KU/NU game....

[H2H]

Chipper I think your game overview is pretty good. I think it will be a close game. I watched you guys against CU and there are many weapons on that team. That was the first time I've seen you guys. I know last year's team pretty much went as Hardy went, is that true this year? If her shot wasn't falling she would just keep shooting and would kill her team. That's how we got you guys down here. She shot you guys right out of the game. It doesn't seem that way, but when I look at the stats, she still takes LOTS of shots. Just wondering.

I don't know about the 31 pts you projected, but you could be right. We did a good job on her with Burras last year. She had size and the athletic ability to contest all her shots. We have the athletic ability but not the same size as last year, so we will see.

I wish I could make it up to the game, I'm going to have watch it on the tube. $1 everything should make for a huge crowd. Maybe there will be a overnight snow storm.... :D

Hope for a good game, no injuries and the :ku: to come out on top... :)

[ChipperF1]

Potential
(Sung to the tune of "Bonanza")

The team I love is just full of Potential
Hand in hand Big Red will stand, and my girls won't be soft
Saturday night we'll come to fight..Potential
With Kie and Kelsey. Chel and Jess, Kansas gets a loss

Play to play. We'll work all day. with a full crowd inside
Hello Kansas, pack a lunch. There's nowhere to Hide

Bound to March to a great March, Potential
Lucas Paul, Your mom stands tall. Big Red shall advance

[ guitar ]

Dani Page just plays and plays Potential.
Elena Diaz, much improved and Sarah White joins in.

T.K. LeFleur defends and scores, Potential
Sara Hieb goes all out whenever she gets in.

Bonnie's kids are unbeaten, and they've been having fun.
But when they leave Devaney's court, they'll be twelve and one.

Bound to March to a great March, Potential.
Scarlet and cream, Tournament dreams. Big Red shall advance.

A few years ago this game was a battle between backfielders. It was Marion Washington's undiscipline band vs. Paul Sanderford legion of quitters.

Two coaching changes later, this game is a battle of postseason hopefuls.

Bonnie Hendrickson brought an NCAA tournament pedigree to Lawrence, Kansas, and in two years she took a demoralized program and made it second wintertime obsession in the making.
The renaissance went into overdrive a few days ago. The Gregorian cadence of "Roooooock, Chaaaaaalk, Jayhaaaaaaawk!" rang for a women's game and an upset of conference power Texas.

The Jayhawks enter Saturday night with 12 wins, No defeats. Many of their wins are against Jabronis, but beating Texas gave KU some added street cred, and a lot of confidence.

Just up the highway from Lawrence lies Lincoln and another reclamation project. Its season four of the Connie Yori regime. And Nebraska went from 20-game loser to being within arms length of the Field of 64.

Kansas was one of the teams last season that kept Nebraska away from NCAA. An embarassing February loss in Lawrence that was part of a stretch drive slide.

This opening leg could be one of most competitive KU-NU clashes ever. It is a day that harkens back to the Lynn Pride-Anna DeForge era battles. When the teams were good and the stakes were high.

Kansas Jayhawks (12-0, 1-0) at
Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3, 1-0)
Saturday January 7, 2006 Bob Devaney Sports Center/Lincoln, NE 7:00pm CST

Television: Fox Sports Midwest
Greg Sharpe (play-by-play), Matt Davison (color)
DirecTV 648 or Dish 445

Kansas Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network. Nate Bukaty (play-by-play),
Brian Hanni (color). http://kuathletics.collegesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/kan-w-baskbl-body.html

Nebraska Radio: Pinnacle Radio Network. Matt Coatney (play-by-play), Jeff Gresch (color). http://www.huskers.com

[ChipperF1]

Kansas: It's Bonnie Team Now.

When you thought of Kansas Womens Basketball recently, you thought of running mouths, fistfights, a lack of discipline and Kristin Geoffroy (The worst player in Big 12 Womens Basketball History).

