Fennelly is a very demanding coach. That's what Middleton wanted...and she got it. She said that she just wanted to go somewhere where she wasn't an afterthought and would be given the coaching she needed.
Haven't visited the Iowa State board but bet it's hopping with excitement. The Lady Bear board usually gets very little activity (almost none compared to VolNation). Lately, though, it's gotten inspired. Posters are making the sorts of analysis we used to read here (before the Plague of Locusts descended).
It's taken some of the bitter taste of this season away to find another team to pull for and vicariously enjoy their excitement.
Here's an example from a poster named PawBaller:
Mar 24, 1:33 AM
Some other things that got my attention after going back and viewing portions of the game, esp second half:
Kellie and staff developed and the team executed a great game plan on how to deal with DePaul's pressure D. Can't say enough good things about that.
Wilson did a job on the defensive boards...6 of them!.... and looks way more comfortable out there than just 2 months ago.
We weathered a turnover barrage in second quarter, one thing after another, but thankfully DePaul didn't shoot well in that 2 minute "spell."
Gitzen played 32 minutes with 0 turnovers against that constant full-court pressure. As stats go, damn amazing.
Abby was 4-5 from the floor, including a nifty left-handed spin-move lay-in off a nice feed from Wilson and a 3 pter! When it's going good, it's going good.
Mya's trey late in 2nd quarter....a big pumper-upper.
As much as everyone admires Elle, and she was hot as can be from the 3pt line, she did make 5 of our 19 turnovers, sometimes by trying to dribble through more than what's feasible, sometimes by allowing herself to get trapped. Being just 5'3, she has little room for error when doubled and probably needs to be more extra aware than others of when she's moving into trouble that way. Easy to say from the outside.
Seems like we take teams by surprise with how we get out and run.
Three different times Danielle tapped out an offensive type board that resulted in 5 points. Smart, smart plays.
Bad D led to 5 pts for DePaul late in 3rd Q: a 3 pter plus a foul on the same play!
We held down #10, Held, to 7 pts. She's their best 3 pt shooter. Again, good game planning.
Some kind of effort from everyone, but the "unsung" hero is: Brice Calip: 8-9 from the FT line, unflappable bringing the ball upcourt.
My final quarter Rant:
Ahead 80-59 with 5:33 left in game, we begin to have problems. A quick missed 3, taken just 5 secs into shot clock, FT's followed by a 3 by DePaul, a missed fast break layup and boom, a turnover and DePaul bucket takes the lead down to 13, just like that, with 4:39 left. In less than one minute, we gave up 8 pts. This is where we seem to have some difficulty, late in a game with clock management. We miss a short shot with 15 sec on shot clock, just 2;15 on game clock, then they make a 3, we have problems after inbounding. Alexa doesn't recognize that she could immediately give the ball back to Brice, who had inbounded the ball. My question is, why isn't either Brice or Danielle receiving the inbounds pass? Maybe we don't have confidence in someone besides Brice to make the inbound pass? At this point I also have to ask: why don't we have Mya Bhinhar, who is stronger and faster than Elle, in the game in this situation? She may be younger, but she is taller, faster, quicker. Then, with a 13 pt lead and just 1:34 left in it, we take a shot with 15 secs left on shot clock!! Are we loco?? No understanding of what a clock is? Me no know. And finally, coaching staff, why the heck do you still have Elle in there in these last two mintues? Do you not realize how many turnovers she was responsible for in the final 5 minutes?
That's my rant on the kind of things that could kill us in a really close end-game. Giving away a big lead in the 4th quarter has happened in both the Drake game and now this one. Don't get me wrong: Elle was big-time responsible for helping to build that lead up, but when we have the lead near the end, I'd prefer someone else in there to protect the ball.
Again, late in game, Brice and Danielle are so strong. Makes bringing the ball up against pressure look easy when it's not. Those two are my MVP's.