Utah @ #15 Oregon St - 12/08/20

[Lorcan]

There is another explanation. Utah is also better than expected. But OSU is absolutely a work-in-progress. OSU is definitely not deserving of a #15 ranking today. Rueck and his assistants have the talent, but no team chemistry yet. Biggest issue at the moment is Taylor Jones not making any significant contribution on the floor. 1 for 10, with 5 turnovers vs UTAH. 4 minutes total on the floor in the previous game due to foul trouble. It will be a long season if Taylor Jones stat line doesn't improve.

Yeah. I think the Oregon game didn’t show what Utah was capable of, which might be expected given that it was Utah’s first game of the season. This was a much better showing from Utah, and lots to look forward to.

 

[Floridaduck]

It happens. Utah laid an egg in Eugene but one game does not a season make ("nor one swallow a summer"). In 2019 Oregon went down to Stanford and beat them like a drum 88-48. The Card then came back and won the Pac12 tourney and made it all the way to the Elite 8 before losing to ND. So... we all need a few more games under our belt before setting a tentative league (or national) hierarchy.

 

[WestCoast]

I like that she has an instinct to go forth and conquer.

Goforth had 6 turnovers last night, including some critical ones when she drove the lane and got stripped by Utah's defenders. She has been given as much of a green light by Rueck to shoot and attack the paint as any frosh for OSU in recent memory. The Beavs will benefit by Goforth's attacking abilities throughout her career, but will undoubtedly lose games this season as she continues to figure out what she can get away with offensively in a conference that can punish guards who attack the paint.

Of more immediate concern for Beaver fans is how OSU gave up 28 second half points (34 for the game) to Maxwell alone, many of which occurred when either Goforth or Goodman lost track of where Maxwell was on the court. If Rueck is going to have this season's OSU squad play zone often so that Mitrovic and the other lengthy bigs aren't exploited for their lack of lateral quickness, then the guards will have to show more individual accountability to limit the open looks that have been given to the opposition throughout the team's first four games this season.

 

[LoTrader]

Goforth had 6 turnovers last night, including some critical ones when she drove the lane and got stripped by Utah's defenders. She has been given as much of a green light by Rueck to shoot and attack the paint as any frosh for OSU in recent memory. The Beavs will benefit by Goforth's attacking abilities throughout her career, but will undoubtedly lose games this season as she continues to figure out what she can get away with offensively in a conference that can punish guards who attack the paint.

Of more immediate concern for Beaver fans is how OSU gave up 28 second half points (34 for the game) to Maxwell alone, many of which occurred when either Goforth or Goodman lost track of where Maxwell was on the court. If Rueck is going to have this season's OSU squad play zone often so that Mitrovic and the other lengthy bigs aren't exploited for their lack of lateral quickness, then the guards will have to show more individual accountability to limit the open looks that have been given to the opposition throughout the team's first four games this season.

No doubt defense on Maxwell was subpar, except when Savannah Samuel was checking Maxwell. However, my biggest takeaway from the OSU vs UT game was the 2nd consecutive poor performance by Taylor Jones. 1-10, 5 turnovers, in 21 minutes isn't a formula for success for our "5". Our guards did everything they could to pick up the offense, as OSU was getting nothing from "5". TOs were to be expected by GoForth who took it upon herself to pick up the slack. OSU coaches have to "fix" the "5" or the losses will grow.