SMU Game 11/25/20

Discussion in 'Women’s Basketball' started by brnkj, Nov 25, 2020.

  1. brnkj

    brnkj 2,500+ Posts

    First game thread under Coach Vic and his staff. Thoughts about the game, anyone? I'm streaming the replay shortly.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  2. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    Silence. I went to the game, got home and took a nap, got up and saw this thread. Decided I need more sleep and checked back later to find.....no comments? Okay here goes.

    First game. The question is "Is this team going to be better? Was all the excitement about a coaching change and all the care in making sure the team doesn't get infected while practicing worth it?"

    I would say yes? Okay, Yes!

    During warmups, you see 2 players in sweats that are obviously not playing. Who are they? Logic says it must be Ebo and Coleman. And then, there's a third player who is in clothing more apt for practice. It takes a while to realize that it's probably Lambert.

    My daughter looks at the players on the court and remarks our team looks "small". I explain short 3 players that could be on scholarship and 3 more unable to play.

    As the game starts, I'm a bit stunned to realize that Vic Schaefer is ACTIVELY COACHING type of coach. What I mean is that for almost every play, either direction that the ball is headed, he's barking out orders/suggestions/reminders/praise/criticism at the players. Maybe it's the fact that we're only restricted to like 1,200 fans, but when he stomps his foot down several times to get their attention, you can hear it all the up in the stands.

    I think a few things:
    a) how does he have a voice after the end of a game - well most likely this is the way he's always coached so obviously he does have his voice
    b) maybe not having any fans in the audience makes it more obvious that he's a shouting coach - maybe this is standard
    c) kinda reminds me of a Baylor coach always active in all plays
    d) KA would get animated and do her own shouting, but no for the ENTIRE game like Vic
    e) sometimes when things were going bad, KA would sit there and whisper/consult with one her assistants. Not Vic. It's 100% Vic, away from his assistants guiding traffic

    During the game, I kept track of the traits of old Texas WBB vs. this new era:
    1) Texas usually leads in rebounds: 41-38, hmmm, barely
    2) Texas usually leads in turnovers: 16-35. Yay! Yay! Yay! Finally, discipline.
    3) Texas usually leads in assists: 12-10. An odd game of individual effort
    4) Texas usually is awful in free throws: 69% - 55%. Interesting. More interesting is that Texas made 25(!!!) free throws
    5) Texas is average in steals: 15-7. Encouraging.
    6) Texas usually blows out the first few non-conference teams: They say the largest season opener victory since 1987. After the last couple of years, that's a relief.

    The interesting thing that I didn't read much into it until later was that everyone played and then in the last 5 minute he puts in Precious Johnson and takes out all the starters. Of course, the negative to that is the team doesn't score for the last 5 minutes. Yikes.

    Two other points:
    1) Celeste played so hard for so many minutes you could see her exhausted, which started affecting her shots, especially at the free throw line

    2) When Charli got pulled after getting 2 quick fouls at the start of the game, I didn't know how many points she would put up when she was allowed back in the second half. Wow. She ends up with 19 minutes and leading the team.

    Excited to see them next Sunday to see the progression.
     
    • Like Like x 6
    • Agree Agree x 1
  3. Jacob Johnson

    Jacob Johnson 2,500+ Posts

    I will say I'm very pleased with this team. You can really tell how great of a coach Vic is by the way this team looked considering all the injuries & unknowns. Lol when Vic said full court pressure the entire game I did not know he meant literally the entire game! These are my 5 takeaways from the game....

    1. I was most impressed by our full court pressure and how many stops as well as turnovers we forced

    2. Celeste Taylor is a truly special player and really once in a lifetime. Her drive and nonstop motor fits so perfectly with this new system

    3. Charli Collier is going to be the beast we all knew she was going to be. She made it look so easy with very limited playing time

    4. Really impressed with our freshman in that game especially Deyona Gaston. Vic and his staff will really turn her into a dominant force down the line once she really adjusts to college ball. Also the amount of charges we took as a team was something we didn't do that much last season.

