Sadly, there were parallels in this game to yesterdays. Fantastic first half had the sisters in firm control. Nice six point lead at the half that was fed by…you guessed it…a rain of threes. Everyone felt good at this point and hoped for more in the second. Instead…
The second half started with ISU extending the lead to nine and everything looked good. Then what shall be called “the ten seconds” happened. In a matter of ten seconds the ladies gave up a three, turned the ball over twice on inbounds miscues and gave up two more baskets. It was a struggle the rest of the way as Texas would slowly create a lead and force ISU to play catch-up for too many minutes. The defense stepped up big time to force overtime and then the wheels feel off the bus completely leading to a loss for the third time this season to the Longhorns
Observations.
The first half saw good ball movement and scoring inside and out. The second half saw dribble,dribble, dribble and players standing around watching.
Officiating - anyone who followed the game thread saw a dramatic change from half one to half two. In the first half calls were straightforward and went both ways. In the second, it was atrociously bad for even a lousy Big 12 crew. But…it didn’t cost us the game.
Coaching - the lack of immediate changes to inbounds plays, getting the team to play as a team, etc were major shortfalls. They hurt big time.
One on five - too many times we saw our guard dribble, dribble , dribble and the other players line the perimeter. We also saw single players try to drive without any understanding of where other players were. It was a big lack of team ball. The truly was too many empty possessions that could have changed the feel of the game.
Free throws - just take a look at the discrepancy in free throws and you know how this game was called.
Three point line - our biggest defensive lapse was leaving Texas players open for three point shots. Each one was a killer.
Out of bounds plays - anyone who knows Texas knows they pressure the inbounds. We failed to set screens and failed to implement the four out inbounds until it was too late.
Screens. If there is one thing we implement poorly it’s setting screens and the ball handler peeling off closely to create a defensive problem. This hurt on offense and on inbounds plays.
Turnovers and fouls - 15 and 21. Definitely influenced the game…the fouls more than anything (see officials above).
Was there good? Oh heck yes! This team took punch after punch from a team and set of officials and never quit. We managed the Texas inside game rather well. Have to give our star senior some credit. She passed Welle on the career made free throw list. Congrats!
Now the wait begins. We find out our NCAA fate tomorrow. Most prognosticators have ISU now as a three seed. Texas was a three coming into this and the teams will likely swap places.
In any case, we can all move Hilton back north and convene for what I hope is a long run in the dance.
The second half started with ISU extending the lead to nine and everything looked good. Then what shall be called “the ten seconds” happened. In a matter of ten seconds the ladies gave up a three, turned the ball over twice on inbounds miscues and gave up two more baskets. It was a struggle the rest of the way as Texas would slowly create a lead and force ISU to play catch-up for too many minutes. The defense stepped up big time to force overtime and then the wheels feel off the bus completely leading to a loss for the third time this season to the Longhorns
Observations.
The first half saw good ball movement and scoring inside and out. The second half saw dribble,dribble, dribble and players standing around watching.
Officiating - anyone who followed the game thread saw a dramatic change from half one to half two. In the first half calls were straightforward and went both ways. In the second, it was atrociously bad for even a lousy Big 12 crew. But…it didn’t cost us the game.
Coaching - the lack of immediate changes to inbounds plays, getting the team to play as a team, etc were major shortfalls. They hurt big time.
One on five - too many times we saw our guard dribble, dribble , dribble and the other players line the perimeter. We also saw single players try to drive without any understanding of where other players were. It was a big lack of team ball. The truly was too many empty possessions that could have changed the feel of the game.
Free throws - just take a look at the discrepancy in free throws and you know how this game was called.
Three point line - our biggest defensive lapse was leaving Texas players open for three point shots. Each one was a killer.
Out of bounds plays - anyone who knows Texas knows they pressure the inbounds. We failed to set screens and failed to implement the four out inbounds until it was too late.
Screens. If there is one thing we implement poorly it’s setting screens and the ball handler peeling off closely to create a defensive problem. This hurt on offense and on inbounds plays.
Turnovers and fouls - 15 and 21. Definitely influenced the game…the fouls more than anything (see officials above).
Was there good? Oh heck yes! This team took punch after punch from a team and set of officials and never quit. We managed the Texas inside game rather well. Have to give our star senior some credit. She passed Welle on the career made free throw list. Congrats!
Now the wait begins. We find out our NCAA fate tomorrow. Most prognosticators have ISU now as a three seed. Texas was a three coming into this and the teams will likely swap places.
In any case, we can all move Hilton back north and convene for what I hope is a long run in the dance.
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