Texas vs. WVU

Wow, that did not go the way I thought it would. During the game, I would look up and think:
1. Only 1 turnover in the first quarter?
2. We're out-rebounding them by double digits?
3. We're making almost all our free throws? Ebo making ALL her free throws?!
4. WVU attempted a total of 7 free throws for the ENTIRE game?!
5. We're in the bonus with more than 7 minutes to go in the quarter?!
6. Is the first game we've ever seen where Vic kept his jacket on the entire game?

What in the world happened since the debacle with Kansas?

I will say that the focus of Vic when Kyndall is in is her defense. When WVU was at half court and next to Vic, Kyndall was guarding and he barked at her:
a) Where's she going?! Where's she going?!
b) Get UP! Get UP! Get UP! (meaning move closer to her physically) - But she didn't.

That's the only hint I have that it's her defense that's keeping Kyndall from more court time.
 
I missed the game and just watched the replay and I will say we haven’t played that well in quite some time. Whatever Vic did or said needs to be said more often lol. I knew it would get fixed but we played some great basketball tonight. Switching Matharu and Warren was the best idea as both had one of their best games of the season especially Warren. She was effective on both sides. I will say that the lineup with Harmon, Allen-Taylor, Matharu, Warren, and Moore was by far the most effective on the defensive end. That 2nd quarter from that group was pure gold and I hope Vic plays that lineup more often. Job well done ladies!!!
 
I was glad they mentioned the crowd. I know from my own athletic experiences that I always played better in front of a crowd even if it was hostile. It was a good crowd (especially compared to home games so far) near 3,000

And as Vic said, those players deserve it and I could not agree more with that.
 
Vic was giddy after the game when he did his radio interview from the floor - and tried to get the team to go around and thank the fans.
Seems like he found a solid starting lineup and Audrey is obviously a beast coming off the bench. The team looked totally different from the one that showed up the past two games. Refreshing.
 
This was very encouraging. Matharu starting gave us a big time scorer who can break down the defense and score off the bounce. Audrey was PHENOMENAL off the bench, prob her best game if the year. He tightened the rotation and our defensive intensity was off the charts.
 
I guess if we run what's called a "dribble-drive" offense, there's gonna be a lot of dribbling; I just don't think that can be done effective if Audrey is handling the ball a lot driving to the basket (unless she has a clear path). Just seems like we have more turnovers when we're dribbling than when we're passing the ball (although I can't quantify that).

I still hate that "hard hedge" where Ebo is out like 20 feet from the basket trying to get in the way of the ball handler; I don't understand the objective. It resulted in a very early foul against Tech, and it resulted in a foul again last night. I think Karen and Rick Barnes used that a lot, too, so it must be a common strategy in some defenses; i just don't think it's worth the risk if a foul by your post player 20 feet from the basket is the likely outcome, especially when you don't have a lot of post depth. Perhaps someone can explain it to me.
 
I watch a good bit of WBB and it seems the “hard hedge” is used more often than not so it must be a good disruptor. Ebo only had two fouls total for the game and I don’t see a lot of fouls called on that move, so I’m not seeing that as a good excuse not to use it as part of the defense.
 
Moooooo said:
I guess if we run what's called a "dribble-drive" offense, there's gonna be a lot of dribbling; I just don't think that can be done effective if Audrey is handling the ball a lot driving to the basket (unless she has a clear path). Just seems like we have more turnovers when we're dribbling than when we're passing the ball (although I can't quantify that).

I still hate that "hard hedge" where Ebo is out like 20 feet from the basket trying to get in the way of the ball handler; I don't understand the objective. It resulted in a very early foul against Tech, and it resulted in a foul again last night. I think Karen and Rick Barnes used that a lot, too, so it must be a common strategy in some defenses; i just don't think it's worth the risk if a foul by your post player 20 feet from the basket is the likely outcome, especially when you don't have a lot of post depth. Perhaps someone can explain it to me.
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Agree. Ebo should always be headed directly towards the basket. She’s too slow to try and defend on the perimeter.
However the defense was tough last night.
 
The one thing I noticed was the confidence of the team in offense in defense. There was confidence in driving to the basket instead of backing off and trying to find someone to else to handle the ball. That led to drives towards the basket just to draw a foul. And when the miracle of the free throws occurred, that gave them more confidence to try to fling something up when they didn't have a good angle for the bucket.

And as far as defense, except for a handful of times, it seemed everyone knew their assignments and kept at their assignment as they were weaving in and out trying to trail them.
 
Clearly Audrey does well at the stretch 4. To me, that was the biggest difference last night. It proved well for her and opened up shots for everyone else. I hope we see it again.
 
