BU at K State

[Zo31]

Well, KSUron, looks like there is going to be a good game coming up this weekend between these two. KSU did a great job last night. I am still picking the Lady http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/bu.gif to pull out a win in Kansas Sat.

My take on the game is going to rest upon the bench of Baylor. The starters for KSU are going to get weary towards the end of the game and Baylor will be able to get very valuable minutes off the bench.

For a 5'11" player, Wecker really scares me with her rebounding abilities. If BU can keep her numbers down, they will be doing a good job. Baylor's post play has improved by leaps and bounds since last year and this will prove to be the difference in the game. BU will mix up the defenses and show KSU different looks.
Bench play by Stephanie Blackmon will be a big factor.

I wish I could go to the game. Go Baylor!

[KSUron]

Zo31, I expect a good game. I know Baylor is very talented but I belive KSU can win.

Keys for K-State: Continue scoring. Last year we sometimes made it easy on the competition. The main difference is that now Patterson can put a team on the floor that has five kids who can SCORE and also defend. The team speed is MUCH improved. Baylor has two players in double figures and one at 9.3. K-State has four players in double figures and a fifth, Rethman, who's scoring is down this year but who's history is as a scorer when she played more minutes. She is now starting due to injuries to Hanson and Domenico so you know her numbers will come back up.
Key for Baylor will be to stop KSU's fast breaks and to play defense tuff & tight. KSU's zone will force the Lady Bears to shoot from outside more than they might want but it will also make it easier for the Bears to get more offensive rebounds. Patterson loves her zone, I don't, I think these kids play great man defense on the few ocasions they use it, BUT, the zone works!

Mahoney will score from 3 point range or drive to score or dish. She has been leading the team in assists from the 3 spot. Wecker will be Wecker (I saw her play against Ohlde in high school). Wecker is just a real aggressive kid who is a first rate athlete and a "gamer". She will bring 100% of everything she has all game long and she will do whatever it takes to win. Sometimes that gets her into trouble with fouls so if the officiating is tight she may have problems. Ohlde is a lot like Welle with less experience. Koehn can light it up with great percentage from WAY downtown. She does not bother to try to crowd up close to the arc. All she wants is a little space anywhere past half court. (That's an exaggeration, but not by much) She will have to carry the point duties for now but her most valuable spot is at the 2.

Don't let the ISU game fool you. K-State does have a bench, even though its thinner now due to injuries. Booker started last year at point and she hasn't lost anything. She is not a scoring threat however. Brie Madden comes in at the forward or center spots and plays well. If we need muscle underneath Andrea Armstrong can provide it, and she has a nice shooting touch when she is on. She is also an excellent foul shooter. None the less, we don't have the flexibility we had with a healthy Hanson and Domenico. The kids are all athletes and they are all in good shape and have good stamina.

KSU announced today that they are opening all the entry doors on the east side of Bramlage and the east side parking lots. They expect a big crowd for Baylor and are advising fans to come early and or buy advance tickets. We already have ours. I am really looking forward to this one and expect lots of fireworks from both teams. KSU wins 77 to 75.

[BEAR SKIN]

KSUron:

The ISU game was very impressive, but don't let it fool YOU. Wilson, Gahan & company had an unusually off night shooting.

The key differences this Saturday should boil down to four interrelated aspects: 1)Letdown; 2)Tired legs; 3) Bench strength and depth; and 4)Defensive pressure.

Letdown -- self explanatory -- especially w/ so many freshmen

Tired legs -- KSU's starters AVERAGE more minutes than the BU player with the most minutes.

Bench Strength (and depth) -- the only available reserve for KSU with over 10 min./game experience contributes less than 2 points/game. Baylor has a second five on the bench which average 14 min./game and contribute 23.6 points/game.

Defensive pressure -- BU averages 12.6 steals/game; KSU, 3.9

Possibly a key for KSU would be for them to try to stop all fast breaks, even their own, to save energy. Unlikely BU will yield as many as 77 points. Only in the first game of the season did they do that (78 in Reno, Nev. vs a good North Texas team.) In the remaining 11 games, opponents have averaged 53.3 points)

Final: Baylor 79 KSU 65

[KSUron]

Bear Skin:

You have some good points but just for fun I'll try to give you some MORE WILDCAT POINTS.

1. Its a funny thing about KSU opponents this year. Several have had off nights. The UW Green Bay Coach said "we were never able to get get back in the game. I don't know why." Can you think of any reasons?

