McBride is ND's "X" factor...she has been playing very well of late. There two major non-human things that worry me in tonights game...1. Foul Trouble 2. Turnovers.
On the human side of things...Novosel is the glue that keeps this team rolling. Everyone says it is Diggins and Skylar is a great point guard and deserving of all the accolades she gets...she definitely does a lot of things for ND. And, while Skylar Diggins is ND's All American...there is little doubt that Novosel will be joining Diggins as a first team All American. Her ability to create off the dribble, finish and get to the line in my mind is indicative of who ND is this year. If we can stop and / or limit Novosel it will take ND out of its rhythm. Diggins will be forced to step it up and she is capable so. Peters contributes the most as an offensive rebounder and put-back machine. She is frustrating because she gets good position and gets at least 3 to 4 put backs per game we need to cut the heads of the triple headed snake that ND is.
McBride and Mallory by themselves are not game changers...
Either one of them can really hurt you especially when the big three are on...so keeping them in check is important but, limiting them to their average in my opinion would be sufficient.
Because Notre Dame can score, rebound and pass from all five positions makes them very difficult. I do not think their bench is that much of a threat and they are not that deep a team... Foul trouble for ND would be huge...unfortunately, they are a veteran team and they usually don't get in foul trouble.
This is why beating ND this year is very difficult. Let's hope our guys play the "A" game, let's hope ND is in a charitable mood, our crowd is on their "A" game and the referees swallow their whistles and don't put our players in foul trouble... This should be one heck of a game...national championship feel to it. This is what women's college basketball is about in the post season. Yeah baby!
All kidding aside, I still don't understand how she gets away with continually using her extended forearm to shield/fend off defenders?
She intimidates everyone she guards because she's so long, has superb anticipation and moves her feet laterally (staying perfectly square) as well as any big I think I've ever seen. She rarely buys into head, shoulder or step-thru fakes because she's so confident in her cat like reaction time and closing speed to keep her in position to defend her man's counter-move.
