KSU leading Baylor 24-23 at halftime...

[YCN]

in a tough, hard-fought game in Waco. Stats for both teams are very even, as the score indicates. Baylor hit 8-31 shots while KSU was 10-31, but Baylor was 3-6 from 3-point range, while KSU was 2-11. Baylor also has a slight edge on free throw, 4-7 versus 2-3 for K-State.

Rebounds are dead even at 23, of note is the fact that Baylor has 6 team rebounds, KSU one. Neither team has any foul troubles, as only 11 fouls were called in the first half. It's obvious from watching that they are letting them play.

The leading scorers for Baylor are Dionne Brown and Ebony Jackson with 6 and 5 respectively, while Megan Mahoney and Kendra Wecker have 9 apiece for KSU.

Just before the buzzer Wecker had a wide open layup on a fast break, only to miss it. Bet that doesn't happen very often! Wecker was an uncharacteristic 4-16 in the first half.

[schooner2]

Did I hear someone say correctly that Sophia Young has only been playing basketball for like 3 or 4 years? Hard to believe. She's becoming a dominant presence inside and is only 6'1". What a get for Mulkey-Robertson.

[Bevo]

Each time the Bears gained some momentum, they had a turnover or poor shot selection that killed it. Close call for the Purple-Cats.

[Jimi]

Well its always nice to get a W. And its nice to get that first win at Waco. It wasn't pretty but we'll take it. Brie Madden showed again how valuable she is. I don't understand why she doesn't play more. She is a very good defender and rebounder. K-State fans don't worry so much about fouls on Ohlde anymore but she can also play the forward spots.

Kendra Wecker's target finding radar is misaligned a bit but I expect she will get it fixed soon.

The Bears played execellent defense. Good luck from here on out.

[Bob_Ballew]

If Stephanie Blackmon would have showed up at the Ferrell Center today, we may have pulled an upset. I wish someone would find her soon. The offensive post play for Baylor was really lacking today. I have never seen anyone hustle for the ball the way Sophia Young does. She had a rough afternoon of shooting, but did manage double digit rebounds. The guard play by Ebony Jackson is encouraging for Baylor fans. She had 7 steals in the game and is looking good.

Ohlde is sooooooo smooth! Wecker is tough! Great team. I was really glad that Laurie did not play and I thought we might pull this one out since she sitting out awhile.

[spooky]

No doubt that KState's maturity and experience made the difference in the end. Wecker couldn't hit a shot to save her life in the first half, but she still took the team on her back down the stretch, while Baylor doesn't quite have a person to do that this year. I also though KSU took it to us on the boards in the second half.

Sophia has indeed only played for 4 years. She came to the U.S. as an exchange student and had never touched a basketball before that. In her post-game comments, KMR talked about how, even after a 1-9 in the first half, Sophia doesn't pout, doesn't point fingers, she still hits the floor after every loose ball and plays her heart out. She never mentioned Steffanie Blackmon by name, but those comments couldn't have been directed at anybody else. I hope Steffanie gets her head back in the game before it's too late.

Good game Wildcats, but I'm warning you, if your ladies ever wear a uniform like the KSU men wore today at Bramlage, I will never pull for you guys again. Those were the ugliest things I have ever seen!!!!

[schooner2]

We've all mentioned that KSU's weakness would be lack of depth due to number of players and injury to Koehn. Another possible weakness I see is lack of pure point guard with regards to having someone that can drive to the basket. Clearly KSU's offensive game is to spread the floor and pass the ball (both which they do very well) and either dish to Ohlde inside or find someone open on the wing. Very reminiscent of Iowa State back in the Frese era. But if KSU is off from outside and the opponents defense is doing an okay job on Ohlde and Madden, KSU really needs someone to drive and create fouls.

Looking at total number of free throw attempts, KSU is 9th in the Big 12. And a vast majority of their free throw attempts come from Ohlde - not a guard. When outside shooting fails ya, and if Ohlde is not enough inside to make up the difference, they need someone to create fouls. If Baylor was hitting better today from the field, they could have won this game today.

Nonetheless - KSU is a great team - I just hope that they don't go ice cold in the NCAA Tournament some game and it costs them their season. I hope this team goes far in the tourney and can show the rest of the nation just how good they are.

