Texas @ IowaSt. WBB (2/13/23)

[Run Pincher]

Maybe because we had to respect their multiple three point shooters, and they didn't have to respect ours last night? I mean, seriously, the game isn't all that hard to analyze.

That's ridiculous. Isu respected our 3 pt shooters all night, yet still clogged the middle. Texas top 3 3pt shooters have a better 3 pt % than ISU's. And Harmon can hit the 3 too. Yet she only had one slightly open 3 attempt for the night. And Gaston is excellent from mid-range too.

Shay and Shaylee were blanketed all night. Shay hit the one open 3 she had. Shaylee hit a 3 when covered, just a great shot. Almost all the made 3's by ISU were like playing horse. Even Stevie Wonder could see the difference. Yet Vic refuses to try a zone. Finelley is a master at picking the defense to get his shooters wide open shots.

Do you think Texas big's going 1 against 3 is going to work? It was a disaster last night.

 

[Moooooo]

1. ISU stands around in a zone defense every game and we obviously do not... big difference in energy spent.
2. Was that Baylor's fifth game in thirteen days?..
2. Anybody who couldn't see the fatigue in our players last night toward the end of the game wasn't paying attention.

That's a choice; something that is in the control of our coaching staff. At the same time, playing a zone defense against an offense like ISU would be the wrong strategy. Still, sounds like we gave up a bunch of wide open 3-point shots; so, might as well have been playing a zone defense. ISU can play a zone defense against us because we lack consistent outside shooters.

Not having enough quality depth, especially in the back court, is on the coaching staff. Failure to recruit a true backup PG (which Vic has acknowledged) was a choice. Not having enough depth against TCU on Saturday is why our starters had to play substantial minutes in a game where they should have each been on the bench for at least 10 minutes in order to conserve their legs for a game at ISU only 48 hours later.

I've said before, it will be tough for this team to win the Big 12 tournament as it requires winning 3 games in a row, and in less than a combined 72 hour time span. Then, it's time to get ready for the first game in the NCAA tournament in about 5-6 days. If the team is tired now, it's not gonna get easier as there won't be much time to find rest. It might actually be better for this team to bow out in the semi-finals in Kansas City; but, every loss matters when it comes to our NCAA seed and trying to earn favorable matchups.

 

[texexted]

Vic summed it up well. ISU played better, hit a ton of threes, and Texas is worn out.
The only thing he can’t talk about is how horrendous the refs are. Flail towards the basket and toss the ball in the vicinity of the sky and you draw a foul every time.

 

[Bucksgal]

Started out the season with an injury to one of Texas's major players, and now struggling offensively with an injury to another major player. We're just not that good without each one. Hope Sonya will be back after this week of rest, but I am very concerned as she didn't even make the trip.

 

[Moooooo]

Started out the season with an injury to one of Texas's major players, and now struggling offensively with an injury to another major player. We're just not that good without each one. Hope Sonya will be back after this week of rest, but I am very concerned as she didn't even make the trip.

It is for sure tough to endure injuries to your best players. ISU lost a big one; KSU lost a big one. Baylor's Blackwell has been out many games. Injuries are part of the game, just like officiating (good or bad).

Vic says "you win with guards". And, I agree, especially in the post-season. But, the lack of quality depth in our backcourt is really hurting this team, and taking its toll on our other backcourt players who expend the most energy, especially on the defensive end.

So, without enough "healthy" guards last night, the strategy should have been to emphasize getting the ball to our inside players since we have more depth in the frontcourt, and ISU lacks interior post defense. We couldn't do it; just like we couldn't do it at Texas Tech. That's what I'm most disappointed in.

 

[UTexRulz23]

It's not that the loss was unexpected (for me). It was the play. Sure, we mounted a comeback and made it interesting at the end. But there are so many times that even our good players seemed lost. And then, our buckets seemed a lot harder than theirs. This is a blueprint win. Replicate this and it's the formula for a relatively easy win. Score might've ended close, but we never felt in it.

