I managed to get to the game just in time for the second half. And so I am willing to own up to one thing I got absolutely wrong. Maples was NOT dead. The 1700 school kids were very loud and very shrill, making this the loudest game this year. On the other hand, only about 1/3 of the season ticket holders were in attendance.
I'm feeling more and more "done" with analyzing this team. They are who they are. We are undersized in the front court and relatively inexperienced against nearly every team we play. How many 3 and 4 year starters do we put on the court? Answer: 0. When was the last time that was true of a Stanford team?
Far from a "recovery"" game this was a nail biter. This is not entirely on the coaches--the new era has resulted in us being depopulated of a frontcourt that we recruited and expected to be mature and experienced by this year. And so we make do with what we have.
Why is Umeh not playing? The one chalk talk I was at when she was discussed, the coach noted that she was working very hard on her conditioning. I'm beginning to wonder if she will redshirt and save her eligibility for when she is in tip top shape. I have no basis for thinking that other than idle speculation.
I'll add that the Princeton seems to me to be a style of offense that is particularly vulnerable to officiating crews that call the game loose. Too much physicality absolutely destroys that offense. In contrast, offenses that depend upon one or more solo-artists with great physical skills can score even without assists and even in the midst of a bruise-a-thon. Offenses that depend upon timing (like the Princeton) are discombobulated by things that upset the timing. Defensive game planners know this and rapidly learn just how much discombobulation they will be allowed to get away with in the game. Our struggles really began when other teams just decided to chance the fouls and be extra aggressive.
Bosgana did look good to me, particularly her rebounding. There was a stretch where she collected about three in a row--all heavily contested.
Having snuck by UTSA, now we get ready for Ohio State.
I'm feeling more and more "done" with analyzing this team. They are who they are. We are undersized in the front court and relatively inexperienced against nearly every team we play. How many 3 and 4 year starters do we put on the court? Answer: 0. When was the last time that was true of a Stanford team?
Far from a "recovery"" game this was a nail biter. This is not entirely on the coaches--the new era has resulted in us being depopulated of a frontcourt that we recruited and expected to be mature and experienced by this year. And so we make do with what we have.
Why is Umeh not playing? The one chalk talk I was at when she was discussed, the coach noted that she was working very hard on her conditioning. I'm beginning to wonder if she will redshirt and save her eligibility for when she is in tip top shape. I have no basis for thinking that other than idle speculation.
I'll add that the Princeton seems to me to be a style of offense that is particularly vulnerable to officiating crews that call the game loose. Too much physicality absolutely destroys that offense. In contrast, offenses that depend upon one or more solo-artists with great physical skills can score even without assists and even in the midst of a bruise-a-thon. Offenses that depend upon timing (like the Princeton) are discombobulated by things that upset the timing. Defensive game planners know this and rapidly learn just how much discombobulation they will be allowed to get away with in the game. Our struggles really began when other teams just decided to chance the fouls and be extra aggressive.
Bosgana did look good to me, particularly her rebounding. There was a stretch where she collected about three in a row--all heavily contested.
Having snuck by UTSA, now we get ready for Ohio State.