Here's some more worthless stuff to ponder

[DblT81]

Yeah, I know the RPI this early is worthless, but I like to look at it anyway. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif
Last updated Fri Dec 7 2001
<pre style="font-size: 10pt">
2001-2002 Standings
School W L RPI Rank
Texas 6 0 0.7418 3
Iowa State 5 0 0.7398 4
Oklahoma 8 0 0.6917 10
Texas Tech 4 2 0.6627 16
Colorado 7 2 0.6434 25
Baylor 7 0 0.6266 29
Nebraska 7 1 0.6209 31
Missouri 5 1 0.6164 34
Kansas St 7 1 0.6071 41
Oklahoma St 3 3 0.5336 117
Texas A&M 5 2 0.4758 185
Kansas 2 5 0.4471 209</pre>

FIVE QUESTIONS
(1) What has surprised you so far with approx. one quarter of the season done?

(2) In the remaining half of non-conf games, what teams have tough games that they may trip up? Which ones will stay steady?

(3) Which player on your favorate team has done better than expected? Worse than expected?

(4) What injuries are causing problems?

(5) What is a neat holiday gift this year?

Discuss.

[This message has been edited by DblT81 (edited 12-07-2001).]

[This message has been edited by DblT81 (edited 12-08-2001).]

[Press]

1. Tech's 4-2 record and Pierson's suspenion
2. Tech has Rutgers (there) and Vandy at home--YIKES!! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/eek.gif
Haven't really studied the other schedules.
3. Perkins is doing worse than expected, she's in a funk; and Kari Jo Simmons is doing better than expected.
4. Dionne's knee and shoulder and the overall mental issues they are dealing with right now.
5. Someone to pay off my bills! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

[swok34]

FIVE QUESTIONS
(1) What has surprised you so far with approx. one quarter of the season done?
Hmmmm, not sure I have been surprised with Oklahoma; I guess if it is anything, I am amazed at the different ways the team has learned to handle different situations and win games...i.e. foul trouble, injuries, etc.


(2) In the remaining half of non-conf games, what teams have tough games that they may trip up? Which ones will stay steady? Guessing we are talking about the Big 12?......I think Oklahoma and Iowa State, given their experience remain steady, once Texas Tech gets their chemistry flowing, they will also remain steady, toss in Baylor given that both Lambert and Crockrum are back. Also have to put Texas in that category with so much depth and so far-so good injury free team.

So, what's that? The top half of the Big 12?.....ooops, left out Colorado, Colorado seems always to start ?slow.....just recall OU beating them in Colorado by a lot and then turn around in the big 12 tourney and it was quite a good game.....

Kansas State's home court may present some problems for the top tier who visit, which I think is OU, Baylor, Texas Tech.....
time will tell how these youngsters do on the road.

The rest......hmmmmmm, of course there will be some losses along the way that no one expects. Beyond that, it is pretty much the same as last year as far as not being able to count on a win...
night in and night out.

Which player on your favorite team has done better than expected?
Worse than expected?

which player has done better, hmmmmm, I don't know that anyone has really surprised me thus far, given that OU's returning 5 were all starters or key bench players.....Di "Action" Jackson is a whole lot better than I even imagined. Worse than expected....
not sure what is going on with Caton Hill, though she came out in top playing form....I've seen a couple of games where she's had really not smart fouls and Caton typically plays a lot smarter than that. Not sure if perhaps when you have 5 on the floor as good as the starting 5 are, if Caton's numbers won't suffer this year......ok, I tried to make myself believe that Selmon could be a savior and become Desiree Taylor-like, but it's just not gonna happen.

(4) What injuries are causing problems?
.......ah, Jennifer Cunningham was first and then, Antoinette Wadsworth.....man, she would have been good and much needed frontcourt help.....then maybe Laneisha Caufield 5'-9 wouldn't have to play the post player.

(5) What is a neat holiday gift this year?

A neat holiday gift would be..........a round trip, all expense paid trip to the Final Four complete with tickets and viewing of the Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Iowa State......ok, the 4th team might be a toss-up between Colorado, Baylor or Texas....Teams that would be competing for the right to be called national champ, thereby shutting up all naysayers that the Big 12 is a weak conference...........hey, you can ask Santa for anything, can't you?
go http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ou.gif


[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 12-07-2001).]

[Jennifer]

(1) What has surprised you so far with approx. one quarter of the season done?
Texas Tech has been as surprise, for reasons already mentioned, plus Colorado. I expected Colorado to have had much stronger showings than they have thus far. But it's still early.

(2) In the remaining half of non-conf games, what teams have tough games that they may trip up? Which ones will stay steady?
OU goes to Uconn--can't wait for that one. It will be quite a test. They should be fine with the rest of their pre-conf schedule. Can't really speak for other teams, though the Texas/Tenn matchup should be good as well.

