Week 1 games (Nov. 25-29)

[Plebe]

Arizona St. beat VCU 49-40. Points are gonna be hard to come by for the Devils, but the defense is still there.

If that’s not a classic ASU score line ...

 

[nwhoopfan]

If that’s not a classic ASU score line ...

Playing against ASU has been like getting teeth pulled, for as long as I can remember. The names and faces change, but it's always a grind.

 

[stwainfan]

I will say Tennessee 82 Western Kentucky 58.
Horston will shine.

 

[SimpleDawg]

No longer fun to watch Missouri anymore. Air got sucked out of Columbia as soon as Sophie Cunningham was gone. How one player changes everything.... Missouri averaged 800 less people per game last year, I think lots of Missouri fans were just Sophie fans and went to see her.

 

[SECbbfan24]

LSU on pace to make 40 points

 

[DaBball]

Really nice comeback game for Shaylee Gonzalez, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL. She has 15 points on 6-6 FG, 3-3 3FG.

 

[SECbbfan24]

BYU up on LSU 34-20 at half

LSU is screwed when Pointer and/or Aifuwa don't show up to play. It shows.

Gonzales with a nice showing so far.

 

[SECbbfan24]

BYU up 14 with under 6 to go

 

[SECbbfan24]

BYU wins 67-51.

 

[Plebe]

Final score: BYU 67, LSU 51. A decisive win for the Cougars of Provo.

Shaylee Gonzales, in her first game in about 20 months, absolutely torched LSU with 30 points on 11-14 FG and 6-7 3FG.

The team shooting percentages say a lot:
BYU: 52.2% FG (24 of 46) ... 61.1% 3FG (11 of 18) ... 100% FT (8 of 8)
LSU: 35.1% FG (20 of 57) ... 16.7% 3FG (3 of 18) ... 72.7% FT (8 of 11)

At least LSU shot free throws better than they did last year

 

[SECbbfan24]

At least LSU shot free throws better than they did last year

LSU thought they were the golden state warrior tonight launching up all those 3's lmao

 

[SECbbfan24]

@Plebe

If you want bonus laughter

 

[nwhoopfan]

Hmm...I might not want to see the score when BYU plays Washington.


That's great for Gonzalez coming back in such a big way.

 

[Dillon77]

Exactly right.

Vaughn will also help when she gets back but it was expected that she would miss the first chunk of the season as she recovers from offseason surgery.

Westbeld's inability to stay out of foul trouble also hurt. ND couldn't punish Ohio for their lack of size with Westbeld in foul trouble and no Vaughn or Brunelle (or Marshall or Cosgrove or Abdur-Rahim).

There's a reason I selected this as one of my "games of the day" on the weekly docket. As noted, Ohio is an up-and-coming team in probably the country's best mid-major conference over the past 3 years overall, having very narrowly missed an at-large bid 2 seasons ago — they were one of the "first four out" — and last year upsetting Ohio State in Columbus. Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson, in particular, are solid, seasoned players.

Even with a fully healthy Notre Dame team, this would not have been a gimme, opening up on the road against a team with something to prove. Vaughn, Brunelle and Gilbert would've surely been starters, and so I would refrain from drawing any conclusions from this result regarding ND's prospects for the season. (Edit to add: Credit to whom it's due: the departed McGraw, like Walz, is to be commended for being willing to schedule true road games against tough mid-major teams, a rarity among the elite programs.)

Our family celebrated Thanksgiving outside on Friday (it was raining on Thursday), so I only saw the first half while pulling things out of the oven! I re-watched last night.

Agree with everything both of you said:
- It would've been a tough game at a neutral site with Brunelle and Gilbert in the lineup, but became even more of a challenge with the injuries and game moved to Ohio's home floor. The Ohio announcers gave Niele credit for doing that.
- Agree with Orangutan: 10 more minutes from Maddy would've made a difference. But she's in her first game as a collegian and learned that certain refs are gonna call certain ways....
- Total game plan thrown off without Sam and Gilbert there. Too much standing around.

