ChipperF1
01-29-2002, 12:17 PM
I wasn't going to preview this game at all, but since Zo asked http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif
To be honest, I'm just running out of ways of saying "Nebraska sucks". How many different ways can you come up with the same conclusion? It's getting harder and harder to come up with new and novel ways to discuss another failed season.
In the plus side, Nebraska did play well against Iowa State. A few corrections here and there and maybe, it would be have been a nip and tuck game at the end.
Unfortunately, this team still has not proven that it can walk into a hostile environment and come up with a competitive 40-minute effort, and that is the issue to engage in as we head south to Waco.
NEBRASKA AT #10/#11 BAYLOR
Wednesday January 30, 2002 7 p.m. Waco, Texas
Nebraska Radio--Pinnacle Sports Network http://www.huskers.com
Baylor Radio--KLRK-Waco http://www.gobaylorbears.com
BAYLOR: The Good Right Reverend Kim.
Since Kim Mulkey-Robinson came to Waco, the Baylor Bears have taken on a different persona. This team strides out like a flamboyant Baptist preacher, delivers a 40-minute sermon of aggression, attack and all-out play, and by the time it ends fans can't wait to run up to the front of the church.
Throughout the season many have questioned Baylor. Are they a good team or are they the product of slick media hype and a cupcake schedule? I think many questions were reexamined when the girls in green went to Austin and beat a very strong Texas team. The Bears made it known that they would be a part of the Big 12 championship race as we head into February.
The calling card of the Bears is attack. The team uses athleticism and guile to create opportunity. Give and take is in the team lexicon. This team embraces force not finesse. Nine players on this team have double digits steals. Four have double digit blocks. The team averaging 39 rebounds per game in conference play, and they are current #3 in the league in scoring (78 points per game).
Out front are their two biggest guns. Senior guard Sheila Lambert and Senior forward Danielle Crockrum.
The 5-7 Lambert is an artistic, slashing penetrator. More often that not, Lambert forces a defense to double-team, foul or concede a layup. In Big 12 play she's averaging 23 points a game. Last week alone she averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.5 steals and 3.0 rebounds. She also shot 59% from the field on her way to Big 12 Player of the Week honors and led the Bears to three straight victories.
Lambert puts such pressure on perimeter players outside and forces teams to contract on her inside, creating a lot of opportunities for the second monster of this duo.
Danielle Crockrum is a prototype of the direction womens basketball is heading into in the next century. Tall, athletic, strong, aggressive, and versatile. The 6-2 forward dominates bigger players, intimidates smaller ones. She's averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds in conference play. She has nine blocked shots in conference play. Two of them came against Texas, both of them killed key Texas possessions.
Separate this two players are formidable. As a tandem they are deadly. They average a combined 35 points per game. Only once has either failed to score in double figures. Defensively, team often find themselves in a "pick your poison" situation when trying to stop them. Put in a man defense and they force double teams with their ability, meaning somebody is open. Go to zone defense, they don't care. They won't try to shoot long-range over it, they'll just attack it. Meaning its a 50-50 chance that you have player taking on fouls. When you take into account that Lambert is 83% from the free throw line and Crockrum is 78% from the free throw line, you realize putting them on the free throw line is not a good idea.
Now many would think, "okay, we just stop Crockrum and Lambert and we win.". Well stopping them both is hard enough, but lets say you do keep them under wraps. The thing about Baylor is, they have prototype weapons under development.
One is 6-2 freshman post player Steffanie Blackmon. Blackmon is quickly becoming heir apparent to Crockrum. She's averaging 10 points per game in conference play, and the amazing thing is, she has drawn only one start this year. She's coming off the bench, kicking butt and taking names. Against Texas she came off the bench to score 15 points and added 3 rebounds in 21 minutes. A surprise third weapon to add to Lambert and Crockrum, and a nightmare for an opposing coach. Also consider that Blackmon has 9 block in conference play, the same number as Crockrum.
Blackmon shares time at center with senior Brooke McCormack. The Australian is a solid journeyman, who often draw the start, then cedes to the younger player at points during the game, but is often brought back in when some of the dirty work (rebounds and blocks) needs doing. McCormack averages 5 rebounds per game and has 6 blocks in Big 12 play. Also getting reps inside are freshmen Kelly Sords and Melanie Hamerly.
Outside is the Baylor weakness. The team shoots 30.5% from the three point line. The outside shot isn't a major strategic option.
