Is Kim po'd at Texas Tech?

[doggydaddy]

I was "watching" on Gametracker and if accurate, she kept both Griner and Sims in the game without rest until 2:37 left in the game.

The lead was 20 with 8 minutes left and never got less than 17 (4 minutes left) and was eventually extended to 24 before Mulkey took out both Griner and Sims.

She had several opportunities to pull them as there were timeouts at 7:57 (media), 3:48 (TTU), 2:51 (media).

Griner dunked for her 40th point on a Sims assist at the 2:38 mark and THEN Baylor calls a timeout to clear the bench.

Without seeing the game, I can't be sure, but playing both Sims and Griner 37+ minutes without rest with a big lead 14+ for the entire 2nd half seems strange and risky.

 

[UConnCat]

Well, TTU has played Baylor fairly tough over the past 2-3 years and Lubbock was the site of "the punch," so maybe there's some lingering bad feelings. TTU's coach Curry surmised that Griner is trying to break the NCAA scoring record. I have no idea what that record is or how close Griner is to breaking it but that could be part of it. Then again, maybe she needed the work. Who knows.

 

[Coler]

Well, TTU has played Baylor fairly tough over the past 2-3 years and Lubbock was the site of "the punch," so maybe there's some lingering bad feelings. TTU's coach Curry surmised that Griner is trying to break the NCAA scoring record. I have no idea what that record is or how close Griner is to breaking it but that could be part of it. Then again, maybe she needed the work. Who knows.

If I remember correctly Griner was about 600 points or so before this season. I actually think if EDD didn't miss as many games as she did earlier in the season the record would be hers. Too bad.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Griner is still over 500 points behind. I think she might be 7th or 8th. She is still behind your own Maya; according to the web site I checked, Jackie Styles is #1.

I'm having a minor computer malfunction, so I can't easily get at the exact numbers.

While the record is not impossible, I suppose, I suspect some of it might be po'd with TT fans, this was her last game at TT and KM talked about that.

 

[UcMiami]

I think she did just break a Big12 record, not sure which one, so maybe Kim wanted to get that one out of the way.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I think she did just break a Big12 record, not sure which one, so maybe Kim wanted to get that one out of the way.

If I was reading correctly, on the first or 2nd basket of the game, over Andrea Riley. And, WFIW, Andrea Riley????? If you had asked me to name the prior all time scoring leader in the Big 12, she wouldn't have been my guess.

 

[doggydaddy]

I think she did just break a Big12 record, not sure which one, so maybe Kim wanted to get that one out of the way.

I'm really not sure how breaking that record last night is any different than breaking it on Saturday night against Oklahoma State.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think Griner is projected to finish behind only Stiles. She should pass Maya fairly easily.

Elena has a higher ppg but has missed games for health reasons and did not get so many post-season games.

 

[Coler]

If I was reading correctly, on the first or 2nd basket of the game, over Andrea Riley. And, WFIW, Andrea Riley????? If you had asked me to name the prior all time scoring leader in the Big 12, she wouldn't have been my guess.

Actually Riley was a scoring machine for OSU. She was really fun to watch there.

 

[baylorprof]

Kim has tried to bury the hatchet about the punch and it seems it may have worked. There were very few references to it in Lubbock this year even when the press pushed both coaches in pregame interviews. At the end of the game Kim and Curry had an extended pleasant conversation (wouldn't surprise me at all if Curry didn't lean on KM last year for advice and phone calls to help her save her job in Lubbock).

When Brittney dunked the crowd loved it. The crowd had actually applauded the LadyBears when they came on the court for pregame. Only the old diehards are holding on to the bad blood of Brittney's punch youthful mistake.

Kim faces the same problem Geno does at times. When it's obvious that a 20-30 point victory is happening and you pull your starters, then focus and intensity can wane. And if it happens several outings in a row, the starting rotation players lose an edge.

We have this certain non-conference game coming up in three two weeks, and it's on the road, against a pretty good team. My guess is that Kim just doesn't want to lose whatever energetic edge the ladies might have. Or maybe she had just one new set she wanted to look at with the starters on the floor. Only one thing is certain. No one knows why except KM.

And for what it's worth. Two years ago we got your New England wet/snow/slush weather. Can you serve us up a little better this time? See you at the Hartford Center on the 18th, and then hopefully again in New Orleans in April.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

ISM ((WDC))

You mentioned Griner scoring 40 points and 15 rebounds; she did that plaing 37 minutes. If you were coaching would you have played her that many minutes with the game well in hand?

Mechelle Voepel (2:45 PM)

I don't want to try to read Kim Mulkey's mind ... but something tells me she was possibly making a statement of sorts in the wake of the bad blood that's existed between Baylor and Texas Tech since the incident Griner's freshman year.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/46939/ncaaw-with-mechelle-voepel

 

[doggydaddy]

Kim has tried to bury the hatchet about the punch and it seems it may have worked. There were very few references to it in Lubbock this year even when the press pushed both coaches in pregame interviews. At the end of the game Kim and Curry had an extended pleasant conversation (wouldn't surprise me at all if Curry didn't lean on KM last year for advice and phone calls to help her save her job in Lubbock).

When Brittney dunked the crowd loved it. The crowd had actually applauded the LadyBears when they came on the court for pregame. Only the old diehards are holding on to the bad blood of Brittney's punch youthful mistake.

Kim faces the same problem Geno does at times. When it's obvious that a 20-30 point victory is happening and you pull your starters, then focus and intensity can wane. And if it happens several outings in a row, the starting rotation players lose an edge.

