GDT--Western Kentucky

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

I have some of the same thoughts as the rest of the posters but we also need to take a realistic look at where we are and where we are going.

First, this team is young and is struggling to find its identity. The seniors need to provide the leadership. They will get there.

Second, the non-conference schedule we have played so far is brutal. Gonzaga, ASU, and Western Kentucky are all programs that have strong upper-class leadership. We've been beaten by some really good teams. No shame in that. What matters is what they learn from these games and what they do with it.

Finally, I see more athleticism on this Jacks team than any that I can remember. This team has the rest of the year to come together and there isn't any reason to think htey won't. My guess is they will round into another team that nobody wants to draw in the post-season.

One thing is for sure. We will have to win the conference tournament to get to the NCAA Tournament. Winning the last few games would have given us a chance at an at large bid. We didn't so we have to get in the hard way.

Looking forward to watching AJ mold this team into a really tough team to play.

GB, GB, GJ!

SUPERBUNNY

[trackrabbit]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

I couldn't understand why we didn't pack the lane with a zone. WKU took nearly all of their shots from the paint. They spread out our defense and let that quick guard go 1 on 1 with her defender and judging by her 28 points, it worked. WKU also shot something like 2-10 from behind the arc. It was frustrating to see our girls get beat off the dribble time after time.

[JimmyJack]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

I couldn't understand why we didn't pack the lane with a zone. WKU took nearly all of their shots from the paint. They spread out our defense and let that quick guard go 1 on 1 with her defender and judging by her 28 points, it worked. WKU also shot something like 2-10 from behind the arc. It was frustrating to see our girls get beat off the dribble time after time.

They were burning it up from 3 coming in. AJ said they decided to take away the three.

[zooropa]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

Tweet from AJ:

Tough loss today for the team, but I saw some good signs. We are closer to where we want to be than it seems. Back to work tomorrow!

Good to hear, from a guy who certainly doesn't sugarcoat.

[SturgisJeff]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

I agree completely on the full court pressure. Macie, Ali, and Steph are quick and can pressure. Ali and Macie had some sweet quick feeds for layups yesterday also.

[JimmyJack]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

Look at how well we played in the first half, with a LOT of freshman minutes. In some ways, the younger players were more intense than the more experienced ones. Once everybody gets on the same page, we're going to be really deep and really good... again.

Anybody doubt that AJ will get the team through this rough patch? I don't.

[jackdaniel]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

At one time during the game,it became apparent that the team had difficulty even moving the ball along the perimeter.We couldn't crack that tough outside perimeter of thiers.A few scores underneath would've helped aliviate (sp)some of that pressure, but we couldn't get it in.Maybe they were all concentrating on not turning the ball over too much,who knows?Sometimes it seemed like they steered us right into another defender.You know you've got a tough defense when ball movement is alway's lateraly with no penetration. Paluch should take a few open shots, the defense has to respect a player as a shooter too.Lot's of little things can help , bottom line though, you've got to find a way to counter that type of intense pressure,or it's going to be a long night.I think we're learning lessons, but it's costing us victory's right now.We'll be better for it all at the end of the season.Also, officiating was not consistent, which confuses the players on both teams.

[jackdaniel]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

On a positive note, that bounce pass to Macie & her acrobatic layup right before the half was a thing of beauty,got the crowd on thier feet.We could still manage a respectible 20+ win season, if we start applying lessons learned up to this point & make the neccessary adjustments.

[BTownJack]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

Argus article on the game:

SDSU women lose third straight
Home win streak ends; Jacks 1-3
Terry Vandrovec - November 23, 2009

BROOKINGS - Not even the magic of Frost Arena was enough to cure the ills of the South Dakota State women's basketball team.

The Jackrabbits had their run of 35 consecutive regular-season home wins snapped in an 81-74 loss against Western Kentucky on Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 1,829.

It was also the third loss in a row for SDSU, which went 32-3 last year and began this season ranked in the top 35 of the NCAA Division I polls. It's also the longest skid since 2005-06 - the last time the Jacks didn't qualify for the postseason.

For the first time since 1982, the Jacks are 1-3 and already in danger of being eliminated from any sort of at-large consideration for the national tournament.

"It was a goal of ours this season to protect Frost Arena, go undefeated at home, and we just didn't get it done today," said SDSU junior Kristin Rotert, who had a team-high 16 points. "It's the same things we've been talking about all season. Same mistakes, just a different day."
Actually, the Jacks were better in some troublesome areas than it had been in road losses against Arizona State and Illinois State. They committed a season-low 16 turnovers, won the rebounding category and went 25 of 31 from the free-throw line.

However, SDSU shot only 36.2 percent from the field, while allowing the Lady Toppers (3-0) to score 48 points and shoot 57.1 percent in the second half. Western Kentucky point guard Amy McNear finished with a game-high 28 points with five assists before fouling out in the final minute.

....

(read more)

[jackdaniel]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

Another thing i noticed, is that when the our point gaurd stopped her dribble,that's when all three perimeter defenders rushed up on our players to create pressure, all simutaneously, well coordinated, if our point gaurd had kept the dribble alive, if a defender rushed up ,she could just dribble around her.I think W Ky. did a better job of keeping the dribble alive until they had someone to pass it to.They might have planned to do this against us, or it's just the way they play, don't know about any of thier other games.

[jackdaniel]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

Any thoughts on Charlotte....tough team?We sure could use a win about now.They play #11 Duke tonight, hope it's a tough game & they get real tired.

[SturgisJeff]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

TV said on his blog that the WKU defense was more like little kids basketball. every one rush the person with the ball

[TeamPlayer]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

I couldn't understand why we didn't pack the lane with a zone. WKU took nearly all of their shots from the paint. They spread out our defense and let that quick guard go 1 on 1 with her defender and judging by her 28 points, it worked. WKU also shot something like 2-10 from behind the arc. It was frustrating to see our girls get beat off the dribble time after time.

Ditto TrackRabbit: I am not big on going zone defense, but no guard could stop #3's penetration. When Maria stepped in to stop #3's layup the girl dished off to the player Maria, or another post player, left for an easy layup. Going zone would have forced WKU to make outside shots, which they didn't prove they could do. Coaches should have seen that. Alison has the quickness to gaurd any point guard, but she is not confident in her offense when being pressed. WKU was all one-on-one players and moves. Very little ball movement or teamwork, but it worked against the Jacks this time. (That blonde gal ref is really bad and should go back to ref'n junior high games).

[rational thought]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

TV said on his blog that the WKU defense was more like little kids basketball. every one rush the person with the ball

Pretty good little kids team. He may want to rethink that quip

[slosho]

Re: GDT--Western Kentucky

(That blonde gal ref is really bad and should go back to ref'n junior high games).

is it the blonde one with the mini mullett... if so she sucks. IMO