Big 12 season thread ('24-'25)
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Last night watching the agony of the rebuild in Tempe, a loss by 10 to a Cougar team that is remarkably unathletic it's clear that a change needs to be made in Tempe. But then again it was clear this time last year. As it was just as clear this time the year before.
BYU took advantage of the nice coach from Delaware and her commitment to not defending the three line nor the paint. After an 0 for three land first quarter BYU who was probably so amazed that they were wide open all the time finally started draining threes. Throughout the game they completely took the Sun Devil's lunch money in the lane. The reported attendance was 2500 which is as credible as Richard Nixon's claims about....... Well almost everything.
Anyway the ratio of blue Cougar jerseys to sheepish maroon and gold wearers was five to one which puts 2000 Cougar fans in Desert Financial Arena. Not surprising. Just as I suppose it's not surprising that the very nice coach from Delaware is still pulling down $630,000 committing coaching malpractice.
More spectator agony is Texas Tech visiting Colorado. Colorado only has seven players suited up with four injured including Frida Foreman so if this holds the kitties have a better than average chance of winning that game on Wednesday.
So the announcers gave an amazing statistic for Texas Tech. They have never won the first quarter this season. That's incredible as I thought it would be impossible to find a more inept offense than what Natasha Adair has installed in Tempe. That streak continues as Colorado down four players and with only two on the bench wins the first quarter in a riveting manner 14-10.
So I'm thinking about the very nice coach and 2021 CAA coach of the year and her $630,000 salary. We all know the success that JR Payne has had over the last 4 years and I believe she's been in the sweet 16 the last two. Before signing her contract extension last year she was making $450,000 a year. Side note Adia Barnes of the UofA has the greatest agent who ever lived. Anyway they renegotiated her salary and it's unfortunate that JR Payne didn't have Barnes' agent as she's now making $700,000 a year. Oy
Let me repeat and underscore that in the 2023-24 season Natasha Adair made 50% more than JR Payne? This defies belief although it shouldn't given what we know about the ability of higher education to mismanage finances and athletic departments to misspending coaching pay.
Perhaps this disconnect between salaries and performance offers a hint about the financial disaster that has been unfolding in higher ed over the last 20 years.
Thinking about the dirty t and the kitties and the Buffaloes in Boulder however it's still to my way of thinking breathtaking that Payne now earns 40% less than the coach down in the dirty t and yet has 40% greater success. I'd like to get the name of Barnes's agent to renegotiate my retirement.
Adia Barnes has the greatest agent who ever lived.
Colorado not challenged by a very short bench and the absence of Frida Foremann leading a Texas Tech team that reminds me so much of the Sun Devils by 12 points midway through the second quarter.
Tune in February 5th as the $1.2 million dollar coach leads her team into Boulder against the $700,000 coach and team.
Barnes the 10th highest paid coach in women's basketball and the highest paid coach in the Big 12.
Would anyone in their right mind put her in the top 25 coaches currently leading a team?
March 2024 data
Adia Barnes has the greatest agent who ever lived.
BYU took advantage of the nice coach from Delaware and her commitment to not defending the three line nor the paint. After an 0 for three land first quarter BYU who was probably so amazed that they were wide open all the time finally started draining threes. Throughout the game they completely took the Sun Devil's lunch money in the lane. The reported attendance was 2500 which is as credible as Richard Nixon's claims about....... Well almost everything.
Anyway the ratio of blue Cougar jerseys to sheepish maroon and gold wearers was five to one which puts 2000 Cougar fans in Desert Financial Arena. Not surprising. Just as I suppose it's not surprising that the very nice coach from Delaware is still pulling down $630,000 committing coaching malpractice.
More spectator agony is Texas Tech visiting Colorado. Colorado only has seven players suited up with four injured including Frida Foreman so if this holds the kitties have a better than average chance of winning that game on Wednesday.
So the announcers gave an amazing statistic for Texas Tech. They have never won the first quarter this season. That's incredible as I thought it would be impossible to find a more inept offense than what Natasha Adair has installed in Tempe. That streak continues as Colorado down four players and with only two on the bench wins the first quarter in a riveting manner 14-10.
