I confess that early in the year, I was concerned that Didi would be too much of an offensive liability for us to win a NC. I've changed my mind, and now fully believe that Didi can be a core player on a NC team. What's changed in her offensive game this year?
1. Cutting - Didi has learned to cut without the ball, and she's really creative at layups and reverse layups when she gets the ball near the hoop. I don't remember her cutting much last year, and it's been an evolution this year, but now her ability cut is a real weapon. Kalani and Lauren have also learned to look for her and deliver the ball.
2. Shooting accuracy - she'll still not be confused with Chloe, or Juicy, or NaLyssa, but Didi is a more accurate shooter this year from midrange. If you're an opposing coach, Didi from midrange is still the shot you're happy to see compared to the alternatives, but she's gotten better this year. She's shooting 49% from the floor!! Granted, much of that high % is due to layups and cuts and rebound putbacks, but her midrange shooting has gotten better.
3. Confidence - I believe that confidence is an underrated aspect of an athlete's performance level. Didi has grown and matured so much in her two years, and it's clear that she now believes that she belongs on the floor. Last year, when the ball found her open in the halfcourt offense, all our offensive flow would come crashing to a halt. Didi would often freeze with the ball in her hands, afraid to shoot. This year, she's a much better ball mover, with a better internal clock and feel for that necessary offensive flow. The ball rarely dies with her anymore, she'll either take the shot, make the drive, or make the pass.
4. NaLyssa and Moon - it is so critical to have NaLyssa and Moon available off the bench. This gives Mulkey so many options. They aren't at the same level as Didi defensively, but they are much better offensive players. Sometimes we hit an opponent or a matchup when Didi is a little more exposed offensively, but with the ability to sub in NaLyssa or Moon, we can find a way to work around it and get the offense going again.

All the factors above have helped Didi evolve from an offensive liability who might have limited playing time, into an offensive threat who can make some real contributions to support her elite defense. Hats off to the hard work and development.

I adore Didi. I love her defensive energy and grit. I love her joy and infectious personality. I bought two big fuzzy balls which I pinned to a Baylor hat to make a "Didi hat". Her name is the password on my computer; not joking. I'm so proud of the way she's evolved her game, especially her offense, and love her understanding of her role on this team. She is a critical piece of our puzzle, and I can't wait to see her compete as we progress through this bracket.

Didi has been my favorite from day one of this year. WHAT A SPARK PLUG for the Lady Bears.

I just love her personality, and outlook on everything.

Baylor is very lucky to have her. GREAT JOB

She really is the secret sauce to this team. Nice article by the Trib today about her. She keeps them loose when they need it and she's a hell of a defender and such solid improvement to her offensive game this year.

DiDi is talented and fun!!!

jdrs said:

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DiDi is talented and fun!!!

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Where she made a huge difference vs. South Carolina involved (1) getting downcourt for the outlet pass ahead of the defense and (2) cutting toward the basket so she could receive a pass after the defense had collapsed around Kalani or Lauren. I hope to see much more of that!

That's my girl right there. She immediately sticks out on the court in all the right ways. A real positive energy giver.

March 30, 2019

Voepel: Richards is all arms and legs, and she can cover opposing players like a spider's web.

Can't say enough about the job Didi did last night. When she drives into the lane and hits those 10-footers, as she has been doing consistently of late, it is just lethal to defenses that are keyed on stopping Kalani and Lauren.

On defense, she made Ionescu work really hard for her shots, and it took a toll on Oregon. I think it was a big reason why they went 1-13 down the stretch.

Ionescu is an incredible player. Give her just a few inches of room and she can get a good shot, and they set screens for her like crazy. She hurt us in the 2nd quarter but got only got 6 points in the other three combined. She averages 20 and got 18. That wasn't the issue. She will get her points. The point is that we made her take 24 shots to get those points, and she missed three-fourths of them.

Put another way, we held a great-shooting team to 37% from the field. But we held the best player on that team (and the presumptive top pick in the WNBA draft) to just 25% from the field -- and she took more than one-third of their shots.