The Bonnie Hendrickson Administration, backed by AD Lew Perkins, has changed all that.

Her best player is a holdover from the bad old days, but never lowered herself to fit the company. Senior forward-center Crystal Kemp will finally get her just due as one of the league's best this season. So far she's been up to standard. 19.3 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game. More importantly, she's become best middle linebacker that part of the country has seen since Willie Lanier.
In the game against Texas, she was taking the lead of the determined and impressive defensive effort. She was calling the sets and getting her people in the right places to make plays. All throughout the game she was Bonnie's extension on the floor defensively, in addition to making a lot of offensive plays (Including a shocking three pointer in the first half in which she was left open thanks to a well-executed series of passes, feints and parries.)
Kemp had 21 for the game against Texas, but her greatest value was in the number of times she forced bad passes, deterred drives and forced misses. The Longhorn never could get their best weapons their best shots and Kemp was a big part of that.

But #40's been doing that for her entire career at KU, but unlike past year, she getting a lot of help from new and old faces along the perimeter, with upgraded athleticism and skill.

At the quarterback spot is true freshman Ivana Catic. She's a 5-8 fireball from Serbia-Montenegro. Another fine Balkan product making her presence felt in the game this year. Throughout this non-conference slate this youngster has taking the ball. 74 Assists, 34 turnovers and gaining a lot of confidence. Like a lot of European players, she has a nice shooting touch. 11.5 points per game and a stunning 46.7% from three-point range.
Flanking Catic is a three-guard alignment that runs a little bit like Connie Yori's swingwing. The two guard is an old hand. Senior Erica Hallman is a combo guard in many respects. She can score well enough to be the two, but also can run the offense in a pinch. She's second on the team in scoring (15 points per game) and she's #2 in assists (44 against 17 turnovers) Hendrickson will often turn to Hallman to take the point to better set up penetration and kickouts to Catic, Kaylee Brown or any other shooter in array of screens and drives that Hendrickson likes to engage to get open shoots. Those efforts played big in a first half against Texas where KU went 15-for-27 and built an early lead they'd never give back.

Senior Kaylee Brown stand 5-8, but plays with a bigger wingspan. She's not as athletic as Hallman or Catic and isn't as good a ballhandler, but she is a solid complement. 12 points per game with a respectable 38% from three point range.

Rounding out the starters, is 5-11 sophomore guard-forward Taylor McIntosh. Her role on the team reminds me former Husker Charlie Rogers. She's a elfin 5-11, yet plays like she's 6-2 and get dirty. She's averging 6 points per game with 5.5 rebounds per game, but her efforts in the Texas win showed that her values may not be seen entirely on the stat sheet.
Against Texas she was dealing with Tiffany Jackson and she was very effective in moving Jackson away from her comfort zone and cutting off the inside moves Jackson likes. She was also put against a lot of Texas' other inside threat, including Daria Mieloszynska, and she more than held her own and was an effective tag-team partner with Kemp inside.

On the bench, Junior Sharita Smith spells the guard spots, but has a main role as yet another gritty bruiser like McIntosh. Junior Shaquina Mosley also factors in. Inside, freshman Marija Zinic spells or teams up with Kemp. She was quite active against Texas with 4 rebounds and showed surprising physicality for her frame. She also had 5 personal fouls. A lot of them of the overeager freshman variety.

[Bball Girl]

Voepel on KU
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/13569757.htm

The Kansas women might expect a little teasing, such as if they remember how to pack their bags. They do, of course, because they went home for the holiday break … but they haven’t traveled for a basketball game this season. Until now.

KU, 12-0 and near a potential national ranking, meets what could be a considerable “road block” in Nebraska. The game is at 7 tonight in Lincoln, Neb., and the Huskers are having their “Pack the Devaney Center” promotion. A ticket, a hot dog and a soft drink each will cost just $1. That ought to draw a very large and loud crowd of red-clad folks for the Jayhawks to contend with.

