[81alum]

Don't forget that USC was the game when none of our players were willing to attempt a mid-range shot and only Jump would shoot 3s.  We've come a long way since then with our mid-range arsenal and players not named Jump willingness to shoot from downtown.

I agree, Marty.  All the changes in offense, as well as the excellent development of Betts and Nivar, have come since that loss.  So on that basis we should do better.  But USC has their best scorer back who we did not face, and USC has improved on offense more generally since we last saw them.  So it is going to be a new kind of game on both sides.  Both teams are on the upswing.

If Tara decides to go with two bigs (such as Brink & Betts) in that new high-low offense, how effective do you think that will be against USC's defense? You mentioned Marshall and Akunwafo were effective against Brink but if we had both Brink and Betts at the same, would Gottlieb counter with both of their posts at the same time and if so, how would that change the dynamic?

Farm, as far as whether USC can counter our High-Low passes--yes, I think they can do so far more effectively than either of the Arizona schools could.  But there is a price for anything.  If they play Rayah Marshall on Brink and Clarice Akunwafo on Betts, who will they take out?  And Akunwafo has been averaging 11 minutes, probably for a reason.  Conditioning?  She doesn't score much and shoots 41%--pretty bad for a center who mostly does layups.  USC needs offense and Akunwafo isn't the answer there.  Plus, what if Marshall needs a rest or gets into foul trouble?  I imagine Gottlieb has a very good reason for alternating those two and not playing them together. 

Now let's say they decide to stick with Rayah Marshall and keep Akunwafo on the bench as her backup.  They almost have to put Marshall on Betts.  Then who guards Brink?  It will probably have to be Sissoku, who is 2-3 inches shorter.  I like Brink's chances if that is the case.

Let the chess match begin.

[81alum]

Don't forget that USC was the game when none of our players were willing to attempt a mid-range shot and only Jump would shoot 3s.  We've come a long way since then with our mid-range arsenal and players not named Jump willingness to shoot from downtown.

I agree, Marty.  All the changes in offense, as well as the excellent development of Betts and Nivar, have come since that loss.  So on that basis we should do better.  But USC has their best scorer back who we did not face, and USC has improved on offense more generally since we last saw them.  So it is going to be a new kind of game on both sides.  Both teams are on the upswing.

If Tara decides to go with two bigs (such as Brink & Betts) in that new high-low offense, how effective do you think that will be against USC's defense? You mentioned Marshall and Akunwafo were effective against Brink but if we had both Brink and Betts at the same, would Gottlieb counter with both of their posts at the same time and if so, how would that change the dynamic?

Farm, as far as whether USC can counter our High-Low passes--yes, I think they can do so far more effectively than either of the Arizona schools could.  But there is a price for anything.  If they play Rayah Marshall on Brink and Clarice Akunwafo on Betts, who will they take out?  And Akunwafo has been averaging 11 minutes, probably for a reason.  Conditioning?  She doesn't score much and shoots 41%--pretty bad for a center who mostly does layups.  USC needs offense and Akunwafo isn't the answer there.  Plus, what if Marshall needs a rest or gets into foul trouble?  I imagine Gottlieb has a very good reason for alternating those two and not playing them together. 

Now let's say they decide to stick with Rayah Marshall and keep Akunwafo on the bench as her backup.  They almost have to put Marshall on Betts.  Then who guards Brink?  It will probably have to be Sissoku, who is 2-3 inches shorter.  I like Brink's chances if that is the case.

Let the chess match begin.