huskerchode

Somebody tell the girls it's OK to make a basket.

Here's my plan: get UConn to join the Big 10, and then either get Iowa State or Kansas from the Big 12. Because I think the Big 12 needs to be decimated even further, and Iowa State might be the logical choice, but KU men's basketball would be a nice addition.

Maybe they should come to the Big 10! I would like to think a handful of teams each year could come within 20. Maybe not. I would enjoy watching them trounce Iowa each time.

This is just a snapshot of the past weekend's games. I used the current AP top 25 to look back at each team's # players and # of bench minutes. Average # players used was 10.04 with a range from 7 to 14. Average number of minutes from bench was 60.32 with a range from 27 to 106. Would be interesting to go back into the season and look at trends. Rank Team # players used Minutes from bench 1 South Carolina 9 39 2 Uconn 11 106 3 Baylor 11 74 4 Notre Dame 11 82 5 Maryland 10 43 6 Tennessee 10 71 7 Oregon State 9 53 8 Louisville 9 74 9 Florida State 12 90 10 Kentucky 10 77 11 Arizona State 9 54 12 Stanford 10 61 12 Texas A&M 11 49 14 Texas 11 80 15 Nebraska 8 27 16 North Carolina 10 54 17 Duke 9 51 18 Mississippi State 11 51 19 Princeton 14 58 20 Iowa 10 50 21 Georgia 9 64 22 Rutgers 9 67 23 Syracuse 9 39 24 Oklahoma 12 60 25 Chattanooga 7 34

I agree, the injury situation hasn't helped, but at this point in the season, shouldn't some of these girls be able to play a couple of minutes? They not only need practice time to develop, but also some game time (thrown into the fire for a few minutes). I guess I'm thinking ahead to next year, and I'm very concerned. HB, I share your thoughts on the recruiting class that contained Tvrdy. Havers was the one I was looking forward to, and she has helped us, although it would be nice to see some more minutes from her. I didn't understand the offer to Tvrdy at the time it was made. I don't remember if I ever expressed my doubts on the board. We were also hampered last year by the early departure of Katie Simon. I think she would have helped a year ago, although that could have cut into Haver's minutes last year.

Did the math quickly, hope it is correct. This was a 45 minute game this time. Iowa's bench played 50 minutes, our bench 27. Their bench had 12 points compared to our 5 points. They had 10 rebounds compared to our 1 rebound. We won on assists, they had 0 and we had 2. They had 4 turnovers compared to our 1. They had 4 fouls compared to our 2 fouls. You take the good with the bad, and hope the good outweighs the bad. They had 4 TOs but got 50 minutes, 12 points, and 10 rebounds, and some much needed rest for their starters so they could make that run at the end of the game.

I agree with everything you said, redsteve. Teams will continue to harrass Rachel (if they are smart), forcing everyone else to step up. Sometimes we build a little lead, anywhere from 10-20 points, but if the other team can stay within 10-20 points, they can come out in the second half and wear us down. Lazy passes and missed shots are due to the girls being tired, which is due to lack of depth. And, I agree, if those bench players aren't ready to put in a few minutes each game, that is on the coaches. Either they aren't developing the bench or they are recruiting weak players (which I don't believe is the case with this recruiting class and the next one). I was happy to see Natalie had 15 minutes. I feel Havers should be able to give us at least 10. We need a couple of others to give us a good 5 minutes at least. I've wondered a bit about the rotation, too. It seemed like Brandi was playing a good game early on, getting some rebounds and getting to the foul line. But then she was the first one subbed out, and that has happened a number of times. If she is doing well, why not keep her in there a bit longer? Maybe last night it was due to her knee, or maybe she asked to be subbed out, but it seems like she is usually the first one out.

Michigan State Minnesota Maryland Rutgers Iowa Nebraska Ohio State

I just don't understand why we can't get some more minutes from the bench. We have Romeo, Havers, Smith, Cincore, and Kalenta that should at least be able to play a few if not more, especially for Havers and Romeo. Put them in until they screw up. That may only take a minute for some, but for others you might get a solid 4-5 minutes. I would expect they would improve enough be season' send to play meaningful minutes. Also will help out for next year, which could be really ugly if these kids don't get more time.

I would say Iowa only played 10. Kastanek was in the game for a few seconds, just long enough to turn the ball over, and then was on the bench the rest of the game I believe.

We could have used a bench player to frustrate Logic some more. Maybe Cincore. I don't think Logic could push her around.

In previous years our go-to player in the second half was Lindsey, then it was Jordan. Who is that person this year?

This is a wake up call. Need to get the bench going. We have healthy people. Time to start using them. Can't keep pissing away leads like this. We always used to be a pretty good second half team, but not this season.

That was all ball

We just have no answer right now

And now iowa is hitting their threes

Wow, we crapped away a decent 10 point lead. Girls look tired.

Good grief, we have to hit some shots.

Maybe it will get called in the second half. But we need to hit some shots. I doubt Iowa will continue to shoot this poorly in the second half.

Ha ha Jeff! "Halie Sample looks like a sleeping bag out there!"

I feel like we should be up 20, but we aren't.

And she has gotten people to foul her, which may be a good strategy in this game.

I watched about the last 10 minutes of that game. It looked to me like she was struggling to get up and down the court. Did she get many rebounds? I was not impressed with anyone on the Illinois team at all. He barely played the bench.

I watched the end of that Rutgers/Minny game. Saw Zahui B. Traveling all over the place again and nothing was called.

Nice article about Pius X vs Lincoln Christian game last night. I think the average margin of victory for Pius this season is over 20 points. Maddie is doing well. http://www.neprepzone.com/sports/patterson-experience-height-carry-bolts-past-young-crusaders/article_39e2fe73-c599-58ac-9875-b75df1699178.html They play North Star next, a team that is coached by Maddie's club coach, followed by a game against undefeated class A Lincoln Northeast. Might want to check that one out.