Horns host Roadrunners Wed, 11/28/18

Discussion in 'Women’s Basketball' started by BabHorn, Nov 27, 2018.

  1. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    The #10/9 Texas Longhorns and the UTSA Roadrunners have met eight times beginning on Feb.08, 1983. Those first two games were a home and home series with the Longhorns going to San Antonio to kick off the series. The third game was on November 13 of 2009. Since 2013, the Longhorns and the Roadrunners have met every season. All games, except for the initial game of the series has been in Austin. Texas has won every game with only two wins being by less than 20 points: on Nov. 13, 2009, Texas pulled out a 71-60 win and on Nov. 15, 2014, it was a 68-58 win for the Horns.

    UTSA is 3-4 this season while Texas checks in at 6-0. Horns are on a six game winning streak while UTSA is coming off a win over Weber State that snapped a two game losing streak. UTSA is 0-2 on the road while Texas is undefeated at home. UTSA’s road losing streak is likely to be extended on Wednesday as Texas is expected to successfully defeat their home court for the third time this season.

    The teams will have one common opponent during the out of conference games. UTSA has defeated UTRGV 61-58 on Nov. 14. Texas will play the Vaqueros on Dec. 20 down in Edinburg.

    UTSA Roadrunners (3-4):
    The Roadrunners are led by Marie Benson (#21, 6-1 Jr. F) who is averaging 17.0 ppg and Tija Hawkins (#23, 6-1 Jr. F) who adds 10.0 ppg. Close to joining those two in reaching double digit scoring is Ryann Stearns (#11, 5-9 Fr. G) at 9.6 ppg. Benson is the only Roadrunner to have reached triple digits in FG attempts with 108. She has made 42 for a 38.9% from the field. The next Roadrunner most likely to take a shot is Karrington Donald (#34, 5-7 Soph. G) who has made 23 of 70 FGs attempted. Hawkins is the team leader in FG% at 53.6% (30-56). Only two others are making over 40% from the field. Five players are averaging at least two treys a game but only two are making over 21% from BTA. Okay, I thought Stearns would be among the top 3pt shooters by percentage as she is hitting 45% from BTA. She doesn’t even make the top 50. Stearns is the top 3pt shooter for UTSA, having made nine of 20 threes. Donald has taken more threes (27) but has only connected on 5 (18.5%). Six of the ten players for UTSA have hit over 70% of their FTs. Timea Toth (#15, 6-1 Jr. F) is the best at the FT line, hitting 13 of 15 for 86.7%. Close on her heels is Stearns who has made 16 of 19 for 84.2%. Benson has taken over a third of UTSA’s FTs, hitting at a 71.7% clip (33-46).

    UTSA has five players that average over four rebounds a game, led by Benson’s 9.7 rpg. Hawkins is second at 6.3 rpg while Kourtney Kekec (#20, 5-10 Sr. F) adds 5.0 rpg. Stearns provides 4.4 rpg while Toth is pulling in 4.0 rpg. UTSA does move the ball around as five players have reached double digit assists with Charlotte Ellmore’s (#0, 5-8 Fr. G) 17 leading the group. Kekec is second at 16 while Benson adds 14. UTSA has 24 blocks as a team with Benson having swatted away half of them. She and Toth each has 11 steals to top the squad.

    The Roadrunners have 12 players on their roster. Two have yet to play this year, a JC transfer (Evelyn Omemmah, #1, 6-1 Jr. F) and Tasharian Robinson (#10, 5-10 Soph. G) a soph who started 16 games last season. Another, Mandi Cooke (#40, 6-1 Fr. F) played in the first four games and has not played since. She started one of the four games she played in. All ten players that have played this season have at least one start. That’s a lot of different combos in seven games. However, it seems that a starting rotation has been settled on. For the last two games, Stearns, Toth, Kekec, Benson and Donald have started. In those same two games, the rotation has been shortened from nine to basically two. Deja Cousin (#13, 5-9 Jr. G) and Barbara Benson (#33, 5-11 Soph. G) have fallen out of the rotation, averaging less than three and a half minutes in those two games. That leaves Hawkins and Ellmore as the two main reserves.

