4th Q observations-they played well

[victor64]

I have watched the fourth quarter of the Nebraska game three times. I know I have issues.
It demonstrates why so many on the board love this team. To say that the group on the floor took advantage of their opportunity is an understatement.

1. Her stats may not show it but Kyla Irwin played well. She has not spent her practice time and bench time pouting. She is in great shape, her footwork on defense has improved, looks really comfortable on the high post (eventually she could be a very good passer) and aggressively hits the boards on both ends. I just wish she hit a shot. Has to be frustrating.

2. Chong ran the same play for Lawlor as she did for Pulido in the Syracuse game. Unfortunate result for Tierney. Chong does so many positive things that often go unnoticed.

3. Kia and Lou played their role perfectly. Unselfishly getting others involved. Lou's post to post pass to Butler was a thing of beauty.

4. Where the fourth quarter against LSU might have been ragged, last night clearly was not. They ran half court offense every time with great passing and good movement. Not an ounce of selfish play.

5. Watch the kids on the bench during the quarter. They were on their feet during Lawlor and Irwin's three point attempts. I know this support is a given and taken for granted with this program but still really neat to see.

 

[Husky1964]

We are lucky to have had Geno and Chris etc. for 32 years. With the incoming players it does not look like we will skip a beat anytime soon.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Wish Kyla had taken a couple of shots she had at the top of the key. But, yes, she and Molly are moving well on the court.

 

[warbler1055]

Great to hear Molly and Kyla got some PT and playing well!!! I am rooting for both of them. Coaches must see lots of good things about them to offer scholarships!!!

 

[housekeys]

I have watched the fourth quarter of the Nebraska game three times. I know I have issues.
It demonstrates why so many on the board love this team. To say that the group on the floor took advantage of their opportunity is an understatement.

1. Her stats may not show it but Kyla Irwin played well. She has not spent her practice time and bench time pouting. She is in great shape, her footwork on defense has improved, looks really comfortable on the high post (eventually she could be a very good passer) and aggressively hits the boards on both ends. I just wish she hit a shot. Has to be frustrating.

2. Chong ran the same play for Lawlor as she did for Pulido in the Syracuse game. Unfortunate result for Tierney. Chong does so many positive things that often go unnoticed.

3. Kia and Lou played their role perfectly. Unselfishly getting others involved. Lou's post to post pass to Butler was a thing of beauty.

4. Where the fourth quarter against LSU might have been ragged, last night clearly was not. They ran half court offense every time with great passing and good movement. Not an ounce of selfish play.

5. Watch the kids on the bench during the quarter. They were on their feet during Lawlor and Irwin's three point attempts. I know this support is a given and taken for granted with this program but still really neat to see.

You raise an interesting topic, the 4th quarter. There is something important that we fans need to take away from this. I recall last year, when the game was put away by our starting 5, the angst and consternation by our fans, as we watched our second 5, starring Gabby, Chong, Nat and often Collier, play out a ragged, often sloppy game, against the other teams starters. We foresaw doom the following year (this year). When we saw Gabby or others do well, we dismissed it because the game was basically over. We where wrong. We where wrong in trying to predict what this years team would look like based on what last years second 5 played like. So with that in mind, I would like to caution against making the same mistake about this years second 5 (not saying the OP is guilty of this, BTW). In fact, as the OP points out, Kyla and Molly appear to be pretty good and composed, and I predict they will surprise us in the future. Not comparing those two to KLS, Gabby or Pheesa, but they will surprise nonetheless.

 

[tomcat]

Just wish Kyla would take a shot or two more than she does. Confidence-wise, she's just not there yet,

 

[housekeys]

Just wish Kyla would take a shot or two more than she does. Confidence-wise, she's just not there yet,

I agree and I hope she looks at the hoop more often. It may be that she has taken the coaches advice to heart. Paraphrasing, "even if you don't score, make positive contributions and help the team win". She seems very coach-able and unselfish, so that could be it. Once the schedule eases up, I think she will improve in the points department.

 

[JordyG]

I know I sound like a broken record but Tierney to me looks like one of the best prospects for a coaching position after graduation that I've seen in a long time. She seems to know the game inside out, is highly enthusiastic and is as mentally prepared as anyone on that bench.

 

[UcMiami]

There was a shot of the bench earlier in the game and Kyla was sitting next to CD and the were taking pretty intensely about what was happening on the court. Just stood out as a moment of serious coaching during live action.
Yes - agree with the OP both Kyla and Molly appear to understand the offensive concepts and the defensive help/responsibilities in a way that for example, I though Kiah really struggled with for a couple of years. I am hoping in conference play they will get into game situations where they are playing with three or four of the starters because that will really help there confidence and their teammates confidence in them. While they knew what to do last night, it didn't look great a lot of the time because they never knew when to shoot and when to pass.

 

[HoopsFan21]

The newbies don't take shots because it's drilled into their heads from day one that scoring is secondary, and that they should always look to make the pass to the open teammate. I think that may lead to what looks like a lack of confidence in taking shots especially when they find that they are the open teammate.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Bent does a lot of good things on the court. Irwin still looks very raw at this level to me.

 

[tomcat]

Kyla needs to shoot more, no doubt about it. I think one reason UConn did as well as they did in the fourth quarter was the fact that this Nebraska team is not very athletic. They couldn't keep up and even their top player was not the sort whop does well against a UConn team.

 

[Monte]

Bent does a lot of good things on the court. Irwin still looks very raw at this level to me.

Both need to improve. Who thinks these two would add something to the Maryland game? They will not get into the game.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Both need to improve. Who thinks these two would add something to the Maryland game? They will not get into the game.

I don't think anyone would argue that. Neither are regular rotation players yet. There are a lot of things about Bent's game that I liked in high school and still see in her game now.

 

[Striper69]

I know I sound like a broken record but Tierney to me looks like one of the best prospects for a coaching position after graduation that I've seen in a long time. She seems to know the game inside out, is highly enthusiastic and is as mentally prepared as anyone on that bench.

I liked that shot where Tierney was shouting something to the team during a timeout in the second half.

She's definitely coaching material.

Asst. coach, maybe?

 

[msf22b]

1. Her stats may not show it but Kyla Irwin played well. She has not spent her practice time and bench time pouting. She is in great shape, her footwork on defense has improved, looks really comfortable on the high post (eventually she could be a very good passer) and aggressively hits the boards on both ends. I just wish she hit a shot. Has to be frustrating.

Noticed the same thing
Kyla absolutely looked like she belonged
I think she will turn into a Kathryn Westbeld type of player
Real useful (except against us), poised and and capable of causing minor disruption on both ends.