Tech vs Texas

[JK]

Well, here we go again! Arguably the biggest rivalry in Women's College Basketball will be in full effect Wednesday night in Lubbock. If the intensity of this rivalry weren't enough to begin with, both teams come into this game really needing to win.
I can't remember another time when these two teams took the court against one another, when each team was so desparate. Both Tech and UT have had very similar seasons thus far, and both are at a point where this game could make or break the season. How fitting (or unfortunate?) is it that these two come together for another chapter in "The Battle" at such a crucial time.
Texas is in desparate need of a victory to stop their three-game conference losing streak. Add to that the fact that we have road games at Tennessee and Baylor right around the corner before hosting Oklahoma, and that spells M-U-S-T W-I-N. Whew! What a place to have to play a must-win game!
Tech is also with their backs to the wall, coming off their loss to Colorado at home and dropping two of their last three games. Also ahead for the Lady Raiders are road games at Baylor and Oklahoma, and a home game against Wisconsin. Tech, too, is in a must-win situation. Fortunately for them, the game will be played in the United Spirit Arena. Even though Tech has lost a couple of home games this season, it still is NOT the place you want to have to play the Lady Raiders, especially in a make-it-or-break-it situation.
I just hope that these two teams get together and give us the quality game that they gave us in January (by the way we lost the signal down here in Houston right after halftime and didn't see the thrilling finish!!!). Both teams have had ups and downs this year and are trying desparately to salvage their respective seasons. Both have had some great victories, and some heart-breaking losses. It's almost like, as much as I love them 'Horns, I hate to see either team lose. Good luck to both!!!

p.s. Whatever the outcome, let's be civil with one another afterwards. Okay? After all, we STILL represent THE state for Women's Basketball!!!!

[Bevo]

Originally posted by JK:
Well, here we go again!


You can say that again. But not in reference to Wednesday's game. I'm talking about the annual Longhorn slide! You know the one where we play our way out of conference title contention, then out of top-4 finish contention, then out of NCAA 1R/2R host contention, then onto the slippery-soap bubble of NCAA participation and out of the tourney in the 1R. I'm sure Tech would like nothing better than to give us a little push in that direction. Actually, I think last Saturday was the M-U-S-T W-I-N game, you know, the kind where you show that you can have some consistency and toughness and all that and beat the teams you should beat so that the games against the top teams actually mean something.

Hope I'm here Wednesday night eating a big 'ole fat, deep-fried crow, but I say Tech by 20+.

I'm feeling a little Chipperesque these days.

[swok34]

wow, Bevo.....looking at Texas' schedule, they really have a rough schedule coming up and that doesn't even count the Tennessee game......
@TTU, @OSU, @BU, OU@home....that's a pretty rough 4 game stretch, IMO.

[swok34]

Got this off the bball banter site that has such a UConn flair.

Texas has lost two straight for the first time this season and has dropped three of its last four. The Longhorns are sporting something new, wearing the number, 79.8, on the back of its warm-ups. The number signified the mileage from the Erwin Center to the Alamodome in San Antonio, site of the NCAA Women's Final Four in April.

[Texan]

It was about this time last year that the lady horns got a win in Lubbock .... not saying it is going to happen again, just pointing out that it can. I think it is going to be a great basketball game and am really happy it is on TV in Austin!

[Bball Girl]

Well Texas may have gotten a win in Lubbock last year...but we also returned the favor last year too...remember Ritchie's successful trey and a foul...for an awesome 4 pt play.

Should be a good game. Tech's had way too many turnovers in the last couple of games and Texas has struggled off and on all season with TO's...I would prefer not to have a sloppy turnoever filled game. It looks bad to the pundits who down wbb.

Chipper...we have far more than nada inside...Ayers is doing a super job and word is that we're going to start both Ayers and Ellison (who had some great blocks against the Buffs)..it's going to be fun to watch Stephens/Cook battling against Ayers and Ellison. But I think the real fireworks will be between White and Larkin. White is leading the Big 12 in turnover/assist ratio and she's proven herself a warrior. Larkin always brings her intensity to every game.

Looking forward to it!

But keep in mind that some in Austin don't consider Tech a rival in anything....however feeling is not mutual...even the diehard Longhorns fan who always wears his burnt orange 'Horns warmup suit to the gym admitted that he was leaving it home in the closet this week (our gym has a lot of LR fans)...so expect a warm welcome (could still have some snow on the ground) and what should be a great show of wbb in the Big 12!

