Big 12 season thread ('24-'25)

[ISUnorth]

Speaking of the kitties they've got a really interesting game tomorrow down in McKale against West Virginia. While one game is a single data point I think this will tell us or at least it'll tell me a lot about the 1.6 million dollar coach and her program.

Regardless I know McKale is going to be rocking and rolling and if not a sellout that weekend game is going to be close to 9,000. So it'll be an entirely different experience for West Virginia so while there were 9000 fans at Mullet Arena, 8,950 were disguised as empty seats. I also suspect that there will not be any 3-0 fast breaks by West Virginia against the kitties who do show an interest and ability to play a scratching defense.

Now I'm wondering if the kitties have a shot at the top 10 for home attendance average. Interesting because putting a few tushes in the seats can help mitigate that 1.6 million dollar salary.

630pm tip on ESPN plus

Massey has the kitties as an eight-point dog. Very interesting and I wish West Virginia had played a real game Wednesday night to see really how good they are. I'm hoping Massey put zero weight on the destruction in Mullet Arena and doesn't play a whole lot of significance on the rebuilding by the very nice coach from Delaware, winner of the 2021 coach of the year in the CAA as she seems to have instilled in the Sun Devils a relentless commitment to not defend the three line, not defend the paint, and conserve energy by not falling back on fast breaks.

And Massey may have a credibility problem as they have Adair's squad as a three-point favorite over Cincinnati. While that won't be an interesting game it will certainly afford the rebuilding effort in Tempe to extend the losing streak to six games.

For those interested in taking notes on the key elements of program rebuilding ASU tips at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN Plus.

You guys need to game the attendance like Iowa State has done for years. We do have REALLY good attendance but nowhere near that for actual "cheeks-in-the-seats". Ton of special kids and GA season deals sold to get to the 10,000 per game. Actual bodies in the stands is more like 6,000 for Big 12 game. Still, based on real attendance it is really good, best in the Big 12 for sure and top ten in the country. Just bugs me that we (and we aren't alone in this) count "sold" and not scanned. They do sell out all of the lower level reserved for the season each year. But they, and others, could use actual attendance, not like with all of the electronics they don't have the "real" numbers.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Hannah Gusters is no longer listed on the UCF Knights roster. Not that it will make a difference today versus Iowa State but Audi Crooks vs Gusters might have at least been something interesting in what looks to be an unwatchable contest.

Gusters was the a highly rated post in 2020 but went from Baylor to LSU to Oklahoma State to UCF to who knows where now. Hope she was at least able to finish with a degree. I know nothing about all of the moving but it's sort of sad she couldn't make a better go of it for whatever the reasons.

Kind of reminds me of the highly rated post from a few years earlier, name is escaping me right now. I think she predicted she was gonna average like 30/20 as a freshman. Started out at Texas, didn't work out there, left quickly, I think went to Middle Tennessee after that, then...nothing?

 

[ISUnorth]

Big game for Baylor Sunday at TCU after KSU just fell in Boulder to Colorado. Think the Lee-less Wildcats and the short roster Frogs are going to start picking up some losses now. Big opportunity for the Bears to grab a piece of 1st place after sort of being overlooked after they fell out of the Top 25 early. Will be interesting to see if any of the Big 12 will even host come March.

 

[CajunHusk94]

Hannah Gusters is no longer listed on the UCF Knights roster. Not that it will make a difference today versus Iowa State but Audi Crooks vs Gusters might have at least been something interesting in what looks to be an unwatchable contest.

Gusters was the a highly rated post in 2020 but went from Baylor to LSU to Oklahoma State to UCF to who knows where now. Hope she was at least able to finish with a degree. I know nothing about all of the moving but it's sort of sad she couldn't make a better go of it for whatever the reasons.

Gusters seems to get into a situation everywhere she goes.

 

[CajunHusk94]

Kind of reminds me of the highly rated post from a few years earlier, name is escaping me right now. I think she predicted she was gonna average like 30/20 as a freshman. Started out at Texas, didn't work out there, left quickly, I think went to Middle Tennessee after that, then...nothing?

Rellah Boothe

 

[ISUnorth]

Woof. UCF is only dressed seven players for the game versus Iowa State. And no Kaitlin Peterson and her 20 pts/game. Is she hurt, sick or another roster defection? Halftime of this scrimmage and it's 47-27.

