This is not one of those easy run through games. This team is capable of giving us a run for our money if we don’t come out focused. They played Miami and Ole miss very close so I hope we come out with intensity and energy. Moore, Hunter, and Kobe are out once again per Vic yesterday in his interview.
It sure seems like it's taking a long time to gel the last, two games. Hard on my blood pressure.. Latasha is looking good.
Jackson St is not going to get out hustled in this game if they have anything to say about it. Lattimore had a really nice 2nd Qtr and Ebo seems to be the most consistent Longhorn tonight. Rory has had a tough night so far.
It was an ugly game but a game we needed to get ready for Sunday. I have to say the Jackson state coach is doing one heck of a job with that team and they are definitely headed in the right direction. We have to be cleaner and just get healthy but a win is a win so I’m content but I know Vic won’t be.
Yeah. I don't think that game will really be close. With the way that Texas has been playing along with the injuries, I just don't see it. Also the fact that they don't match up well with the size that a&m has at the guard/wing position with Pitts and Wells.
I think we played ok tonight. Not great, not sharp, but their defense was really tough. Their quick guards drove around ours to the basket with ease. Matharu saved us in the third quarter. She needs to learn to foul less so she can be on the court more.
Jackson St great warmup for A&M. Those ladies and coaches came to play! Some things not obvious if you watched from TV: 1. Their coach was very much like Vic. Up all game, yelling out corrections to the team. If she weren't wearing heels, she woulda stomped on the floor for effect like Vic. With the way those ladies played, well coached. 2. Vic warned us over a week ago in a press conference that Jackson St. would be a mirror of Texas. The only thing that surprised me was the number of blocks we had against them. Even blocks from our shorter players. 3. The parents of the team were obviously there. They yelled to distract our players when we were up for free throws. Near the end, the Texas Pep Band was chanting "Jackson's not a State. Jackson's not a State", which of course infuriated the families who started chanting "Overrated! Overrated!" 4. I could have sworn in the second quarter that was the longest span where he left the same players in for multiple minutes instead of constantly switching out. 5. With Holle, yet another turnover due to poor ball handling, then she does a block and a score.
My opinion is that Texas played faster or even slightly faster than normal. The fact was that the guards for Jackson State were VERY fast makes for an illusion we were playing slower than normal.
So, after months of practice and six games, is Rori having trouble with Vic's game plan? I mean, he keeps referencing her inability (refusal?) to run plays and getting stuck on jump shots. She has the responsibility to steer the ship, but if she fails to do so, we have Joanne running the point. That can't be something they practice often. I agree that a win is a win, but I think we were way out of our comfort zone here.
She's a freshman. Often when he pulls her he's immediately having a conversation with her on the sideline before she goes to the bench. Look at who he puts in her place when he's having a teaching moment. Chevalier, a sophmore who is the daughter of two coaches. And then, Matharu who is a junior and played for Vic as a freshman.
Okay, so she's a freshman, but her fall off this week has been as bad as the stock market. I can't begin to know what's going on (is it the missing freshmen?) but listening to Coach Vic you get some clues that right now things are not right with the team: failure to run plays, stuck on jump shots, lackadaisical practices, some folks need to spend more time in the gym.
It could be they're getting worn out physically, which in turn causes mental lapses. Vic certainly isn't the easiest coach to play for.
I agree that the team seems to be hitting a wall physically. I've noticed a lack of energy since the Tennessee game. I'm not implying we aren't in shape but when a team plays Vic's style of defense for 4 quarters, for 2 games a week plus physical practices in between games, it can take its toll on younger players who are adjusting to the demands of the college game. As stated by @Run Pincher, the mental lapses can be caused by a lack of energy. It doesn't help that Kendall, Aaliyah and Kobe are on the bench and are not available for substitutions. Additionally, as we play more games, there is more video for opposing teams to study our style of play and our tendencies. Therefore, we aren't going to surprise many teams going forward. We'll be fine. We all knew that this season would be a year of growth and that there would be big wins and puzzling losses. Next year the expectations will be higher as our current group gets more experience and our incoming freshmen class will add more length and athleticism.
Someone above stated they'd like to see Vic change up defenses sometime. It will never ever happen, for better or worse. All our coaches have been completely committed to pressure man-to-man. Gail might have been slightly more flexible. I have mixed feelings about it. This philosophy of defense can work great by throwing others off and getting turnovers. But my real belief is that changing up defenses is more effective than anything else, including the occasional zone. It surely works well against our offense. Everyone sounds very intimidated by A&M. I haven't seen them. Even Vic made the statement, "Sunday's not going to be good." I think (hope) he meant it will not be good unless we play better. We need to not be intimidated like some folks on this board seem to be.
aggy brings up a lot of feelings in me. Disgust, revulsion, smirking smug superiority, but certainly not a feeling of intimidation.
Vic is coaching, even in a press conference. He is challenging his team. They are young, and prone to mistakes, and the older players are not his recruits. Like any coach he wants to win every game, but we've heard him say that his teams get better as the season progresses. I am confident that he knows his players and will not push anyone past their capability. Rori is a freshman! Adjusting to a life far different than high school. We have 3 others also. Unless and until we see them complaining on social media, I'm going to assume that things are proceeding apace with Vic's team.
I hope you're right. Maybe they need an adversarial environment to get that "edge" that Vic talks about.
A&M hasn’t played any ranked teams. There is no reason to be intimidated. My money is always on Texas. Always.
I’ve watched almost all of A&M’s games, and they haven’t looked very good. Started very sluggish and Gotten down by 8-10 in a lot of them and had to go on big runs late to catch up. They do definitely have the talent to match up with us though, so if they come to play hopefully we do too.
