UCLA (7) @ Southern California - 1/17/20

[Shades]

UCLA didnt have their best player last night. Is a loss that surprising?

You would think the last undefeated and the #7 team in the country wouldn’t be that sorely lacking in depth to lose to one of the bottom teams in the PAC. But I had a hunch it might happen.

 

[Figurehead]

This observation illustrates the challenge with attendance at women's basketball games.

Unfortunately there are too few games that draw on the level of Oregon-Stanford Thursday night compared to the vast majority of games that draw in the way you described.

Oregon has been drawing well all season even with the cup cakes. Lets check the Oregon-Cal game attendance numbers on Sunday to see where it is at. Oregon draws well for all sports. I have seen sold out softball games on more than one occasion.

 

[Figurehead]

You would think the last undefeated and the #7 team in the country wouldn’t be that sorely lacking in depth to lose to one of the bottom teams in the PAC. But I had a hunch it might happen.

You are 100% correct. It was not a pretty game for either team. Look at the shooting percentages, especially in the first half. UCLA shot 29% for the game and I believe it was around 18% for the half. USC had a 30-17 halftime lead.

 

[donalddoowop]

I'm not certain the Oregon school losses to ASU would be considered soft. When the season is over and we look back we may have a different view of the Sun Devils.

Clearly this is what happens with parity. Even if the top teams in the conference of champions enter the big dance on the number two line instead of the number one that shouldn't be any roadblock on the road to the final four. The block will be the quality of the other teams in the top eight.

This LA Times article describes that parity. Interestingly the coaches have a much different view of the Pac-12 Network than the one voice on the BY.

Resurgent Pac-12 Conference looking for big things in women's basketball

The Pac-12 has become one of the best conferences in women's basketball, in part because of exposure it has received from the Pac-12 Networks.

www.latimes.com

The one voice on the BY? I read last year where a number of Pac 12 fans complained about the Pac 12 contract and the guy who is responsible for it. It lost a number of viewers, especially in the Midwest.

 

[DefenseBB]

You would think the last undefeated and the #7 team in the country wouldn’t be that sorely lacking in depth to lose to one of the bottom teams in the PAC. But I had a hunch it might happen.

Actually, I don't think you can always assume that. Not that UCLA should have been 7th anyway but when a team loses a key scorer and rebounder, yes, that can cripple a team especially one without depth at that position. UConn would be in exactly that same situation if it lost Meg or ONO, it could probably survive with issues to any of the others.

Again, UCLA was somewhat the beneficiary of a soft early schedule (not a terrible one) and is definitely a top 16 team, just where in the range of 8-16 do they belong has to be answered.

 

[Mulder]

Attendance: 1527.

 

[mudcat]

UCLA remains undefeated this week. Will they be undefeated after next weekend when they have to go to Arizona.

I don't think anyone knew UCLA's best player was going to have to sit out this game.

 

[azfan]

I think one could also argue about the strength of the conference of champions top to bottom. Their big Pili was a handful when the Sun Devils play them in SoCal earlier in the year.

I believe she had 15 points in the 4th quarter. To look at her you wouldn't think she would have the stamina to have that kind of energy at the end of the game.

You would think the last undefeated and the #7 team in the country wouldn’t be that sorely lacking in depth to lose to one of the bottom teams in the PAC. But I had a hunch it might happen.

 

[azfan]

Average attendance at D1 WWB last year 1583.

Attendence: a measure of demand

In a previous thread the BY spend time analyzing the difference in men's and women's basketball from the perspective of equality. After the wonderful weekend in Tempe I thought it might be useful to look at some data reflecting an argument I made in that thread. In that thread I made the...

the-boneyard.com

In what was essentially a home game one would expect the number one team in the country to draw above average.

Attendance: 1527.

 

[WestCoast]

Woke up this morning shocked to see UCLA lost to USC in double OT. Didn't see that coming. Didn't know how good UCLA was, guess we found out tonight.

UCLA is a very different team without Onyenwere in its lineup. She does so much for the Bruins. She was seen in a boot last night.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

This observation illustrates the challenge with attendance at women's basketball games.

Unfortunately there are too few games that draw on the level of Oregon-Stanford Thursday night compared to the vast majority of games that draw in the way you described.

Southern Cal doesn't draw well for MBB, either.

 

[azfan]

Southern Cal doesn't draw well for MBB, either.

There is lots and lots to do in Southern California. And tons and tons of entertainment options. There are 11 million plus people in Los Angeles County some of them very bright marketers. One would expect at least above average attendance at a game with the then number 1 team in the nation - high quality entertainment.

 

[azfan]

I suppose it's my years of watching the Sun Devils but I find defense high-quality entertainment.

 

[domerduck]

Oregon has been drawing well all season even with the cup cakes. Lets check the Oregon-Cal game attendance numbers on Sunday to see where it is at. Oregon draws well for all sports. I have seen sold out softball games on more than one occasion.

The Ducks are currently averaging over 10k/game (10,026) and I expect Cal to be over 10k. The following game, Oregon State, is already sold out so will be over 12.3K.