Texas at ISU Saturday, 01/12/19

In the ISU contest Sug had 24 pts 10 rbs and 7 assists. Carleton's #'s were 20/9/3. Sug didn't have the same type of performance vs. OU but was solid, 7 pts 4 assists 2 rbs. And she shot 50% and was a perfect 100% (albeit just one shot) from the FT line. Most importantly her performance vs. ISU was huge, closing in on a triple-double, against a ranked team in a notoriously difficult place to play. What a time to have a break-out performance! And Carleton was at home, and had an open look to tie the game at the end and missed. Finally, we won both matchups last week, with Sug at the helm. She deserves the honor, but whatever happens she already got the biggest reward...two wins!

 

First of all, I neither saw the game, nor did I listen to it.

As response to the fan question, I have only had a few experiences with ISU fans, none of which were bad. That said, I promised my ten year old grandson that I would take him to the Alamo Bowl to watch Mike Leach coach before we drove to NOLA for him to attend the Saints' game and the Sugar Bowl.

The AlamoDome had just over 60,000 people, with at least 75% being ISU fans. We were seated behind the Wazzou bench and surrounded by ISU fans. Damn, they were awful. The PAC10 refs did job them, but they were far worse than OU or r-Kansas not as bad as Ohio State or Michigan, but truly intolerable. I can only imagine them in a small arena in Ames. Some of those people can use four hyphens in a word.​

 

Thankfully, I was able to watch our game at ISU. Have to say that about 50% of my joy during the game was listening to cyclone fans cry and whine, collectively, over the majority of calls made by the referees. They were loud, obnoxious, and had their team’s back — everything you want and don’t want in a fan base.

I may have to get to Austin for the next ISU game. Respect the ISU program, and appreciate their coach’s respect for our program and our play yesterday in post-game interviews . . . BUT, they are “Newman” to our “Seinfeld.”

 

Three of my favorite plays in the ISU game were defensive plays; the blocked shots by Joyner and Jada and the steal/layup by Joyner.

 

Agree, LIMD! The block by Jada almost knocked me outta my chair, I was so stoked. And Joyner’s block couldn’t have come at a better time. Despite the lack of point spread, it was GREAT to have an all-cylinders kind of game in that gym, finally.

 

I have been wanting Sug to be more aggressive offensively and take more shots. That was a wonderful performance by a point guard. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have picked us to win this game. Hope it gives us confidence. To me, it is also a VINDICATION of Karen Aston as a coach. She has so many doubters. To take out the great Bill Fennelly, the master of X's and O's, in Hilton must mean she knows something about coaching.

 

So, for those who watched or listened to the game, fill me in on a few things:

- how did Danni and Destiny each only attempt two 3-point shots? great ISU defenders? Sug attempting 5 of them and totaling more than them two is surprising.

- did we do anything specific on defense that helped hold ISU to 6-20 three-point shooting? Hard to believe they made so few.

 

I really don't remember much other than that we played good D and took the shots that wer there. And, like us keeping Carleton under wraps until the last quarter, ISU focused on blanketing Danni and Destiny.

Just really happy that the Horns pulled out that road win.

 

Fennelly stressed the strength of the UT defense in his post game presser.

 

Our defense was indeed impressive.

 

well, losing at home to Texas didn't hurt ISU's rankings at all. They moved up two spots in the AP and three in the Coaches polls.
Cyclones now #18 (AP) and #19 (Coaches).