Week 9 - Jan 1 to 7

[nwhoopfan]

Arkansas having only 14 points at half vs a horrendous Kentucky team seems like a fireable offense...

Alabama has 16 at the half against Ole Miss. Must be those outstanding SEC defenses on display...

 

[maple]

The Orange got squeezed tonight by UNC. There was a lid on the basket for the 2nd half for them. I expect they'll bounce back next game against BC.

 

[LETTERL]

NC State center River Baldwin had 21 points...8 rebounds and drew 5 charges but fell awkwardly nearing the end of 3Q and hobbled off the court. It didn't look good at all. Baldwin did have an injury history at FSU.

 

[maple]

NC State center River Baldwin had 21 points...8 rebounds and drew 5 charges but fell awkwardly nearing the end of 3Q and hobbled off the court. It didn't look good at all. Baldwin did have an injury history at FSU.

Sad to hear. Hope she's okay.

 

[Bone Dog]

Boy, terrible end of game management by Pitt. Despite losing the battle of the 3 pointers 8-0 , Pitt still could have won had they hit their FT's. Instead ND wins by 6 (Survives actually).

Yup, Pitt was close even despite the terrible management of the endgame. I found this result puzzling, because even with the injuries, ND has the talent to walk away with games against Pitt and Syracuse. I think the problem is Hidalgo -- she's a tremendous talent, but she may not be the pg ND needs at this moment. I don't know how she'll fit in next to Miles, who is a much better floor leader. That's going to be the challenge for Ivey, somehow negotiating a way for them both to be on the floor together. You can't sit Hidalgo down -- she's just too awesome. If/when Miles returns, can Ivey run a lineup like Miles Hidalgo Citron Westbeld and Watson, with Prosper Marshall and Bransford coming off the bench? That could be a formidable team.

 

[Plebe]

NC State center River Baldwin had 21 points...8 rebounds and drew 5 charges but fell awkwardly nearing the end of 3Q and hobbled off the court. It didn't look good at all. Baldwin did have an injury history at FSU.

Oh man, and she seemed to be carrying State in this game. Hopefully it's nothing serious.

I really can't cope with all these injuries this year

 

[Bone Dog]

In the Duke Louisville game, Kiki Jefferson just came out in the 2nd q and walked to the end of the bench, and now the trainers are examining her knee.

 

[Plebe]

With Baldwin out of the game, Florida State came back to tie the game and had a possession to win it at the end. NC State got the stop and then cruised in overtime.

 

[Vowelguy]

Huge win by Vandy at Miss St.

Next 5: Florida, @ Kentucky, Mizzou, Auburn, @Tenn

4-1 is not out of the question

 

[Bigboote]

I've got tonight's game between Michigan and Indiana on my radar. While Michigan recently beat Ohio State and Illinois, their losses to teams like Florida and Toledo were perplexing. Indiana seems to be playing well, but I haven't watched much of them this season. Still curious about their bench depth.

And who will Michigan have up against Holmes? Cameron Williams, has been taking out of the starting rotation and her minutes are decreasing.

I think I've only seen them once this year, too. Indiana's been hard to find if you don't have B1G+. I like watching them, as I have roots in Maine, so like to keep track of what Mackenzie Holmes is doing.

I thought they looked great tonight. They have a good core, and Teri Moren consistently preaches defense. With Scalia, Holmes, Garzon, and Parrish as scorers and Moore-McNeil running the show, their offense should be able to get them far enough.

 

[cancontent]

I think I've only seen them once this year, too. Indiana's been hard to find if you don't have B1G+. I like watching them, as I have roots in Maine, so like to keep track of what Mackenzie Holmes is doing.

I thought they looked great tonight. They have a good core, and Teri Moren consistently preaches defense. With Scalia, Holmes, Garzon, and Parrish as scorers and Moore-McNeil running the show, their offense should be able to get them far enough.

They came out focused and executed what they wanted to do at will. The only thing that was concerning was the foul trouble. Fortunately, they had a sizeable lead and it didn't hurt them. May not be so lucky in closer games.

