WBB: American Southwest Conference

[JACKET84]

GFU has a great team.  They just missed too many close shots.  HPU vs Hope is going to be interesting.  HPU hasn't played a team as big and deep as Hope.  I think HPU has more quickness.  The key to the game will be rebounding.

[berley]

GFU did put up a great fight.  Looked like nerves rattled both those teams in the 2nd half.  GFU missed 3 point blank layups that would have changed the game.  GFU point guard had a great game (Four 3 pointers and heady ball control).  Phillana and Snikkers came through when Hope needed them. 

HPU took better advantage of the height mismatch and this game was never really in doubt.  Rarick and Burke are great shooters for DS, but HPU rarely gave them an open look. 

Phillana may give Meia fits tomorrow as she played great defense tonight. 

Without (#5 Koepke?) coming off the bench to disrupt things, it seems that Hope is still adapting to changing roles.  I assume that Koepke was the girl on crutches tonight.   I get the feeling that the Brownwood fans that came early didn't see the real Lady Dutch tonight. 


HPU, on the other hand seems to be healthy and has everyone understanding their roles.  A coach knows how important it is to have a player already know she's fixing to go in even before the coach looks her way. 

#1 vs. #2 .  Both teams are final 4 worthy.  We can complain all we want about the brackets, but you play em' as they come.  Please don't let it come down to a questionable official's call.  Finish it

[House]

Great posts berley! Thanks and keep it coming.

Any other views on how the games went and how the matchup looks for would be welcome.

[Rob Don]

HPU Jackets all the way, baby! 

i just wanted to quote that. 

I got to listen to the games online tonight.  HPU sounded like they had an impressive second half.  Coach K resting his starters was a great move.  He hasn't always had a deep enough bench to do that, even with a good lead in the game.  I'm curious to see what HPU will do to adjust to HOPE's height.  To see if they keep going to the basket or they settle for jump shots...personally, I say take it to the hole!!!

[sac]

Without (#5 Koepke?) coming off the bench to disrupt things, it seems that Hope is still adapting to changing roles.  I assume that Koepke was the girl on crutches tonight.   

Correct.

Kopke hurt her knee in practice last Wednesday, so Hope has had only about 4 practices and 3 games to figure things out during the worst possible time of the year.  She provides quickness and tough defense on the other teams point guard along with good ball handling.  She and Green formed a pretty tenacious duo on defense.

For certain Hope misses her.

Excruciating to watch another game while watching the live scoreboard at the men's game in Holland tonight.  Saturday night we get to do it while both teams are playing.

Good luck to both teams, its the matchup everyone wanted.

[BJ - DSU SID]

Before I turn in for the evening...I wanted to send a congratulatory message to Howard Payne University for their win this evening.  They are an extraordinary team.  Best we have played this year.

I have seen a lot of basketball in my time.  I work Division I women's games back home in the Philadelphia area and have seen teams like Drexel, Villanova, LaSalle, Penn and Temple play quite a bit and I can honestly say that if Meia Daniels and Stacey Blalock were East Coast girls, they'd probably be in a Division I uniform.  They are very, very good players and at this level are dominant.

I also wanted to thank anyone and everyone for their hospitality this week.  I got to play golf and meet three very nice people (Will Carrier, Norman Tinkler and the head men's basketbal coach at HPU).  They treated me to a round of golf and to lunch and on Friday morning Will even bought me breakfast after we ran into each other at Studebakers (sp?).

I also want to thank Rick Akins for setting most of this up and I want to apologize to him.  He hunted me down after the game to shake my hand and say hello and I was slightly busy at the moment getting my coach into the media room and was unable to really talk to him.  So Rick thanks for setting everything and I apologize for not getting to talk to you more.

There were many, many other folks who were above and beyond nice to both myself and our team out here.  I could go on for hours to name them.  Trust me when I say we enjoyed our stay in Brownwood (despite the loss) and were treated more than fairly all over town.

Good Luck to HPU for the remainder of the tournament.  We will be rooting for you.  Its always nice to say you lost to the National Champions.  So "Finish It"

BJ

[Ralph Turner]

Gracious comments BJ!

I am glad that you enjoyed west Texas hospitality. You may be gone this evening, but I hope to meet you.

[mcmfan]

In a few hours it will be crunch time.  The D3hoops commentator last night speculated that most teams never play in a venue where the court is surrounded by spectators; they're used to bleachers on two sides and walls on the others -- not to mention the open space in Brownwood underneath the seating areas.  That means that "home court" for HPU means not only home court but unique architecture.  On the other hand, HPU may lose two advantages it had against most other teams it played this season.  One is the height advantage: half the Hope roster is over 6 feet tall.  And the other is being ahead and simply having to maintain a lead (against a smaller opponent).  I think the only time HPU was behind for any length of time this season and had to pull it out was against McM at McM.  If they get behind against a big team like Hope and have to turn it around, it could be a situation they haven't had to deal with before.

