Texas vs UConn

[Oakman]

Being an East Coast guy I don’t get many chances to watch the Longhorns play so I made sure I was glued to my tv last night. After watching I am very impressed with the team, I love the uptempo play,
Love the way they play D and rebound. I heard recently some people questioning K.A. But watching last night I thought she coached a hell of a game, those wired up segments where we get to hear her talk to the team was fun thought it was cool to get in the huddle, her advice was dead on each time they showed her talk to the team. She made a lot of new fans last night. She had her team down one possession with the ball at the end but got a bad call. Game came down to players not exacuting with a misse layup, missed free throws and an open pass which would’ve led to an uncontested shot. K.A. did a great job. I feel this is a great learning experience for the team I expect they will get better from this come March especially Joyner who will be playing better.

 

[LutherIsMyDog]

Being an East Coast guy I don’t get many chances to watch the Longhorns play so I made sure I was glued to my tv last night. After watching I am very impressed with the team, I love the uptempo play,
Love the way they play D and rebound. I heard recently some people questioning K.A. But watching last night I thought she coached a hell of a game, those wired up segments where we get to hear her talk to the team was fun thought it was cool to get in the huddle, her advice was dead on each time they showed her talk to the team. She made a lot of new fans last night. She had her team down one possession with the ball at the end but got a bad call. Game came down to players not exacuting with a misse layup, missed free throws and an open pass which would’ve led to an uncontested shot. K.A. did a great job. I feel this is a great learning experience for the team I expect they will get better from this come March especially Joyner who will be playing better.

Thanks Oakman. That's the style of play we've been expecting from this team. Hard fought game by both teams and we made UConn earn it. There's several talented teams in the Big 12 and we'll need to play at a high level from this point forward.

 

[Karen]

It was nice to see Krystle Henderson and Imani at the game last night.

 

[JoeDallas]

It's going to be harder and harder for people (e.g., UConn boneyarders) to question KA's coaching ability after last night. As a person with definite opinions, I've questioned her a lot, too, but she coached a heck of a game last night. Taking out Ariel toward the end of the first quarter would have been good in retrospect, but Ariel has done such a good job of keeping out of foul trouble this year. I agree with others, if she had been in for 40, we probably would have won. And I agree with Babhorn, the UConn mystique is beginning to fade a bit as an automatic intimidator in games, at least for us. I don't give them more than maybe a 50% chance to win the championship.

 

[BabHorn]

story by Graham Hays on ESPN about the game. More balanced than I have seen. Nice props to both teams.

I especially like the following comments about Coach Aston and our team (sentence put in bold by me):

The sport is reacting to UConn. Not quickly. Not very often successfully. But reacting nonetheless. It is reacting because of people such as Karen Aston, who figured out how to win with less at North Texas and has successfully translated that into winning with all of the assets at her disposal in Austin. The Longhorns aren't just a collection of good recruits. That doesn't cut it when UConn provides such a clear standard to match. Like Texas, South Carolina under Dawn Staley and Louisville under Jeff Walz were shaped in UConn's shadow.

Shaped by the question: How do you beat that?

We got a team, folks, that is worth watching to see how far they go, this season and in the future.

 

[WCBBNUT]

I have a rule. If we lose I don’t rewatch the misery. If we win, I enjoy the win a second and maybe a third time. I broke my rule with this one. Man oh man. We played well. Damn proud. Damn proud. That foul away from the ball on UConn that prevented us from trying for a three at the end is maddening. Just maddening. Play like that the rest of the season and we go all the way.

 

[Malcom]

I have a rule. If we lose I don’t rewatch the misery. If we win, I enjoy the win a second and maybe a third time. I broke my rule with this one. Man oh man. We played well. Damn proud. Damn proud. That foul away from the ball on UConn that prevented us from trying for a three at the end is maddening. Just maddening. Play like that the rest of the season and we go all the way.

Initially I thought we would get the 2 free throws and the ball because of the potential 3 point shot/play. Boy was I off with that call...sigh

 

[texexted]

Barring injury Rellah will be our most improved player next year. I think even Destiny will also be better but I don't think she is that far away. They both can shoot but must learn defense. In my opinion Jada must ascribe to the same committments.

Have to agree that Ariel sitting out the second quarter cost us the game. She was not shooting as well as in the first when she came back out in the second half, at least that's my impression. Given her tendency to pick up that second foul, it would have been the safe option to pull her with a minute or less in the quarter. But, she is a senior and should know better and has acknowledged this as well. We needed to her and Brooke to play the entire 40 minutes. Didn't happen.

One good thing, that UConn mystique should be gone, at least as far as Texas is concerned. Ideally, we will meet them in the national championship game with different results. That would be sweet.

Meanwhile, there's the Big 12 schedule to finish out.





Geez, they wouldn't have been recruited to Texas if that was the case. Audrey-Ann plays where the scheme dictates. Joyner does the same thing when she is in. And for a post, Audrey-Ann is not slow. She is usually the first post down the court. I would rather have her take the occasional three than any other post not named Rellah. I should state that Audrey-Ann is my favorite player along with Brooke. My long past playing as an undersized post makes me appreciate the way she plays every practice and every game.

Jada brings a lot to the table as well. She was overmatched on the perimeter in this game given UConn's quickness but she does contribute.

Frustration is fine, but no need to eat our own. Take it out on the coaches for starting such a slow, no offense post and subbing in a turnover machine.

No need to be so sensitive. You have an opinion. Others have theirs. You want Audrey-Ann to shoot threes and everyone in our section gasps and begs her not to.
Different perspectives obviously.

 

[BabHorn]

You want Audrey-Ann to shoot threes and everyone in our section gasps and begs her not to.
Different perspectives obviously.

I don't necessarily want her shooting threes, but I certainly feel more comfortable with her doing so than the other posts. And having a different opinion does not equate to being sensitive. What's the use of a chat board if different opinions can't be expressed?

 

[texexted]

I don't necessarily want her shooting threes, but I certainly feel more comfortable with her doing so than the other posts. And having a different opinion does not equate to being sensitive. What's the use of a chat board if different opinions can't be expressed?

Exactly. You are making my point. Thank you. You have an opinion. I have one. This is a message board where people are free to express their opinions - it’s not “eating our own.”

I guess if either of us were that smart we’d be sitting on the sidelines coaching. Maybe that my next gig.

 

[flash34]

Interesting the perspective on AAG now. In JUCO her best skill was 3 pointers from top. She is rushing her shot as the game is much faster on close-out. Watch her feet. She doesn’t square both feet up as she is rushing. She can hit those shots....sure the coaches are talking to her about her footwork and body lean.