I just had my first visit to Berkeley for a OSU vs Cal football game this year. What a beautiful campus, and, a great venue to see a football game. I'm partial to Oregon State's campus, but I found Cal's campus to be a real beauty!
As a student, I rented a studio apartment in a very large house in the hills with a great view of the bay and a two block walk to the stadium. Saturdays, my then girlfriend (now wife of almost 38 years) and I would stroll down with our $1 student tickets. Good times and a welcome respite from the always important and exciting, but exhausting student activism of a few years before.
That was my take as well. She had to note that UConn's style of play is up her alley. The the flow, activity, pace of play, positioning and movement are quite unlike anything in American WCBB as well as her current Aussie team. But she had to see the amount of freedom it affords a player like her. She had to see how important the 4 and 5 are in UConn's schemes. I mean Z led UConn with 14 shots followed by Lou and Gabby. Z made 1 of 2 three's as well. Z scored off the pick and roll, in transition, on short jumpers; all the things that allows a good big to show her creativity. All the things she's capable of.Some more thoughts on Ezi and her visits. Unlike Bags, I love the UCLA campus--weather and landscaping are to my tastes. The UConn campus looked better than on my last visit of 5 years ago and substantially better than 1972, when I graduated. Pauley is famous and nicely redone. Gampel looks pretty good, and Ezi had a real seat, not in the bleachers. Interestingly, she was at the 2 arenas with the most championship banners--UCLA for men and UConn for women. No one else is very close.
As noted, the weather was unusual on both visits. My sister in San Diego told me the temp at dinner time on Saturday was 48. So. Cal. was unusually cool. The weather in Storrs yesterday was partly/mostly sunny and 50. This morning is bright and beautiful. So, instead of a common 50-degree difference between L.A. and Storrs this time of year, it was 15-20 degrees.
I took a couple of pics of Ezi and her brother Ovie. I can't upload them, but Eric promised to help. Ovie is listed a few places as 6'5". He looked noticeably taller than Ezi. I can assure you that Ezi is taller than Bria Hartley, but I'm not sure if she is 6'4" or not. I think the FIBA videos and photos may be a better comparison.
Sara Madera (Spain) is listed at 6'1-3/4". The Aussies are 5'10-3/4" and 5'5". The Chinese center is reportedly 6'8-1/2". This photo suggests 6'3", maybe 6'4" for Eziyoda.
As noted, a couple of other recruits were there and interacting with Marisa. One may have been Aliyah Boston. I was so intent on finding Ezi that I didn't look too closely once I realized that someone was not Ezi. Geno gave a wave in Ezi's direction before the game started. In addition to the good game, loud crowd, Senior Night festivities, Wall of Honor unveiling, and Gabby's dynamic game, she also got to see a strong effort from Azura off the bench. That might have been the easiest thing for Ezi to identify with. She can play the Z role. She can be the next "Z." Literally.
38 years? To the same woman? Either she deserves an award or you have something on her or her family. Fess up, is it blackmail?
I like Berkeley too. Must be a California thing. (My niece went to USC, and my daughter-in-law went to grad school at Stanford.)
National Championship or No National Championship!
She was at the UCONN Senior Night. Sat with Kathy Aureimma most of the game.
My hope for her is that she is receiving the proper guidance from close family adults not just her Coach. An education is the way to go plus play some BB. Where ever she ends up I wish her well.
Regarding Morgan Tuck...Geno backed her up regardless of her choice to stay or leave....
Plus..UCONN played the Candian National Athenm for Kia followed by Our National Athemn for Gabby...A class act for an international student to see...THe good news is Ezi got to see Gabby’s 15 put in the HOH so she can compare the UCLA ceremony they had for their all-american...oh, that’s right they don’t have one, my bad!
Yep! Thanks.
And Geno(???) Taking a photo with a cellphone camera??? In the middle of a game... how odd!!!
ok, I gotta ask, I thought you Bears disliked Stanford above all else, what it a John Wooden thing?
Well, yes, the Big Game was a big rivalry. And we looked down on Stanford ("the Farm") as a school for jocks. Of course, now Stanford is one very rich farm for jocks.
Oh yeah,did you see that gorilla at halftime that jumped on the trampoline,did a triple somersault and dunked the basketball?That was Geno's mom in a gorilla suit. So there!
Sort of fruits and nutsWell, yes, the Big Game was a big rivalry. And we looked down on Stanford ("the Farm") as a school for jocks. Of course, now Stanford is one very rich farm for jocks.
But Stanford was always different than Cal; sort of apples and oranges. UCLA was the same but different. You always have more trouble with your relatives than with your acquaintances.
I was there. It was really cool to hear Marie Gulich's father sing the German National Anthem (in German). I don't know how Marie held it together, but she did, and was incredible that day.
