Butler Postgame Thread

[veivoli]

-I missed it. Where was Ice?.

I believe she has a knee injury.

 

[veivoli]

Did she travel? I was trying to count steps and pivot foot and got lost- great presence of mind and awareness of teammates

I watched a couple of times on my phone, but don't have the luxury of slow motion. As I see it she had a foot on the floor when she first caught it, so that's her pivot fit. She then took two steps before passing.

So, under the FIBA rules I played and refereed under, that was progress. However these days, when such a good player as LeBron can take eight steps when making a lay-up, does anyone care any more? Just curmudgeons like me!

 

[oldude]

Why no mention of Kayleigh? I would include her as one of, if not the best on ball defender. Anyone else notice that when K9 and Bianca entered the game, UConn, down 10-8, reeled off 18 or so straight points without giving one up? I think defense may have had something to do with it. There just is no drop off when Bianca and K9 go in with the remaining starters.

You do realize that I drop this post immediately at the end of the game. Please feel free to take over that responsibility if you would like.

 

[msf22b]

A few concerns among the general exuberance.

-The trapping/full court defense looks great against (what was yesterday) a top high school team…I must admit it also worked well on top 20 teams...
But will it work on the superior athletes of a top-five team…perhaps not…as UTenn is finding out and Kentucky did, those years ago…Then what?

-When the team played zone in the 2nd half…admittedly with mostly 3rd echelon, the rebounding was poor(er) and Butler got more than a few extra chances (not that they did much with them). We didn’t see that scheme with the starters…so perhaps a needless concern…but the general consensus of that D’s downside is defensive rebounding and 3-point D in transition.

-I wonder if playing Azzi and Sarah for decidedly less minutes than last season actually diminishes their fittness rather than saving strength for when it counts. There is little to no evidence that either experienced any sort of burnout in the Tourney, rather the opposite.

All of the above may turn out to be trivial…but things have gone absolutely too well and we may have become complacent in our exuberance.

 

[HuskyNan]

A few concerns among the general exuberance.

-The trapping/full court defense looks great against (what was yesterday) a top high school team…I must admit it also worked well on top 20 teams...
But will it work on the superior athletes of a top-five team…perhaps not…as UTenn is finding out and Kentucky did, those years ago…Then what?

-When the team played zone in the 2nd half…admittedly with mostly 3rd echelon, the rebounding was poor(er) and Butler got more than a few extra chances (not that they did much with them). We didn’t see that scheme with the starters…so perhaps a needless concern…but the general consensus of that D’s downside is defensive rebounding and 3-point D in transition.

-I wonder if playing Azzi and Sarah for decidedly less minutes than last season actually diminishes their fittness rather than saving strength for when it counts. There is little to no evidence that either experienced any sort of burnout in the Tourney, rather the opposite.

All of the above may turn out to be trivial…but things have gone absolutely too well and we may have become complacent in our exuberance.

Fans can have the luxury of being complacent as long as the coaching staff and players aren’t. If you can see flaws in yesterday’s game, so can they. They have the rest of the regular season to fix any problems

 

[Golden Husky]

You do realize that I drop this post immediately at the end of the game. Please feel free to take over that responsibility if you would like.

No! You're getting paid to report on deadline. It's in your contract. Please continue.

 

[oldude]

No! You're getting paid to report on deadline. It's in your contract. Please continue.

Someone must be sending my checks to the wrong address. Are you the person I should count on to reimburse me for 4-5 years of back pay?

 

[HuskyNan]

Someone must be sending my checks to the wrong address. Are you the person I should count on to reimburse me for 4-5 years of back pay?

You get paid after I do

 

[msf22b]

Fans can have the luxury of being complacent as long as the coaching staff and players aren’t. If you can see flaws in yesterday’s game, so can they. They have the rest of the regular season to fix any problems

Good point

 

[BobbyJ]

A few concerns among the general exuberance.

