WBB ISU for 1st Place

[84CatGrad]

I think we’re starting to act a little spoiled. Our WBB program is best in class and getting better! I know it’s a fan’s nature to want to be better, but this team is exceeding expectations with one senior. Proud of the team and their efforts. It’s only going to get better! Quit whining!

They have won each of their last 8 conference games by double-digits. Has any other MSU team ever done that? It's extraordinary!

[Joe Bobcat]

These upcoming 2 games with ISU should really tell us where this team is at and could serve as defining moments for this season. Here are some scattered thoughts that have been rolling around my head since last Saturday.
If we had played them in the first 1/3 of the season, I’d have given us a 20% chance of winning, about a 40% chance in the middle of the season, but now it’s a 50/50 toss-up.
The matchup between Darian White and Diaba Konate should be epic. Konate is the closest player I think I’ve seen to Darian as far as having comparable ball handling skill and intensity.
When the starting 5s step on the court we will be giving up an average of 2 years of age per player which essentially also means 2 years of experience and physical development. It’s nearly the same for players coming off the bench. They mostly only play 8, where we will likely go 10 to 12 deep with quality. In general I think we can put a slightly taller team on the court at all times.
ISU is really smooth and efficient on offense; they all handle the ball well, pass well and don’t miss many opportunities to either drive or pass the ball into the paint and I suspect they make more of their points from 12’ or closer than anyone we’ve faced.
They are physical! Anyone who has watched Big Sky Women’s BBall knows that you don’t usually push one of the Klinker sisters around much but in last weeks games ISU pushed Natalie around like a rag doll more than once. This will be the most physical team we’ve faced but I think our gals are ready and might punch ISU back right in the mouth. (hopefully not literally) I wouldn’t propose that we try to go toe to toe with them in physicality, my point is that we shouldn’t and won’t cower from them either.
Their coach is very aggressive with the officials and isn’t above being an a—hole in trying to intimidate them.

[Helcat72]

I've always felt that Sobelewski has taken inordinate pleasure in beating coach Binford. Now she needs to kick his ass with one of his best teams to take the top of the conference.

[mslacatfan]

Really excited to watch this game. Go cats!

[Bobcat4Ever]

They are physical! Anyone who has watched Big Sky Women’s BBall knows that you don’t usually push one of the Klinker sisters around much but in last weeks games ISU pushed Natalie around like a rag doll more than once.

I love basketball. Always have, always will. One of my earliest (vague) memories is of being with a crowd upstairs in Romney Gym watching my favorite uncle play for Eastern Montana. The date of the game program makes me just over 2-1/2 years old. (My uncle, a four-year starter, was listed as a strapping 5’9” forward!)

But my love of the beauty of the game itself has sadly started to fade with the increasing “physicality” (quite often being simply fouling) and the steady skew of the rules over time to allow such play, along with the requirement of too many hours in the weight room instead of the gym. The above statement by Joe Bobcat should never have to be made. It’s a sad comment on the difference between the rules and the application of the rules. Remember when any slider in the National League within six inches of the outside of the plate that did not bounce was called a strike? Did the rules change to allow it? No, but the application of the rules did — an unbidden evolution that seriously affected the game. Same for basketball. When the players are running and shooting and passing and rebounding and defending properly, it’s still a beautiful game. But it’s been allowed to stray way too far from how it was intended to be played. We used to say, let the best team win, not the most physically abusive team. Sorry guys, that’s my soapbox, and I’m sticking with it.

Go ‘Cats, beat the Bengals. May the best team win.

[Joe Bobcat]

They are physical! Anyone who has watched Big Sky Women’s BBall knows that you don’t usually push one of the Klinker sisters around much but in last weeks games ISU pushed Natalie around like a rag doll more than once.

I love basketball. Always have, always will. One of my earliest (vague) memories is of being with a crowd upstairs in Romney Gym watching my favorite uncle play for Eastern Montana. The date of the game program makes me just over 2-1/2 years old. (My uncle, a four-year starter, was listed as a strapping 5’9” forward!)

