Week 12 - Jan 20 to 26

[Blueballer]

FOX really picked a couple of duds to broadcast on MLK day. No suspense at all.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Nebraska crushed Wisconsin. It was raining 3's. Huskers 16-32 Badgers 3-17. Game over.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Hey @azfan you watch a lot of Big Sky hoops. Have you noticed Taylee Chirrick from Montana St.? I've watched a bit of the Bobcats before, but this is the first time she's jumped out at me. She has 10 steals against EWU, an absolute pest. Quick hands, quick feet and she can get off the floor to intercept passes. Only a Fr., so she will be harassing the rest of the Big Sky for years to come.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Montana St. barely holds off Eastern Washington 58-56. Both teams shot under 30% and combined for 52 turnovers! Yikes. I doubt there were 200 people in attendance, looking pretty empty in Cheney, WA. Bobcats still undefeated in conference play.

 

[azfan]

Hey @azfan you watch a lot of Big Sky hoops. Have you noticed Taylee Chirrick from Montana St.? I've watched a bit of the Bobcats before, but this is the first time she's jumped out at me. She has 10 steals against EWU, an absolute pest. Quick hands, quick feet and she can get off the floor to intercept passes. Only a Fr., so she will be harassing the rest of the Big Sky for years to come.

Bobcats are DEEP. They are fifth in the country in steals and Chinnick is leading the Big Sky in steals in 19 minutes a game. She also looks awesome in those big black glasses.

In their victory over NAU earlier in the month in Flagstaff Morales was the focus as she absolutely destroyed the Jacks. Montana State had nine players play more than 10 minutes in the game while the NAU starters all played 31 plus. Oddly Chinook had her fewest steals so far with 1 as the Moran sisters and Taylor Feldman were able to take care of the ball they just couldn't stop Morales.

So far the Bobcats are absolutely the best team in the Big sky with Idaho a close second. NAU the preseason number one pick by both the coaches and media just doesn't have the depth to hang with them as they really only have six strong players in their seven person rotation and while they are really good offensively they are really average defensively. Both Montana State and Idaho play really good defense and I expect those two teams to play for the title in Boise next month.

Eastern Washington who gives significant minutes to two true freshmen-Grossman and Eggers I thought looked really good last night. Grossman is going to be really good before she's done. Unlike the nice coach from Delaware this team is having a real rebuild after their championship run last season. Thursday I'll be at Waukup in Flagstaff very interested to see how Lori Payne's crew does against the Eagles. I was hoping the game last night would go five overtimes and I'm hoping that their flight to Flagstaff gets delayed for 12 hours. While the Jacks are overwhelming favorites Thursday night I've got a real nagging suspicion it's going to be a game just like the one last night

 

[azfan]

Nebraska crushed Wisconsin. It was raining 3's. Huskers 16-32 Badgers 3-17. Game over.

You betcha!

 

[BRS24]

Conference vs overall standings in top 8 NET conferences posted above (thanks for your patience)

Week 12 - Jan 20 to 26

Games for this week. Ten top 25 matchups.

the-boneyard.com

 

[nwhoopfan]

She also looks awesome in those big black glasses.

Yeah those are old school.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Eastern Washington who gives significant minutes to two true freshmen-Grossman and Eggers

Apparently Chirrick and Grossman have known each other for forever. Chirrick is from Roberts, MT, which I've never even heard of, but it's close to Red Lodge which I've passed through several times. Grossman is from Billings.

 

[Geew1992]

Yeah, but that Maryland team was a lot healthier than the one Texas faced today. No McDaniel and Sellers left the game midway through due to injury.

Maryland was already getting molly whooped before Sellers got hurt.

 

[Baller29]

Maryland was already getting molly whooped before Sellers got hurt.

And tbh McDaniels was not stopping the whooping either

 

[cancontent]

Maryland was already getting molly whooped before Sellers got hurt.

True, but it doesn't change the fact that Maryland was healthier when they lost to USC compared to this game. McDaniels is a huge piece of their offence off the bench or as a starter.

 

[azfan]

Mountain West Network streams Boise State, a 7 point dog, at Colorado State 6:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Somehow Utah St. has escaped my critical eye, but no more! With a loss tonight fell to 0-7 in the Mountain West and 1-18 overall. In the conversation for worst teams in the country. And the one win was against Cal St. Bakersfield, so that doesn't even really count.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Big Az home games this week.

Natasha Adair continues the rebuild at Mullet Center extending their losing streak to visiting West Virginia. The ASU rebuild was witnessed by 6,800 fans in Manhattan last week. There will be that many fans in Mullet Arena Wednesday Tip 6:30 with 6,500 of them disguised as empty seats to watch the Devils extend the current losing streak to five games. If you can find a bookie join me in mortgaging your house and adding that to your retirement account and giving the points on this game. wo
Not a bet but a sure thing.

Characterizing what is happening in Tempe as a rebuild is the same as describing the SoCal wildfires as urban renewal.

Down in the dirty t the kitties are going to host Cincinnati. McKale fans have fingers crossed that Barnes continues her outstanding teaching and coaching in practice and that the players are in the mood to apply said teaching and coaching in what should be a relatively interesting game.

After a really tough road trip Grand Canyon is home and should extend the winning streak to 17 with wins on Thursday (Seattle) and Saturday (.Utah Tech )

And up in lovely Flagstaff NAU should have no trouble Thursday night before what's going to be a really challenging game Saturday against idaho. I'm watching the Vandals right now dispose of Montana (.They win easily and sweep the season series from the Grizz to extend their current winning streak to five games) and given the level of defense played by Loree Payne's squad I've got to think that Idaho will retain second place against the Jacks Saturday night and hand NAU their second conference loss.

