UT/Miami

[RaiderPower1]

It is just 10 min. into the game and the turnovers are already killing UT...but it looks like they may be coming back...no UT just threw it away for another turnover... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/confused.gif I am listening to the game while waiting for UCONN LaTech on ESPN2

[RaiderPower1]

18 First half turnovers for UT! Tech has had a lot too lately...Iowa State had 24 yesterday...what is happening guards of the Big XII??...BUT UT is coming back on top 34-32

[RaiderPower1]

OH MY GOSH! WHAT AN ENDING! Miami beats Texas 57-55 in a game that Texas had the lead with 55-50 with under three minutes left. Tracy Cook stole the ball with 1.5 sec. left and made the shot but two officials counted it and one didn't. They went to the replay and determined that Cook had not gotten the shot off in time. My heart is going crazy! The turnovers killed UT....I mean killed them.

[Press]

Yeah, that was a heartbreaker and those 30 turnovers did kill them. Tough loss, they looked a little sluggish out there today, Schreiber is impressive. White is the high risk, high reward, player she was last year. If she can get her turnovers in control, she'd be a heck of a player.

[Bobcat4956]

WHEN will Jody Conradt learn that Kenya Larkin not only cannot shoot, she is a pathetic point guard and cannot handle the ball. We need a real point guard to lead the team and get everybody involved. I guess she will be the Jo Ruth Woods of this year. She will continue to get major minutes even though she is not a good ballhandler either. Pathetic decision by Jody.

[Bevo]

Well, the first loss of the season is difficult to deal with, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. Better now than in Big XII play. I hope the team learned a valuable lesson today...Less than 100% effort = Loss. For the first time this season, it was the opponent who wanted it more and executed over the final minutes of the game. Losing a 55-50 lead in the last couple of minutes is not good and very out of character for this group.

Bobcat, I disagree with your opinion that Kenya is a pathetic point guard; however, I agree that she has not played to her full potential in the last 3-4 games. Too many turnovers and unwise decisions with her passes. She can shoot - I've seen her do it - but so far this year she hasn't done it well. We do need her on the floor, but we need her playing well.

I expect the team to use this as motivation for the final three non-conference games against Lamar, Penn St., and Ohio. 9-1 going into conference play will be a great start to the season.

[Amanda]

I actually think Larkin is a fine PG. She pushes the ball up and down the court and can defend. UT doesn't need a PG to do much more than make layups on the break - they have enough offensive threats with the other kids they can put out there. I would sure love to have Larkin at Tech...

[RaiderPower1]

no offense...but I wouldn't...she was great for UT last year

[Bobcat4956]

When you cannot make an open 15 foot shot, your are not a good shooter. Jody Conradt may be the winningest coach in college basketball, but it appears to me that the game has passed her by. I have all the respect for what she has done, but as an offensive coach, she simply does not have it. Other teams are using motion offenses and are producing much more with far less talent. Look what Kim Mulkey-Robertson has done at Baylor. It is time for Jody to go. Yes, we have had a great start to this season, but every game has been ugly. Alisha Sare has played wonderfully, but gets only 7 minutes against Miami. Go figure. We may have won 6 games, but look to have no discipline. That is coaching.

[carolann]

Disgraceful game. I hope the players don't think they are going to win many Big 12 games playing like that. I also hope the coaches do something about these turnovers.

The bright side? Anytime the players don't feel like practicing hard, they can just go watch the Miami game tape.

[JK]

ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE! How in the WORLD do you turn the ball over 32 TIMES in one game?!!!!! We have gotten off to a good start, but we still haven't played well. I'm sorry but I can no longer blame our youth and lack of experience for our sloppy play. A team as talented as we are that comes into a game and plays that bad just isn't mentally prepared. I'm having to eat my hat at this point because of the optimism I expressed after last year and leading into this year. The rotations and the minutes allocated make very little sense to me. Hastings? Sare? Bowers? Reed? You're gonna have to have those type of players on the floor to compete. I hate to say it, but with each game we look more and more like the UT teams of the past ten years...

We need MOTION in the half-court offensive set and we need to swing the ball around the horn and use skip passes and ball fakes to get the defense out of position, and get our players shots that they can hit consistently. Just look at UCONN and the ball movement and motion they execute with. They've got Bird and Taurasi who are pure shooters and the others aren't any better shooters than average. But they get their best looks at the basket because the offense is designed for them to do so.

