WBB: Game #9 @ California

OT?

OT

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free basketball  this should help the Huskers.

WE WILL WIN

Shepard fouled out of the game at the start of the OT

CHERRY BOMB!!!

WE WILL WIN

What'd I say, down to the wire!

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_{cal up by 3}

Blackburn fouled out

Foul changed to Havers

game is over Blackburn fouled out Huskers down by 4 and shooting a foul

down by 6

Cal wins 87-80 (frownie)!

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87 - 80 Cal.  Disappointing end to the game.  We had our chances but couldn't get it done.

Well they gave it a good go. to many missed bunnies and turnovers.

Well bummer

Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb

On the game:

“I’m really proud of our team. I thought there were gutty stops, big plays and in an overtime game against an amazing team like Nebraska, we needed every ounce of everything we had to win this game. I have said it over and over that we have a young group, and I’m so excited to be on the ride with them. They frustrate me sometimes, but the growth that we see in the locker room and practice is the most important thing to me. Even if that’s not smooth all the time, I’ll take it. The veterans stepped up and just created a mentality that we weren’t going to lose the game, and that creates a mentality for the younger players to make plays. It’s a great win for us. Nebraska is really good and (Rachel) Theriot is about as great of an orchestrator as you’re going to find, and we knew Natalie (Romeo) was going to come into here looking to knock down shots. Great college basketball game that we were fortunate to win and we are excited to keep working with this team that I love.”

On defensive goals:

“First of all, she’s (Jessica Shepard) a terrific player. I’ve had experience with her at USA basketball and she’s always watching film, and she’s had a great start to her career. One thing about Kristine and our team that I like is that they all like challenges, so I did some personal challenging saying ‘Hey, we need to make her night tough.’ She wasn’t our only focal point, but we didn’t want her to get any easy looks because she’s so good finishing at the basket when she gets good looks. The team took the challenge of not letting her get anything easy and our team did a great job of making her work on both ends of the floor.”

On nonconference scheduling:

“We wanted to help them get Darrien (Washington) and Natalie (Romeo) home, and it’ll be a good game for us to go out there (Nebraska) next year. I’m always thinking about scheduling nonconference based on the experience the girls will get. We wanted them at home first, but I think going out there (Nebraska) to a huge crowd next year will be a great experience for us. Our crowd did amazing things for us tonight when we needed one stop at the end. It was so loud and the fans were really there for us.”

Well, that was disappointing!  , and I am not just talking about the crowd.  Haas Pavilion seats about 11,900, but was no more than 15% filled.  There was a good contingent of Husker supporters in Red located behind the Husker bench and several others scattered around the pavilion (I was the one wearing Red ).  Things were lively despite the small crowd, with a large 'pep' band and cheerleaders providing  the enthusiasm, especially when Cal was ahead.

It seemed like the Husker Ladies were a little off their game; or maybe it was Cal was 'on' their game, especially after the first quarter.  We didn't seem to have an answer for Kristine Anigwe, or Cal's pull-up jump shooters.  I was hoping Anigwe would foul out in OT, but alas, it was Shepard who had to leave the game (both were at 4 going int OT). 

After the first quarter Cal seemed able to disrupt the Huskers passing offense; or Husker's passing was not crisp, with Cal getting several 'steals' and points in transition.  Maybe it was the Huskers passing that was a little off, several times the intended recipient couldn't handle the pass, resulting in turnovers.  Without looking at the stats, the rebounding seemed pretty even, with maybe some edge to the Huskers.

Even though taking an early lead of some 20 to 4,  the Huskers spent most of the game being behind and playing catch-up finally taking Cal to OT at 70 each.

OT was fairly even, with the teams matching scores until the final couple of minutes when Cal's shooters made their shots.  Nebraska had several chances to answer, but missed some critical shots, and/or put-backs, that had to be made if Nebraska were to win.