Locks in Az

ASU rebuild continues wirh 20 plus point loss to WV AND Ice Brown will not score 30 plus

Down at McHale Cunningham will foul out and Saturday night the kitties will lose to West Virginia.

Lopes sweep both home games as the only Arizona team to sweep their two home games this week.

NAU gives up 75 to the Vandals Saturday night and loses.

You are really more negative about Arizona and Adia than they deserve. So far as I can tell, game plans are fairly good and the players try very hard to execute them. Not always smoothly, as I pointed out I have seen Adia frustrated when she calls a play and the execution is just completely off. But she is teaching, they are relatively young, actually almost everyone is a sophomore or freshman. Dew hasn't played in 2 years and Paris in a year and 1/2, apparently. Dew stepped up last game and Adia said it was the result of a "discussion", but the problem is really that Dew and some of the other players lack confidence.

Isis Beh, the only actual upperclassman playing, is mentoring Cunningham on reducing fouls, Swann on not getting upset with officiating, and some other players for other things. She has stepped up her play tremendously, although obviously she only has so much talent.

We may lose to WV, they are very good, and Cincy is going to be a contest. But Cunningham has reduced her fouls, I don't expect her to foul out.

 

[azfan]

You are really more negative about Arizona and Adia than they deserve. So far as I can tell, game plans are fairly good and the players try very hard to execute them. Not always smoothly, as I pointed out I have seen Adia frustrated when she calls a play and the execution is just completely off. But she is teaching, they are relatively young, actually almost everyone is a sophomore or freshman. Dew hasn't played in 2 years and Paris in a year and 1/2, apparently. Dew stepped up last game and Adia said it was the result of a "discussion", but the problem is really that Dew and some of the other players lack confidence.

Isis Beh, the only actual upperclassman playing, is mentoring Cunningham on reducing fouls, Swann on not getting upset with officiating, and some other players for other things. She has stepped up her play tremendously, although obviously she only has so much talent.

We may lose to WV, they are very good, and Cincy is going to be a contest. But Cunningham has reduced her fouls, I don't expect her to foul out.

As a long time Tempe resident, graduate of Arizona State University and fan of women's basketball I think my view reflects that of a fan viewing a major in state rival.

You imply my view is unfair to the team and the coach. I was thinking more of the spectators and fans. The dirty t really supports its basketball and McKale is a great place to watch a game.

That said the coach and her staff certainly deserve criticism because performance has declined consistently over the last 4 years. I must be old school but I think improving performance is deserving of praise, consistency should be acknowledged in a challenging environment , and deteriorating performance deserves and should receive criticism.

Since the season ending 2021 in which the kitties went 21-6 and 13 - 4 in conference .... Losses overall have increased from 6 to 16 last year and in conference from 4 to 10 last year. Fair to criticize and point out this deterioration particularly when Barnes is making $1.6 million 6.5 times that of the successful coach at Grand Canyon Molly Miller and almost 10 times the salary of the coach at NAU who recently became the all-time one leader for the school.

So I think criticism of Coach Barnes is valid. Back with McDonald's in their magic year the kitties were 21 and 6. Last year they were 18 and 16. Not the type of performance that one would even consider average and only looks good in comparison to the nice coach and former 2021 CAA coach of the year Natasha Adair.

Let's look at in conference. 2021 the kitties were 13 and 4. The following year they lost 6 games in conference, the year after they lost 7 games in conference, last year they lost 10 games in conference.

Okay this is not as as bad as the rebuild in Tempe but come on..... I think the expectation in the dirty t should certainly be higher, the fans deserve more. Only 3-4 in conference year to date even the most optimistic kittie fan would expect in conference losses in double figures, an early exit in the conference tournament, no dancing this year. This trend over the past 4 years and current season performance... .. I think most would agree worthy of criticism. I don't think I would characterize this trend is positive so I do think negative is the appropriate frame to view Barnes, the kitties, and in season performance so far this year.

Your comment about the game upcoming game against West Virginia is telling. There are upper tier teams in the Big 12 and the kitties are certainly not one of them. Home losses to Utah, Iowa State, Baylor, and let's not forget Grand Canyon confirm the lower tier League status of the kitties this year. Currently residing in the bottom third of the conference I would have to characterize Barnes below average to mediocre.

The kitties do have an easier second half of the schedule as they'll get to pound the Sun Devils twice, the Cougs and Red Raiders

I guess we could quibble over my view - realistic or overly harsh? Some say tomato some say tohmato..

 

[JDuro]

 

[GamecockFam]

I wonder if the change is due to the unprecedented amount of snow and the lack of infrastructure to address it. I would assume this to be the case. I bet they're having issues getting LSU and ESPN equipment/crew to the arena

 

[cancontent]

I wonder if the change is due to the unprecedented amount of snow and the lack of infrastructure to address it. I would assume this to be the case. I bet they're having issues getting LSU and ESPN equipment/crew to the arena

That's my guess. It makes sense considering the situation, especially for the fans.

 

[visitingcock]

Not crazy about the 5:00 tip-off, but I assume it’s being squeezed into a network slot. ESPN???

Weren’t they gonna to a “Gameday “ before the originally scheduled slot?

Not gonna be close to last year’s million plus viewers.

 

[Baller29]

I wonder if the change is due to the unprecedented amount of snow and the lack of infrastructure to address it. I would assume this to be the case. I bet they're having issues getting LSU and ESPN equipment/crew to the arena

If I’m correct LSU usually will fly out of Nola and it’s a mess down there right now, they got much more snow than anticipated both there and BR area

Not sure where ESPN is coming from but I’d think their situation may be a little easier