Game thread- Women's Basketball in Pullman to face WSU- 2:00 MT

[AztecBuff]

Hopefully the Buffs can continue their improved play, and win just a few more possessions than they did Friday night, so they can get the win today. With the Buffs At 9-9 overall and 2-5 in conference, it’s getting to be critical to get wins against a team like WSU today for the Buffs to have a chance at a post-season (likely WNIT) bid (assuming of course they don’t go on a conference tournament “magical run” to earn the NCAA auto bid). Per ncaa.com, looks like WSU currently has an RPI of 52 (6[SUP]th[/SUP] best in the Pac), while the Buffs are at 93 (9[SUP]th[/SUP] in the Pac).

(Note- I'm going to be out this afternoon, so don't know if I'll be able to provide updates while the game is being played.)

cubuffs.com preview of today’s game- http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=209863296

A little bit about the Cougars from that preview:

"...
Washington State is 12-6 overall and 3-4 in the Pac-12 after defeating Utah 63-54 on Jan. 23. The Cougars have won their last two after a four game skid. Those four losses have come to the top four teams in the Pac-12 standings, with a combined league mark of 25-3. Washington State averages 73.1 points on 40 percent shooting and 73 percent from the foul line. Defensively, the Cougars allow 65.5 points per game and allow 41 percent from the field which ranks 11th in the Pac-12. WSU gives up the most rebounds in the league at 41.3 per game and has the lowest rebounding margin (-2.4) in the conference. The Cougars counter that by creating the most turnovers among league competitors at nearly 22 per game while ranking second in steals at just under 11 an outing.

Washington State is led by the prolific backcourt of junior Lia Galdeira and senior Tia Presley who account for 53 percent of the team’s scoring. The duo are separated by a single point on the season, with Presley taking over the team lead after a 17-point outing against Utah. She’s second in the Pac-12 at 19.2 points per game just a fraction ahead of Galdeira who is in third. Presley tops the Cougars and ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in 3-pointers made (2.1 3mpg). Galdeira leads the Pac-12 in steals (3.3 spg) and is WSU’s top active rebounder at 5.7 per game. Washington State lost its top rebounder (7.2 rpg) and third-leading scorer (8.6 ppg) in senior Shalie Dheensaw who injured a knee in the loss at Oregon State on Jan. 16. Freshman Louise Brown has stepped in for her, averaging 3.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Dawnyelle Awa paces the Cougars in assists (2.8 apg) and field goal percentage (.536).

...
"

Television- Available on the Pac 12 Mountain and Washington channels.

Streaming- If your cable/ satellite subscription includes access to the Pac 12 network, should also be available online after login through- http://pac-12.com/live or http://pac-12.com/network/pac-12-mountain


Audio- On 760 AM in the Denver area, and evidently should also be available through- http://www.cubuffs.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?type=live&db_oem_id=600 beginning with the pre-game show at 1:30 PM MT.


Live stats- Should be available when the game starts at http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=66035 .

 

[89BUFF89]

I know Roberson is out for the year but what else has gone wrong for this team to be so 'mediocre'? They had some really solid pieces coming back in Kresl, Swan, Sborov and Reese. Is it the lack of a true play-making pg or is there more to it?

 

[AztecBuff]

37-27 Buffs at the half. Buffs shooting MUCH better than the Cougs- 56% to 19%, offset some by the Buffs being on the bad end of the turnover stat- 14-6.

 

[pwbuffan]

I know Roberson is out for the year but what else has gone wrong for this team to be so 'mediocre'? They had some really solid pieces coming back in Kresl, Swan, Sborov and Reese. Is it the lack of a true play-making pg or is there more to it?

Just my opinion but I do not think Lappe should be coaching at this level.

 

[90sBuff]

I think you're right.

In my opinion, they need to make a change at head coach at the end of the season. This team is just awful to watch and they don't seem to belong on the same court as most pac 12 teams.

Didn't Bohn fire the previous coach because after 4 or 5 years she wasn't competitive in the Big 12? Looks like she got the last laugh.