I guess the good thing at this point is that everyone looks kind of bad except UCONN, TENN, and maybe STANFORD. I'm glad that game against Miami wasn't televised yesterday or I probably would have CROAKED watching it!!! Funny how Baylor got so much better when Mulkey arrived on campus while La Tech just gets worse. Makes one say "Hmmmm..." Sure would love to see that young lady on the sidelines of the Erwin Center in Burnt Orange. Just IMAGINE what kind of program she would have!!!

[Press]

I saw the game on Sun Network Sports (love that satellite!) and not seeing them play before, but hearing how well everything was going and expecting a lot, I seemed to think they looked like the Longhorns of the past few years as well. I think they've got the most top to bottom talent of any of the teams, but just couldn't put 5 players on the floor that could get it done. It looked like a lot of the turnovers where lazy passes and not anticipating what the other was going to do. To me, they just didn't look into it, but that's the humbling thing about roads games, you don't have the crowd and the atmosphere to feed off of and certainly yesterday's crowd was a yawner, maybe 200 people, if that.

I also watched the LaTech - UConn game and LaTech looks uncharacteristically out of whack. They don't play with that fire they used to and Walker was not really a factor. UConn on the other hand, was on fire with Taurasi and Bird running the show. Taurasi is very fun to watch, moves well for her size and can stroke that ball. They are tough!

[Amanda]

I am surprised by some of the comments about UT. They played one bad game. It just amazes me how people get bent out of shape after one loss. Maybe you have the same opinions after wins, too, but you can't exactly complain to loud after a win, huh?

Kind of like when Tech lost to Duke to begin the season - a week earlier people were talking about a trip to San Antonio and how deep we were - then after a loss people were talking about us needing to recruit better players and how bad of a coach Marsha Sharp is.

Its a long season, and it doesn't really start until January. UT has a lot of talent. I think sometimes people forget that playing time isn't always a matter of playing well in the games. It is sometimes about your effort in practice, or how well you are taking care of your classes, or how well you play with your teammates...or one of many other factors. People act like things are so black and white, so cut and dried. If things were that simple, anybody could be a good coach. Since folks seem to think there are so few really good coaches out there, maybe the truth of the matter is its not an easy job, and things are a lot more subjective than we make them out to be.

[carolann]

Amanda, thanks for your supportive comments. My own comments were not meant as a general indictment of the team or the coach - I support both. I do hope the team cuts down on its average turnovers before conference http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif.

[Bevo]

"The sky is falling!!"

--Chicken Little

[DblT81]

Originally posted by JK:
We need MOTION in the half-court offensive set and we need to swing the ball around the horn and use skip passes and ball fakes to get the defense out of position, and get our players shots that they can hit consistently. Just look at UCONN and the ball movement and motion they execute with. They've got Bird and Taurasi who are pure shooters and the others aren't any better shooters than average. But they get their best looks at the basket because the offense is designed for them to do so.


Oh, JK you're talking about the Longhorns. I had to do a double take there for a minute 'cause I'd swear you were describing what the Lady Raiders offense could use a little of this season. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

Are Texas and Tech putting too much emphasis on defense to the detriment of their offense?



[This message has been edited by DblT81 (edited 12-10-2001).]

[JK]

Yes, DblT81. The Longhorns half-court set looks stagnate as usual. The bad thing is that we aren't really applying the pressure that we normally do either. If you're going to run 10-11 players in and out constantly, where's the pressure. Maybe we're just not quick enough this year. I'm shocked that Tech is struggling with it's half-court offense because coach Sharp and coach Weese usually have them executing pretty well.

To Amanda: You won't find a bigger fan of the Lady Horns and Coach Conradt than I. However, a spade is a spade and we look like CRAP - - even in the victories we've had. And yes, I was complaining then too! The only thing I'm calling for is that the UT program get put back where it belongs. The state of Texas is too rich in talent for UT to be lingering around the bottom halof of the Top 25. We've GOT to do better!!!!

[Bobcat4956]

And no one is a bigger fan of the Lady Longhorns and Jody Conradt than me. However, I have sat the last several years and watched as our program has basically gone to the dogs. I watched as Jo Ruth Woods got more minutes than any other player on the floor while shooting (approximately 28% from the floor. Jody's arrogance is getting her and the team in trouble. I do not understand the rotations either. You put people on the floor who can produce. PERIOD!!! Kenya Larkin is not producing and has been hurting the team. Our offensive sets are old, methodical and out of date, but our coach is too arrogant to admit the game has changed. Unless and until she does, we will not get better. And yes, I was complaining when we were winning too. Make a note of this, when we won, it has been on talent alone, not coaching.

