We're going to the Sweet 16!

[rattfatt]

I was just able to listen to the post-game news conference. I was stunned by Karen's answer to the question as to why Imani played so little in the second half --- something about wasn't being effective, something about fatigue, and something about wanting to get a fresh body in the game. If it wasn't about a tweaked leg, then this reasoning doesn't fly for me. We were not going to win, but Imani could have increased our rebounding total and maybe gotten a few baskets. She is our star post, and you just don't pull her for most of the second half without ever seeing the floor again. I did love Haddis in the game. I don't think we got the full story. I still think it was about being careful about injury. I hope so, or else I've lost some confidence in Aston's judgment.

I don't agree with that at all. Imani was clearly bothered by the size, length, and athleticism of Kiah Stokes and was not effective. There was a play in the game that showed a great example of that. Imani has the ball at the high post with Stokes giving her a cushion and Imani is so worried about getting her shot blocked she jumps and comes down with the ball still in her hands and travels. Coach Aston was absolutely right, Imani was not effective.

 

[yelladawgdem]

Never gets old...

You are right. It doesn't get old. Ha Ha.

 

[Dr. D]

I don't know why Imani didn't play more, but the stats say she didn't do badly when she was in. She played only 17 minutes. In that time she had: seven rebounds, including 5 offensive rebounds; 7 points on 3-6 shooting. At that rate it looks like she would have gotten a double-double if she had played 25-30 minutes.

 

[HornView]

She looked gimpy in the "good game" line at the end, but it was a very brief shot, so who knows. There's only so much that can be said about a players health/injury situation these days. I'm not questioning her lack of minutes.

 

[WCBBNUT]

Imani went down and grabbed her knee at one point. Fatigue. Frustration. Health. Anyone or all three could have been at play. Considering the praise Aston heaped upon her in the two previous games, I am sure there was good reason to have Imani sit. In that same press conference, Imani said herself she wasn't being effective. That had me scratching my head because you would think she would have been pulled but then put back in to try again. Very odd.

On the bright side - Ariel and Imani both were very clear in the press conference - the players now know they have a lot of work to do if they want to compete with the likes of UConn. And they want that. That alone was worth the beating we took.

I heard somewhere we are going to start playing UConn again in pre-conferrnce schedule. Is that true? I hope so.

 

[WCBBNUT]

Of course this is ignoring that humongous elephant on the women's side!

WTF are you talking about Refuge? Aston lost the best player on her team and actually made the changes needed to her team and made it to the Sweet 16. She completely re-tooled her offense mid-season and made a run at it. That is EXACTLY the kind of coach we need here at Texas!

Seems like our debate has spilled over to the men's board.

 

[HornView]

Seems like our debate has spilled over to the men's board.

Then I think someone pointed out they were referring to "someone" higher up.

 

[WCBBNUT]

Ahh. The Chris Polonski situation. Yep. Not sure how I feel about that one.

 

[JoeDallas]

I'm stuck on my point. Dr. D is right. Rattfatt, you say Imani wasn't being effective, but she was being more effective than anyone else on our team. Her first half line was good. We all know she has a better chance of getting rebounds and put backs (and blocks) than anyone else on our team. If it wasn't about health, then Karen made a boneheaded move to play her most effective player, who starred the weekend before and basically won those games for us, for only 17 minutes. Another odd, and irritating, thing to me was that Doris Burke and the guy announcing didn't even make any reference to the fact that Imani had left the game and never came back. What's more, it wasn't mentioned in the Statesman article, the AP piece, or anywhere else I looked, although all those sources had made a big deal about what a huge piece she is to our game.

 

[rattfatt]

I'm stuck on my point. Dr. D is right. Rattfatt, you say Imani wasn't being effective, but she was being more effective than anyone else on our team. Her first half line was good. We all know she has a better chance of getting rebounds and put backs (and blocks) than anyone else on our team. If it wasn't about health, then Karen made a boneheaded move to play her most effective player, who starred the weekend before and basically won those games for us, for only 17 minutes. Another odd, and irritating, thing to me was that Doris Burke and the guy announcing didn't even make any reference to the fact that Imani had left the game and never came back. What's more, it wasn't mentioned in the Statesman article, the AP piece, or anywhere else I looked, although all those sources had made a big deal about what a huge piece she is to our game.

