THIS WEEKEND WE TRAVEL TO THE MOUNTAIN SCHOOLS. THE UTES AND THE BUFFS ARE ALWAYS TOUGH AT HIGH ALTITUDE. HERE'S WHAT YOU MIGHT LOOK FOR:

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The Utes are deadly from distance. So, before taking them on, you have to learn as a defensive player to break the shooter's rhythm from deep, effectively alter her shooting motion, or make her hurry her shot. If you allow her to make a clean catch, square up, plant her feet, and take careful aim -  she'll burn you. 

Exhibit A: Anna Wilson's defense in Friday's game against the Ducks. Their long range bomber - Te'Hina Paopao - was neutralized by Anna's skill and effort. Instead of 5 for 9, which she's totally capable of - she was 2 of 3. Ditto for Haley shutting down Erin Boley's long range game and Lacie on Taylor Mikesell.   

The Utes have six three point shooters and they average about nine made threes per contest. Brynna Maxwell, Andrea Torres, and Niyah Becker are the most prolific long range shooters. If you let Brynna get going she'll shoot you out of the building. Perfect rhythm, good form, NBA range, quick release - she's a dangerous person - unless she's up against a strong defensive player with some length - i.e. Haley, or Lexie, or Lacie. Brynna's 6' tall so it's hard for a small guard to stop her. Fortunately, Stanford has a bunch of tall guards and Brynna must be stopped.

  If you saunter into the Huntsman Center and play with casual overconfidence - Ralphie will trample you. I'm sure no one's forgotten our two games against Lynn's pumped up players last season. We escaped with wins from both games by spectacular last second efforts. In the first, with three seconds left, Lacie made a perfect pass from out of bounds to Ashten under the basket. Her layup got us into overtime. In the second game, Kiana made a corner three and a running forty-footer to score six points in six seconds for the win. We need to play every possession like a number one team for forty minutes and avoid the need for more last second heroics.

The Buffalos have a talented 6'-3" athletic senior post player who improves significantly every season. Mya Hollingshed has good moves to either hand around the basket. This year she's added a consistent mid-range jump shot and is developing a three pointer. She's averaging double digits in points and rebounds and will be a potent lesson for our young post defenders.

Peanut Tuitele is a 6' slasher and scorer who's usually in double figures. She's a strong body with savvy moves around the basket and will be a defensive challenge for our guard/forwards.

Jaylen Sherrod is a talented quick and agile point guard who drives and dishes effectively. She's always a great challenge for Kiana, Anna, and Jana.

These two mountain teams will be great preparation for what comes next. The following two weekends we play UCLA and USC, then we go to Pullman for two games against the biggest surprise of the season - Kamie Ethridge's new massively improved Cougars. They just received their first Top 25 ranking in school history for knocking off or scaring the hell out of other Top 10 ranked teams. More about them in my next blog.

GO STANFORD!!