B1G Game 5: Gophers host Nebraska (1-14-24)

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thatjanelpick said:
Was Battle in the doghouse or did she just sit because Sanders was delivering? Interesting that Plitzuweit still went with Battle late. And I wish she'd let Braun sit a minute or two. I think she would have benefited from a little time to watch the game.
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I think it was the plan. Plitzuweit subbed early in the first with Sanders and then subbed Battle back in later in the first. Then plan then tended toward Sanders when Battle picked up two fouls late in the first and early in the second.

Sanders was able to force some favorable switches on Nebraska's hedging
 

I thoroughly enjoy the women’s team. They seem to play hard every game. BUT, way to much dribbling, not anywhere enough passing. Sanders had a good game, during which there was a 3 out of 4 possession where she was the only one to touch the ball. Its a chicken and egg deal, no one moves no one passé, or, no one passes no one moves. Also very few effective screens set, sometimes not all the fault of the screeners. Braun often does not peel off the screen, but leaves a 3‘ gap makinog the screen ineffective. Sophie Hart cannot come out top to pick up the drive, since it takes her a week to get back under the basket. She isn’t bad on offense, but a definite liability one defense. This isn’t meant to be nitpicking, it’s going too cost them games in the future.
 

Good win especially with offensive off-days for Braun and Grace G. And we were also out rebounded. Not a great formula for a win, but a big win nevertheless.
 

Gopheritnow said:
I thoroughly enjoy the women’s team. They seem to play hard every game. BUT, way to much dribbling, not anywhere enough passing. Sanders had a good game, during which there was a 3 out of 4 possession where she was the only one to touch the ball. Its a chicken and egg deal, no one moves no one passé, or, no one passes no one moves. Also very few effective screens set, sometimes not all the fault of the screeners. Braun often does not peel off the screen, but leaves a 3‘ gap makinog the screen ineffective. Sophie Hart cannot come out top to pick up the drive, since it takes her a week to get back under the basket. She isn’t bad on offense, but a definite liability one defense. This isn’t meant to be nitpicking, it’s going too cost them games in the future.
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I suspect less passing is part of the plan to limit last year's profuse turnovers.
 



There is a school of thought that passing is the biggest challenge/risk factor in women's basketball vs men, for most players, so be careful. Less is more.

This team is interesting. They don't execute well some things we associate with winning but they find a way. I believe the new coaching philosophy emphasizes "find away, make it happen."
 

BigTenGuy said:
Where does Shudlick rate among the all-time Gopher greats? Certainly behind Whalen and McCarville, correct? Banham, Zahui B, and Shudlick are next 3, in some order?
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Open to debate. Shudlick was the era of the center. She didn't make moves like Whalen. Since she won the Wade Trophy she has to be in the running for #2. Different eras, though.
 

BigTenGuy said:
Where does Shudlick rate among the all-time Gopher greats? Certainly behind Whalen and McCarville, correct? Banham, Zahui B, and Shudlick are next 3, in some order?
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I would put Shudlick up there with McCarville, she was ahead of her time, in that she was a big that could hit shots, good on the ball defender, and was a good passer. She was one of the best players in Big 10 in the 1990's. The Big 10 conference was a real gauntlet throughout the 90's. There were a lot of really good teams and they would pick each other off. Gophers were not super deep beyond starting five in those years. They were much deeper team in 2004 compared to 1994. You don't win the Wade trophy without being a great player. Shudlick was the player that drew me into following the Gophers women's basketball team, she was a great player for a Center, but games were not on TV like now.
 
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thatjanelpick said:
I suspect less passing is part of the plan to limit last year's profuse turnovers.
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There might be logic to your reasoning but it is a flawed solution. Sanders did dribble the entire the possession on a couple possessions. Battle dribbles a lot on certain possessions. So, it must be
a coached thing but golly that's ineffective offense. Yes, I know Sanders scored doing this and Battle has too but still...I don't like it. The girls are good enough players to be able to pass and catch without turning it over with disciplined instruction.

Even scarier than that for me is when Braun plays the point. Her entry pass is almost always a cover your eyes and pray a teammate receives it. The timing is not smooth, the location of the pass is not away from the defense, the spacing is poor, the receiver is often just standing waiting as opposed to meeting the pass or positioning her body between the defender and the target hand....it's going to go the other way versus better defenders or a better scouting report. I believe it did once today.
 

Maya_aflakpi said:
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thatjanelpick said:
Was Battle in the doghouse or did she just sit because Sanders was delivering? Interesting that Plitzuweit still went with Battle late. And I wish she'd let Braun sit a minute or two. I think she would have benefited from a little time to watch the game.
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Battle certainly made a great three at the end! But I think Sanders gets the team into their offense more quickly. I think often Battle dribbles for the first 15 seconds, too often leading to a desperation shot someone has to take with the clock running down.
 

A few random observations:

The Gophers "motion offense" sometimes lacks motion, both by players and by the ball.

The Gophers rarely fast break.

Hart's ability to shoot with either hand is terrific. (Someone wrote she didn't shoot well today, but she did go 4 for 7.)

Sanders gives up her body on charges more than any other Gopher. It leads to her sometimes getting the call when maybe she shouldn't have.

A couple of times the Gophers' offside defensive help along the baseline was remarkable. Excellent hustle!

One ref was obsessed with illegal screens, calling it on both teams but far more often on Nebraska.

It was a surprisingly large crowd on such a cold day. Very nice!
 
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Sanders does give up her body, but sometimes I feel like she is more “looking” for a call then just playing the game. She talks to the refs too much for my liking. With that said…it works…:sometimes. I honestly hold my breath a lot of the times when she is in, yesterday was better. I like the kid, but I just feel so much better when Battle is controlling the team.
 