We have this certain non-conference game coming up in three two weeks, and it's on the road, against a pretty good team. My guess is that Kim just doesn't want to lose whatever energetic edge the ladies might have. Or maybe she had just one new set she wanted to look at with the starters on the floor. Only one thing is certain. No one knows why except KM.

And for what it's worth. Two years ago we got your New England wet/snow/slush weather. Can you serve us up a little better this time? See you at the Hartford Center on the 18th, and then hopefully again in New Orleans in April.

Geno doesn't play his best players more than 30 minutes unless the game is in question. The only time I remember him doing that was against Syracuse and it was on purpose, trying to rub it in.

You don't play your best two players 37 minutes each to keep them sharp in a 30 point game.

 

[nimzovich]

Geno doesn't play his best players more than 30 minutes unless the game is in question. The only time I remember him doing that was against Syracuse and it was on purpose, trying to rub it in.

You don't play your best two players 37 minutes each to keep them sharp in a 30 point game.

..................................................
Your memory let you down. What about Stanford and Duke as well as Cuse?
All 3 games similar to the Baylor-Tech game. And Uconn's stars played more than 30 minutes, just as Griner did
.Baylor-Tech

1st 2nd Total
Baylor 41 49 90
Texas Tech 27 33 60

Baylor led by 23 at 2:21 mark 81-58

Griner 38 min and left at that point
.........................................................

UConn-Cuse
Syracuse....................... 29 33 - 62
UCONN......................... 41 46 - 87


UConn led by 23 at 2:27 mark 84-61
KML played 38 min, Faris 36 and Dolson 35
............................
UConn-Stanford

UCONN................... 31 30 - 61
Stanford.................. 13 22 - 35

UConn led by 27 at 2:35 61-34
Hartley 38 min, Faris 38 min, Dolson 34 min
................................................

Duke........................... 30 19 - 49
UCONN....................... 32 47 - 79
UConn up 23 with 9:40 to go

UConn up 28 76-48 with 1:36 to go. 76-48
Dolson, Faris,KML and Hartley all still in the game
Dolson played 35 min, Faris 31 min Hartley 30

 

[Jim]

..................................................
Your memory let you down. What about Stanford and Duke as well as Cuse?
All 3 games similar to the Baylor-Tech game. And Uconn's stars played more than 30 minutes, just as Griner did

At the time the games were played, Stanford was ranked #1, Duke was ranked #4, and Tech was unranked. And (except for Hartley) the "stars" you mention are not All-Americans (yet).

 

[baylorprof]

Typically KM has been subbing as early as the 6 minutes remaining break. It's not like Kim to lose track of time. Nor is it like her to make game decisions without some specific reason.

But that question will have to remain open, because one of her strengths, as with other good coaches, is the ability once a game is completed, to let it go and get ready for the next one. For us, that's OkState in Stilwater tonight.

 

[tomcat]

If I was reading correctly, on the first or 2nd basket of the game, over Andrea Riley. And, WFIW, Andrea Riley????? If you had asked me to name the prior all time scoring leader in the Big 12, she wouldn't have been my guess.

Thhis report about Andrea Riley does not surprise me. I saw her and her team play in the NCAAs and the entire game plan was to get the ball to her, wherever she was on the court, and let her chuck the ball up there. Some went in. Lots didn't. Two teammates who were decent players had consistently good looks at the basket and were not given the ball. Needless to say, with that coaching strategy, the team lost. It was hard to watch that team, not because of what Riley was, but because of what he team was not.

 

[HoopsHoppy]

Facts and analysis - Stef played a total of 23 minutes against Duke, KML did stay in for 35. BUT, although described as a blow-out, a two point lead at halftime sure precludes lots of first half subbing. Hartley and Faris ended at 30/31 minutes but sat a major portion of the second half.

 

[nimzovich]

At the time the games were played, Stanford was ranked #1, Duke was ranked #4, and Tech was unranked. And (except for Hartley) the "stars" you mention are not All-Americans (yet).

1. exact quote "Geno doesn't play his best players more than 30 minutes unless the game is in question.
You don't play your best two players 37 minutes each to keep them sharp in a 30 point game." So you are telling me Hartley, Faris, Dolson and KML are not his best players? Last year's all-american and 3 on the Wooden list this year.

2. rankings are completely irrelevant to this discussion...it was about playing his best players a lot of minutes with a large lead. the fact is that it has happened 3 times this year - against Stanford, Duke and Syracuse...and btw, i am not opposed to it.

 

[nimzovich]

Facts and analysis - Stef played a total of 23 minutes against Duke, KML did stay in for 35. BUT, although described as a blow-out, a two point lead at halftime sure precludes lots of first half subbing. Hartley and Faris ended at 30/31 minutes but sat a major portion of the second half.

That was a possible answer, but the real facts are different.

1. Stef got 4 fouls less than 4 minutes into the 2nd half and was forced to the bench. She returned with 4:44 to go in the game with a 27 point lead and played 3 more minutes.
2. You couldnt be more wrong on the subbing pattern. The other 4 starters (even Doty) all played more minutes in the 2nd half than they did in the first. KML played 18 2nd half minutes, and Hartley and Faris played 16 minutes each in the 2nd half.

Again, i have no problem with any of this. Players need to play, and the best players need to play as much as possible. That is why they came to UConn. But why pretend that it doesnt happen this way at UConn?