THE KEYS: No one has shut down KU senior Crystal Kemp this season (19.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg). The Huskers may throw a lot of bodies at her, though, and try to force the rest of the Jayhawks to beat them. Kaylee Brown did a very good defensive job against Texas’ guards; she and the Jayhawks will try to do the same thing against Hardy.

[ChipperF1]

When analyzing Kansas, the first thing that struck me was their defense. What I saw when breaking down some tape of the KU-Texas game was the communication between players on defense.

Texas tried to set screens to get penetrators inside and set up outside shoots. Rarely was KU caught out of position on these efforts. Screens were being called out and player got to the right places and nullified the action for most of the game. The Longhorns rarely got uncontested shots. It was an impressive attention to detail and its sign of good coaching.
Also, the Jayhawks were ball hawks. Texas was throwing balls away and the KU kids pounced on the opportunities. They often forced them with determined play, especially along the peremeter. Erica Hallman channelled some serious Aquanita Burras when dealing with Nina Norman. Norman had 6 turnovers, much of it due to a lot of pressure starting with Hallman and extending to the help given by Catic, Brown, and McIntosh coming backside.

Inside Kemp used her girth well and really made the entry passes difficult, and again I have to cite Taylor McIntosh, she was physical, well positioned and gritty. She grabbed and held a little, but she also put herself in position to make thing difficult and that short-circuited enough of the things the Longhorns wanted to do.

My lasses will really have to execute well to work through this type of determination on defense. Nina Norman is one of the league best point guards and she found the going to tough. LaToya Howell and Ashley Ford aren't nearly as skilled and could be a pair of turnover machine if Hallman, McIntosh, Smith and Mosely play as intense has they have on defense over the last three games.
I wouldn't be surprised to see T.K. LeFleur or Kiera Hardy playing some quarterback tonight. They are both better ballhandlers than Howell or Ford

To counteract Kansas, Nebraska has to attack the basket and penetrate well off the perimeter. If we kick out, the impetus is on Chelsea Aubry and Jessica Gerhart to hit shots. Extending Crystal Kemp and spitting her attention to covering the wings and maybe forcing rotation to someelse against Kelsey Griffin is a move I'd like to see. Kemp will put a lot on Griffin and the freshman's going to be in a scrap. If we can add to Kemp's responsibilities inside and force McIntosh into expanded role.

When Kansas is on offense. They will try to set some screen and build open shots. Their main tactics involve double screening, tandems and the conventional pick-and-roll. Nebraska best on-ball defenders, Howell, LeFleur and Hardy have to be on their games and engage tight before screens get set.
We can engage quickly and tighten the noose we have an advantage. Texas showed a weakness in KU's peremeter. When faced with Big 12 caliber athletes. They threw that ball away more, especially Catic who had 8 turnovers.

I point out Catic because she has a weakness that can be exploited. She cannot function well with her left hand. She will show the left hand on the dribble, but she can't pass with it (7 passing attempts to left side against Texas, 4 of them were turnovers), and Catic cannot shoot lefty. When Hallman and Catic are on the floor, Bonnie Hendrickson will often call for Hallman to the run the play and Catic to set up to the left side in an effort to create space to the right for Catic to make a move or shoot if she gets the ball. A one-handed point guard can be a defenses best friend. When Catic has the ball, make her move left. Kaylee Brown as a similar problem as she is not as good at ballhandling at speed as Catic.
Hallman has a different issue. Under pressure she tends to make bad decisions. That could be key in disrupting the timing and flow of the screening motion sets KU likes to run. Stay in her shirt, force her to make more dangerous passes, we can get misplays, steals and turn on a transition game. We have to be able run and score a lot of points to win. A defensive game plays into Kansas' hands because their defense is stout. We want to make Kansas play faster than they are. KU hadn't seen a team that can place constant attacking pressure on their offense until Texas, and Texas was able to disrupt at points. In this game, they will deal with solid athletes, plus the spectre of being on the road in a loud, tough house.
Inside the Husker defense has to be lights out on Kemp. One thing Bonnie will do is move Kemp around to get her opportunities to get the basketball. Again, this is where screening discipline will be key. No chasing around the screen. No free releases. We also want to deny Kemp the basketball and/or force her to get in a position where she has to create a shoot and put that ball on the floor. The best way we can do that is to clamp down on player that will get her entry passes. We want to deny anything that gives her a catch-shoot option. I want her putting that ball on the floor, and that is something Bonnie Hendrickson doesn't want because it stems to flow of what they are trying to do in an offense where KU wants to limit dribbling and using passing and screening to create shots.

