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Does Swords come to play…

Does Swords come to play this season? She was great on the Canadian U19 team this summer. Shooter and more.

I live up the road from…

I live up the road from McGill and wholeheartedly endorse this, for purely selfish reasons. Considering the state of their fb program, the switch to American rules will have no effect on the quality of their play.

I've toured NCAA D2 and D3 sports teams and we always walk through the campus. When the coaches hear about tuition fees, they beg me not to tell their athletes or the parents.

Tailgating would be impossibly swank.

Not sure this would be the…

Not sure this would be the best move for KBA, unless the salary is just too big to ignore. I mean, Baylor can no longer be considered light years beyond UM as a program.

High-level guard recruits coming to UM next season, and she has an excellent core to build around, plus her ties are more NY area and whatever she's built over time in the midwest. 

Baylor also might want to promote from within (Messer) to prevent their top players from leaving, those two forwards could be amazing next season.

Hope it doesn't happen!

I've been hoping all year…

I've been hoping all year that either Wiggins or Phelia can take the lead at point and push Dilk to more of a shooting guard next season, where her slow pace and average handle / good shooting form and very good size might be more beneficial to stretching the D, opening things inside even more for Naz. Plus, it'd give a PG, her and L Brown as potential ballhandlers on the floor.

The final 4 teams all did that (SC to a lesser degree, until they finally let Henderson shoot). M did that in the tourney when L Brown brought it up, and we saw how effective that can be. 

Can you believe how close…

Can you believe how close Baylor came to knocking out UConn? Speaks volume about the level UM's WBB was playing at. 

Future is bright, Go Blue!

Great season, top shelf…

Great season, top shelf effort today. Baylor just that much better, but we coulda won.

Point guards coming, hope they are good!

Go Blue!

They ran their O through…

They ran their O through their guards all year though, and were pretty good. Even against smaller teams it'd be Burrell-Davis-Horston leading the way.

Great write-up, thank you. 

Great write-up, thank you. 

Baylor is a tall order, those guards are lethal both ways and Smith and Egbo are formidable when they're on.

But hey, I wouldn't have bet on UM making it past Tenn. 

If they can get one of the bigs in foul trouble (Egbo seems to be more foul-prone), and play perimeter D like they have been, they could maybe might just...

Go Blue!

Yes. The top teams have a…

Yes. The top teams have a huge gulf between them and the lower seeded teams. The gulf has slowly been narrowing, but it is still enormous. 

Well, except for Hailey…

Well, except for Hailey Brown, Akinreh and quite possibly Naz - our whole starting frontcourt. Err...

Whatever, Go Blue!

Stunned. Pleasantly so!

Stunned. Pleasantly so!

They have looked so far like they did pre-COVID break. Inside-outside, and a fierce defense. 

Wow. Go Blue!

Not to go totally WD on this, but did they have some sort of new reflective numbering? The numbers were shining gold at some angles. 

Awesome 1/2 court D show,…

Awesome 1/2 court D show, really impressive. And well L Brown...

Tenn will have to be everyone playing out of their minds, that's an excellent team. If they can stop them from running and defend the 3 we have something of a chance, despite the 1v1 matchup problems.

Whatever, bring on the Lady Vols!

And Dilk not there either…

And Dilk not there either...I am critical of her but this is hardly ideal. 

Keep it a half-court game and find a way through the post, they should be able to win.

Yikes. Thanks.

Yikes. Thanks.

Missed the beginning - Dilk…

Missed the beginning - Dilk on the bench or did she start?

Go Blue! 

Go Blue! 

I've got two daughters and…

I've got two daughters and have embraced women's sports - especially bball - all the way. I even switched from coaching guys to girls and have started two different girls youth basketball programs.

From Canada I have to 'find' UM women's bball games...but you should subscribe to the W - it's less than $20 for a season pass and the level of play gets better every year (and it is very high right now). Bring her to live sports - at a young age, her local college players will be the equivalent to Lebron for her. 

As xtramelanin says, play everything with her. Just get out and play, let her try everything, be right there with her. Even volunteer coach - now that's fun.

Great season, and yeah COVID…

Great season, and yeah COVID has knocked them for a loop...but that's a really tough draw. 

I've only seen FGCU once, they looked very good. I don't think UM can beat the Lady Vols - seen them play about 6-7 times this season. Burrell is a special player and they have two other slasher-shooter types (Davis and Horston) that can win games on their own - plus are just huge in the middle. Great scoring balance.

But who knows, a win in the first round gets some rhythm, the big-name draw in the second gets them going...?

Go Blue!

ESPN's projection last night…

ESPN's projection last night had a second-round possible matchup with UCLA (UM a 6, UCLA a 3), playing UCF 1st round. If that holds true, I don't mind that UCLA matchup. Obviously their top-2 are amazing, but both are guards, and the forwards are far less impressive.

Surrender was a poor choice…

Surrender was a poor choice of words, and my apologies for that. The 4th was tough to watch and my emotions got the better of me when I said 'surrender'.  

