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Message: [QUOTE="tomcat, post: 4531618, member: 961"] I agree with all those who have correctly noted that the young women on this team have made a heroic effort to win every game. The injury list is a jaw-dropper, and I cannot imagine how hard it is to keep up with a very difficult schedule under these circumstances. That said, I just have a couple of observations. I believe all the players are playing below the level to which we're accustomed, and the reason is that they've been ground down by the circumstances under which they are playing. I'm sure that somewhere on the BY, individuals have enumerated the passes to nowhere, dropped balls, weak hands, lack of movement, etc. It is, unfortunately, just the way it is. It's a combination of factors: 1. The injuries 2. The difficult schedule 3. Opponents that can see how to exploit the team's weaknesses ()including very physical play), and become emotionally supercharged at the thought of taking down the vaunted Huskies. 4. A coach who, for better or worse, plays a short lineup and a short bench. You cannot argue with success. Most years, that works fine. This year, not so much. 5. Subs who are hard-pressed to make much of a contribution. Imagine the pressure they must be under, knowing they will be in for just a nanosecond and have to do everything right if they want to get off the bench again. My guess is that without a couple of weeks of complete rest, the players' problems will not go away for any length of time. They'll probably have a good game, followed by a not-so-good game. The season will last for as long as they are winning the not-so-good ones. Speaking as just one fan, this is painful, not because the team has lost games and may lose again, but because these players deserve better that the crap that fate has handed them. I'll watch the games, admire their ability to do what they can, and groan when dumb things -- stuff that never would ordinarily happen -- afflicts them. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach