12-07-2023, 11:28 AM
Ahh so much here. But I decline to comment
(12-07-2023, 10:58 AM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: An insightful article about Lauren Betts' transformation at UCLA. Her decision to transfer wasn't all about playing time.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/stor...ts-feature
Quote:When players need to work on their basketball skills, they hit the gym. But at UCLA, when they need to work on their mental skills like Betts, they hit the “mind gym.” The program’s comprehensive mental conditioning regimen has been a secret to unlocking the sophomore center’s full potential after a disappointing freshman season crushed her confidence. . .
The program was a key point in Close’s recruiting pitch to Betts out of the transfer portal. “I knew that her potential was a 10,” Close said, “but I knew that her confidence was not a 10 yet.”
Quote:With her pick of colleges, Betts chose Stanford, lured by the program’s prestige and legendary coach Tara VanDerveer. But because of the pandemic, she was not able to visit the school before committing. She understood the transition to college would come with inevitable speed bumps, especially in a deep post position group, but it wasn’t just a diminished role on the court that didn’t meet the top prospect’s expectations.
“A lot of the things I would say that people assume that I knew, that’s not what I was told,” Betts said. “It’s tricky to really go into specifics. I wouldn’t say anything specific happened, but I would say it was a long period of just not what I wanted as a freshman. … I didn’t feel like I could see myself playing there for four years.”
The experience eroded Betts’ self-belief to the point that Close didn’t think Betts’ confidence would return to its peak until late December or January. Then she dominated in her UCLA debut with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes as the Bruins crushed Purdue 92-49 in their season opener.
Close stresses that Betts is no average center. During the team’s summer conditioning tests that included on-court sprints and a mile run, Betts made all the time benchmarks for the guards. When the Bruins switched every screen against Purdue, Betts didn’t get beat on defense one time, Close said. For defensive inspiration, Close shows Betts clips of San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama. UCLA’s star center can be that type of defensive presence, the 13th-year coach believes. “She’s not one-dimensional,” Close said.
After her confidence was buoyed by her elite recruiting status and basketball success as a child, Betts is starting to believe her versatility can extend beyond the basketball court. At UCLA, her self-image doesn’t have to depend solely on how many points she scores or how many rebounds she grabs. Expanding her perspective has only helped improve her play.
(12-07-2023, 10:58 AM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: An insightful article about Lauren Betts' transformation at UCLA. Her decision to transfer wasn't all about playing time.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/stor...ts-feature
Quote:When players need to work on their basketball skills, they hit the gym. But at UCLA, when they need to work on their mental skills like Betts, they hit the “mind gym.” The program’s comprehensive mental conditioning regimen has been a secret to unlocking the sophomore center’s full potential after a disappointing freshman season crushed her confidence. . .
The program was a key point in Close’s recruiting pitch to Betts out of the transfer portal. “I knew that her potential was a 10,” Close said, “but I knew that her confidence was not a 10 yet.”
Quote:With her pick of colleges, Betts chose Stanford, lured by the program’s prestige and legendary coach Tara VanDerveer. But because of the pandemic, she was not able to visit the school before committing. She understood the transition to college would come with inevitable speed bumps, especially in a deep post position group, but it wasn’t just a diminished role on the court that didn’t meet the top prospect’s expectations.
“A lot of the things I would say that people assume that I knew, that’s not what I was told,” Betts said. “It’s tricky to really go into specifics. I wouldn’t say anything specific happened, but I would say it was a long period of just not what I wanted as a freshman. … I didn’t feel like I could see myself playing there for four years.”
The experience eroded Betts’ self-belief to the point that Close didn’t think Betts’ confidence would return to its peak until late December or January. Then she dominated in her UCLA debut with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes as the Bruins crushed Purdue 92-49 in their season opener.
Close stresses that Betts is no average center. During the team’s summer conditioning tests that included on-court sprints and a mile run, Betts made all the time benchmarks for the guards. When the Bruins switched every screen against Purdue, Betts didn’t get beat on defense one time, Close said. For defensive inspiration, Close shows Betts clips of San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama. UCLA’s star center can be that type of defensive presence, the 13th-year coach believes. “She’s not one-dimensional,” Close said.
After her confidence was buoyed by her elite recruiting status and basketball success as a child, Betts is starting to believe her versatility can extend beyond the basketball court. At UCLA, her self-image doesn’t have to depend solely on how many points she scores or how many rebounds she grabs. Expanding her perspective has only helped improve her play.