Compare this with the game in NW though, the players did not look ready to shoot or drive right away off the catch. I remember Johnson with an open lane to her left and forcing a post pass to a doubled Naz; her and the Browns with open off-the-catch 3s, but all hesitating, losing their advantage. Dilk with a 3-on-1 pulling it out. I don't think it was just bad shooting.  

Statistically it was very even, in terms of shots taken, FTs, boards, etc. Just seemed UM was more passive, not always looking for our shots, driving against numbers. 

There was so much hesitation…

There was so much hesitation to shoot or drive it was ridiculous. I spent the second half yelling at them to step to the line and shoot. And they've stopped moving off the ball. Just dump it in (or near-ish) to Naz and hope that she does something. 

Horrendous surrender in the second half, once Naz and Hailey missed the layups early. Thought KBA missed a couple of clear TO opportunities and could have subbed different player, looking for a spark (but from who is anyone's guess). 

The team looks cooked, if they get a 7-seed they could be out the first round. 

Go Blue!

Thanks for the…

Go Blue!

Thanks for the write-up. Great to see WBB coverage. 

That pyramid is getting less…

That pyramid is getting less squashed at the top - there are more teams sneaking into that top level - but UM are nowhere near them. They have a projected second round matchup with Arkansas, who could very well run them into the ground with three guards better than anyone on the roster except Naz. 

L Brown is the only player with the ability to create perimeter points in 1v1 situations, and is a consistent outside threat when healthy. The team loses H Brown and Johnson too. Hailey went through a bad slump but is an intelligent screener and passer. They do have some promise with the two freshmen forwards and the Brazilian centre.

But I just don't see the team getting out of that 'Tier 3' place they are in w/o an aggressive pg who can push pace, score on her own and take care of the ball. I was hoping Fiso could challenge Dilk this season, maybe one of the incoming 2 frosh guards can next season. Our other guards are pretty one-dimensional - decent players, not the kids to bring you up a level at this point.

The team is good. Certainly not excellent or elite. 

Two much more supposedly …

Two much more supposedly 'dynamic' pg's coming in next season, hoping that pushes Dilk and improves handles in two-guard lineups. Nolan and Rauch can shoot, have to hide them on D though and neither look especially strong on ball.

Be interesting next year, the Browns and Johnson space the floor for Naz but two of them are gone. 

Dang, if HB can start…

Dang, if HB can start knocking down even closer midrange stuff this team will be extremely dangerous. But hey, wins are wins, each one builds to something bigger.

And more defensive interior…

And more defensive interior length!

Sign of a good team - still…

Sign of a good team - still winning when key players are out / struggling (LD, HB).

The only player I've seen better than Naz so far this season is Howard at Kentucky. Including UCONN, Stanford, South Carolina, Baylor, Miss. State, Louisville, NC State, MD, UCLA (Onyenwere close)...Naz is on another planet right now. It'll still be tough for her in the much bigger, quicker, stronger W without a consistent outside jumper—but maybe she has one and doesn't need it at Michigan, with the teams they play and the O they run?

John was lights out in that…

John was lights out in that game.

And they just beat Illinois…

Exited to see the full team, with and luck the roster will be healthy once they hit the heavy hitters in the B1G.

Defense, boxing out, switching the ball to get better looks inside...

 

So those dissatisfied with…

So those dissatisfied with Harbaugh's performance must cheer for Sparty, and evidently can't show any interest in other sports. Wow, wtf is in the water in Virginia, man?

Some of us are basketball people - coaches, fans, parents - and football fans too, believe it or not.

Nice write up, thanks for…

Nice write up, thanks for exploring the overloads v zone that KBA was able to spot and the team exploited. Good stuff.

Naz really is something else. LB gives the team that 'something out of nothing' player they've lacked since...deep Flaherty 3s? Kysre freshman?

Full strength this team could be very very good. Too bad that Varejao is probably not coming this season. 

Great writeup, thanks from…

Great writeup, thanks from all of us who can't even get BTN!

Big thing that struck me in the NW game was the speed. I watch a lot of NCAA WBB, and the top tier teams have always looked much faster than UM. But our closeouts (partly due to the team being quite long), the way they move themselves on O—this was the first time where it looked like they could hang with some top 10 teams. 

Also, the lost art of boxing out is not entirely lost on this bunch.

Go Blue!

I feel there is a little…

I feel there is a little more fluidity in WBB though than CFB power 5. Teams like Louisville, NC State, Arkansas are knocking on the door hard—you can still see real program building (like Louisville, who were tier 2/3 20 years ago but are up there now).

There are Death Stars of course (UConn, S Carolina, Baylor, Stanford, ND, etc.) but also more opportunity for other teams to improve, step-by-step, and reach the upper echelons. 

Great to see playing time in…

Great to see playing time in abundance for the younger players. Also great to see that they kept hammering, not letting the opposition getting runs at all. I think they opened the 4th on a 14-1 run or something like that.

Williams fouled out in like 9 minutes???

On to Big Ten play! Go Blue!!!