Just my opinion but I do not think Lappe should be coaching at this level.

 

[buffsyko]

39 to 14 free throw advantage for cougs? Garbage

 

[89BUFF89]

Officiating was awful but ÇU still could have won the game, Lappe doesn't seem to be able to get the team over the hump...

 

[MarkW]

The killer came at about the 4:20 mark with holding a 5 point lead. The ball went through Sborov's hands, the WSU player went for the ball and Jasmine was called for a foul - her fifth. Linda apparently disagreed a bit too much and got called for a technical. Wazzu made all 4 free throws and was effectively over the hump. It was a killer for the Buffs who had done so much right up to that point.

Really the killer for CU, other than the aforementioned, incident was a gazillion turnovers (27) committed by the Buffs. There were periods in both halves where CU's inability to hold onto the ball, complete a pass, make a wise decision v the press and thus weren't able to get build on the leads they had - which at times were double-digits.

As in the Washington game, CU came out with poise and confident to immediately build a lead. In recent games their offense has become very effective and diverse with points coming from all over the court, not just the perimeter or paint. It's a big improvement from early in the season. And until today they had been doing better with the turnovers.

Today they realized that WSU couldn't stop Jamee and they got her the ball where she could be consistently effective. And Lexy continues to hit from the perimeter to balance out the offense along with the mid-range games of Smith and Reese.

As much as they have improved in the half-court, defense is still as issue to go along with turnovers. If they can improve in these areas they'll be a solid Pac 12 team. If not there will continue to be heartbreaking losses like this weekend.

 

[90sBuff]

Does anyone else feel it is time for someone else to take the reins as head coach after this season? I used to enjoy watching women's basketball. But now it's not worth it, because they have scoring droughts, ridiculously high turnovers, and they lose games where they have a lead, or get blown out and embarrassed. I'm skeptical that next season will be any different.

 

[CVilleBuff]

I'm not an expert on CU WBB so maybe I'm misjudging things, but from where I stand Linda is getting another season whether people want it or not.

 

[jsmilkst]

I think you're right.

In my opinion, they need to make a change at head coach at the end of the season. This team is just awful to watch and they don't seem to belong on the same court as most pac 12 teams.

Didn't Bohn fire the previous coach because after 4 or 5 years she wasn't competitive in the Big 12? Looks like she got the last laugh.

Last laugh? She's an assistant coach at Pitt and hasn't gone to a post season. .. kmm went 65-88 here with 1 wnit, ll is 92-62 with 4 post seasons. I too am frustrated with where we are, but don't act like we would've been better off with kmm.

 

[Buffnik]

I'm not an expert on CU WBB so maybe I'm misjudging things, but from where I stand Linda is getting another season whether people want it or not.

Winning record at CU, recruiting's good, she's in a non-revenue sport, she's inexpensive, and the associate AD for women's sports is her mentor. Damn straight LL's back next year. She'll get every opportunity to grow on the job.

 

[Uncle Ken]

I'm not an expert on CU WBB so maybe I'm misjudging things, but from where I stand Linda is getting another season whether people want it or not.

I'm with you. I've seen some things from LL first hand, and I found her leadership style to be very impressive. I'm concerned about certain trends as well, but I see a pretty high upside here.

 

[buffgal]

I'm with you. I've seen some things from LL first hand, and I found her leadership style to be very impressive. I'm concerned about certain trends as well, but I see a pretty high upside here.

Another one who says LL will be back next year and deserves to be back. I do wish she had not gotten that technical yesterday. It might have cost the team a win.

The biggest problem with this team is turnovers. For whatever reasons, they have not been able to stop those. I do not understand why the fouls are always so lopsided and the other team is constantly going to the free throw line. No basketball team plays as clean as the number of fouls some of our opponents get called on.

Lappe has a great recruiting class coming in. She will be coaching them.

KMM sat back raking in her settlement money. Did some non-coaching worked for a WNBA team and now is an assistant coach for her sister at Pitt. What does that tell you?