TCU coming to Austin Saturday

#11/11 Texas (14-3; 4-1) will host TCU (12-4; 2-3) this Saturday in the morning half of a double header with the men who play OU. Texas Basketball hosts doubleheader on Saturday - University of Texas Athletics

Texas is coming off a disappointing loss to KSU Wed which was their first Big 12 loss. Meanwhile, TCU overcame a fourth quarter deficit to get their second Big 12 win over Tech. After winning the previous six games, the Horns and Horned Frogs split their conference matchups last season with each winning at home. The win last season was TCU’s third win in the series with all of the victories coming in the Big 12. Texas leads the overall series 41-3 and 7-3 in the Big 12.

TCU Horned Frogs (12-4; 2-3)
Three of the Horned Frogs’ starters are averaging in double figures with a fourth just below that mark. Amy Okonkwo (#00, 6-2 Sr. F) leads the quartet with an average of 13.8 ppg. Jordan Moore (#22, 6-3 Sr. C) is second at 13.2 ppg. Kianna Ray (#25, 6-1 Jr. G) is the other Horned Frog in double digits with an average of 11.6 ppg. Lauren Heard (#20, 5-9 Soph. G) adds 8.2 ppg from her starting PG position. No other TCU player is averaging more than Jayde Woods’ (#15, 6-1 Jr. G) 4.0 ppg. The top three scorers have taken at least 18 more shots than any other TCU player. Okonkwo is hitting 46.0% from the field (29-63. Moore has the second highest FG% at 50% (26-52) while Ray checks in at 42.3% (22-52). Alexandria Crain (#21, 5-9 Fr. G) has the highest FG% at 83.3% but has only taken six shots, making five. Ray (9-25; 36%) and Okonkwo (8-22; 36.4%) along with Dakota Vann (#24, 6-0 Sr. G; 1-15; 6.7%) are the primary 3pt shooters. By percentage, the best are Crain (4-5; 80%) and Woods (3-6; 50%). TCU brings up the rear in FT%, both for the season (58.4%) and in conference play (55.9%). The three that have gotten to the FT line the most in conference games are Moore (14-31; 45.2%), Heard (17-26; 65.4%) and Ray (5-10; 50%). Their best FT shooters have rarely gotten to the line: Okonkwo (3-3; 100%) and Vann (2-2; 100%).

Moore is the top rebounder at 6.8 rpg with Okonkwo second with an average of 5.2 rpg. Guards Heard (4.6 rpg) and Ray (3.6 rpg) are big contributors on the boards. Adeola Akomolafe (#33, 6-1 Jr. F) is the only other Horned Frog with more than one rpg at 3.2 rpg. Every player has at least one assist with Heard (17 assists), Ray (11), Woods (10) and Akomolafe (9) the top four. TCU has four players that average at least two TOs a game, led by Heard’s 3 TOs per game. As a team, the Horned Frogs rank third in steals at 8.0 spg. Ray leads the group with nine steals while Moore and Woods each has six and Heard and Akomolafe have tallied five steals apiece. TCU is second in the league behind Baylor with 5.6 blocks per game. Moore is the leading shot blocker with 2.6 bpg. Ray is next with four blocks.

Moore, Ray, Heard and Akomolafe have started all five league games. Woods started the first three but Okonkwo moved into a starting slot for the Baylor game and stayed there for the Tech game as well.

Of the 13 players listed on TCU’s roster, eleven have seen action in league play. Six have started games and eight have played in all five league games to date. Ryann Payne (#1, 5-6 Fr. G) has gotten into all five games. Payne, along with Crain and Woods, make up the primary bench players for TCU. Ray, at 36.4 mpg, rarely comes off the court. Okonkwo, Heard, Moore, Vann and Akomolafe all average at least 20 mpg but less than 27. Woods and Payne are the teens while Crain is at eight mpg.

Texas Longhorns (14-3; 4-1)
Texas has five primary scorers, one of which comes of the bench. Sug (17.2 ppg), is fifth in the conference. Danni is putting in 12.2 ppg. Joyner (9.4 ppg) and Destiny (9.0 ppg) make up the rest of the top four scorers. Jatarie is the top bench scorer at 7.8 ppg. Those five have taken 81.8% of shots in Big 12 play, beginning with Sug (34-58, 58.6%) and ending with Jatarie (18-41, 43.9%). No one else has taken more than 18 shots. Next to Sug, Audrey has the second best FG% at 57.1% (8-14). Combined, Joyner, Jatarie, Charli and Olamide are making 41.5% of their shots (49-118). Danni is tied for third in 3pt FG% at 46.4% on 13 of 28. Her 13 treys is tied for first on number of 3s made. Sug’s 46.2% (6-13) would rank fifth in the Big 12 if she had enough attempts. Destiny also seems to be just outside the number of attempts needed to be included as her 35.3% from BTA would have her at 14th. But she is averaging less than four attempts a game. Audrey is hitting 50% from BTA, making 3 of her six attempts. Five players having reached double digit FT attempts have helped Texas be the third best team in getting to the FT line. TCU is second in this category. The five: Joyner (8-18; 44.4%), Sug (12-17; 70.6%), Destiny (11-14; 78.6%), Jada (6-12; 50%) and Danni (8-11; 72.7%). Jatari, at 3 of 3, is perfect from the FT line.

