Missouri @ Mississippi St (6) - 2/14/19

[IWearShoes]

Loss at home to an unranked team. Not surprising given those variables.

Yeah, State was favored by 22 in Massey. A serious upset (but Mizzou definitely earned it).

 

[GDawg]

Welcome to the yard GDawg!! Nice to have you join us. Thanks for sharing your take. We look forward reading more of your thoughts and observations in the future.

Appreciate it. I should have mentioned "as a former point guard, my favorite women's player of all time was Sue Bird,". There. That should keep the Husky fans off my back for a day or two. ;-)

 

[Jingo]

Enjoyed every minute of this game .. thanks Sophie for giving the #1 seed back to UConn!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Appreciate it. I should have mentioned "as a former point guard, my favorite women's player of all time was Sue Bird,". There. That should keep the Husky fans off my back for a day or two. ;-)

They're a fickle bunch. Any misstep not giving enough praise to UConn can draw their ire at a moments notice.

 

[MSUFan2003]

I think this is spot on. The extraordinary relentlessness with which many Mississippi State fans have defended and explained away is in some ways admirable but also very frustrating. (I of course say this a fan of an Oregon team against whom they "struggled" in a loss that--their fans have tirelessly pointed out--had mostly to do with what Mississippi State didn't do--or the refs--and very little to do with what Oregon did.)

Everyone obviously has a right to say what they think, and fans of different teams will inevitably see things differently, but the sheer number of posts along these lines after the Oregon game and in threads about seedings has likely invited, I believe, more pointed critiques than might otherwise have occurred.

Maybe for the few fans here, but on State message boards barely anyone thinks this team will get beyond the Elite 8. Most are pretty critical of the team when they loose, sometimes going overboard.

 

[LoTrader]

Maybe for the few fans here, but on State message boards barely anyone thinks this team will get beyond the Elite 8. Most are pretty critical of the team when they loose, sometimes going overboard.

Well, I'm sure that is not the view of the coaching staff at MSU. Tough losses enlighten a coaching staff and team. MSU could very well come out of this experience much better. It is all up to the coaches and players. I think MSU's coaching staff will rise above, and, MSU is going to perform well in upcoming tournaments. I really don't think it matters this year if MSU is a 1 or 2 seed.

 

[SimpleDawg]

Maybe for the few fans here, but on State message boards barely anyone thinks this team will get beyond the Elite 8. Most are pretty critical of the team when they loose, sometimes going overboard.

You're pretty much right. That's one thing I don't like about our fanbase. This pessimism and never thinking we'll be able to overcome all odds. This "thinking the worst" nonsense. I wonder where all those backwoods people come from really, and where their minds are at.

I've already stated that we are indeed very critical of our team. The Boneyard doesn't know that though based on the MissSt people here.

...

 

[Carnac]

Loss at home to an unranked team. Not surprising given those variables.

Can you imagine the fallout in the BY if UConn were to lose to an unranked AAC opponent at home?
It would be ugly.

 

[Plebe]

I was picking up on some team chemistry issues that concern me for Mississippi State. Check out this clip of Howard fouling out. It looks like she starts mouthing off to Cunningham and then both Scott and McCowan swoop in to shove Howard away and toward the bench.

To me this isn't the kind of team body language you normally see (or would hope to see) when a key player, and their leading scorer for the night, fouls out.

 

[Shades]

I wouldn’t make too much of that. It’s like a “get out of here before you tack on an additional tech” type of push. Howard should know better. It was still a close, winnable game.

 

[MSUFan2003]

I was picking up on some team chemistry issues that concern me for Mississippi State. Check out this clip of Howard fouling out. It looks like she starts mouthing off to Cunningham and then both Scott and McCowan swoop in to shove Howard away and toward the bench.

To me this isn't the kind of team body language you normally see (or would hope to see) when a key player, and their leading scorer for the night, fouls out.

One of our best writers picked up on that exchange too. He made the suggestion that State let Missouri get under their skin and beat them mentally. I still wonder if there is some kind of underlying chemistry issue between Howard and McCowan. I still think we have a really good team, but I'm skeptical we could compete with the top 5 teams. Anything can happens depending on the matchups in the tournament, but I don't see this team being an elite team. That being said, I think all teams have a bad game in them, and the Missouri game isn't reflective of State's body of work.

 

[Bliss]

 

[donalddoowop]

I've said it many times before and it bears repeating. You can't teach size, but some size you just can't teach. Watching McCowan's demeanor throughout the second half was disappointing. It looked to me a combination of frustration and how dare they. Without some kind of outside shot in the Association she's going to feel a lot of frustration.

Have you noticed her reaction sometimes after she blocks a shot how she stares at the player whose shot she blocked and the officials do nothing to even warn her? She acts just like some of the men do. In the Oregon game she did it and one Oregon player looked at the official and asked why she did not "T" her up. I think she will have a tough time in the WNBA. It seems that when she is prevented from scoring a lot, she gets frustrated. She is going to have to broaden her game.

 

[JordyG]

Have you noticed her reaction sometimes after she blocks a shot how she stares at the player whose shot she blocked and the officials do nothing to even warn her? She acts just like some of the men do. In the Oregon game she did it and one Oregon player looked at the official and asked why she did not "T" her up. I think she will have a tough time in the WNBA. It seems that when she is prevented from scoring a lot, she gets frustrated. She is going to have to broaden her game.