    TEXAS LONGHORNS (6-0)
    Jatarie brings the only double digit scoring average on the Horns, 12.5 ppg. Sug is creeping up to that mark with an average of 9.8 ppg. Charli adds 8.0 ppg while Audrey and Danni have identical 7.3 ppg averages. Destiny is the other player that is averaging over 7 ppg with her 7.2 ppg. Jatarie and Danni have each taken 60 shots, tops on the team. Jatarie has a FG% of 58.3%. Charli (19-36; 52.8%), Jada (15-27; 55.6%) and Olamide (5-8; 62.5%) are the other Horns making over 50% of their shots. Danni (10-31; 32.3%) and Destiny (8-23; 34.8%) are the top 3pt shooters for Texas. Sug (4-16; 25.0%) and Audrey (3-15; 20.0%) are the other shooters from BTA that have sunk timely threes. Four players have reached double digit FTs, getting to the FT line at least twice a game. Charli and Audrey are an identical 9-12 (75.0%) from the FT line. Sug has to most FT attempts at 17 with 9 made for 52.9%. Jada has 5 of 12 for 41.7%. Danni has the best FT% on the team with 80% on four of five FTs.

    Six Horn are averaging 4 or more rebounds per game. Jatarie (6 rpg) and Sug (5.7 rpg) top the group of six which includes all of the starters plus Charli. Sug is averaging 6.5 assists per game while Danni is the only other Horn reach double digits with 10 assists. Charli has eight of the team’s 21 blocks. Danni and Olamide have three blocks each. All nine active players have at least one steal with Audrey’s nine tops. Jada is second with seven while Destiny has six steals.

    The starting five the last two games has consisted of Sug, Jatarie, Jada, Danni and Audrey. Charli, Joanne, Olamide and Destiny come of the bench as all nine get plenty of minutes. Danni (30.7 mpg) and Sug (29.7 mpg) top the team in mpg. No one else averages more than 24 mpg.

    On the good news front, Craig Way said during his interview at the Gulf Coast Showcase that Joyner is expected back within two weeks and that there is a possibility that Sedona might be back by midseason (start of conference, maybe?).

    The bad news? What we all feared has been confirmed. Lashann suffered an ACL injury. She is out for the year.

    LINEUPS
    Projected lineups are based on the previous game’s starting lineups.
    Screenshot (37).png

    UTSA has five players on the roster that are 6-1. Those are their tallest players. There is the main problem for the Roadrunners—how to stop Texas’ inside game when they don’t have the height the Longhorns bring to the court. Another issue for UTSA is that one of their 6-1 Fs (Omemmah) has not yet played this season and another (Cooks) has been MIA since she last played in game for. Look for the Horns to dominate inside, both scoring and rebounding. Either Jatarie or Jada will have the initial task of slowing Marie Benson, the Roadrunners top scorer. Stearns will be the player drawing the most attention on the perimeter due to her 3pt shooting. Either Audrey or Danni will draw that assignment to start.

    UTSA is only allowing 28% completion from BTA. They will have trouble with containing Danni and Destiny when they are shooting from BTA for the Horns.

    STATS COMPARISON
    Screenshot (38).png

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    This should be a good game to prepare for Sunday’s game with Mississippi State. Texas should be able to get more chances to work on their zone defense as well as their halfcourt offense. USTA has been playing fast and likely will continue to run with the Horns. Their issue has been making their shots and that is not likely to get better in this game. Both teams will be playing with nine players. All players should be getting a lot of minutes.

    Game time is 11 AM. This is the annual game where the elementary students come tour the campus and catch a basketball as part of their tour. Should be noisy and loud. Don’t forget your ear plugs if high pitched sounds bother you.

    From the AAS: Texas senior Lashann Higgs suffers season-ending knee injury | Hookem.com
    With all those kids, attendance might be close to 9-10 thousand.

