01-29-2012, 05:57 AM
Normally I look down on the court from the upper seats. I was concerned this game might sell out, so I arrived an hour early and bought a front row seat (well, row CC, front row not on the court) virtually in the middle. I could get used to that!
But then I almost had a front row seat to a game I would hate to remember. I understand why Tara wished the game had been televised. But I think it would have shown weaknesses of Stanford, and probably hurt us in the polls (more than the close game to a currently unranked team).
I had thought this year's team would be nearly the quality of last year's team. At this point, I don't think so. We've got two great players, and a good player. We've got several possibilities for the other two positions, but no one has stepped up. Two weeks ago, I was in the 6th row at the Baylor-Texas game. Right now, I don't think we'd have much of a chance against Baylor.
I was one of those decrying the calls/non-calls of the refs -- I wish the refs were as good as the players. I was surprised after the game when I saw that Stanford wound up with 13 fouls while Cal had 16 (discounting 1+2 fouls at the end of the 2nd half+overtime). I will note that Melissa didn't make any particularly bad calls at the end of the 2nd half or overtime, when the calls could have clearly changed the outcome.
What bothered me most about this game, and I feel I've seen it too often for Stanford over the years, is the comfortable lead being blown. We were 14 points up with just over 8 minutes left. Tara seemed to attribute this to streaks in the game. I feel that Tara's teams don't do a good job of lead management. Below are Stanford possessions in the last 8 minutes of regulation (second time is seconds left in shot clock, as best I can estimate from play by play). I've marked the plays (mostly early shots) that seem questionable to me, plus the 5 turnovers. Mostly, these errors were made by very experienced players. (And, of course, we shot only 20% during that time.)
07:41Â 0:07 Foul by Melissa B.
07:12 0:17 3PT attempt by Joslyn [? ? ?]
06:44Â 0:12 Layup attempt by Chiney [Stanford steals the ball back immediately]
06:37Â 0:29 Layup attempt by Chiney
06:18 0:14 Turnover by Nneka  [xxx]
05:34 0:14 Turnover by Lindy   [xxx]
05:15 0:15 3PT attempt by Lindy [? ? ?]
04:43Â 0:07 2PT attempt by Taylor
04:09 0:25 Turnover by Toni    [xxx]
03:42Â 0:11 3PT made by Bonnie
03:14 0:17 3PT made by Bonnie [Good result, early shot, IMO. ? ? ?]
02:31Â 0:03 3PT attempt by Toni
02:10 0:26 Turnover by Nneka [We apparently wind up with the ball here. I guess this was a tie ball, awarded to Stanford.]
01:46Â 0:02 2PT attempt by Toni
01:21 0:17 3PT attempt by Toni [? ? ?]
00:43Â 0:02 Turnover by Amber [xxx]
00:34Â 0:27 Intentional foul after a throw-in.
      [0:23 left in C possession: Foul by Lindy ? ?]
Score is tied.
When I looked at the plus/minus, I was surprised by the numbers:
But then I almost had a front row seat to a game I would hate to remember. I understand why Tara wished the game had been televised. But I think it would have shown weaknesses of Stanford, and probably hurt us in the polls (more than the close game to a currently unranked team).
I had thought this year's team would be nearly the quality of last year's team. At this point, I don't think so. We've got two great players, and a good player. We've got several possibilities for the other two positions, but no one has stepped up. Two weeks ago, I was in the 6th row at the Baylor-Texas game. Right now, I don't think we'd have much of a chance against Baylor.
I was one of those decrying the calls/non-calls of the refs -- I wish the refs were as good as the players. I was surprised after the game when I saw that Stanford wound up with 13 fouls while Cal had 16 (discounting 1+2 fouls at the end of the 2nd half+overtime). I will note that Melissa didn't make any particularly bad calls at the end of the 2nd half or overtime, when the calls could have clearly changed the outcome.
What bothered me most about this game, and I feel I've seen it too often for Stanford over the years, is the comfortable lead being blown. We were 14 points up with just over 8 minutes left. Tara seemed to attribute this to streaks in the game. I feel that Tara's teams don't do a good job of lead management. Below are Stanford possessions in the last 8 minutes of regulation (second time is seconds left in shot clock, as best I can estimate from play by play). I've marked the plays (mostly early shots) that seem questionable to me, plus the 5 turnovers. Mostly, these errors were made by very experienced players. (And, of course, we shot only 20% during that time.)
07:41Â 0:07 Foul by Melissa B.
07:12 0:17 3PT attempt by Joslyn [? ? ?]
06:44Â 0:12 Layup attempt by Chiney [Stanford steals the ball back immediately]
06:37Â 0:29 Layup attempt by Chiney
06:18 0:14 Turnover by Nneka  [xxx]
05:34 0:14 Turnover by Lindy   [xxx]
05:15 0:15 3PT attempt by Lindy [? ? ?]
04:43Â 0:07 2PT attempt by Taylor
04:09 0:25 Turnover by Toni    [xxx]
03:42Â 0:11 3PT made by Bonnie
03:14 0:17 3PT made by Bonnie [Good result, early shot, IMO. ? ? ?]
02:31Â 0:03 3PT attempt by Toni
02:10 0:26 Turnover by Nneka [We apparently wind up with the ball here. I guess this was a tie ball, awarded to Stanford.]
01:46Â 0:02 2PT attempt by Toni
01:21 0:17 3PT attempt by Toni [? ? ?]
00:43Â 0:02 Turnover by Amber [xxx]
00:34Â 0:27 Intentional foul after a throw-in.
      [0:23 left in C possession: Foul by Lindy ? ?]
Score is tied.
When I looked at the plus/minus, I was surprised by the numbers:
| Player | Min | NetPts | NetP/G |
| Greenfield, Taylor | 27:40 | 20 | 28.92 |
| Kokenis, Toni | 41:41 | 6 | 5.76 |
| La Rocque, Lindy | 34:45 | 8 | 9.21 |
| Ogwumike, Chiney | 42:15 | 3 | 2.84 |
| Ogwumike, Nnemkadi | 42:49 | -3 | -2.80 |
| Orrange, Amber | 9:15 | -9 | -38.92 |
| Samuelson, Bonnie | 11:04 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Tinkle, Joslyn | 15:30 | -10 | -25.81 |