[BigUtFan]

Originally posted by JK:
Well, here we go again! Arguably the biggest rivalry in Women's College Basketball will be in full effect Wednesday night in Lubbock. If the intensity of this rivalry weren't enough to begin with, both teams come into this game really needing to win.
I can't remember another time when these two teams took the court against one another, when each team was so desparate. Both Tech and UT have had very similar seasons thus far, and both are at a point where this game could make or break the season. How fitting (or unfortunate?) is it that these two come together for another chapter in "The Battle" at such a crucial time.
Texas is in desparate need of a victory to stop their three-game conference losing streak. Add to that the fact that we have road games at Tennessee and Baylor right around the corner before hosting Oklahoma, and that spells M-U-S-T W-I-N. Whew! What a place to have to play a must-win game!
Tech is also with their backs to the wall, coming off their loss to Colorado at home and dropping two of their last three games. Also ahead for the Lady Raiders are road games at Baylor and Oklahoma, and a home game against Wisconsin. Tech, too, is in a must-win situation. Fortunately for them, the game will be played in the United Spirit Arena. Even though Tech has lost a couple of home games this season, it still is NOT the place you want to have to play the Lady Raiders, especially in a make-it-or-break-it situation.
I just hope that these two teams get together and give us the quality game that they gave us in January (by the way we lost the signal down here in Houston right after halftime and didn't see the thrilling finish!!!). Both teams have had ups and downs this year and are trying desparately to salvage their respective seasons. Both have had some great victories, and some heart-breaking losses. It's almost like, as much as I love them 'Horns, I hate to see either team lose. Good luck to both!!!

p.s. Whatever the outcome, let's be civil with one another afterwards. Okay? After all, we STILL represent THE state for Women's Basketball!!!! I agree...let's be good sports. Both teams seem to be struggling and it is an important game for each team. WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY LADY HORNS????

[carolann]

Sigh. I admit to having a little of that 'here we go again feeling' myself. I just hope the team has more heart and fortitude. If I was a player, I'd be telling my teamates, "O.K. We're getting beat by a just a few points. What if each one of us finds one thing that we can do just a little better or one mistake that we can eliminate? How much difference can that make?"

I think Tech's new line-up is more dangerous to the Horns than the line-up that started in Austin. The Tech line-up is smaller but quicker and Ayers has really picked up her game. It is unfortunate for the Horns that Perkins had her 'bad' game against Colorado. I can't see her having 2 subpar games in a row. On the Horns side, Asha Hill did a good job defending Perkins in the second half. If our other scorers score and Larkin hits a few, the Horns can afford to have a defensive stopper who rarely looks to shoot. When both Hastings and Hill are on the floor at the same, that can put a lot of pressure on Stephens and Schreiber to score. In those situations, imo, Hastings needs to look to shoot more.

[Texan]

What baffles me is why Asha doesn't look to shoot. She was an excellent shooter when she got to UT and she has it in her to be a scoring threat. Anissa also. I think it is more likely that Anissa will pick up her scoring than that Asha will.

[JK]

Until we get Hastings more involved into our scheme of things, there is a certain level that we will NOT reach! We need that young lady on the floor - - active and a part of what's happening on both sides of the ball. As far as Hill is concerned, that's one whose diminished playing time I'll never understand. Look what she did against Penn St when she was put in the game, and left in. She was able to get involved in the offense and got some confidence. If both of these players, along with Dillard and Sare, would be allowed to get int the game and be a part of what's happening, then their confidence would return. That would put us at that level that so frustratingly seems just beyond our reach. We need these players confident, and active. I also don't understand what's happened with Dana Godfrey. She's no superstar, but she's certainly no slouch!!! She hustles and she's an aggressive player on defense. On offense, she's no afraid to be aggressive when given an opportunity. She's started many games in her career and has lots of experience. Now, suddenly, she's not even good enough to get off the bench? Godfrey has NEVER hurt us. In fact, none of these players mentioned have. Sare may have been a slight defensive liability in her earliest days at UT, but she's a much better defender now (and certainly a better defender than Kaira White!). The situation is ridiculous!!!

[carolann]

No action on a Texas vs Tech thread? Are both sets of fans very, very, nervous? I'll confess. I am on pins and needles. Both teams need this win BAD.

[JK]

http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/eek.gif

[Press]

Thankfully I've been so busy at work today that I've not really thought about it much. All I can say is I'm glad it's in Lubbock, the snow has melted some and we have a big crowd. I hope both teams play their hearts out like they did in Austin. From what I've heard, Marsha has jerked the slack out of them since the CU game for not having the right intensity level in practice as well as the games, so we'll hide and watch and see how they respond.

[Zo31]

From a Baylor fan's point of view, I would like to see Tech knock Texas down a notch. It certainly would not hurt my feelings if Texas lost this one tonight. That would give both UT and TT 5 losses. However, Texas needs to wear down the Lady Raiders so that they are draggin on Saturday. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[DblT81]

*sigh*

From reading the comments of UT fans here and Tech *fans* elsewhere, not only do both teams need this game BAD, the natives are restless in both tribes.

The grumbles about Conradt have been about for a couple of years, but it breaks my heart to now hear the same stuff from some Tech fans regarding Sharp: "The game has passed her by......", "She's destroying the confidence of the players....", "Something has to be wrong with the coach if players are leaving the program...". http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/frown.gif

Oh well.

I predict another overtime and I hope for a different result than the earlier contest.