PAC 12 basketball 2022, Part II

[azfan]

Will be interesting to see who are listed as possible candidates.

OMG! Well this explains the decidedly frustrated and negative tone CTT has had this season in pre and post game pressers. Wow!

Really interested to see who they consider for this opening. I wonder if they would bring back Amanda Levens?

 

[LoTrader]

OSU 21-22 season in the books. Rueck is going to have to hit the portal hard for some perimeter players with good handles and ability to convert at the rim. No playmakers on this year's squad. Rueck will have a lot of tall talent next year, but is sorely missing perimeter players who can break down their defender, create mismatches, etc. Love the Beavs, but this season was hard to watch. On the other hand, Stanford is just as good, probably better, than last season. Go Cardinals!

 

[TheFarmFan]

OSU 21-22 season in the books. Rueck is going to have to hit the portal hard for some perimeter players with good handles and ability to convert at the rim. No playmakers on this year's squad. Rueck will have a lot of tall talent next year, but is sorely missing perimeter players who can break down their defender, create mismatches, etc. Love the Beavs, but this season was hard to watch. On the other hand, Stanford is just as good, probably better, than last season. Go Cardinals!

Agree with the sentiment, but hope you are rooting for us and not Louisville.

More seriously, this really has felt like a down year in the PAC, and OSU exemplifies it. I actually think they have as much talent as ever, but somehow the pieces just aren't fitting together. I don't generally think of OSU's bread and butter being ball-handling playmakers, so at first I thought your comment was odd. But thinking more about it, I think you're right that they've always had a Wiese/Pivec/Slocum type guard that is a two-way offensive threat from outside and into the lane, and that helps take the pressure off everyone else. Goodman was sort of that last season, just less effectively.

Oddly, I also think OSU has lost a step on the defensive end, although with all their size, their rim protection has been pretty good. Mostly they just seem leaderless, like there's no one who's really willing the team over the hump.

 

[nwhoopfan]

OSU 21-22 season in the books. Rueck is going to have to hit the portal hard for some perimeter players with good handles and ability to convert at the rim. No playmakers on this year's squad. Rueck will have a lot of tall talent next year, but is sorely missing perimeter players who can break down their defender, create mismatches, etc. Love the Beavs, but this season was hard to watch. On the other hand, Stanford is just as good, probably better, than last season. Go Cardinals!

Tough year. Between their struggles and UW's even bigger struggles, I'm maybe not really that sorry I didn't have Pac 12 Network this season.

 

[jake0414]

OSU 21-22 season in the books. Rueck is going to have to hit the portal hard for some perimeter players with good handles and ability to convert at the rim. No playmakers on this year's squad. Rueck will have a lot of tall talent next year, but is sorely missing perimeter players who can break down their defender, create mismatches, etc. Love the Beavs, but this season was hard to watch. On the other hand, Stanford is just as good, probably better, than last season. Go Cardinals!

OSU could receive an invite to the WNIT no? Any idea if the Beavers would accept an invite?

 

[bballnut90]

I dont see how Arizona is a top 4 seed at this point. 4 of their last 7 have been losses to unranked teams. They don't have much of a resume outside of their Louisville win.

 

[JellyBean]

OSU could receive an invite to the WNIT no? Any idea if the Beavers would accept an invite?

Probably would take the invite to the WNIT. A chance to keep playing. That is the goal in the end. To keep playing well into March/April. But it also just depends on the team and how they are mentally and physically and a host of other options.

 

[bballnut90]

OSU could receive an invite to the WNIT no? Any idea if the Beavers would accept an invite?

I hope so. Blair yesterday said his WNIT title was one of the highlights of his career. Honestly for a team with a lot of new pieces, WNIT can be a great experience and build momentum going into the next year.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I hope so. Blair yesterday said his WNIT title was one of the highlights of his career. Honestly for a team with a lot of new pieces, WNIT can be a great experience and build momentum going into the next year.

Yes, the WNIT championship propelled Arizona into prominence and developed a lot of new fans. I know of other teams over the years that have built on their WNIT success big-time.

That said, Rutgers won the WNIT when Tyler Scaife was on the team - possibly her freshman year, in fact - it was a very exciting game in El Paso, we were there, but there really wasn't much of a bump to Rutgers success.

As to your Arizona comment, the loss ended any chance that Arizona would be a top 16 seed. We were on the bubble, and losing 3 of your last 4 games put a death knell to it, so far as we can tell. On the slightly brighter side, apparently, Arizona lost their 3 of their last 4 before the NCAA's last year, as well.

 

[jchusky]

I dont see how Arizona is a top 4 seed at this point. 4 of their last 7 have been losses to unranked teams. They don't have much of a resume outside of their Louisville win.

if you did some research you would know their best player Cate Reese has been hurt since the Wazzu game.

 

[bballnut90]

if you did some research you would know their best player Cate Reese has been hurt since the Wazzu game.

Thanks for the patronizing remark, but I am aware of this. I'm just stating they don't deserve a top 4 seed.

 

[BRS24]

ASU women’s basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne steps down after 25-season run

It sounds like CTT is knowing when to say when.

“It has been my honor to be here and serve,” an emotional but relieved Turner Thorne said. “It is just time. It is just time.”

“The world is a lot different now than when I started in 1996,” Turner Thorne said. “I am excited to use this new chapter to continue to help people and hopefully serve our community here at an even grander scale.”

“Anybody that has ever coached knows that your best coaching job is never your best record,” Turner Thorne said. “I do feel like we emptied out, gave everything we had and it is time.”