Two of their better perimeter players wear a lot of hats. 5-11 sophomore Chanelle Fox has started every game in the conference schedule. She is mostly charge with being a defensive specialist and sometimes shooter. Don't be surprised to see her as a post-up guard/swingman in a 3-guard set.
5-9 sophomore Jessika Stratton is shooting 41% from three-point range. She's also one of the members of the team point guard committee, averaging 3 assists per game, while sharing time with 5-9 freshman phenom Jordan Davis, and 5-3 senior Nicole Collins. At times even all-star Lambert takes a few snaps as the Bears quarterback.
THE NEBRASKA COUNTERATTACK.
To be honest, I don't think my dear lasses have one. But any chance of winning has to depend on:
1. KEEP LAMBERT OUT OF THE LOOP. Sheila Lambert touching the ball immediately puts a lot of strain on a defense. She shoots well from outside (42% from the three), and I would be inclined to make her shoot outside shots, but given the way people have been torching Nebraska from outside, the Huskers have to ditch the zone and go to man pressure. If we can keep the ball out of Lamberts hands as much a possible its better for everybody wearing scarlet and cream. This sounds like a job for Keasha Cannon.
2. REBOUND, REBOUND, REBOUND. In Big 12 play, Baylor gets 39 rebounds a game, and gives up nearly that many. Rebounds will be at a premium. Neither team shoots outside very well. If Nebraska can force Baylor to take shots outside and gets some boards and get our own game working, that will help. Offensively, we need second shots. Baylor can run Nebraska out of town if they get the fast break going. The Huskers need possessions. Paging Stephanie Jones, you are needed. PLEASE PAUL, LET HER PLAY!
3. MUST HAVE OUTSIDE SHOOTING! We need some good shots from the perimeter. We need threes. Maybe Shannon Howell or Miss Cowgill can give us something.
4. DO NOT GIVE INTO TEMPTATION. Coach, you know you maybe tempted to play Katie Morse, DO NOT DO IT!!!! Keep Casey Leonhardt Jr. on the bench, or better yet Keep her in Lincoln.
5. CHANGE SPEEDS ON THEM. Sometimes run, sometimes Cat and Mouse. Baylor is a very aggressive team, they'll take changes, they'll gamble a little more. Team likes this don't like to play a reactive game, and we can force them into situation where they have to read and react, we have a shot at them. One thing about Nebraska is that at time they get into a pattern, the opposition figures it out and they beat us over the head with it.
6. WE NEED MORE THAN JUST KEASHA CANNON. Someone else has to step up to provide some offensive punch. Cannon's going to have a full plate on both ends of the floor. She will most likely get the shadow assignment on Lambert. Another player must have a big scoring night. It could be anybody. Howell? Jones? Robinette? Cowgill? even Jina Johansen? I DON'T CARE, but Keasha scoring 25 and a group of others scoring 6 or 8 won't get it done. The Huskers need to score points, even if we choose to try to the slow the game down. It will take 70 points to win this game.
Overall Outlook: My girls will lose the game.
Paul Sanderford has said often in the last few weeks that Nebraska will beat somebody they aren't supposed to beat.
Sorry Paul, I don't see it. I really want to see it. I'd love to see it, but I just don't see it in this group of kids this year.
Nebraska has 9 regular season games left. They have a chance to win 3 of them. The games against ranked team present the same problems that this game with Baylor does. The opposition has at least two weapons that have to be accounted for, and Nebraska has conclusively proven this season that it can't take of one.
Does Nebraska have a forward that can contain Danielle Crockrum? Stephanie Jones or Katie Robinette against Crockrum is a 30-point all-american campaign speech waiting to be delievered.
Steffanie Blackmon vs. Alexa Johnson. Would be fun to watch, but the problem is, Paul Sanderfraud won't play Johnson. He'll roll out Katie Leonhardt and the freshman, with some help from Crockrum, will kill her. By the time Alexa gets a chance, or even Griechaly Cepero gets in there, its too late.
Keasha Cannon will have her hands full with Lambert. Cannon is a solid defensive player, but she's not a stopper by herself. The scariest thing would be if Cannon got into foul trouble. If that happens this game becomes an Ames-style beating. Also, Cannon's high turnover rate becomes a sore point in this game, because Baylor always has their hands out looking for the loose ball.
I think the lasses will give a respectable effort.