All I would say is go watch the video again, and listen to Imani very carefully. She says it her self, she was not as effective. Also when Imani was pulled from the game, Sara came in and played well right off the bat, so Sara should have continued to play. I don't understand why it really matters, when Imani was pulled from the game, it was already a blowout.

 

[WCBBNUT]

I had heard on numerous occasions during the season that Imani often signaled when she had "reached her limit." In the B12 tournament (or maybe the NCAA first game) it was announced that she still had not been fully cleared health-wise to play a full game.

In the UConn game she clearly went down and grabbed her knee. She played a bit longer after that and then went out. I don't think she came back in after that (might be wrong).

My gut tells me she had pushed herself and at some point it was decided not to take a chance - not worth the risk. We were not going to recover from a (at that point) 20+ deficit to UConn.

I could be wrong but I would think something would have come out already if there was a story there.

All that said - it did feel like we threw in the towel early. There was just a certain look in the players and in the coach. Just my opinion. Hell, by that point I had thrown in the towel and was already thinking about next year.

In addition to Imani's minutes, I am perplexed at Brooke's 21 minutes which is shy for her. She came off the bench and instantly hit a three. The whole game was odd. But a team like UConn causes other teams to try new ways to stop them.

Midway thru the season, many if not most of us weren't sure we would make the tourney much less the Sweet 16. I've got no complaints. I'm just happy to have a team again that makes me think we will get back to the Sweet 16 and beyond. Haven't felt that way in some time...

 

[BBV_Horn]

JoeDallas...It is HATTIS....not Haddis....and I think she might be all basketball in 2015 & 2016....(fingers crossed)
There are good and not-so-good things about this season...
I hope Karen looks at the teams that are very successful and makes some adjustments....there are some things that need to be done differently, and if she had not gone to Zone defense (as was strongly suggested by others) we never would have made it to Sweet 16..
I actually have to applaud her staff for our great end-of-season run...not that Karen Aston is not a good coach, but sometimes you need to take to heart that 8 eyes are better than 2 !!
All in all, we can hopefully agree that while we are not where we want to be, (and we ended on a very poor note) things are looking better than they have in some time, and that these young ladies worked their A$$E$ off this season, sacrificed, sweated, cried, bonded, fought and scrapped their way to the best finish we have had in over a decade....they deserve our admiration and respect for sure...

 

[TagHorns]

You're right, you have a right to your opinion. I just don't like trolls that come on here when the team loses but are as quiet as church mice when the team does things that haven't been done in over a decade. I don't dislike baylor because of the winning, I dislike baylor because of the petty, immature coach that they have. And yes, they will be good next year but so will we. I don't have a problem with teams that win, in order to be the best we have to beat the best, and that is what they have been in the conf for years. We will agree to disagree when it comes to the offensive strategy of the game. You also can be embarrassed by the 50 point lose but what I would tell you is to get in line. Every fan base in the country is embarrassed after playing Uconn whether it's getting blown out by 30 or 50 points, it's all the same.

WOAH!!!! Couldn't agree more Ratt! It's obvious the ones getting on and bashing are fans of other Big 12 teams. Most likely Sooners or Bears. Think it's funny how they have to keep up with us! We don't have a problem with teams that are winning.....our girls are striving to get there. With class I might add! They earned that trip to the Sweet 16 and if anyone thinks the GIRLS weren't embarrassed over that you're crazy. The difference is, the also RESPECT the other team. They knew going into that game that they were great! They weren't SCARED at all. They were excited to be where they were and play UConn. The embarrassment shouldn't have been in a 30-60 loss, it should be embarrassing to lose to a team that wasn't #1 in the NATION!

Proud of these girls and where this team is headed! I know Aston, the Asst. Coaches and trainers have done a great job working to take the "NEXT STEP" every year!

 

[BabHorn]

She's third on the depth chart in both sports.

The difference is that in BB, she will get a lot more playing time vs VB. She will be a viable option to start at PF or, if behind Kelsey and Imani, to play while giving Kelsey and Imani down time one after the other, while offering strong rebounding and offense that will only get better with practice. Her decision to concentrate on BB really gives us much more solid, experienced depth at the post than we would otherwise have.