Stats will tell the story; overall I thought Cal was just a little better tonight, although Nebraska stayed with them pretty much point-for-point tonight until the final two minutes or so.  I would not be surprised to see both teams make it to the NCAA tournament.  If so, perhaps we might get a chance to play again.  I sure would have liked to see Maddie Simon play, I hope she is 100% by the time tournament play comes around.

One thing I found, attending the game (even in a nearly-empty arena) is a lot more fun than watching the video.  For one thing you can see a lot more of what's going on.  Zoom & Replay are nice but you can't beat the real thing.  If I lived near Lincoln    I'd attend all the games.

I couldn't get the Huskers.com Audio to play so will have to listen to it on archives. 

So on to Northern Arizona and Arkansas State, both at PBA, before opening conference play vs Iowa.

(I'd comment on the fouls but, apart from being a 'Homer,'  I'm not sure what a foul is anymore (probably never was) so It'll be interesting to review the audio stream.)

I didn't see the game of course, but on the radio there seemed to be a lot of disagreement on the foul calling, and misc. infractions getting called...or not called...traveling, etc

Did it look like we were getting called for some what I call "phantom" fouls? We certainly don't have a track record of all these fouls.

And they got away with some?

Also sounded like our turnovers hurt too. In a close game just can't turn the ball over, and they scored more easily than I had hoped. But they do have skilled players...their commits the last couple of years have been very, very good.

Their starting lineup, all of them scored well...makes them hard to defend. Unfortunately defense isn't yet our strongest asset...we've just been out scoring most of our opponents. Connie will work on our defense... no doubt.

Yori said that the way the refs are calling the game is that when you put the second hand on the player it will be called. The game is geared towards the offense as of now.

what i found rather frustrating---although, not a total shock, 17 of the 23 fouls were on the husker "bigs". i was concerned the Bears athleticism could give the huskers fits in that area. unfortunately, it appears i was right. listening to matt and jeff, don't think there was much of an argument about those calls, just that the refs may not have been quite as consistent on the other end. 

sounds like havers had an impressive game, but, she also had a number of travel calls? i'm pretty sure she had at least 2 or 3. ouch.

rt was rt, but, she did have 6 to's---i am sure the length of the Bears caused a good share.

still, the huskers took them to overtime, on the road with some missed opportunities that just might have had them walk out of there with a 'W'. 

Concerning turnovers I've noticed that even in games where we didn't have much competition that we would make 3 or four really low percentage passes that just ended up in turnovers.  Doesn't hurt us when we have a big lead but in close games especially on the road it can be the difference.  It doesn't just happen to the Freshman (where you might be more tolerant) but from Theriot,Clark and Romeo.  Coach Yori talks about valuing each possession like the game is on the line every time down the floor.  I'm sure she will get that worked out.

“We wanted to help them get Darrien (Washington) and Natalie (Romeo) home, and it’ll be a good game for us to go out there (Nebraska) next year. I’m always thinking about scheduling nonconference based on the experience the girls will get. We wanted them at home first, but I think going out there (Nebraska) to a huge crowd next year will be a great experience for us.

 

I've been thinking about this quote from Gottlieb. She knows that had they came to Lincoln first, the probability that they would have went home with a loss was very likely. She wanted us there first because the "home court advantage" gave her a better chance to beat us with Rachel T. and she knows next year when they come here they won't have to deal with Rachel. Plus her young players will have gained a year of experience. 

 

“We wanted to help them get Darrien (Washington) and Natalie (Romeo) home, and it’ll be a good game for us to go out there (Nebraska) next year. I’m always thinking about scheduling nonconference based on the experience the girls will get. We wanted them at home first, but I think going out there (Nebraska) to a huge crowd next year will be a great experience for us.

 

 

I've been thinking about this quote from Gottlieb. She knows that had they came to Lincoln first, the probability that they would have went home with a loss was very likely. She wanted us there first because the "home court advantage" gave her a better chance to beat us with Rachel T. and she knows next year when they come here they won't have to deal with Rachel. Plus her young players will have gained a year of experience. 

 

Lets hope we give Cal a 'HUGE CROWD' impression like we gave Creighton (I don't think they get much of that at home in California )