USA vs Japan World Univ Game

[BigBird]

I've been watching UConn too much, I guess. But such absurd shot selection and flat-foot defense would get you benched within seconds.

 

[BigBird]

Just plain nuts. Hit free throws and it's a breeze. Miss them and...

 

[iri10]

The Japanese are the more coordinated team, but looks like their gun finally ran out of bullets against the superior US talent. Phew!

edit: Well, apparently it's not over yet...

 

[DaddyChoc]

incredible game... I wouldn't mind if Japan win

 

[rvwsleep]

It's must see TV.

 

[rvwsleep]

We win by 4 in double OT. Can't say enough about Japan's tenacity.

 

[BigBird]

incredible game... I wouldn't mind if Japan win

True that. Badly played and badly coached by Team USA.

 

[HGN]

Japan played a great , great game.....Really tested the USA team.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Great Effort by Japan, they never gave up even down 8 points with a minute left. Japan used their superior quickness to minimize USA's superior size. This game should show USA Basketball they need to get teams together longer if they want to continue to dominate tournaments. Will be interesting to see how this team plays against Canada whose teams have played well in tournament play lately.

 

[BigBird]

Will be interesting to see how this team plays against Canada whose teams have played well in tournament play lately.

Yeah, but Canada can't produce players like the US can. I mean, name a Canadian who could ever play at UConn. Oh, wait. Never mind.

 

[VolFan]

For all the negative talk about Mercedes, 25/14 isn't a bad game, especially when well over half the possessions are a Team USA guard (JORDIN CANADA) turning the ball over or chucking up an ill-advised shot before even looking inside. And Mercedes could have certainly done a better job with position, but it's not as if Jones or McCall were especially effective in that department either.

 

[AnotherVolFan]

For all the negative talk about Mercedes, 25/14 isn't a bad game, especially when well over half the possessions are a Team USA guard (JORDIN CANADA) turning the ball over or chucking up an ill-advised shot before even looking inside. And Mercedes could have certainly done a better job with position, but it's not as if Jones or McCall were especially effective in that department either.

I'm glad another LadyVol fan stepped up and said something....I couldn't, I've been silenced!!!!

 

[Wbbfan1]

I picked on Mercedes because I thought she should have dominated Japan more so then she did. Yes, she scored 25 points, but against a team like Japan she should have had 40 points and 20 plus rebounds (don't know how many she had). Missed too many layups, got caught in double teams and allowed Japan to get too many hustle rebounds. Not picking on her because she's a Lady Vol, more so because she was the #1 Recruit in the country and gets so much hype.

However, with that said USA Guards played poorly especially on defense and that was the primary reason the game was so close. Without Mercedes USA may not have won the game, but wish she played a more dominating game.

 

[VolFan]

Yes, I agree that she didn't dominate as well as she could. She got tripled teamed most of the time and instead of delivering the ball high, the guardds were trying to feed her on bounce passes or at her stomach. She had fine position if she's playing against a regular post player, but not against a swarm of undersized players who could tie the ball up. If she would've got higher passes, she would've converted much more easily, which you saw happen at the end of the game.

 

[rvwsleep]

I picked on Mercedes because I thought she should have dominated Japan more so then she did. Yes, she scored 25 points, but against a team like Japan she should have had 40 points and 20 plus rebounds (don't know how many she had). Missed too many layups, got caught in double teams and allowed Japan to get too many hustle rebounds. Not picking on her because she's a Lady Vol, more so because she was the #1 Recruit in the country and gets so much hype.

However, with that said USA Guards played poorly especially on defense and that was the primary reason the game was so close. Without Mercedes USA may not have won the game, but wish she played a more dominating game.

Well said. I think expectations are very high for Russell and even though she did have 25/14, she didn't impose her will in the game. She needs to be more assertive. I have to see the final stats but I don't remember her having even 1 blocked shot. It's also true that the US guards were of little help to her. They were mostly looking for their own shot after a one on one move. Our best play was when we could beat the defender and drive and dish to Russell underneath. If I remember correctly, I think Russell scored only 6 of her points in a straight post up position.

 

[triaddukefan]

The US won correct? Who is next ?

 

[tennparker3]

Positioning and reading defenses will come along with more and more game time. She was active on both ends in this game. Her elevation on her jumps were almost nonexistent her freshman season. She definitely has a lot more lift now and as she strengthens it will only get better. She had great position on a number of plays where the ball should have been lobbed to her but the guards were afraid to toss it up. There are so few teams in WCBB or MCBB that know how to consistently throw a lob pass (Maryland, UConn, ND and Stanford being the best of them). She missed 4 or 5 chippies because she rushed it. If I have one knock on WCBB it's that too many easy layups are missed. But let's be honest, she did have a huge impact on the game. She had two consecutive big time offensive rebounds that resulted in an assist and in a putback late in the game. Don't be afraid to give her props people.