 

[Floridaduck]

Oregon is likely to lock in a hosting bid with a win over Utah tonight. There is a good chance that even a close loss might not be enough to keep the Ducks out of the Top 16. Held at 12 in NET, moved up to 12 in Massey. Utah moved a bit (+2) in NET up to 25.
WSU might have lost their tourney invite with a bad loss last night...I don't know though. Right now it looks like only Stan, Ore, AZ, Utah, Col are all locks for the tourney. Four of those five play tonight.
AZ without Reese is not the same team, by the way.

 

[Floridaduck]

On another topic entirely, I need to get this off my chest. Nyara Sabally is not 6'5". From years of eyeballing her next to other players my best guess is 6'3" or 6' 3.5". Since she is opting for the WNBA draft I'm guessing her actual height listing will drop a bit. I know height "inflation" is common on roster listing but...come on. Two inches is too much.

 

[Plebe]

Oregon is likely to lock in a hosting bid with a win over Utah tonight. There is a good chance that even a close loss might not be enough to keep the Ducks out of the Top 16. Held at 12 in NET, moved up to 12 in Massey.

I don't agree Oregon would be a lock with a win today.

They were #16 in the 2nd reveal but then had multiple losses to lesser teams to drop out in the 3rd reveal of last Monday. Beat Stanford and then maybe talk lock. Utah is not that team.

Don't make the mistake that so many UConn fans are making in thinking that a NET ranking should guarantee a particular seed.

 

[azfan]

ASU women’s basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne steps down after 25-season run

It sounds like CTT is knowing when to say when.

“It has been my honor to be here and serve,” an emotional but relieved Turner Thorne said. “It is just time. It is just time.”

“The world is a lot different now than when I started in 1996,” Turner Thorne said. “I am excited to use this new chapter to continue to help people and hopefully serve our community here at an even grander scale.”

“Anybody that has ever coached knows that your best coaching job is never your best record,” Turner Thorne said. “I do feel like we emptied out, gave everything we had and it is time.”

Many in the WBB community including Geno would concur

 

[nwhoopfan]

I know every year is different, but I'm having a hard time accepting that Washington St. got in last year w/ a 9-10 conference record and 12-11 overall, but this year might be out after going 11-6 in conference and 19-10 overall. Makes no sense I tell ya.

 

[BruinGold]

On another topic entirely, I need to get this off my chest. Nyara Sabally is not 6'5". From years of eyeballing her next to other players my best guess is 6'3" or 6' 3.5". Since she is opting for the WNBA draft I'm guessing her actual height listing will drop a bit. I know height "inflation" is common on roster listing but...come on. Two inches is too much.

I'm waiting for a post player to start underreporting their height just to start making other posts look bad.

 

[CompSci87]

We all knew RPI isn't a very good ranking system. But so far NET seems kind of random.

 

[nwhoopfan]

We all knew RPI isn't a very good ranking system. But so far NET seems kind of random.

NET is absolute garbage IMO. I think it places WAY too much emphasis on scoring margin.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The size of their stomping vs. NC State

The stomping at the hands of Oregon is probably even more damaging for the Cougs.

 

[Figurehead]

I don't agree Oregon would be a lock with a win today.

They were #16 in the 2nd reveal but then had multiple losses to lesser teams to drop out in the 3rd reveal of last Monday. Beat Stanford and then maybe talk lock. Utah is not that team.

Don't make the mistake that so many UConn fans are making in thinking that a NET ranking should guarantee a particular seed.

We will see what Lisa Peterson does.

 

[Floridaduck]

I really misspoke. Did not mean to imply lock re Oregon hosting. But there is a chance. There’s a lot of carnage in these tourneys. All a moot point unless Ducks beat Utah who was smokin’ hot v WSU (29 point 1st Q). Ducks are 14-0 recently v the Utes so… law of averages? Gulp.

 

[Floridaduck]

Congratulations to Utah. Well earned victory. The teams were evenly matched in FG shooting (Utah 24-63, ORE 28-71), rebounds 44-43, low TO numbers (12 & 8), etc.
Final diff was FTs with Utah 23-28 to Oregon's 11-16.

The phantom 5th foul on Sabally, Graves' subsequent T, and the following 5 free throws plus the ball was a turning point certainly.

Likely eliminated the slim chance Oregon had to host so I guess we will wait around to see where the Ducks will go and which #4 they may face on that home court.

 

[Plebe]

Yeah what's especially bizarre is that Utah is safely in and WSU is on the outside looking in, when both have 19-10 records, WSU has a better PAC-12 record (11-6 vs. 8-7), and better wins.

Utah has 1 Top 40 win, and a 3-8 overall Quadrant 1 record. (And yet a NET Ranking of 25).
WSU has 3 Top 40 wins (one vs. Arizona), and a 5-9 Quadrant 1 record. (And yet a NET Ranking of 59).

All I can I surmise is WSU also has worse losses. The size of their stomping vs. NC State (NET accounts for scoring margin), and the loss to Stony Brook. But even their loss at Stony Brook is only a Quadrant 2 loss.

Okay, you've convinced me! Utah and WSU should both be out. And kick Colorado out while we're at it.

WSU also lost by 53 at home to Oregon. That's way worse than what happened to them on a neutral court vs. NC State. But really, the available information about the NET algorithm is just too vague and opaque for a simpleton like me to figure out how WSU can be in the low 50s while Utah and Colorado are both in the 20s. It sure doesn't seem logical on the face of it. I also don't like how Utah and Colorado appear to have benefited from incredibly soft OOC scheduling.

I spent weeks refusing to accept Creme's designation of both CU and Utah as 9-ish seeds. After their latest wins, I finally had to give up that resistance. It really comes down to the fact that Oregon and Arizona couldn't hold it together with any consistency. On the negative side, it means UA falls from a 2 seed to a mid-4 seed and UO plummets out of the top 16 entirely; on the positive, it's what got the Pac-12 more bids.