ORU--Round 3

[SoDakJack]

Re: ORU--Round 3

Can't wait to find out where we play! You know the other team is going to be thinking "Anybody but South Dakota State!"

SUPERBUNNY

I was actually thinking about that as the clock ran out yesterday afternoon. Is there any possiblity that the Jacks' opponent would think that, with the struggles they have had this year, that this team isn't as talented as last year? Maybe we can still catch a team off-guard.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: ORU--Round 3

You have to think that part of AJ's gameplan would be to get passes to the free throw line area to allow multiple passing lanes. The problem with swinging the ball around the perimeter is when it gets to the sides your lanes are limited. Of course, if Maria can work herself free like she started to do in the 2nd half then that is all moot.

I think we both agree on that. It just got a little, okay a lot dicey at the end. They will tighten that up.

Can't wait to find out where we play! You know the other team is going to be thinking "Anybody but South Dakota State!"

SUPERBUNNY

[SoDakJack]

Re: ORU--Round 3

As we go into the NCAA Tournament you can just about be assured that we will see a lot of pressure similar to what ORU used a lot of the game and in particular the last six minutes of regulation. The Jacks continued to pass the ball around the perimeter and ORU was able to cause some turnovers. Every team we face will have the athleticism to do the same things.

No doubt AJ recognizes that and will work on that and turn it into a strength moving into the tournament. There are certainly some opportunities for easy shots if they can break through it and be aggressive.

Again, what a tremendous game. How fortunate are we as fans to have a team that has made it to the NCAA tournament in the first two years of eligibility? I'm sure it isn't unprecedented but it is no doubt very rare. And to lead the nation in GPA on top of it!

GB, GB, GJ!

SUPERBUNNY

You have to think that part of AJ's gameplan would be to get passes to the free throw line area to allow multiple passing lanes. The problem with swinging the ball around the perimeter is when it gets to the sides your lanes are limited. Of course, if Maria can work herself free like she started to do in the 2nd half then that is all moot.

[jackdaniel]

Re: ORU--Round 3

This championship game with ORU is exactly what this team needed heading into the NCAA tournement.The lesson that you have to stay focused & play hard to the very end against good teams is a lesson well learned.Even 16 seed teams in the dance are good teams.The competition will only get stiffer from here on out.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: ORU--Round 3

As we go into the NCAA Tournament you can just about be assured that we will see a lot of pressure similar to what ORU used a lot of the game and in particular the last six minutes of regulation. The Jacks continued to pass the ball around the perimeter and ORU was able to cause some turnovers. Every team we face will have the athleticism to do the same things.

No doubt AJ recognizes that and will work on that and turn it into a strength moving into the tournament. There are certainly some opportunities for easy shots if they can break through it and be aggressive.

Again, what a tremendous game. How fortunate are we as fans to have a team that has made it to the NCAA tournament in the first two years of eligibility? I'm sure it isn't unprecedented but it is no doubt very rare. And to lead the nation in GPA on top of it!

GB, GB, GJ!

SUPERBUNNY

[SoDakJack]

Re: ORU--Round 3

Regarding Oral Roberts/their coach/style of play/Luper and Bingham....

I'll take it even one step further than that. I was thinking why any recruit would want to go there anytime soon when you know you are going to have to watch two players take 85% of the team's shots. Don't get me wrong they are two talented players but I sure wouldn't want to put in all that time as a player just so those two can shoot all the time.

IMO, the flip-side of not subbing players in enough affecting recruiting could be SDSU's "Line Change" coaching style. One one hand you have basically no minutes from the bench and on the other you have the minutes spread out over 8-10 players. Either way a recruit could see this as having an adverse effect on her own numbers. Not saying either is wrong or right.

As long as a program has sustained success and good recruiting staffs, the players will come. The chance to be on championship teams tends to overrule a playing time issue.

[1bunnies]

Re: ORU--Round 3

Two big players that didn't score much, but came through at the end were Jill Young, and Jenn Schutteloffel.

That throw-down by Jenn on the over-the-back rebound foul, and then step up and nail two FT was clutch.

Likewise, Jill's FT to get to a 4 pt lead in OT was critical.

Kristen was getting good looks on those last 3 treys from the corner. Just didn't fall. Want her shooting those after the great success that she had earlier.

The 3 1K shooters for the Jacks played great, and great that Maria will end up just points higher than Wark for points scored.

ORU should be a great representative in the WNIT. Hope they bid well to host a game or 2.

