HuskyNan
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I think Iowa is legit. It all depends on how their supporting players perform. Plus, if you look at the Maryland game, Gustafson is going to get a lot of players in foul trouble. She gets a ton of calls. Even phantom ones.Up until the conference tournaments, there were 6 teams that could win it all. Stanford has clearly added themselves to that list. Not so sure that Iowa deserves to be included. While their win in the BIG conference championship behind Megan Gustafson was nice, beating the Turtles doesn’t qualify as a “signature win” imo.
Gustafson does what she does very well, but she is nowhere near as versatile a player as Pheesa who has more blocks, steals and more than twice as many assists as Gustafson. Pheesa can handle the ball, drive the length of the court and knock down shots from the arc. Pheesa has taken 48-3pt shots this year. Gustafson has taken one.Terp: her numbers...points/boards/shooting percentage...all are significantly better than a certain UConn favorite who is in the mix for POY.
What weaknesses does Gustafson have....defense?...overall athleticism?
Iowa is a good team and they are clearly on a roll. I just don’t see them as a national championship caliber team.I think Iowa is legit. It all depends on how their supporting players perform. Plus, if you look at the Maryland game, Gustafson is going to get a lot of players in foul trouble. She gets a ton of calls. Even phantom ones.
I believe there will be a team not seeded #1 or #2 that makes it to the FFNice article, thanks Nan. Four of these teams WILL NOT make the final four. My question is which four?
I think Louisville, Oregon, Iowa and Mississippi State will be on the outside looking in that first weekend in April. Baylor, Notre Dame, Stanford and UConn make the cut. I think Iowa may be this year's sleeper.
Thoughts anyone...........
You are right that IOWA is a good team but not at the NC level, but that hasn't held other teams back. I'm thinking of the Louieville Vs Griner Baylor', no one could have predicted that. No Walz didn't play the NC.Iowa is a good team and they are clearly on a roll. I just don’t see them as a national championship caliber team.
My only comment is that at present Creme has MS St & OR in the Portland region. If that holds one or the other will not make it to OrlandoNice article, thanks Nan. Four of these teams WILL NOT make the final four. My question is which four?
I think Louisville, Oregon, Iowa and Mississippi State will be on the outside looking in that first weekend in April. Baylor, Notre Dame, Stanford and UConn make the cut. Three of these four have won a NC recently. I think Iowa may be this year's sleeper.
Thoughts anyone...........
Nice how the thread has swerved to a NPOY discussion pitting Gustafsson vs. Pheesa.Terp: her numbers...points/boards/shooting percentage...all are significantly better than a certain UConn favorite who is in the mix for POY.
What weaknesses does Gustafson have....defense?...overall athleticism?
And this is why I posted on some FF/NC Poll threads that none of the projections matter until the Committee reveal next Monday and we know which of the top 10 (or 8 or 12 or 16, etc.) are in each Region.My only comment is that at present Creme has MS St & OR in the Portland region. If that holds one or the other will not make it to Orlando
It’s the Boneyard WayNice how the thread has swerved to a NPOY discussion pitting Gustafsson vs. Pheesa.
Mississippi St. is also fairly complete - if they hadn't lost Bibby, I would probably put them in the mix too. My main concern with Miss. St. is that they really depend on McCowan to do a lot of work, and I'm skeptical about whether can stick with it for four close-to-40-minute games in a row against top teams. McCowan hasn't faced three or four really good teams in a row this season - heck, she's hasn't even faced two top 25 RPI teams in a row in the entire season, which means she's either been able to phone it in for stretches on the court, or play <30 minute games. She was on the court almost 40 minutes a game during the tournament last season and she seemed kind of out of gas by the time they faced ND.
While I’m pulling for UConn, I would make ND the favorite. No team can score from all 5 positions like the Irish.Extremely minor homer quibble re Notre Dame:
The writer mentions ND's losses to UNC and Miami but doesn't mention how well ND has been playing since the Miami loss.
Turner, particularly, has gone to another level. She has 5 20-point outings in her last 6 games. The exception was the 2nd Syracuse game where she scored 14 points in 21 minutes. The key is that Shepard has been playing well, too, so they have finally got those two playing well at the same time.
ND is still inconsistent enough, especially defensively, that they are vulnerable to an upset loss, but I really do think they've found another gear since the Miami loss.
As for depth concerns, ND won the NC with 6 last year and I think Vaughn is approximately as good as Nelson was last year. Plus, Prohaska has shown enough that she can be used to by a few minutes rest here and there for the starting guards (at least in the early rounds). They definitely can't afford an injury to a starter, though.
Anyhow, good to see this from SI. It's hit and miss with national media pieces on WCBB, but this seems well-informed.
My only comment is that at present Creme has MS St & OR in the Portland region. If that holds one or the other will not make it to Orlando
Geography was never my strong suit.No one is going to Orlando!
It scares me how many people are picking ND to win it. I wish Y’all would pick Your own teams to win it. Haha
NOTRE DAME IS THE OVERWHELMING FAVORITE. I THINK THEY'LL BEAT EVERYONE BY 50.It scares me how many people are picking ND to win it. I wish Y’all would pick Your own teams to win it. Haha