It's the no respect/confidence in our three point shooting.
It's the lack of apparent play calling and breaking the zone.
It's not making adjustments on D soon enough.
It's not letting the refs get in our heads.

These can/should be fixed by the coaches. Missing Morris is huge, and yeah, we'll be a different team when she gets back. But, these are things coaches can/should be working on...and we've seen it time and time again.

 

[brnkj]

It is for sure tough to endure injuries to your best players. ISU lost a big one; KSU lost a big one. Baylor's Blackwell has been out many games. Injuries are part of the game, just like officiating (good or bad).

Vic says "you win with guards". And, I agree, especially in the post-season. But, the lack of quality depth in our backcourt is really hurting this team, and taking its toll on our other backcourt players who expend the most energy, especially on the defensive end.

So, without enough "healthy" guards last night, the strategy should have been to emphasize getting the ball to our inside players since we have more depth in the frontcourt, and ISU lacks interior post defense. We couldn't do it; just like we couldn't do it at Texas Tech. That's what I'm most disappointed in.

Agree with you on all points, but did you attend or even watch the game? Because, as you mentioned, we lack quality depth in the back court and with Morris out Fennelly chose to guard us inside the three-point line, but was still able to challenge the only two outside "threats" we had available in Gonzalez and Holle.

Every time we got touches inside our post players were covered with two and three defenders of their collapsing zone. Kudos to our kids for even being able to grab as many o-boards as they did that helped keep us within striking distance. Gaston, Faye, Jones, and Muhammad put back shots on those rebounds with a lot of contact going on yet only shot a combined 5 free throws. Yet... every time Becky, Bunny, or Suzie went flailing out of control at the basket there was a foul called on us for even being in their vicinity.

I find it very odd that the D. Antonelli excused those THREE FOULS CALLED ON US IN ZERO SECONDS as "freedom of movement" the same thing Fennelly has been whining about. Vic didn't even bother to argue, the look on his face at that moment said everything. The refs were sending a message that they were going to call fouls if we even breathed on them. But hey... if that's the way the game is being called it is what it is.

Fennelly chose to pick his poison and play the odds with Morris out... and it paid off. If we meet them in KC they won't beat us again with a full team.

 

[brnkj]

One last thing... I'm disappointed in our play last night for the first three quarters of the game, but what I've come to realize in Vic's system is that even when we played crappy in losses we had chances to win... be it against ISU or UConn or any of the others. Seven single-digit losses by a total of 38 points I think, that's about a 5.5 point average margin of loss. His system can't be all THAT flawed.

 

[WCBBNUT]

Reality check:

We have five players sidelined with injuries… six with Morris. And yet, we are sitting at the top of the conference and just revealed as a top 16 team.

Morris averages 30 mins , 12 pts per game and is our most prolific three point shooter.

We beat ISU earlier this year. We beat Baylor earlier this year. We beat OU earlier this year.

Vic is 6-1 against Bill.

Rori missed 5 games against teams we would have beaten and in which she would have padded her numbers. SOME of her numbers are down but improving, and some of her numbers are up. It doesn’t make sense to compare her stats now to her stats for the entire last season. Not apples to apples yet.

We have a week to sit with this loss and these ladies will use that time to recover, recoup, reload and do what they have already done - beat West Virginia.

 

[flash34]

Well…..I had to fast forward through most of game. Not fun after IS scored first 8 points. Roster construction is an educated guess. Lots of injuries throughout. But focusing on the all important guard play….right now Morris and Hunter are the only guards out. Maul and Codio were known no-plays throughout even though Maul joined second semester. We all know the sad situation with Hunter. Being down two rotation guards(Morris and Hunter) is huge. Not having the back-up point is huge. If Morris gets back then things would look up. Big IF. Schaefer had to make pre-season decisions. Bet he adjusts his decisions some for next year. Codio, Maul, Hunter are all questionable for me. Two to injuries and one to mental issues. Girls just have more injuries in this physical game. Planning adjusted for luck is just part of women’s basketball. Hope Morris can come back and no one else gets hurts.

