[2006alum]

Haven't watched this game yet, and I'm not sure I will, based on the fact that 81Alum can't even stomach a game report.

I will say this: I don't know if it's that winning makes one greedy, if success brings out the haters, or if the bandwagon that has grown since we won last year brought along a lot more nitpickers. However: these threads have been a lot less fun for me this year than in years' past. And generally, quite negative. This thread pretty much epitomizes it.

There has been:

-Constant second guessing over playing time. Especially that Prechtel and JVG were not getting enough (while JVG was out in concussion protocol!). And needless speculation one or both were going to transfer.

-Tiresome and repetitive complaints about sloppy ball handling. The constant criticism of Jones, who is not only a First Team A-A -- so clearly she's doing something right -- but has said herself repeatedly she likes high risk, high reward ball handling, which also means high turnovers. Yes, we generate a lot of turnovers, yes, we could clean it up, and yes, that has sometimes been our undoing. But that's the trade off for all the thing-of-beauty passes our team makes. We push tempo and sometimes it doesn't work. Last night's game was a good example: fewer turnovers, even fewer assists, and stagnant ball movement. Be careful what you wish for.

-Pearl Clutching over bad quarters. If y'all want to see some bad fourth quarters, watch the team that just beat us's three-point 4Q vs. South Carolina in November, or their five-point 4Q vs. Georgia Tech. We never laid a stinker like those. And yet the team that did just beat us, so maybe, just maybe, basketball is a game of runs, and it tends to even out over time.

It's gotten to the point that I've found myself reading, of all things, the UConn BoneYard more, and our WBB threads less. Maybe distance provides objectivity, but for the most part the UConn fans have been more complimentary of our team this year than folks around here have been, and reading thread after thread that is 80% critique for a team that is winning 90% of the time gets kind of exhausting.

---

With all of that said: thank you Lexie, Lacie, and Anna. All three could have been the textbook definition of True Grit. The Hulls really restarted our current era of success, and all three have done so many thankless little things right. Lexie, in particular, bailed us out of multiple games where Jones was off or Brink was in foul trouble on the bench. Lacie and Anna are as gluey as glue players get. We'll really miss them.

And thank you to Tara, the coaches, and the rest of the players. Carrying "Defending National Champs" on your shoulders can't be an easy burden, least of all after everything it took last season just to get to tournament itself. Mikaela Brewer suggested that there may have been some unstated mental health issues going on in the backdrop, and given the sad recent news about Katie Meyer, that seems entirely possible, because I can't imagine the challenges top student-athletes have faced over these past two years. Responding to an unprecedented global pandemic, an insane election year, and now an unfolding geopolitical war with a national championship and a final four run is more than any fan could reasonably expect from a bunch of 18-21 year olds. So thank you.

[2006alum]

Haven't watched this game yet, and I'm not sure I will, based on the fact that 81Alum can't even stomach a game report.

I will say this: I don't know if it's that winning makes one greedy, if success brings out the haters, or if the bandwagon that has grown since we won last year brought along a lot more nitpickers. However: these threads have been a lot less fun for me this year than in years' past. And generally, quite negative. This thread pretty much epitomizes it.

There has been:

-Constant second guessing over playing time. Especially that Prechtel and JVG were not getting enough (while JVG was out in concussion protocol!). And needless speculation one or both were going to transfer.

-Tiresome and repetitive complaints about sloppy ball handling. The constant criticism of Jones, who is not only a First Team A-A -- so clearly she's doing something right -- but has said herself repeatedly she likes high risk, high reward ball handling, which also means high turnovers. Yes, we generate a lot of turnovers, yes, we could clean it up, and yes, that has sometimes been our undoing. But that's the trade off for all the thing-of-beauty passes our team makes. We push tempo and sometimes it doesn't work. Last night's game was a good example: fewer turnovers, even fewer assists, and stagnant ball movement. Be careful what you wish for.

-Pearl Clutching over bad quarters. If y'all want to see some bad fourth quarters, watch the team that just beat us's three-point 4Q vs. South Carolina in November, or their five-point 4Q vs. Georgia Tech. We never laid a stinker like those. And yet the team that did just beat us, so maybe, just maybe, basketball is a game of runs, and it tends to even out over time.

It's gotten to the point that I've found myself reading, of all things, the UConn BoneYard more, and our WBB threads less. Maybe distance provides objectivity, but for the most part the UConn fans have been more complimentary of our team this year than folks around here have been, and reading thread after thread that is 80% critique for a team that is winning 90% of the time gets kind of exhausting.

---

With all of that said: thank you Lexie, Lacie, and Anna. All three could have been the textbook definition of True Grit. The Hulls really restarted our current era of success, and all three have done so many thankless little things right. Lexie, in particular, bailed us out of multiple games where Jones was off or Brink was in foul trouble on the bench. Lacie and Anna are as gluey as glue players get. We'll really miss them.

And thank you to Tara, the coaches, and the rest of the players. Carrying "Defending National Champs" on your shoulders can't be an easy burden, least of all after everything it took last season just to get to tournament itself. Mikaela Brewer suggested that there may have been some unstated mental health issues going on in the backdrop, and given the sad recent news about Katie Meyer, that seems entirely possible, because I can't imagine the challenges top student-athletes have faced over these past two years. Responding to an unprecedented global pandemic, an insane election year, and now an unfolding geopolitical war with a national championship and a final four run is more than any fan could reasonably expect from a bunch of 18-21 year olds. So thank you.

[BobK]

Thank you 2006. Hard to post after a game sometimes. Even though first loss in 3 plus months.
Final 4. I loved the journey

[BobK]

Thank you 2006. Hard to post after a game sometimes. Even though first loss in 3 plus months.
Final 4. I loved the journey

[TonyLima]

Thank you 2006.  Hard to post after a game sometimes.  Even though first loss in 3 plus months.
Final 4.  I loved the journey

Agree 100%. It’s easy to forget that the players are kids. I have been guilty of that. No matter how good they are, they’re still not fully formed.

[TonyLima]

Thank you 2006.  Hard to post after a game sometimes.  Even though first loss in 3 plus months.
Final 4.  I loved the journey

Agree 100%. It’s easy to forget that the players are kids. I have been guilty of that. No matter how good they are, they’re still not fully formed.

