ChipperF1
12-15-2002, 12:33 PM
"C-R-A-P in Cincinnati
(Sung to the tune of "WKRP in Cincinnati)
Baby, if you ever wondered..
Wondered, if Cowgill could hit a three?
Nebraska's women came to Cincinnati
The team played like total C-R-A-P!
I got tired of hearing Val King scoring
Shot for shot over Katie all the while.
Maybe winning games was never meant to be.
I hope Paul can take unemployment with a smile.
We were C-R-A-P in Cincinnati...
Last December, this is how it was. Nebraska went to the Queen City and battled the Cincinnati Bearcats. The left Cincinnati showing the first signs of what would be a Husker trademark of last season. An 81-59 loss, where Nebraska was completely inept in all regards.
Sunday Afternoon, the two teams meet again. Cincinnati is largely unchanged from last season where the Bearcats went from another young upstart to an NCAA Tournament team. The Nebraska team they'll face is markedly different. New coach, new system, new cast of starting players.
For the lasses in red this is another opportunity to show improvement and perhaps finally reach above their station and win a game they are not supposed to win. There is momentum of a two-game jabroni-built win streak, and there is the new spirit of ConnieBall. Also the women are in friendly confines, this time the Bearcats come to Lincoln, and I guarantee there will be more than 386 people in the stands.
CINCINNATI BEARCATS (4-1) at NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (4-2)
15 December 2002 2:05 pm Bob Devaney Sports Center-Lincoln
radio: http://www.huskers.com
CINCINNATI: Young and Restless.
Cincinnati Head Coach Laurie Pirtle built a team around young talent last season. Those youngsters are a year older and so far look a year better.
The fulcrum of the team is a great backcourt talent. If 5-10 Junior Valerie King was at UConn, you'd never stop hearing her name. Thanks to the Bert Convy Effect, she has to settle for being one of the best players in the nation who name you'll only hear in March. This season she's jumped off to a 24.8 points per game start.
King is an all-court superiority fighter. She can shoot it outside (57% from three point range this season), she can penetrate inside, and if your foul her, you just gave her free points (13-for-14 from the charity stripe this season).
Her only weakness is she can be turnover prone under intense pressure, but first you have to win a first-step confrontation with her, and not many players do.
Nebraska fans remember King's line in last years game.
34 KING, Valerie....... g 10-14 4-7 9-9 0 2 2 0 33 3 2 0 1 38
Coach Yori, a repeat of this line means you will not get that 200th win.
Her backcourt mate also draw special concern. Senior K.B. Sharp pitches a lot of complete games at point guard. She has 40 40-minute games her college career. She averages 38 minutes per game for every game she's played at U of Cincinnati.
Sharp is the traditional old-school playmaker-quarterback. She drives, she rolls out and she passes. 36 assists this season against 15 turnover. UC's all-time leader in assists. Defensively, she isn't a turnover creator, but does make solid plays and moves her feet. A tough experienced kamikaze shrimp, and last season she controlled a more talented Nebraska team.
On the bench, Freshman Micah Harvey's being groomed as a successor to Sharp. Also look for Merelena Dozier, Sara Piepho, and Meghan Hillman to get some fill-in minutes.
Inside, the Bearcats have a big presence in Debbie Merrill. The 6-3 sophomore was a toe-to-toe impact player last season and has continued the form. 20.7 point per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. She's been working on putting the ball on the floor more (which is probably the cause of 16 turnovers in the first six games). One thing is she look stronger this season and more in command inside. She already has solid footwork, good moves inside and plays solid defense. All those have improved. It will be an interesting confrontation to see Merrill battling an improved Katie Morse. This isn't the same unconfident and unprepared Morse from a season ago. Behind Merrill, they have two freshman backups with potential in Anne Stephens (6-4) and Edwina Williams (6-3)
At the forward spots Senior Carolyn Alexander leads the way with 10.4 points per game and 4 rebounds per. She rotates a lot from Junior Brittani Young as a match set. Both are 5-11 in height, both are more on the blocks stick-and-move players.
KEYS TO A HUSKER VICTORY
1. Depth is EVEN. Even with only 8 players. (Although Griechaly Cepero will be back next week after last night's Volleyball Choke vs. Hawaii.)
Cincinnati uses a core rotation of 7 players, maybe 8. Depth is about even, and Nebraska has two centers they can rotate against Merrill inside. Katie Morse and Amanda Cleveland should be itching for this opportunity, especially after the excellent job they did on Carla Bennett in the Drake game. Also, I see a Nebraska advantage at the forward spot with Alexa Johnson against Carolyn Alexander.