I also have to give a lot of credit to the way Juicy played D on Ionescu after Didi went out. She was all over her.

(BTW, on Ionescu's last shot -- the one that the announcers kept talking about a foul to the face before the shot -- it should have been mentioned that Ionescu pushed off with her left arm before that and could have been called for an offensive foul. The refs let them play.

I hope Didi is at 100% tomorrow--and everyone else too!

Tampa Bay newspaper shines the spotlight on Didi:

https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2019/04/06/final-four-real-star-of-this-game-was-not-the-player-you-were-expecting/

Final Four: Real star of this game was not the player you were expecting

Baylor defensive specialist DiDi Richards shut down Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu with a performance to remember.

Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu (20) and Baylor's DiDi Richards (2) in the NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game at the Amalie Arena on Friday, April 5, 2019. (MONICA HERNDON | Times)

By John Romano
Published Yesterday

TAMPA The procession of postgame handshakes had barely begun when Baylor coach Kim Mulkey stopped Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu and placed a hand on her shoulder while whispering in her ear.
Next up was a short word of encouragement from a Baylor assistant. Then a hug from a player. Finally, Ionescu came face to face with Baylor guard DiDi Richards.
Ionescu, named the top player in the nation on Thursday, did not break stride and barely extended a hand.
It may have been her first clean escape from Richards all night.
This could have been Ionescu's moment. Her chance to show the rest of the world what women's basketball aficionados have been raving about for three years.

She is a rising star in women's basketball, and every opponent knows it. Should she choose to enter the WNBA draft next week, Ionescu could very well be the No. 1 pick. She is putting up all-around numbers that have never been seen in the college game, whether you're talking about men or women.
And in the biggest game of her career, Ionescu was smothered by Richards and her Baylor teammates. The Bears went on to beat the Ducks 72-67 Friday night to advance to the national championship game Sunday.
"I could sense her frustration," Richards said. "I get away with a lot of bumps and hits because I'm so quick. I could definitely sense she was getting a little upset with me, and with the refs. She was talking to the refs the whole game."
This was a version of Ionescu that Oregon fans have rarely seen. After averaging 10 assists and seven rebounds in the first four rounds of the NCAA Tournament, Ionescu was held to six assists and four rebounds. And while she scored a team-high 18 points, they came at a high cost.
Ionescu whiffed on 18 of her 24 shots from the field, the most misses she's had all season.

"She did what every defender tends to do. It's just easier when you have a 6-5 and a 6-7 post player on the inside being able to protect the rim," Ionescu said of Richards. "She was able to come out and put a little more pressure on you because she knows they have two players protecting her inside."
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A screenwriter wouldn't have plotted it this way. The star may prevail, or the star may fall short, but the star rarely leaves the screen with a look of exasperation.
And yet the showdown between Richards and Ionescu was still thrilling theater. Richards completely handcuffed the Oregon junior during the first quarter, leaving Ionescu with more turnovers (2) than assists (1), and more fouls (1) than points (0).
When Ionescu hit a 3-point shot with Richards fouling her at the end of the first half, she landed on her backside and watched her shot fall perfectly threw the net. She then turned slowly and stared at Richards with a look that seemed like a cross between smugness and disdain.
Ionescu later said she was looking back toward her bench but Richards wasn't buying it.
"The way she looked at me, I was thinking 'Girl, what is your problem?'" Richards said. "I had to really control myself because things were definitely getting tense."
Maybe for Ionescu, but Richards seemed to play the entire game with a bemused air. She grinned at officials when she got into foul trouble, and she bantered with teammates at every opportunity.
She has been Baylor's defensive stopper all season, and she played her role perfectly on Friday. She was quick. She was tenacious. She fought through screens and refused to be pushed around. Mostly, she was infuriating.
Turns out, that's what Richards does best. She wants to pester and annoy and make the opponent's star work for every shot, let alone every point.
"She's long, she's athletic, she tends to be handsy," Ionescu said. "So all of that goes into what a great defender she is."
Turns out, the world saw a different star shine on Friday.