[BostonCard]

It is maybe worth remembering that the pre-season AP top two teams were: South Carolina and UConn.  Stanford was third, so the season ended just about as the consensus expectation at the beginning of the year.

BC

[BostonCard]

It is maybe worth remembering that the pre-season AP top two teams were: South Carolina and UConn.  Stanford was third, so the season ended just about as the consensus expectation at the beginning of the year.

BC

[Spiny_Norman]

The team is 63-6 over the past 2 seasons. 2 P12 regular season championships, 2 P12 tournament championships, 2 NCAA regional championships, 1 national championship. Just outstanding.

Don't be sad that it's over. Be glad that it happened.

[Spiny_Norman]

The team is 63-6 over the past 2 seasons. 2 P12 regular season championships, 2 P12 tournament championships, 2 NCAA regional championships, 1 national championship. Just outstanding.

Don't be sad that it's over. Be glad that it happened.

[chimera]

Haven't watched this game yet, and I'm not sure I will, based on the fact that 81Alum can't even stomach a game report.

I will say this: I don't know if it's that winning makes one greedy, if success brings out the haters, or if the bandwagon that has grown since we won last year brought along a lot more nitpickers. However: these threads have been a lot less fun for me this year than in years' past. And generally, quite negative. This thread pretty much epitomizes it.

There has been:

-Constant second guessing over playing time. Especially that Prechtel and JVG were not getting enough (while JVG was out in concussion protocol!). And needless speculation one or both were going to transfer.

-Tiresome and repetitive complaints about sloppy ball handling. The constant criticism of Jones, who is not only a First Team A-A -- so clearly she's doing something right -- but has said herself repeatedly she likes high risk, high reward ball handling, which also means high turnovers. Yes, we generate a lot of turnovers, yes, we could clean it up, and yes, that has sometimes been our undoing. But that's the trade off for all the thing-of-beauty passes our team makes. We push tempo and sometimes it doesn't work. Last night's game was a good example: fewer turnovers, even fewer assists, and stagnant ball movement. Be careful what you wish for.

-Pearl Clutching over bad quarters. If y'all want to see some bad fourth quarters, watch the team that just beat us's three-point 4Q vs. South Carolina in November, or their five-point 4Q vs. Georgia Tech. We never laid a stinker like those. And yet the team that did just beat us, so maybe, just maybe, basketball is a game of runs, and it tends to even out over time.

It's gotten to the point that I've found myself reading, of all things, the UConn BoneYard more, and our WBB threads less. Maybe distance provides objectivity, but for the most part the UConn fans have been more complimentary of our team this year than folks around here have been, and reading thread after thread that is 80% critique for a team that is winning 90% of the time gets kind of exhausting.

---

With all of that said: thank you Lexie, Lacie, and Anna. All three could have been the textbook definition of True Grit. The Hulls really restarted our current era of success, and all three have done so many thankless little things right. Lexie, in particular, bailed us out of multiple games where Jones was off or Brink was in foul trouble on the bench. Lacie and Anna are as gluey as glue players get. We'll really miss them.

And thank you to Tara, the coaches, and the rest of the players. Carrying "Defending National Champs" on your shoulders can't be an easy burden, least of all after everything it took last season just to get to tournament itself. Mikaela Brewer suggested that there may have been some unstated mental health issues going on in the backdrop, and given the sad recent news about Katie Meyer, that seems entirely possible, because I can't imagine the challenges top student-athletes have faced over these past two years. Responding to an unprecedented global pandemic, an insane election year, and now an unfolding geopolitical war with a national championship and a final four run is more than any fan could reasonably expect from a bunch of 18-21 year olds. So thank you.

I quoted it all because if I could hug a post it would be this one.  Well, maybe not the reading The Boneyard part, but the rest.  ;-)

[chimera]

Haven't watched this game yet, and I'm not sure I will, based on the fact that 81Alum can't even stomach a game report.

I will say this: I don't know if it's that winning makes one greedy, if success brings out the haters, or if the bandwagon that has grown since we won last year brought along a lot more nitpickers. However: these threads have been a lot less fun for me this year than in years' past. And generally, quite negative. This thread pretty much epitomizes it.

There has been:

-Constant second guessing over playing time. Especially that Prechtel and JVG were not getting enough (while JVG was out in concussion protocol!). And needless speculation one or both were going to transfer.

-Tiresome and repetitive complaints about sloppy ball handling. The constant criticism of Jones, who is not only a First Team A-A -- so clearly she's doing something right -- but has said herself repeatedly she likes high risk, high reward ball handling, which also means high turnovers. Yes, we generate a lot of turnovers, yes, we could clean it up, and yes, that has sometimes been our undoing. But that's the trade off for all the thing-of-beauty passes our team makes. We push tempo and sometimes it doesn't work. Last night's game was a good example: fewer turnovers, even fewer assists, and stagnant ball movement. Be careful what you wish for.

-Pearl Clutching over bad quarters. If y'all want to see some bad fourth quarters, watch the team that just beat us's three-point 4Q vs. South Carolina in November, or their five-point 4Q vs. Georgia Tech. We never laid a stinker like those. And yet the team that did just beat us, so maybe, just maybe, basketball is a game of runs, and it tends to even out over time.

It's gotten to the point that I've found myself reading, of all things, the UConn BoneYard more, and our WBB threads less. Maybe distance provides objectivity, but for the most part the UConn fans have been more complimentary of our team this year than folks around here have been, and reading thread after thread that is 80% critique for a team that is winning 90% of the time gets kind of exhausting.

---

With all of that said: thank you Lexie, Lacie, and Anna. All three could have been the textbook definition of True Grit. The Hulls really restarted our current era of success, and all three have done so many thankless little things right. Lexie, in particular, bailed us out of multiple games where Jones was off or Brink was in foul trouble on the bench. Lacie and Anna are as gluey as glue players get. We'll really miss them.