On the other side. Nebraska's offense will face some tests of some of key questions we've had the last couple years.

1. Kiera Hardy: Will she focus or fold.
H2H is right about what happened the last time these two teams played. Hardy was faced with a tough defender and she lost poise, focus and didn't execute. But Hardy was about the only real scoring option had in the game.
Tonight Hardy isn't person who can carry the water. Kelsey Griffin inside and an improving tandem of Gerhart and Aubry hitting their shots, changes the options. My projection of Hardy scoring 31 was more fandom than analysis, but if Nebraska executes set plays well, Hardy won't need to score 31 because other people are pulling their weight.
I see Hardy scoring 20-25, but also opening things up for Griffin to have scoring chances and Aubry and Gerhart having opportunties to stretch KU's defense. Also, a good bench bunch with LeFleur and Page can't help out.
It'll take some scoring to win this game. If the numbers reach the 70s, the Huskers win the game because those numbers means are offense is executing through that defense. If the Huskers defense in turn is exploit the weak spots in Kansas' fundamentals (mainly ballhandling and passing under pressure), then Nebraska wins this game. If the score is in the 60s or 50s its a greater crapshoot because KU's defense is making their presence known.

[ChipperF1]

2. Can we shoot that ball?
Nebraska has to do at least 45% from the mid-range and three-point line. KU's early initiative will be keep Hardy from penetrating. Thus they may dare us to shoot, thinking we can't.
This is last year's "Gang That Can't Shoot Straight". This year's team has a shooter, but they have to produce.

3. No GerSoft! No Chelsoft Aubry! No Elena Suave Diaz!
Ladies we need rebounding on that offensive end. As a team Nebraska has the size advantage on Kansas. Don't be sissified on the offensive glass. I want second and third chance shots and want control of that glass if the shots miss.[/b]

4. Can Connie outcoach Bonnie?
There is one constant caveat about Connie Yori.
As a motivator and people person? BRAVO!
As a strategist? RUT-ROH!

This will be a chess game and Bonnie Hendrickson throughout her tenure at Virginia Tech made a name winning chess games.
Connie throughout her career has made some strategic decision that are bizarre in games like this. So far this season, her Xs and Os have been up to par, but now she'll have to scheme a game where she has some strengths and weaknesses. Much of who will win tonight will comes down to the braintrusts on the bench seeing the color and tenor of the battle and making adjustments accordingly.

OVERALL OUTLOOK: This game is a stern test for both teams.
I my mind, Nebraska has all the cards win this game, but Kansas isn't a slouch. Crystal Kemp by herself makes me nervous. Kemp surrounded with friends makes me scared. The defensive effort I saw against Texas made me stand up and take notice, as did the shooting and execution they had when it was working well.

Kansas has a 12-0 record, but against a team that could tax them, chinks in the armor came out, plus KU has yet to see a road crowd and deal with playing in it. A team with inexperience at key areas can wilt under that.
However, my lasses have to play at a level where those chinks make the difference. Nebraska has yet to prove that they can consistently do that. Offensively, we have to execute and everybody has to get a piece of it. And it has to start fast If get out of the block and scoring quickly, our $1 hot dogs start kicking in and that Husker crowd becomes our Sixth Man!
Defensively, we have to match discipline with desire. Smart play has to be our matra. We have to match and exceed the smarts and heart on defense that KU showed against Texas. We've shown we can play defense against some Jabronis, but tonight its against a real team. And Kansas is a real team with designs of their own on this season.