 

[DaddyChoc]

it was nice to see Mercedes running well... I was impressed with her footwork

 

[triaddukefan]

Ok... I see that Canada is up next. Hope we can wipe the floor with those moose loving, maple syrup eating canucks from up north

 

[Wbbfan1]

USA plays Canada Monday for the Gold Medal.

Lets see how Mercedes Russell plays against Ruth Hamblin of Canada/Oregon State. Both are 6'6", with Hamblin probably having an edge in mobility. Hamblin Bio: http://www.osubeavers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=207911865

Have a feeling that USA will have less problems with Canada then they did with Japan. However if the USA guards continue to be turnover machines and play one on one basketball, who knows.

 

[BroadwayVa]

USA Down 10 points midway through 1st quarter 20-10. USA guards playing poor defense and Japan hitting their 3 point shots.

Japan now leads 26-11. USA doesn't know how to defend the quick Japan guards. Japan's smaller lineup doing a great job on defense even though USA has significant size advantage.

Japan leads 30-14 end of 1st quarter. Japan guards blowing by USA's defense for easy layups and making their 3 point shots. USA needs to tighten up their defense, otherwise Japan blows out Team USA

\
USA VS Japan was a great game to watch---terrible USA defense, Geno would have had 30 hissy fits, Russell got 25 (or more) points but stood around and watched Japan blow by her teammates and watched as they made layup after layup--no help defense.
I loved the way the Japanese players played with aggressiveness--good defense, good to excellent shooters, drove among the trees and made them. If I wasn't so "nationalistic" USA I may have cheered for JAPAN. Lots of players Geno recruited maybe now he doesn't feel so bad about losing them . USF's C. William was great, McCall was ok to mediocre. Russel's asset was she is so big.

 

[triaddukefan]

\
USA VS Japan was a great game to watch---terrible USA defense, Geno would have had 30 hissy fits, Russell got 25 (or more) points but stood around and watched Japan blow by her teammates and watched as they made layup after layup--no help defense.
I loved the way the Japanese players played with aggressiveness--good defense, good to excellent shooters, drove among the trees and made them. If I wasn't so "nationalistic" USA I may have cheered for JAPAN. Lots of players Geno recruited maybe now he doesn't feel so bad about losing them . USF's C. William was great, McCall was ok to mediocre. Russel's asset was she is so big.

Which ones ?

 

[BroadwayVa]

Ok... I see that Canada is up next. Hope we can wipe the floor with those moose loving, maple syrup eating canucks from up north

There are a few of us Maple Syrup in our veins American Canadians (notice the American comes first) down here, like 30 million. Except for the Revolution and the war of 1812 some of those you disparage with Canucks have fought side by side with American Troops and in the US Military. Actually my Dad (born in Quebec Prov) reveled in Canucks, Pea Soups, Frogs, etc he used them regularly. Richest man I knew.
Call Kia Nurse anything if you have a death wish, but don't call her late for dinner.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Which ones ?

Probably all those duke got. Russell's offense at 2 feet and 2 feet taller was truly amazing, yuk. As was her help side defense. McCall froze at the pivotal moment. January Quebec did not impress. All of the USA team seemed a step or two slower and slower on the up-take to see what Japan was doing to them on offense--that's a critical part of Uconn's training to see what the other team is giving or taking on defense and offense--reading the other team thats what good BB players do, Williams did that.. I admit against Stanford Uconn didn't do so well--but that was fixed.
Duck can have any of those on that team and Uconn will still beat them. That's my thinking.

Are you really a Canadian hater, or is that your new pose??

 

[triaddukefan]

Probably all those duke got.

Well the Duke player who made the team (only one tried out) had to pull out due to illness.

Russell's offense at 2 feet and 2 feet taller was truly amazing, yuk. As was her help side defense. McCall froze at the pivotal moment. January Quebec did not impress. All of the USA team seemed a step or two slower and slower on the up-take to see what Japan was doing to them on offense--that's a critical part of Uconn's training to see what the other team is giving or taking on defense and offense--reading the other team thats what good BB players do, Williams did that.. I admit against Stanford Uconn didn't do so well--but that was fixed.
Duck can have any of those on that team and Uconn will still beat them. That's my thinking.

Are you really a Canadian hater, or is that your new pose??

I have nothing against Canada..... 1) i like maple syrup 2) i want to honeymoon in Nova Scotia 3) I have a very attractive friend from Canada and 4) I love cold fronts that come out of Canada during the summer months.

Actually I just thought about something Canadian that I dont like.... Canadian Geese