-The trapping/full court defense looks great against (what was yesterday) a top high school team…I must admit it also worked well on top 20 teams...
But will it work on the superior athletes of a top-five team…perhaps not…as UTenn is finding out and Kentucky did, those years ago…Then what?

-When the team played zone in the 2nd half…admittedly with mostly 3rd echelon, the rebounding was poor(er) and Butler got more than a few extra chances (not that they did much with them). We didn’t see that scheme with the starters…so perhaps a needless concern…but the general consensus of that D’s downside is defensive rebounding and 3-point D in transition.

-I wonder if playing Azzi and Sarah for decidedly less minutes than last season actually diminishes their fittness rather than saving strength for when it counts. There is little to no evidence that either experienced any sort of burnout in the Tourney, rather the opposite.

All of the above may turn out to be trivial…but things have gone absolutely too well and we may have become complacent in our exuberance.

Auriemma played zone in the second half to slow the pace of the game and keep the score down. It’s called having some class and showing respect for a developing program in your conference.
And players don’t get their conditioning from playing 6 or 8 more minutes in a game once or twice in a week. They get it from practices with extended, repetitive drills.

 

[FanSince17]

Maybe it speaks to the quality of my life, but I really look forward to UConn WCBB games. I bet I’m not alone with that here. Sorry, yesterday wasn’t satisfying. I know, it is what it is. Nobody played enough minutes. What’s wrong with Butler? Watch the intro scene of Hoosiers (YouTube it) with farmhouse after farmhouse with hoops. Indiana is basketball. Butler’s coach has serious lineage. What’s up. Brad Stevens got the men to the NCAA finals twice. UConn had to throw out a non-trapping 2-3 zone in the second half. What the heck. Wednesday should be a little better. I’m going to the Nova game and then ND comes in. Maybe it’ll get better. I think Geno wasn’t happy about it either, unless I’m reading too much into that press conference (or lack there of).
Like going to a beautiful French restaurant and finishing your main course in 3 bites.

 

[Boreifs]

Maybe it speaks to the quality of my life, but I really look forward to UConn WCBB games. I bet I’m not alone with that here. Sorry, yesterday wasn’t satisfying. I know, it is what it is. Nobody played enough minutes. What’s wrong with Butler? Watch the intro scene of Hoosiers (YouTube it) with farmhouse after farmhouse with hoops. Indiana is basketball. Butler’s coach has serious lineage. What’s up. Brad Stevens got the men to the NCAA finals twice. UConn had to throw out a non-trapping 2-3 zone in the second half. What the heck. Wednesday should be a little better. I’m going to the Nova game and then ND comes in. Maybe it’ll get better. I think Geno wasn’t happy about it either, unless I’m reading too much into that press conference (or lack there of).
Like going to a beautiful French restaurant and finishing your main course in 3 bites.

Watch some Big East games sometime. They are competitive and fun to watch, including Butler. Every team except DePaul had a winning record during OC. UConn is just totally formidable, plus Big East schools are small, without the resources of the Power Conferences.

 

[victor64]

Maybe it speaks to the quality of my life, but I really look forward to UConn WCBB games. I bet I’m not alone with that here. Sorry, yesterday wasn’t satisfying. I know, it is what it is. Nobody played enough minutes. What’s wrong with Butler? Watch the intro scene of Hoosiers (YouTube it) with farmhouse after farmhouse with hoops. Indiana is basketball. Butler’s coach has serious lineage. What’s up. Brad Stevens got the men to the NCAA finals twice. UConn had to throw out a non-trapping 2-3 zone in the second half. What the heck. Wednesday should be a little better. I’m going to the Nova game and then ND comes in. Maybe it’ll get better. I think Geno wasn’t happy about it either, unless I’m reading too much into that press conference (or lack there of).
Like going to a beautiful French restaurant and finishing your main course in 3 bites.

For me, I have a totally different take when I get to see them live like I did yesterday. The precision just isn't properly captured on TV. I am sure you have gone to games but yesterday for example, they had 11 kids play and they took maybe 3 bad shots. That is just total commitment to the process and rare at any level.