You know, I don't mind the stare down, gal with attitude thing. Gets me kinda pumped. But yeah, I think the first time her shot gets blocked in the Association because she can't shoot outside 5 feet for spit it'll change her perspective.

 

[j66kicker]

They're a fickle bunch. Any misstep not giving enough praise to UConn can draw their ire at a moments notice.

I guess our hospitality has been so extraordinary that at times you've been made to feel as if you were (or "should be"?) discussing WBB at a "neutral site." I really enjoy all our visitors, and the fact that many of them feel so welcome and at home here.

BTW, this is "here":

 

[BigBird]

Just a side note: Robin Pingeton wasn’t widely noticed before she took the UM coaching job after Cindy Stein left. But the fact is, she was a highly successful coach at her alma mater, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. She still holds the scoring record there from her playing days as well. From there, she coached with Bill Fennelly at Iowa State when that program was a national powerhouse. After being an assistant at Iowa State, Robin eventually ended up as head coach at Illinois State University. In her last three seasons there, her teams averaged 27 wins and played post-season all three years. She recruited and coached Kristi Cirone, who was the best player you’ve likely never heard of. She was Ionescu before there was Ionescu. And yes, I know what I just said. Another of her top players (tough as 10-penny nails) at Illinois State, Ashleen Bracey is now one of Pingeton’s assistants at Mizzou. Just a dab of background.

 

[DefenseBB]

They're a fickle bunch. Any misstep not giving enough praise to UConn can draw their ire at a moments notice.

Glad you are passing along the wisdom you acquired here ON THE UCONN WEBSITE!. Not that i want to state the obvious...

 

[IWearShoes]

I was picking up on some team chemistry issues that concern me for Mississippi State. Check out this clip of Howard fouling out. It looks like she starts mouthing off to Cunningham and then both Scott and McCowan swoop in to shove Howard away and toward the bench.

To me this isn't the kind of team body language you normally see (or would hope to see) when a key player, and their leading scorer for the night, fouls out.

I agree with what others said about the game situation and wanting to keep her from a technical. I don't get a feeling of a chemistry issue. Could be wrong.

On another note, doesn't that look more like a foul on Cunningham than Howard? It's also typical Cunningham to celebrate a player fouling out, right in that player's face.

She's a wonderful ballplayer, but I'm just not into her drama. I very much hope we see them in the SEC Tourney.

 

[Shades]

You know, I don't mind the stare down, gal with attitude thing. Gets me kinda pumped. But yeah, I think the first time her shot gets blocked in the Association because she can't shoot outside 5 feet for spit it'll change her perspective.

 

[Shades]

It's also typical Cunningham to celebrate a player fouling out, right in that player's face.

I think the whole Missouri team including the bench thought they scored on a continuation on that play.

 

[IWearShoes]

I think she's actually going to develop into a decent midrange shooter in the pros. It makes no sense to pull her outside away from the basket on offense in the college game where she can typically be a dominant offensive rebounder.

She has made herself into a very solid FT shooter. Especially so for a big.

 

[IWearShoes]

I think the whole Missouri team including the bench thought they scored on a continuation on that play.

You're right. I missed that. Glad it wasn't what I thought it was. I think Anriel thought what I thought.

 

[Carnac]

If honesty is appreciated here, I think they’ll both go before Collier. Prominent 6’7 centers don’t come around that often.

Honesty is ALWAYS appreciated. That's why I asked, to get people's unabashed thoughts and opinions on this.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I was picking up on some team chemistry issues that concern me for Mississippi State. Check out this clip of Howard fouling out. It looks like she starts mouthing off to Cunningham and then both Scott and McCowan swoop in to shove Howard away and toward the bench.

To me this isn't the kind of team body language you normally see (or would hope to see) when a key player, and their leading scorer for the night, fouls out.

Having watched a lot of SEC basketball, I'm sure Cunningham was mouthing off first. I'm sure Anriel's teammates didn't want her to get a T in a close game, which is why they pushed her. I sit a few rows behind the opposing head coach at USC games; I'll try and remember to pay attention to their interactions when they come to Columbia.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I think she's actually going to develop into a decent midrange shooter in the pros. It makes no sense to pull her outside away from the basket on offense in the college game where she can typically be a dominant offensive rebounder.

She has made herself into a very solid FT shooter. Especially so for a big.

It may make a difference in where she is drafted.

 

[bbballfan23]

Kalani with another 8 point, 8 rebound performance tonight. Sorry but taking her or McCowan early in the draft seems like a mistake.

 

[Plebe]

Kalani with another 8 point, 8 rebound performance tonight. Sorry but taking her or McCowan early in the draft seems like a mistake.

She played only 17 minutes tonight, this game was out of reach early in the 2nd quarter.

I can assure you that not a single WNBA GM is dropping her down their draft board just because she didn't score or rebound more in a blowout win over Oklahoma.

She and McCowan will both go early in the draft. Players their size don't come around often. Just reality.

 

[Bear11]

Kalani did not score much today because Oklahoma chose to totally deny her the ball, at the cost of leaving others open. Chloe Jackson responded with an outstanding day. When you have that many weapons, sometimes you don't have to use your primary one all that much. She also played very little in the second half because of the massive lead. Don't judge her effort or ability by her stats in that particular game. She was still very active and involved, but the smart basketball play was to let others do the work while she occupied the defense.

 

[SimpleDawg]

Mini meltdown on the Mississippi State forum. A big "lol" that last thread.... talk about overboard trolling.


...

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

"Vic must zone sometimes"; sounds like Gamecock fans talking about Dawn.