You're probably aware that the Arizona Wildcats are having their best season in fifteen years. Adia Barnes has turned the PAC12's ex-doormat into the 11th ranked team in the nation with a 22 and 4 record. Recently, against Utah their star, Aari MacDonald, was sidelined, so Sam Thomas went off for 31 points in the win. In late January they beat UCLA 92 to 66 in the McKale Center before 7400 screaming fans. MacDonald had 27 and Thomas had 20 points. On Friday night its our turn to play the Wildcats in McKale in front of those same 7400 raucous Arizona fans.
It's time Stanford got its supercharger tuned up and showed the nation why we're ranked No #4. The PAC12 Tournament is right around the corner and the Big Dance is two weeks later - let's get this lethal machine roaring and go on a rampage. Our defense and Kiana can't carry us to the Dance - we need to get five or six in double figures with 3's raining down from everywhere and everyone!! The last second heroics are fine, but this team needs to move on to a slew of old fashioned butt-kicking wipeouts. Instead of giving up our 14 point leads - we need to come out in the fourth and win big - going away. Here's the link to the Wildcat website:
https://arizonawildcats.com/index.aspx?path=wbball
Then, after the Wildcats, we move into Tempe and face the Sun Devils. Same story. It's time to show Charlie Creme and his eastern cohorts how its done out west. We adore Charlie Turner Thorne, Tara's ex-point guard, but now its winning time in the desert. Let's go take care of business in Arizona and then head into Vegas and Selection Monday with Big Mo written all over us.
https://thesundevils.com/sports/womens-basketball
A significant (under-reported) problem for the Cardinal is they are next to last in the Conference in free-throw attempts (381) along with a low free-throw shooting percentage of 69.6; Meanwhile, Arizona, our opponent on Friday, has attempted 413 free-throws and is hitting 78.5%. On Sunday, we play ASU which has attempted 457 free-throws.
ReplyDeleteTara has implored the team to get to the line more often, but two key players (who can draw fouls) out with injuries, Stanford's game seems to be outside-centered with the 3-ball.
Certainly hope I'm dead wrong, but if our outside shooting goes South, it will a tough weekend in Arizona.