[Bevo]

Bobcat, in regards to playing time given to JoRuth last year (btw, her shooting % was 36.2% for the season, 32.5% conference only - definately not good, but better than 28%), if you were the coach, who were you going to play instead?

Kaira White (40.1% FG) Not as good a defender, inexperienced, and (as we have discussed here in the past) "high risk/high reward" (which against the good teams means high risk - see ISU tape from last year)

Meg Brown (39.5% FG) Not as good a defender or rebounder.

Randa Dobbs (60.0% FG) Played very sparingly and was a great cheerleader from the bench.

Asha Hill (26.3% FG) Maybe as good defensively, but worse shooting and was out with a broken jaw approx. 75% of the season.

Alisha Sare (20.0% FG) Sidelined early with the achilles injury, couldn't get back into the flow, got frustrated and left the team.

Lindsay Ryan (37.9% FG) Similar shooting %, not as good a perimeter defender.

Dana Godfrey (37.4% FG) Similar shooting %, not as good a perimeter defender, would probably have to use her defensively in the post, moving Stephens or Cook to the perimeter.

Just curious, did Conradt have a better option?

Also, who is a better option running the point this year than Kenya?

[This message has been edited by Bevo (edited 12-11-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Bevo (edited 12-11-2001).]

[Amanda]

Bevo - great points. I think a lot of fans complain without really looking at the situation in-depth enough to make logical arguements. As I said above - stats aren't the only thing. A kid's attitude in practice, going to class, how well they play with their teammates...lots of things go into playing time. Its not as simple as finding your best player at each position and throwing them on the court. I still think Larkin is one of the better PG's in the conference, though.


Bobcat - at this point, who would you rather having running the point? I mean, do you think UT should have recruited somebody else, or use another current player? Also - who would you replace Conradt with? When people want changes I think it is always interesting to hear their solutions.

[JK]

As for last year, I wouldn't have played anyone else in Jo Ruth's spot. She was a great defender and a leadership presence on the floor. I would have instead tried to incorporate a half-court offense in which she (and the rest of the team) could have gotten the shots that they shoot the best. Woods was hellonwheelz at driving in and pulling up for the short jumper. But there were no picks set, no penentration, no ball movement, no nothing!

As for this year, I'd like to see the minutes spread a little more at the "1" and "2". Who knows... if Sare or Reed would get more minutes we just MIGHT find somebody who can hang on to the ball and be an offensive threat too. Ultimately, I'd like to see Dillard run the point. At this stage, what would it hurt to have Hill run the point? After all, we FORCED her to become a point and pretty much ruined her scorer's mentality (she was a PROLIFIC scorer in high school) in her first couple of years at UT. So why not utilize her now? Again, better get Hastings more involved in things also. If we think we're gonna compete with the teams that have the type of players at the "3", "4", and "5" that Tennessee, Texas Tech, Baylor, OU, and a few others have - - it ain't gonna happen without Hastings being a major factor!

[This message has been edited by JK (edited 12-11-2001).]

[DblT81]

JK,
Speaking of ball movement on offense--you should watch the TT-UT men's teams matchup on Jan 14 on ESPN's Big Monday. Or I think Tech men play Houston this Friday Dec 14, at 9 pm on Fox Sports Net. I have heard a lot of pros and cons about Bob Knight as a coach. But one thing I must give him credit for is his team's offesive movement. It is a thing of beauty to behold and the Tech men probably aren't even doing it completely yet because they are still learning the system. It has made me intenrested in watching men's games. His players use ball fakes and screens and are constantly moving without the ball. Your comments make me believe you would enjoy such offense, at least if it wasn't Texas Tech men running it.

I wish Coach Sharp would consider moving the Lady Raider's half court offense in this motion/screening direction. Someone said that would never happen because she is a disciple of the Wayland Baptist ball movement system. BTW, isn't one of the top UT assistants also a Wayland Baptist alumni?

[Amanda]

Dbl, Kathy Harston played at Wayland in the late 70's. She was an amazing player, and has one of the best basketball minds out there IMO. She was also an assistant at Tech from 82-84 - I think those are the right years. Just FYI.

I am going to see the Red Raiders play Friday. It is SO nice to see them play real basketball. I would love to see the Lady Raiders use a lot more picks - think about Ritchie and Perkins coming off an Ayers pick. Hello - they would be open for days. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

JK - Hill makes me nervous running the point - has from day 1. I never understood making her a PG. I do like Dillard running the point, but I guess she is a good enough shooter that they want her on the wing.

Sare has played well and played often in the games I have been to - or at least it seemed like she was out there a lot. Reed doesn't look quite ready to play extended minutes.

