(9) SDSU vs (8) USC: Friday 7 PM NCAA Tournament

[73alum]

It seems as the season has gone on for the Jack’s, the spacing and passing has been outstanding! USC has 7 transfers I believe this year!? USC doesn’t have the experience playing together like the Jack’s have. To me, this will be a huge benefit especially playing against such a highly rated shot blocking team. If the Jack’s can maintain that precise passing and spacing then USC will have a much harder time upsetting the Jack’s scoring and rhythm!!!

[98Jackfarmer]

Draftkings has us as 4.5 pt favorites as of noon today.

[jackdaniel]

I heard tickets sold out for both round 1 and round 2 in Virginia. I would hope there is at least some blue in the stands but sounds like it’ll be an impressive showing for the Hokies. Hopefully they cheer for us in round 1.

Hopefully someday, we'll be able to host the first two rounds, or if not us,someone close who's not a #1 or 2 seed playing hot at the right time, where we will be assigned to play too. We have to get a break sometime if we keep knocking at the door right? I think the closest to home we've played in now ten times playing in the Tournament is Denver, if my questionable memory serves me right, against S Carolina . That's not a very good track record for the NCAA's mission statement, their goal to match teams closest to home as they can is it? I will acknowledge however, it's not always easy for them to have all the circumstances fall into place for them to do that, but I digress.

[GoJacks2011]

I heard tickets sold out for both round 1 and round 2 in Virginia. I would hope there is at least some blue in the stands but sounds like it’ll be an impressive showing for the Hokies. Hopefully they cheer for us in round 1.

[jackdaniel]

We have many options as you have noted, maybe a combination of them, we'll utilize the whatever works best mentality i suppose, AJ will have a plan, plan B, or more I'm sure. He'll mix it up at times too perhaps? Should be fun to see what the plan is and how it's executed. They ( our coaching staff ) have the film to dissect and formulate the best way to attack and defend and all that's left is to implement that plan or make adjustments to it as needed. We will be prepared and ready, the coaching staff will see to it, rest assured. The waiting is the worst part for us fans, the players not so much as they are kept busy and practicing, preparing, I hope this will be a coming out party for our under class-men as we are one season removed just about from being more seasoned and accustomed to Div 1 play and our seniors/juniors should be steadfast and steady as usual, can't wait for the opening tip off.

Once the game starts, the players will know what to do and how to do it, that's what well disciplined and prepared teams do, not to say there won't be any spontaneous athletic moments where a player see's an opportunity and exploits it, as we've been accustomed to seeing a few times throughout the game, that are fun to watch. Let the games begin, only 3 days away.

[LetsGoRabbits]

I was looking at the season's stats, to find out more about USC, What I found is we are a very solid team stat wise. One thing they are dominate at is shot blocking, at #6 in the country, even then, we aren't real shabby at # 65. As far as a Pac 12 team, even Coach Close said we are very similar to them (UCLA). Bottom line is we should feel very confident going into the game that if we play to our ability and potential , there's no reason to not believe that we can come away victorious in this game. I'm sure the players are confident and believe the same. It's March maddness and we are ready to Tango.

100%
not saying we WILL win. it is not a given, but i do feel confident that our girls will play well. i think one of the biggest issues is that this is a game where the two teams ARE EXPECTED to be evenly matched. we have not been in a game like that since sometime in december or november (definitely were not supposed to be evenly matched in our last OOC game). I dont think it will take us too much time to get past that

they are not going to significantly outsize us, but as already mentioned they are good shotblockers. it will be nice, especially early, to get some scoring in the paint, because it would be nice to NOT have to rely on being hot from the perimeter immediately. so WHO is gonna get us some buckets inside? recently we have really tried to establish Paiton inside early, but she has traditionally struggled against post defenders who are bigger than her. this would be a great game to have her hit some 3s but that has been a very unreliable weapon this year. i think if we get scoring from Paiton it will be a bonus and a bad sign for the usc ladies. will they let Paiton draw someone out of the paint to give Myah space?? will Timmy and Paige score off the dribble? I think we will find a way but it will be interesting what it is

that said, i really think this will come down to defense and rebounding. obviously Sissoko should know better, being 0 and 2 against us already, but i still think they will have a feeling that they will be able to do what they want and if we are making it tough for them to score and beating them on the boards it will be a test of their resolve. our defense has improved a lot in the last 60-70% of league games,I believe if we keep that up things will look very very good for us

i would say if we shoot well from 3 i really like our chances, but that just seems like it should be obvious. that is why teams try so hard to defend the 3 because letting your opponent get hot from there is game changing. that said i would love to see Timmy keep up her shooting from the SLT and maybe someone else join her

[jackdaniel]

I was looking at the season's stats, to find out more about USC, What I found is we are a very solid team stat wise. One thing they are dominate at is shot blocking, at #6 in the country, even then, we aren't real shabby at # 65. As far as a Pac 12 team, even Coach Close said we are very similar to them (UCLA). Bottom line is we should feel very confident going into the game that if we play to our ability and potential , there's no reason to not believe that we can come away victorious in this game. I'm sure the players are confident and believe the same. It's March maddness and we are ready to Tango.

[salemjack]

Let’s get talkin. I’m expecting a really close game. I am hoping our seniors and lead us to a big time victory.

USC comes from the PAC 12 conference which is a very good WBB conference. Hopefully AJs connection to the UCLA coach can give us a scouting boost.