Texas Southern

Carol Ross commented after the game that she saw a lot of improvement in the team in this game. She noted that when you play an inferior opponent, and you know you are going to win, and you are anxious to get the game over with and go home for the holidays, it is natural to let up, play sloppy, or down to their level. She said this did not happen and she was very pleasantly surprised at the results.

She knows of what she speaks!

I enjoyed the game, it is fun every once in a while to not have to worry about the outcome!
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I was at the game yesterday and it was interesting. GG payed 2 entirely different teams. ALL the starters were pulled after 5 minutes or so in each half, and there were many minutes with 2 posts on the floor - mostly AG or Cokie with Kristen Nash. While I know the competition was not great - TX Southern had both size and speed- just no discipline or refined shooting skills - we looked good. For the first time since Jamey Carey was on the 40 Acres, the team looked like they were running sets on offense. Ball movement was excellent, Erika's shot was off but she had 10 assists and no turnovers that I can remember and the interior passing was crisp and effective. If the team can do this against better competition, TX is going to be much better than I thought. Top Ten good. Elite Eight good. Gayle and Reed played better than I have ever seen them before. Chippies were finished rather than misssed. And Gayle is a beast on defense. Kristen Nash seems to have bulked up and was a force on the boards. I think consistency rather than chemistry or ability is the real issue now. Cautious optimism, and when last did Edub make back -to-back baskets? The Ole Miss game had me tearing my hair out, this last one made me think that in this down year, TX could challenge for the Big 12. The Aggies are injured. OU is Parisless and nearly lost to Creighton his weekend. I think and hope that AG can contain Griner, and while Nebraska beat LSU, TX guards should handle them easily. It is going to be an interesting season, and Williams and Arriarian need to go out with a bang ,and Raven needs to be an All American. Hook "em. I am calmer than I have been since 2003.
 
I hope GG did some big-time *** chewing after the Ol' Miss game, and that lit a fire under them...

But, I am not as "sunshine and lollipops" as some....we need to make our free throws, and there is much to be said for better passing....when we get in Big 12 play, those big huge lobs are going to be picked off. And the boxing out could improve... though I do think our rebounding was better....I am hoping for a Sweet 16, I think Elite 8 is a stretch...

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And just because the score made it look like a cakewalk, Coach G STILL got VERY animated during a few of the media time-outs. If you were to look only at her and not the scoreboard when we were up by 30 or so (~63-32 or something similar), you would have thought we were getting killed in the game.

I *LIKED* that she got on them for losing focus...no matter WHAT the score was at that point.

I LOVED the assist numbers.

Not so thrilled at the fact that the rebound numbers were as close as they were much of the game...at one point, the board showed TSU with the same number of boards as Texas had...and that was with just a few minutes left in the game.

All of that being said...this was a FAR better performance than the Ole Miss game. Still room for improvement but still time to MAKE that improvement happen. And looking at the scores from yesterday, especially the Nebraska and Oklahoma games, there is certainly appearing to be room for a new deputy sheriff in Big12 town
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OK. I’ll stay true to my screen name. I almost never see things as black or white – usually some shade of gray. I don’t think the glass is half empty or half full – just too big.

After the last (ugly) game I tried to mention some of the positives and reasons for optimism. This time I have to say that despite the score there were plenty of opportunities for better competition to exploit.

At times this team plays very, very well. The problem is that we need to play at that level for 40 minutes, and so far I haven’t seen that type consistency. I am encouraged that, unlike some other teams, we see to be able to regain focus during a game. I am encouraged by the level of effort I see on the court. But, unless the consistency improves this team will be stuck at “pretty good”. “Definitely above average”. I hope they are not satisfied with that level of play.

I have wondered if Yvonne might not be a better option at point than AT. She has seemed more like a pure point. Then yesterday she made more mental mistakes than I have ever seen from her – at least as best I can remember. This coming off a game in which she let herself get into early foul trouble. So, I don’t know. I have to assume that the coaches still know a lot more than I do about evaluating talent, and the last couple of games seem to have proven that to be true. I don’t feel like I really have any idea what to expect from Lauren. She has shown flashes of really good play. But, I have no idea at what rate she will progress over this season.

Still, I don’t think the key to improvement and opportunity this season is in finding an answer at the point. Obviously that is a key position and any improvement is valuable. But, I see a bigger issue (IMHO). I think the bigger issue is in the post (excuse the pun). Ashley and Cokie both have the physical ability to be dominant, elite post players. Neither is yet playing at that level. I’m not picking on them. This is a freshman and a sophomore. They will get much better. The rate of that progress will determine how far this team goes this year.

How many championship caliber teams can you think of that did not have an elite player in the post? I don’t mean a just physical specimen. I mean someone who dominates on the boards every game, no matter the competition. I mean someone you can count on to score every time you get them the ball on the block. Any point guard looks much better with an elite post.

I give GG a lot of credit for bringing a couple of players to Texas who have the ability to become an elite post. The next question is how quickly can they develop. I don’t know if it is realistic to expect either of them to reach that level this year, (although I don’t rule out the possibility and certainly believe the physical ability is there). By next year it will become a disappointment if we cannot crush a team like Texas Southern on the boards. By next year our posts should be good enough to make up for the loss of experience…….I really wish we had another one coming to Texas next year.

Don’t misunderstand. I’m not complaining about our posts at all. I just believe that is the biggest opportunity for improvement because those two young women have so much physical ability that they haven’t yet learned how to harness in a consistent, productive manner. I’m not sure either has realized just how great they could be – and almost certainly will be at some point.
 
No mention of Kris Nash in post above.....she works her butt off, and doesn't get enough credit IMHO....

Maybe starting position should be awarded to post who had best rebounds / min. played ratio....?

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It is somewhat funny that you should call me out for not mentioning my favorite player on the team.....I really hope she decides to come back for one more year. Texas is better for having her. I love the way she plays. I mentioned the other two because they are younger and have been blessed with physical abilities that give them an opportunity to become much more than they have so far......Again, I'm not complaining about them. They are young. I'm just hoping they are willing to put in the work to reach their potential.
 
I agree with PP. It appears to me that Cokie wants it more than AG. So I'm hoping that the push and drive Cokie has rubs off on AG. So they both will excel in the post. I'm sure they compete with each other during practice so I know that helps them both gain confidence.

I like Kristen too. I wish they both had a touch, well a heaping tablespoon of her grit, fight, tenacity and nose for the ball.
 
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