Why I'm picking my lasses? Because I think we can disrupt what they do with our perimeter presence. Hardy's been tough on-ball has as LeFleur. Inside Griffin will be on the Island against Kemp at points but I also see Diaz and Page making a huge difference. That forces the ball into different hands to try and beat us, and I like our odds if Catic or Hallman are those hands because those hands have proven to be slippery when people get in their shirt.
Offensively we have more option than ever and if we execute the way we have, those options can happen.

Tonight, I see us giving a lot of people their dollar worth with 45 minutes of fun. Nebraska 78, Kansas 72 (OT)

I'm Chipper and I approved this preview. :)

[YCN]

At 15:26, Huskers lead 8-6 early.

[ChipperF1]

The teams are trading basket for basket...Gerhardt just popped from 10 to tie, then Hollman hits a three 13-10.

Husker defensive effort insuffiecient. We are not guarding well so far.

Kansas now up 15-13. Hardy hits her first shot.

[YCN]

Only one foul 8 minutes in. That's a sign that we could have a "let 'em play" kind of game tonight, rather than a ticky tack affair constantly interrupted by whistles for meaningless fouls.

[YCN]

Yori pulled all five off the floor for subs. I think she's getting her message across right now... :)

[ChipperF1]

Now we're starting to get on haunches defensively. Howell on the bench with 2 fouls, but she's been good tonight. still up 20-15...

Sarah White..FROM? Kansas 2 straight buckets!!!

[wwi_flying_ace_17]

Does anyone have a live boxscore for this game? I'm not getting it up here.

[Bball Girl]

Scores please

[YCN]

Does anyone have a live boxscore for this game? I'm not getting it up here.

http://www.huskers.com/sharedLiveStats/showFlashData.dbml?KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=100&DB_ACCOUNT_TYPE=USER&GAME_STAT_ID=6865&SPORT_ID=25

The various links to different screens are at the bottom of the page.

[wwi_flying_ace_17]

Thanks YCN!

[H2H]

good 1st half, really no 'd' on either end. Hallman with 2 fouls for KU and Howell for NU. Advantage NU there.

Other than the banked in 3 by Hardy, nothing crazy has happened. She does that again and I'll start to get nervous that it's not our night.

35-34 KU

[YCN]

This game is airtight at the half, which doesn't surprise me at all. The stats are very even all around, with KU shooting slightly better at 59% to 52%, but that's offset by slightly better 3-point shooting for the Huskers and the only 3 free throw points of the game.

Neither team ever held much of lead in the first half. I like Nebraska's depth in this game, KU plays a much shorter lineup. In a pressure game on the road for KU, that could be a significant advantage for NU in the second half, particularly in a game with a relatively small number of fouls stoppages. KU was never in the bonus, and NU only got there on the last foul.

[BearLady]

Just got home from the Baylor game and have 'tuned' in to listen to Matt call the Huskers game. C'mon Huskers!

[YCN]

Nice round numbers: 48-all, 12 minutes left.

[H2H]

2-7 from the FT line...end of story!!!!

[ChipperF1]

This has been a magnificent game!!! We're turning the wick up defensively and starting to make a dent!!

BIG STILL BY GRIFFIN!!!!!!

OH MY JESSICA GERHART SCRAPS FOR A LOOSE BALL AND GOES FOR THE LAY UP!!!!!!! JESSICA GerHARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

57-50, Nebraska!!!

[YCN]

From the way this whole game has been played thus far, I've gotten the impression that the whole battle has been about imposing your will on the opposing team. The Huskers seem to be slowly generating what could be a winning edge, but in a game like this, every lead must seem precarious for either team.