I still say Larkin is a good option at PG. Of course I am from the school of thought that says your PG doesn't need to be a scorer unless they are shooting layups or wide open jumpers. Melinda Schmucker - that is my dream PG. Course, I woulda let her shoot a LITTLE more than she did for Tech, but I like a pass first shoot second PG.

[Bobcat4956]

First of all, Jo Ruth Woods was a small forward trying to play guard. If she was going to be on the floor, she needed to be at her right position and it was not guard. She was not a good ballhandler. PERIOD. Or shooter. Put her in a position where she can be successful. That is my problem with Jody. She does not, at this point, seem to coach according to the type of players she has. You have to adjust to the type of personnel you have. We are stagnant offensively. I RESPECT and ADMIRE Jody, and no one would like to see her be successful more than me. I hope things go well this year. As for Kenya Larkin being a good point guard, WE DISAGREE. As a point guard you must create and break down the defense. She cannot do that. She cannot shoot and is not even that good of a ballhandler. She IS a very good defender. I will give her that. I would like to see Tai Dillard at the point. She is a better ballhandler than Larkin and is DEFINITELY a better shooter. Time will tell. I am behind my ladies 100% no matter what. I just have not seen us getting any better offensively, and I believe we now have the talent to be better.

[Amanda]

Bobcat - that's cool - I just always like to know what people who complain about a situation would rather see happen. I figure if folks want to second guess a coach (which is fun and why we have these sites) they should have a better solution in mind.

[curious-one]

I am a big fan of UT basketball, and I consider myslef to be basketball smart...
I don't know if anyone else noticed, but UT had no offense to run against Miami, and therefore left the gaurds and mainly Kenya out to fend for themselves, which lead to a lot of turn-overs. When I first moved too Austin I had a lot of respect for Jody, but the longer I am here and the more I watch her coach the less I think of her. She is beyond her prime and needs to retire. I believe the Ut players to be some of the best ever, but with the outdated ways of Conradt, the team will never suceed. As for a replacement, I would love to see ex-player nell Fortner take over.
The UT team, did play sloppy against Miami, but I think all in all, the UT coaches got OUT COACHED! and this will continue to happen as long as the 'all mighty' JC is there.

[carolann]

Nell Fortner has no interest in coaching at Texas. The fans need to give this one up. Fortner is happy in the pros.

[JK]

Actually, the WNBA can KEEP Nell Fortner. Anybody who would have a National Team without Tina Thompson... Enough said. Whenever the time comes for JC to move on to something else, I certainly hope we go out and get somebody like Kim Mulkey-Robertson -- someone who is innovative, motivated, demanding, and competitive. I think she's the best thing since sliced bread, and see her having a "Summitt-like" coaching career!


[This message has been edited by JK (edited 12-13-2001).]

[Amanda]

JK - gotta agree with you on Fortner. I have never, EVER been a fan of hers. I mean, what has she REALLY done? If a former player comes back to take over, I hope it is Kamie Etheridge. I think she would be great. I also think Karen Aston would be a terrific head coach. She is an outstanding recruiter and seems to be well liked and well respected by high school coaches and kids she is after. I would like UT to go get a young, energetic assistant from somewhere. I don't think no head coaching experience shoud rule somebody out. Ties to Texas would be great, but that shouldn't be an overriding factor, IMO.

[curious-one]

Ok, maybe you think Nello is not interested, but please dear Lord, if Jody was to retire...DO NOT hire Karen Aston as head coach. She may be a good recruiter, but sit in there practice one day. I do not believe that she has the players respect, nor does she have enough basketball knowledge to be a head coach.

[ChipperF1]

If you are looking to dump Jody Conradt, why not replace her with another Jody. I hear Ms. Runge is available http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[mred]

Originally posted by Amanda:
I would like UT to go get a young, energetic assistant from somewhere. I don't think no head coaching experience shoud rule somebody out.

That's the best advice Baylor ever followed. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif I agree with it 100%. Not to say that they shouldn't hire a head coach from somewhere, but don't discount the assistants.

[KSUron]

As you know Kamie Ethridge is the KSU Associate Head Coach. I would dearly hate to see coach Ethridge leave KSU but if she ever does take the head coach job I think she deserves, I hope its in the Big XII. If Coach Patterson ever leaves I would love to see it be in Manhattan.

[Bevo]

People, let it go!! Every year, the same discussion. People pushing Conradt out the door, dragging out the usual suspects as replacements...Nell Fortner(like Amanda says, what has she really done at the collegiate level?), Kim Mulkey-Robertson(I'm sure she's quite happy where she's at, thank you), blah, blah, blah...