Dont mean to discredit Jill, her 2 ft's were huge, but Kristen made the 2nd of 2 ft's that gave us the 4 point lead. Jill's ft's pushed the lead from 1 point to 3. They all came up huge when they needed to.

[zooropa]

Re: ORU--Round 3

ORU got the #1 seed by sweeping the Jacks. They swept the Jacks because they had that 'fear factor' going. They got in the heads of the Jacks.

Well, guess what? The Jacks don't fear ORU anymore.

[JimmyJack]

Re: ORU--Round 3

Regarding Oral Roberts/their coach/style of play/Luper and Bingham....

I'll take it even one step further than that. I was thinking why any recruit would want to go there anytime soon when you know you are going to have to watch two players take 85% of the team's shots. Don't get me wrong they are two talented players but I sure wouldn't want to put in all that time as a player just so those two can shoot all the time.

Exactly. I gather from their fan board that there has been some angst among fans and possibly some members of the team about Luper and Bingham getting ALL the press, and Fink basically facilitating the idea that they're a two-woman team.

That Pyle is very good, too. Shame she doesn't get the ball very often. She seems to score about every time she touches it... but Luper and Bingham don't give it to her very often.

The reason I don't think ORU is going to dominate in the coming years is that while they play a flashy, turnover-creating defense, they really aren't what you would call a "great" defensive team. Other teams shoot a decent percentage against them, and if you limit turnovers, you beat them. Take away 10 of our turnovers yesterday, and that's not a close game... and we had at least 10 turnovers that were unforced, passes to nowhere, dropped balls, etc.

[JamesJacks]

Re: ORU--Round 3

Agreed.

Not that I know anything about coaching or anything like that, but that seems like a HORRIBLE way to coach a team.

Regarding Oral Roberts/their coach/style of play/Luper and Bingham....

I'll take it even one step further than that. I was thinking why any recruit would want to go there anytime soon when you know you are going to have to watch two players take 85% of the team's shots. Don't get me wrong they are two talented players but I sure wouldn't want to put in all that time as a player just so those two can shoot all the time.

[rabidrabbit]

Re: ORU--Round 3

Two big players that didn't score much, but came through at the end were Jill Young, and Jenn Schutteloffel.

That throw-down by Jenn on the over-the-back rebound foul, and then step up and nail two FT was clutch.

Likewise, Jill's FT to get to a 4 pt lead in OT was critical.

Kristen was getting good looks on those last 3 treys from the corner. Just didn't fall. Want her shooting those after the great success that she had earlier.

The 3 1K shooters for the Jacks played great, and great that Maria will end up just points higher than Wark for points scored.

ORU should be a great representative in the WNIT. Hope they bid well to host a game or 2.

[1bunnies]

Re: ORU--Round 3

Congrats ladies. Kristen made some mistakes , but came up big at the end. We almost let it slip away, and if we had, it would have been a terrible way to lose. As for ORU, Luper and Bigham are good, but the pressure got to them a little down the stretch. It a much different game and atmosphere in March, than it is in Jan./Feb. Kristen outscored Luper 21-15 and had 2 less TO's than her. 10-8. If I had to choose which ORU guard I wanted, I would take Bigham over Luper. Luper acts as if she needs the spotlight on her all the time. I like team players like the Jacks any day of the week. Good Luck dancing. As for Waner, the announcer, do you suppose she got a scouting report on the Rabbits from Troy Bumbo, who didn't even know who we were last year.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: ORU--Round 3

I had been saying the whole tournament this wasn't even possible in 25 seconds.

I reckon that's exactly what Billion said when they came up with/agreed to the idea.

Pwned.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: ORU--Round 3

ORU's downfall will be if egos start to get in the way and team goes play goes away. If it happens it will be the coaches fault for letting them come in and out as they feel especially Luper and Bigham. Players on the bench who dont get the opportunity to play because of this may just revolt.

Agreed.

Not that I know anything about coaching or anything like that, but that seems like a HORRIBLE way to coach a team.

[rational thought]

Re: ORU--Round 3

Heard about this from a friend. Tried catching as much of Sports Center as I could, but dind't catch the top ten. If video of this exists and someone can post a link I'd love to see it.

Oh, and congrats to AJ and the team. Great accomplishment KEEPING SDSU women's basketball on the national scene. Would enjoy a Minneapolis placement, but anywhere is better than nowhere.

That was a "HUGE" win...congrats to to Ladies & coaches.....especially the seniors for stepping up their leadership down the stretch....great game