Yesterday marked the first game for the Utes playing their traditional game in the afternoon with thousands of screaming elementary kids attending. Apparently there is a program where kids who are succeeding academically can go to the game.
The opponent was SUU and the Utes out and out wiped them off the floor. Didn’t take long for Kneepkens to establish herself once again, and Vieira looked very good dishing and running (as she does). The starting lineup was Vieira, McQueen, Johnson, Kneepkens and Toure. Toure is a 6’3" player from France that transfered in from Rhode Island. She apparently won 2nd team and 1st team AAC nods.
So, as I said, Kneepkens, Johnson, Vieira, and McQueen looked great (as would be expected given the competition). Toure needs a lot of work. She still is pretty raw (and a bit skinny) but it looks like there is some athleticism there.
The bench received a lot of time. Reese Ross was spectacular and very aggressive looking for her shot. Wilke was Wilke and not much changes there. We did get to see two of the three freshman play a lot, Kylie Ray #6 at PG as the backup to Vieira, and Brooke Walker as a backup G/F. Neither Australian played, which was too bad, because Chyra Evans was brought in from Michigan to help plug the hole in the middle, and it would have been good to see her.
Among returning bench players, Crispe played a lot of minutes but hasn’t improved (she is still a bit of a clumsy player) and Blanck and Sow only came off the bench in the very last minutes of the game.
All in all, it was great to see the team again, and we can only hope that Toure and Evans can make a difference in the middle.
The Utes with a nice 40 point win over Weber State yesterday before the men’s game. Kneepkens took all of about 5 seconds in the game before she hit a perfect 3 ball.
Toure looked much better this game. She needs to work on her defense down low, but she does have some post moves. She even hit a couple of 3’s ala Pili.
I don’t know if anybody can confirm but on the broadcast of the game it seemed they were saying that Chyra Evans is out for the year? If so, that is a major, major blow to our inside offense and defense.
Thanks DieHard, that is bad news. The middle is Toure, a clumsy Crispe, and… Johnson having to play bigger than she is. Maybe Johnson can lead the nation in getting charging calls again (note: I have no idea if she lead the nation, but she drew a lot of them and I use hyperbole as a way to make a point).
This team’s guards and small forwards are excellent shooters, this team will win by shooting 3 pointers, fast breaks (fortunately Vieira is quick and is always looking to move fast), back cuts and good picks, and limiting the damage inside on defense.
If this team doesn’t hit its three balls, it will be a struggle. The only inside game they have is drives to the hoop. But in the 4th quarter, they had multiple good drives and offensive rebounds, and missed them all.
Kneepkens didn’t get the ball enough. If she isn’t touching the ball every possession (at minimum to draw the defense tighter) that is malpractice. Wilke and McQueen couldn’t throw it in the ocean, just hit two more of the many 3’s they took, and it is a win.
That said, they gave up a 14 point lead in the 3q, went down by 6 late in the 4th and battled to tie it. Then, because the Utes don’t have any inside defense, NW, goes down, throws
a simple entry pass to the post, and easy bucket.
I just don’t understand having Wilke take the shot with 11 seconds left. She hadn’t come close to hitting anything all night and we run a play for her?!?
Things I liked. Reese Ross continues her aggressive play. She is really coming into her own and gaining confidence by the day. Crispe actually was decent(?). Vieira still the straw that stirs the drink and played well. Johnson, what a game (she was the one victimized on the winning shot), she did pull more than her weight in the game, and the loss is not on her.
We were able to see the bench play a lot of minutes. As to that…
Ray played a bit out of control at times going too fast. When I am on the field coaching my baseball teams, I talk a lot about being quick and in control rather than fast and out of control.
How many layups can a team miss. I realize it was almost a 70 point win but the team would have won by 100 just based on open missed layups.
Reese is still looking great.
Toure had a very good game, but still wonder how she will shape up against real post players.
Wilkie was the hot shooter this game, would like to see more of that as we get into league play.
Kneepkens with the quietest 24 points you will ever see.
The team had their shooting shoes on this game, after failing to take those to Chicago with them. Against NW .287 from 3, against MSt, .591. Always nice to be home and shooting in your own gym. I have some concern that they can shoot at a decent rate on the road.
Next is St. Josephs on Friday and Montana St on Sunday, both at the JMHC.
Since the WNBA season starts almost immediately after the college season, not a lot of time to finish this season and at the same time be ready for a season start for the Sparks.
Coaching in the Pros can be volatile and I wish her a ton of success.
I don’t follow recruiting for any of the sports, so I am clueless about the class she signed. If the new coach has been on the staff a long time, hopefully, he was intimately involved in the recruiting and they can get some to stay.