And thank you to Tara, the coaches, and the rest of the players. Carrying "Defending National Champs" on your shoulders can't be an easy burden, least of all after everything it took last season just to get to tournament itself. Mikaela Brewer suggested that there may have been some unstated mental health issues going on in the backdrop, and given the sad recent news about Katie Meyer, that seems entirely possible, because I can't imagine the challenges top student-athletes have faced over these past two years. Responding to an unprecedented global pandemic, an insane election year, and now an unfolding geopolitical war with a national championship and a final four run is more than any fan could reasonably expect from a bunch of 18-21 year olds. So thank you.

I quoted it all because if I could hug a post it would be this one.  Well, maybe not the reading The Boneyard part, but the rest.  ;-)

[old spanish trail]

The team is 63-6 over the past 2 seasons. 2 P12 regular season championships, 2 P12 tournament championships, 2 NCAA regional championships, 1 national championship. Just outstanding.

Don't be sad that it's over. Be glad that it happened.

Yep, Spiny

[old spanish trail]

The team is 63-6 over the past 2 seasons. 2 P12 regular season championships, 2 P12 tournament championships, 2 NCAA regional championships, 1 national championship. Just outstanding.

Don't be sad that it's over. Be glad that it happened.

Yep, Spiny

[teejers1]

Stanford got its butt kicked on the boards: 46-37. 
Strange indeed. Was it primarily a matter of bad 
luck, bad positioning, or being out-hustled?

I saw some of all of the above, but mostly bad positioning and a couple of times, not strong enough.

---

Still have the game zooming around in my head, so wanted to post some thoughts now so maybe I can sleep tonight. 
- Interesting move by Geno to start the game in a zone. I thought that was very risky, but it paid off. 
- I have a theory on Lexie's game...she did an awesome job defensively on Bueckers. Holding her to 14 points was tremendous. Sometimes that sort of defensive assignment ends up taking all your focus and energy. She just couldn't seem to find her rhythm on offense. I so wish her 3 would have gone in to cut the lead to 2 with 45 seconds left!
- The offensive foul on Haley with around a minute left...half of Edwards foot was over the charge line. Why didn't that get reviewed? That was a pretty big call. Haley would have gotten 2 shots and instead they got 2. The inconsistencies in instant replay review drive me nuts. They'll spend forever looking to see who's fingernail hit it last or how many tenths of a second to put on the clock, but they won't look at a foot on a line?
- My two keys to the game were met: 1) Keep Bueckers under her average (check, average 14.8, held to 14)  2) Don't let Fudd go off from the 3-pt line (check - she made zero and only had 2 baskets before making free throws in the end). They only had 39 points as a team after 3 quarters. If you would have told me that would be the case before the tip (and we only made 11 turnovers and they made 19), I would have thought the game was in the bag. Guess I didn't think there was a universe where we shot that poorly.
- Big time credit to UConn for winning the game at the line. 16-20 from the line and 15-17 in the 4th is big time.
- How about Lacie's game. 9 boards, 2 steals, 0 turnovers in 40 minutes.
- I didn't like the sub to put Kiki in for Cam to start the 4th. Why? Did Cam need a rest? She only had 2 fouls? Kiki's been sitting cold on the bench all game - it's just such a tough spot to be in to have to go in and guard a UConn big in the heat of a Final Four battle, and for a freshman to boot. 
- Loved Emma coming in at the end for the press and what a play she made!
- I think it was a mistake to play Hannah so much in the second half in Anna's place. She wasn't being that effective on offense. The one thing about Anna is she makes plays and she's a winner. I think she needed to be on the court in the 4th. 
- When they played with only one big in the first half and we went with our big lineup of Hulls, Haley, Cam, and Fran, it didn't work because we couldn't guard them on the perimeter. Give Westbrook credit for hitting those 3's. Those were of immense proportions for them.
- Happy to see Prechtel give some solid minutes and can a couple shots. 
- Felt like the refs did a reasonable job tonight with the foul calls. Still a few I would have let go, but 32 is way better than 46. 
- I know they won, but I still think we are better. Just not our night. 

Obviously a tremendous year for the team. I am going to really miss this group of seniors.

Yes, I didn't like the Kiki sub-in. It didn't work out having Jump in there, but that decision, I can understand. Tara was looking for an offensive spark because we weren't clicking and missing threes. Usually, Jump may even miss her first or even second shot, but there nails a few. She did not last night and really hasn't shot well in recent games. I'm a big Jump fan but disappointed that her play has trailed off lately. 
Officiating seemed pretty good overall, but very interesting about your observation on the Haley charge, didn't see that. Question though; even if the defender is inside the arc or has a foot in, can a player still be called for a charge with a deliberate shove or push off? as opposed to just body banging?

re: rebounding...there's more to the story. O-boards were even at 12 apiece. They got more defensive rebounds because we missed way more shots than they did so they had many more opportunities. I guess we could be criticized for not getting more o-boards, but in the end I don't think you can point to rebounding as one of the main differentiators in the game. I look at it like it was pretty even and both teams held serve.

Guard play remains the premium in NCAA (as the final tonight reconfirmed), and we just didn't have enough there  against UConn.  I know you're a big Lacie fan, but all 40 minutes?  Really?  Especially when team is struggling on O?

And Lexie only came out when she was bleeding.  Again, really?  She was off her game big time.

So those are coaching decisions that I think are worth commenting on, as well as the Kiki insert.  But I don't really blame TvD for the Kiki insert because, as noted, she was looking for some kind of spark.  And it was a big ask for a frosh to come in and make plays cold off the bench.  However, the insert of Emma (who was perhaps asked to do more limited things) worked out.  So sometimes yes; sometimes no.  But regardless of all that, I would have played Wilson more and instructed her to look to beat Paige off the bounce and attack.  Anna was not looking for that aspect of her game at all, which played into the general "malaise/uncertainty/lack of conviction" of the team against UConn.  Really a shame.

And btw, UConn didn't play great, either.  They had 19 turnovers.  However, they shot the three at a better clip, and their guards made some shots, including some tough ones.  Aside from Haley (who is really a 3), Stanford's guards did not.

[teejers1]

Stanford got its butt kicked on the boards: 46-37. 
Strange indeed. Was it primarily a matter of bad 
luck, bad positioning, or being out-hustled?

I saw some of all of the above, but mostly bad positioning and a couple of times, not strong enough.

