Womens U16 Games

[DaddyChoc]

It has been a while since I watched U16 age basketball and it was painful at times - lots of missed passes and stupid plays and a little too much one-on-one. Part of that is explained by the usual short training period and it being the first live competition. I did think AEH stood out on the defensive end, and I didn't think her shot selection was unreasonable on offense. She does seem to be a team leader in the way she handles herself.

thats why I say we must appreciate a frosh/rookie can that come in and contribute in any way... big difference from HS to College, so watching Maya and Tina in HS I knew they were special. Head and shoulders above the rest.

 

[meyers7]

View attachment 9869
Eric I agree with you on all counts, but I sure hope that "Andy" nickname doesn't stick. Andra Espinosa-Hunter is way too pretty ( dimples in both cheeks) to be carrying around a boys name. Let's go with Dra' or AEH.

I think "Andy" is a great nickname. Spell it Andie if you want.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Trying to remind myself these are young girls that are playing. But so far, I'm not impressed on the way Team USA is playing Mexico so far. While USA will win, they are letting Mexico hang around.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Yet another awful start for AEH.

 

[Wbbfan1]

USA Leads Mexico at the half 33-19. While Espinoza-Hunter is not shooting great, she has played good defense and made some outstanding passes. Will be interesting to see how this team plays against Canada. If they continue to shoot poorly, they could lose.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

US 85-44 over Mexico Friday night.

AEH was 2-10, both threes, for 6 points.

Scott-Grayson took just two shots in 10 minutes.

DeCosta had 10 points and 12 rebounds in under 14 minutes.

http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/18/15/84/19/5507wlRWavw8I/

 

[UcMiami]

USA seems to be winning on depth as much as anything - they are using their whole bench and the quality of the bench is just as good as the starters - by the middle of the second quarter all teams so far are beginning to flag against the US and it just steamrolls from there - play even for the first Q, struggle in the second, play close in the third and blown away by the fourth. Today they coasted for most of the fourth as the blow-out was on by the end of the third.

It is easy to see the individual skills, but the basketball IQ is still developing and the decision making is suspect - but they are very young yet.

 

[HuskiesU]

I thought AEH was a good shooter ??
3 games of consistent bad shooting.
Not worry though she has 2 years to just Work on all aspects of the game

 

[HGN]

They are ALL rising juniors.....under 16. They have 2 years left in HS and a lot to learn about the game of basketball. I think the slow starts are indicative of their youth and inexperience . They will get better.

So let us not knock them but understand where they are in their age and development.

LET'S GO USA!

 

[UcMiami]

US in semi #2 at 7 PM today (I think I have that right 18:00 but an hour behind time zone) and Canada is in semi #1 - Canada appears to be the second strongest team having gone 3-0 in their group pretty comfortably.

 

[Wbbfan1]

USA losing to Brazil 21 -14 end of 1st quarter. USA has not had a lead in the game so far. Brazil is outplaying USA and USA shot 6-20 in the 1st quarter.

Youtube Link:

Live Stats: http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/18/15/87/17/48cCGwMyj1cpY/

 

[Wbbfan1]

USA is getting blown out in the 1st half. Now trail Brazil 41 - 21, Poor Shot selection, lack of team play and poor defense. so far.

 

[PacoSwede]

Feels like a UConn-Houston game, and Brazil has the UConn role. Now I know how its feels to be rooting for a Huskies foe.

 

[EricLA]

Lack of team play will do that. Hopefully the team gets it together in the 2nd half. Down 18 after the first 20 minutes. Yuck...

 

[Wbbfan1]

USA Trails 45-27 at the half. While the game is not over, if USA shoots as they have in this tournament, don't see a comeback. If they do, it will have to be their defense that gets turnovers and easy baskets.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Looks like USA is gonna go down. Brazil is leading 72-61 with about 10 seconds to go.

 

[Boreifs]

They are very fortunate that the top four teams are invited to the Worlds. I would say an overhaul of the coaching staff and roster selection will be needed if they hope to win in the Worlds next summer. The defense played by that team was absolutely disgusting, yet only marginally worse than the offensive sets (or lack thereof). They played like a men's playground team.

 

[Wbbfan1]

There were many complaints/questions at the end of the U16 Trial about the players selected for this team. Seems like the observations/complaints were valid with how this team has played during this tournament. IF Mexico happens to pull off a major upset of Canada, USA might not medal. Some had already observed that USA would have a tough game against Canada and might lose. Canada beat Brazil 64-50

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Not Espinosa-Hunter's best tourney.

Scott-Grayson stuffed the stat sheet.

Alexis Morris struggled from the field but also filled the stat sheet and got to the line.

http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/18/15/87/17/48cCGwMyj1cpY/

 

[UConnCat]

Sometimes there are point guards who start off a game trying to get their teammates shots and involved in the game before they look for their own shot. That's not Alexa Morris; she set a completely different tone of looking for her shot first and foremost.

Poor coaching, poor body language, selfish play. Not what we're used to seeing from usa basketball.

 

[Etienne]

They are very fortunate that the top four teams are invited to the Worlds. I would say an overhaul of the coaching staff and roster selection will be needed if they hope to win in the Worlds next summer. The defense played by that team was absolutely disgusting, yet only marginally worse than the offensive sets (or lack thereof). They played like a men's playground team.

Reminded me of an NBA all-star game. No team work just a lot of individual play on both sides of the ball. My first experience with U16 play. Compared to what I have seen from USA U17 teams this was really disappointing.

 

[EricLA]

At some point the coaches need to say "play team ball or sit". Clearly the coaches had a crap game as well.

 

[Etienne]

At some point the coaches need to say "play team ball or sit". Clearly the coaches had a crap game as well.

I don't think the coaches did a very good job throughout the tournament. Brazil was able to take advantage of the team's weaknesses. Hence the result.

 

[UcMiami]

There are always 'controversies' over the team selections with USA basketball, but generally they do pretty well. The selection committee sees a lot more than any 'observers' do so I never take the 'what were they thinking' criticism too seriously. This is especially true as you get down to the last few selections to a team where specific 'emergency' considerations may come into play - how a player can fill multiple roles should fouls/injuries hit during a competition.

I did think this team had issues with team concepts, which is partly a result of short training time, but also a reflection on coaching with the team and perhaps the pre USA coaching that they have received.

But the result is also not a bad thing - that the USA youth team is being challenges is a reflection on the expansion of women's BB worldwide. They did not play all that well in any of their games, especially in the first quarters, but had romped in their first three games - that they lost one game might just be an aberration which happens in all sports - they won the second half, but had dug to deep a hole in the first.

 

[Alydar]

While there were obvious problems with the offense, particularly with the pg position, the real reason for last night's loss was giving up 45 points in the first half. Can't blame that on Morris.