[Rick Akins]

Don't worry about it, B.J.  Bad timing on my part to try to talk to you then. I guess I was too psyched or maybe nervous before the game to find you, plus I knew you were busy then too.

I am glad you enjoyed your time in Texas, except for the game of course.  I thanked Norman this morning for taking care of you for me! Of course, I am thrilled how our HPU girls played, especially in the second half.

Today will be amazing and exciting!! I agree with your analysis, berley--and especially your plea--don't let this come down to some goofy call by an official.

As far as my take on the game--Hope will need to play better offensively, but maybe some of their struggles
last night had to do with playing the #1 defense (by points allowed) in D3.  I thought Hope's defense was also outstanding, especially in the halfcourt.  GFU had real trouble getting a lot of good looks.

As far as my HPU Lady Jackets, handling the pressure defense of Hope, and not just in the back court but even in the half court, along with strong rebounding against all those big girls Hope has, will be huge.  Also, it will be nice to have a nice shooting %--2's, 3's and FT's!!

[Scratch]

Good Luck to HPU for the remainder of the tournament.  We will be rooting for you.  Its always nice to say you lost to the National Champions.  So "Finish It"

BJ,  I introduced myself to you 3 times last night only to find out each time that it wasn't you.  I did get to meet some of the DeSales folks though.  You have a good group there.  I also finally narrow you down to "that guy in the navy shirt."  I guess you don't look like I have you pictured in my head.  I'm glad you enjoyed the southern hospitality. 

"Finish it" would be a great slogan to put on a t-shirt.  Oh wait someone already did that.  Hope Hohertz's sister designed and passed those out at the ASC championship game in Tyler.  When I corresponded with you, I thought about telling you to look me up "I will be the guy in the 'Finish It' shirt."   Of course that would be me and 400 of my closest friends.   

[realist]

In a few hours it will be crunch time.  The D3hoops commentator last night speculated that most teams never play in a venue where the court is surrounded by spectators; they're used to bleachers on two sides and walls on the others -- not to mention the open space in Brownwood underneath the seating areas.  That means that "home court" for HPU means not only home court but unique architecture.  On the other hand, HPU may lose two advantages it had against most other teams it played this season.  One is the height advantage: half the Hope roster is over 6 feet tall.  And the other is being ahead and simply having to maintain a lead (against a smaller opponent).  I think the only time HPU was behind for any length of time this season and had to pull it out was against McM at McM.  If they get behind against a big team like Hope and have to turn it around, it could be a situation they haven't had to deal with before.

I enjoyed reading your comments on the home court,  It definitely is an advantage to play at home.
I looked at the stats, and scores from the HPU games, and it does seem they dominated most teams.  Hope had a nice margin on most teams, but had several games during the year when they had to come back from being down.  Hope is a very patient team, and their size can just wear most other teams down.  It should be a great game.

[JACKET84]

Rebounding will be the key to the game.  Kim Hoffman will have to have one of her better games.  HPU will have to drive to the goal more tonight than they did last night, and try and get Hope into foul trouble.  But that depends on how the refs call the game.  I thought they let a lot of fouls go uncalled in the Hope/GF game.   How does a girl 6' 3" (Snikkers) get so many of her shots blocked?  Was it just GFU's defense, or does it normally happen to her.

[oldknight]

Rebounding will be the key to the game.  Kim Hoffman will have to have one of her better games.  HPU will have to drive to the goal more tonight than they did last night, and try and get Hope into foul trouble.  But that depends on how the refs call the game.  I thought they let a lot of fouls go uncalled in the Hope/GF game.   How does a girl 6' 3" (Snikkers) get so many of her shots blocked?  Was it just GFU's defense, or does it normally happen to her.

Not having been at the game it's hard to answer your question but I will tell you it is atypical for her to have her shot blocked often. The only time I have ever seen her struggle to get her shot off was in last year's Michigan high school state tournament semifinal game when she had several blocked or altered in the first quarter. But in that game she was being defended by a 6'6" girl who will definately be playing D1 ball in a couple of years so that was understandable. Snikkers eventually adjusted by taking her defender outside thereby leading her team to victory. If GFU was causing Snikkers problems and blocking her shot I would have to credit that to good defense.

[JACKET84]

Does anybody know why there is not a prayer before the games? We always have a prayer before home games here at HPU.  Is there some kind of NCAA tournament rule not allowing it?

[WWWRHH]

Hope prays as a team after games  - usually before leaving the court.

I am sure the Dutch would have no objections.