1. Rice: solid game, good pressure D, posted up smaller defender, got to the rim, hit a side step 3, just all around strong game
2. CLW: much better than last game, got to the rim more, still a step slow on D at times and continues the infuriating habit of 2-3 inexplicable turnovers per game, she also had 2 very bad passes to bigs that I counted but overall solid
3. Kneepkens: word is out on not leaving her open from three, need more designed plays, she did a good job pump faking and going to the hole, good pressure D, good rebounding, good all around game
4. L Betts: I’m not sure her foul trouble was all her v questionable calls, I think she is fine to shoot mid range jumpers but would have liked to see them pound it closer to the rim early in the game first, I liked her fight against Heiden in Q3, showed grit. She’s still a top 2 pick in the draft
5. Jaquez: good game of craftiness, getting to the rim and playing solid perimeter D. I blame the coaches for starting her on Stuelke, that was a criminally bad idea as GJ is too light to guard strong 3/4s. Dugalic replaced her and it was a much better look. Also, I think GJ’s 3 pointer is broken, I wouldn’t trust it in a tight game
6. Dugalic: She was balling, all around on D guarding every position including Stuelke who is a handful, abusing their post players with crafty and strong moves, hitting her threes and having fun, loved her game, she gets game ball
7. S Betts: Love that she is getting so much PT. Plays strong down low, had a couple good post moves. I am genuinely surprised by her lack of athleticism, she does not get off the ground (taps the ball to herself instead of jumping for rebounds, flips the ball in the basket instead of exploding toward the rim) and I’m not sure this is going to change over her career.
8. Everybody else: I like Bilic as she has length and could be an offensive threat but 3 is also broken since the beginning of the year and she has to play D without fouling; I continue to be confused by Muse, she seems like a lovely person but not a positive on the court at all, she was a McDonald’s All American and this is her 3rd year in the program. I couldn’t tell for sure but I don’t think Karamouzi dressed for this one. Is Gardiner looking slimmer/trimmer? She might be the best player on the team next year.
I have to admit that I haven’t watched as much of the woman’s team this year. I watched the Oaklahoma and Texas games and USC. Given the way the team has come together and the returning talent we have, the real question is whether we have what it takes to beat UConn? I watched our run in the NCAA’s last year as the number 1 seed and we looked every bit of that until we got hammered in the Final Four’s semifinal by Geno’s team. Most of you know the team better than me. I know we have the talent but does Close have the “coaching chops” to overcome the John Wooden-ish legacy that Geno would bring to such a rematch, assuming we both got back to the Final Four?
Agree that the big question is can we beat UConn? A solid Tenn team was able to keep it close for a half then got smoked. Similarly, Tenn kept it close in the first half with us. Iowa lost to them by 26 points. We both crushed $c. Only team that kept it close with UConn was Michigan. We will see how the team stacks up against Michigan on Sunday.
Too bad we can't just fast forward to the Final Four already and see if the Lady Bruins can compete well against the other Top-5 ranked teams in the country. Committing too many turnovers and being outcoached by the likes of someone like HC Auriemma, for example, have been typical weaknesses that they need to overcome.
Honestly, I hate to say that when it comes to the expected Final 4 and when talent finally evens out, I expect Auriemma to be the difference maker. Close has made a lot of progress these last couple years (having these players makes one look a lot better for sure, but she's also really productively diversified the team's game this year) but Geno has been owning great opponents for a couple decades. I don't think that's a hump that Close or anyone is likely to overcome. Now we can always hope someone on UConn (and Texas and So Car) has a really off day and then we have a chance, but Geno sure seems to have eliminated bad days.
Iowa's coach gave UConn the edge when asked to compare them to us. She said their pressing made the game more difficult. Close needs to get the team ready handle tough defense. Agree she has the players that could counter.
My random thoughts/player assessments:
1. Rice: solid game, good pressure D, posted up smaller defender, got to the rim, hit a side step 3, just all around strong game
2. CLW: much better than last game, got to the rim more, still a step slow on D at times and continues the infuriating habit of 2-3 inexplicable turnovers per game, she also had 2 very bad passes to bigs that I counted but overall solid
3. Kneepkens: word is out on not leaving her open from three, need more designed plays, she did a good job pump faking and going to the hole, good pressure D, good rebounding, good all around game
4. L Betts: I’m not sure her foul trouble was all her v questionable calls, I think she is fine to shoot mid range jumpers but would have liked to see them pound it closer to the rim early in the game first, I liked her fight against Heiden in Q3, showed grit. She’s still a top 2 pick in the draft
5. Jaquez: good game of craftiness, getting to the rim and playing solid perimeter D. I blame the coaches for starting her on Stuelke, that was a criminally bad idea as GJ is too light to guard strong 3/4s. Dugalic replaced her and it was a much better look. Also, I think GJ’s 3 pointer is broken, I wouldn’t trust it in a tight game
6. Dugalic: She was balling, all around on D guarding every position including Stuelke who is a handful, abusing their post players with crafty and strong moves, hitting her threes and having fun, loved her game, she gets game ball
7. S Betts: Love that she is getting so much PT. Plays strong down low, had a couple good post moves. I am genuinely surprised by her lack of athleticism, she does not get off the ground (taps the ball to herself instead of jumping for rebounds, flips the ball in the basket instead of exploding toward the rim) and I’m not sure this is going to change over her career.
8. Everybody else: I like Bilic as she has length and could be an offensive threat but 3 is also broken since the beginning of the year and she has to play D without fouling; I continue to be confused by Muse, she seems like a lovely person but not a positive on the court at all, she was a McDonald’s All American and this is her 3rd year in the program. I couldn’t tell for sure but I don’t think Karamouzi dressed for this one. Is Gardiner looking slimmer/trimmer? She might be the best player on the team next year.
I have to admit that I haven’t watched as much of the woman’s team this year. I watched the Oaklahoma and Texas games and USC. Given the way the team has come together and the returning talent we have, the real question is whether we have what it takes to beat UConn? I watched our run in the NCAA’s last year as the number 1 seed and we looked every bit of that until we got hammered in the Final Four’s semifinal by Geno’s team. Most of you know the team better than me. I know we have the talent but does Close have the “coaching chops” to overcome the John Wooden-ish legacy that Geno would bring to such a rematch, assuming we both got back to the Final Four?
Agree that the big question is can we beat UConn? A solid Tenn team was able to keep it close for a half then got smoked. Similarly, Tenn kept it close in the first half with us. Iowa lost to them by 26 points. We both crushed $c. Only team that kept it close with UConn was Michigan. We will see how the team stacks up against Michigan on Sunday.
Too bad we can't just fast forward to the Final Four already and see if the Lady Bruins can compete well against the other Top-5 ranked teams in the country. Committing too many turnovers and being outcoached by the likes of someone like HC Auriemma, for example, have been typical weaknesses that they need to overcome.
Go Lady Bruins!
Honestly, I hate to say that when it comes to the expected Final 4 and when talent finally evens out, I expect Auriemma to be the difference maker. Close has made a lot of progress these last couple years (having these players makes one look a lot better for sure, but she's also really productively diversified the team's game this year) but Geno has been owning great opponents for a couple decades. I don't think that's a hump that Close or anyone is likely to overcome. Now we can always hope someone on UConn (and Texas and So Car) has a really off day and then we have a chance, but Geno sure seems to have eliminated bad days.
Iowa's coach gave UConn the edge when asked to compare them to us. She said their pressing made the game more difficult. Close needs to get the team ready handle tough defense. Agree she has the players that could counter.