 

[22Horn]

I've missed alot but what is goig on with KH?

 

[22Horn]

It would be nice to pick up someoe like freshaman B Maulpin out of TT...she would be a help!

Flash why do you feel this way (doubting) about these 3, Codio, Maul, Hunter are all questionable for me? Again I may have missed some dialogue.....

 

[flash34]

Coming back from serious knee injuries……ACL surgery just is a high risk. Moore as well. Even with medical advances. Sometimes it takes two years to get back to normal. There are no known setbacks but tough injuries. Hunter dealing with depression or whatever mental issues for an entire year is extremely risky,

 

[UrsusArctos]

It's much more physical down on the floor where the women's game is played. Refs need to adjust to that.

I agree but it's their party and until it changes we need to adjust.
When we pass it inside, the defenders surround our post player bumping up against her banging her body and her arms. If the defenders keep their arms up there will usually be no foul called no matter the contact.
Conversely if an offensive player is driving toward the bucket, any contact at all, even if the offensive player initiates it, a foul will be awarded a large portion of the time.
Complaining is not going to change that, it happens most games (games without the three female refs…) and to win we need to adjust. We need to be the team getting to the line more, and that means driving the ball.
When we are on the wrong side of the calls it's usually because the opponent is aggressively driving and we are not.

 

[UrsusArctos]

Isu respected our 3 pt shooters all night, yet still clogged the middle. And Gaston is excellent from mid-range too. Shay and Shaylee were blanketed all night.Do you think Texas big's going 1 against 3 is going to work? It was a disaster last night.

Part of the value of good post players is they demand extra attention from defenders to open up the outside. When the defense collapses pass it out to shooters. We have great post play, that should equate to open shooters.
ISU covered our inside game and kept Holle and Shaylee well covered. That should not happen. We need to spread the floor and pass it out of the post and pass around the perimeter quicker.
Position Gaston further out – she has a great face the basket game from 8-10 feet, and our guards should be driving to pick up fouls.
Jones on the block drawing two or three defenders, Gaston just inside the high post, Shay, Shaylee and Rori spaced evenly around the perimeter should be a nightmare for any team.

 

[Born in ATX]

I know Vic likes to leave 1 ship open. We should be set at the 3 through 5 spots, where we have 7 total. So guards next year if all come back would be Rori, Shaylee, Shay, Ndjakalenga, Jordana, Gisella. No way we should roll the dice on the other one (fool me once . . . you know the rest of the saying). I think we go back to the portal and get a gamer for that last spot. We already know there will be great interest, Texas really takes care of its players, and there will still be many players out there who will have super senior eligibility (Vic sure did shake the hand of a certain guard from USF for a really long time when they beat us at home in December - just sayin').

 

[texexted]

Sure hope Gaston comes back. Vic is so hard in her and sometimes she just rolls her eyes - as if she can’t believe he’s chewing her out for something she had nothing to do with.
Maybe that’s their unique relationship - but while we’re fretting, I’ll fret about that.

 

[Run Pincher]

I know Vic likes to leave 1 ship open. We should be set at the 3 through 5 spots, where we have 7 total. So guards next year if all come back would be Rori, Shaylee, Shay, Ndjakalenga, Jordana, Gisella. No way we should roll the dice on the other one (fool me once . . . you know the rest of the saying). I think we go back to the portal and get a gamer for that last spot. We already know there will be great interest, Texas really takes care of its players, and there will still be many players out there who will have super senior eligibility (Vic sure did shake the hand of a certain guard from USF for a really long time when they beat us at home in December - just sayin').

As bad as TCU is doing I wonder if we could get Bradley. She can definitely spread the floor. I don't know if her mother likes or hates Texas based on her previous time here.

 

[Moooooo]

As bad as TCU is doing I wonder if we could get Bradley. She can definitely spread the floor. I don't know if her mother likes or hates Texas based on her previous time here.