But my love of the beauty of the game itself has sadly started to fade with the increasing “physicality” (quite often being simply fouling) and the steady skew of the rules over time to allow such play, along with the requirement of too many hours in the weight room instead of the gym. The above statement by Joe Bobcat should never have to be made. It’s a sad comment in the difference between the rules and the application of the rules. Remember when any slider in the National League within six inches of the outside of the plate that did not bounce was called a strike? Did the rules change to allow it? No, but the application of the rules did — an unbidden evolution that seriously affected the game. Same for basketball. When the players are running and shooting and passing and rebounding and defending properly, it’s still a beautiful game. But it’s been allowed to stray way too far from how it was intended to be played. We used to say, let the best team win, not the most physically abusive team. Sorry guys, that’s my soapbox, and I’m sticking with it.

Go ‘Cats, beat the Bengals. May the best team win.

Amen.

[BelgradeBobcat]

They are physical! Anyone who has watched Big Sky Women’s BBall knows that you don’t usually push one of the Klinker sisters around much but in last weeks games ISU pushed Natalie around like a rag doll more than once.

I love basketball. Always have, always will. One of my earliest (vague) memories is of being with a crowd upstairs in Romney Gym watching my favorite uncle play for Eastern Montana. The date of the game program makes me just over 2-1/2 years old. (My uncle, a four-year starter, was listed as a strapping 5’9” forward!)

But my love of the beauty of the game itself has sadly started to fade with the increasing “physicality” (quite often being simply fouling) and the steady skew of the rules over time to allow such play, along with the requirement of too many hours in the weight room instead of the gym. The above statement by Joe Bobcat should never have to be made. It’s a sad comment on the difference between the rules and the application of the rules. Remember when any slider in the National League within six inches of the outside of the plate that did not bounce was called a strike? Did the rules change to allow it? No, but the application of the rules did — an unbidden evolution that seriously affected the game. Same for basketball. When the players are running and shooting and passing and rebounding and defending properly, it’s still a beautiful game. But it’s been allowed to stray way too far from how it was intended to be played. We used to say, let the best team win, not the most physically abusive team. Sorry guys, that’s my soapbox, and I’m sticking with it.

Go ‘Cats, beat the Bengals. May the best team win.

That’s why our women’s team is so darn fun to watch. I love how they play the game.

[BobcatDel]

These upcoming 2 games with ISU should really tell us where this team is at and could serve as defining moments for this season. Here are some scattered thoughts that have been rolling around my head since last Saturday.
If we had played them in the first 1/3 of the season, I’d have given us a 20% chance of winning, about a 40% chance in the middle of the season, but now it’s a 50/50 toss-up.
The matchup between Darian White and Diaba Konate should be epic. Konate is the closest player I think I’ve seen to Darian as far as having comparable ball handling skill and intensity.
When the starting 5s step on the court we will be giving up an average of 2 years of age per player which essentially also means 2 years of experience and physical development. It’s nearly the same for players coming off the bench. They mostly only play 8, where we will likely go 10 to 12 deep with quality. In general I think we can put a slightly taller team on the court at all times.
ISU is really smooth and efficient on offense; they all handle the ball well, pass well and don’t miss many opportunities to either drive or pass the ball into the paint and I suspect they make more of their points from 12’ or closer than anyone we’ve faced.
They are physical! Anyone who has watched Big Sky Women’s BBall knows that you don’t usually push one of the Klinker sisters around much but in last weeks games ISU pushed Natalie around like a rag doll more than once. This will be the most physical team we’ve faced but I think our gals are ready and might punch ISU back right in the mouth. (hopefully not literally) I wouldn’t propose that we try to go toe to toe with them in physicality, my point is that we shouldn’t and won’t cower from them either.
Their coach is very aggressive with the officials and isn’t above being an a—hole in trying to intimidate them.

Great summary!!! Well done!

I think really the next 4 are the defining moments of the season, both ISU snd Idaho. Starting with ISU, first things first.