Sug (29 assists) is tied for second with 5.8 apg. Next are Danni (1.4 apg), Joyner (1.2 apg) and Destiny (1.0 apg). Texas has three players with double digit TOs: Joyner (21), Sug (18) and Jatarie (10). Joyner, Charli and Jada each has two blocks. Joyner tops the Horns with nine steals. Sug and Jada have six steals apiece while Danni has lifted five.

The starters for conference have been the same five: Sug, Danni, Destiny, Joyner and Olamide. Danni (36.0 mpg) and Sug (34.8 mpg) are the iron women of the team. Destiny (26.4 mpg), Joyner (24.0 mpg) and Jatarie (20.2 mpg) come in at the 20s. Jada (18.2 mpg), Audrey (14.8 mpg) and Olamide (14.2 mpg) are in the teens. Charli, discounting the ISU game in which a technical error kept her minutes to three, is averaging 11 mpg. Add the ISU game and Charli is at nine mpg. Joanne is getting just under five minutes per game.

LINEUPS
Projected lineups are based on the previous game’s starting lineups.


Texas’ post players are going to be tested by TCU. That strong front line for the Horned Frogs is made of their two top scorers. Okonkwo will present similar problems to KSU’s Williams with her ability to score inside and hit the trey. Texas slowed down KSU’s Williams in the second half by alternating Jada and Audrey in faceguarding her. Okonkwo’s strength and ability to post up and to hit the three is going to require an agile, strong defender on her. At this point, Joyner is probably the best choice to start off on her. Olamide and Jatarie will have their hands full keeping Moore from getting her spot in the paint.

The two best perimeter defenders will probably face as both Danni and Ray are offensive threats. Although Heard could slide onto Danni while Ray takes on Sug. That will be the biggest issue for TCU—stopping or slowing down the Texas backcourt of Sug, Danni and Destiny.

STATS COMPARISON—Big 12 stats only.






On paper, this should be a win for Texas but Big 12 games don’t necessarily go the way paper shows. Texas’ ability to win the rebounding battle and get second chance points is going to be key as is the Horns’ being able to slow down the TCU posts. TCU’s edge is their skill in getting steals and blocking shots. The Texas posts are going to work to get Moore away from defending the basket to allow the Horn guards to penetrate.

It’s going to be an interesting game. Texas wants to get back on the winning track and TCU wants to start a winning streak. TCU is a better post scoring team but Texas is better at rebounding. Both have two primary 3pt shooters. TCU’s include a post and a guard, Texas has two guards. A big question is whether the Texas posts can defend a post that is mobile and strong enough to score inside and shoot the three.

No. 11 Women's Basketball preview: TCU - University of Texas Athletics

 

Some pretty interesting stuff in the TCU game notes.
Women's Basketball at Texas - Saturday, January 19 - Gameday - TCU Athletics

 

The TCU roster lists starting F Akomolafe at 6-1 while the TCU game notes have her at 6-3. A bit of a discrepancy unless she grew two inches since the roster was put out earlier this season.

 

In the interview with Coach Aston today about the TCU game she talked about the fact that she needs to and will look to get Charlie more minutes. So I’m sure some of the posters will be happy about that.

 

With former players in the house, Texas women hope to regroup after rare Big 12 loss | Hookem.com

Women's preview: No. 11 Texas vs. TCU | Hookem.com

 

Here's the link to the Aston interview. She also confirms that Lashann wants to return next season.

 

BOOM! 73-67, Horns! Not the prettiest, but pretty enough.

 

Another big offensive/defensive lapse to blow a big lead and make the game unnecessarily close. It's more than an accident; it's a habit. Once we have a good lead, we can't put opponents away. Invariably when we get double digit leads, we backslide, then have to hang on at the end. Theories, anyone?

 

I've been saying for the past few games that, aside from our loss to KSU, our conference games have all been basically the same game. I did see several instances in this game, however, where we looked really good in our half-court offensive execution which should provide good teaching moments in the film room.

Post play was much better today especially with Joyner and Charli. I do see where Charli gets a little lost defensively once the opponent gets a few passes and cuts into there offense. But given what she brings offensively that we so sorely need, IMO you play her like you did today and let her work through that learning curve and gain the valuable experience we need her to....and build her confidence as well.

