ELITE!!!
And that charge on Leigha was utter bullshit. The defender was already falling before any contact.
But IT DIDN’T MATTER in the end!
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That was making me very unhappy
Glad it worked out
Glad I recorded the game. Now I can watch it tomorrow with no stress.
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They are really good but the next step is a killer.
We are only 4.5 point underdogs for Monday
By the way, Amy Dilk probably had her best game since returning from injury. Her stretch at the start of the 3rd, especially on defense, really helped turn the tide.
It’s great to see her come so far from that moment 45 seconds into the season.
3 Likes
I don’t give us much of a chance against Louisville. They are a good defensive team and they forced us into 24 turnovers in the matchup earlier this season. Naz was limited in that game going 5-9 with 12 points, 8 boards and 5 turnovers. Brown added four turnovers and Rauch had 5 as well. We only went 2-15 from deep that game.
I can’t expect a 12 turnover game like we had against SD. That was also a lower possession game and the Cardinals play more uptempo.
Keys:
- Naz and Brown playing like they’re out two best players. They don’t have to have career games, but their season averages from the field.
- Role players have to hit their open shots. Nolan took 9 threes last night and made one. Most of them were very open.
- Phelia stepping up. She’s probably the most athletic player on the team and she actually played decent against Lousiville earlier this year. She’s much better now than she was then. Would love her coming out party tomorrow night
Browns obvious foot problem doesn’t give me much hope.
I am, however, fascinated about next year - Brown, Phelia, Nolan feels like a good starting point, but basically every KBA team has featured one if not two double digit post scorers (Thome for three years, then Thome and Naz, then Naz, and this year Naz and Kiser) - do we have one of those in waiting on the roster now, like Kiser was this year? The most obvious answer is Cameron Williams, who was a top 30 recruit and was Naz’s main backup?
I have marveled they have succeeded so much without a dependable long-range scoring threat. Have a good day from outside, I can see it. Otherwise, I fear we are just behind that top tier of schools.
Nolan did shoot 40% on 5+ attempts a game this year. She shot badly last night but I’d call her generally “reliable”.
3 Likes
Let’s hope water finds it’s level. One out of nine is completely uncharacteristic for her.
2 Likes
Will have to defer to you folk that know the women’s landscape better than I do but I don’t see an abundance of talent on this team.
Hardly any of them can regularly make an individual play.
Am I misreading the situation?
I’m inclined to believe that KBA has done a remarkable job.
Weakness on the team is that they can be pressured into many turnovers. Guards ball handling can be an issue. But they have a two headed monster in the post starting with Naz who is unstoppable if not doubled or trippled. Brown can make plays Nolan can be relied upon to hit the 3 and Phelia who is in the rotation as a starter is a freshman who is going to be a problem for teams, I think starting next year. She has all the tools and just needs more experience and better decision making. They were handled by Louisville earlier in the year. KBA has done a phenomenal job in my opinion.
2 Likes
Naz and Brown are the two capable of making plays. Phelia can make them, just needs to finish them better. I think Phelia is a serious plus athlete - looking forward to see what she becomes.
1 Like
Maybe I just watched the wrong games; they have looked weak from outside every time I tuned in this year. I admit to limited evidence. Phelia coming on strong offers hope, for sure!
Piece on KBA from The Athletic. Haven’t had a chance to read it myself, but will get to it at some point today. From Division III to Elite Eight, how Michigan’s Kim Barnes Arico built the ‘hardest working team in America’ – The Athletic
2 Likes
Paywalled.
According to Her Hoop Stats, the Dec. 2 loss to Louisville was a season low in: points (48), points per possession (0.62), offensive rating (66.7), net rating (-33.3), offensive rebounds (6), oreb rate (20%), total rebounds (26), and assist per to (0.29) for Michigan. It was a season-high in tov rate (30.8).
A lot has changed since then, but it just goes to show how dominant Louisville was in that game compared to other games Michigan has lost. The Cardinals, for what it’s worth, had no season-highs or season-lows in that game. It was just a normal game for them
2 Likes
don’t see a path to victory in this one. Louisville by 77
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When do you have positive mojo?