WBB in Arizona

[KnightBridgeAZ]

The remainder of week one for Arizona schools.

Sun Devils - this Saturday as part of a double header ASU is going to take on Eastern Washington who in their warm-up game scored 99 points on 50% shooting with 12 made threes.

I'm going to take a guess Molly Miller will drastically change those numbers.

Grand Canyon -following the 2:00 p.m. tip in Tempe the Lopes tip at 6:00 p.m. and I'm really looking forward to seeing how this team looks. The trip to South Carolina I'm sure taught the girls a ton and now Winston Gandy will lead the troops against Idaho State who in an odd coincidence in their opener duplicated the 99 points their fellow Big Sky member (EWU) scored. After shooting 60% from the floor and hitting 10 threes ISU will be favored in Glendale.

NAU - the Jacks were held to 59 points in Albuquerque their lowest opening game production since 2017 when the kitties held them to 55. Judging by the performance of Big Sky teams above this may be a tough year and Laura Dinkins will have many opportunities to build culture and set the foundation for a return to glory. Never known for defense it appears the Lumberjacks are going to have a ways to go to match offensive production from the top end of the conference. The Jacks traveled to Utah Tech as a decided underdog for their game Saturday.

Kitties - they open a 12 game homestand this evening against UC Riverside. I'm still wondering if Burke is ready for prime time. Certainly playing the first 12 games of the season at home against the likes of UC Riverside, Bakersfield, Southern, Eastern Kentucky and even mighty Chicago State should help ease work into the power 4 environment. For the sake of the rabid fans down in the dirty t I'm hoping Burke is not another Adair. Okay you caught me I wouldn't be heartbroken

I'm as nervous as anyone else, though I'm still on vacay in Hawai'i and won't be watching.

I don't think Burke will be another Adair; but that's a neutral prediction. I don't think they will be very good this year, but I'll give her more than a year. She could be a success - or not. Only time will tell.

 

[azfan]

I'm as nervous as anyone else, though I'm still on vacay in Hawai'i and won't be watching.

I don't think Burke will be another Adair; but that's a neutral prediction. I don't think they will be very good this year, but I'll give her more than a year. She could be a success - or not. Only time will tell.

An interesting and mixed performance last night at McKale. The point guard Burke brought from Buffalo - Cornfield - has potential. There was also some decent shooting from three land in the third quarter. Burke also has a freshman big who has lots of potential.

Still barely winning at home against UCR is of a bit of concern.

I'm driving down on the 21st to watch the kitties take NAU apart. I was fortunate to get a ticket as that's the night the kitties are honoring McDonald.

After watching the openers I'm still surprised the "experts" picked the kitties above the Sun Devils.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

An interesting and mixed performance last night at McKale. The point guard Burke brought from Buffalo - Cornfield - has potential. There was also some decent shooting from three land in the third quarter. Burke also has a freshman big who has lots of potential.

Still barely winning at home against UCR is of a bit of concern.

I'm driving down on the 21st to watch the kitties take NAU apart. I was fortunate to get a ticket as that's the night the kitties are honoring McDonald.

After watching the openers I'm still surprised the "experts" picked the kitties above the Sun Devils.

Will be there on the 21st. Missing the first 2 games, skipping the camp game (it isn't included in season tix although they are giving out free general admission tickets - previously, while you did not have your regular seats, they did reserve a section for season ticket holders) and also probably the game over Thanksgiving weekend when we are already busy decorating for Christmas.

Only time will tell, but friends who were able to attend open practice and games seemed optimistic.

 

[azfan]

Week one ends in Arizona I think reflects the turmoil in college basketball.

Last year's two successful teams the Lopes and Jacks are winless. With new coaches and roster turnover I don't think a step back is surprising but the prospects for the remainder of the season are bleak.

