Next Up - Baylor

Any discussion of this next game is conspicuous by its absence. Understandably, most anticipate a loss. Lest we forget, the key word in the headline last year was "dominate" as in "Cyclones Dominate Baylor" 69-45. BU has only one returning starter on the "probable starters" list - Griner. We have three - Bolte, Poppins and Prins. Most notably, Melissa Jones was unavailable for them last year. If we lose this game, I don't think it will happen in the paint. Last year we shot 16-33 3's. Can we do that again? I think the emergence of our inside game will help our outside shooters.

Cyclones Dominate Baylor in Top 20 Matchup - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports

I'm going with your sig line: WHY NOT US?

BF has many amazing wins under his belt and I would never be surprised if he got another one here. Are the odds against us - yes. But every game has to be played before the winner is crowned. Give 'em hell ladies!

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Originally Posted by BenEClone

Any discussion of this next game is conspicuous by its absence. Understandably, most anticipate a loss. Lest we forget, the key word in the headline last year was "dominate" as in "Cyclones Dominate Baylor" 69-45. BU has only one returning starter on the "probable starters" list - Griner. We have three - Bolte, Poppins and Prins. Most notably, Melissa Jones was unavailable for them last year. If we lose this game, I don't think it will happen in the paint. Last year we shot 16-33 3's. Can we do that again? I think the emergence of our inside game will help our outside shooters.

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Last year's game was phenomenal in many ways. The three's complimented a defense that clearly frustrated Griner. I suspect that a few things will change this year. First, Griner will be better and more patient. Second, our girls will still frustrate her. Some things will be dramatically different. One is Odyssey Sims. This is the top rated frosh in the country and she's scoring 12 per game and is the Bear's top 3 point shooter hitting nearly 50 percent although she's shot about 2/3 the number of 3's that Bolte has. Baylor has depth that we don't have. Defensively they are very similar to ISU holding opponents to 50 per game.

Statistically speaking, both teams come into this game fairly evenly matched. Baylor has the forementioned depth. Our scoring is inconsistent, but we've seen several players capable of putting up double digits. Which poison does Baylor choose? We will find it tough to score inside IF we aren't aggressive. They will focus their top defender on Bolte. Will Loz break loose? Will Big C have the big game from medium range? Who will it be?

The key - defense.

I find it funny that everyone thinks we are "no chance" underdogs. We beat them last year. Actually, ISU has run the best strategy against Griner I have seen. I imagine Mulkey knows that too, and has a burr under her saddle because of it.

Outside game is critical to beating Baylor. That means 3s. UConn, TN, don't have the firepower out there. It was so frustrating watching all the TN posts trying to post up and get blocked by Griner. And UConn starting post isn't much of a scorer yet. So, not real good tests. The key is trying to pull her away from the basket on defense, and post/post passing is important. I was very happy to see a lot of high/low action going on in our last couple games.

The post transfer from Rutgers has really helped open things up for Britney as well on offense.

Away from Griner, I am more concerned about Sims. I am real curious to see who BF puts on her, she is quick. As always, I bet it is by committee.

Other than Griner, Baylor is particularly big, so we could have some size match-up advantages on the wings (Hallie/Bolte).

Baylor is drawing big crowds, and it is Big 12 home opener. How will our young ones respond.

Keys:
1. Limit Griner touches.
2. Make threes early.
3. Good defense on Sims.
4. Limit turnovers.

Looks like we need to get Griner in foul trouble.

See what the Baylor board is saying about Anna:

Iowa State has a 6'7" player

They better be ready for Pop and Halie also - I am hoping they are not!

Pop will not be intimindated by Griner at least for rebounds.

like redbird mentioned the ability to beat Baylor is by hitting the outside shot. Sadly, this is our worst team in years for that and unless we can shake Bolte loose and Harris and Z are able to come in and hit 2 or 3 apiece I think we will be in for a tough morning. Prins can get her own shot off due to size and the fact that they won't have Griner come out. Conversely, Loz will have major probs trying to take jumpers so good tidings to her.
I think the biggest impact IMO will be the officiating. HOw they call it. If home cooking persists then that means that Griner and gang are mugging us down low and it will be ugly then. Maybe Iowa ugly.

But, we know if anyone can make it a fight it will be BF and I only ask for us at halftime to be at 55% from the field with 5 3's made and just 5 TO's and then I will take my chance at the second half

FWIW, click on the video, Big 12 preview on the right.

WBB Puts Top Ranking on the Line vs. ISU - BAYLOR OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Mulkey on ISU,

"We are not going to forget what happened last year on National TV"

"They are very well coached, and they shoot the 3"

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Originally Posted by Wesley

Looks like we need to get Griner in foul trouble.

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This

If we get Griner in foul trouble early the game is ours. I have, however, seen teams (good teams) try to take it straight in and get shots blocked time after time.

The key is to definitely get her out of the game and maybe get in her head enough to start throwing punches.

We often complain about men's sports that players leave for the NBA too soon, however, in women's basketball, we often see that players like Griner, Moore, Fowles, CP3, etc. tend to be dominating factors reducing the parody of the game.

Its an interesting paradox. Honestly, Griner impacts that game of women's basketball more than any other player before her, and I'm not ecstatic that she's around for 3 more years.

This game is likely to be very different from last year's. Our whole defensive scheme last year was limiting Griner's touches and daring them to shoot from the perimeter, which they were not able to do.

They are improved as a perimeter team this year and have more balance in the post - and we have fewer proven scorers. I expect KB to struggle to get very many clean looks.

I would love to be wrong - but this has the potential to get ugly.

Big 12 Primer: Cyclones hope to give Baylor its best shot | Cyclone Fanatic

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Originally Posted by gizzsdad

This game is likely to be very different from last year's. Our whole defensive scheme last year was limiting Griner's touches and daring them to shoot from the perimeter, which they were not able to do.

They are improved as a perimeter team this year and have more balance in the post - and we have fewer proven scorers. I expect KB to struggle to get very many clean looks.

I would love to be wrong - but this has the potential to get ugly.

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This. Our best option might be to try what we did last year, but the odds of it working this time are much lower.

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Originally Posted by mred

This. Our best option might be to try what we did last year, but the odds of it working this time are much lower.

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agree. it won't be a surprise either. I am hopeful that BF has a couple new wrinkles in his planning.