The pick and roll…..and it’s variations……are in my fair and biased opinions the most used and impactful play in basketball regardless of level. There are so many tremendous offensive and defensive coaches employing tactics to get an offensive advantage……or to counter that advantage. Watch Luka for examples. Of course it all depends on what the skills of the other team as well as the abilities of your team to implement for success. Texas’ defense against Tech was atrocious defending the pick and roll….we simply didn’t disrupt the flow and made it easy to drive to the basket. What I saw last night was an aggressive hard hedge and recover technique. Ebo scared me to death but she did a decent job of disrupting the dribbler by going out further and slowing the player down and disrupting the flow. Then she recovered as fast as possible. That strategy won’t work all the time as the dribbler will split the two defensive players by dribbling between them…..or other options. Against WV it worked. And she didn’t foul. It wasn’t a good hard hedge but it was just effective enough. There are other measure’s and counters ……that’s why the pick and roll is such a universal tactic. Others may see it differently but I thought that was a significant change in defensive strategy by Schaefer.
 
WCBBNUT said:
Clearly Audrey does well at the stretch 4. To me, that was the biggest difference last night. It proved well for her and opened up shots for everyone else. I hope we see it again.
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I think that's the best lineup. And 2nd best is her going to the 3 to replace JAT with Aaliyah taking her place a the 4. At least certainly offensively. Of course that's always with Aliyah at SG. She has to stay out of foul trouble, which is tough on the road as the ref's certainly aren't going to give Texas any favors. They don't even give Texas any favors at home. Last night might have been an exception.
 
Good win. I got confused and thought that they played Kansas State. The Iowa state game will obviously be a tough test, but the same still applies. They're going to have to figure out their zone and try to slow down a really good offense.
 
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Moooooo said:
I guess if we run what's called a "dribble-drive" offense, there's gonna be a lot of dribbling; I just don't think that can be done effective if Audrey is handling the ball a lot driving to the basket (unless she has a clear path). Just seems like we have more turnovers when we're dribbling than when we're passing the ball (although I can't quantify that).

I still hate that "hard hedge" where Ebo is out like 20 feet from the basket trying to get in the way of the ball handler; I don't understand the objective. It resulted in a very early foul against Tech, and it resulted in a foul again last night. I think Karen and Rick Barnes used that a lot, too, so it must be a common strategy in some defenses; i just don't think it's worth the risk if a foul by your post player 20 feet from the basket is the likely outcome, especially when you don't have a lot of post depth. Perhaps someone can explain it to me.
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The hard hedge is used to disrupt the ball handler to make them go side ways and gives the player that's being screened time to recover back to them. You don't want a ball handler being able to get down hill off of a ball screen. I agree with Audrey, their should be less dribble drive whenever she's on the wing.
 
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flash34 said:
The pick and roll…..and it’s variations……are in my fair and biased opinions the most used and impactful play in basketball regardless of level. There are so many tremendous offensive and defensive coaches employing tactics to get an offensive advantage……or to counter that advantage. Watch Luka for examples. Of course it all depends on what the skills of the other team as well as the abilities of your team to implement for success. Texas’ defense against Tech was atrocious defending the pick and roll….we simply didn’t disrupt the flow and made it easy to drive to the basket. What I saw last night was an aggressive hard hedge and recover technique. Ebo scared me to death but she did a decent job of disrupting the dribbler by going out further and slowing the player down and disrupting the flow. Then she recovered as fast as possible. That strategy won’t work all the time as the dribbler will split the two defensive players by dribbling between them…..or other options. Against WV it worked. And she didn’t foul. It wasn’t a good hard hedge but it was just effective enough. There are other measure’s and counters ……that’s why the pick and roll is such a universal tactic. Others may see it differently but I thought that was a significant change in defensive strategy by Schaefer.
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Yep. And Iowa state has made a living over the years using high ball screen/pick and roll. I think Vic is going to have to go small against them and put Audrey at the 4. And I would like to see Gaston at the 5.
 
kurupt said:
Yep. And Iowa state has made a living over the years using high ball screen/pick and roll. I think Vic is going to have to go small against them and put Audrey at the 4. And I would like to see Gaston at the 5.
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Gaston has all the tools and could play the 5 effectively if she would just calm down and stop rushing herself offensively. Defensively she needs to do a better job boxing out and going to the ball to grab rebounds. Both are very fixable things for her IMO.
 
kurupt said:
Yep. And Iowa state has made a living over the years using high ball screen/pick and roll. I think Vic is going to have to go small against them and put Audrey at the 4. And I would like to see Gaston at the 5.
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So, Audrey fronting Joens and Gaston behind?
 
justabbfan said:
JAT had a horrible offensive game. Zero points. She’s gotta get her groove back and soon.
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That's what I meant by feast or famine offensively by some of our playes. Against Kansas, she had 18 points, I believe. Against ISU, she will be defending Ashley Joens; she and Celeste defended her last season.
 
Next man up, right? It's hard to be on every night. Good teams adjust. Joanne had a tough offensive night and the team won anyway. As for Joens, we defended her last year and I expect Vic has the team ready again. We'll see...
 
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