Starting with Grand Canyon the experience is consistently amazing 3500 fans for the home opener last night with a wonderful buffet dinner before. That was the high point it may very well be that Winston Gandy is in over his head. What was very troubling was the body language of Chloe Mann throughout the game but most particularly at games end. I know coach Miller would never tolerated this but man barely went through the motions in the post game and clap not making eye contact and started to head for the locker room is the rest of the team gathered at the center of the court. It was very clear she was ignoring her coach.

The Jacks. Oh this is going to be a long season. After finishing second in the regular season over the last 2 years if it weren't for Portland I would say that NAU will be dead last. Having now seen the top end of the conference the Idaho schools the Montana schools Sac State and even Eastern Washington this team as configured and coached will be lucky to stay within 20 points of those teams.

But the bright side is shining bright. The undefeated Sun Devils under Molly Miller show what's possible with a coach confident in her abilities, careful in roster construction and most importantly a true leader. I have no illusions about the Big 12 and if Miller can get the Sun Devils to 50% in conference I would guess she would be a strong candidate for BG 12 Coach of the Year. Her post game presser was so on point and the focus on defense really shows. The Brazilian center is going to have to become much better around the rim - finishing and merely hanging on to the ball but I fear she may have fists of stone. That said there's a really strong nucleus here and with Miller's relentless focus on defense I'm looking forward to the remainder of the season.

Down in the dirty t it's unclear..... Game two in the 12 game opening season homestand tips at 2 today against UC Irvine. Really going to be hard to judge the kitties until Big 12 play starts.

So one year makes a huge difference. Last year I was so much looking forward to the Lopes and Jack's under their amazing coaches and dreading the third year in Tempe.

12 months later and it's a complete reversal.

 

[azfan]

20 minutes to tip as GCU and the ponies are in shoot around

Winston Gandy still looking for his first W as a Lope. The fashionista's squad got crushed on the 13th by the Red Raiders in a game they never led....

The fashionista's squad has exploded for 44 and 60 in their last 2 games.

In contrast to the SMU road thumping (31 point loss) the Lopes had a shot at their first win at Santa Barbara, but fell 2 points short.

And there she is rocking leather pants .....wait...as the national anthem is preparing she takes the ponies off the court back to the locker room. Interesting.......

Anyway 0-4 Lopes v 1-3 ponies as the crowd files in. GCU has a top 10 pep band, Barnes and her ponies missed a wonderful rendering of the Star Spangled Banner

 

[azfan]

OMG..... Starting at point guard for the ponies former ASU Sun Devil Ty Skinner!!!! I didn't think she was even on the team. I wonder if the fashionista was so desperate for ...

At the first media time out Lopes 7- ponies 2.

So.......the ponies score 7 in the first quarter

2 minutes into the second Skinner picks up her 3rd foul, 2 minutes left in the half Barnes gets
Ted up.

Gandy gets his first win as a Lope. Not sure about Winston though.....

76-60

Gonna be a long year, a real long year, a very long extremely....character building year for Barnes. At least she has that 5 year 5.85 million dollar contract.

Her agent is in the agent Hall of fame.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Barnes is looking more and more like her old boss Neighbors. Both looked like worse coaches with each passing season after their high point, and both look like their success was mostly (almost entirely?) built on having one exceptional player.

 

[azfan]

So the undefeated Sun Devils take on the UNLV this Saturday with a 2pm at Desert Financial Arena. The Rebs lost on the road to Montana State last night in what is increasingly looking like a very strong Big Sky conference.

I know McKenna Brackens will be looking forward to playing her former team and coach. The undefeated Sun Devils have started the year with a bang and I'm looking forward to a raucous crowd on Saturday.

Tonight at 6:00 The Lumberjacks take on Pepperdine in the Rolle Activity Center. After starting the season winless the Jacks put a hundred on Emory riddle on the 11th. This will be an interesting game to see if the Laura Dinkins LED rebuilding Lumberjacks can find some footing. The Big Sky is going to be brutal this year as both Montana and Idaho schools look fantastic as does Sac State

It looks like Lumberjacks are going to depend upon former Grand Canyon guard Naomi White to provide scoring. This girl's a baller and really is a gifted offensive player. I'm not certain how far the Jacks are going to be able to go however as the depth of the top five teams in the Big Sky is impressive.