    The game will be televised on the LHN and carried on radio by FM 105.3

    Women's basketball preview: Texas vs. UTSA | Hookem.com

    No. 10/9 Women's Basketball Preview: UTSA - Texas Athletics
     
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    Last edited: Nov 27, 2018
  2. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    I am having an out of body appearance. Aston starts the game in a zone. Somebody rewatch and confirm. It is an unconventional 2-1-2 zone. The top guards turn their body to the inside to discourage drives to the outside and encouraging the point guard to take into the teeth of the zone....and then supposedly stopped by the player in the middle. Haven’t seen that version before. Only lasted 5 minutes as then went back to man. It wasn’t a very good zone. The point penetrated and then kicked to wings for open looks. 13 points in 5 minutes. We’ll see about that version. I think a traditional 1-2-2 or 2-1-2 will work better. But at least trying some zone.
     
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  3. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    26-17 after 1. Back to zone starting second. Immediately gave up a 3.
     
  4. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    Williams hit her first two 3’s early in first. Good to see that.
     
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  5. Ellis21d

    Ellis21d JediHorn

    Not sure what happen in the first quarter but Aston pulled most of the starters and was raising her voice and was very animated with them. This is very unusual for her to show this much emotion during the game!
     
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  6. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    Switching back and forth from unique 2-1-2 to man to match-up zone. I like the switching to make offenses adjust. Collier terrible game so far. Warren really good. Williams 3 of 5 threes. Littleton playing good. Sutton sporadic. 50-29 at half.
     
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  7. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    Aston unhappy at half. Said not playing hard. Holes in zone that need closing.
     
  8. Ellis21d

    Ellis21d JediHorn

    I really believe she’s a little up tight with the Miss. State game coming up this weekend. She is talking to the players on the bench much more than usual. Even Jamie was giving instructions when the players come off the floor! I love the emotion and enthusiasm!
     
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  9. Dr. D

    Dr. D 250+ Posts

    Nice team victory and everyone got minutes. Glad to see Williams break out of her slump (she seems to be a streak shooter, but her bad streaks have lasted two or more games some times; hope that doesn't continue.) The rest of the team was awful from three point land. 19% as a team wouldn't help much against Miss. St.
     
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  10. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    Absolutely. And Miss. St. will likely play their aggressive man to man pressure defense which will be an issue for Texas with Lashann being the only player on the team that could consistently create their on shot. I think the ball pressure that Miss. St. will play with will be a problem for Texas.

    I would really like to see Coach Aston running Danni and Destiny off of screens to try and get them some open looks. Some simple well executed pin downs etc. The inside play for Texas will have their hands full with the Miss. St front court. Matching their physicality and energy rebounding the ball will be key.
     
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  11. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    I hope that Coach Aston continues to work on and use the different zones during games, It’s good to see. Hopefully they’ll get better with it as the season goes a long. And Hopefully she’ll do the same on the offensive side of the ball to help get players like Danni and Destiny open looks.
     
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  12. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Replay on LHN at 5 pm today. The zone was much more effective during the Gulf Coast Showcase against Michigan & Fordham. Coach was on them about lack of effort during first quarter. Really blistered them about that. Horns were redhot but they were allowing UTSA to get easy shots that first quarter. Same thing popped up about half way through the fourth quarter but Horns were up 30+ by then.

    Danni has been shooting outstanding since she broke out of that drought at the beginning of the season. She was, iirc, 1-12 to start the season. Including today's game, she has hit 13 of 26 since.

    I do agree that our other 3pt options had a horrid day, especially Destiny who was 0-7 from BTA. But she was 7-8 inside the arc. Same thing for Audrey who missed on all three treys but was 6-7 otherwise.
     
  13. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    The Miss. State coach was the architect of the Aggies man to man pressing defense that gave Texas so much trouble when they were in the Big 12. We will see that same pressure as you stated in this upcoming game.

    While Lashann was the best option we had to cause them problems, I do have hope that both Sug and Destiny can create their own shots. They don't have the elite quickness that Lashann had but they have shown that ability to create this season. And Audrey will be an x-factor with her play.

    The biggest problem, literally, is going to come in the form of 6-7 Teaira McCowan. Jatarie is going to have play smart and not get in foul trouble. She is also going to need a lot of help. Help defense is going to be critical for the Horns. Having our shooters rain a torrent of threes on them would be nice, though unexpected.
     
