So far...this Looks a lot like last year! (Trouble)

[Tenspro2002]

We all love our Huskies! But if something does not change mentally, this team will meet the same fate as last years. The holes are still there!
1. No bench
2. Can’t guard off the dribble
3. Napheesa disappears in big games
4. Kia struggles to score in big games
5. Sloppy play and turnovers in huge games
6. Appear to be a tad indecisive in close games
7. Gabby plays great and hard...But does not trust her shot or take it

However Crystal and Azura seem ready for the moment! And Lou is the one constant! So hopefully the rest of the team can get over the MENTAL hump by March!

Most of the way there.

No bench? Yes
Can't guard off the dribble? Somewhat
Collier disappears in big games? She actually played well in this one
Kia struggles to score in big games? Definite check here
Sloppy play and turnovers in huge games? Yup
Appear to be a tad indecisive in close games? Definitely. Too many guys afraid to attack.
Gabby plays great and hard but doesn't trust her shot? She took a few and made a few, this wasn't a huge problem.

 

[socal613ws]

U called it!

 

[BostonCanuck]

When I first posted this many thought I was being CRITICAL, but I was just being HONEST! This team didn’t change much from last year at all. And sometimes you are what you are. They still showed the same weakness and did not improve in the areas needed. However, it was a good year and we are proud of them!

You know, earlier in the season, I really thought the Huskies had addressed the glaring weaknesses from last year's semi-final with the improvements in pushing pace and controlling tempo during the game, and better guard play that could create off the dribble and break down a pressure defense. However, that second element did not sufficiently materialize, both late in the season and in this game in particular. Kia had made some incremental improvement in that area, but not nearly enough. And gosh, Geno sat Crystal a lot during the later stages of the game... I could only speculate why.

Of course the new weakness that was exposed is that our defense really isn't all that. Their guards romped to the rim and scored at will tonight, and while bad refereeing had something to do with that, you still have to give credit to Notre Dame. That's not something we often see, and not one of the things that our defense is famed for shutting down. Notre Dame is a tough match-up for us, no doubt. And for the second year in a row, Geno got out-coached during his last game of the season.

 

[Tenspro2002]

You know, earlier in the season I really thought they had addressed the glaring weaknesses from last year with the improvements to pushing pace during the game, and guard play that could created off the dribble and break down a pressure defense. However, that second element really did not materialize. Kia made some incremental improvement in that area, but not nearly enough. And gosh, Geno sat Crystal a lot during the later stages of the game... I could only speculate why.

Of course the new weakness that was exposed is that our defense really isn't all that. Their guards romped to the rim and scored seemingly at will tonight, and while bad refereeing had something to do with that, you still have to give credit to Notre Dame. That's not something we often see and not what our defense is famed for shutting down.

The problems were not X's and O's, or anything physical. It was entirely mental.

You could see the tentativeness. The stage got to them, again, and this was not a young team by any stretch -- 2 seniors, 3 juniors, and a sophomore.

These are great kids, but their legacy -- at least Nurse and Gabby -- is going to be the fact that they came up small on the biggest stage, in the exact same manner, two years in a row. They couldn't get it done without Stewie and co.

Geno's shine also takes a hit, going from what could have been an epic run over two separate personnel groupings, to adding more fuel to the fire of "can't win the close game".

 

[ASweet3781]

Here are some facts that should have concerned everyone.

1. We beat Notre Dame easily in South Bend in 2017.

2. We only lost Chong, added Stevens (Walker too), and everyone else was older

3. We should have had an off season of motivation from the Miss State loss

4. ND lost 4 players to ACL including Bri Turner.

Despite all of this they led us by 10 points going into the 4th QTR in Hartford and ended our season. They either worked harder than us in the off season or we have players that maxed out on their potential already.

 

[BostonCanuck]

The problems were not X's and O's, or anything physical. It was entirely mental.

You could see the tentativeness. The stage got to them, again, and this was not a young team by any stretch -- 2 seniors, 3 juniors, and a sophomore.

These are great kids, but their legacy -- at least Nurse and Gabby -- is going to be the fact that they came up small on the biggest stage, in the exact same manner, two years in a row. They couldn't get it done without Stewie and co.

Geno's shine also takes a hit, going from what could have been an epic run over two separate personnel groupings, to adding more fuel to the fire of "can't win the close game".

Actually, tonight the problem was both. I and many others have already chimed in about your side of the equation in other post-game threads, and will surely continue to do so because it's a very real issue. Geno often commented this season about how this particular group is so nice but seems somewhat casual about things. And as he continues to get older, it's not going to get any easier for him to relate to players he is coaching.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Here are some facts that should have concerned everyone.

1. We beat Notre Dame easily in South Bend in 2017.

2. We only lost Chong, added Stevens (Walker too), and everyone else was older

3. We should have had an off season of motivation from the Miss State loss

4. ND lost 4 players to ACL including Bri Turner.

Despite all of this they led us by 10 points going into the 4th QTR in Hartford and ended our season. They either worked harder than us in the off season or we have players that maxed out on their potential already.

I actually question #3. This team should have come out with a killer instinct and a desire to scorch earth and prove last year was a fluke.

Where was the fire with this group?

 

[socal613ws]

I'm not trying to be a hater or put anyone down because God knows ID feel the same pressure as these ladies, but it feels like anytime the game is close and tight the last 2 min they panic and look for someone to be the go to girl and the team's personality does not fit the teams of the past.

 

[Zanzman]

Glad you could toot your own horn iron digging up a 3 month old thread