Our upcoming trip to play the LA schools is going to be the toughest in years. We play UCLA on Friday the 13th in Pauley at 8PM. They're ranked #12 and are playing great. Charisma Osborne and Kiki Rice are as good a guard tandem as any in the nation. Rice plays point guard more like a senior than a freshman - confident and skilled. Osborne plays exactly like a senior - confident and skilled. Emily Bessoir their 6'-4" post player is much improved, but not as good as she will be.
Cori's number one recruiting class is transforming her program. All five play double-digit minutes and average 34 points per game. Gabriela Jaquez is the sister of the men's team star and her game is advanced for a freshman. They recently lost by a few points to Oregon State, but their leading scorer, Charisma Osborne was injured and didn't play. In her absence, Kiki Rice scored 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. (What's she going to be like as a senior?) Both their team and ours lost to South Carolina by single digits, but their game was in Columbia.
We definitely need our "A" game Friday night from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
USC is much better than their record or their ranking would indicate. Kadi Sissoko, a 6'-2" slasher, is one of the quickest most dynamic players in the country. Rayah Marshall, their 6'-4" power forward (take that literally), is emerging as one of the most effective post players in the PAC12. In their last game she scored 33 points against Oregon State. Destiny Littleton came off the bench for Dawn Staley, but she's a dangerous starter for Lindsay. They recently lost to Oregon, but Sissoko couldn't play. They're really just getting to know each other, since most of them recently emerged from the Transfer Portal. Even as a bunch of semi-strangers they're darn good. The Trojans are going to do a lot of damage during the conference season and I predict they end up as a ranked team that makes the NCAA Tournament. How do you think they're approaching their upcoming game against #2?
TWO HARD-EARNED WINS. LET'S GO CARDINAL!!
My keys for both games: Play inside/out on as many possessions as possible. Make the 3 point shot the alternative shot. Keep the turnovers to a minimum.
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