Week 11 - Jan 13 to 19

[VA Huskie]

UVa is actually 3-3 in conference now. Other than ND, I just have no idea what to think of anyone in the ACC.

I think Wake is pretty bad! And remember, UVA beat 5 ranked teams last year. When they’re good they can be pretty good. Unfortunately, when they’re bad they can be awful. Sometimes both happen in the same game.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Please stop picking on my UVA team

I'll stop.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Stinking Oregon St. blew a 12 point lead the last 4 minutes, including a 3 at the buzzer, to go to OT against Santa Clara.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Monster game for Ejim, 35 pts/13 reb, Gonzaga holds off Portland as the Pilots miss a couple of potential game winners in the final seconds.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Washington St. thumped San Francisco, Oregon St. eeked out a win in OT. Still waiting for St. Mary's to come back to reality (super easy conference schedule so far, they have only had 1 game against Washington St., Gonzaga, Portland, or Oregon St.). WSU, GU and SMC tied for first (assuming they hang on against Pepperdine), OSU 1/2 game back.

 

[packwrap]

Louisville improved to 6-1 in ACC. Seems like they have completely fallen off the radar this year.

Good performance for believers in a strong out of conference schedule to prepare for league.

 

[packwrap]

Iowa really needed that, but didn't get it done. Their season is slipping away. 2-5 in conference. Nebraska 5-2. First time Markowski has won in Iowa City her whole career. She fouled out near the end of regulation but was doing a great job keeping her team motivated from the side line in the extra session.

Funny, Iowa and Miami very similar. In every game, rally late, can't close.

Miami really needed 1 more good player.

For Iowa against good teams, Olsen can't carry them. She gets basics done, but she can't just take control in last 2 minutes.

Both teams may now need a miracle, as they are losing to mid pack teams, and still must play top of their leagues.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Iowa lost AGAIN?

Oh my--just looked at their schedule. I see one guaranteed win. It may be a wrap for them this season.

 

[GoChips20]

Iowa really needed that, but didn't get it done. Their season is slipping away. 2-5 in conference. Nebraska 5-2. First time Markowski has won in Iowa City her whole career. She fouled out near the end of regulation but was doing a great job keeping her team motivated from the side line in the extra session.

I really like Jan Jensen and think she was the right choice for Iowa but IMO it’ll be considered a major fumble if Iowa misses the tournament. A core of Olsen/Stuelke/Affolter and a solid recruiting class should be enough.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Iowa clock operator got caught cheating. Started the clock before the ball was inbounded. Nebraska didn't get the ball across half court in time, but after review the call was reversed and Nebraska got the ball back. You can only get away with clock shenanigans at places like Duke...

Tennessee in the day. The clockwork orange. The since retired (so far as I know) Tina Napier and the late Bonita Spence were on opposite sides in the referee discussion and Napier prevailed. Even though the tape actually did prove she was wrong and Spence knew it and apparently in some fashion apologized to Vivian. Not that it matters any more, but very upsetting, and we were there. There was a lot of anger in the Rutgers fan base that Pat never addressed it (publicly, as in admitting it outright).

 

[Stagnant]

I don’t know. I think Iowa should win the next three. I know they are on the road. But Washington and Oregon aren’t great. And Iowa was a ranked team a few days ago.

Lucy needs to play better. She has really slumped since big ten play started. And today; her shooting woes spread to free throw shooting. Iowa can’t afford for that to happen to her.

 

[azfan]

At an uninspired late night road game the Jacks beat the hornets by 5. Midway through the third quarter I thought Loree Payne was going to have to suit up as the entire team was in foul trouble. In an uncharacteristically efficient game Olivia Moran was four of six from the field and Taylor Feldman came up big again as she has since conference play started.

With all that said I'm becoming increasingly pessimistic both about the regular season and the tournament as the Jack's defensive deficiencies become more glaring as the season unfolds.

Loee Payne's run and gun 3 point centered offense is a delight to watch and when the Jacks are hitting particularly from three land they can score in bunches. In that tegard they're similar to Molly Miller's Grand Canyon squad. The difference is Miller's team as they demonstrated last night against Abilene Christian can play lockdown defense. The Jack's on the other hand tend to play swinging door defense. The imbalance in approach results in teams like Sac State hanging with the Jacks and with their short bench foul trouble can prove really fatal.

Last night the hornets outshot NAU from the field and the three-point line and it was only due to excellent free throw shooting that the Jacks were able to hold on. Payne's two pronged offense-three land and driving aggressively to the hole leaves an average defensive team imbalanced and the Moran sisters are unbelievably aggressive generating tons of free throw opportunities.

Montana State schooled the Jacks at home and even with a win on the road in the rematch NAU now needs some help if they're going to win the regular season title. NAU only has one challenging game before that big rematch and that's Idaho at home on the 20th of Feb. a game I'm really looking forward to. Idaho boss to Montana state by 3 in another wise victorious streak over the last 3 weeks. The winner of that game on the 20th will be in a position to challenge Montana State in their rematch but both in a you and Idaho are going to need some help if they plan to prevail.

Based on conference play so far I think Montana States Dykestra is going to get the edge over NAU Glancy for player of the year.