    5. My biggest surprise was Audrey Warren. Another player who fits perfectly with this new system and has really smart basketball sense. She will for sure be a game changer this season as she brings a threat on both sides of the ball.

    Overall Vic and his staff definitely come as advertised and I have no doubt in my mind that he will bring a championship back to Texas. When Ebo gets a waiver and Lambert gets healthy this team can really be dangerous and I am very excited for the future!!
     
    • Like Like x 6
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
  4. hornhonker

    hornhonker 100+ Posts

    Enjoyed the style of play. Gaston and Warren impressed.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Like Like x 3
  5. FarawayFan

    FarawayFan 25+ Posts

    I noticed that Texas didn't have any bad quarters, something they had a lot of last season. I thought this was a good first game, obviously things to work on, but lots of good things and hope for the future.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 3
  6. longhorn47

    longhorn47 500+ Posts

    Gaston was the most surprising for me. Nice FT-line jumper. 4-5 blocks. 1-2 assists. If I could have one wish for this team, it would be for Charlie to have more upper-body strength.
     
    • Agree Agree x 5
    • Like Like x 2
  7. IrishFan

    IrishFan First Time Poster

    I agree with the above assessments. Plenty of hustle and defense. Special players in Collier and Taylor. Some discipline on offense, only 12 to's until late when only subs on floor. Outstanding for opening game. They'll get better with more real game experience, but probably need one more scorer/outside shooting threat to be solid top 16 tier.
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. brnkj

    brnkj 2,500+ Posts

    My sentiments regarding the game have already been expressed by each of you. Mainly I'm pleased the most with:
    1-The clarity we seemed to have in the half-court even though finishing was a little ragged at times.
    2-The improvement in helping the helper on defense. That second line of help defense is CRITICAL in an overplaying,. aggressive man defense.
    3-Seeing that Deyona Gaston is an active player with good rim-protecting tendencies. She plays a lot bigger than 6'2" 6'3" or whatever she's listed at. She's only going to get better as she gets more experience and her conditioning starts improving.

    Very solid effort!:hookem2:
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Agree Agree x 3
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2020
  9. WCBBNUT

    WCBBNUT 2,500+ Posts

    My biggest frustration over the last few years was how often we didn’t play a full game. It drove me crazy especially when we would drop huge leads or spend the second half making up for a bad first half.

    Today - Every quarter. Every minute. Every ball.

    Not playing a full game does not appear to be a trend that Vic will continue. I thought they looked great.

    If anyone wants to go back and look at Warren’s freshman year, I randomly posted that she had more game smarts than any player on the court. Then it went away. Maybe it got coached away. Regardless, it’s back and I am thrilled.

    Charli, Celeste and Audrey will have stellar years. Gaston was a pleasant - outstandingly pleasant - surprise.

    Vic got more out of the Freshman than was expected. The fact that he barely had a voice at the end of the game but used what he had to heap praise on the entire team - I think I’m in love.
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Agree Agree x 4
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2020
  10. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    We all know what Vic want's to defensively but I'm interested in how the half court offense looked because that's the area where as a fan I hope is better than what we saw from the previous staff. And it will be something to watch as the competition gets better.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  11. Jacob Johnson

    Jacob Johnson 2,500+ Posts

    One thing I absolutely love in the game of basketball and was really used effectively today was the slice cut. For anyone who does not know what that is, It's what Audrey Warren did when she ran into defenders with her hands raised and allowed the player with the ball to drive to the basket. It's basically a moving screen but not a foul because it's seen as a cut. When timed right it really gets players open driving lanes. Vic did say he has a lot more plays for the team but doesn't want the team to be overwhelmed so as the season goes I think we will see much better half court offense and more sets. I honestly don't think any other coach would have been a better fit than Vic Schaefer and I am very excited to see what he does at Texas
     
    • Like Like x 4
    • Agree Agree x 1
  12. zztx1

    zztx1 100+ Posts

    Charlie got in foul trouble and sat a quarter and a half a quarter in the first half. It was good to see the team play well without her. Clearly better than our tendency to play down to the competition and sometimes let a team like this back. I was surprised Mays has not done better recruiting but maybe he has limits on academics. I kept asking myself, can this team beat Baylor and unfortunately not yet.
     
