CU-LSU @ halftime

[SwoopesMVP]

CU 38
LSU 29

Sorry guys...left the game at halftime, but here's what I saw in the first half. I don't think CU should have any problem winning this game. LSU looked like they were out on the playground, runnin the ball up the court and jackin up the first available shot. CU actually had a set offense and passed until they had a good look. Only thing about LSU is that they appeared to be very athletic...had several steals and fast-break points in the first half. Both teams played very sloppy, turning over the ball and missing shots. Another observation...these two teams look as different as night and day on the court. CU is playing all white girls who are as tall as trees...whereas LSU is playing all black girls that don't matchup with the height but seem to be more athletic. (sorry, hope that didn't sound racist or anything...just trying to give you an idea of the matchup -- completely different types of teams and styles of play here.) LSU's Johnson (5'3") was takin it to the hoop against CU's big girls and just blew by them. She was the leading scorer at halftime...come on, she's 5'3"!!!! Hopefully CU will extend it's lead and run away with this one.

Come on CU, let's make it 3-0 against the SEC!!!

[YCN]

You were right, SwoopsMVP.

With almost no weapons to attack a much more experienced and much taller CU team (which shot over 60% for the game!) LSU had no chance. The second half looked like a scrimmage. Because of the extreme lack of depth for the Tigers, they really can't be totally agressive and push 100% very much of the time.

It has been my observation in the last couple of years that where CU has clear personnel advantages they usually win easily, but when another team has the players to attack their weaknesses (shoddy ballhandling, careless passing) they tend to play "soft".

They don't have a lot of quality wins lately over really good teams because of this tendency. It may be that their experience this year will help them overcome the soft label, but until they can go on the road and get a win against a higher-ranked Big 12 team, they will always be suspect in my book.

In spite of what a lot of people think, I don't think they will finish in the top 4 of the conference this year. Maybe they will prove me wrong - wouldn't be particularly unusual to do so.

[kate dawg]

Am I the only one that noticed CB benched 80% of CU's starters? Nightingale, Roulier, Wirt and Hartshorn had all started the most games at their positions, and the first three had started all 12 games. Nightingale had started like 70 straight or something before today...sounds to me like Coach was sending a message and I think maybe Nightingale responded...6 three balls!

As for the Buffs in general, they do have experience, but you are right YCN, they haven't been able to win big games on the road. I still think they are going to finish in the top four though. No disrespect to the BU faithful, but please tell me who they have played so far this season. CU has played its share of cupcakes (Air Force, Wyoming, UCLA, San Diego, Bowling Green), but also has played four ranked teams on the road (six total NCAA teams in all in ORU, LSU, Vandy, Florida, Iowa, CSU) but at least they have played them...BU has played only DU and ORU that were in the Big Dance last year and DU is sorry now that what's her name is gone.

I pick on Baylor only because I know that's who everyone thinks will pass up CU. CU has got the "Big Three" on the road in OU, ISU and TT, as well as at Baylor and K-State, both additional tough places to play. So I'm going to stick up for my Buffs and say that I think maybe now that the conference season has rolled around, I hope that they will get it together and quit choking on the road! Does not help that they open with OU.

[YCN]

You may be right, kate.

CU has a very veteran team this year, but they have the "quality road win" monkey hanging on their backs.

Well, if they are going to shake that label, this is the year to shake it. In fact, they could toss the label and wake up the basketball world to their abilities as soon as their first Big 12 game.

That one won't be easy, though. Don't think CU will shoot 62% against the Sooners.

[schooner2]

You never know with CU. Last year in the Big 12 tournament they shot 56.1% from the field overall, 69.2% from the 3-point line, and 87.0% from the free throw line against the Sooners. They still lost though in one of the best women's basketball games I've ever watched.

[YCN]

Ya know, schooner, I completely forgot that game!

And you are right, that was a nail-biter right to the end. Not even sure how the Sooners won.

Hey, if you are a Buff fan, good luck to you this year! Who knows, the season is young. In 1964 probably nobody figured that Texas Western (now UTEP) would win the men's NCAA championship that year!

BTW, I live in Boulder, although my heart is frequently elsewhere!

[This message has been edited by YCN (edited 12-29-2001).]

[Bball Girl]

Nightingale provided a spark off the bench. I was not impressed at all with the point guard (Stafford?) that started for CU...she made some bad...actually dumb passes that resulted in a number of quick turnovers. She was only in for 5 min or so.

I'm a CU fan (except when they're playing Tech) so it was a treat to see them play yesterday. I was concerned about the 14 steals that LSU had against CU..they weren't able to convert many of those to points but that's got to be a worry and I was also disappointed in the defense...there wasn't a great deal of intensity and pressure and that won't cut it against OU or Tech or ISU or other defensive minded teams in this league. Their offense was certainly on fire but except for the steals, LSU's defense wasn't that impressive either. Coach Barry is so intense, I tend to expect the same from the team and I just didn't see that yesterday. Maybe they didn't think they needed it...but they will need it against OU on Wed.