There wasn't a thread, but maybe there shouldn't be one. Rockets looked asleep for the first 7 minutes. Got a little energy late, but an undermanned Valpo squad is giving them fits.
Rockets 15-14 after 1
Santucci has absolutely taken over the game. She has been barking at the other Rockets and had a bit of a discussion with one of the assistants on the bench - is the only one showing any fire out there.
I think she has 13 points now. Rockets now up 24-14
1st half mercifully comes to a close with the Rockets up 28-21. Was a difficult half to watch on both sides.
Santucci with 15 points, not that far from matching Valpo's total. Black is next with 5.
Boyd and McIntyre complete non-factors.
38-29 at the media TO. Santucci with 18.
44-36 UT after 3. Still just ... uggh.
(11-26-2018 09:29 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote: [ -> ]44-36 UT after 3. Still just ... uggh.
Notre Dame is watching, terrified, no doubt.
Some of the foul calls in this game have just been ... what?
(11-26-2018 09:49 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Some of the foul calls in this game have just been ... what?
Do you have a score for us, NCR?
59-50 with less than a minute
Thanks! A road win is a road win is a road win, I guess.
Valparaiso is battling injuries and was not very good to begin with. Still, this Rockets team probably isn't good enough to complain about winning ugly on the road. What's up with Boyd this year? She's just not her usual dynamic self.
It was a long "less than a minute". Valpo hit 3 threes in the last 40 seconds to make it scary.
65-59 UT the final.
What an ugly game. Refs seemed to deem everything a foul, even just standing in the wrong place sometimes. 45 total fouls, 29 of those on Valpo. 4 Valpo players fouled out, and they were 1 foul away from not being able to put 5 players on the court. Rockets took 36 FT attempts.
Santucci led the Rockets with 20 points. Also had 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Seriously, without her, I don't think the Rockets would have scored double digits in the 1st half, although she came back to Earth in the 2nd.
McIntyre added 14 and 8 boards.
Rockets shot 35%, including 4-21 from 3, and 23-36 from the line. Also 19 turnovers.
(11-26-2018 10:06 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]Valparaiso is battling injuries and was not very good to begin with. Still, this Rockets team probably isn't good enough to complain about winning ugly on the road. What's up with Boyd this year? She's just not her usual dynamic self.
I'm puzzled about Boyd too. She really doesn't look in sync on the offensive end at all. Still getting her boards (although not tonight so much) but overall looks a half step slower than last season.
(11-26-2018 10:19 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2018 10:06 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]Valparaiso is battling injuries and was not very good to begin with. Still, this Rockets team probably isn't good enough to complain about winning ugly on the road. What's up with Boyd this year? She's just not her usual dynamic self.
I'm puzzled about Boyd too. She really doesn't look in sync on the offensive end at all. Still getting her boards (although not tonight so much) but overall looks a half step slower than last season.
Maybe Jay-Ann was more of a force than I gave her credit for. There is no real three point threat to keep Boyd and McIntyre from getting doubled and with teams packing the paint it’s tough finding space.
(11-26-2018 11:13 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2018 10:19 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2018 10:06 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]Valparaiso is battling injuries and was not very good to begin with. Still, this Rockets team probably isn't good enough to complain about winning ugly on the road. What's up with Boyd this year? She's just not her usual dynamic self.
I'm puzzled about Boyd too. She really doesn't look in sync on the offensive end at all. Still getting her boards (although not tonight so much) but overall looks a half step slower than last season.
Maybe Jay-Ann was more of a force than I gave her credit for. There is no real three point threat to keep Boyd and McIntyre from getting doubled and with teams packing the paint it’s tough finding space.
We have a lot of guards, but most are marginal players.
(11-26-2018 11:13 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2018 10:19 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2018 10:06 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]Valparaiso is battling injuries and was not very good to begin with. Still, this Rockets team probably isn't good enough to complain about winning ugly on the road. What's up with Boyd this year? She's just not her usual dynamic self.
I'm puzzled about Boyd too. She really doesn't look in sync on the offensive end at all. Still getting her boards (although not tonight so much) but overall looks a half step slower than last season.
Maybe Jay-Ann was more of a force than I gave her credit for. There is no real three point threat to keep Boyd and McIntyre from getting doubled and with teams packing the paint it’s tough finding space.
Rokannen has stepped in pretty well, I think, as far as the three-point shooting. She's 9-22 so far, which is a better percentage than Jay-Ann shot last year, but fewer attempts per game. Jay-Ann's offensive game was more versatile than Rokkanen's.
(11-27-2018 05:37 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2018 11:13 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2018 10:19 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote: [ -> ] (11-26-2018 10:06 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]Valparaiso is battling injuries and was not very good to begin with. Still, this Rockets team probably isn't good enough to complain about winning ugly on the road. What's up with Boyd this year? She's just not her usual dynamic self.
I'm puzzled about Boyd too. She really doesn't look in sync on the offensive end at all. Still getting her boards (although not tonight so much) but overall looks a half step slower than last season.
Maybe Jay-Ann was more of a force than I gave her credit for. There is no real three point threat to keep Boyd and McIntyre from getting doubled and with teams packing the paint it’s tough finding space.
We have a lot of guards, but most are marginal players.
With more on the way...
Three out of four incoming recruits are perimeter players...
Interesting to see Copeland and Tshitenge get first-half minutes (or minute, in Mae's case). Copeland missed two shots and had a turnover in her brief appearance.
I saw in Valpo a bottom tier MAC caliber team; Rockets committed too many turnovers, mostly unforced. Poor shooting performance inside and outside the arc as well as from the free throw line. Defense and rebounding were the difference for the Rockets.