Gopheritnow said:
I thoroughly enjoy the women’s team. They seem to play hard every game. BUT, way to much dribbling, not anywhere enough passing. Sanders had a good game, during which there was a 3 out of 4 possession where she was the only one to touch the ball. Its a chicken and egg deal, no one moves no one passé, or, no one passes no one moves. Also very few effective screens set, sometimes not all the fault of the screeners. Braun often does not peel off the screen, but leaves a 3‘ gap makinog the screen ineffective. Sophie Hart cannot come out top to pick up the drive, since it takes her a week to get back under the basket. She isn’t bad on offense, but a definite liability one defense. This isn’t meant to be nitpicking, it’s going too cost them games in the future.
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I noticed the issue with Braun leaving a lot of room for defenders off of screens as well. Not sure if that's on her or the screeners placement or timing. Having said that, must give a lot of credit for the defense that Shelly played. When they switched, I thought all the Nebraska defenders on the perimeter were very aware of where Braun was and made sure they had a defender up in her face.

Felt like the Nebraska game plan was to make somebody besides Braun beat them.
 

let'sbeclear said:
A few random observations:

The Gophers "motion offense" sometimes lacks motion, both by players and by the ball.

The Gophers rarely fast break.

Hart's ability to shoot with either hand is terrific. (Someone wrote she didn't shoot well today, but she did go 4 for 7.)

Sanders gives up her body on charges more than any other Gopher. It leads to her sometimes getting the call when maybe she shouldn't have.

A couple of times the Gophers' offside defensive help along the baseline was remarkable. Excellent hustle!

One ref was obsessed with illegal screens, calling it on both teams but far more often on Nebraska.

It was a surprisingly large crowd on such a cold day. Very nice!
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Regarding Charges and Illegal screens. I know that Sanders caught one break on a charge when she was clearly way inside the circle under the basket.

I know that many officials will talk to coaches prior to the game to let them know some of the specific things they'll be looking for. Illegal screens, hand checks, ect. so coaches can let players know and adjust.
 

Chico Gopher said:
Regarding Charges and Illegal screens. I know that Sanders caught one break on a charge when she was clearly way inside the circle under the basket.

I know that many officials will talk to coaches prior to the game to let them know some of the specific things they'll be looking for. Illegal screens, hand checks, ect. so coaches can let players know and adjust.
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The circle doesn't apply in women's basketball.
 




let'sbeclear said:
A few random observations:

The Gophers "motion offense" sometimes lacks motion, both by players and by the ball.

The Gophers rarely fast break.

Hart's ability to shoot with either hand is terrific. (Someone wrote she didn't shoot well today, but she did go 4 for 7.)

Sanders gives up her body on charges more than any other Gopher. It leads to her sometimes getting the call when maybe she shouldn't have.

A couple of times the Gophers' offside defensive help along the baseline was remarkable. Excellent hustle!

One ref was obsessed with illegal screens, calling it on both teams but far more often on Nebraska.

It was a surprisingly large crowd on such a cold day. Very nice!
Click to expand...

I think it was before the Michigan game that Plitzuweit said she'd simplified the offense. I assume dribbling while waiting for a cut is one of the results. So far so good. They are probably spending more time on defense.

Yes we had 2 fastbreak points yesterday and those were on Braun's steal.

It was referee Jesse Dickerson with the three moviing screen calls-all deserved.
 

www.ncaa.org

Panel approves flopping rule in women’s basketball - NCAA.org

Women's basketball players judged to have flopped will be issued a warning on the first offense, with a technical foul being charged for any subsequent infractions,
www.ncaa.org www.ncaa.org

Restricted-area arc, lower defensive box​

The panel approved reducing the restricted-area arc from 4 feet in the lane to the area directly underneath the basket. Defenders cannot establish a legal guarding position directly underneath the basket. This rule also eliminates the lower defensive box rule.

Under this new rule, there will be no need for any additional court markings on the floor.

The committee hopes simplifying the rule will bring about a better understanding for officials, coaches, players and fans.

Previously, secondary defenders had to be outside the 4-foot restricted-area arc to draw a charge. The lower defensive box was an imaginary area designated by two tick marks on the end line and the second lane space marks from the free-throw line and distinguished when the restricted-area rule was in effect.
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Memo to coach P: Don't take the team into the locker room at halftime. They leave something behind. Take them to the concession stand and get them some caffeine. Or, if you must have them in the locker room, at least play the Theme from Rocky before bringing them back.
 


60's Guy said:
There might be logic to your reasoning but it is a flawed solution. Sanders did dribble the entire the possession on a couple possessions. Battle dribbles a lot on certain possessions. So, it must be
a coached thing but golly that's ineffective offense. Yes, I know Sanders scored doing this and Battle has too but still...I don't like it. The girls are good enough players to be able to pass and catch without turning it over with disciplined instruction.

Even scarier than that for me is when Braun plays the point. Her entry pass is almost always a cover your eyes and pray a teammate receives it. The timing is not smooth, the location of the pass is not away from the defense, the spacing is poor, the receiver is often just standing waiting as opposed to meeting the pass or positioning her body between the defender and the target hand....it's going to go the other way versus better defenders or a better scouting report. I believe it did once today.
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I agree with you regarding the excessive dribbling. Too much dribbling by the point guard usually ends up in less player movement. Why cut to the basket if you're not going to get the ball. If you pass well, you hardly have to dribble at all. A year or two ago Klay Thompson of the Warriors scored over 30 points (it may have been 40, I don't remember exactly) and took less than 10 dribbles in the entire game. That's because he had a point guard who moved the ball.
 






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