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  14. Dr. D

    Dr. D 250+ Posts

    For what it's worth, the overwhelming consensus at the Boneyard is Miss. St. by double digits this weekend, especially since we're missing Higgs, Joyner and Prince. The group opinion is it's going to be very tough for Texas to handle their inside game, and Miss. St. has some good three point shooters, too. Most predict Baylor over South Carolina, and lots of debate about Notre Dame vs. UConn, but they think U.T./Miss. St. is a done deal.
     
  15. hoopsalot

    hoopsalot 500+ Posts

    Harumph. Are these the same boneyarders who predicted UConn to beat St Johns by 30 to 40 points? (St John's led at the end of one quarter. Final score was UConn 65, St John's 55.) Yet the fans still expect their team to compete with and maybe even beat Notre Dame. Sorry, the FAN in me is a bit riled up!
     
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  16. Dr. D

    Dr. D 250+ Posts

    Actually, doubts are starting to creep in, and some fans are quite worried about UConn's future, since they lose a lot next season and Geno got no top players this recruiting cycle. To be fair, though, the Boneyard draws a lot of informed posters from different teams all over the country. It's not just UConn fans.
     
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  17. brnkj

    brnkj 2,500+ Posts

    We may have a REALLY hard time with Anriel Howard, especially if we try to focus too much on McGowan. However... If we shoot the ball well from the outside like we're perfectly capable of doing, anything can happen. Mississippi State would be a great game for Charli to have a huge breakout. :yes:
     
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  18. Rexy

    Rexy 1,000+ Posts

    Believe it or not, this is the zone that save us from falling to Quinnipiac. We were all amazed to see it and it was very effective against them.
     
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  19. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    Yeah, Howard’s energy is what also worries and it will be interesting to see who coach Aston puts on her. She’s an undersized PF and might be a little too quick for Charlie. But I think the way to attack both her and McGowan is to make them play defense on the other end.

    Even if McGowen blocks some shots get the ball inside and make them play defense on the other end. Containing Howard and keeping her off of the offensive boards and Texas’ offensive perimeter production against a great perimeter defensive team are the things that worry me the most.
     
  20. DINO22

    DINO22 1,000+ Posts

    Good Job
    A. Warren and Danni and D. Littleton.
     
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  21. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    I would expect, if Texas is on a man to man, that Jada will match up Anriel. Plus, maybe Olamide and Audrey could see time guarding her.
     
  22. Dr. D

    Dr. D 250+ Posts

    Audrey Warren has all the instincts of a scorer. She's not especially fast, but she sees an opportunity instantly and acts on it. Very inventive around the basket, quick and fluid putting up her shot. Her mid range game was superb tonight. She reminds me of the kind of blue collar scorers that Notre Dame and Stanford always seem to have a couple of. Not flashy moves, but solid, fundamental, reliable, good shooters, able to mix it up underneath or shoot in open spaces, making points when you need them. If she gets consistent with her threes, she can be a star. Warren seems a lot further along at this stage than Collier, when it comes to understanding how to position herself to best use her physical talents. If Collier fulfills her potential, which I think she will, they will be a hell of a combination.
     
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  23. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    Speaking of helping them get open looks can Coach Aston please use more well executed pin downs/ floppy action for Danni and Destiny. I know I’ve posted this a few times but hopefully we’ll see more of it for them.
     
  24. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Right now, they are getting plenty of open looks. Danni is knocking hers down, Destiny is not.

    Different defenses will need different looks, especially as they adjust to what the offense is running. Hopefully, offensive adjustments will be made as the season goes along.
     
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  25. DINO22

    DINO22 1,000+ Posts

    I love her game.
    A.Warren
     
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  26. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    Yes, currently watching the 2nd half replay of the game and almost every 3 that they’ve missed was wide open. Still would like to see more floppy action.
     
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  27. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    Again I’ve been impressed with all the freshmen thus far. Obviously Audrey and Charlie are going to be really good players with more experience. But I also like the flashes that we’ve seen from Joanne. Along with Sedona the future looks very promising.
     
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  28. GameOfHorns

    GameOfHorns 250+ Posts

    Speaking of Audrey, this will make fans love her even more. I’d take a half dozen or more players like this to make up a team any day. Gotta love this attitude and approach:

     
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