U19 Gold Medal Game - Russia vs USA - 4/30

[Wbbfan1]

Like the U16 team two years ago and last years U17 team, there have been no adjustments to stop Russia's low post players.

Russia's low post players are taking USA's low post player to school on both ends of the court.

 

[Wbbfan1]

She's acutally doing better then Hebard and Holmes.

Why is Alarie in there?

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Pretty shocking.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Ball game. And this team has some big names. Ruth Hebard? Holmes? Crystal? Not slouches. Russia has really taken it to the US, and beaten them fair and square.

 

[Carnac]

The Russians are are showing how two bigs can play off each other. They can't be stopped. This is over. USA gave it a valiant effort, but wilted down the stretch.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

The Russians are are showing how two bigs can play off each other. They can't be stopped. This is over. USA gave it a valiant effort, but wilted down the stretch.

Outscored by 12 from late 3rd quarter. Another late collapse.

 

[SCspur]

25 assists from Russia... 12 from the US.... Harris has 9. That pretty much says it all.

 

[EricLA]

Great game by Russia! Congrats to them on showing how team play trumps individual talent.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Post play! Period! That's what USA is missing. Bella Alaire played the best today as the bigs go. Side note: Chennedy Carter is great and has her to play a college game or a standard college practice yet. Her fitness will get better.

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[Geew1992]

Too many layups missed and too much one on one.

 

[Shorty Dee]

Too much selfish playing, not enough rebounding and didn't stop Russia's low post game. USA will win the silver.
I don't understand how you do not adjust.

 

[Rixxx]

Walker did not see the floor in the second half? There was no answer for the Russian posts who played well together.

 

[Wbbfan1]

USA wins Silver Medal lose to Russia 86-82. It was easier for Russia to make baskets then it was for the USA.

Saw no adjustments to minimize the play of Musina and Vandeeza. USA didn't have a player to match up with either of these low post players.

 

[DaddyChoc]

damn Crystal

 

[Husky fanatic]

How many layups has Joyner Holmes missed?? Point black!

5

How many layups has Joyner Holmes missed?? Point black!

5

 

[HuskyFan1125]

25 assists from Russia... 12 from the US.... Harris has 9. That pretty much says it all.

That's a little deceiving to me. USA should have had better assist numbers but the post players missed point blank layups. Carter and Dangerfiedl should easily have 3-5 more assists each.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

I'm telling you, American dominance of the top echelons of women's basketball as far more to do with a few UConn alumnae and Geno Auriemma's coaching, than it does with any sort of superiority by the United States in overall talent. These foreign players are very, very good. And didn't the USA lose the U16 championships as well?

See a pattern? What happens when D and Maya and a couple of others are no longer around?

I think women's basketball is going the way of men's basketball: lots of great talent abroad. And they're very well coached.

 

[Alydar]

Like the U16 team two years ago and last years U17 team, there have been no adjustments to stop Russia's low post players.

Russia's low post players are taking USA's low post player to school on both ends of the court.

Russia's center plays in the Euro league along with at least one other player. They have been practicing together for over a year.

It was a great game. Well played by both teams and as a UConn fan I'm glad that teamwork won out over individual play.

 

[triaddukefan]

I'm telling you, American dominance of the top echelons of women's basketball as far more to do with a few UConn alumnae and Geno Auriemma's coaching, than it does with any sort of superiority by the United States in overall talent. These foreign players are very, very good. And didn't the USA lose the U16 championships as well?

See a pattern? What happens when D and Maya and a couple of others are no longer around?

I think women's basketball is going the way of men's basketball: lots of great talent abroad. And they're very well coached.

Like the USA was racking up a bunch of losses in the Olympics before 2004 or whenever a UCONN player or the UCONN head coach first appeared on the scene. Please

 

[Husky fanatic]

Carter looks like the real deal. Joyner-Holmes has an extra few months to learn how to make a bunny.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Carter looks like the real deal. Joyner-Holmes has an extra few months to learn how to make a bunny.

Carter did what Holmes did before in international competition: looked like a world-beater. But the team lost.

Crystal didn't take charge. And she's going to think about that last-minute layup miss for a long time. Time and again, she and the other American players had to alter their shots to try to get them over the two 6'4" inch Russian players. Really altered the game.

 

[CocoHusky]

I'm telling you, American dominance of the top echelons of women's basketball as far more to do with a few UConn alumnae and Geno Auriemma's coaching, than it does with any sort of superiority by the United States in overall talent. These foreign players are very, very good. And didn't the USA lose the U16 championships as well?
See a pattern? What happens when D and Maya and a couple of others are no longer around?
I think women's basketball is going the way of men's basketball: lots of great talent abroad. And they're very well coached.

Let's not to overact. This was a bunch of HS and Freshmen college players playing against professionals post players. Very few (maybe 2) of the USA players are even the best players on their college teams.

 

[BostonCanuck]

Well, it certainly was a thriller, and both teams played well. Russia was remarkably consistent in their execution over the course of the entire 40 minutes. They played to their strengths, which of course was the inside game and getting their best player a touch on almost every possession. To their credit, nothing the U.S. did distracted them from the task at hand. As for USA, it was an outstanding individual performance by Carter. But this one will sting, and not just because we were up by 6 at the half. I thought the difference was Dangerfield going stone cold with her shooting in the final 15 minutes, and most critically, the six or seven blown layups by Holmes at point blank range over the course of the entire game.

 

[Wbbfan1]

USA was the more talented team top to bottom and that's why the score was close. However, USA couldn't do anything against Musina and Vandeeza. They scored 59 points, most on easy baskets. Really disappointed in USA's low post play. Still USA had their chance if they had only made LAYUPS. Don't know if USA could have made any in game adjustments to stop Russia's easy baskets.

Russia played the better team ball and they definitely deserved the Gold Medal. Congrats to Russia and for USA bringing home the Silver.

USA BB needs to revamp their youth program so they are selecting the best team to compete and win Gold Medals. Lost last two World Championships and in both they had the best individual talent and were beaten by teams that played better Team Basketball.