 

[HuskyNan]

Maybe it speaks to the quality of my life, but I really look forward to UConn WCBB games. I bet I’m not alone with that here. Sorry, yesterday wasn’t satisfying. I know, it is what it is. Nobody played enough minutes. What’s wrong with Butler? Watch the intro scene of Hoosiers (YouTube it) with farmhouse after farmhouse with hoops. Indiana is basketball. Butler’s coach has serious lineage. What’s up. Brad Stevens got the men to the NCAA finals twice. UConn had to throw out a non-trapping 2-3 zone in the second half. What the heck. Wednesday should be a little better. I’m going to the Nova game and then ND comes in. Maybe it’ll get better. I think Geno wasn’t happy about it either, unless I’m reading too much into that press conference (or lack there of).
Like going to a beautiful French restaurant and finishing your main course in 3 bites.

Not all Big East schools make a commitment to women’s sports like UConn does. Butler’s women’s hoops coach makes $109,000 while the men’s coach makes $463,000. Yes, the men have higher revenue but it seems to me a winning team, adequately supported by the AD including marketing effort, will draw fans

Butler actually seems to be marginally improved, a credit to the coach. It seems to have some players - which leads to another problem. The best non-UConn Big East players get lured away for more exposure, more NIL opportunities, and a chance for more wins. See Aneesa Morrow (DePau), Lucy Olson (Villanova), Lauren Park-Lane (Seton Hall), et al

Equality in athletics disclosure report released

“‘I think there are still some people who undervalue women’s sports.’”

thebutlercollegian.com

 

[FanSince17]

Watch some Big East games sometime. They are competitive and fun to watch, including Butler. Every team except DePaul had a winning record during OC. UConn is just totally formidable, plus Big East schools are small, without the resources of the Power Conferences.

I've been to 4 games already. I watch a lot of games, including UConn men who also happen to be in the Big East. At one time, men's and women's basketball in the Big East was the best in the NCAA. You didn't respond to any of my points, except to intimate that the Big East women's is not that bad. In fact, I'm searching for a new hobby during Jan and Feb. (I'm going to Villanova though. Can't miss going to Gampel.)

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[BBallF]

I think she would need like a season-ending injury before the halfway point to redshirt if I am not mistaken.

That's right. Not only not halfway, but no more than 30% of the games. If you play for one second in one game without an injury, you lost that year. Also, I don't think you can medical redshirt in your fourth year of eligibility.

 

[FanSince17]

Not all Big East schools make a commitment to women’s sports like UConn does. Butler’s women’s hoops coach makes $109,000 while the men’s coach makes $463,000. Yes, the men have higher revenue but it seems to me a winning team, adequately supported by the AD including marketing effort, will draw fans

Butler actually seems to be marginally improved, a credit to the coach. It seems to have some players - which leads to another problem. The best non-UConn Big East players get lured away for more exposure, more NIL opportunities, and a chance for more wins. See Aneesa Morrow (DePau), Lucy Olson (Villanova), Lauren Park-Lane (Seton Hall), et al

Equality in athletics disclosure report released

“‘I think there are still some people who undervalue women’s sports.’”

thebutlercollegian.com

I'm sure I'm thick, but I still don't fully understand. Why isn't women's basketball supported more at these schools? Most of the Big East is private schools, many have no football. Isn't basketball relatively inexpensive as a major sport? I can tell you from experience, going to games and as an avid fan, that women's basketball is red hot. I grew up 10 miles from the U of MD, 2 miles from DC and I taught in Baltimore City. I know what basketball popularity feels like. Barclay's doubleheader was inspiring. That much buzz in a major league arena! And then, to me, in arguably the basketball mecca in the US, yesterday, thud.

 

[Bills Fan]

Unbelievable play on our Sarah's part. A play to watch and re-watch, but as I watched it a few times, I wonder if Ash's pass was really intended for Azzi and intercepted by Sarah? No matter, it was a fantastic play on the part of Sarah.

