Got home a little while ago from today's game. Thought I'd like to share a main impression with everyone:

Sometimes in basketball, a game is not decided by basketball skills, but rather by difference in athleticism. I really think that that was the case today. While VT's skills weren't neccessarily better than ours, the difference in athleticism between the two teams felt like night and day.

On both ends of the court, everything their players did seemed to be faster, stronger, and smoother. It felt like they were running circles around us while our players looked like they were moving in quicksand. Every basket we made it seemed like we had to work really hard for. When we were able to get a stop on defense, it looked like it basically took everything out of us. And of course this difference in athleticism/speed was also why we committed more turnovers.

Throw in the fact that they were 25-29 from the free throw line and there's was no was we were going to get them.

Again, VTech does not have overwhelming skill, but they are fantastic athletes and are very well coached. They deserve big time credit today.

It may not have made the ultimate difference, but I think we did miss Barnes today. We started four guards all of whom got defended athletically, and who together made 15 of our TO's. So going small did not work against this team of good defenders, and Claudia was also not up to it when she was in. When Suffern was interviewed after the game (by Layshia who is a wonderful commentator), Suffern talked mostly about defense and intensity. So that is VaTech's game.

annarborbear said:

---

It may not have made the ultimate difference, but I think we did miss Barnes today. We started four guards all of whom got defended athletically, and who together made 15 of our TO's. So going small did not work against this team of good defenders, and Claudia was also not up to it when she was in. When Suffern was interviewed after the game (by Layshia who is a wonderful commentator), Suffern talked mostly about defense and intensity. So that is VaTech's game.

---

I agree, having Taylor would have helped, but not enough.

Interesting to see the short post game presser. Charmin commented how our team just didn't have their usual energy. She mentioned that at the beginning of the 4th quarter even though it was just a one point game, it felt like we were significantly behind. Watching live it felt the exact same way to me. From the middle of the second quarter on it felt like we were in trouble. And ultimately it played out that way.

RedlessWardrobe said:

---

annarborbear said:

---

It may not have made the ultimate difference, but I think we did miss Barnes today. We started four guards all of whom got defended athletically, and who together made 15 of our TO's. So going small did not work against this team of good defenders, and Claudia was also not up to it when she was in. When Suffern was interviewed after the game (by Layshia who is a wonderful commentator), Suffern talked mostly about defense and intensity. So that is VaTech's game.

---

I agree, having Taylor would have helped, but not enough.

Interesting to see the short post game presser. Charmin commented how our team just didn't have their usual energy. She mentioned that at the beginning of the 4th quarter even though it was just a one point game, it felt like we were significantly behind. Watching live it felt the exact same way to me. From the middle of the second quarter on it felt like we were in trouble. And ultimately it played out that way.

---

At that presser It looked and sounded like Charmin herself was sick with a cold so maybe herself also wasn't as energetic.

It's possible some of our players were also ill.

Having Taylor may have been enough. not just her play but we needed bodies who could defend. that is what they had.

The coach's quote: They played like I felt

I wonder how many slots we will have open…Sakima and Claudia will be out of eligibility, I believe, and 4 international coming in…2 Australians (one tall), a tall Greek and a tall Turk or Serb (I've edited due to typos and corrections)

We were talking about next years roster ourselves and if we can keep Lulu and Puff (who looked really to be coming into her own in this game), plus Taylor and Gisella, plus all those new recruits, I think we could be in really good shape next year I'd love to keep Lola, Grace, Naya and Mjracle too, but probably not as core to making a run next year.

annarborbear said:

---

Woodacre said:

---

I wonder how many slots we will have open…Samika and Claudia will be out of eligibility, I believe, and 4 international coming in…2 Austrians (one tall), a tall Greek and a tall Turk.

---

Women's Basketball Blog shows us with only three international recruits. Who is the tall Turk?

---

No name has been given. She also hasn't signed yet but will do so on the April 15 signing date.

I'm sorry I didn't catch her name but Meghin Williams, the GM, announced it at Sunday's Beyond the Lair. Said she is currently competing against WNBA players. Anyone else catch the name?

Ah…got it…you were correcting my Austrians to Australians. My bad. Oops

Great to see we are succeeding internationally, where the Cal name recognition should be a major advantage. Let's hope we can develop this into a long-term pipeline.

Woodacre said:

---

I wonder how many slots we will have open…Samika and Claudia will be out of eligibility, I believe, and 4 international coming in…2 Austrians (one tall), a tall Greek and a tall Turk.

---

Thanks for that, I hadn't heard about the 4th. Any clue about departures (with remaining eligibility)?

I follow her on Instagram and saw she was in Istanbul about three months ago. I remember her posting a few stories from there. I had a feeling something was brewing.