(12-07-2023, 10:06 PM)81alum Wrote: Gonzaga, playing at Cal, has gone to overtime tied 65-65. Cal must have figured out how to defend them, holding them 30 points under what we did.
Gonzaga dominates in overtime and defeats Cal 78-70. They were helped by sinking 17 free throws, but they shot only 36%, 29% from three. Either our game with them was some sort of freak game, or Cal's defense is a whole lot better than it has been in the past.
(12-07-2023, 10:06 PM)81alum Wrote: Gonzaga, playing at Cal, has gone to overtime tied 65-65. Cal must have figured out how to defend them, holding them 30 points under what we did.
Gonzaga dominates in overtime and defeats Cal 78-70. They were helped by sinking 17 free throws, but they shot only 36%, 29% from three. Either our game with them was some sort of freak game, or Cal's defense is a whole lot better than it has been in the past.
(12-08-2023, 08:44 AM)MV72018 Wrote:That is not "another" possibility. I agree with you that our defense against Gonzaga was horrible, but having a horrible defense against Gonzaga does not preclude my interest in how Cal was able to do 31 points better. I'd love to know what Cal did, partly so we can learn from it, and partly because we are about to play Cal. Washington State held Gonzaga to 72, Louisville to 70, so other teams did something on defense we did not do and I'd like to know why we weren't able to do as well and how they did it.(12-07-2023, 10:06 PM)81alum Wrote: Gonzaga, playing at Cal, has gone to overtime tied 65-65. Cal must have figured out how to defend them, holding them 30 points under what we did.
Gonzaga dominates in overtime and defeats Cal 78-70. They were helped by sinking 17 free throws, but they shot only 36%, 29% from three. Either our game with them was some sort of freak game, or Cal's defense is a whole lot better than it has been in the past.
There's another plausible possibility: that our defense against Gonzaga was truly horrible, resulting in many more open looks and much high shooting percentages.
(12-08-2023, 08:44 AM)MV72018 Wrote:That is not "another" possibility. I agree with you that our defense against Gonzaga was horrible, but having a horrible defense against Gonzaga does not preclude my interest in how Cal was able to do 31 points better. I'd love to know what Cal did, partly so we can learn from it, and partly because we are about to play Cal. Washington State held Gonzaga to 72, Louisville to 70, so other teams did something on defense we did not do and I'd like to know why we weren't able to do as well and how they did it.(12-07-2023, 10:06 PM)81alum Wrote: Gonzaga, playing at Cal, has gone to overtime tied 65-65. Cal must have figured out how to defend them, holding them 30 points under what we did.
Gonzaga dominates in overtime and defeats Cal 78-70. They were helped by sinking 17 free throws, but they shot only 36%, 29% from three. Either our game with them was some sort of freak game, or Cal's defense is a whole lot better than it has been in the past.
There's another plausible possibility: that our defense against Gonzaga was truly horrible, resulting in many more open looks and much high shooting percentages.
(12-10-2023, 12:15 PM)Jskass Wrote: Am at Mohegan Sun for WBB Hall of Fame Classic. UCLA rolled over FSU but lots of fouls. Betts clearly the go-to player though she is not called for her fouls. She and Dugalic quite a duo, though I noticed that often Cori deliberately had Betts and Rice in at the same time (and out too).Also of interest today, South Carolina defeats Utah 78-69. Utah might have won except for a terrible first quarter when the went 16-27. Their play was certainly prettier ;)
This team is so deep at guard it is ridiculous - had players w 2 fouls in first quarter or 3 at half and they kept rolling.
Favorite basket was a pass from 35 C Brown that got deflected by an FSU player into the UCLA basket.
(12-10-2023, 12:15 PM)Jskass Wrote: Am at Mohegan Sun for WBB Hall of Fame Classic. UCLA rolled over FSU but lots of fouls. Betts clearly the go-to player though she is not called for her fouls. She and Dugalic quite a duo, though I noticed that often Cori deliberately had Betts and Rice in at the same time (and out too).Also of interest today, South Carolina defeats Utah 78-69. Utah might have won except for a terrible first quarter when the went 16-27. Their play was certainly prettier ;)
This team is so deep at guard it is ridiculous - had players w 2 fouls in first quarter or 3 at half and they kept rolling.
Favorite basket was a pass from 35 C Brown that got deflected by an FSU player into the UCLA basket.