  13. Seattle4UT

    Seattle4UT 1,000+ Posts

    I have high hopes Coach Vic will not replicate Astons 1-18 record vs Baylor.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. Run Pincher

    Run Pincher 2,500+ Posts

    This team looked better in their First game than ANY game last season. You can see coaching is taking place. I was impressed with the passing. Vic was not pleased with the last 5 min though, and rightfully so.

    The one Achilles Heel could be the outside shooting.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  15. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    More thoughts:
    1. I was amazed and excited to see so many offensive charges called against SMU. I realized I hadn't seen that degree of concentrated defensive positioning since the heydays of: Empress Davenport + Brady Sanders + Ariel Atkins purposely setting themselves up for the charge.

    2. Gaston, wow. I thought she might be a stiff forward seeing her size, but the moves she had. I see why Vic wanted her at MSU

    3. In a way, Vic's defense is similar to Karen's defense, jut much better coached

    4. As I saw poorly executed passes by SMU, resulting in steals by Texas I was thinking, "Hmmm, where did Travis learn that sloppy decision making was okay?"

    5. Gonna need more players if playing this great 100% defense. January transfer anyone?

    6. Those of you wondering about the setup at Erwin Center with less than 1300 ticket holders (this is about 30 seconds from tipoff):
    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2020
  16. Zig72

    Zig72 500+ Posts

    I have a one-word reaction. Deyona Gaston. OK, two. I did not expect her to play, so apparently the stress fracture in her tibia has healed well.

    What I saw in Deyona was Rellah Boothe, but after Rellah received transplants for athleticism, shot-blocking skills, and the quickness of a guard. This young woman is special. Expect her to become a fixture on the court as her conditioning improves.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  17. Zig72

    Zig72 500+ Posts

    Way Too Early Reaction. I saw two freshmen with a portal future.
     
  18. Jacob Johnson

    Jacob Johnson 2,500+ Posts

    Who???
     
  19. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    My primary thought throughout was....... what a refreshing change. Actual movement on offense, taking care of ball, Gaston and Chavallier are going to be really good, Schaefer engaged on every play and player, players HAVE to be in tremendous shape, Collier and Taylor are special, Holle may help in time, jury is out on Johnson, I simply love to watch in-bounds deny pressure full court, sure need Lambert and Egbo, the players have bought in, other team players hate to play against that type of pressure defense, everybody has bought into taking charges, did I mention what a refreshing change?
     
    • Like Like x 6
  20. justabbfan

    justabbfan 250+ Posts

    I was impressed that Audrey got the start. She was such a non-factor last year. I hope she can remain healthy although she still seems to love the "junk yard" dog style of play. Andrea Lloyd commented that there needs to be a stat on how many times she was on the floor during a game. Vic gave every healthy player time on the floor. I don't know what his philosophy is about who plays but I was glad everyone got some playing time. Loved the movement on offense, no standing around. Lloyd also commented that the players seemed to be more confident about what to do verses last year when there was a lot of hesitancy and uncertainty. I like what I saw of the freshmen especially Gaston and Chevallier.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Like Like x 3
  21. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    I am as excited as anyone that Vic and staff are here, but we looked much better in last season's wins against #1 Stanford, @ Tennessee, and @Iowa State than in yesterday's game, especially when you consider the opponents' talent level, coaching, and hostile road environments.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  22. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    I definitely understand how thin we are in the post right now. But, my biggest pet peeve is when a coach doesn't pull a player quickly after they pick up a quick, silly foul extremely early in the game; it's a sign they are too amped up. And, like clockwork (as was the case with Ariel Atkins and Joyner Holmes so often), Collier picks up a second foul (a charge as she tried going almost coast to coast for a layup like a guard). As someone else mentioned, that will be costly against a more talented team.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  23. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    Overall, it was a tremendous season opening game for everyone at Texas. Effort was consistent throughout each quarter, especially on the defensive side. Some things that stood out to me:

    - Celeste Taylor just loves the game, and wants to be the best. Her commitment to fitness should be what other players strive to achieve; if players like Littleton and Boothe had half that type of attitude towards fitness, the sky would have been the limit for them.

