Wow....what a thrilling game!!!

[RaiderPower1]

Texas pulled out a big victory to take the Paradise Jam championship 66-64 against USC. It came down to the last shot missed by USC. Wow! I listened to the last few minutes of the game and UT let a 13 pt. lead go to waste letting USC take the lead but UT battled to take the win. They are 3-0 for the first time since 5 years ago.

[Bevo]

My heart can't take it!

Paradise is nice!

http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif Go Horns. Beat LSU!

[Press]

Congrats http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif.

What's up with all these Big XII teams blowing big leads?

[RaiderPower1]

From what I heard on the internet radio it was UT turnovers (27 I think) that killed them. That'll kill ya in close games.

[JK]

The turnovers are about to kill us. The only thing I can attribute them to are the fact that we are playing so many young players. Some of the more experienced players on the team are committing them also. But that can also be due to them and the younger players getting used to one another. I feel like the turnovers are something that we will eventually overcome. However, the veterans need to be more aware and keep the newbies under control. If they don't, the turnovers will end up killing us! I like JC's comment "I couldn't wish for anything more than to be challenged three times in our first three games and come out on top."

I am very pleased so far with what I've seen in the Lady Horns. We're making a lot of mistakes, but seem to be making up for them
with great all-out effort. I am a bit concerned about Anissa Hastings not playing much. Surely the staff has her on a schedule of limited minutes which will progressively increase? She is the missing element right now. She brings so much athleticism, rebounding, defense, scoring, and intensity!!! Stephens is on her game, Schreiber is playing poised and is uneffected by it all, Bowers is coming around nicely, and Sare is ready to roll. What we need now is Anissa to be able to get in there and give us what she's got, and one of the guards needs to get a handle on that team. From the stats, looks like Asha Hill has been playing well. Not scoring, but giving great defense and handing out assists. Can't wait for the LSU game - - I'll be there for that one!

[Bevo]

One of the great things going for Texas right now is the depth. Conradt is able to bring in players off the bench to contribute what the team needs at that moment. Need an opponent's perimeter player shut down? In comes Asha Hill. Need a steady, experienced presence on the court? There's Tracy Cook. Need some fire in the offense? Try Alisha Sare or Kaira White. Need a key rebound? No problem, Stacy's going to get it.

We should get an even tougher test against LSU on Thursday if the rankings mean anything. I think they are at #19 in one of the polls. In looking at their one-point win over Virginia Tech yesterday, they only played 6 players. So we should have the depth advantage.

[RaiderPower1]

Whoa! Three close games in a row first with UT beating USC then Tech beating Oregon and now ISU barely winning in a thrilling overtime win against always tough creighton. Well, glad the Big XII came on top!

[ChipperF1]

One of these days, the Jays are gonna get those darn Cyclones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

Excellent Effort Creighton!!!

[mred]

Playing at Creighton is always hard. I'm happy ISU is able to win all of these close games (which will help in the conference), but is an occasional blowout too much to ask? They should be able to oblige @ Northwestern...

I love ISU to death, but we do not deserve to be #5. That is tied for the highest ranking ISU has ever had, and this team is not the team the 99-00 team was (Frese, Taylor, Gahan, Francis, Welle). Hopefully, ISU will get it figured out before conference play starts.

[CyFanRick]

Sounds like the ISU game was a real nail biter. Didn't get a chance to listen to it since I had to work late. I knew Creighton would be tough, but wasn't sure how tough. I agree with you mred, I don't think ISU is the same team that was rated at #5 before. But I'm a firm believer that from #5 down to #20 is a toss up. Things are already setting up to be a great season for the Big 12 (The best conference in the nation).
GO BIG 12
Go http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/isu.gif

[ChipperF1]

"Things are already setting up to be a great season for the Big 12 (The best conference in the nation)"

Best in the nation? Not yet. Lets get a team in the Final Four first, then it can be said..

[dem]

Just returned from the Creighton game in Omaha, trying to recover from biting my fingernails down to my elbows. Creighton played a gutsy, gutsy game with terrific aggressive defense and intelligent, confident offense. They were able to take frequent advantage of Iowa State's leaving the high post unguarded, putting in many shots from free-throw distance, and several times their guards were allowed to go coast to coast, waltzing straight in for easy lay-ups. They defended Angie effectively, limiting her touches and forcing turnovers. Iowa State had trouble breaking their press, and Erica Junod's ballhandling was sorely missed. There were many ugly passes and nasty turnovers. Wilson, Welle and Gahan all had to play 44 out of 45 minutes. In the face of Creighton's hard-nosed defense, ISU's offense frequently looked sloppy and disorganized, running down the shot clock without getting a good look. The ISU defense seemed unusually ragged, and just slightly better shooting from Creighton would have changed the outcome of the game.