Michigan will continue to perplex me. Is it their lack of an inside game? Is it the fact they lost a lot of veteran leadership last season? I don't know. It's a Jekyll and Hyde situation each game. You can't predict which version of this team you'll see on the court.

 

[Plebe]

They came out focused and executed what they wanted to do at will. The only thing that was concerning was the foul trouble. Fortunately, they had a sizeable lead and it didn't hurt them. May not be so lucky in closer games.

Michigan will continue to perplex me. Is it their lack of an inside game? Is it the fact they lost a lot of veteran leadership last season? I don't know. It's a Jekyll and Hyde situation each game. You can't predict which version of this team you'll see on the court.

Indiana had an insane 1st quarter where they shot 100% from the field (13 of 13) and led 36-17. They essentially coasted the rest of the way.

Quite the contrast with their recent win over Illinois, where they could never gain separation and the outcome was very much in doubt until the final minute.

 

[MSGRET]

Huge win by Vandy at Miss St.

Next 5: Florida, @ Kentucky, Mizzou, Auburn, @Tenn

4-1 is not out of the question

Hope Vandy wins them all, but most of all against Tenn.

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[Vowelguy]

Lots of surprises in sec tonight

Vandy, Ga, Kentucky

 

[Plebe]

Louisville really bucking the ACC trend of playing down to weak opposition.

(insert GIF of ducking the thrown shoe)

 

[Plebe]

Lots of surprises in sec tonight

Vandy, Ga, Kentucky

Ole Miss over Bama is a mild surprise to me as well.

55-45 is a very SEC-sounding score.

 

[jdote33]

I like lsus roster a lot and think they have a good shot at making the final four, but does anybody else notice that they don't make the extra pass. It may not matter cuz their players are that talented but watching them against Missouri Ive seen it over and over, players take contested or forced shots when someone is wide open.

 

[Plebe]

I find it shocking that this was the first triple-double in UNC WBB history. With all those great players they've had come through the program back in the day.

 

[triaddukefan]

Louisville really bucking the ACC trend of playing down to weak opposition.

(insert GIF of ducking the thrown shoe)

I thought we were better than that.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I find it shocking that this was the first triple-double in UNC WBB history. With all those great players they've had come through the program back in the day.

Most of those assists were just too easy dishing it off to Gakdeng. I thought 4 or 5 of them were the same play that just kept getting looped.

 

[Plebe]

First 15-15-10 game vs. ranked opponent in WBB history?!

Another first I find hard to believe, but okay ...

 

[Hester42]

Ole Miss over Bama is a mild surprise to me as well.

55-45 is a very SEC-sounding score.

The shooting % of 31% and sub 30% both both teams was bad…

 

[Hester42]

I like lsus roster a lot and think they have a good shot at making the final four, but does anybody else notice that they don't make the extra pass. It may not matter cuz their players are that talented but watching them against Missouri Ive seen it over and over, players take contested or forced shots when someone is wide open.

Reese and morrow need to learn to pass more getting double and tripled team. I lost count how many wide open 3s were open and they just didn’t pass. I’ll say morrow was at least super efficient

Hailey Van Lith IMO is not a fit at LSU. I get why lsu did it but she doesn’t fit their style of play or their need. Everything about her game that made her successful at Louisville is not being used. Her teammates at times are even ignoring her wide open for kick out 3s. On the flip side HVLs defense is so bad Kim ain’t fixing that. She is such a liability on dribble penetration she alone messes up their entire defense at times because she gets beat off the dribble so much.

Kim is in her third year at LSU but this depth chart is probably easily her worst. They don’t have any depth. That “#1 class” looks like a total bust minus Williams and Rosario from what I’ve seen. Velez and Kent have not looked good at all.

 

[Bone Dog]

In all fairness, the loss of Smith must have put a serious dent in Kim's roster planning. Though I'm not sure what the starting lineup would have looked like with Smith. But letting Reese play outside of the C position would have added an interesting dynamic. On the other hand, it might have required some sort of platoon for Morrow, which might not have gone over so well. Could Kim have played a lineup that started Reese Morrow and Smith together? Sounds slow, especially with Haley Van Lith at pg.