The first round matchup with Kstate is an interesting one. Always a mirror image of a Bill Fennelly team, Kstate likes to shoot the three and depends on good guard play to win. Speaking of winning, this is something Kstate hasn't done a lot of lately. They seem to be in a tailspin for some reason losing 6 of their last 9 games...the opposite of what the sisters did at the end of the season. You can't even say it was the schedule as they lost to Missouri (who we know has improved greatly) and to TTech at home to end the regular season. Their low point was probably the 33 points scored against us in Ames in what was a must win for the lady clones. Their losses haven't been blowouts, but they have been losses. How will they react mentally to being on the brink right now? It seems to be the second half that is their undoing in most of their losses. The only consistent scorer has been über post Childs. I'll say it now that one key to winning this game is what we do defensively on the guards. If we hold Dickey and Chambers in check we have the upper hand. If they bust loose and light us up from outside we will be in for a battle.*
As you look at the Sisters, it's easy to see what the difference in our winning is. Guard play. We need to have good shooting and limited turnovers for us to win. Based on what I've seen down the stretch, I'm hoping that Moody is hot from the field and dishes the ball well. Please, none of those lazy overhead cross court passes! Cole will need to limit turnovers against pressure and be a whirling dervish on the boards. What about our post game? Pop...stay out of foul trouble. Prins...keep playing like you have of late. Zim and Ellis be ready to come in and spell them. My magic 8 ball says that the critical factor will be the presence or lack thereof of Big C. She can literally blow a game open if she comes ready to play.
It's always tough to win 3 in a row over someone who is so like yourself. Last year was heartbreaking at the tournament as the ladies were out of sync from the get-go and were battling from behind much of the game. We can't afford a classic ISU shooting slump for 7-8 minutes (or 13 like on Saturday) and expect to win. Defense only carries you so far.
Bottom line, this is a mirror image game. Even though we broke it open against Kstate in Ames, I fully expect a war out there. The team that blinks will be the one going home. I hope I'm wrong and the ladies do a dance on Kstate, but I'm prepared for anything.
As you look at the Sisters, it's easy to see what the difference in our winning is. Guard play. We need to have good shooting and limited turnovers for us to win. Based on what I've seen down the stretch, I'm hoping that Moody is hot from the field and dishes the ball well. Please, none of those lazy overhead cross court passes! Cole will need to limit turnovers against pressure and be a whirling dervish on the boards. What about our post game? Pop...stay out of foul trouble. Prins...keep playing like you have of late. Zim and Ellis be ready to come in and spell them. My magic 8 ball says that the critical factor will be the presence or lack thereof of Big C. She can literally blow a game open if she comes ready to play.
It's always tough to win 3 in a row over someone who is so like yourself. Last year was heartbreaking at the tournament as the ladies were out of sync from the get-go and were battling from behind much of the game. We can't afford a classic ISU shooting slump for 7-8 minutes (or 13 like on Saturday) and expect to win. Defense only carries you so far.
Bottom line, this is a mirror image game. Even though we broke it open against Kstate in Ames, I fully expect a war out there. The team that blinks will be the one going home. I hope I'm wrong and the ladies do a dance on Kstate, but I'm prepared for anything.
