Canyon in the paper before the game were spot on. And our defense is actually pretty awesome.
I see the same problem with her that I saw throughout the years with Vivian Stringer - she sees and knows what needs to happen but the players struggle to execute.
3 biggest reasons we lost - our foul shooting
Kitty defense was really amazing particularly in the first half were they really bothered TSA. There were a number of steals and constant disruption which is consistent with Barnes philosophy on the defensive end. Interestingly enough Molly Miller employs the same type of philosophy and implemented it as well.
Ultimately I think the result rested on the shoulders of TSA. The Lopes have a leader on the floor and she showed up and was a dominant force for her team. I didn't see that kind of player emerge on the kitty side.
In fact I was surprised and unimpressed with Cunningham. She has the ability to dominate and I would have thought there would have been a more consistent effort to get the ball in her hands down low.
As I said in my post after the game it's a wonderful atmosphere at McKale and the kitties fans really show up. It looks like the official attendance was slightly over 6,200 making this the second largest women's attended game I've had the pleasure to be at. The highest attendance was an ASU game down in the dirty t two or three years ago.
So as to coaching I think this game exemplifies two different types of coaches. Molly Miller, as the third highest active winning percentage coach exceeds expectations and I think really gets the most out of her players. This is a team that's evolving over the years but always shows up with their trademark defense, a clear game plan, and most often the players follow that game plan successfully.
Barnes while a huge improvement over the recent past in coaching is notable for not meeting expectations particularly after McDonald left for the w. It could be as simple as fans in the dirty t need to readjust their expectations and accept that Barnes will generate an interesting product on the court which will be average by Big 12 standards or slightly below average. The kitty fans can take solace and a 100% lock that they will beat their rivals up in Tempe as long as the ASU administration remains indifferent to women's basketball there and Adair a fine person who's way over her head remains at the helm.
I think this year's performance against NAU and Grand Canyon provides a reality check for those who expect success in championship terms in the dirty t. Both Loree Payne and Molly Miller at least in the games this year out coached Barnes. (Remember Barnes has the better players. The difference in athleticism between Big 12 kitties and the Jacks and Lopes was obvious) Their teams were better prepared, played to the game plan for the games, rose to the occasion, and beat the kitties. In fact Payne's squad opened up a can of whoop #@$ on the kitties and I had the sense that the kitties well they deflated down the stretch of that game to put it kindly.
If I were a kitty fan the Grand Canyon loss would be particular deflating. A home game that was close down the stretch with a really large crowd supporting the team and the Lopes out played the kitties when it really mattered. As I said it's my view that TSA was the deciding factor but Superior coaching was a close second.
So the kitties a mid-range Big 12 team got pounded by a Big Sky team and beaten at home in a close game by a WAC team. I think that's an illuminating coda when one evaluates Barnes.
With that said as an ASU fan I would take Barnes over Adair every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Of course that would only be after Payne and Miller rejected the job offer as any sane person would.
Later today I'm driving over to Phoenix to watch the Lopes play Utah State. I am continually impressed when I see well managed athletic programs and Grand Canyon is on the same level of U of A in that regard. It's a wonderful facility in Phoenix to watch a game and when school's in session they have really solid attendance and enthusiastic fans. The administration really does care and supports the team. I just got an email indicating that as a season ticket holder I was entitled to an additional free ticket for each of the remaining December games.
Going into Mckale Thursday night was a revelation. I got there early enough I was able to walk around and notice how they've honored their past successful athletes and it was the teddy bear toss. I didn't think it would stop raining stuffed animals lol. I've been at the ASU teddy bear toss and well it was pathetic 200 fans could only generate a tiny number of donations for deserving kids.
From Heinlein (Farnham’s Freehold) to Clark (Childhood’s End) to Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games), I’ve enjoyed them all. Heck, I even love it when Steely Dan gets in on the act.