Baylor 74, Nebraska 61
--ChipperF1
To be honest, I'm just running out of ways of saying "Nebraska sucks". How many different ways can you come up with the same conclusion? It's getting harder and harder to come up with new and novel ways to discuss another failed season.
In the plus side, Nebraska did play well against Iowa State. A few corrections here and there and maybe, it would be have been a nip and tuck game at the end.
Unfortunately, this team still has not proven that it can walk into a hostile environment and come up with a competitive 40-minute effort, and that is the issue to engage in as we head south to Waco.
NEBRASKA AT #10/#11 BAYLOR
Wednesday January 30, 2002 7 p.m. Waco, Texas
Nebraska Radio--Pinnacle Sports Network http://www.huskers.com
Baylor Radio--KLRK-Waco http://www.gobaylorbears.com
BAYLOR: The Good Right Reverend Kim.
Since Kim Mulkey-Robinson came to Waco, the Baylor Bears have taken on a different persona. This team strides out like a flamboyant Baptist preacher, delivers a 40-minute sermon of aggression, attack and all-out play, and by the time it ends fans can't wait to run up to the front of the church.
Throughout the season many have questioned Baylor. Are they a good team or are they the product of slick media hype and a cupcake schedule? I think many questions were reexamined when the girls in green went to Austin and beat a very strong Texas team. The Bears made it known that they would be a part of the Big 12 championship race as we head into February.
The calling card of the Bears is attack. The team uses athleticism and guile to create opportunity. Give and take is in the team lexicon. This team embraces force not finesse. Nine players on this team have double digits steals. Four have double digit blocks. The team averaging 39 rebounds per game in conference play, and they are current #3 in the league in scoring (78 points per game).
Out front are their two biggest guns. Senior guard Sheila Lambert and Senior forward Danielle Crockrum.
The 5-7 Lambert is an artistic, slashing penetrator. More often that not, Lambert forces a defense to double-team, foul or concede a layup. In Big 12 play she's averaging 23 points a game. Last week alone she averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.5 steals and 3.0 rebounds. She also shot 59% from the field on her way to Big 12 Player of the Week honors and led the Bears to three straight victories.
Lambert puts such pressure on perimeter players outside and forces teams to contract on her inside, creating a lot of opportunities for the second monster of this duo.
Danielle Crockrum is a prototype of the direction womens basketball is heading into in the next century. Tall, athletic, strong, aggressive, and versatile. The 6-2 forward dominates bigger players, intimidates smaller ones. She's averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds in conference play. She has nine blocked shots in conference play. Two of them came against Texas, both of them killed key Texas possessions.
Separate this two players are formidable. As a tandem they are deadly. They average a combined 35 points per game. Only once has either failed to score in double figures. Defensively, team often find themselves in a "pick your poison" situation when trying to stop them. Put in a man defense and they force double teams with their ability, meaning somebody is open. Go to zone defense, they don't care. They won't try to shoot long-range over it, they'll just attack it. Meaning its a 50-50 chance that you have player taking on fouls. When you take into account that Lambert is 83% from the free throw line and Crockrum is 78% from the free throw line, you realize putting them on the free throw line is not a good idea.
Now many would think, "okay, we just stop Crockrum and Lambert and we win.". Well stopping them both is hard enough, but lets say you do keep them under wraps. The thing about Baylor is, they have prototype weapons under development.
One is 6-2 freshman post player Steffanie Blackmon. Blackmon is quickly becoming heir apparent to Crockrum. She's averaging 10 points per game in conference play, and the amazing thing is, she has drawn only one start this year. She's coming off the bench, kicking butt and taking names. Against Texas she came off the bench to score 15 points and added 3 rebounds in 21 minutes. A surprise third weapon to add to Lambert and Crockrum, and a nightmare for an opposing coach. Also consider that Blackmon has 9 block in conference play, the same number as Crockrum.
Blackmon shares time at center with senior Brooke McCormack. The Australian is a solid journeyman, who often draw the start, then cedes to the younger player at points during the game, but is often brought back in when some of the dirty work (rebounds and blocks) needs doing. McCormack averages 5 rebounds per game and has 6 blocks in Big 12 play. Also getting reps inside are freshmen Kelly Sords and Melanie Hamerly.
Outside is the Baylor weakness. The team shoots 30.5% from the three point line. The outside shot isn't a major strategic option.