Not sure I'm going to watch the 2nd half of this. It's like a NC cupcake blowout. There's no basketball joy in watching something like this.

 

[packwrap]

Well WVU falls at Arizona, seems no one wants to seize the day in the Big12.

 

[nwhoopfan]

seems no one wants to size the day in the Big12.

Big game on Sunday w/ Baylor visiting TCU.

 

[azfan]

Feel good thoughts from Justin Carter for the kitties

Heading into the new year, I questioned where Arizona was at. The team lost to two different mid-major opponents in non-conference play (as we recall one of those was Grand Canyon who traveled down to the dirty t to beat the kitties in McKale early in their current 17 game winning streak) and spent New Year’s Eve on the losing side of a 21-point game against Utah.

And then January hit and I really started to question where Arizona was heading. Following a 22-point win over UCF, the team lost three straight, falling to Baylor, Iowa State and Kansas State.

But the Wildcats have steadied things over the last two weeks, winning three in a row including a huge 15-point upset over then-No. 16 West Virginia. The Mountaineers went cold from deep, with the Wildcats outscoring them 21-3 from beyond the arc.

Breya Cunningham has been a huge part of this win streak, shooting 50% or better from the floor in each contest. She had three blocks in the win over the Mountaineers and has provided some strong paint defense. Since the start of Big 12 play, Arizona’s opponents have shot 55.4% at the rim with Cunningham on the floor and 67.2% at the rim when she’s off the floor.

Big 12 Roundup: A Bad Week To Be Ranked

Plus, Houston gets a conference win!

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Down the stretch the kitties will get to pound Natasha Adair's rebuilding Sun Devil squad twice, blast the Cougs, and get by the Red Raiders. So that gets them to 18 wins. Massey has them as dogs in their other games against real teams. Creme has them in the second four group out.

Probability is the kitties end with 18 wins just like last year, they don't get to dance just like last year, but they do get to pay their coach 1.6 million dollars, just like last year and next year.

While this does look really good compared to the program rebuild by the nice coach from Delaware and 2021 CAA coach of the year in Tempe I do really think the fans that pack McKale down in the dirty t deserve a little better. Perhaps the Mulkey light fashion plate is enough.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Feel good thoughts from Justin Carter for the kitties

Heading into the new year, I questioned where Arizona was at. The team lost to two different mid-major opponents in non-conference play (as we recall one of those was Grand Canyon who traveled down to the dirty t to beat the kitties in McKale early in their current 17 game winning streak) and spent New Year’s Eve on the losing side of a 21-point game against Utah.

And then January hit and I really started to question where Arizona was heading. Following a 22-point win over UCF, the team lost three straight, falling to Baylor, Iowa State and Kansas State.

But the Wildcats have steadied things over the last two weeks, winning three in a row including a huge 15-point upset over then-No. 16 West Virginia. The Mountaineers went cold from deep, with the Wildcats outscoring them 21-3 from beyond the arc.

Breya Cunningham has been a huge part of this win streak, shooting 50% or better from the floor in each contest. She had three blocks in the win over the Mountaineers and has provided some strong paint defense. Since the start of Big 12 play, Arizona’s opponents have shot 55.4% at the rim with Cunningham on the floor and 67.2% at the rim when she’s off the floor.

Big 12 Roundup: A Bad Week To Be Ranked

Plus, Houston gets a conference win!

open.substack.com

Down the stretch the kitties will get to pound Natasha Adair's rebuilding Sun Devil squad twice, blast the Cougs, and get by the Red Raiders. So that gets them to 18 wins. Massey has them as dogs in their other games against real teams. Creme has them in the second four group out.

Probability is the kitties end with 18 wins just like last year, they don't get to dance just like last year, but they do get to pay their coach 1.6 million dollars, just like last year and next year.

While this does look really good compared to the program rebuild by the nice coach from Delaware and 2021 CAA coach of the year in Tempe I do really think the fans that pack McKale down in the dirty t deserve a little better. Perhaps the Mulkey light fashion plate is enough.

2 points - Adia's salary is 1.2 not 1.6; there was an article in the local paper stating that the writer thinks she will need to take a pay cut if she wants to stay. NOT because of poor performance, but because Arizona just doesn't have much money to spend. The suggestion was to offer the difference in incentives.

Also, only the Men's Tennis coach has had his salary addressed at Arizona - he got a bump up considering they are somewhere around #6 in the country. Softball and Baseball are among the coaches (as well as Adia) who are at the time where extensions are generally offered.

