Fire Dawn Staley.
- Thread starter Rhode Island Dork
- Start date
we looked like trash today. Texas players neutralized our players, and Vic neutralized Dawn. We looked inept, untalented, and outmatched. Pains me to say but Texas is the better team this year. It’s weird that this team is so schizophrenic—we saw it against Oklahoma, Kentucky, and now Texas.
Simple. The better team won. They have both the best Big in the conference and the best player. The better team won. The team we should have had this year might have been good enough. This one isn't.
We played like a mentally tired team in a game that we really wouldn't get much out of in the lbig picture. All it means is that we will be the 4th Overall Seed instead of the 3rd Overall Seed. I feared we would have a let down after another emotional win over LSU. The sky fell the last time we lost in the SEC Final. Nobody cared 3 weeks later. Team gets to rest and reset for 12 days and start the real journey. Texas was the better team today. However, the notion that the season is over is nonsense.
I think Reagan Beers and Clara Strack would disagree with the assessment that Texas has the best big. Which big are you even talking about because Texas sort of platoons two bigs (Cunningham and Oldacre). Both are very physical and it gives our girls problems, but neither is really skilled. Now, you have a point with Booker. However, I think a takeaway from this game is that we can't leave Tessa to guard Booker. If we were to meet again, the pairing of Raven and Agot works better. Raven can't guard Harmon and Booker. Finally, front court has to toughen up. Jumping for rebounds is not optional. If you want to win a Chsmpionship, the effort that you saw against LSU has to be a habit. Yesterday was the first day I saw Joyce jump for a rebound all year.
Joyce hasn't been all that great of a rebounder since she has been here. Maybe it's by design and not her role......I really don't know enough about basketball to know. The one I am concerned with is Okot. It seems she disappears when faced with a comparable big. I feel confident this team will rebound and make a nice run but I don't see us being in the finals with this team especially with all the injuries.
They're better. By us suffering a reduction in strength while their overall talent increased, they surpassed us.
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I wouldn't downplay the impact of playing a hard-fought emotional game against a rival (LSU) less than 24 hours before. I knew when Ole Miss upset Vandy on Friday that it made Texas' path a lot easier. I was not particularly surprised we came out flat against Texas or that Texas came out of the box breathing fire.
Going into the tournament as the 4th #1 seed, versus the 3rd #1 seed, is a big deal, in my opinion. The national champion will have to go through UConn and I don't think we can beat them. We could, however, beat a team who beats UConn, as we did in 2017. Now, instead of hoping Texas can beat UConn in the semifinal, I have to hope we can.
Going into the tournament as the 4th #1 seed, versus the 3rd #1 seed, is a big deal, in my opinion. The national champion will have to go through UConn and I don't think we can beat them. We could, however, beat a team who beats UConn, as we did in 2017. Now, instead of hoping Texas can beat UConn in the semifinal, I have to hope we can.
Joyce is usually the second big on the floor. In our small lineup, she is the Center. She has to rebound. I am sure Dawn and the coaching staff are on her about it. Okot's offensive game comes and goes, but she usually rebounds the ball pretty well. Probably due to her imposing size as she is not jumping either. The difference in our bigs this year as opposed to our championship teams is Aja, Aliyah, Kamilla all developed a mean streak. Madina and Joyce are just as talented, but they are too nice. Even Tessa is too nice. What was that giving Booker her shoe. No, make her pick it up herself. Our aggressiveness seems to come from our guards on this team.
The reason I don't think it matters is you have to play UConn at some point. Once you get to the Final Four, the teams are all in the same arena and under the same conditions. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. No need ducking and hiding. We take one game at a time and when it is time to see UConn hopefully we are ready.
Also…Latson. I don’t know what Dawn has done to her, but she constantly drives into bigger traffic, and she has no confidence from the arc, or the mid range. She’s largely a non factor.
Nothing. Latson has never been a knock down shooter. Even when she was at FSU averaging 25 a game, she shot 34% from the 3. She is shooting 32% from 3 with us. Latson gets her points in transition, little pull up jumpers and finishing around the rim over bigs. Problem is the bigs are bigger and more agile in the SEC, and she gets pinned in traffic. So, she was a 25 point per game score in the ACC, but only a 15 point per game scorer in the SEC. That's okay. I know some are expecting more, but she is giving us what she has on one leg for a big chunk of the season. Her mobility seems to be improving and she is a streaky shooter from range. Hopefully, she finds it when we need it the most.
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