Great summary, Brian.
I have watched the women's game since it began to be televised nationally, and as I have previously observed, I have not seen a post tandem to match this one, and there have been some good ones. But for size, skill both in passing and shooting, rebounding, defending and blocking shots, and most impressive of all, I think, the unselfishness they display and the way they communicate with eye contact and movement -- all of these make watching them a clinic in play in the paint for young players who may be looking in. They are a pleasure to watch, and I am not sure that I have seen a player make a bigger leap between her first year and her second than Lauren Cox, who had some good games last year but never seemed to get into a comfort zone. This year she is showing why she was the top ranked player in the country last year.
Kristy was as good as it gets at the guard slot and just dominated the game at both ends. She did it all tonight, and set the pace for the Lady Bears throughout the game. When they needed something from her, she gave them double the amount.
Natalie was not needed tonight, but played better than her stat sheet will indicate. Cohen was solid, doing the things that characterize her game and playing within herself. Both of those veterans will need to be there as the season goes along, and I do not question either their effort or their willingness to sacrifice their own offense in order to facilitate their team mates.
Morris is a terrific young player who will only get better. She shows good judgment with the ball in her hands and great quickness, whether on offense or defense. She shoots with confidence and with accuracy, but what I like the most in her offensive game is her court vision and her ability to get to the rim when the opponent is lax in spacing. Her midrange shot has always been a strength, and I suspect that her three point shooting will become a major part of her game out ahead.
Richards is a rare player. She just knows how to play the game. She is more of a scorer than a shooter, and she knows her game and plays it with energy and with consistency. She has an extraordinary wingspan that enables her to defend almost any position and to rebound surprising well. She is a quick leaper and with that reach can give opposing teams more than they expect on the boards, particularly at the offensive end. She extends possessions, not only by securing the rebound, but by keeping the ball alive so that a teammate can do so. She also is often on the floor going after loose balls. She needs to develop a touch on her shots in the ten to fifteen foot range, but there is a lot to like even now.
Landrm did not get many minutes in this game, but she will get her share in the forthcoming conference games, and if she plays within herself and defends without fouling unnecessarily, she will be a major asset in terms of depth. An eight player rotation is about as much as most coaches use once the heart of the season is engaged, and even Ursin may be able to play some useful minutes as circumstances permit. I am sure that Mulkey would love to be able to do that, and I think that she will.
This was one of the best performances in the history of the Baylor program, and for those of us who long for a Final Four appearance, it speaks volumes in that regard.
I have watched the women's game since it began to be televised nationally, and as I have previously observed, I have not seen a post tandem to match this one, and there have been some good ones. But for size, skill both in passing and shooting, rebounding, defending and blocking shots, and most impressive of all, I think, the unselfishness they display and the way they communicate with eye contact and movement -- all of these make watching them a clinic in play in the paint for young players who may be looking in. They are a pleasure to watch, and I am not sure that I have seen a player make a bigger leap between her first year and her second than Lauren Cox, who had some good games last year but never seemed to get into a comfort zone. This year she is showing why she was the top ranked player in the country last year.
Kristy was as good as it gets at the guard slot and just dominated the game at both ends. She did it all tonight, and set the pace for the Lady Bears throughout the game. When they needed something from her, she gave them double the amount.
Natalie was not needed tonight, but played better than her stat sheet will indicate. Cohen was solid, doing the things that characterize her game and playing within herself. Both of those veterans will need to be there as the season goes along, and I do not question either their effort or their willingness to sacrifice their own offense in order to facilitate their team mates.
Morris is a terrific young player who will only get better. She shows good judgment with the ball in her hands and great quickness, whether on offense or defense. She shoots with confidence and with accuracy, but what I like the most in her offensive game is her court vision and her ability to get to the rim when the opponent is lax in spacing. Her midrange shot has always been a strength, and I suspect that her three point shooting will become a major part of her game out ahead.
Richards is a rare player. She just knows how to play the game. She is more of a scorer than a shooter, and she knows her game and plays it with energy and with consistency. She has an extraordinary wingspan that enables her to defend almost any position and to rebound surprising well. She is a quick leaper and with that reach can give opposing teams more than they expect on the boards, particularly at the offensive end. She extends possessions, not only by securing the rebound, but by keeping the ball alive so that a teammate can do so. She also is often on the floor going after loose balls. She needs to develop a touch on her shots in the ten to fifteen foot range, but there is a lot to like even now.
Landrm did not get many minutes in this game, but she will get her share in the forthcoming conference games, and if she plays within herself and defends without fouling unnecessarily, she will be a major asset in terms of depth. An eight player rotation is about as much as most coaches use once the heart of the season is engaged, and even Ursin may be able to play some useful minutes as circumstances permit. I am sure that Mulkey would love to be able to do that, and I think that she will.
This was one of the best performances in the history of the Baylor program, and for those of us who long for a Final Four appearance, it speaks volumes in that regard.
