The CardBoard
WBB: Stanford 74 Arizona 48 - Printable Version

+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: WBB: Stanford 74 Arizona 48 (/thread-6744.html)


WBB: Stanford 74 Arizona 48 - 81alum - 02-16-2014

Overview:
Stanford piled up a 40 point lead over the hapless Wildcats, who had only six players today, and then coasted to victory by giving 14 players significant minutes.

Before the Game
Kate answered fan questions before the game.  The most insight came on a question as to how we were able to improve our defense so markedly from Washington to ASU.  Kate said that with ASU there was one player that did not need to be guarded at the perimeter--Promise Amukamara--leaving one defender free to roam and double team and clog the paint.  Against Washington, she said, there were 4 very capable three point shooters on the floor and thus it was not possible to pull someone to double team.  As far as our performance against Washington, Kate said it was an "imperfect storm" with Washington shooting exceptionally well and us shooting poorly.

Kate also noted that Arizona lost another player in their game against C.al, and were down to just 6 healthy players for this game.  She also noted that Karlie would not play today--it was strictly a precaution to rest her sore foot, but she would play if this were the tournament.  We are just making an effort to get/keep everyone healthy for the tournaments that are coming up. 

Flow of the game
The first few minutes Arizona played a zone to frustrate Chiney and kept the game close.  Then we went on a 17-1 run beginning around the 13 minute mark fueled by Chiney layups and Bonnie treys, and the game was never again in any doubt.  Already comfortably ahead, we closed out the half with Bonnie making three treys in a minute and then  Kailee dropping in another last-minute bomb.  What little air was left in the Arizona balloon hissed away, and there was still a half to play.

The second half was not as well played, but there was a lot of opportunity for all of our players to get their chances.  Arizona could not send in their second team, because they had no second team.  Arizona "won" the second half 29-26, but I thought our second and third string players held up relatively well to the Arizona front line.  Tara pulled Chiney after just 22 minutes, leaving her short of a double double and with just 15 points--so Chiney is not staying on track to break Candice's point record.  But Tara seems to be taking very seriously the need to rest her top players and keep them away from needless injury before the tournaments begin.

Roberson got 20 minutes today, McCall 18, Kailee Johnson 16, and Bonnie 16.  Later, Tara would say it was difficult to take Bonnie out given that Bonnie was working on a career day with 17 points, but the game was in hand and Tara wanted to give other players a chance.

Performances
Bonnie had 17 points with 5/8 three point shooting, and you thought she could have had another 17 had she stayed in the game.  When was the last time someone outscored Chiney, and did it in 16 minutes for that matter?  Chiney had 15 points and 9 rebounds in a mere 22 minutes. 

Amber was back to well-rounded form,  9 points on 3/4 three point shooting, but more impressively she had 9 assists and just 1 turnover.  Lili played well with 9 points also.  Ruef was quiet statistically in just 16 minutes.

From the bench, Briana Roberson is getting a serious look before tournament time.  In her 20 minutes she played point guard for the bench and she also brought her speedy defense.  Her shot selection leaves something to be desired--she was 2/6--but she got herself a couple of baskets and a steal. 

McCall got a lot of time but unfortunately reverted to her foul prone ways--getting 4 fouls and playing with 4 fouls for much of the second half.  On the other hand, she is proving to be a good rebounder and is learning to box out better than she did early in the year--she snagged 7 today.  She was 2/2 on field goals and 3/4 on free throws.  She is developing as a player and we should look forward to seeing a more mature version of her next year--perhaps as a starter.

Kailee Johnson nailed the trey at the end of the first half, but had no other offensive points.  She got one official block, but I think she may have blocked one or two others.  Several times today she was fed bullet passes that seemed to surprise her--as if she had to defend her face from the pass instead of receiving it normally--and she did have a couple of turnovers. 

Parting Thoughts
This one seemed more like a preseason scrimmage than a serious game--with the opposition barely able to field a team.  It is hard to learn too much about how we are doing from watching this game.  However, it gave Tara a chance to get all of our players involved and to further test the progress of several frosh who may be called upon to play more minutes this year--and who almost certainly will play more next year.  From now on, nothing will be easy.  We have a tough road trip to LA next week, and then WSU and Washington come the following week.  After than, it is tournament time.  Just two more home games are left to see Chiney, Ruef, and Sara James--though we certainly hope the tournament will give us a couple more.

After the game
Tara came out to talk to the crowd after the game.  Lili was officially introduced and we learned she was the youngest of six--so no more little sisters from her family in the pipeline!  Tara did not offer a lot of insight and the questions were tame, but she did stress that she became more conservative with her players as we geared up for the tournament.  "I've never been into statistics" she said, meaning padding the stats of players.  So Chiney is getting significantly less time, Ruef got pulled early, Karlie was kept out, etc.  I think these are wise decisions.  And yet memories of the 1998 disaster die hard--losing Nygaard and Folkl both the week before losing to 16 seed Harvard.  A scar like that can inspire prudence for a long time.






Re: WBB: Stanford 74 Arizona 48 - BobK - 02-16-2014

Great report as always 81.  Thank you.  I had to watch on TV but really loved the Bonnie Bombs and the play  of Roberson.   

Re: WBB: Stanford 74 Arizona 48 - pepper1 - 02-16-2014

Outstanding report by 81 ... really said it all.  I'd only add that it was reassuring to see Chiney showing more agility and bounce than she did on Friday, dispelling concerns that she might have a nagging injury.  Sara James also looked closer to recovered than she did vs ASU.

The game also confirmed that we have more depth of talent in the backcourt than I can remember in 25 years of Cardinal women's hoops.  Next year's challenge will be finding the inside talent to go with it.

Re: WBB: Stanford 74 Arizona 48 - mcortesi - 02-16-2014

Chiney's well-earned two days of rest have dropped her ppg by only a bit less than one point (from 27.4 to 26.5), and she's still on pace to break Candice's scoring record during the Pac-12 Tourney championship game.

Re: WBB: Stanford 74 Arizona 48 - BobK - 02-17-2014

Games 1 and 2 for Stanford in the NCAA are on the road, maybe at USC.  Games 3 and 4 if we win up to then are at Stanford. 

Whoops first rounds in the West are at U of Washington and at UCLA