Women's Hoops 2024

Basketball
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Now down 11, 49-60, with 8 minutes left in Q4.

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When you look at the game, it was story of two halves. The Utes had a long scoreless streak in the 2nd quarter, but so did Indiana so it didn’t hurt. But that stretch in the second when the Utes were leading by 6-8 points, was the time to build the lead and they didn’t take it.

The 3rd quarter comes around and all of sudden Indiana is getting wide open looks in the paint with layups, jumpers from the elbow, and hitting a couple of three-balls. Even though Utah fought back to get it close, the bad defense in the 3rd quarter just killed their chances (80% shooting for IU is ridiculous).

  1. If Kneepkens comes back (crossing fingers) she needs to develop that pull up mid ranger. After seeing her barge into the lane and maybe get fouled once too many times, what she did today I would like to see more. If she used that Andre Miller type, stop, lean, pop, she would be deadly.

  2. If Wilke won’t shoot the ball, I am not sure how useful she can be unless she really gets better at defense. There at the end of the game, she gets a look for a wide open three and passes it to Johnson, who was covered. She HAS to take the shot.

  3. McQueen played very good defense on her assignment as she always does, but, like Wilke, won’t work for her shot instead she defers.

  4. I wonder if the offense would have worked better if Roberts hadn’t left. Toure was badly underutilized late in the season and again today.

  5. When McQueen missed two free throws in the 2nd quarter, I knew right then that the team wouldn’t shoot well. It was just a bad omen. She went 1-4 from the line. Ugh.

  6. So, for the 4 years of McQueen, Johnson, and Vieira, they go 2nd round, sweet sixteen, second round, first round. Our recruiting really needs to step up if we want to compete in the XII. Hey, at least they are in the tourney, right men’s team?

  7. Vieira regressed as soon as Roberts left. Having a black hole on offense against everyone we play, just is hard to overcome.

  8. So, despite all the negative nelly stuff, there was a lot of good things this year. Ross developing into a really good rebounder and occasional offensive threat. Wilke showing flashes where maybe next year she can really be an offensive problem for other teams.

  9. All told, it was a fun year to watch the team. Let’s see what Petersen can do from here.

As always, go Utes.

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243

Definitely a very disappointing season. We’ll see about next year.

Go Utes!

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Remember the difference between expectation and reality is disappointment. Despite my negative nelly stuff, I was entertained and enjoyed watching the team. That is what is my main motivation for watching sports, entertainment. I appreciate the hours of work these basketball Utes put in so that they could be successful, and overall they were successful.

I would never say that making the NCAA tournament in any year is disappointing. Yet, we always hope for more, and when our expectation is not met, disappointment sets in.

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