PS - the coverage is very much appreciated, as usual. Thank you, and any further posts will be greatly welcomed. 

Thanks for the write-up!…

Thanks for the write-up! Great for those of us who have to hunt around for YT replays.

Future at fwd sounds like it is in good hands with Williams, Sollom and Verajao. Be interesting next season to see if KBA runs more, when the frosh guards arrive. UM will have rim protection, rim-runners, 3 point shooters, and lots of ball handlers.

Great write up, thanks again…

Great write up, thanks again! Was able to find a replay on YT. 

Hailey looked the Swiss Army Knife part and them some. Her movement & awareness is stuff you show younger players. I don't think she scored for the last 6 minutes or so, but she and Akinreh had drawn enough attention away from Naz by that point to create the advantages down low. Those two players know what they are there for, critical with two alpha scorers like Naz and Leigha Brown.

The way LB attacked closeouts and drew fouls or hit pullups augurs very well for this team. She could be the 'make something out of nothing' we haven't had since...

Loved Dilk's game, smooth, under control yet pushing pace, very confident on-ball as you noted with the assists / starting the O with good initial passes.

The way we attacked the zone was nice but very simple, lots of basic high-low post switch and looking for open slots to drive into, or long shots on inside-out passes. What really impressed me was the on-ball D. It wasn't always effective - ND went at our players and often got into the paint - but playing pressure out high & keep ballhandlers uncomfortable could reap rewards later. We could be a sneaky-good transition team, even though we play slow because of turnovers. You were right, Dilk really is key.

Keep watching WBB - it's a great sport!

Nice, great preview idea,…

Nice, great preview idea, and thank you - keep the WBB previews coming please!

Isn't Wiggins also coming in…

Isn't Wiggins also coming in as a PG along with Phelia? Not that you can't play with a 3 guard lineup, especially in WBB, if all can hit from the outside. And I guess with Phelia's size (if not fake, doesn't look it from the bit of video out there) she could play a 3/wing type. Have you been able to watch either live? Thoughts?

Good problems to have for KBA coming up. Better get those young forwards educated on the P&R...

Fantastic write-up. Been…

Fantastic write-up. Been following Hailey Brown since her St Thomas / JUEL days, nice to see she has become the Swiss army knife at this level. Reads the game beautifully IMO, and lets Naz rampage. Hoping she can translate that to the Canadian senior team at some point.

I think Fiso was a scorer in Seattle - have you seen enough of her to say she is the future at PG after Dilk? Cameron Williams seems like a high-ceiling PF (no idea if she has consistency from farther out).

Thanks again!

Great stuff for us fans out…

Great stuff for us fans out of state / country and limited to zoomed-in 4 minute game clips and fluff 'recaps' (which are better than nothing) on the official site. Thank you.

All good, appreciate the…

All good, appreciate the detailed response, thank you.

 

Looking forward to that day when Ace is full-time basketball...after all, we're a basketball school now, aren't we?

I also asked in the main…

I also asked in the main board thread, but will there be a basketball preview section? Or a different bball mag? Or nothing? Thanks. 

Will there be a basketball…

Will there be a basketball section? Or a different mag? Or...

 

Thanks.

Stay Strong

All our prayers, thoughts and hope from Montreal.

Cancer has taken some of our closest, and has been beaten by others. My wife still fighting it. Her positive attitude is a light, our strength, her weapon against it.

You & your wife can and will change the world Cali. You know it.

The helmets

made a lasting impression on a 6-year old kid living in Winnipeg watching UM v Minnesota football. 

I said to my dad, "Those are claws on those helmets!"

Then he replied (in an imagination-induced Keith Jackson drawl), "No, son, those are the winged helmets of Michigan."

Done deal.

Avia.

Avia. Now those were some kicks.

Another old man

seconds that. Have a pair of Curry's and they are the best bball shoes I've had. 

Curiously they have not brought my game back. 

Anyway UA doesn't have to be the garish horror show that MD and ND have trotted out. Methinks Hackett / Harbaugh would stop that.

Lots of rumours flying around here

in Montreal - many are disappointed we blew out TB last night, as there might have been an outside chance they'd fire Therrien and start talks with Babcock.

The rumours are still around but fading. Too bad, I'd love to see him take over the Habs (along with many others). With his McGill connection not absolutely outlandish. Grand old team stuck in neutral with a zero coach.

Unfortunately you know the Leafs are going to go all-in on him...Resist, Mike, resist the dark side...

Winged helmet is trademarked?

Thought it was just a design, like stripes. 

Princeton's trademarked too?

Of course KO knew what he did

I just find it amazing that, in the context of a very phyisical series and a very physical matchup, people think what KO knew was that an arm pulled at this angle with this force will dislocate that shoulder and shelve Love for the rest of the playoffs. 

He's trying to get the ball, Love gets position on him, he cheats with a bad play, Love gets injured. Tough, but that's the extent of it. 

I understand Cavs fans being more than irate. However you'll beat the Bulls regardless and be in the finals, where GS or SA will put thee to the sword. Enjoy the run.