Meanwhile, the all-time leader in wins closes in on #800 and continues to be a "victim" of her own success.

[JK]

I, for one, am not trying to push JC out the door. I am hoping and praying that she brings our program back to where it belongs, and realize that it won't happen overnight. I'm simply making observations that I still see some of the same old lackluster offense of the past ten years or so (having followed this team for 22 years I think I'm qualified to do that). IF and WHEN Coach Conradt decides to call it a career, I'd like to see her go out in a blaze of glory. I certainly don't see anything wrong with a TRUE fan wanting to see the best person possible being the replacement. Yes, Kim Mulkey-Robertson may be happy where she is, but any FOOL could see the near unlimited possibilities with her at UT (thank YOU very much). For now, however, here's to JC and sincerely wishing her (and the UT program) all the success in the world.

[kate dawg]

gosh i feel like i'm in the boneyard.

[Bevo]

I'm with you, JK. I want to see Conradt bring us back to the elite. And I agree that some of your points regarding the offense are valid. I simply get irritated when the discussion goes in the "we need to get rid of Conradt and here are the better options" direction that it always seems to go.

[JK]

Yes, as frustrated as I get at times, the fact remains that I really, really like JC as a coach. She helped bring the Women's Game to another level back when. Under her direction, UT was the first team to push the ball and apply the pressure at such fierce paces. I'd like to see more innovation. Again, that won't happen overnight. She is a great coach who, in my honest opinion, is having to now play catch-up after being weighed down with AD duties for numerous years. Again, I'm waiting patiently (well, not always patiently). Go JC, Go UT!

[Bobcat4956]

As I stated earlier, I also love Jody Conradt. However, I, like JK, have followed the Lady Longhorns for a long, long time. The women's game has changed dramatically. Coach Conradt, in my opinion, has not kept up with the changes. Our offense, more than anything, is lackluster and sluggish. I would love to see her be successful, but I have to agree with some of the others, that it may be time for her to go. She has the talent now. Let's see what she does with it. I also have to agree with JK. I am no Nell Fortner fan either. I would love to see Kim Mulkey-Robertson come to Texas. And for those of you who think she would not leave Baylor, THINK AGAIN!!! Here's hoping Jody and the Lady Longhorns pull it together and have a great year.

[swok34]

What about Karen Aston?.......she is associate head coach. I've heard she is a really good recruiter.

[BEAR SKIN]

Kim M-R at UT? Think again and again and again. Won't happen. She's building a great program in Waco, is very happy here. LOYALTY is her real middle name (stayed as an asssistant at her alma mater forever out of loyalty even though not on same wavelength with head coach)

?possibilities at Austin = great program with winning tradition? Ho Hum.

?possibilities at Waco = great program built from scratch; Hall of fame potential.

?$ -- yes, the great motivator. BU will open the checkbook as large as it takes to keep her (will need much less than UT may offer)

[DblT81]

Originally posted by kate dawg:
gosh i feel like i'm in the boneyard.

Why? Are they discussing the potential future replacement of their coach due to disappointing recent performance?

[metromaniac]

I am beginning to wonder if all Longhorn fans aren't just perpetually picky----from Mack Brown, to Chris Sims, to the Hall of Fame JC. Somehow it looks to me like ya'll won a couple of games you could or even should have lost and are 6-1


Don't jump ship----you each may be correct but let's sit back and see how the year plays out. Picking new coaches is a bit of a useless effort before March. Things look like they are moving up. Either get on the train or get off!!!!!

[ChipperF1]

"Either get on the train or get off!!!!!"

I can agree with that, to a point.

Texas is a very young team. A lot of froshes and sophfolks playing. The younger the kid on average the goofier mistakes are made. Its lousy, but its true.

Look Longhorns, by thankful. You could be Aggie, Husker or Jayhawk fans right now then you'd have something to whine about.

[kate dawg]

no the boneyard is just the single most negative message board I have ever seen in my life.

[Bevo]

Originally posted by metromaniac:
I am beginning to wonder if all Longhorn fans aren't just perpetually picky----from Mack Brown, to Chris Sims, to the Hall of Fame JC.




metro, you hit that nail squarely on the head!

I'll say this much, there aren't many women's basketball programs or coaches that generate this much discussion...good or bad. That in itself speaks volumes about how much people love (and hate) UT!

[Zo31]

Bobcat, I would be devasted if coach Kim left Baylor. Lets not even talk about this anymore. Baylor will do everything it can to keep her. She is one terrific coach!!!