Tech, Final Four??????

[CYNIC]

I think most of us would love to see another Big 12 team reach the Final Four. Before last night, I felt Tech and KState were our best chances and I still think both, if they peak as OU did last year can do it. Having said that, I was not as impressed with Tech as I thought I would be. OU last year is the best team to date in the Big 12. I think you probably have to be close to that quality to reach the Final Four. Tech has to be disappointed at being outrebounded by this OU team. Physically, it looked liked women against girls. I have said it before and I will say it again, Sherri Coale is truly an amazing coach. Those girls should not have even been in the game and in reality, they weren't but they fought to the bitter end. Look forward to seeing KState.

[schooner2]

BUT, you have to look at everyone outside of the Big 12. If OU had been lucky enough to peak this year rather than last, they would have a much better chance at winning it all this season. Instead they peaked the same year UCONN had one of their best teams ever.

This year, UCONN is not nearly so dominant and we've already seen Duke taken down to the end. I think Tech has what it takes to get to the Final Four. AND, that usually involves a little bit of luck as well as great talent, good coaching, etc.

[Press]

Originally posted by CYNIC:
I think most of us would love to see another Big 12 team reach the Final Four. Before last night, I felt Tech and KState were our best chances and I still think both, if they peak as OU did last year can do it. Having said that, I was not as impressed with Tech as I thought I would be. OU last year is the best team to date in the Big 12. I think you probably have to be close to that quality to reach the Final Four. Tech has to be disappointed at being outrebounded by this OU team. Physically, it looked liked women against girls. I have said it before and I will say it again, Sherri Coale is truly an amazing coach. Those girls should not have even been in the game and in reality, they weren't but they fought to the bitter end. Look forward to seeing KState.

I had the opportunity to go to the game and see for myself what this Tech team is made of. I don't think Tech is a Final Four team this week, but I won't say that we don't have the tools to get there. I really didn't think OU was a Final Four team at this time last year either, but look what they did. I think Tech has the talent but there's some work to be done on the post defense (LaTech exposed that early on) and more efficient post scoring. We miss way too many layups and putbacks!

Rebounding, I've never been pleased with our rebounding although I think LaToya Davis is our next great rebounder and has the toughness to out-muscle them any time she can get a hand on them. If Cisti Greenwalt had half the fight and finishing ability that LaToya has, she'd be an All American, but she's still soft and not a great finisher. If I was in a back alley street fight, I want LaToya in front of me.

Based on the matchups that I saw, Tech had the firepower to win by 20 points plus, but continued to let OU hang with all those ft's in the socond half. The refs called a very tight second half game in the paint and it's a good thinkg there is depth because it didn't take much to get the call.

Overall, pleased with the win. OU was a lot better than they looked on TV and no doubt they will get better. I love OU's motion offense and always have. When they started calling a tight second half, Coales game plan focused on isolating the post player and going one-on-one and 9 times out of 10, a foul was called and they're at the line. That is just good coaching and recognizing how the game is being called.

[35TangoTango]

Offensively, I think Tech has final four potential. They scored 80 against a pretty stout defensive effort last night. However, somewhere down the road they are going to face a team that also has a powerful offense. When that happens, the team with the most defensive intensity wins. If that's going to be Tech, they've got some work to do.

[catladyok]

I was thrilled with the way the Sooners stood up to the Lady Raiders last night, in spite of all the turnovers and missed shots. Tech is a real powerhouse, and could have easily blown the Sooners out by 30 or 40 points. Up until last night, our team would fall apart completely as soon as the opponent took a lead of 12 or 13 points, but last night they didn't. They are reaching a point where they can blow off their mistakes and focus on the action of the moment. Last night they kept their cool and managed to shrink Tech's lead to 9, and that was no easy thing to do. I'm very, very proud of them.

And it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Texas Tech made it to the Final Four! When post-season comes around, I'll be rooting for every Big 12 team in the Tournament. I still think that K-State and Texas Tech have the best chances this year of making the finals, and if one of them does then I'll try to find a way to get to Atlanta in March so that I can yell for them.



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BIG XII RULES!

[swok34]

It amazes me how much teams improve from January to March....
I don't even try to predict (4) final four teams, but would take the Stacey route and predict about 8 that may be there....and I would definitely toss Texas Tech and Kansas State into my mix.

I agree with Schooner about the state of women's college basketball today....I think teams are more evenly matched this year, whereas last year, who could beat Connecticut?

I would love to see Duke/LSU play but it's not happening in the regular season. But LSU does play Arkansas on Sunday on ESPN and the game is in Arkansas, so that could be a very good test

[Bball Girl]

Tech has the skills and the talent and the depth to be a Final Four contender...what may be missing is the mentality. Sometimes, I watch them play and they're so good it's scary...but killer instinct isn't quite there.. Like last night, I think they could have blown it open. I agree completely about Cisti...Coach calls her the X factor...she has the height and the skills to be a major factor and she's got the strength...but where's the kid who played her heart out against Southern Miss and Wyoming?

It's a very good thing that KSU is our last game at home...that potent offense spells trouble and we've never been able to stop Olhde, we need to toughen up a great deal before we take on KSU.

Arkansas beat a very tough South Carolina team last week..didn't play well in the 1st half and gutted it out to take the win. They were there with Duke all the way thru OT and I think they can beat LSU at Bud Walton. How they lost to OSU is beyond me...they are my darkhorse pick for the Final 4.

KSU has a great chance to be there too...they have all the ingredients but they've got to keep Koehn healthy.