[chimera]

We fought around screens much better after the terrible start.  I think Chiney is pressing a little.  She has missed shots in the past few games that were automatic earlier in the season.  Players are banged up.  Karlie sat out against UA last weekend with a bum ankle that is probably not 100%.  Now Lili has a bad ankle.  Chiney looks tired or slightly beat up to me. Just not getting in the air for rebounds or for layups like usual.  We may be very glad for the two weeks off between the P-12 tournament and the start of the NCAAs this season.  We played the last 2/3 of the game like a #1 seed maybe but not the first third.  What happened to the team that started so well most games?  Pattern has been reversed recently on the road.  USC has talent but aren't that good.  They can be trouble when Crook gets hot like she did early.  The big comeback was encouraging but a #1 seed shouldn't look as bad as we did to start the game.  The P-12 tournament is beginning to look like even more of a challenge. 

I think the rotation was shortened too quickly.  A few weeks ago seems like Tara lost a bit of patience with freshmen mistakes.  I still think we will need McCall and/or Johnson.  We can't count on a 2 person post "rotation" of Chiney and Ruef.  There is no rotate in that.  Roberson seems to be the hot sub lately, which is nice to see, but that should not preclude using players like Green and James, who have contributed earlier.  A tighter rotation should help execution because the players get used to each other but our execution is still too inconsistent, and since that is the case, I think a 9-10 person rotation is better than the 8, maybe 9 person one Tara usually likes.

[chimera]

We fought around screens much better after the terrible start.  I think Chiney is pressing a little.  She has missed shots in the past few games that were automatic earlier in the season.  Players are banged up.  Karlie sat out against UA last weekend with a bum ankle that is probably not 100%.  Now Lili has a bad ankle.  Chiney looks tired or slightly beat up to me. Just not getting in the air for rebounds or for layups like usual.  We may be very glad for the two weeks off between the P-12 tournament and the start of the NCAAs this season.  We played the last 2/3 of the game like a #1 seed maybe but not the first third.  What happened to the team that started so well most games?  Pattern has been reversed recently on the road.  USC has talent but aren't that good.  They can be trouble when Crook gets hot like she did early.  The big comeback was encouraging but a #1 seed shouldn't look as bad as we did to start the game.  The P-12 tournament is beginning to look like even more of a challenge. 

I think the rotation was shortened too quickly.  A few weeks ago seems like Tara lost a bit of patience with freshmen mistakes.  I still think we will need McCall and/or Johnson.  We can't count on a 2 person post "rotation" of Chiney and Ruef.  There is no rotate in that.  Roberson seems to be the hot sub lately, which is nice to see, but that should not preclude using players like Green and James, who have contributed earlier.  A tighter rotation should help execution because the players get used to each other but our execution is still too inconsistent, and since that is the case, I think a 9-10 person rotation is better than the 8, maybe 9 person one Tara usually likes.