2. STOP VALERIE KING!!!
Nebraska's backcourt has been solid defensively, but in the two losses, Drake and Creighton guards were able to beat the Husker backcourt off the dribble and make plays. Valerie King had 33 last years ENTIRELY on beating NU guards senseless outside. Margaret Richards has a tough defensive assignment and so far she's far ahead of her past efforts. Nebraska may need more zone-type scheme, whatever its takes, but King must be controlled, outside and inside. If Cincinnati going win, let somebody else be the headline not King.
3. Which Jina Johansen shows up?
In Nebraska four wins, Lil' Jina ran the offense smartly and made some plays of her own. In Nebraska two losses, both to NCAA Tournament teams, she was Jamaal Johansen, turnovers and poor decisions. She was outplayed in both games.
She'll have a playmaker in K.B. Sharp to contend with and if Jina shows up, Sharp has a fight on her hands. If Jamaal shows up? This could get ugly.
4. TURNOVERS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Nebraska averages 18.3 turnovers a game. A lot better than we have been, but 26 turnover vs. Creighton got NU beat 7 turnovers in out first 8 possession vs. Drake killed what could have been a win.
Also Nebraska has to do a better job of creating their shots against better defensive teams. Against Creighton, the Huskers needed good looks and couldn't create them. In the first 10 minutes against Drake? Same deal. A slow start offensively this afternoon gets Nebraska beat.
Overall Outlook: Again, the lasses have a great record at 4-2, but really its 0-2. Today the lasses don't have some SWAC Jabroni, Cincinnati's the Real McCoy. A tournament team, a Top 25 caliber team.
The Huskers have to get out of the blocks quick. Make plays early, build a lead and get the 6th Man into the game. If Husker fans are making noise, the lasses can get rolling and stay rolling.
The last time Nebraska had a #25 team in Devaney Center, it was an upstart just like Cincinnati. Some mid-major team looking to build a name. The Huskers won that game, and they'll win this one, too.
Nebraska 68, Cincinnati 64
---ChipperF1
http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/nu.gif Womens Basketball
Ending The Embarassment, One Game At A Time.
[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 12-15-2002).]
[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 12-15-2002).]
(Sung to the tune of "WKRP in Cincinnati)
Baby, if you ever wondered..
Wondered, if Cowgill could hit a three?
Nebraska's women came to Cincinnati
The team played like total C-R-A-P!
I got tired of hearing Val King scoring
Shot for shot over Katie all the while.
Maybe winning games was never meant to be.
I hope Paul can take unemployment with a smile.
We were C-R-A-P in Cincinnati...
Last December, this is how it was. Nebraska went to the Queen City and battled the Cincinnati Bearcats. The left Cincinnati showing the first signs of what would be a Husker trademark of last season. An 81-59 loss, where Nebraska was completely inept in all regards.
Sunday Afternoon, the two teams meet again. Cincinnati is largely unchanged from last season where the Bearcats went from another young upstart to an NCAA Tournament team. The Nebraska team they'll face is markedly different. New coach, new system, new cast of starting players.
For the lasses in red this is another opportunity to show improvement and perhaps finally reach above their station and win a game they are not supposed to win. There is momentum of a two-game jabroni-built win streak, and there is the new spirit of ConnieBall. Also the women are in friendly confines, this time the Bearcats come to Lincoln, and I guarantee there will be more than 386 people in the stands.
CINCINNATI BEARCATS (4-1) at NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (4-2)
15 December 2002 2:05 pm Bob Devaney Sports Center-Lincoln
radio: http://www.huskers.com
CINCINNATI: Young and Restless.
Cincinnati Head Coach Laurie Pirtle built a team around young talent last season. Those youngsters are a year older and so far look a year better.
The fulcrum of the team is a great backcourt talent. If 5-10 Junior Valerie King was at UConn, you'd never stop hearing her name. Thanks to the Bert Convy Effect, she has to settle for being one of the best players in the nation who name you'll only hear in March. This season she's jumped off to a 24.8 points per game start.
King is an all-court superiority fighter. She can shoot it outside (57% from three point range this season), she can penetrate inside, and if your foul her, you just gave her free points (13-for-14 from the charity stripe this season).
Her only weakness is she can be turnover prone under intense pressure, but first you have to win a first-step confrontation with her, and not many players do.
Nebraska fans remember King's line in last years game.