If Arizona can't get to 20 wins, they do not deserve to be in the tourney; lets see who they beat and who they lose to through the end of the season.

 

[azfan]

2 points - Adia's salary is 1.2 not 1.6; there was an article in the local paper stating that the writer thinks she will need to take a pay cut if she wants to stay. NOT because of poor performance, but because Arizona just doesn't have much money to spend. The suggestion was to offer the difference in incentives.

Also, only the Men's Tennis coach has had his salary addressed at Arizona - he got a bump up considering they are somewhere around #6 in the country. Softball and Baseball are among the coaches (as well as Adia) who are at the time where extensions are generally offered.

If Arizona can't get to 20 wins, they do not deserve to be in the tourney; lets see who they beat and who they lose to through the end of the season.

Yes.... The fiscal mismanagement which is reflective across all higher ed was particularly manifest in the dirty t and while the former president did step down as a result of the fiscal and monetary incompetence and lack of transparency I do believe he retained his salary as a member of the faculty.

So yes there is a reason why the kitties don't have money to spend both in and out of athletics.

I believe Barnes compensation is partially from the University as you indicate and partially from sources outside the direct control of the athletic department.

That being the case like all universities belt tightening is in order and given the past inattention to best practices in management of state resources I'm not surprised at all that the bureaucrats in kitty land are scurrying around to find nickels and dimes in the cushions.

 

[ISUnorth]

ESPN has Iowa State as long shots in Manhattan tomorrow night versus the Lee-less Jayhawks. ISU has not been good away from home, save for the two games in Arizona. KSU has the best three shooting and best three point defense in the league which sort of matches up well for them vs ISU's poor three point defense and pedestrian shooting from three this season. Still, ISU plays well versus KSU, 8-2 in last ten games and 2-0 last year. So, I am going with 65% KSU lean, not 92% since ISU just seems to play well versus KSU. Cyclone will need a big games from Crooks and Brown.

On ESPN. In a year of pretty slim pickings for good Big 12 TV matchups this one might be worth a look see for non-fans of either school.

 

[azfan]

5:30 MST Sun Devil rebuild continues on the road at Oklahoma State. For all fans of mismatch ESPN Plus is the place to view.

 

[nwhoopfan]

5:30 MST Sun Devil rebuild continues on the road at Oklahoma State. For all fans of mismatch ESPN Plus is the place to view.

Oklahoma St. did manage to lose to Houston. They were getting blown out by more than 20 before a late rally. That was on the road though. Lost to Kansas too. So, there is actually some possibility in this universe Okie St. could manage to stub their toe against the Devils.

 

[azfan]

Oklahoma St. did manage to lose to Houston. They were getting blown out by more than 20 before a late rally. That was on the road though. Lost to Kansas too. So, there is actually some possibility in this universe Okie St. could manage to stub their toe against the Devils.

Close to .000000000000001 per cent.

Devils jump out to a 4-0 lead. Think dePaul had a 6-0 lead over the Huskies earlier and I fully expect this game to follow the trajectory of that one.

In a bizarre world in which this happens Oklahoma State's women's basketball program would be shaken to its very core. The nice coach from Delaware, 2021 CAA Coach of the Year's squad is one and six on the road and has lost six games in a row. Road victory last year was against mighty Maryland Eastern by seven points.

The foundation of the rebuild for the Sun devils is a consistent, determined refusal to defend the three line.

Heard, Huard, Gray and Asi are really looking forward to this matchup and I suppose if the coach for some inexplicable reason benched all four, all four fouled out in the first 5 minutes, all four took an 0ferr from three land then the Sun devils could stay within 15..

I suspect I will be one of three people watching the game on ESPN Plus. I do have my Sun Devil t-shirt and hat on so I will be representing as the losing streak is extended to 7.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The announcers are going heavy with the praise for Coach Adair and the job she's doing at Arizona St. @azfan has to be loving this. It really is amazing how they feel compelled to do that with downtrodden programs.

 

[azfan]

The announcers are going heavy with the praise for Coach Adair and the job she's doing at Arizona St. @azfan has to be loving this. It really is amazing how they feel compelled to do that with downtrodden programs.

Oy ...., if this is a rebuild I'd love to see their view of urban renewal.

Each loss is reflective of a new and shining example of mediocrity.