On the positive:
- Lots of iso's set up for Dara Mabrey and, boy, did she take advantage of them. She's got a really quick release and subtle rotation on her shot.
- Alli Campbell can play defense. She knew her place on offense (a bit too much, IMO). Two blocks, moved her feet. Let her shoot more against Miami (Ohio) and the Irish could have a contributor.

- Next game is Sunday at 4 p.m. against Miami. Get back on the floor. Keep Maddy out of foul trouble and let's go.

 

[stwainfan]

 

[Plebe]

I will say Tennessee 82 Western Kentucky 58.

Is that points or turnovers?

WKU is in rebuild mode, to put it mildly. They were a decent team last year but lost 3 of their 5 top scorers to graduation, and per their press release, only 3 players who saw action last year — their #3, #7 and #9 scorers — will be available for today.

Lady Toppers Open 2020-21 Season at Tennessee Saturday - Western Kentucky University Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The WKU women's basketball team will tipoff the 2020-21 season against one of the historic powerhouses of women's basketball, facing (RV...

wkusports.com

Apparently unavailable for today's game is 6'4" forward Raneem Elgadawy, who was WKU's top scorer in 19-20 (17.6 points and 11 rebounds per game), a C-USA First Team selection, and recently named to the Katrina McClain award watchlist. This article from 2 weeks ago said she was in Egypt "and could rejoin the Lady Toppers at a later time":

Lady Tops' star Elgedawy recognized as McClain Award Candidate - WNKY News 40 Television

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — After being named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year watch list a day ago, WKU women’s basketball forward senior Raneem Elgedawy adds to her accolades as a Katrina McClain Award candidate, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball...

www.wnky.com

 

[Geew1992]

UIW vs UTEP is delayed due to 2 refs testing positive for covid. They are trying to get 2 replacement refs

 

[stwainfan]

Is that points or turnovers?

WKU is in rebuild mode, to put it mildly. They were a decent team last year but lost 3 of their 5 top scorers to graduation, and per their press release, only 3 players who saw action last year — their #3, #7 and #9 scorers — will be available for today.

Lady Toppers Open 2020-21 Season at Tennessee Saturday - Western Kentucky University Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The WKU women's basketball team will tipoff the 2020-21 season against one of the historic powerhouses of women's basketball, facing (RV...

wkusports.com

Apparently unavailable for today's game is 6'4" forward Raneem Elgadawy, who was WKU's top scorer in 19-20 (17.6 points and 11 rebounds per game), a C-USA First Team selection, and recently named to the Katrina McClain award watchlist. This article from 2 weeks ago said she was in Egypt "and could rejoin the Lady Toppers at a later time":

Lady Tops' star Elgedawy recognized as McClain Award Candidate - WNKY News 40 Television

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — After being named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year watch list a day ago, WKU women’s basketball forward senior Raneem Elgedawy adds to her accolades as a Katrina McClain Award candidate, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball...

www.wnky.com

I think Western Kentucky will have a good team. Tennessee does have more size and talent. I think that will be the difference. Plus this is the second year under Coach Harper. I think that also makes a difference.

 

[triaddukefan]

The HIlltoppers will cover the spread

Lemme change my prediction

 

[triaddukefan]

Watching my Spartans face off against that school in Chapel Hill. It was gonna be an uphill battle anyway, but UNCG's best player (Aja Boyd) isn't available today.

 

[triaddukefan]

Its getting ugly in Chapel Hill.... 25-6 after one period after a 18-0 run

 

[Plebe]

I think Western Kentucky will have a good team. Tennessee does have more size and talent. I think that will be the difference. Plus this is the second year under Coach Harper. I think that also makes a difference.

Yes Tennessee has relied on superior size and talent against far lesser teams for many years now.

As for WKU, not sure what inside information you have that would offset the fact that only one of their top 6 scorers from last year will be available today.

 

[triaddukefan]

My Spartans cut the lead to 40 with a layup at the buzzer. Down 51-11.

I've seen enough

 

[stwainfan]

Yes Tennessee has relied on superior size and talent against far lesser teams for many years now.

As for WKU, not sure what inside information you have that would offset the fact that only one of their top 6 scorers from last year will be available today.

Let's see its game time.

 

[stwainfan]