---

Still have the game zooming around in my head, so wanted to post some thoughts now so maybe I can sleep tonight. 
- Interesting move by Geno to start the game in a zone. I thought that was very risky, but it paid off. 
- I have a theory on Lexie's game...she did an awesome job defensively on Bueckers. Holding her to 14 points was tremendous. Sometimes that sort of defensive assignment ends up taking all your focus and energy. She just couldn't seem to find her rhythm on offense. I so wish her 3 would have gone in to cut the lead to 2 with 45 seconds left!
- The offensive foul on Haley with around a minute left...half of Edwards foot was over the charge line. Why didn't that get reviewed? That was a pretty big call. Haley would have gotten 2 shots and instead they got 2. The inconsistencies in instant replay review drive me nuts. They'll spend forever looking to see who's fingernail hit it last or how many tenths of a second to put on the clock, but they won't look at a foot on a line?
- My two keys to the game were met: 1) Keep Bueckers under her average (check, average 14.8, held to 14)  2) Don't let Fudd go off from the 3-pt line (check - she made zero and only had 2 baskets before making free throws in the end). They only had 39 points as a team after 3 quarters. If you would have told me that would be the case before the tip (and we only made 11 turnovers and they made 19), I would have thought the game was in the bag. Guess I didn't think there was a universe where we shot that poorly.
- Big time credit to UConn for winning the game at the line. 16-20 from the line and 15-17 in the 4th is big time.
- How about Lacie's game. 9 boards, 2 steals, 0 turnovers in 40 minutes.
- I didn't like the sub to put Kiki in for Cam to start the 4th. Why? Did Cam need a rest? She only had 2 fouls? Kiki's been sitting cold on the bench all game - it's just such a tough spot to be in to have to go in and guard a UConn big in the heat of a Final Four battle, and for a freshman to boot. 
- Loved Emma coming in at the end for the press and what a play she made!
- I think it was a mistake to play Hannah so much in the second half in Anna's place. She wasn't being that effective on offense. The one thing about Anna is she makes plays and she's a winner. I think she needed to be on the court in the 4th. 
- When they played with only one big in the first half and we went with our big lineup of Hulls, Haley, Cam, and Fran, it didn't work because we couldn't guard them on the perimeter. Give Westbrook credit for hitting those 3's. Those were of immense proportions for them.
- Happy to see Prechtel give some solid minutes and can a couple shots. 
- Felt like the refs did a reasonable job tonight with the foul calls. Still a few I would have let go, but 32 is way better than 46. 
- I know they won, but I still think we are better. Just not our night. 

Obviously a tremendous year for the team. I am going to really miss this group of seniors.

Yes, I didn't like the Kiki sub-in. It didn't work out having Jump in there, but that decision, I can understand. Tara was looking for an offensive spark because we weren't clicking and missing threes. Usually, Jump may even miss her first or even second shot, but there nails a few. She did not last night and really hasn't shot well in recent games. I'm a big Jump fan but disappointed that her play has trailed off lately. 
Officiating seemed pretty good overall, but very interesting about your observation on the Haley charge, didn't see that. Question though; even if the defender is inside the arc or has a foot in, can a player still be called for a charge with a deliberate shove or push off? as opposed to just body banging?

re: rebounding...there's more to the story. O-boards were even at 12 apiece. They got more defensive rebounds because we missed way more shots than they did so they had many more opportunities. I guess we could be criticized for not getting more o-boards, but in the end I don't think you can point to rebounding as one of the main differentiators in the game. I look at it like it was pretty even and both teams held serve.

Guard play remains the premium in NCAA (as the final tonight reconfirmed), and we just didn't have enough there  against UConn.  I know you're a big Lacie fan, but all 40 minutes?  Really?  Especially when team is struggling on O?

And Lexie only came out when she was bleeding.  Again, really?  She was off her game big time.

So those are coaching decisions that I think are worth commenting on, as well as the Kiki insert.  But I don't really blame TvD for the Kiki insert because, as noted, she was looking for some kind of spark.  And it was a big ask for a frosh to come in and make plays cold off the bench.  However, the insert of Emma (who was perhaps asked to do more limited things) worked out.  So sometimes yes; sometimes no.  But regardless of all that, I would have played Wilson more and instructed her to look to beat Paige off the bounce and attack.  Anna was not looking for that aspect of her game at all, which played into the general "malaise/uncertainty/lack of conviction" of the team against UConn.  Really a shame.

And btw, UConn didn't play great, either.  They had 19 turnovers.  However, they shot the three at a better clip, and their guards made some shots, including some tough ones.  Aside from Haley (who is really a 3), Stanford's guards did not.

[treetop11]

What is up with the first name/last name thing on this board? And why does anyone actually care? Sexist or protective? Really? Should we stop calling him LeBron and start calling him James instead? Or Woods instead of Tiger? Or Barkley or O'Neill or Smith instead of Charles, Shaq, and Kenny? Practically all male golfers are called by their first names (Rory, "DJ", Jordan, ...)? But people think this is sexist? Do we not respect those men?  I view it neither as a sign of respect, nor sexist. And I bet if you asked the actual athletes, no one would even care. It's just what rolls off the tongue, how other people refer to them, etc. Practically everyone on TV, in the press, etc. call her Paige. Or Stewy. Or Aari. Or Geno. or Tara. So that's what others do. Everyone calls them Harbaugh and Shaw, so that's what others do. Maybe because Jim and David aren't really that interesting. Who knows, and who cares.

I call them by whatever is easiest to type or speak usually.

[treetop11]

What is up with the first name/last name thing on this board? And why does anyone actually care? Sexist or protective? Really? Should we stop calling him LeBron and start calling him James instead? Or Woods instead of Tiger? Or Barkley or O'Neill or Smith instead of Charles, Shaq, and Kenny? Practically all male golfers are called by their first names (Rory, "DJ", Jordan, ...)? But people think this is sexist? Do we not respect those men?  I view it neither as a sign of respect, nor sexist. And I bet if you asked the actual athletes, no one would even care. It's just what rolls off the tongue, how other people refer to them, etc. Practically everyone on TV, in the press, etc. call her Paige. Or Stewy. Or Aari. Or Geno. or Tara. So that's what others do. Everyone calls them Harbaugh and Shaw, so that's what others do. Maybe because Jim and David aren't really that interesting. Who knows, and who cares.