I agree with all you say about ISU. I think our overall speed, depth and ability to shoot from the arc will have to be the difference. We are not physically as strong in the trenches for reasons you mention so I don’t think we win if we play their “smash mouth” brand of ball (maybe I am wrong). I don’t believe ISU has seen as much constant on ball pressure as our girls have displayed the last 8 games nor have they seen as well balanced of a shooting team that can spread them out and rain treys from anyone depending on who is on. I also thought that the second half of second game against Idaho they started to slow down a bit.....may have just been Idaho turning up the intensity but I thought ISU was flagging towards end.

The White vs Konante battle will be fun to watch...Darian won last year!! Konante is truly a gifted athlete also. They rank 1/2 in league in steals. ISU uses a lot of on ball and off ball screens and do a lot of screen and roll plays to hit people cutting to basket or getting wide open 12’ shots as you mentioned.

It all starts this weekend then on to Idaho! I wonder if our young ladies sense it and if our upper class folks have dialed up practice intensity this week!!

[Joe Bobcat]

Thanks BobcatDel, coming from someone who knows twice what I think I know about basketball and 20 time what I actually know, it's appreciated.

[Catlady]

Excited about the game tonight! If this young team wins the conference title, we might have a 4-5 year dynasty on our hands! I knew we’d be good this year, but thought we have to do some rebuilding after last years effort. I’m looking for a sweep, but would be happy with a split. Boise is going to be the place to be in March! I can’t think of a team in the Big Sky that would want to play the Bobcats!

[arvcat2]

Really looking forward to these next two games too. These games will really give us an indication of how good a team this is. Also, if memory serves me correctly, the ISU announcer is the best I listened to last year and hope he still "in the booth" for tonight.

[Joe Bobcat]

I don't see Skye Lindsay dressed out does anyone know what's up?

[RickRund]

The foul on that 3 point attempt sure didn't look like any foul I have ever seen. Maybe roughing the passer!!!

[WYCAT]

Tricia gets T'd after a horrible call. I haven't seen that out of her often and I don't blame her. We're in a bit of trouble now.

[KittieKop]

Apparently the Cats need to start knocking Bengal players to the floor, because the refs have decided its jungle ball night. Cats player knocked to the ground and called for traveling, followed by a blatant forearm pushoff at the other end. At least Binford got a technical out of the deal screaming about the traveling call!

[BelgradeBobcat]

The story in this one is our shooting. Way too many makeable shots are being missed. Yet we keep reeling them in only to see them jump away again.

[BelgradeBobcat]

We can hang with this team. We just have to shoot it better. ISU is very good but they are beatable.

[nevadacat]

Apparently the Cats need to start knocking Bengal players to the floor, because the refs have decided its jungle ball night. Cats player knocked to the ground and called for traveling, followed by a blatant forearm pushoff at the other end. At least Binford got a technical out of the deal screaming about the traveling call!

Don’t forget Mocchi’s foul where she was shoved from behind by a bengal into another bengal and drew the foul. Binford was up off the bench on that one, but must have not said the magic word.

[KittieKop]

Bottom line tonight, the Cats got out physical-ed. ISU committed a ton of fouls, but it was obviously the game plan to force bad shots, throw the Cats off balance, which is what they did. Cats gave up some really inopportune offensive rebounds and way too many totally OPEN looks at 3 pointers on the other end of the court. First time in awhile I've seen the team a little flustered and throwing up some wild desperation shots.

Like Belgrade said above though, I didn't see anything out of ISU that says unbeatable. I think 10 points was the largest lead of the night. Cats kept reeling them in, but would then toss up a wild shot or turn the ball over, give up a couple quick baskets, look up and be back down 10.

Regroup, go get 'em Saturday night.

[BobcatDel]

I don't see Skye Lindsay dressed out does anyone know what's up?

I don’t know either. Would have been nice to have her inside muscle this week. Skye did not play last week against EWU. She was injured earlier in year but seemed to be working her way back.