more I am ready to just move on and see how we do against Utah and especially against CO, who also plays a defensive style.  If we struggle as much against CO I will be very concerned.  If we show much better pace on offense, better shot selection, etc., etc. against their defense, I will feel much more encouraged that this was just one really, really bad day at the office.

[chimera]

Give USC credit.

They scouted Stanford well, prepared a good defensive scheme, and executed it well.  Stanford's offense looked stagnant at times.   IMO that was due in large part to a well coached, aggressive defense.

For the long term I would like to see Tara recruit a top-level, mid-range shooter.  I recall Paige Bueckers hitting mid-range jump shots from everywhere on the court. It can break a team's defense.   For the most part Stanford makes points from behind the 3 point arc or close to the basket with not much mid-range capability.

both haley and brooke are excellent mid-range shooters. we just haven't been running those plays.  i believe brooke hit the one mid-range shot she took today.

I agree that Haley and Brooke are very capable of hitting mid-range shots and we're not executing the mid-range game. Earlier in the season, Brooke was hitting mid-range shots. I would like to see Brink shooting mid-range shots as well since her 3-point shooting has (for now) deserted her.  I believe she would create more problems for our opponents and add a key dimension to her game.  So many PAC-12 teams seem to have a player or two who excels in that area.  Lexie and Kianna were great in this area.  

I'm also wondering if anyone thinks that 'SC is simply not a good match-up for us?  As a comparison, we matched up especially well against South Carolina and have matched up well against them in our other games.  Would like your thoughts on this.

Agree with your thoughts about the mid-range.  We did that more earlier and I kinda think it is better to try some mid-range stuff when you shoot a bunch of threes and hit 15% of them or whatever.

As far as USC being a bad match-up, I don't think they are particularly bad for us.  They deserve credit for a great defensive game for sure.  Maybe the whole team has the flu or something.  USC sure had more energy and pace than we did.  They were more aggressive by far.  We seemed a step slow on offense (yuck) and defense (reaching and fouling).  The more I think of it the more I am ready to just move on and see how we do against Utah and especially against CO, who also plays a defensive style.  If we struggle as much against CO I will be very concerned.  If we show much better pace on offense, better shot selection, etc., etc. against their defense, I will feel much more encouraged that this was just one really, really bad day at the office.