Like NAU Pepperdine loves the three so this may well be a high scoring affair which would work to the Lumberjack's favor. NAU gave up 90 to UC Irvine on the road so hopefully at home the combination of altitude and home cooking will give the 1-3 Jacks a chance against the 2-1 Pepperdine team.

The Jacks travel down the 17 to the dirty t for a 6:00 p.m. tip off against the kitties. Well I have a ticket I'm not sure if I'm going to make the drive unless I see some progress with the Jacks tonight. Hard to justify the trip when the Huskies have a 6:00 p.m. game on Fox.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

So the undefeated Sun Devils take on the UNLV this Saturday with a 2pm at Desert Financial Arena. The Rebs lost on the road to Montana State last night in what is increasingly looking like a very strong Big Sky conference.

I know McKenna Brackens will be looking forward to playing her former team and coach. The undefeated Sun Devils have started the year with a bang and I'm looking forward to a raucous crowd on Saturday.

Tonight at 6:00 The Lumberjacks take on Pepperdine in the Rolle Activity Center. After starting the season winless the Jacks put a hundred on Emory riddle on the 11th. This will be an interesting game to see if the Laura Dinkins LED rebuilding Lumberjacks can find some footing. The Big Sky is going to be brutal this year as both Montana and Idaho schools look fantastic as does Sac State

It looks like Lumberjacks are going to depend upon former Grand Canyon guard Naomi White to provide scoring. This girl's a baller and really is a gifted offensive player. I'm not certain how far the Jacks are going to be able to go however as the depth of the top five teams in the Big Sky is impressive.

Like NAU Pepperdine loves the three so this may well be a high scoring affair which would work to the Lumberjack's favor. NAU gave up 90 to UC Irvine on the road so hopefully at home the combination of altitude and home cooking will give the 1-3 Jacks a chance against the 2-1 Pepperdine team.

The Jacks travel down the 17 to the dirty tea for a 6:00 p.m. tip off against the kitties. Well I have a ticket I'm not sure if I'm going to make the drive unless I see some progress with the Jacks tonight. Hard to justify the trip when the Huskies have a 6:00 p.m. game on Fox.

While it is early, the take on the Arizona Wildcats is that they look like a high level mid-major. The talent level and style of play just isn't there. Now, you can't really blame that on the new coach - and the team did play motivated in the first game I've seen, everyone does agree they are getting better as a team each game, which isn't surprising since they are from all over.

But the opinion of my wife, myself and someone else who has coached basketball in the past is the "high mid-major" valuation. Which means season results still to be determined.

 

[azfan]

Burke may be an upgrade over Barnes

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Burke may be an upgrade over Barnes

She may indeed be. Barnes refused to learn and change, although it is way too early to judge her at SMU for the same reason you can't really judge Burke - they are leading put together teams of players that haven't largely played with each other before.

The real test for Burke is when she gets some recruits and builds the team she wants, not the one she had to slap together. Several of the signed recruits are promising.

Why does Arizona keep getting coaches that want to dress up? Barnes, for all her outfits, usually wore either sneakers or expensive but comfortable shoes. The heels on Burke for the Grambling game - yikes. Could not possibly be comfortable.

 

[azfan]

30 minutes to tip at the Rolle Activity Center. Lite snow showers have impacted attendance. I count a total of 15 of us in the house. Not counting the cheerleaders...lol.

NAU is hoping to wash away the sting of defeat (90-75).... at UC Irvine. The Jack lost all four corners and got destroyed on the boards.

The Wave of Pepperdine got swapped away by Utah Valley losing by 29 up in Utah. In their 29 point loss they had 31 turnovers.

So far Big Sky teams a really shown up in non-conference play so fingers crossed that the HomePort advantage is the difference tonight.