I call them by whatever is easiest to type or speak usually.

[old spanish trail]

What is up with the first name/last name thing on this board? And why does anyone actually care? Sexist or protective? Really? Should we stop calling him LeBron and start calling him James instead? Or Woods instead of Tiger? Or Barkley or O'Neill or Smith instead of Charles, Shaq, and Kenny? Practically all male golfers are called by their first names (Rory, "DJ", Jordan, ...)? But people think this is sexist? Do we not respect those men?  I view it neither as a sign of respect, nor sexist. And I bet if you asked the actual athletes, no one would even care. It's just what rolls off the tongue, how other people refer to them, etc. Practically everyone on TV, in the press, etc. call her Paige. Or Stewy. Or Aari. Or Geno. or Tara. So that's what others do. Everyone calls them Harbaugh and Shaw, so that's what others do. Maybe because Jim and David aren't really that interesting. Who knows, and who cares.

I call them by whatever is easiest to type or speak usually.

Same here, Tree.

[old spanish trail]

What is up with the first name/last name thing on this board? And why does anyone actually care? Sexist or protective? Really? Should we stop calling him LeBron and start calling him James instead? Or Woods instead of Tiger? Or Barkley or O'Neill or Smith instead of Charles, Shaq, and Kenny? Practically all male golfers are called by their first names (Rory, "DJ", Jordan, ...)? But people think this is sexist? Do we not respect those men?  I view it neither as a sign of respect, nor sexist. And I bet if you asked the actual athletes, no one would even care. It's just what rolls off the tongue, how other people refer to them, etc. Practically everyone on TV, in the press, etc. call her Paige. Or Stewy. Or Aari. Or Geno. or Tara. So that's what others do. Everyone calls them Harbaugh and Shaw, so that's what others do. Maybe because Jim and David aren't really that interesting. Who knows, and who cares.

I call them by whatever is easiest to type or speak usually.

Same here, Tree.

[Baez87]

I’m sitting in the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport this morning reflecting on the season, the tournament, and the game…
Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning.
Last night I sat in an arena with 18,000 people watching the national championship. That was more people than the entire population of my home town when I was growing up in Helena, Montana. There we used to line up in freezing cold temperatures so we could get into our little 1500 capacity gym and watch our brawny Bengals play a slate of competitors for the best in the state from small cities from as far away as 250 miles.
As a young teen I got to experience the joy of winning, since our team was gifted and won the state championship during my first three years in HS. Aside from a season of packed houses, our townspeople rewarded the coach with a brand new ‘54 Ford and approved a bond measure to build a new high school, which included a state of the art basketball court. One year after we moved into the new facility, I got to experience the agony of losing as I sat in that gym after we had been beaten in the state regionals. I remember sitting in the quiet gym after that final game trying to extract meaning from this game of win and lose. As a young teen I wondered what was the quality that could be extracted from the elusive duality of winning and losing. I had no answer but it informed my thinking.
I had a similar existential moment after sitting in the Target Arena Friday night after the Stanford loss. I could get angry at the players or the coach. I could look for someone to blame—the refs or the seeding committee. I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. None of those reactions seemed fruitful. If I was to embrace the lessons of my teenage self decades ago and honor the adult psyche that emerged from a lifetime of experiences, I had to find a more satisfying, all inclusive means of internalizing the dilemma of winning and losing.
As I sat in the arena on Sunday night watching the two teams play who had survived the tournament to play for the championship, I found solace in honoring each moment of the game. And yes, once again the nature of the external game produced winners and losers, but from my current perspective, which was not attached to outcome, I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game.
And this morning in the airport waiting to return home, as I reflect on the lessons learned, the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

[Baez87]

I’m sitting in the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport this morning reflecting on the season, the tournament, and the game…
Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning.
Last night I sat in an arena with 18,000 people watching the national championship. That was more people than the entire population of my home town when I was growing up in Helena, Montana. There we used to line up in freezing cold temperatures so we could get into our little 1500 capacity gym and watch our brawny Bengals play a slate of competitors for the best in the state from small cities from as far away as 250 miles.
As a young teen I got to experience the joy of winning, since our team was gifted and won the state championship during my first three years in HS. Aside from a season of packed houses, our townspeople rewarded the coach with a brand new ‘54 Ford and approved a bond measure to build a new high school, which included a state of the art basketball court. One year after we moved into the new facility, I got to experience the agony of losing as I sat in that gym after we had been beaten in the state regionals. I remember sitting in the quiet gym after that final game trying to extract meaning from this game of win and lose. As a young teen I wondered what was the quality that could be extracted from the elusive duality of winning and losing. I had no answer but it informed my thinking.
I had a similar existential moment after sitting in the Target Arena Friday night after the Stanford loss. I could get angry at the players or the coach. I could look for someone to blame—the refs or the seeding committee. I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. None of those reactions seemed fruitful. If I was to embrace the lessons of my teenage self decades ago and honor the adult psyche that emerged from a lifetime of experiences, I had to find a more satisfying, all inclusive means of internalizing the dilemma of winning and losing.
As I sat in the arena on Sunday night watching the two teams play who had survived the tournament to play for the championship, I found solace in honoring each moment of the game. And yes, once again the nature of the external game produced winners and losers, but from my current perspective, which was not attached to outcome, I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game.
And this morning in the airport waiting to return home, as I reflect on the lessons learned, the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

[here4WBB]