This one - the two technicals.

Hard to understand how you can engage in taunting when you're getting severely destroyed but again the nice coach from Delaware and 2021 CAA coach of the year has a vision for this program. Tonight demonstrated another step in the journey to that vision.

Loss seven in a row and run the road record to 1-8.

That third consecutive season of 20 losses is coming closer.... The two games remaining against the kitties one in the dirty t and the other Mullet arena the hockey arena in Tempe will be the capstone for Natasha Adair's season.

One would wonder what the probability Adair will be granted a fourth 20 loss season opportunity? I will say at $625,000 a year she is a bargain compared to the coach in the dirty t whose contract amount as we now know is only $1.2 million per year.

February begins with a home contest against the Cougars....of BYU. Devils are a dog going into the game anyone with any sense will give the points. BYU has yet to win a road game in 2025.......but this could well be numero uno

 

[catsfan11]

Huge bounce back win for the Cats last night, especially against an ISU team that has really had our number recently. The offense was much smoother than it was in that disaster in Boulder and I thought our defensive pressure made life really tough for the Cyclone guards. Impressive OT performance after a complete collapse in the last 3 minutes of regulation.

For ISU, Crooks and Brown were very good, but they just didn't get enough from anyone else. Looking from the outside, that appears to be the story of the season in Ames.

 

[ISUnorth]

Huge bounce back win for the Cats last night, especially against an ISU team that has really had our number recently. The offense was much smoother than it was in that disaster in Boulder and I thought our defensive pressure made life really tough for the Cyclone guards. Impressive OT performance after a complete collapse in the last 3 minutes of regulation.

For ISU, Crooks and Brown were very good, but they just didn't get enough from anyone else. Looking from the outside, that appears to be the story of the season in Ames.

Your team had a great game plan in doubling on the ball and focusing on the guards and not doubling Crooks all of the time. That was a style specific to who they were playing and was really well done considering that isn't you guys usual style. The momentum really shifted after the "..collapse in the last three minutes". You would maybe think ISU had the momentum but than your Jayhawks had their own big run and just buried the Cyclones in OT.

Iowa State probably will have a better shot at TCU on Sunday. TCU is a good defense team but with them playing everybody 40 minutes a game they can't go all out pressure on our vulnerable guard. TCU has enough issues with late game fatigue, and maybe fouls, with their really short bench and can't realistically go at ISU the way KSU did. Going to probably be more straight up half court defense and post to post battle with Crooks and Prince.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Back and forth battle between Utah and Arizona. Just a friendly former Pac 12 opponents grudge match on a Friday night. Utes survive a melt down spanning Q3 and Q4 with a ton of turnovers and inability to deal w/ full court press, manage to regain lead at the end. If Arizona had completed the comeback they would've been tied in the conference standings. As is UA falls to 5-5 and Utes looking fairly good at 7-3, 5th place and 1/2 game back of 4th place Baylor.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Kind of interesting Saturday on tap. Oklahoma St. @ West Virginia in an important game for 2 teams fighting to stay near the top. And then not one, but two "somebody has to win" games: Houston @ UCF and BYU @ Arizona St.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Back and forth battle between Utah and Arizona. Just a friendly former Pac 12 opponents grudge match on a Friday night. Utes survive a melt down spanning Q3 and Q4 with a ton of turnovers and inability to deal w/ full court press, manage to regain lead at the end. If Arizona had completed the comeback they would've been tied in the conference standings. As is UA falls to 5-5 and Utes looking fairly good at 7-3, 5th place and 1/2 game back of 4th place Baylor.

We were there, our annual 2 game road trip. Colorado next week, huge detour to avoid storms is making it a 2 day trip.

Utah is impressive in that every player is aggressively ready to shoot the ball but for one. On Arizona, we have a mix of players that never shoot the ball, players that will shoot and are either on and game changing or off and not accomplishing, and players that will shoot when the play is run for them. Only Williams (tonight) was just aggressive shooting and it showed in her scoring. And Utah pressed on fast breaks, Arizona almost always pulls it out, even when a good shot is there.

I know @azfan wants to put it all on game coaching, or scheming, but it isn't that. It is the fundamental weakness in the team, which is still very young. I got tired of hearing "we're young", until I looked at the roster. Yes, Arizona is truly all underclassmen, with only 2 Jr and up actually playing any significant minutes.