Week 12 - Jan 20 to 26

[Puppy Love]

Interesting to me that LSU took 77 shots and SoCar took 62 and neither team reached 70 points.
Also interesting that SoCar took 26 FTs compared to 9 by LSU.
Was Joe Vaszily and/or Dee Kantner officiating? Asking for a friend.

I thought the refs were atrocious, but I thought it went both ways. There were a lot of missed calls.

 

[Geew1992]

Is Del Rosario hurt? Or just not getting playing time?

 

[cancontent]

Maybe it's just me, but LSU is not a title contender with Day-Wilson at PG. They may be able to act as a spoiler, but that's about it. It's a shame, really, to see such a talented squad limited in this way. Also, Smith and Wolfenbarger are not strong enough to carry the front court. It's all on Morrow's shoulders.

Which version of Day-Wilson though? The one we're seeing with LSU is not the one who played at Duke or Miami. Shooting woes aside, she's either regressed or is playing more of a role.

If it's the latter, she's never had to be a role player before and it doesn't suit her playing style. It's almost like we're seeing a repeat of what happened with Van Lith last season.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Which version of Day-Wilson though? The one we're seeing with LSU is not the one who played at Duke or Miami. Shooting woes aside, she's either regressed or is playing more of a role.

If it's the latter, she's never had to be a role player before and it doesn't suit her playing style. It's almost like we're seeing a repeat of what happened with Van Lith last season.

I guess it goes back to Baylor too, but maybe Mulkey could try something like recruiting a PG to play PG? I know, it's crazy, but it just might work. Instead of bringing in a combo or shooting guard as a transfer every year and trying to squeeze her into the PG role.

 

[cancontent]

I guess it goes back to Baylor too, but maybe Mulkey could try something like recruiting a PG to play PG? I know, it's crazy, but it just might work. Instead of bringing in a combo or shooting guard as a transfer every year and trying to squeeze her into the PG role.

Good point.

In this case some of the onus has to go on Day-Wilson and her team as well. Between her and Lattimore, the hopping around hasn't proved beneficial for their goals of WNBA careers. Some of us in Canada wonder what could have been if she had persevered and stayed at Duke.

 

[Bone Dog]

Good point.

In this case some of the onus has to go on Day-Wilson and her team as well. Between her and Lattimore, the hopping around hasn't proved beneficial for their goals of WNBA careers. Some of us in Canada wonder what could have been if she had persevered and stayed at Duke.

Were all the moves her idea, or was there someone ‘advising’ her? When you look at it from a distance, it looks like she’s over-managed by someone.

 

[packwrap]

Is Del Rosario hurt? Or just not getting playing time?

The latter. She has been a project so far, but 2 years to go.

Smith/Wolfenbarger is an imperfect platoon at center, but competent. (Point hurts LSU more than center)

Not unlike the UConn platoon of Ice/Jana.

In both cases the forward spot is excellent with Morrow and Strong. Different types of forward though.

 

[Bone Dog]

The latter. She has been a project so far, but 2 years to go.

Smith/Wolfenbarger is an imperfect platoon at center, but competent. (Point hurts LSU more than center)

Not unlike the UConn platoon of Ice/Jana.

In both cases the forward spot is excellent with Morrow and Strong. Different types of forward though.

Jana is still a project, but Ice is a much better defender than Wolfenbarger, and at least comparable to Smith. The problem with the LSU pair is that they don’t push back. This is what I meant when I recalled Wolfenbarger’s announcement that she wanted to play the wing. She is not comfortable grappling for low post position. Smith is better about this, but she’s not nearly as strong as Ice, or Jana. This game showed that Wolfenbarger and Smith are out of their league against Feagin and Edwards.

 

[Baller29]

Jana is still a project, but Ice is a much better defender than Wolfenbarger, and at least comparable to Smith. The problem with the LSU pair is that they don’t push back. This is what I meant when I recalled Wolfenbarger’s announcement that she wanted to play the wing. She is not comfortable grappling for low post position. Smith is better about this, but she’s not nearly as strong as Ice, or Jana. This game showed that Wolfenbarger and Smith are out of their league against Feagin and Edwards.

To be fair Smith is coming off the ACL injury I do think that took a big toll on her and she still isn’t back yet physically imo

 

[cancontent]

Were all the moves her idea, or was there someone ‘advising’ her? When you look at it from a distance, it looks like she’s over-managed by someone.

If I recall correctly, she has a cousin who has been involved since she was a kid, along with Lattimore. He ran the AAU program they played for as well.

 

[Vowelguy]

LSU looked over rated to me today. I wasn’t really impressed. Their “star” players missed wide open shot after open shot while also playing ISO hero ball

lol they played SC closer at home than any team this year
And they played them closer than any other SEC team

But they’re overrated.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Do you think Sydney Parrish thought she would ever be back in Eugene again? Well she was, and it wasn't a happy return. Oregon beat Indiana 54-47. Ducks find themselves at 6-3 in the B1G, just barely outside the top 1/3.