So I'm thinking about the very nice coach and 2021 CAA coach of the year and her $630,000 salary. We all know the success that JR Payne has had over the last 4 years and I believe she's been in the sweet 16 the last two. Before signing her contract extension last year she was making $450,000 a year. Side note Adia Barnes of the UofA has the greatest agent who ever lived. Anyway they renegotiated her salary and it's unfortunate that JR Payne didn't have Barnes' agent as she's now making $700,000 a year. Oy
Let me repeat and underscore that in the 2023-24 season Natasha Adair made 50% more than JR Payne? This defies belief although it shouldn't given what we know about the ability of higher education to mismanage finances and athletic departments to misspending coaching pay.
Perhaps this disconnect between salaries and performance offers a hint about the financial disaster that has been unfolding in higher ed over the last 20 years.
Thinking about the dirty t and the kitties and the Buffaloes in Boulder however it's still to my way of thinking breathtaking that Payne now earns 40% less than the coach down in the dirty t and yet has 40% greater success. I'd like to get the name of Barnes's agent to renegotiate my retirement.
Adia Barnes has the greatest agent who ever lived.
Colorado not challenged by a very short bench and the absence of Frida Foremann leading a Texas Tech team that reminds me so much of the Sun Devils by 12 points midway through the second quarter.
Tune in February 5th as the $1.2 million dollar coach leads her team into Boulder against the $700,000 coach and team.
Barnes the 10th highest paid coach in women's basketball and the highest paid coach in the Big 12.
Would anyone in their right mind put her in the top 25 coaches currently leading a team?
March 2024 data
Women's Basketball Head Coach Salaries - USA TODAY
Ever wondered who the highest paid coach in men's basketball is? Find out today with USA TODAY's complete salary data.
sportsdata.usatoday.com
Adia Barnes has the greatest agent who ever lived.
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If you were told prior to the TCU game at Iowa State that the Cyclones Crooks and Brown would combine for 60 points and Prince would foul out with 0 points and one rebound and that Conner, the best three point shooter in the league, would only attempt one and make none, who do you pick as the winning team?
Well, the Frogs by 13 of course.
ISU took two big TCU factors out of the game and still got schooled at home.
Taylor Bigby hit 5 threes for TCU and Van Lith scored 28 and had 8 assists. And Deasia Merrill did a pretty decent job of playing in Prince's spot ( 8 rebounds) while she rode the bench.
Well, the Frogs by 13 of course.
ISU took two big TCU factors out of the game and still got schooled at home. Taylor Bigby hit 5 threes for TCU and Van Lith scored 28 and had 8 assists. And Deasia Merrill did a pretty decent job of playing in Prince's spot ( 8 rebounds) while she rode the bench.
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K-State played their best game in a while today, destroying KU in Lawrence. The 91-64 final score was actually pretty flattering for KU. K-State really took their foot off the gas after getting up 80-41 early in the 4th. Great balance all around for the cats with 8 players today that had at least 7 points. Overall, a ridiculous shooting day at 15-23 from 3!
Bit of a weird stat line for KU. Their leading scorer on the day, Copeland, had 17. All of which came in the 4th quarter when the game was well out of reach.
Now the biggest game of the year on Wednesday with TCU coming to Manhattan. I honestly do not know what to expect from that game. Can the K-State defense turn TCU over and can the combined forces of Taylor, Lester, and Maupin make life difficult for Prince? Should be a good one.
Bit of a weird stat line for KU. Their leading scorer on the day, Copeland, had 17. All of which came in the 4th quarter when the game was well out of reach.
Now the biggest game of the year on Wednesday with TCU coming to Manhattan. I honestly do not know what to expect from that game. Can the K-State defense turn TCU over and can the combined forces of Taylor, Lester, and Maupin make life difficult for Prince? Should be a good one.
KnightBridgeAZ
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I'm sure I don't know what its going to take, but at the moment it seems to be that the top 3 are not really well differentiated. In the abstract I currently like WV and Utah a bit more than Ok State, but again, not sure they are strongly differentiated, either.
In the end, I think I care more about who wins the tourney than the regular season this year. I'm not convinced that the 2 winners will be the same this year.
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Iowa State fans have a cult like devotion to the Big 12 tournament dating back to the Big 8 days. Maybe that's related to the popularity of the HS tournaments in Iowa or the fact we never win the regular season top spot but have a couple tournament titles as consolation prizes. I am an outlier in that respect, I never put much stock in the tournament, really any of them. Exception being the Big Ten the last couple of seasons. Maybe because I live so close to Mpls Target Center I did tune in for some of those games and there were a few really good games.
