Texas @ Notre Dame 12/05/2024

[Moooooo]

Good and bad with Thursday's win.

I had stated in the WVU game thread how disappointed I was with our back court play, lack of scoring, lack of shot attempts, lack of free throw attempts, lack of defense against opponent's guards, etc. It was pretty much the same thing against ND's guards.

In the first quarter, I was stunned how well Shay Holle was playing draining three's as she was a no-show the priot two games. Felt that was a really good sign for us. But, I did not count on Rori being so timid and not even looking for her mid-range shot. That last season 3-point shot made by Hidalgo at Rori's expense was deflating, as was the start of the second quarter. When I saw that Hidalgo already had 14 points in the first quarter and Rori had zero points, I knew that we weren't gonna be able to defend her.

I actually like how we passed the ball in the fist quarter against ND's zone defense; we got some good shots in soft areas of the zone but only a few of them went through the basket.

 

[Moooooo]

Once again, Vic says one thing and does another. All this pre-season praise for Bryanna Preston and how underrated she was in the recruiting rankings, and he doesn't give her any court time until late in overtime.

When 3 of your starters end up scoring only 4, 6, and 8 and points, it puts a huge burden on other players (like Booker, Holle, and Oldacre) to produce. Until Rori becomes more offensive-minded, this team is going to struggle against elite teams. In order to win a national championship, you have to basically get consistent double-digit scoring ability from your starters.

We desperately need Laila Phelia to get completely healthy and provide some scoring punch. We know she showed it at Michigan, so hope she find that offensive game.

Losing to Notre Dame isn't the end of the world, but it won't help our resume' in trying to earn a #1 national seed. With our non-conference schedule being so weak, we only get 3 chances (WVU, ND, and Maryland) to earn impressive wins.

 

[LutherIsMyDog]

Once again, Vic says one thing and does another. All this pre-season praise for Bryanna Preston and how underrated she was in the recruiting rankings, and he doesn't give her any court time until late in overtime.

When 3 of your starters end up scoring only 4, 6, and 8 and points, it puts a huge burden on other players (like Booker, Holle, and Oldacre) to produce. Until Rori becomes more offensive-minded, this team is going to struggle against elite teams. In order to win a national championship, you have to basically get consistent double-digit scoring ability from your starters.

We desperately need Laila Phelia to get completely healthy and provide some scoring punch. We know she showed it at Michigan, so hope she find that offensive game.

Losing to Notre Dame isn't the end of the world, but it won't help our resume' in trying to earn a #1 national seed. With our non-conference schedule being so weak, we only get 3 chances (WVU, ND, and Maryland) to earn impressive wins.

Valid observations. I was equally baffled that Justice Carlton only got 3 minutes of playing time after her big contributions in the Florida tournament.

 

[Run Pincher]

Rori has never been a great shooter. It just isn't going to happen. I wish she had the shooting touch of Hildago, but she doesn't. She's TJ Ford, not DJ Augustine.

We see Hildago and expect Rori to do the same. She doesn't have the same talent. And we know Vic has struggles recruiting great shooters. He got Shaylee from the portal and that's about the best, but she was really good, not great. But he also lost Matharu.

Texas is going to have to do it with defense.

But I would also like to see him try some zone defense to try to quit leaving 3pt shooters open when playing teams like ND, but he has his stubbornness.

 

[LutherIsMyDog]

But I would also like to see him try some zone defense to try to quit leaving 3pt shooters open when playing teams like ND, but he has his stubbornness.

 

[Moooooo]

I wish she had the shooting touch of Hildago, but she doesn't.
We see Hildago and expect Rori to do the same. She doesn't have the same talent. And we know Vic has struggles recruiting great shooters. He got Shaylee from the portal and that's about the best, but she was really good, not great. But he also lost Matharu.

Texas is going to have to do it with defense.

But I would also like to see him try some zone defense to try to quit leaving 3pt shooters open when playing teams like ND, but he has his stubbornness.

I don't know that anyone expects Rori to score like Hidalgo. But, if you aren't a scoring PG and have a reputation as a distributor, you need to do better than 5 assists in 45 minutes at a big-time game at Notre Dame. If you aren't a "shooter", you need to drive to the basket and either finish or draw fouls in order to get yourself to the free throw line. Rori didn't do that in our two toughest games of the season so far.

I just want Rori to play to her strengths. But, if she's not actively looking for her mid-range jumper or getting to the free throw line, then when she's on the court we're playing 4-against-5 on the offensive end.

 

[WCBBNUT]

For the love of… Rori is 9 games into returning from an ACL season ending injury. Before going out last year she was leading the nation in assist to turnover ratio. Give her a minute. She’s considered one of the best guards in the nation. And for what it’s worth, Matharu is on her fourth school so losing her is less about Vic and more about her.

 

[brnkj]

For the love of… Rori is 9 games into returning from an ACL season ending injury. Before going out last year she was leading the nation in assist to turnover ratio. Give her a minute. She’s considered one of the best guards in the nation.

Also... Against Notre Dame Rori was hesitant to shoot that open three then Notre Dame was giving her up top... Almost like she did not have the green light. She is a shot creator. She (or Vic) should have been looking for that to be open when she brought the ball across half court... If that's what they're giving you, then dribble into it and pull up and bust it! Anytime a defense is overplaying somewhere, they're giving up something. Attack what they're giving you. If you hesitate and then shoot... your percentage is going to be very low.

 

[Moooooo]

For the love of… Rori is 9 games into returning from an ACL season ending injury. Before going out last year she was leading the nation in assist to turnover ratio. Give her a minute. She’s considered one of the best guards in the nation. And for what it’s worth, Matharu is on her fourth school so losing her is less about Vic and more about her.

Yet, three days later she wasn't hesitant at all at JMU today. She took 11 shots (second to Booker's 13) in 22 minutes compared to taking 9 shots in 45 minutes against ND. Wonder why the big change . . .

 

[brnkj]

Yet, three days later she wasn't hesitant at all at JMU today. She took 11 shots (second to Booker's 13) in 22 minutes compared to taking 9 shots in 45 minutes against ND. Wonder why the big change . . .

I suspect maybe the reigns weren't being held as tight today???

 

[Moooooo]

I suspect maybe the reigns weren't being held as tight today???

Maybe. I watched Vic in today's post-game interview. I wasn't fully watching/listening, but he basically said something to the effect that two players in particular wanted to redeem themselves, and one of them was Rori. I wouldn't be surprised if Vic told her that he wanted/needed her to get to her spot and shoot the ball.

 

[wkass]

Hidalgo had a lot to do with it. She is as advertised, offensively and defensively.

I hate to say the quiet thing out loud, but I think with Harmon's recovery still in progress, Hidalgo is the most complete PG at this point of the season. Not only can she distribute the ball and get her teammates involved, play great defense, but her outside shooting game is far superior.

 

[justabbfan]

Agree about Rori not being 100% recovered from her injury. She seems a bit slower and hesitant. I noticed, too, that she had to adjust that knee brace several times in both games so it must be bothering her.