2. Letdown? Have you seen these kids play? There won't be any letdown. They may be too keyed up and therefore off but all of these kids are gym rat gamers. You won't see a letdown.

3. See #2 and the fact that yes, they have been playing more minutes. It won't be anything new.

4. With Hanson and Domenico out Baylor does have more bench but see #2 & #3.

5. Ahh, statistics. Try these, RPI KSU 10 BU 27, SOS KSU 33 BU 161, opponents with an RPI less than 100, KSU 8 BU 3, opponents with RPI over 200 KSU 2 (202 & 206) BU 4. Keep those opponents in mind when considering these Big 12 statistical rankings.
______________KSU__BU_
Scoring________2____4
Defense________8____1
Margin_________3____1
FG percent_____1____5
FG % defense___3____1
3pt %__________1___11
3pt % defense__6____3
Free t %_______9____3
Rebound Margin_6____1
Assists________3____1
Steals________10____2
Assist/to______5____2

I don't know what you get out of that. I see two good teams that can play. BU will out rebound KSU. KSU will out shoot BU (our shooting % is part of the reason we don't get many offensive rebounds). KSU will be able to use an aggressive zone on BU's best scoring threats because to be blunt, BU hasn't shown the ability to shoot from deep outside. KSU can and does shoot from anywhere.

KSU has scored over 75 eight times so I don't think 77 is to outlandish a guess but it may indeed be high. Baylor scored 85 v North Texas and 70 v Hawaii so maybe 75 is a little high for Baylor too. BTW, Baylor has not played anyone with an RPI under 100 since December 7th. It may be a little unreasonable to expect them to be ready to play at top form, especially on the road. Baylor had better have spent its leisure month developing some outside shooting or it could get to be a long night, no matter how good Crockrom and Lambert are. If not, see Angie Welle's comments after the KSU game.

How about KSU 70 BU 65. (We both know KSU and Baylor are good teams and either team can win this.)

I hope this turns out to be the fun competitive game I think it will be, and I wish you could join me in Bramlage. Good luck after 4:30 Saturday.

[This message has been edited by KSUron (edited 01-04-2002).]

[KSUron]

Originally posted by BEAR SKIN:
KSUron:

Unlikely BU will yield as many as 77 points. Only in the first game of the season did they do that (78 in Reno, Nev. vs a good North Texas team.) In the remaining 11 games, opponents have averaged 53.3 points)

Final: Baylor 79 KSU 65

womenscollegehoops.com has this game KSU 85, BU 79, but you may get the last laugh.

[Bevo]

What does it say about how far interest in this forum has come this year to have such a fun, spirited and intelligent discussion over the BU/KSU game? In a weekend of great Big XII matchups, this may be the best one. All of the matchups look to be very even this weekend (with the possible exception of ISU/NU).

[Press]

Bevo, I was thinking the same thing when reading their posts. It wasn't too long ago that we could hear the wind blow when there was a roll call to a http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/bu.gif or http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ksu.gif fan. All this interest is good to see. This IS one of the best forums around!

[two cents]

I wish I could see this game! The frequency of games with contrasting styles is what I love about wcbb. I picture the coaches downing Excedrin while trying to figure out how to match their personnel and style with an opponent's. Game plans can prove decisive, and even the best coaches sometimes lose this battle of strategy.

This game is a classic contrast. KSU plays zone; BU doesn't like to shoot the three, and doesn't do it particularly well. There are other ways to break a zone, but it certainly requires good execution. KSU loves to face a zone, but BU won't oblige; they'll play scrappy man to man D trying to wear down the 'Cats. KSU will have to get some sub minutes in this game, as they will have to move and hustle to get the open 3's they adore. BU has played a weaker schedule, but won extremely impressively in most games. KSU's freshman have shown no fear but plenty of enthusiasm.

Earlier in the week, I picked Baylor to win the road game because of their extra Big12 experience. But it was a coin flip decision. After Kansas State's win in Ames...I wonder. Triple overtime anybody?

[BEAR SKIN]

A great way to "break" the tight KSU zone starts with intense defense on the other end.

An important stat that we cannot get from the Hoopla! interactive stats may be decisive in this game: Points off turnovers.

[KSUron]

Remember all that stuff we said above? Forget about it! That's one of the fun things about this game. History and tendencies go out the window when coaches and players adjust. Who would have predicted that BU would do serious damage with 3pointers and KSU would outrebound BU by a significant margin?

[Bob_Ballew]

I would have bet money that Baylor would have out rebounded KSU. It just goes to show you that we are in for an exciting season with a bunch of surprises ahead.