Don't disagree that the overall champ might not be the tourney champ. TCU and KSU have the best records and look to be the best teams but they aren't set up roster wise to win three games in three days. That would be a LOT of minutes for Van Lith, Prince, Sundell etc. And KSU would be crazy to play Lee too many minutes prior to March Madness if they indeed get her back (and I hope she is back).
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ISU hitting threes and taking care of business against Cincinnati. Graphic at the end of the quarter indicated that Bill Fennelly's team had 200 plus threes for the last 21 seasons and with 189 going into this game looks like it'll be 22 consecutive seasons hitting threes
I guess he's known as the dean due to his 30 years at ISU and 22 appearances at the big dance
I think I posted elsewhere he's making $850,000 a year but is not the highest paid coach in the Big 12. Financial discipline at Ames?
Perhaps he could benefit by switching agents?
I guess he's known as the dean due to his 30 years at ISU and 22 appearances at the big dance
I think I posted elsewhere he's making $850,000 a year but is not the highest paid coach in the Big 12. Financial discipline at Ames?
Perhaps he could benefit by switching agents?
Tech breaks the streak...leading Utah 17-15 at the end of the first quarter. This is the first time all year the Red Raiders have led at the end of the first quarter. That's kind of an unbelievable streak but they are looking pretty good at least in the first quarter.
Hummmm. 8-8 at the end of the first in battle for first place. While both teams are 9 and 1 in the conference I'm not buying great defense although the defenses really good. Teams have combined for more turnovers than made buckets. Neither of offense seems to be in a position to overcome or adapt to the pressure. Prince certainly is not quick but so far the cats haven't been able to get past her presence. The much anticipated Sundell - Van Lith dual has yet to materialize
5 minutes to tip in Boulder as the kitties confront a Colorado team short handed due to injury. The question is will Frida Foreman play and if not do the Buffaloes have enough to take out the team from the dirty t.
Inquiring minds want to know which Cunningham shows up tonight. The 19 minute 4 foul version or the steady presence in the paint version.
Inquiring minds want to know which Cunningham shows up tonight. The 19 minute 4 foul version or the steady presence in the paint version.
@KnightBridgeAZ has got to be enjoying the atmosphere in Boulder.
Looks like two foul Cunningham 2 minutes into the game showed up. The announcers had an interesting stat that said the kitties are 13 and oh when they score the first basket in a game and they did score the first basket in Boulder so perhaps they will be really successful without Cunningham on the floor tonight.
After Beh takes her second three she's getting an earful from the assistant coach on the sideline LOL
I knew that Barnrs' husband was her assistant but the announcers just indicated the same for JR Payne. interesting I'm wondering how many wbb coaches have their husband as number one assistant.
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nwhoopfan
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Sundell ain't losing this game. They are going iso and she's scoring on whoever is guarding her every possession.
Somebody forgot to tell K State they were supposed to start losing with Lee out injured.
Somebody forgot to tell K State they were supposed to start losing with Lee out injured.
Sooo impressed by Sundell. Always loved her game. But I tune in late and they are just running straight isos and she's bullying Hailey Van Lith. She has a wirey frame but she was legit their best post offense.
nwhoopfan
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She had a couple against Emma-Nnopu as well, who had 4 fouls so couldn't do much, but is bigger than Van Lith.
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No need to overpay as only Arizona pays their coach more in the Big 12. Texas and OU paid more but they are in the SEC now and had more money than any of the other Big 12 teams. Plus Fennelly gets to have his son as an assistant for $175K so it's sort of family business.
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nwhoopfan
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BYU trying really hard to blow an 11 point lead in last 3 minutes. Refs doing their part too. UCF pressing and trapping aggressively, running over players w/ no foul calls. Other end UCF drives and throws up crazy shots, get rewarded with free throws. Refs are a weird breed of people.
And now a massive flop by UCF gets rewarded w/ another foul on BYU. These refs are AWFUL.
And now a massive flop by UCF gets rewarded w/ another foul on BYU. These refs are AWFUL.
Low cost of living in Ames. I think this is a throwback; humble guy happy where he is and more than comfortable, not pushing for every penny.
nwhoopfan
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I think there have been about 20 reviews in the last 2 minutes.