    - Charlie Collier had the kind of game (second half) that is worthy of all her pre-season accolades. Surprised she didn't even attempt a 3-point shot as it was such a weapon last season.

    - Audrey Warren had her mid-range shot going yesterday; that is the shot she needs to take more often. While I understand she is playing out of position (undersized front court player), she is going to continue getting her shots near the basket blocked. She was such a great 3-point shooter in high school; we need more inside players so Warren can play on the perimeter where she belongs.

    - Joanne Allen-Taylor looked super quick; seems like she had a great offseason conditioning wise. Unfortunately, she's not a point guard. Her assist total was not good compared to freshman Chevalier; and, she wasn't scoring enough. If you are gonna be on the court, you have to contribute on the offensive end in some form or fashion.

    - Everyone already gushed about DeYona Gaston, and I agree. She wasn't regarded as the #1 prospect as freshman for the 2020 class for nothing.

    - Karisma Ortiz scored the first bucket of the game on a really nice drive to the paint; she seemed so quick early in the game, but faded the rest of the game. Obviously, she hasn't played a game in over 18 months, and lack of bodies yesterday had many players winded based on the pace of the game. We need her scoring to be successful this season.

    - Ashley Chevalier had some early nerves. But, she had some good moments. Conversely, Precious Johnson not getting more time in such a blowout win doesn't help her at all; if she can't find court time in a rout with limited post players on the roster, it will only get more difficult down the road.

    - Shay Holle is gonna take time to find her niche. She's battling Taylor, Ortiz, and Warren for minutes.
     
    • Agree Agree x 5
    • Like Like x 1
  24. Texex81

    Texex81 500+ Posts

    As I watched the game, I thought OMG we have a coach. Then I immediately thought: DON’T JINX IT! Been wandering in the Desert too long. :smile1:

    Seriously, there were so many positives and the game was fun to watch (yes, there are some things to clean up, but it was a fun game).
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  25. cynt

    cynt 1,000+ Posts

    Well, well, well we have an enthusiastic, engaged and knowledgeable coach. Hot diggity dog! This is only the beginning.

    Ditto what everyone else mentioned above. I saw some great things, some poor decision things and some so-so things. But I believe Coach saw them as well and they will be corrected. They struggled with the zone. Can't wait to see the Offensive game plan for a zone on Sunday. I believe every week we will see improvement. Coach doesn't seem to settle for mediocrity.

    The thing that stuck out to me was Coach Vic's PASSION to coach. He was locked in at the Tip off. He's a hands on and get dirty kind of coach. Love it! Excited about the future of this team.

    Charlie and Celeste. Y'all ain't seen nothing yet!
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Hot Hot x 1
  26. brnkj

    brnkj 2,500+ Posts

    I love the way Coach Vic both encourages his players, but also gets after them when needed. But even when fussing at them, there's a sense of genuine love in his anger and the players seem to receive it well. I don't recall anyone coming out of the game without receiving a few words of some sort from him. That in itself is very refreshing to see.
     
    • Like Like x 6
    • Agree Agree x 2
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2020
  27. Jacob Johnson

    Jacob Johnson 2,500+ Posts

    His energy is unmatched! You didn't really see energy with the previous staff unless it was a huge play at the end of the game. It began to decline over the years and with Vic and his staff that energy is there the entire game no matter the score. I also absolutely love how he is not afraid to get on a referee when needed. It is a huge pet peeve of mine when a ref makes terrible calls and a coach says absolutely nothing. Lol you won't have to worry about that at all with Vic because he will speak up when needed.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
  28. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

     
    • Like Like x 5

Share This Page