California

[sybarite]

Going into the Puerto Rico Tournament in Las Vegas today, Cal is the #1 team in the nation in Field Goal Percentage (#25 in three point percentage). The four players who have shot at least twenty three-point attempts have shot:

54.55%, 38.00%, 35.71%, and 30.00%.

As a team, they shoot 52.03% from the field.

6-4 F Soph Kristine Anigwe 23.56 ppg, 9.67 reb, 66.93% from the field
6-3 F Sr Courtney Range 12.56 ppg, 6.00 reb, 38.00% from three
6-2 F Jr Mikayla Cowling 10.56 ppg, 4.89 reb, 35.71% from three, 5.11 apg
5-4 G Soph Asha Thomas 9.22 ppg, 4.78 apg, 54.55% from three
6-3 F Jr Perina Davidson 7.62, ppg 5.38 apg, 53.06% FG%

5-9 G Fr McCole Cayton 5.78 ppg, 3.44 apg
6-1 G Fr Jaelyn Brown 4.78 ppg

They all shoot well from the field. But, the starters are all between 60% and 73.33% from the line. They are not the best free throw shooters. They allow 34.45% from the field and 31.47% from three. They out-rebound their opposition by 6.77 per game. They commit 14.89 turnovers per game to their opposition's 15.78. They have a very high assist to turnover ration which is probably why they shoot so well. They block 5.11 shots per game. They have only had 16 shots blocked.

They are 9-0. But, they have not played a team ranked in the top seventy, and seven of their nine games have been at home.

 

[Mac]

This is A winnable game for OU, if we can knock down our shots... The freshman Brown was really impressive vs Nebraska, but hasn't looked that great since then... she could be a tough cover for us.

 

[sybarite]

I think this one will be difficult. They had two juniors and zero seniors on the team last year, and they are playing like an experienced team. They were only 15-17 last year, but they had been 0-2 in the regular season against Utah and Arizona State, winning both in the conference tournament before losing to UCLA.

They have enough height that they can dominate against the teams that they have been playing. Now comes the difficult part. Can that height work for them as well against a bit better competition? The interior game should be the key as they are good at getting to the rim.

 

[rocjunkie]

What became apparent to me last night, was when the Sooners pressured and trapped, they cause a lot of problems for Xavier. The weakness, it did allow for cross court passes to open corner 3's. When we went to straight man, we didn't seem to have the same intensity on defense. If we can concentrate on offense and not take silly quick shots without moving the ball, I think we can win a tough game. This could be a time when Sherri plays fewer players and sticks with the kids that are taking care of the ball and making good decisions. That will have to be seen though. I have been very impressed with the improvement in Nancy and Chelsi. Sherri will probably whittle down to 8 to 9 kids come conference play next week. I am anxious to see if Rich will play a role in the next couple of weeks.

 

[tycat947]

What became apparent to me last night, was when the Sooners pressured and trapped, they cause a lot of problems for Xavier. The weakness, it did allow for cross court passes to open corner 3's. When we went to straight man, we didn't seem to have the same intensity on defense. If we can concentrate on offense and not take silly quick shots without moving the ball, I think we can win a tough game. This could be a time when Sherri plays fewer players and sticks with the kids that are taking care of the ball and making good decisions. That will have to be seen though. I have been very impressed with the improvement in Nancy and Chelsi. Sherri will probably whittle down to 8 to 9 kids come conference play next week. I am anxious to see if Rich will play a role in the next couple of weeks.

Great post! Nancy is making strides almost game to game! Really excited about her even though she has lots to learn.

 

[scrybe]

So, I wonder what's become of the guy who kept telling us Nancy wasn't worth a scholarship offer from OU?

 

[sybarite]

So, I wonder what's become of the guy who kept telling us Nancy wasn't worth a scholarship offer from OU?

Oh. He came back in the thread after the Kentucky game to let me know that he had been right, that they weren't as good as advertised. If Nancy ends up as freshman of the year, he won't admit that he was full of it.

I told you what you were getting with Mulkey and dungee but you felt it was more. Dungee will be good but your staff will have to go and recruit the better players.

from skilledserv on Kentucky 12/1 thread

 

[sybarite]

What became apparent to me last night, was when the Sooners pressured and trapped, they cause a lot of problems for Xavier. The weakness, it did allow for cross court passes to open corner 3's. When we went to straight man, we didn't seem to have the same intensity on defense. If we can concentrate on offense and not take silly quick shots without moving the ball, I think we can win a tough game. This could be a time when Sherri plays fewer players and sticks with the kids that are taking care of the ball and making good decisions. That will have to be seen though. I have been very impressed with the improvement in Nancy and Chelsi. Sherri will probably whittle down to 8 to 9 kids come conference play next week. I am anxious to see if Rich will play a role in the next couple of weeks.

The lineup that plays the best defense tends to be one that includes:

Nancy
Maddie
LaNesia or Peyton
Chelsea
TT or Gabbi

EJ seems to be more effective/time than Vivi on defense. I don't know why.
But, these players tend to be the type to take advantage of pressure--intercepting or tipping passes, affecting the passing lanes. They aren't really all that good at stopping the attack on the rim. It seems that they are very good at stopping it before you get set up to attack the rim. Nancy's presence helps to counteract the weakness at position defense. They shoot silly attempts. But, we seem to be very good with Nancy, Maddie, LaNesia, Chelsea, and Gabbi (sometimes TT). Peyton is pretty good in this because she is effective at attacking passing lanes--steals.

We seem to struggle a bit until we get a defensive lineup in the game. Even then, they really aren't so much an offensive set team. It seems that they are good in open court, or when either Maddie or Peyton is hitting. Last night, Nancy killed them with seven straight points at a time when they were hoping to close. When she is active, there just isn't much you can do. She is not just some 6-9 awkward kid (except for that one ill-advised jump shot that was forced). She is effective. She had three times last night when she scored off of offensive rebounds (Ortiz, Dungee, and Nancy missed the first shot).

 

[Mac]

Oh. He came back in the thread after the Kentucky game to let me know that he had been right, that they weren't as good as advertised. If Nancy ends up as freshman of the year, he won't admit that he was full of it.

from skilledserv on Kentucky 12/1 thread

Yes Mulkey is getting better and better, but she is still a bit of a project... that's not a bad thing, it's more like she has a very bright upside and I think Sherri is the perfect type of coach for her...

 

[sybarite]

No changes in the starting lineup. Gioya is due.

 

[Sooners4Life0101]

Potentially a very, very big game for tournament seeding tonight.

 

[SuperHoops]

Is the game being streamed somewhere?

 

[inoref]

Is the game being streamed somewhere?

http://www.meridix.com/mbp/basketba...=110591&event_position=&event_type=basketball

 

[inoref]

More turnovers than points right now

 

[sybarite]

Some people started without thinking tonight. TT made three horrible passes in a row. We aren't offering our guards any help, letting them get isolated. Too fast. Settle down.

 

[22dupree]

Cal's length and pressure are bugging us; gotta settle in ... down 11-4

 

[inoref]

their big girls are quicker than our smaller girls

 

[sybarite]

19-13 We played a bad quarter. We were hesitant on everything. Our points have been horrid tonight, not thinking at all.

 

[22dupree]

Eight turnovers in the first quarter. Down 19-13 after one.

 

[Sooners4Life0101]

They have a ton of athleticism.

But I think we are the better team, just need to take care of the ball. Need to get the ball to Vivi, shes too strong for them.