I don't know about you, but I was really disappointed on Monday when the San Diego game was cancelled. I love watching this team play! Two cancellations in two days was tough to deal with! I can imagine the level of disappointment felt by the team. I'm left wondering how we'll play the two home games this weekend in view of the Santa Clara County Covid-19 rules that cancelled the last game. I wonder if we could move the games to San Mateo County? Seems crucial that we get this season under way.
We're not the only team impacted by the pandemic. Number 3 ranked UConn has yet to play. Yesterday they had to pull out of the upcoming Jimmy V Classic tournament in North Carolina. Today they announced their first game would be December 12 vs U Mass Lowell.
Number 1 ranked South Carolina has really struggled in the last two games. In their last game the 21st ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs were up by two points midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn't close it out. Destanni Henderson put up 23 points and got her Gamecocks over the hump. They ended up winning 79 to 72. The Zags outshot the Number 1 ranked team, but got out-rebounded, had too many turnovers, and missed free throws down the stretch - a recipe for defeat.
In the second game of the season, the Gamecocks struggled before pulling out a ten point win against the Coyotes of South Dakota. So, to say the least, South Carolina looks beatable early in the season.
Today (12/3) the eighth ranked NC State Wolfpack knocked off the Number One ranked South Carolina Gamecocks by eight points 54 to 46 to give them a record of 3 and 1. Neither team looked in sync and there was little to like about the way either team shot or played. It was the first time a Gamecock team had been held under fifty points since 2013. Dawn was not happy.
Fourth ranked Baylor kept misfiring against South Florida. Halfway through the fourth quarter the Bulls pulled even at 53, but couldn't go on and win. They lost 67 to 62. The Bears only shot 37%, but pulled down 50 rebounds. Queen Egbo emerged as a surprise star for the team from Waco, scoring 25 points and providing the difference. DiJonai Carrington had seven points.
Fifth ranked Louisville has had two easy games, but on Friday they play Number 20 DePaul at 3:30 on ESPN. The Blue Demons could upset the Cardinals. Louisville's Player of the Year candidate Dana Evans is averaging 18 and their fantastic freshman, Hailey Van Lith is averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds.
I'm sorry Stanford isn't playing in one of the great tournaments going on this week and next, especially the Bad Boy Mower Crossover Classic going on this week in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
GO CARDINAL!!
Totally share your concerns about the cancellation and postponement of these early season games. Even great teams like Stanford need to get games under their belt to build cohesion, work out the bugs, and gain momentum. We are not too far off from crucial road games against USC, UCLA and the Arizona schools.
ReplyDeleteThe Santa Clara County restrictions (as valid health-wise as they are), present a no-win situation for the Cardinal. We need to play! I'm hopeful the program will consider some options: 1) Play all our games on the road until the COVID restrictions are lifted; or 2) Find a neutral site in another county and use that neutral site for all previously scheduled home games.
Time is running short. With South Carolina struggling, Stanford could emerge as the #1 team in the country- If we begin playing soon and be able to continue playing.