I’m sitting in the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport this morning reflecting on the season, the tournament, and the game…
Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning.
Last night I sat in an arena with 18,000 people watching the national championship. That was more people than the entire population of my home town when I was growing up in Helena, Montana. There we used to line up in freezing cold temperatures so we could get into our little 1500 capacity gym and watch our brawny Bengals play a slate of competitors for the best in the state from small cities from as far away as 250 miles.
As a young teen I got to experience the joy of winning, since our team was gifted and won the state championship during my first three years in HS. Aside from a season of packed houses, our townspeople rewarded the coach with a brand new ‘54 Ford and approved a bond measure to build a new high school, which included a state of the art basketball court. One year after we moved into the new facility, I got to experience the agony of losing as I sat in that gym after we had been beaten in the state regionals. I remember sitting in the quiet gym after that final game trying to extract meaning from this game of win and lose. As a young teen I wondered what was the quality that could be extracted from the elusive duality of winning and losing. I had no answer but it informed my thinking.
I had a similar existential moment after sitting in the Target Arena Friday night after the Stanford loss. I could get angry at the players or the coach. I could look for someone to blame—the refs or the seeding committee. I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. None of those reactions seemed fruitful. If I was to embrace the lessons of my teenage self decades ago and honor the adult psyche that emerged from a lifetime of experiences, I had to find a more satisfying, all inclusive means of internalizing the dilemma of winning and losing.
As I sat in the arena on Sunday night watching the two teams play who had survived the tournament to play for the championship, I found solace in honoring each moment of the game. And yes, once again the nature of the external game produced winners and losers, but from my current perspective, which was not attached to outcome, I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game.
And this morning in the airport waiting to return home, as I reflect on the lessons learned, the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

thanks so much for your posting.  We were there Friday night as well, and spent quite a bit of time before and after the game enjoying the streets and restaurants of Minneapolis.  I had similar thoughts about how we focus on the binary points of winning and losing in sports, and in doing so, lose sight of the magnificence of the game.

[here4WBB]

I’m sitting in the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport this morning reflecting on the season, the tournament, and the game…
Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning.
Last night I sat in an arena with 18,000 people watching the national championship. That was more people than the entire population of my home town when I was growing up in Helena, Montana. There we used to line up in freezing cold temperatures so we could get into our little 1500 capacity gym and watch our brawny Bengals play a slate of competitors for the best in the state from small cities from as far away as 250 miles.
As a young teen I got to experience the joy of winning, since our team was gifted and won the state championship during my first three years in HS. Aside from a season of packed houses, our townspeople rewarded the coach with a brand new ‘54 Ford and approved a bond measure to build a new high school, which included a state of the art basketball court. One year after we moved into the new facility, I got to experience the agony of losing as I sat in that gym after we had been beaten in the state regionals. I remember sitting in the quiet gym after that final game trying to extract meaning from this game of win and lose. As a young teen I wondered what was the quality that could be extracted from the elusive duality of winning and losing. I had no answer but it informed my thinking.
I had a similar existential moment after sitting in the Target Arena Friday night after the Stanford loss. I could get angry at the players or the coach. I could look for someone to blame—the refs or the seeding committee. I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. None of those reactions seemed fruitful. If I was to embrace the lessons of my teenage self decades ago and honor the adult psyche that emerged from a lifetime of experiences, I had to find a more satisfying, all inclusive means of internalizing the dilemma of winning and losing.
As I sat in the arena on Sunday night watching the two teams play who had survived the tournament to play for the championship, I found solace in honoring each moment of the game. And yes, once again the nature of the external game produced winners and losers, but from my current perspective, which was not attached to outcome, I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game.
And this morning in the airport waiting to return home, as I reflect on the lessons learned, the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

thanks so much for your posting.  We were there Friday night as well, and spent quite a bit of time before and after the game enjoying the streets and restaurants of Minneapolis.  I had similar thoughts about how we focus on the binary points of winning and losing in sports, and in doing so, lose sight of the magnificence of the game.

[crackpot]

I’m sitting in the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport this morning reflecting on the season, the tournament, and the game…
Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning.
Last night I sat in an arena with 18,000 people watching the national championship. That was more people than the entire population of my home town when I was growing up in Helena, Montana. There we used to line up in freezing cold temperatures so we could get into our little 1500 capacity gym and watch our brawny Bengals play a slate of competitors for the best in the state from small cities from as far away as 250 miles.
As a young teen I got to experience the joy of winning, since our team was gifted and won the state championship during my first three years in HS. Aside from a season of packed houses, our townspeople rewarded the coach with a brand new ‘54 Ford and approved a bond measure to build a new high school, which included a state of the art basketball court. One year after we moved into the new facility, I got to experience the agony of losing as I sat in that gym after we had been beaten in the state regionals. I remember sitting in the quiet gym after that final game trying to extract meaning from this game of win and lose. As a young teen I wondered what was the quality that could be extracted from the elusive duality of winning and losing. I had no answer but it informed my thinking.
I had a similar existential moment after sitting in the Target Arena Friday night after the Stanford loss. I could get angry at the players or the coach. I could look for someone to blame—the refs or the seeding committee. I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. None of those reactions seemed fruitful. If I was to embrace the lessons of my teenage self decades ago and honor the adult psyche that emerged from a lifetime of experiences, I had to find a more satisfying, all inclusive means of internalizing the dilemma of winning and losing.
As I sat in the arena on Sunday night watching the two teams play who had survived the tournament to play for the championship, I found solace in honoring each moment of the game. And yes, once again the nature of the external game produced winners and losers, but from my current perspective, which was not attached to outcome, I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game.
And this morning in the airport waiting to return home, as I reflect on the lessons learned, the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

Thank you, Baez87.

[crackpot]

I’m sitting in the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport this morning reflecting on the season, the tournament, and the game…
Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning.
Last night I sat in an arena with 18,000 people watching the national championship. That was more people than the entire population of my home town when I was growing up in Helena, Montana. There we used to line up in freezing cold temperatures so we could get into our little 1500 capacity gym and watch our brawny Bengals play a slate of competitors for the best in the state from small cities from as far away as 250 miles.
As a young teen I got to experience the joy of winning, since our team was gifted and won the state championship during my first three years in HS. Aside from a season of packed houses, our townspeople rewarded the coach with a brand new ‘54 Ford and approved a bond measure to build a new high school, which included a state of the art basketball court. One year after we moved into the new facility, I got to experience the agony of losing as I sat in that gym after we had been beaten in the state regionals. I remember sitting in the quiet gym after that final game trying to extract meaning from this game of win and lose. As a young teen I wondered what was the quality that could be extracted from the elusive duality of winning and losing. I had no answer but it informed my thinking.
I had a similar existential moment after sitting in the Target Arena Friday night after the Stanford loss. I could get angry at the players or the coach. I could look for someone to blame—the refs or the seeding committee. I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. None of those reactions seemed fruitful. If I was to embrace the lessons of my teenage self decades ago and honor the adult psyche that emerged from a lifetime of experiences, I had to find a more satisfying, all inclusive means of internalizing the dilemma of winning and losing.
As I sat in the arena on Sunday night watching the two teams play who had survived the tournament to play for the championship, I found solace in honoring each moment of the game. And yes, once again the nature of the external game produced winners and losers, but from my current perspective, which was not attached to outcome, I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game.
And this morning in the airport waiting to return home, as I reflect on the lessons learned, the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

Thank you, Baez87.