Two of their better perimeter players wear a lot of hats. 5-11 sophomore Chanelle Fox has started every game in the conference schedule. She is mostly charge with being a defensive specialist and sometimes shooter. Don't be surprised to see her as a post-up guard/swingman in a 3-guard set.
5-9 sophomore Jessika Stratton is shooting 41% from three-point range. She's also one of the members of the team point guard committee, averaging 3 assists per game, while sharing time with 5-9 freshman phenom Jordan Davis, and 5-3 senior Nicole Collins. At times even all-star Lambert takes a few snaps as the Bears quarterback.
THE NEBRASKA COUNTERATTACK.
To be honest, I don't think my dear lasses have one. But any chance of winning has to depend on:
1. KEEP LAMBERT OUT OF THE LOOP. Sheila Lambert touching the ball immediately puts a lot of strain on a defense. She shoots well from outside (42% from the three), and I would be inclined to make her shoot outside shots, but given the way people have been torching Nebraska from outside, the Huskers have to ditch the zone and go to man pressure. If we can keep the ball out of Lamberts hands as much a possible its better for everybody wearing scarlet and cream. This sounds like a job for Keasha Cannon.
2. REBOUND, REBOUND, REBOUND. In Big 12 play, Baylor gets 39 rebounds a game, and gives up nearly that many. Rebounds will be at a premium. Neither team shoots outside very well. If Nebraska can force Baylor to take shots outside and gets some boards and get our own game working, that will help. Offensively, we need second shots. Baylor can run Nebraska out of town if they get the fast break going. The Huskers need possessions. Paging Stephanie Jones, you are needed. PLEASE PAUL, LET HER PLAY!
3. MUST HAVE OUTSIDE SHOOTING! We need some good shots from the perimeter. We need threes. Maybe Shannon Howell or Miss Cowgill can give us something.
4. DO NOT GIVE INTO TEMPTATION. Coach, you know you maybe tempted to play Katie Morse, DO NOT DO IT!!!! Keep Casey Leonhardt Jr. on the bench, or better yet Keep her in Lincoln.
5. CHANGE SPEEDS ON THEM. Sometimes run, sometimes Cat and Mouse. Baylor is a very aggressive team, they'll take changes, they'll gamble a little more. Team likes this don't like to play a reactive game, and we can force them into situation where they have to read and react, we have a shot at them. One thing about Nebraska is that at time they get into a pattern, the opposition figures it out and they beat us over the head with it.
6. WE NEED MORE THAN JUST KEASHA CANNON. Someone else has to step up to provide some offensive punch. Cannon's going to have a full plate on both ends of the floor. She will most likely get the shadow assignment on Lambert. Another player must have a big scoring night. It could be anybody. Howell? Jones? Robinette? Cowgill? even Jina Johansen? I DON'T CARE, but Keasha scoring 25 and a group of others scoring 6 or 8 won't get it done. The Huskers need to score points, even if we choose to try to the slow the game down. It will take 70 points to win this game.
Overall Outlook: My girls will lose the game.
Paul Sanderford has said often in the last few weeks that Nebraska will beat somebody they aren't supposed to beat.
Sorry Paul, I don't see it. I really want to see it. I'd love to see it, but I just don't see it in this group of kids this year.
Nebraska has 9 regular season games left. They have a chance to win 3 of them. The games against ranked team present the same problems that this game with Baylor does. The opposition has at least two weapons that have to be accounted for, and Nebraska has conclusively proven this season that it can't take of one.
Does Nebraska have a forward that can contain Danielle Crockrum? Stephanie Jones or Katie Robinette against Crockrum is a 30-point all-american campaign speech waiting to be delievered.
Steffanie Blackmon vs. Alexa Johnson. Would be fun to watch, but the problem is, Paul Sanderfraud won't play Johnson. He'll roll out Katie Leonhardt and the freshman, with some help from Crockrum, will kill her. By the time Alexa gets a chance, or even Griechaly Cepero gets in there, its too late.
Keasha Cannon will have her hands full with Lambert. Cannon is a solid defensive player, but she's not a stopper by herself. The scariest thing would be if Cannon got into foul trouble. If that happens this game becomes an Ames-style beating. Also, Cannon's high turnover rate becomes a sore point in this game, because Baylor always has their hands out looking for the loose ball.
I think the lasses will give a respectable effort.
Baylor 74, Nebraska 61
--ChipperF1