[YCN]

Just like that, suddenly the Huskers have an 8 point lead. And as an aside, the Lady Raiders just got their lead to 9 with a couple more minutes left in their game. I would have loved to be at either of these games. Although quite different in texture, you can actually feel the effort and struggle right through the stats trackers.

This is going to be a very special conference season. We just have so many good teams in this conference THIS year.

[BearLady]

Nebraska up by 10, with 3 & change to go. Hardy has lit it up in the second half.

[YCN]

Looks like the Huskers can put this one in the win column, up by 11 with 1:21 remaining. Anything can happen, but I really like their chances.

One more unbeaten about to bite the dust. Congrats to Kansas for extending that unbeaten streak to a school record and about one of a half dozen remaining unbeatens in the whole country. You met a formidable opponent tonight, nothing at all to be ashamed about.

[ChipperF1]

KEEP POURING THE COAL ON THE FIRE, MY LASSES!!!!

10 points up with 2:00 to go! Kemp scores on a quick shot. She has 23.
These Jayhawks have played well

[BearLady]

Congrats, Huskers. Final score 73-61. Matt, I enjoyed listening to your call. Talk about enthusiasm! :)

[H2H]

I like my squad.

Crap from the FT line. On the road for the 1st time. Couldn't make the same shots in the 2nd that we did the 1st and didn't get a bounce. If you watched the game you know what I mean. You have all seen what I'm talking about. I like what I saw. If Sallard keeps getting minutes, she will bring another scoring threat plus size at 6ft. To win on the road this year will be stealing so I don't think anyone can feel that great about road games.

Hats off to NU. When Hardy makes the bank 3 and the end of shot clock heave, she just feels like she can't miss and she couldn't. I think I said we had the athletic ability and not the size, which came true tonight we were there when she shot, but not enough size to bother the shot.

GO KU!!!

[Matt Coatney]

Bear Lady

Thank you for your nice comments. It was a fun game to describe. I have a great deal of respect for KU. Bonnie Henrickson has that team playing well.

Thanks again for listening.

Matt

[Skerfan]

Really enjoyed the game tonight. Kansas is a good team that never gave up. I think they got a little fatigued in the second half.

What a shooting exhibition the whole night. Both teams were really putting it down.

Kie's bank three was special, but her toss at the basket while she was looking the other way was something out of this world. Coach said in the post game that she makes that shot all the time. She's just a special player. Griffen just gets better and better.

I thought all the Huskers played well. Howell and Page had big nights even though they didn't put up a lot of points. Howell had seven assists to one turnover and 3 rebounds. She got in foul trouble early, but ended the game with only three fouls. Nonetheless she continued to play solid defense. Danielle Page was a huge defensive presence in the 2nd half. She really cut down the easy lobs cut off the easy layups that were killing us in the first half.

Looking forward to the Tigers Wednesday night!

[Row6Seat10]

I like what I saw.I can see why. Coach H and staff have done an excellent job with KU, they look like they could very well be dancing at the end of the season.

I think there were around 7,200 at the "Bob" tonight 50 give or take 5 were wearing Jayhawk Blue.

Kelsey Griffin played spectacular tonight as did Kiera Hardy. Howell, Aubry, Gerhart and Page also factored in the win. I thought Coach Yori used her substitutions very well and at the right times tonight.

Crystal Kemp is as steady as they come I'm sure glad she's a senior this year. I think every game she has played against the Huskers she has been a major thorn in the side for them.

One big "highlight" of the game was before the game even started. Husker Sara Heib belted out the National Anthem like no other before!!! :) She was spectacular!! That had to be the best sung anthem before a Husker game that I can ever remember.

http://www.omaha.com/imglib/mainsite/pub_0/photos/large/17jlnubkw.jpg
Kansas' Sophronia Sallard scrambles after a loose ball
as Nebraska's Danielle Page, left, and Elena Diaz look on

Photo courtesy of the Omaha World/Herald