[teejers1]

I’m sitting in the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport this morning reflecting on the season, the tournament, and the game…
Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning.
Last night I sat in an arena with 18,000 people watching the national championship. That was more people than the entire population of my home town when I was growing up in Helena, Montana. There we used to line up in freezing cold temperatures so we could get into our little 1500 capacity gym and watch our brawny Bengals play a slate of competitors for the best in the state from small cities from as far away as 250 miles.
As a young teen I got to experience the joy of winning, since our team was gifted and won the state championship during my first three years in HS. Aside from a season of packed houses, our townspeople rewarded the coach with a brand new ‘54 Ford and approved a bond measure to build a new high school, which included a state of the art basketball court. One year after we moved into the new facility, I got to experience the agony of losing as I sat in that gym after we had been beaten in the state regionals. I remember sitting in the quiet gym after that final game trying to extract meaning from this game of win and lose. As a young teen I wondered what was the quality that could be extracted from the elusive duality of winning and losing. I had no answer but it informed my thinking.
I had a similar existential moment after sitting in the Target Arena Friday night after the Stanford loss. I could get angry at the players or the coach. I could look for someone to blame—the refs or the seeding committee. I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. None of those reactions seemed fruitful. If I was to embrace the lessons of my teenage self decades ago and honor the adult psyche that emerged from a lifetime of experiences, I had to find a more satisfying, all inclusive means of internalizing the dilemma of winning and losing.
As I sat in the arena on Sunday night watching the two teams play who had survived the tournament to play for the championship, I found solace in honoring each moment of the game. And yes, once again the nature of the external game produced winners and losers, but from my current perspective, which was not attached to outcome, I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game.
And this morning in the airport waiting to return home, as I reflect on the lessons learned, the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

I aspire to have your road-trip abilities!  And yes, absolutely enjoy the experience in each setting (we always make sure to do golf, restaurants, or whatever draws at our more limited road trip schedule).  

BTW, I disagree with the notion that this place is too negative . . . goodness, there are few sites that are so civil.  People are, for whatever reason, ultra protective of TvD and the women's hoops program.  They're great; it's been fun to support them; etc.  But that doesn't (and shouldn't) preclude folks from expressing disappointment and frustration.

And on that front, it wasn't the winning versus the losing, per se, that stings (though winning is almost always more enjoyable).  I think what bummed fans out was that for whatever reason Stanford did not come close to playing a good game against UConn.  You play well or reasonably well and get beat . . . so be it.  But that's not what happened against UConn.

P.S.  I agree that the "woe is UConn" narrative is a false on, as pointed out by a poster.  However, I also think that this was a year that Stanford clearly was "on par" with UConn, and thus was a very winnable game.  And that is not always the case.

[teejers1]

I’m sitting in the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport this morning reflecting on the season, the tournament, and the game…
Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning.
Last night I sat in an arena with 18,000 people watching the national championship. That was more people than the entire population of my home town when I was growing up in Helena, Montana. There we used to line up in freezing cold temperatures so we could get into our little 1500 capacity gym and watch our brawny Bengals play a slate of competitors for the best in the state from small cities from as far away as 250 miles.
As a young teen I got to experience the joy of winning, since our team was gifted and won the state championship during my first three years in HS. Aside from a season of packed houses, our townspeople rewarded the coach with a brand new ‘54 Ford and approved a bond measure to build a new high school, which included a state of the art basketball court. One year after we moved into the new facility, I got to experience the agony of losing as I sat in that gym after we had been beaten in the state regionals. I remember sitting in the quiet gym after that final game trying to extract meaning from this game of win and lose. As a young teen I wondered what was the quality that could be extracted from the elusive duality of winning and losing. I had no answer but it informed my thinking.
I had a similar existential moment after sitting in the Target Arena Friday night after the Stanford loss. I could get angry at the players or the coach. I could look for someone to blame—the refs or the seeding committee. I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. None of those reactions seemed fruitful. If I was to embrace the lessons of my teenage self decades ago and honor the adult psyche that emerged from a lifetime of experiences, I had to find a more satisfying, all inclusive means of internalizing the dilemma of winning and losing.
As I sat in the arena on Sunday night watching the two teams play who had survived the tournament to play for the championship, I found solace in honoring each moment of the game. And yes, once again the nature of the external game produced winners and losers, but from my current perspective, which was not attached to outcome, I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game.
And this morning in the airport waiting to return home, as I reflect on the lessons learned, the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

I aspire to have your road-trip abilities!  And yes, absolutely enjoy the experience in each setting (we always make sure to do golf, restaurants, or whatever draws at our more limited road trip schedule).  

BTW, I disagree with the notion that this place is too negative . . . goodness, there are few sites that are so civil.  People are, for whatever reason, ultra protective of TvD and the women's hoops program.  They're great; it's been fun to support them; etc.  But that doesn't (and shouldn't) preclude folks from expressing disappointment and frustration.

And on that front, it wasn't the winning versus the losing, per se, that stings (though winning is almost always more enjoyable).  I think what bummed fans out was that for whatever reason Stanford did not come close to playing a good game against UConn.  You play well or reasonably well and get beat . . . so be it.  But that's not what happened against UConn.

P.S.  I agree that the "woe is UConn" narrative is a false on, as pointed out by a poster.  However, I also think that this was a year that Stanford clearly was "on par" with UConn, and thus was a very winnable game.  And that is not always the case.