On the positive side, Iowa State also played a very gutsy game, particularly at the end, and their rebounding was outstanding (Welle: 19; Cizek: 13). They never let up, and Wilson in particular was full of fight, putting in the winning shot with four seconds left in the game (after trailing by 3 with 32 seconds left). Coach Fennelly orchestrated the last few gut-churning minutes with his usual expertise, and they pulled out the win. But the bottom line is that if they don't quickly repair some of the glaring weaknesses exposed tonight, there will be some unpleasant games ahead -- beginning at Drake next week.

[schooner2]

Originally posted by ChipperF1:
"Things are already setting up to be a great season for the Big 12 (The best conference in the nation)"

Best in the nation? Not yet. Lets get a team in the Final Four first, then it can be said..

Last year I viewed the Big 12 as probably the best - top to bottom. This year the Big 12 is very senior-laden and you would think that, yes, once again the best. I'm beginning to doubt this though. The bottom of this conference is becoming quite ugly. A&M lost at home to Charlotte. Who? Yes, Charlotte. Kansas is finding a win against a Top 50 team nearly impossible after losing to Creighton, Hampton, and Central Florida.

The top of this conference is not quite as good as last year - so far. ISU is hurting just a little do to graduation and injury. OU is hurting a little because of injury and Tech is searching for the great team they were at the end of last season. Granted, this is all being said and it ain't December yet.

But, you look at the SEC and low and behold they have a newcomer to the top 25 in South Carolina. Right? Or have I been asleep for a couple of years. Aren't the Gamecocks coming from nowhere - and looking good. Have to think SEC is once again the best in the land.

[swok34]

South Carolina would probably be comparable to the Big 12's Baylor.......I think they have not been much competition in years past. Duke also lost a game to another team that they should not have lost. Florida, Georgia and LSU's teams remain to be seen as they all lost some really key players from last season. Leaving Tennessee and Vanderbilt as the 2 really strong teams.

Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi would be considered their doormats.....though I don't know a whole lot about the SEC, I do try to keep up with LSU....not sure how Arkansas will fare without Wendy Willits this year.

I'd venture to say the two conferences are pretty well comparable....here's the SEC official website for anyone interested:
http://www.secsports.com/sports/bkw_index.html

[BEAR SKIN]

Duke?

[swok34]

Duke's not in the SEC but they lost to South Carolina, which propelled them into the rankings.

[Bevo]

UT needs to do some serious SEC butt-kickin' tomorrow night. That will help our argument tremendously.

[BEAR SKIN]

It's not been easy for me to join all this lovely all-for-one-and-one-for-all rooting section. I can remember a day I would have rooted for the Red Chinese over Arkansas in the olden (SWC)days.

Intellectually, I can choose to root for any Big 12 vs. _________, however, while viewing a televised game, visceral reactions usually burst forth and I have to remind myself that that lucky long range off the glass three by a burnt orange player should deserve a cheer rather than a groan.

For tonight (and through December, only) HOOK EM.
Please ignore my innitial and uncontrolled emotional outbursts.

[BEAR SKIN]

Oh, my;
Please don't ever tell any of my friends I actually said that.

[schooner2]

We'll keep it a secret Bear Skin! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

At least I can say go Colorado, this Saturday.

[swok34]

ditto for me......go Colorado!.....though I'll be rooting for Texas over LSU......Big 12 vs SEC tonite....

I think the football rivalry between OU and Texas is perhaps one of the best in college football, not sure that it translates to other sports in quite the same fashion.

[schooner2]

A lot of people prefer the rivalry between OU and Nebraska in football. It's all about class. While OU-Texas is all about hate.

I kind of like to look at OU-Texas Tech in women's basketball like the OU-Nebraska football rivalry. They're nowhere near the same yet, but it's going in that direction. Teams that will play each other twice each year, home and away. Both coaches are all about class. OU has already stolen one away from Tech in Lubbock. And they've battled for the Big 12 Championship now two years in a row. I see many more years like that in the future.

[elfdenmom]

Thank you, Schooner, I feel the same way about OU. OU plays really really good basketball and shows class both on and off the court. I was really rooting for them at Duke, particularly after we got upended.