Hopefully the Hoosiers won't have the same kind of "get well" game after visiting Eugene that Iowa did.



edit--3 of the top 7 B1G teams are actually Pac 12 teams, including #1 and #2...just sayin'

 

[nwhoopfan]

Okay, here's my bold prediction for Saturday: Oklahoma St. will lose to Texas Tech in Lubbock. That's just the kind of season it's been for OSU. Follow up every big win losing to somebody they have absolutely no business losing to.

 

[WBBTakeover]

I just looked up Iowa's remaining schedule. OUCH! They haven't even played the bulk of their toughest opponents yet!!!!!!

6-12 conference record would be my best guess at this point. They'd probably have to win the B1G Tourney to get an NCAA bid.

Man, I did NOT see this happening to them. What a spiral. Lesson learned: coaching matters.

 

[Vowelguy]

Man, I did NOT see this happening to them. What a spiral. Lesson learned: coaching matters.

Uhh and perhaps losing a generational talent that the offense was built around?

 

[cancontent]

In honour of @triaddukefan who educated me on land grants and flagships.

Michigan State vs Michigan today at noon should be a good one.

 

[Vowelguy]

In honour of @triaddukefan who educated me on land grants and flagships.

Michigan State vs Michigan today at noon should be a good one.

The International Library Association aka the Biblioteque Oficial of Kiev aka BOOK has sanctioned the Boneyard for all its book throwing.

 

[Coler]

I guess it goes back to Baylor too, but maybe Mulkey could try something like recruiting a PG to play PG? I know, it's crazy, but it just might work. Instead of bringing in a combo or shooting guard as a transfer every year and trying to squeeze her into the PG role.

I predict that Divine Bourrage will likely start at point from day 1 next season, unless Sheppard or Richard improve in the offseason to win it.

There will be a big push to add post depth from the portal, but I think that might be it with the class we have coming in.

Overall, as frustrated as I am with how we played (turnovers, lack of scoring help, etc) it could have been worse. Also I have always thought our ceiling this year was elite 8. Next year is where I get really excited.

Overall not a bad showing from us as it could have been worse.

 

[cancontent]

The International Library Association aka the Biblioteque Oficial of Kiev aka BOOK has sanctioned the Boneyard for all its book throwing.

Tres bien mon ami! . Adding some bilingualism into the chat. Love it!

 

[WBBTakeover]

Uhh and perhaps losing a generational talent that the offense was built around?

Other programs have lost generational talents and didn't crater like this. The likes of Tennessee, South Carolina, UConn, etc. were able to make NCAA Tournaments despite losing what some would consider to be generational talents. Expectations were high despite the loss of the generational talent. They are likely to fall well short of what should be a very low benchmark for their program (NCAA Tourney berth). We're not going to blame 3-6 in Big Ten play (before their gauntlet schedule arrives in February, where they will play Southern Cal, Ohio State, UCLA, Minnesota, Nebraska again, and Michigan) on the loss of Caitlin Clark, especially when Iowa is a perennial NCAA tournament team that had an Elite Eight berth right before Caitlin stepped foot on campus.

This is largely a coaching failure. Jan better get this straightened out or the fallout could be long-lasting.

 

[Stagnant]

I was shocked by Michigan’s performance against Michigan State. Worst showing from them all year.

 

[Vowelguy]

Other programs have lost generational talents and didn't crater like this. The likes of Tennessee, South Carolina, UConn, etc. were

1) I said ‘AND’
2) how many schools lost both the player and the coach at the same time
3) none of the schools you listed rebuilt an entire offense around a single player

It may very well be the coach and Iowa has done worse than I expected but we all may have underestimated the hill they had to climb this year.

 

[WBBTakeover]

1) I said ‘AND’
2) how many schools lost both the player and the coach at the same time
3) none of the schools you listed rebuilt an entire offense around a single player

It may very well be the coach and Iowa has done worse than I expected but we all may have underestimated the hill they had to climb this year.

1. Doesn't matter. These programs know that they have 4-5 years with a talented player, no matter how special said talent is. You don't pay a coach darn near a million dollars to not have the answers. Said coach should be capable of building a system that is tailored around the current roster. You shouldn't need a Caitlin Clark just to get into the NCAA Tournament given the returnees.
2. While the player certainly can't be replaced (by any other player), the coach in waiting has been waiting six inches to the right of Bluder--for 24 years!!!! Iowa is not a "sister of the poor" program. They have tradition and, most importantly, expectations.
3. That's because (a) they were smart not to do so and (b) they knew how to use the talent they had left.

 

[azfan]

RAINING in Flagstaff against the #1 defense in the Big Sky. Jacks put up 56 in the first half. Going into the 4th 83-59 as NAU is 15-26 from threeland!!!!!!

Everybody scores and when NAU is shooting like this I don't think anyone in conference can hang. In an oddity, no missed FT so far Vandals 14-14 and Jacks 8-8. Oy, Vandals just missed one.

 

[Bone Dog]

It may very well be the coach and Iowa has done worse than I expected but we all may have underestimated the hill they had to climb this year.

There’s been a few bright spots, like the growth of Addison O’Grady as a scorer. In the few games I’ve watched, she looks a lot more confident this season and is producing at a decent clip. I think she’s moving her feet better than ever before, and running the floor really well.