You do remember that Paige Bradley was a very early verbal commitment to Karen Aston, and then decommitted shortly after Vic was hired, right? Most assume the reason was that she wouldn't be a good fit in his style of play.

 

[Zig72]

It would be nice to pick up someoe like freshaman B Maulpin out of TT...she would be a help!

I enjoy speculating about possible portal transfers, but Bailey Maupin? I don't know. Definitely a talent, with 3 years of eligibility, but I would hope for more. It's possible that Booker will be our next star off-guard if she picks up the defense relatively quickly. Remains to be seen.

 

[Moooooo]

Reality check:

We have five… FIVE… players sidelined with injuries… six with Morris. And yet, we are sitting at the top of the conference and just revealed as a top 16 team.

Morris averages 30 mins , 12 pts per game and is our most prolific three point shooter.

We beat ISU earlier this year. We beat Baylor earlier this year. We beat OU earlier this year.

Vic is 6-1 against Bill.

Rori missed 5 games against teams we would have beaten and in which she would have padded her numbers. SOME of her numbers are down but improving, and some of her numbers are up. It doesn’t make sense to compare her stats now to her stats for the entire last season. Not apples to apples yet.

We have a week to sit with this loss and these ladies will use that time to recover, recoup, reload and do what they have already done - beat West Virginia.

Just about everything you stated is a fact.

That being said, every loss this time of year is scrutinized by the NCAA committee. We know where the committee ranked Texas in the first reveal. And, now we endured a loss on the road against a team with a NET ranking slightly lower than ours, but a team which was not in the committee's Top 16.

I think a lot of fan bases want to believe that the committee will take injuries (for players on the teams they root for) into consideration when seeding the final bracket. With the number of injuries this season (including season-ending and early / late in-season) across so many teams, I just don't know how you can do it. We're not gonna get a pass for any of our losses just because Rori, Taylor, and/or Sonay were unable to play.

I still believe our loss at Tennessee and/or our loss at home to Texas Tech cost us a #1 seed last season. One loss could make the difference again this season in a #3 versus #4 seed. So, every game going forward matters. I agree with those who stated previously that Texas has very little room for error, especially being the lone Big 12 team included in the first reveal Top 16. We've seen what this team looks like at home versus on the road; if we endured another loss or two we could play ourselves out of a home sub-regional host site.

 

[Moooooo]

As far as Kyndall Hunter, the only thing Vic said last November was that she was dealing with "family issues". I know we're all assuming that "mental health" is the real issue based on her social media posts, but even that seems like a stretch (to me). Would have been better had Vic stated "personal issues".

I wish Vic would have made a statement (coaches used to) since then that she was not going to return to the team this season. I guess no one ever confirmed if she was still enrolled at Texas this semester; I'm assuming she is still using her scholarship despite not practicing with the team and participating in any team events. That actually bothers me; obviously, she is "healthy" enough to be posting on social media and sitting in the stands watching the game. But, just not healthy enough to help her teammates (as far as I know).

She missed some games last season, as well, returning to her home in Houston before re-joining the team. Obviously, Vic gambled she'd be willing and able to help the team this coming season; but, looks like he got burned again. Can't imagine she'll be part of the team next season. I'm actually surprised there was no transfer portal decision/announcement in December or early January.

 

[ATX91]

I enjoy speculating about possible portal transfers, but Bailey Maupin? I don't know. Definitely a talent, with 3 years of eligibility, but I would hope for more. It's possible that Booker will be our next star off-guard if she picks up the defense relatively quickly. Remains to be seen.

Maupin is certainly a talent, but she’s a farm girl from Gruver. She’s not going anywhere.

 

[Run Pincher]

You do remember that Paige Bradley was a very early verbal commitment to Karen Aston, and then decommitted shortly after Vic was hired, right? Most assume the reason was that she wouldn't be a good fit in his style of play.

No, I only remember her being a target but she went to TCU. I think she could fit, but I guess Vic knows better than me.