(3) Which player on your favorate team has done better than expected? Worse than expected?
Caufield has really been impressive. Not that that's not expected of her, but she just seems to be more on a mission this year. To counter swok's comments about Caton Hill, doesn't it seem like she plays more to the oppostion? Like, she has a big game when needed, but might seem a little more slack against the teams they are supposed to beat handily?
Also about Selmon--she just doesn't seem to really have her head in the game. Maybe it'll take her time to get back to speed. I hope she improves, because her size is needed. I hated those several chippy shots she missed the other night. Stacy (or someone else, can't remember who?) would have had an extra assist or 2 or 3.

(4) What injuries are causing problems?
Already mentioned--Cunningham and Wadsworth for OU are tough losses. But, so far the team is dealing w/ it and doing fine.

(5) What is a neat holiday gift this year?
A 2002 Acura MPV SUV with a navigation system. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif
OK, realisitically probably a pressure cooker and my debts paid off and for my dog to stay healthy this year so he doesn't cause me to incur more debt.



[This message has been edited by Jennifer (edited 12-07-2001).]

[swok34]

"re: Caton Hill doesn't it seem like she plays more to the oppostion? Like, she has a big game when needed, but might seem a little more slack against the teams they are supposed to beat handily?"


I've seen her really pick up the slack when Laneisha and/or Stacey and/or Ross are not playing well, i.e. Purdue....
Last week in OU's game vs TCU, she was non-existent in the first half......sat with 2 fouls and didn't start the 2nd half.....
played pretty good vs Wichita State, though with busted lip....
and turned around and sat with 2 fouls in the SMU game.....

think I've mentioned before that I thought OU was giving Caton....and maybe it's not just Caton....the Ruth Riley treatment.... Caton Hill has been one of my fav's since she first arrived and still remains. Though there is so little room for foul trouble amongst Caton and Jamie that it may have changed they way they play......

[KSUron]

#1 KSU starting 4 freshmen, two of them in place of starters from last year who are now seniors who are coming in off the bench. "Grandma" Ohlde won't be twenty for another couple months so Patterson is starting five teenagers. Rethman is a class act and the three year starter is handling this very well. She is still very much a team leader.

#2 Don't know but the teen queens will no doubt be up and down a bit.

#3(a) I expected Koehn and Wecker to be good but Megan Mahoney was a nice surprise, (b) At this point I should be shot if I complain about any of them.

#4 We lost junior forward Danielle Hutton for the season. She would have provided some good minutes off the bench. Chelsea Domenico, a freshman who is probably the most gifted true point guard, has missed a lot of practice and playing time due to a hand problem.

#5 Post season play for KSU and a Big XII team in the final four. (Maybe 2 teams and a national champ) GO BIG XII!!

[DblT81]

Good start folks.

My turn
(1) What has surprised you so far with approx. one quarter of the season done?
Pierson's suspension is, of course, a surprise but not as big a loss to Tech as some might expect. I put it on par with Cunniningham's loss to OU. Yes, it is a blow but there are other talented players who can step up.

Bigger surprise to me is Coach Sharp changing the line-up in every game, which is WAY different than in the past. Usually Tech sets its starters and substitution patterns and that was it for the entire season.


(2) In the remaining half of non-conf games, what teams have tough games that they may trip up? Which ones will stay steady?

I think Baylor stays undefeated due to their schedule. Tech has three more tough games w/ Vandy, Rutgers and Wisconsin. Texas doesn't play Tenn until Feb so they will be undefeated at the end of Dec. (Wouldn't it be great if burnt orange beat bright orange this year?) So will ISU. I hope OU can take down the mighty empire but I'm not sure.

(3) Which player on your favorite team has done better than expected? Worse than expected?

Not that Natalie Ritchie is better than expected, cause I expect her to be a great scorer, but she is getting more playing time than expected and is capitalizing on it. Jia Perkins is an unbelievable talent. I just wish she was more consistent. She reminds me of Caufield in her soph season. Looks all world one game, has problems the next. Still, I would take Jia on her worst day over 99% of the Div I players out there. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

(4) What injuries are causing problems?
Dionne Brown has more spandex holding her body parts together than I have ever seen. It has to affect her play, but it is hard to tell. What a gamer!

(5) What is a neat holiday gift this year?
If I could answer this one, I wouldn't have asked it. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[mred]

FIVE QUESTIONS
(1) What has surprised you so far with approx. one quarter of the season done?

ISU beating Creighton in OT and Drake by 30. Creighton played ISu tight last season and Drake was blown out; I never expected it to happen it again.

(2) In the remaining half of non-conf games, what teams have tough games that they may trip up? Which ones will stay steady?

