THE GAMECOCKS WILL BE THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE WE'VE FACED THIS SEASON. BUT WE CAN BEAT'EM!!

I know everyone talks about Aliyah Boston, but it appears to me that

Zia Cooke on the move

Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson are the keys to beating the Gamecocks. If Kiana and Anna can deal with them adequately on defense, we will play on Sunday. Both Zia and Destanni are fast, strong, and lethal. And our fast able guards can't expect a lot of help in their crucial task, because both Zia and Destanni are good passers and will find whoever we leave to give help. So, if Lexie leaves Brea Beal or Haley leaves Victaria Saxton to help cut off the driver,  whoever we leave will get the ball and score. They use both this drive and dish and pick and roll offense and they're both quick and dynamic.  It's a simple, but highly effective scheme - just ask the Longhorns.

Boston is big, strong, and fundamentally sound, but she typically gets the ball when our defense is set and can be doubled. In my estimation her lack of speed makes her less of a game-changer than the two guards mentioned above. This is why Tara and Kate make the big bucks. They've recruited and coached Kiana and Anna to be able to control this fast two-headed Gamecock attack. Lexie and Lacie will take over when Anna and/or Kianna need a break. Isn't it great that we have four players who can play Final Four level defense!!

Live ball turnovers are deadly against their speed. You may have watched the Oregon State guards get picked clean repeatedly and helplessly watch Dawn's speedsters make layups. Our ballhandlers have to be extremely careful with the ball every minute. No live ball turnovers!  

Needless to say, our air raid offense needs to be at its best. We can't dig ourselves into a hole with a bad start against this group. And by the way, Anna needs to shoot. 

It'll be tough - but we can do it . . . SO YEAH! 

(I learned this approach to ending a thought from Anna.)

GO CARDINAL!!! WE'RE ALL BEHIND YOU!!!

ON TUESDAY NIGHT THE CARDINAL GET THE CARDINALS.

What a fantastic tournament! Great upsets! Overtime breath takers! Stars that come through in the clutch! And new stars emerge in the big moments! Louisville's star, Dana Evans, has been in a shooting slump throughout the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament -  until tonight when she emerged just in time to get Louisville past the Oregon Ducks.  Thankfully, we've had tons of practice dealing with 5'-6" speedster superstars and Tuesday night all that Aari practice will be brought to bear on Dana with the one inch eyelashes.

Let's put together our best game of the season. I love supporting this team and know we have a lot more in the tank. 

GO STANFORD!! LET'S MOVE ON TO THE FINAL FOUR!!   

  

OUR GAME ON SUNDAY AGAINST MISSOURI STATE WILL IN NO WAY RESEMBLE OUR STRUGGLE WITH THEM IN 2019.

 

The 5th seeded Missouri State Lady Bears have faced two double digit seeded opponents thus far in the NCAA Tournament. In one of the biggest upsets in tournament history, thirteenth seeded Wright State derailed the 4th seeded Arkansas Razorbacks in the first round last weekend. And Missouri State beat twelfth seeded UC Davis after a considerable battle. 

In round two the Lady Bears dispatched the Wright State Lady Raiders with relative ease 64 to 39. I don't get it. 

I was genuinely concerned about Stanford meeting the Razorbacks in the Sweet Sixteen. They seemed a thoroughly battle-tested group after their rugged SEC conference schedule, plus their pre-season wins over Baylor and UConn. And then to fold like they did against a thirteenth seeded mid-major - is beyond shocking. Destiny Slocum transferred from Oregon State to Arkansas to make a run at the National Championship. Dungee, Slocum, Ramirez, and Daniels averaged a total of 64 points for the season. Against the Raiders they put up a total of 49 (Dungee had 27, which means the other three scored 22 points.) They got out-rebounded 44 to 30. That seems way beyond just an off night. Could you underestimate a fired-up tournament team that completely? If I were Mike Neighbors, their coach, I would sure wonder.

But now, back to Missouri State. They're basically the same team we met in the 2019 Sweet Sixteen. They're a bunch of juniors and seniors who play hard and rebound. Elle Ruffridge is a 5'-3" senior who scored twenty - double her season average - in their defeat of Wright State. She hit five threes. In 2019, we struggled through the whole game and couldn't hit the side of a barn - to use an old Missouri idiom. Kiana was 0 for 11 from three - to cite one of many such statistics. 

Their leading scorer is Brice Calip - number 11 in the above photo - and she averages 14 points and 5 rebounds per game. Jasmine Franklin (to her right in the photo) is a 6'-1" player who averages 12 points and 10 rebounds. She resembles a shorter Natasha Mack. Good lift and quick off the floor. 

We need to take care of business. To hell with our off-night two years ago. This is now - and we need to play our best game on Sunday. Full of energy and awesome defense. Elle meet Anna. Brice meet Lexie. And Jasmine - this is Cameron. Let's make a statement!

GO CARDINAL!!   

THE COWGIRLS ARE LED BY 6'-4" STILLWATER DUSTDEVIL NAMED NATASHA MACK. SHE'S LONG, ATHLETIC, AND GOOD.

The Oklahoma State Cowgirls are a potent group. Natasha Mack had twenty-seven points in their nineteen point win in Round One against Wake Forest. I'm hoping on Tuesday her jump shot gets bothered a lot more than this.

   

Ja'Mee Asberry (No. 21 watching Natasha shoot) is their other scorer at 5'-5". They're quite a combination and both are dangerous. Ja'Mee scored 18 points against the Demon Deacons on Sunday. Lexy Keys shoots threes and hits 40% if she's not guarded effectively. Yesterday Ja'Mee hit four and Lexy made three. 

Doesn't it appear, after game one, that the refs don't allow blocked shots? Slow motion might prove me wrong, but it looked like there were a bunch of good clean blocks that were whistled as fouls. Cam, Ashten, and Fran need to adjust to what's being called so they can stay in the game tomorrow night. They will be greatly needed.

I hope Anna's injury was slight last night. Her defense will be crucial tomorrow against Ja'Mee. 

We're off to a strong start. Let's keep rollin, rollin, rollin, though the streams are swollen . . . Sorry. The southwestern plains got to me for a minute there. I enjoy this team enormously. Rawhide!!

GO STANFORD!!!   

 

STANFORD WILL PLAY THE UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES ON SUNDAY AT 7PM

The Wolverines are led by their 6'-5" Center who leads them in scoring and rebounding. She's number 40 holding the ball. They had an up and down season finishing 13 and 6, but it must be thrilling to be in the Big Dance. I know they'll give a good account of themselves. After all, have you ever seen a wolverine fight?  

I try to imagine what it must be like for Kiana to come home to San Antonio this week and play in the Alamo City. I know a bit of what it feels like, since I grew up in that town. It's kind of a strange feeling when I go back - every thing just feels right. California still feels like the place we moved to from Texas. Mexican food tastes better, country music sounds like it belongs, jeans and boots seem natural, and friendly people who speak with a drawl are so welcoming. She knows what I mean. It just feels right. And I'll bet'ya she'll play like she's home. 

Let's get off to a great start in this tournament. I love to watch our team when we're really clicking. 

GO STANFORD!! LET'S ROCK AND ROLL!!