Week 1!!! 11/3-11/9

[jdote33]

Honestly, I think it was more about Baylor than about Duke. Not that Baylor looked amazing but they are a quality team with good rotation players. I was impressed with their freshman and their bigs.
On the Duke side, I think it hurt that they didn't have their freshman. I thought Fournier looked bigger than she was last year but Baylor matched up with her well. Riley Nelson hopefully got her first game jitters out. Im really not surprised with the result. Basically the same Duke team from last year minus Richardson vs a good Baylor team should be a pick em.

 

[Vowelguy]

Yikes - look at the scoring by quarter - sad offense or great defense, or a combo of both? Must have been excruciating to watch...

View attachment 112919

Taking out the 3s, Duke shot 16-49 from 2 point land.

 

[cancontent]

Yikes - look at the scoring by quarter - sad offense or great defense, or a combo of both? Must have been excruciating to watch...

View attachment 112919

Thought it was a combo in my opinion. Baylor's interior defence did a great job on Fournier and Woods. Duke had their moments defensively as well with Donovan causing several turnovers and Woods having 6 solo blocks. The FG% for both teams was around 30%.

 

[Blakeon18]

Baylor over Duke 58-52....saw quite a bit of the game.

Duke had dreadful shooting in second half....only 19 points.
Talia Scott had 24 for Baylor.

Toby Fournier frosh....we had interest...was part of that shooting
problem for Duke but she has serious talent...she'll be good for
Duke this year and years to come.

 

[Stagnant]

Fournier just needs to figure out the free throws.

 

[GamecockFam]

Fournier just needs to figure out the free throws.

And counters. She seems to have trouble when her first option is taken away.

While I love Donovan's game, she was an offensive liability. No one was in her zip code at times. I think that is another issue that needs to be resolved.

 

[cancontent]

And counters. She seems to have trouble when her first option is taken away.

While I love Donovan's game, she was an offensive liability. No one was in her zip code at times. I think that is another issue that needs to be resolved.

She has them from what I recall during her HS and Canada Basketball games. I think it's more of a situation that she's inconsistent in that area.

 

[Centerstream]

First time watching Mikalya Blakes as she is helping Vandy pull away from Cal. She is pretty impressive.

 

[GamecockFam]

She has them from what I recall during her HS and Canada Basketball games. I think it's more of a situation that she's inconsistent in that area.

I remember a few as a freshman. Maybe her issue is in the feel for the game (e.g., know when to use a counter)? She also seems to zone out / have mental lapses every once in a while.

 

[cancontent]

Marquette and Butler took care of business.

Regarding Marquette, it will be interesting to see how Skylar Forbes does this year. Noticed she was listed on the Naismith pre-season NPOY watch list. Caught me by surprise as she's been under the radar from a Canadian basketball perspective. She has the potential to be a really good post/forward, but not sure why Canada Basketball hasn't considered her for their U23 events to see how she'd fare.

 

[nwhoopfan]

So...enthusiasm for Duke might be toned down for a few days? I thought this was the year their offense wasn't going to stink. 52 points isn't very many.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Forgot about van Gytenbeek, glad to see her back healthy and on the court. Looks like Scott's debut w/ Baylor went well.

 

[Vowelguy]

Wazzu loses to Idaho St. Those exiled PAC schools have fallen off the map. surprised their coach hasnt moved on and up

 

[bballnut90]

Honestly, I think it was more about Baylor than about Duke. Not that Baylor looked amazing but they are a quality team with good rotation players. I was impressed with their freshman and their bigs.
On the Duke side, I think it hurt that they didn't have their freshman. I thought Fournier looked bigger than she was last year but Baylor matched up with her well. Riley Nelson hopefully got her first game jitters out. Im really not surprised with the result. Basically the same Duke team from last year minus Richardson vs a good Baylor team should be a pick em.

No Okananwa for Duke either who would’ve been a starter and likely a go to scorer.

Ugly first game, kind of what you’d expect from a team like Duke that doesn’t prioritize offense. They’ll improve and be fine. Bummer we didn’t get to see Skinner or Roberson.

Taliah Scott has gone the radar after a hot start 2 years ago in Arkansas but she was by far the best player on the court today. Early dark horse contender for Big 12 POY.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wazzu loses to Idaho St. Those exiled PAC schools have fallen off the map. surprised their coach hasnt moved on and up

Wow, saw it was close going down to the wire. They lost most of their remaining talent from last year, it's pretty much down to Eleanora Villa (she's a baller) and a bunch of unknowns.

edit--Oregon St. was the preseason pick to win the WCC and Wazzu was top 4, along w/ Gonzaga and Portland. Those were the top 4 from last year, but all suffered heavy losses from the previous season. Tells me the rest of the league has nothing.

 

[GamecockFam]

I totally forgot that Sakima Walker transferred to Cal.

 

[Basingstoke]

First time watching Mikalya Blakes as she is helping Vandy pull away from Cal. She is pretty impressive.

She is, but 9 of 27 from the field is not a model of efficiency.

 

[GamecockFam]

It seems like Vandy is going to live and die by Blakes this season.

 

[Vowelguy]

She is, but 9 of 27 from the field is not a model of efficiency.

I'm unsure of what to make of efficiency in WCBB. Some players are so clearly the star of their teams that they can be called on to make something happen on offense when no one else can ... which will lower efficiency but I'm not sure is the player's fault.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Charleston has put up 78 points...at halftime. Against Covenant, which I'm guessing is D3 or NAIA. There is literally no value to playing a game like this. It was 39-4 after Q1 and 78-19 at the break.


edit--final 135-41; even Mulkey might blush a little bit at a score like that

tis the time of year to see a handful of scores with schools I have never once heard of previously in my lifetime

 

[Stagnant]

 

[Centerstream]

She is, but 9 of 27 from the field is not a model of efficiency.

I should have explained that I started watching the game in the 3rd quarter and a two point game. She helped Vandy go on a double digit spurt that helped decide the Vandy win.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Seems on brand for a school (UCLA) that has run athletic department deficits totaling 200+ million for the 6 years ending in fiscal year 2024.

 

[DefenseBB]

Thought it was a combo in my opinion. Baylor's interior defence did a great job on Fournier and Woods. Duke had their moments defensively as well with Donovan causing several turnovers and Woods having 6 solo blocks. The FG% for both teams was around 30%.

yeah, good defense was what caused the atrocious shooting....I saw far too many open shots miss iron altogether or hit the front of the rim. Neither team looked good and only worthy of 18-25 type rankings at best. But to be fair, it is the first day of a long season so they have to improve.

 

[DefenseBB]

San Diego State “@“ 3 UCLA (Honda Center Anaheim) Monday 3 November 10PM EST.

Thanks for assisting @BRS24 as she's not quite in mid-season form yet, but I suspect she will be shortly.