I haven't looked at the schedules too closely. Speaking for ISU, Iowa is the hardest game left but it's a home game. I don't know who's in the San Diego Tournament.

(3) Which player on your favorate team has done better than expected? Worse than expected?

Better: Gahan and Wilson. The first time I saw Lindsey this season, I couldn't believe how much she has improved. Tracy is being a lot more offensive-minded and is being rewarded with a gaudy ppg average. I'm also impressed with the play of Tracy Paustian and Lisa Kriener.

No player has really disappointed me (except Erica Junod, but that wasn't her fault...) What's the deal with Lindsey's FT shooting touch, though? She's 18-32! She shot around 79% as a freshman and 71% as a sophomore.

(4) What injuries are causing problems?

Ummm... Erica Junod, perhaps? http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif Lindsey can't play 40 minutes every game, and ISU's three-point shooting and perimeter defense aren't as good as last year. Junod would have contributed majorly in all these areas. Several players have various minor injuries that threaten to keep them from playing occasionally.

(5) What is a neat holiday gift this year?

Keeping with the true spirit of the question (which asks for a HOLIDAY gift) I won't answer with anything about the WBB postseason. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif How about ISU getting a big win in the Independence Bowl? I have my tickets!

[dem]

Regarding tough upcoming pre-conference games: I think ISU's most dangerous game will probably be Auburn; it's on the road, Auburn is unbeaten so far and has an RPI of 14, and they are used to playing VERY tough competition. By contrast, the Iowa game is a home game for ISU and Iowa is substantially weaker than last year. Their best post player graduated and their former point guard now plays in the WNBA.

Colorado still has road games with Rutgers and LSU, so those will be a severe test for them.

[mred]

Originally posted by dem:
Regarding tough upcoming pre-conference games: I think ISU's most dangerous game will probably be Auburn.

I just looked at the San Diego tournament and agree that Auburn is our most difficult remaining non-conference opponent. Obviously the tournament is set up so San Diego (RPI 183) has a shot at the championship game: ISU (RPI 4) plays Auburn (RPI 14) in the first round as San Diego faces TX-San Antonio (RPI 223).

Other than Auburn and Iowa, ISU has to face (in completely random order): an easy team in the second round of the San Diego tournament, #312 Niagara (0-5 despite not playing anyone with an RPI over 131), an always pesky UNI team (at home, so it _shouldn't_ be too difficult), Northwestern (a road game, although they struggle to draw more than 500 fans to a game), the final game of the cyclone classic (either #204 Valparaiso or #143 Kentucky).

[Bevo]

Biggest surprise? The Pierson suspension.

Toughest non-con? OU/UConn and UT/UT. Yes, DblT, it would be fantastic if burnt prevailed over bright.

Which player has done better than expected? Tracy Cook. So far, she has truly stepped up and been a senior leader for the Horns. A big shot to seal the win against LSU and leading the scoring charge against New Mexico. But she's also a menace on defense (leads the team in blocked shots) and rebounding.
Worse than expected? Honestly, nobody on Texas has done worse than I expected.

Injuries? Thankfully, no injuries to the Longhorns so far this year. For the conference, I'd say Erica Junod, although ISU appears to be handling it quite well.

Holiday gift? A 10-0 record for the Horns heading into conference play (very possible).

[ChipperF1]

FIVE QUESTIONS
(1) What has surprised you so far with approx. one quarter of the season done?
Downside: The sluggish starts of Texas Tech and Colorado. Plenette Pierson's supension.
Upside: Texas really getting out of the blocks, Iowa State RIPPING Drake by 30, Kansas State's young squad getting out well.

(2) In the remaining half of non-conf games, what teams have tough games that they may trip up? Which ones will stay steady?
December 22nd...Oklahoma 77, Connecticut 71.

(3) Which player on your favorate team has done better than expected? Worse than expected?
Better than expected: Shah Roberts. She's putting in around 12 a game and she's actually coming to play every night.
Worse than expected: Katie Morse. She's really been a non-factor since the Creighton game

(4) What injuries are causing problems?
Stephanie "Charo" Jones. She started the year injured. She's okay now, but it does put a crimp in somebody who is needed.

(5) What is a neat holiday gift this year?
Final Four tickets (which I got this year) http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif Authentic jersey (I asked for it this year)

Gifts I'd send.

To Iowa State: 1 ultraathletic guard to complement Lindsey Wilson
To Oklahoma: A clone of Carla Bennett or a healthy Tammy Blackstone
To Texas Tech: Patience
To Plenette Pierson: A message. There is no I in TEAM.
To Colorado's guards: A shooting stroke that works from the start of the game
To Nebraska Womens Basketball: Courage, Ambition, and a sense of pride.
To Keesha Cannon: A picture of Casey Leonhardt to remind her the wages of being lazy and uncaring.