34 KING, Valerie....... g 10-14 4-7 9-9 0 2 2 0 33 3 2 0 1 38
Coach Yori, a repeat of this line means you will not get that 200th win.
Her backcourt mate also draw special concern. Senior K.B. Sharp pitches a lot of complete games at point guard. She has 40 40-minute games her college career. She averages 38 minutes per game for every game she's played at U of Cincinnati.
Sharp is the traditional old-school playmaker-quarterback. She drives, she rolls out and she passes. 36 assists this season against 15 turnover. UC's all-time leader in assists. Defensively, she isn't a turnover creator, but does make solid plays and moves her feet. A tough experienced kamikaze shrimp, and last season she controlled a more talented Nebraska team.
On the bench, Freshman Micah Harvey's being groomed as a successor to Sharp. Also look for Merelena Dozier, Sara Piepho, and Meghan Hillman to get some fill-in minutes.
Inside, the Bearcats have a big presence in Debbie Merrill. The 6-3 sophomore was a toe-to-toe impact player last season and has continued the form. 20.7 point per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. She's been working on putting the ball on the floor more (which is probably the cause of 16 turnovers in the first six games). One thing is she look stronger this season and more in command inside. She already has solid footwork, good moves inside and plays solid defense. All those have improved. It will be an interesting confrontation to see Merrill battling an improved Katie Morse. This isn't the same unconfident and unprepared Morse from a season ago. Behind Merrill, they have two freshman backups with potential in Anne Stephens (6-4) and Edwina Williams (6-3)
At the forward spots Senior Carolyn Alexander leads the way with 10.4 points per game and 4 rebounds per. She rotates a lot from Junior Brittani Young as a match set. Both are 5-11 in height, both are more on the blocks stick-and-move players.
KEYS TO A HUSKER VICTORY
1. Depth is EVEN. Even with only 8 players. (Although Griechaly Cepero will be back next week after last night's Volleyball Choke vs. Hawaii.)
Cincinnati uses a core rotation of 7 players, maybe 8. Depth is about even, and Nebraska has two centers they can rotate against Merrill inside. Katie Morse and Amanda Cleveland should be itching for this opportunity, especially after the excellent job they did on Carla Bennett in the Drake game. Also, I see a Nebraska advantage at the forward spot with Alexa Johnson against Carolyn Alexander.
2. STOP VALERIE KING!!!
Nebraska's backcourt has been solid defensively, but in the two losses, Drake and Creighton guards were able to beat the Husker backcourt off the dribble and make plays. Valerie King had 33 last years ENTIRELY on beating NU guards senseless outside. Margaret Richards has a tough defensive assignment and so far she's far ahead of her past efforts. Nebraska may need more zone-type scheme, whatever its takes, but King must be controlled, outside and inside. If Cincinnati going win, let somebody else be the headline not King.
3. Which Jina Johansen shows up?
In Nebraska four wins, Lil' Jina ran the offense smartly and made some plays of her own. In Nebraska two losses, both to NCAA Tournament teams, she was Jamaal Johansen, turnovers and poor decisions. She was outplayed in both games.
She'll have a playmaker in K.B. Sharp to contend with and if Jina shows up, Sharp has a fight on her hands. If Jamaal shows up? This could get ugly.
4. TURNOVERS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Nebraska averages 18.3 turnovers a game. A lot better than we have been, but 26 turnover vs. Creighton got NU beat 7 turnovers in out first 8 possession vs. Drake killed what could have been a win.
Also Nebraska has to do a better job of creating their shots against better defensive teams. Against Creighton, the Huskers needed good looks and couldn't create them. In the first 10 minutes against Drake? Same deal. A slow start offensively this afternoon gets Nebraska beat.
Overall Outlook: Again, the lasses have a great record at 4-2, but really its 0-2. Today the lasses don't have some SWAC Jabroni, Cincinnati's the Real McCoy. A tournament team, a Top 25 caliber team.
The Huskers have to get out of the blocks quick. Make plays early, build a lead and get the 6th Man into the game. If Husker fans are making noise, the lasses can get rolling and stay rolling.
The last time Nebraska had a #25 team in Devaney Center, it was an upstart just like Cincinnati. Some mid-major team looking to build a name. The Huskers won that game, and they'll win this one, too.
Nebraska 68, Cincinnati 64
---ChipperF1
http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/nu.gif Womens Basketball
Ending The Embarassment, One Game At A Time.
[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 12-15-2002).]
[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 12-15-2002).]