BYU is (probably) going to hang on, but if I was their coach I would send a copy of the last 3 minutes of the game to the league office and ask them to explain to me any of those calls/no calls.
BYU is (probably) going to hang on, but if I was their coach I would send a copy of the last 3 minutes of the game to the league office and ask them to explain to me any of those calls/no calls.
nwhoopfan
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No Formann no problem. Cats couldn't survive 3-14 shooting by Jada Williams.
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Cunningham limited minutes... 2 fouls in 2 minutes to open the game sealed the deal.
Williams did hit three threes in the 4th quarter as the cats tried to scratch back into the game. Paris also was closed down as JR Payne had an outstanding game plan in limiting the cats guards.
Beh had a solid game but Payne just had her team prepared and they were able to overcome a short bench.
Coach Barnes was rocking an off the left shoulder black top and checked pants although her shoes seemed generic.
The announcers were quite complimentary of Coach Barnes which I think might have been reflective about the direction of the game.
A graphic at halftime showed the similarity in tenure at their respective institutions as Payne and Barnes have both been at their schools nine years with Payne with a 150 victories and Barnes 154.
Cost of living in the dirty t is certainly less than either Coast. With her husband on staff I guess she's forming a family business at McKale. Guessing Barnes earns the kittie alumni premium.
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Really gritty win last night for K-State in a huge spot. The defense made everything difficult for TCU all night. Then Sundell completely took over that second half and TCU had no answer for her inside. She scored 23 of her 27 in the 2nd half!
Jaelyn Glenn was also big last night. She kept us in it when we struggled to score in the first half. Her defense is always great, but she has been incredibly efficient offensively as well.
Credit to Gisela Sanchez too! Not much in the box score for her, but she spent a ton of time at the 5 matched up on Prince defensively. She managed to hold her own and make things tough on her. But most importantly, Prince defending her opened up the lane and allowed Sundell room to work on the smaller TCU guards. The one time that I can remember late in the game where Prince crashed in to help, Sundell passed out and Sanchez hit an open 3. That was probably the biggest shot of the game.
I thought Mittie's game plan was excellent once again. This team has so many more ways to win a game without Lee than they did last year. It will be very interesting to see how it all meshes when she returns.
Jaelyn Glenn was also big last night. She kept us in it when we struggled to score in the first half. Her defense is always great, but she has been incredibly efficient offensively as well.
Credit to Gisela Sanchez too! Not much in the box score for her, but she spent a ton of time at the 5 matched up on Prince defensively. She managed to hold her own and make things tough on her. But most importantly, Prince defending her opened up the lane and allowed Sundell room to work on the smaller TCU guards. The one time that I can remember late in the game where Prince crashed in to help, Sundell passed out and Sanchez hit an open 3. That was probably the biggest shot of the game.
I thought Mittie's game plan was excellent once again. This team has so many more ways to win a game without Lee than they did last year. It will be very interesting to see how it all meshes when she returns.
I know shooting percentages aren't everything especially on a team with limited offensive options. Deja Kelly was all conference despite shooting under 37 percent at UNC. But I always check on the Cats box scores and look to see Jada Williams numbers. She is very frequently having poor shooting nights. I've heard Barnes say she doesn't care about her shooting. As an AZ fan is it tough to watch or is there more that meets the eye.
Well, I am this is very hard to say right now, a fan of Arizona State University basketball. The kitties from the UofA down in the dirty t are the in-state rival for Sun Devils.
So........
It's a delight to watch the Colorado Buffaloes play so well. And they did play very very well with a very short bench and without Frida Foremann.
In the days of balanced conference schedules, with every team playing every other team home-and-home, the regular season champ was the true champ. But with unbalanced conference schedules, where the schedule frequently determines the regular season champ, the tourney champ might be viewed as equal to the regular season champ.
KnightBridgeAZ
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??? Williams is an inconsistent shooter, but the team runs like crap without her in. I do worry she may leave, she gets so frustrated when other players are not in position.
We were immediately behind Adia for the game. She continues to be a bit frustrated as well, mostly because the team does not play with pace. We could hear her from time to time.
And Beh is allowed to shoot 3's, it was discussed at the Adia Barnes radio show we attended. If she was getting talked to, it wasn't because she shot a 3, directly at least.
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