 

You can see what a difference Charli makes. She needs to be playing this many minutes and more. Nice to Joyner making those simple power baskets underneath. Sug a little off her game today.

 

After the TCU game, Coach Aston presented Coach Condradt with a gift from the tea. It's always good to hear from Coach Conradt. She's a wonderful mix of wisdom, grace and humor.

 

Charli was very efficient and productive with her 16 minutes. She had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 3 fouls and 0 turnovers. With each game she's getting more comfortable and confident.

Joyner played 28 minutes and had 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 3 fouls and 6 turnovers. (While Joyner's turnovers are maddening, she doesn't get enough credit for her assists, imo)

Jatarie played 19 minutes and had 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 blocks, 3 fouls and 3 turnovers.

Mide only got 1 minute of playing time.

 

Joyner had four TOs in the first quarter and only two the rest of the way.

Lots of fouls by our posts in that first quarter. The same for TCU's posts, though.

Best game Joyner played after the first quarter. Nice to see her do so well after a bad start. Really nice to see Charli out there for probably her most extensive time yet. We really need her ability to alter and block shots. Plus she is solid in making those layups.

 

Collier needs to start. And play as many minutes as possible. She could be dominating.

 

Like the article by Golden. He doesn't usually do stories on the Tx WBB team.

Here's Rick Cantu's article about the game. He is the beat writer on the AAS for the Texas WBB.
Sug Sutton strikes late to help Texas ease past TCU 73-67 | Hookem.com

Congrats to Sug!

 

I think any combo of Jatarie/Joyner/Charli as the starting duo is good... As long as all three get the majority of the minutes. We've got to get productivity from the posts to ease the pressure on the guards.

 

I watched up to 4 minutes to go in the first half and then had to leave for a tournament. At the tournament, I just saw the box score. Follows the previous patterns.
1Q - Fall behind
2Q - Catch up even or slightly ahead
3Q - Build double-digit lead
4Q - Blow lead, but the final score doesn't show how bad it was
Next Day - Sigh

 

Got the win, the main objective!

 

I made the same observation... that said I think Joyner overall played really well. Hopefully she's on the verge of settling in and becoming consistent.

 

Let me clarify... I am not saying that Mide shouldn't play decent minutes, nor am I saying that Jada Underwood shouldn't be utilized some at the 4 in addition the the 3. I feel that unless there's foul trouble on Holmes, White, or Collier those are the three that should get the bulk of the minutes at the 4 and 5.

 

I don’t understand the lazy passing. I can deal with everything but that.

Happy for the win. Happy to see Collier getting more minutes. Happy to see Holmes being aggressive. But the sloppy, lazy, thinking the ball with turn in mid-air passes... drives me batty

Looking forward to a Wednesday Win Day.

 

The problem with Holmes making a three in this game is that it means she’ll try again.

 

As long as she understands that inside is her bread and butter. The 3pt is just dessert.

 

16 minutes of play. 14 points. 5 rebounds. No turnovers. I hope Charli and Coach A sort out whatever needs to be sorted out because that young lady needs to get more minutes. #FreshmanRising

 

Why do you think anything needs to be sorted out?
Coach A has made it pretty clear that a player needs to demonstrate in practice that she is able to understand and run the offensive and defensive schemes as well as show a willingness to work hard. Charli has done that and is starting to reach double digit minutes the last few games. As she continues to get more experience and a better understanding of how to execute the schemes in games, she will continue to gain more minutes. Imo, her getting on the court was just a matter of time. It looks like her time has arrived. I'm happy for her because I expect her to be a star, although not necessarily this season.

 

Joyner was a guest on a podcast this week, (high post hoops I think was the name of it) did anyone else listen to it? It was around a 28 minute segment. The host asked her about taking 3's and developing an outside shot. Joyner said that she had been hitting 3's and outside shots consistently in the offseason before her injury, so my feeling is that you are right. We will probably see Joyner taking more 3's and shots outside the paint since she is trying to develop that aspect of her game.

 

Like I said. Get it sorted out.

 

That's what's confusing. What needed to be sorted out?

 

Well I don’t know as I am not in the gym with them. Clearly it’s something.

Whatever needs to happen so she gets minutes and continues to get more minutes is what I want. Someone that good on the bench as much as she has been obviously is still trying to figure something out or having an issue somewhere about something. Personal, professional, whatever. Sort it out and get her in. She’s terrific. We have had a few close games where she was either not in or got in for very limited minutes. If I’m not mistaken she got a double double in her debut at the FEC. Then almost no minutes , Then no minutes and now gradually more. I want her in the regular rotation every game. Figure it out and get it done. That’s why she’s here. No judgement for either party. We need her.