(02-15-2014 05:24 PM)cnyrocketfan Wrote:  Well, you're welcome and thanks but I don't do two games at once (I can barely keep up with one). Other folks were giving updates on the men's game and were doing a good job.

Oh my bad I thought I saw some posts from you over there. Well I guess you are not the superhero I was thinking you were. Well maybe cause you do a great job wherever you post.

I did post a few times over there today but wasn't giving updates of the men's game.

Cullop needs to play all of the freshmen. This team likely is not making the post-season, so let's get these players meaningful minutes.

(02-15-2014 05:54 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Cullop needs to play all of the freshmen. This team likely is not making the post-season, so let's get these players meaningful minutes.

I think every coach plays to win. This notion that, with an eye to next year, we would not put our best team on the court is an insult to the team, the coach, and the fans. You may have given up on this team, but I don't think that Cullop has given up on them, and I don't think that they've given up on themselves. I would guess that even the freshmen wouldn't want to be given minutes under the circumstances that you suggest. If you want minutes, earn them in practice.

(02-15-2014 05:54 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Cullop needs to play all of the freshmen. This team likely is not making the post-season, so let's get these players meaningful minutes.

Sophie and Oliva did not get into the game. Elena played 7 minutes in the first half but didn't get in the second half. She was 0/4 shooting the ball. Janice, only freshman who contributed today, played 16 minutes and scored 10 points.

(02-15-2014 06:16 PM)northrocket43 Wrote:  

(02-15-2014 05:54 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Cullop needs to play all of the freshmen. This team likely is not making the post-season, so let's get these players meaningful minutes.

Sophie and Oliva did not get into the game. Elena played 7 minutes in the first half but didn't get in the second half. She was 0/4 shooting the ball. Janice, only freshman who contributed today, played 16 minutes and scored 10 points.

It seems that Janice can drive around her defender any time she feels like it. I really liked the pass she made to Krunch (who then missed the lay-up) when the defense converged on her on one drive. That needs to happen more often. When she beats one defender, another usually steps in to make things difficult. Janice's teammates need to put themselves in good spots, and she needs to find them.

I thought our 3-2 zone defense hurt us today. Ohio got many open three-pointers against that defense, and we had trouble rebounding out of the zone. The man defense seemed much more effective, but maybe Cullop was worried about fouls given how closely the game was called.

Janelle's play is so much more controlled this year. No turnovers today in 36 minutes.

It was nice to see Recker back today, although she seemed rusty and perhaps a bit nervous. She gives us some depth and flexibility.

Are these really professional journalists asking the questions at the post-game news conference? "How big was Ana's three at the end of the game?" "What does this win mean for your team?" Please ask a question with a bit of substance to it. Remember when Michael Cooper made fun of our media after our NIT championship win? I think he was onto something.

This is what I would have asked Coach Cullop today: "Why did you stick with the 3-2 zone after made baskets for so long? It didn't seem to be working well. Were there problems with the defensive execution?"

(02-15-2014 07:34 PM)Dwight Wrote:  Are these really professional journalists asking the questions at the post-game news conference? "How big was Ana's three at the end of the game?" "What does this win mean for your team?" Please ask a question with a bit of substance to it. Remember when Michael Cooper made fun of our media after our NIT championship win? I think he was onto something.

This is what I would have asked Coach Cullop today: "Why did you stick with the 3-2 zone after made baskets for so long? It didn't seem to be working well. Were there problems with the defensive execution?"

We got a ton of tos out of that zone early but stuck with it too long. When they stopped trying to force it inside we needed to go back to the man to man.

(02-15-2014 07:34 PM)Dwight Wrote:  Are these really professional journalists asking the questions at the post-game news conference? "How big was Ana's three at the end of the game?" "What does this win mean for your team?" Please ask a question with a bit of substance to it. Remember when Michael Cooper made fun of our media after our NIT championship win? I think he was onto something.

This is what I would have asked Coach Cullop today: "Why did you stick with the 3-2 zone after made baskets for so long? It didn't seem to be working well. Were there problems with the defensive execution?"

You're right about those "how big was that ..." questions. They're beyond stupid.

We're here with Bobby Thomson of the New York Giants ... "Bobby, how big was that home run you just hit?"

Or to give it more of a UT flavor, we're here with Stan Joplin ...

"Stan, how big was that shot you just hit?"

If that's the best a reporter can come up with, he or she may as well just say "Bobby [or Stan or coach Cullop or whoever it is] tell us your thoughts."

After their terrible play in the Akron game they put together three good games in a row, so I suppose they were due for a bit of a let down today.

I thought both offenses looked fairly inept at times and I not sure how much credit is due to the respective defenses that also looked a bit inept at times. As to Ana's shot, it was clutch and it won a game that was still totally up for grabs at that point with under a minute to go. I also liked the fact that Crunch went 6 for 6 and JRL went 4 for 4 from the FT line and Janice came out of the gate and scored 8 early points when no one else was scoring much. I also liked those occasions when Inma took her game to a higher gear and dominated.

This team is still going to have ups and downs but the good news is that they won today although they struggled a bit at times. At this point I don't expect them to get a bye for the tournament but I am hoping that they can get home game for the first round and win it and get to Cleveland-----once there they can't do any worse that last year's highly publicized team did.

We're tied for fourth with Buffalo right now. They have the tie-breaker against us (head-to-head win), but they also have a tougher schedule down the stretch, facing both Akron and Bowling Green. A bye through the first two rounds (top-four finish) is a real possibility. If not, then a home game for the first round is almost a sure thing, since that requires only a top 8 finish. We would have to crash and burn to slip to 9th. We have at least a two-game cushion over all teams below us in the standings.