[FarmDad.01]

The first half of the season, the Cardinal offense was waffle around the perimeter until the shot clock was down to ~10. In short, stagnant.

But in its last 10 games, Stanford is 9-1. The OT loss to ASU wasn't helped by a defensive lapse in the waning seconds; the only other close contest was Battle of the Bay II (60-55).

Somehow the team figured out ways to unclog the middle. Was it Samuelson starting to pump fake, then drive for a mid-range jumper? Was it McPhee, and sometimes Smith, willing to attack the hoop off the dribble? Was it McCall finally willing to trust her perimeter shot?

What most impressed me about the weekend's Oregon games was the speed and sureness of the passing, the high number of assisted baskets. Something has definitely changed in addition to confidence. When Thompson resumes the court, she'll no longer need to dribble right, dribble left, looking looking looking. I'm quite optimistic about Seattle.

[FarmDad.01]

The first half of the season, the Cardinal offense was waffle around the perimeter until the shot clock was down to ~10. In short, stagnant.

But in its last 10 games, Stanford is 9-1. The OT loss to ASU wasn't helped by a defensive lapse in the waning seconds; the only other close contest was Battle of the Bay II (60-55).

Somehow the team figured out ways to unclog the middle. Was it Samuelson starting to pump fake, then drive for a mid-range jumper? Was it McPhee, and sometimes Smith, willing to attack the hoop off the dribble? Was it McCall finally willing to trust her perimeter shot?

What most impressed me about the weekend's Oregon games was the speed and sureness of the passing, the high number of assisted baskets. Something has definitely changed in addition to confidence. When Thompson resumes the court, she'll no longer need to dribble right, dribble left, looking looking looking. I'm quite optimistic about Seattle.