 

[BobbyJ]

That's right. Not only not halfway, but no more than 30% of the games. If you play for one second in one game without an injury, you lost that year. Also, I don't think you can medical redshirt in your fourth year of eligibility.

Yes, you can receive a medical waiver for your last year of eligibility as long as you meet all the criteria.

 

[HuskyNan]

I'm sure I'm thick, but I still don't fully understand. Why isn't women's basketball supported more at these schools? Most of the Big East is private schools, many have no football. Isn't basketball relatively inexpensive as a major sport? I can tell you from experience, going to games and as an avid fan, that women's basketball is red hot. I grew up 10 miles from the U of MD, 2 miles from DC and I taught in Baltimore City. I know what basketball popularity feels like. Barclay's doubleheader was inspiring. That much buzz in a major league arena! And then, to me, in arguably the basketball mecca in the US, yesterday, thud.

I will start a new thread

 

[Bills Fan]

Nice pass from K9 to set up Yanna!

 

[oldude]

I've been to 4 games already. I watch a lot of games, including UConn men who also happen to be in the Big East. At one time, men's and women's basketball in the Big East was the best in the NCAA. You didn't respond to any of my points, except to intimate that the Big East women's is not that bad. In fact, I'm searching for a new hobby during Jan and Feb. (I'm going to Villanova though. Can't miss going to Gampel.)

It’s not that your assessment of BE WBB is incorrect. But for a number of reasons, discussed ad nauseam on the BY, there is no easy or practical fix. It is what it is, and yet UConn WBB continues to prosper. With that said, you can understand why many here on the BY, myself included, grow weary from repeated criticisms of the conference, when no solution is in sight.

 

[FanSince17]

It’s not that your assessment of BE WBB is incorrect. But for a number of reasons, discussed ad nauseam on the BY, there is no easy or practical fix. It is what it is, and yet UConn WBB continues to prosper. With that said, you can understand why many here on the BY, myself included, grow weary from repeated criticisms of the conference, when no solution is in sight.

Sorry about the ad nauseum that I'm subjecting you to.
I'm a teacher. How about this teacher joke, "how many teachers does it take to change a light bulb?..." Teacher's meeting: idea followed by all the multitude of reasons it won't work. Ugh.
Why can't the Big East be the best basketball conference in the country that's not a power conference?
I just watched Hoosiers for the tenth time to rejuvenate my admiration for Indiana basketball. (and I'm from the DMV)

 

[Bills Fan]

A few concerns among the general exuberance.

-The trapping/full court defense looks great against (what was yesterday) a top high school team…I must admit it also worked well on top 20 teams...
But will it work on the superior athletes of a top-five team…perhaps not…as UTenn is finding out and Kentucky did, those years ago…Then what?

-When the team played zone in the 2nd half…admittedly with mostly 3rd echelon, the rebounding was poor(er) and Butler got more than a few extra chances (not that they did much with them). We didn’t see that scheme with the starters…so perhaps a needless concern…but the general consensus of that D’s downside is defensive rebounding and 3-point D in transition.

-I wonder if playing Azzi and Sarah for decidedly less minutes than last season actually diminishes their fittness rather than saving strength for when it counts. There is little to no evidence that either experienced any sort of burnout in the Tourney, rather the opposite.

All of the above may turn out to be trivial…but things have gone absolutely too well and we may have become complacent in our exuberance.

Am I the only one who notices, or is willing to comment, on the 3 pt shooting of Sarah? Maybe I just got spoiled by her shooting in the NCAAT last year but 1 of 4 yesterday and 36.0% through 13 games is not what I thought she would produce this year.
Hey, I think she is the best all-around player in WCBB and there is no one else that I would rather have on my team, but is it possible that 36% from beyond the arc could stand in the way of her chances to be the NPOY? At some point the media is going to pick up on this stat.