[Jimi]

One thing thats begining to bug me a little bit is that many non Big Twelve fans do not give Kansas State credit for having a good defense. Earlier in the season someone got on the usual soap box of KSU having a good ofense but poor defense. I don't understand that concept except as a function of ignorance. We don't get a lot of steals (which is not going to happen in Patterson's defense) but look at the results. Several of KSU's opponents had their worst scoring outing against KSU and you sure can't say its because the team plays slow-down ball. Almost no one scores their average against KSU and in most cases they hold the opponent to a poor shooting percentage. Anyway I won't argue the point with anyone, but in-as-much-as low output continues to be a problem for teams that play KSU it might be time to consider that defense just might have somthing to do with it.

Domenico is a decent point but she was too passive today, and you are right, she does not slash much.

Man I must be a grouch today. Thanks for your favorable comments.

[Jimi]

Hey what's the matter Spooky? You don't like lavender? Tell you what, the KSU women could lose those black road uniforms that they wore at ISU and it wouldn't hurt my feelings either. I think the regular purple is just fine. I wasn't very fond of Nebraska's black road unis either. As an old clod-kicker I think the Huskers should be in RED!

I guess the Kansas State men were going for a retro look from back in Jack Hartman's days but I agree with you. They could lose that lavender. Or we both might become violet. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Jimi (edited 02-08-2003).]

[swok34]

Why were the men wearing those?....they showed a clip of the game on the local news.

[Jimi]

They gave the uniforms to the team just before the game. I think they go back to Rolando Blackman days and coach Jack Hartman which is about the last time KSU beat KU in Manhappiness. It has gotten to be a rather sore point with Wildcat fans.

Come to think of it maybe that's part of why I'm so grouchy.

[This message has been edited by Jimi (edited 02-08-2003).]

[snizave]

I thought the uniforms the men wore today were great! It really reminded of the tradition of our program and the good times when we could regularly knock off KU. I'm sure most people just think they're ugly, but to me, they're unique and part of the rich past of the basketball program.

As far as the KSU - Baylor game today, yuck! It was at times painful to watch. I thought we were in control when we broke out a 34-25 or so lead at the beginning of the second half, but that little run was short lived. We played some decent defense, and I think the only reason we won was because we have more talent and are a more veteran squad. Plus, we were lucky that Baylor couldn't hit a shot either. I'm just glad to have the win, and maintained our share of the top spot.

[Bball Girl]

KSU played decent defense today...but it seemed like Wecker was just struggling a bit all around....she's usually so fieresome and that seemed to be a bit low today.

Ohlde is the best post passer in D1. Hopefully Pierson has been watching some of Ohlde's moves when she gets doubled.

I have to admit I went to sleep with about 8 mins left...not the game's fault. But KSU just wasn't in the sync they can be in.

Baylor can be quite disruptive on both ends of the court. Young played a good game and it's good to see Brown showing her stuff. I really liked her athleticism when she was at Tech and perhaps she's finding a home with Baylor.

Glad to see KSU pull it out...but they worry me a bit but I'm glad to see them holding Koehn on the bench until that foot/ankle gets good and healed.

KSU has their own style of defense and it can be pretty smothering at times...but Jimi don't you think their defense really feeds off their offense and when their offense is a bit flat that affects their defense.

[Jimi]

Originally posted by Bball Girl:
KSU has their own style of defense and it can be pretty smothering at times...but Jimi don't you think their defense really feeds off their offense and when their offense is a bit flat that affects their defense.

There is no doubt that when you are flat you are often flat on both ends of the floor. I think in some cases it works the other way. If KSU doesn't get good stops the offense can't get transition baskets and the players get tight and more tentative. If the defense is working the offense can attack freely. Of course the other teams players can get affected by the KSU offense. If the Wildcats are scoring a lot of points it becomes hard for the other team to calmly stay with their game plan. Offense and defense do feed of off each other. It might be kind of a chicken and egg argument.

Kendra Wecker often comments after a less than stellar scoring game that she had to try to compenste in other ways. That's why you usually see her with good rebounding numbers even if she is not scoring.

Btw, after a low percentage shooting night Kendra said in the post game interview that her teamates were probably mad at her for shooting too much. Nicole Ohlde's response? "Now that right there is a dumb comment." http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif Nicole knows we need Wecker to remain confident and agressive.