Week 14 - Feb 3 to 9

[Vowelguy]

My bracket

1 UCLA v 16 Tenn // 8 Kentucky v 9 Duke
4 Texas v 13 UNC // 5 USC v 11 Kan St

2 SoCar v 15 NCSt // 7 UConn v 10 TCU
3 ND v 14 Okla // 6 LSU v 12 OhioSt

 

[bballnut90]

There was a fair bit of whining last night. I'm wondering why not today? Is it an anti-JuJu thing? Or was nobody watching this game?

I was a whiner but didn’t see the Notre Dame game, today. Box score says you’re right though, Hidalgo scored 7 points in the final 3:32 while her team was up by 34….not a good look either. Only thing I can think of is they’re trying to have her catch Latson for NCAA scoring leader but I also think this is incredibly dumb and short sighted. Pull your stars with 5 min left to avoid injury. Not worth it to risk having another situation like Paige Bueckers a few years ago when she missed most of the season from an injury in the final minute of a blowout.

I’ve seen the garbage time scoring more with Juju than Hidalgo. Last night she did that, and she did the same in garbage time down 20 to Notre Dame
and also scored an unnecessary layup as time expired when the game was over at Iowa. I might be being harsh, but watching USC play it often feels forced and like she’s half focused on hitting a certain number of points/shots and half focused on winning the game.

Records do that to people though. Almost every major streak or record has moments of ingenuity where players/coaches are playing for stats rather than to win.

 

[triaddukefan]

Roll humps




The FIghting Camels of Campbell drove 90 minutes up US 421 and came away with the upset over first place NC A&T 58-54. Unfortunately this is the only regular season matchup between the two schools.... so my Aggies can't even up the score unless they meet in the CAA tournament. Despite the loss... NC A&T remains in first place in the conference

 

[nwhoopfan]

I was a whiner but didn’t see the Notre Dame game, today. Box score says you’re right though, Hidalgo scored 7 points in the final 3:32 while her team was up by 34….not a good look either. Only thing I can think of is they’re trying to have her catch Latson for NCAA scoring leader but I also think this is incredibly dumb and short sighted. Pull your stars with 5 min left to avoid injury. Not worth it to risk having another situation like Paige Bueckers a few years ago when she missed most of the season from an injury in the final minute of a blowout.

I’ve seen the garbage time scoring more with Juju than Hidalgo. Last night she did that, and she did the same in garbage time down 20 to Notre Dame
and also scored an unnecessary layup as time expired when the game was over at Iowa. I might be being harsh, but watching USC play it often feels forced and like she’s half focused on hitting a certain number of points/shots and half focused on winning the game.

Records do that to people though. Almost every major streak or record has moments of ingenuity where players/coaches are playing for stats rather than to win.

Good breakdown. I wasn't so much trying to defend Watkins/USC, as ponder to whether we'd get a similar reaction. But I think the ND-Cal game not being viewed by a wide audience meant it wasn't going to get much attention.

 

[FanInNC]

My bracket

1 UCLA v 16 Tenn // 8 Kentucky v 9 Duke
4 Texas v 13 UNC // 5 USC v 11 Kan St

2 SoCar v 15 NCSt // 7 UConn v 10 TCU
3 ND v 14 Okla // 6 LSU v 12 OhioSt

I’m biased - but I’d stack States resume up against Oklahoma or Ohio State.

 

[Vowelguy]

I’m biased - but I’d stack States resume up against Oklahoma or Ohio State.

I hadn’t looked closely past the top 10. I’ll give you Okla but that wouldn’t change the bracket.
Ok I’ll move you ahead of UNC too, which swap yiu with them

 

[Vowelguy]

The FIghting Camels of Campbell drove 90 minutes up US 421 and came away with the upset over first place NC A&T 58-54. Unfortunately this is the only regular season matchup between the two schools.... so my Aggies can't even up the score unless they meet in the CAA tournament. Despite the loss... NC A&T remains in first place in the conference

Can't believe I missed the "Contention on 421" this year!

 

[CajunHusk94]

Someone always steps up for them though, and despite sabotage, they won again.

The 3 stars all had foul trouble and off nights together. The LSU bench stepped up to outscore the hockey line TN bench 36-6, to keep LSU in the game!

Also LSU completely blew up the 'press and 3' scheme. LSU won turnover and rebound battle. Held TN to only 18 attempts from 3 vs their goal of 30. This led to LSU getting more shots 73-61, instead of TN hitting their target of 20 extra shot attempts.

Hero was former AZ Kitty, Kailyn Gilbert with 22 points off the bench.

LSU still in the hunt. Their depth improving now with Gilbert, Richard, and Shepard joining Poa and Wolfenbarger as reliable pieces. LSU v TX and KY still looming.

I don't disagree.

Actually since LSU's ugly loss to SC I've noticed Mulkey play her bench progressively more and it won them the game today when Williams, Flaujae and Morrow didnt play very well.

Gilbert, Jada and Sheppard were big time for them.

 

[triaddukefan]

Can't believe I missed the "Contention on 421" this year!

There is always next year

 

[Plebe]

I think Texas should get a bump to the #1 line over USC. On the year now they have wins over South Carolina, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Alabama, Maryland, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Still have upcoming games at Kentucky and vs. LSU at home.

Texas has 9 Quad 1 wins compared to USC's 6. The win today pretty clearly moves UT ahead of USC IMO.

LSU is at #6 overall right now but has a huge resume-building opportunity coming up at Texas followed by Quad 1 games at Kentucky, at Alabama and vs. Ole Miss. The top 6 now has gained significant separation from teams 7 and below.

 

[Vowelguy]

My bracket

1 UCLA v 16 Tenn // 8 Kentucky v 9 Duke
4 Texas v 13 NCSt // 5 USC v 11 Kan St

2 SoCar v 15 UNC // 7 UConn v 10 TCU
3 ND v 14 Okla // 6 LSU v 12 OhioSt

9 teams in East
5 in central
2 in west

10 teams within 750 miles of Birmingham
0 teams within 1000 miles of spokane

And yet they keep hosting regionals in the west. It’s almost like they don’t want fan attendance.

 

[Baller29]

Texas has 9 Quad 1 wins compared to USC's 6. The win today pretty clearly moves UT ahead of USC IMO.

LSU is at #6 overall right now but has a huge resume-building opportunity coming up at Texas followed by Quad 1 games at Kentucky, at Alabama and vs. Ole Miss. The top 6 now has gained significant separation from teams 7 and below.

They definitely are not going to challenge Texas and is very unlikely to beat BOTH Kentucky and Alabama. Possible they lose both. Should beat ole Miss at home.

 

[azfan]

Hero was former AZ Kitty, Kailyn Gilbert with 22 points off the bench.

LSU still in the hunt. Their depth improving now with Gilbert, Richard, and Shepard joining Poa and Wolfenbarger as reliable pieces. LSU v TX and KY still looming.

She and Connor left the dirty t for greener pastures. I'm not sure that the kitty replacements are at the same caliber as Kailyn and Maddie.... who are both finding success at their new homes with new (better?) coaching.