[teejers1]

Presser.  Wow, Geno at 21:33. He talks about how past years everyone knew they were the best team. He didn't feel that way this year. "Coming in, I don't think we're the best thing there. I don't think we can win even if we play our A game. We need help. We need Stanford to not play their best game. We need them to miss shots they normally make....Fortunately for us Stanford didn't have their best stuff and by some unknown miracle we're playing Sunday night."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G7kH5WyaeE

Thanks for linking the post-game presser.  Finally got around to watching the Stanford speakers (don't know if I'll ever get around to watching the UConn players/coach).  Anyway, just 3 things that struck me:

1.  Haley and Fran were fantastic and poised and provided thoughtful answers.  Loved it (btw, is Haley the best ever at these?  It's gotta be either her or Lexie  - consistently great interviews);

2.  Tara said what we all feared would be the case - deficiency at PG would cost us in critical juncture in NCAAs ("we needed more tonight," I believe was coach's quote, when referring to Anna and Lacie); and 

3.  Nary a compliment to UConn for game plan, prep, being well-coached, etc.  I don't think Geno is Tara's favorite colleague in the coaching ranks.

[teejers1]

Presser.  Wow, Geno at 21:33. He talks about how past years everyone knew they were the best team. He didn't feel that way this year. "Coming in, I don't think we're the best thing there. I don't think we can win even if we play our A game. We need help. We need Stanford to not play their best game. We need them to miss shots they normally make....Fortunately for us Stanford didn't have their best stuff and by some unknown miracle we're playing Sunday night."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G7kH5WyaeE

Thanks for linking the post-game presser.  Finally got around to watching the Stanford speakers (don't know if I'll ever get around to watching the UConn players/coach).  Anyway, just 3 things that struck me:

1.  Haley and Fran were fantastic and poised and provided thoughtful answers.  Loved it (btw, is Haley the best ever at these?  It's gotta be either her or Lexie  - consistently great interviews);

2.  Tara said what we all feared would be the case - deficiency at PG would cost us in critical juncture in NCAAs ("we needed more tonight," I believe was coach's quote, when referring to Anna and Lacie); and 

3.  Nary a compliment to UConn for game plan, prep, being well-coached, etc.  I don't think Geno is Tara's favorite colleague in the coaching ranks.

[qwerty49]

Presser.  Wow, Geno at 21:33. He talks about how past years everyone knew they were the best team. He didn't feel that way this year. "Coming in, I don't think we're the best thing there. I don't think we can win even if we play our A game. We need help. We need Stanford to not play their best game. We need them to miss shots they normally make....Fortunately for us Stanford didn't have their best stuff and by some unknown miracle we're playing Sunday night."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G7kH5WyaeE

Thanks for linking the post-game presser.  Finally got around to watching the Stanford speakers (don't know if I'll ever get around to watching the UConn players/coach).  Anyway, just 3 things that struck me:

1.  Haley and Fran were fantastic and poised and provided thoughtful answers.  Loved it (btw, is Haley the best ever at these?  It's gotta be either her or Lexie  - consistently great interviews);

2.  Tara said what we all feared would be the case - deficiency at PG would cost us in critical juncture in NCAAs ("we needed more tonight," I believe was coach's quote, when referring to Anna and Lacie); and 

3.  Nary a compliment to UConn for game plan, prep, being well-coached, etc.  I don't think Geno is Tara's favorite colleague in the coaching ranks.

Re PG it’s noteworthy that we had 2 other players who (presumably) had a lot of experience at the position before, and that neither seemed to be able to consistently step up into the role. I don’t mean this as a knock on the players, but as an observation as to how thin we really are at PG, w/r/t next year.

[qwerty49]

Presser.  Wow, Geno at 21:33. He talks about how past years everyone knew they were the best team. He didn't feel that way this year. "Coming in, I don't think we're the best thing there. I don't think we can win even if we play our A game. We need help. We need Stanford to not play their best game. We need them to miss shots they normally make....Fortunately for us Stanford didn't have their best stuff and by some unknown miracle we're playing Sunday night."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G7kH5WyaeE

Thanks for linking the post-game presser.  Finally got around to watching the Stanford speakers (don't know if I'll ever get around to watching the UConn players/coach).  Anyway, just 3 things that struck me:

1.  Haley and Fran were fantastic and poised and provided thoughtful answers.  Loved it (btw, is Haley the best ever at these?  It's gotta be either her or Lexie  - consistently great interviews);

2.  Tara said what we all feared would be the case - deficiency at PG would cost us in critical juncture in NCAAs ("we needed more tonight," I believe was coach's quote, when referring to Anna and Lacie); and 

3.  Nary a compliment to UConn for game plan, prep, being well-coached, etc.  I don't think Geno is Tara's favorite colleague in the coaching ranks.

Re PG it’s noteworthy that we had 2 other players who (presumably) had a lot of experience at the position before, and that neither seemed to be able to consistently step up into the role. I don’t mean this as a knock on the players, but as an observation as to how thin we really are at PG, w/r/t next year.

[Spiny_Norman]

[twitter]https://twitter.com/anti_bauer_/status/1511140948557791234[/twitter]

[Spiny_Norman]

[twitter]https://twitter.com/anti_bauer_/status/1511140948557791234[/twitter]

[BACardinal]

https://youtu.be/NhGVBD1E-sg

I'm not sure if this was posted before so please forgive me if it was but Taurasi said Stanford was the only school she wanted to go to but they rejected her. I didn't know that.

[BACardinal]

https://youtu.be/NhGVBD1E-sg

I'm not sure if this was posted before so please forgive me if it was but Taurasi said Stanford was the only school she wanted to go to but they rejected her. I didn't know that.

[martyup]

Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning. . . . 

I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. . . . 

I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game. . . . 

the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

You are simply phenomenal.

[martyup]

Throughout my life, the game of basketball has provided me with challenges, joys, and and some insight at personal meaning. . . . 

I could regret having invested myself in following the team’s season — attending all their home games, traveling to the Bahamas, Spokane, and now, to Minneapolis. . . . 

I was able to transcend winning and losing and embrace the playing of the game. . . . 

the lesson from a basketball game became a metaphor for life itself. Finding meaning in the parts require me to bridge the whole, and in so-doing, it opens the way to accept the nature of dualities in life itself.

You are simply phenomenal.