Simple, I just do not believe our defense was bad. We lost 3 games, 2 away games (I considered Portland a home game for Oregon) and the other to a Missouri team that played way over their head. There was no downfall, we just had a bad draw in the tournament, Oregon was a tough match for us and playing in a home environment against a team like Oregon was something we just could not overcome.
Agree, I am also concerned about Bibby, just hope they both can recover and play at their pre injury level. One of the incoming freshman is also recovering from an ACL injury hope she also recovers. As for the OOC I will be interested to see if it has been upgraded. If anyone could enlighten me on the European tournament it would be appreciated. I understand MSST will play in the tournament and I think they will be the sole American team playing, based upon what I thought Vic said American teams have played in the tournament before but we have never metaled.
The reason Mississippi State lost so few games was that they played such a weak schedule. They played exactly 2 games against top 12 teams, and lost both.
Vic said in his presser he was haunted by the final score in the Oregon game. He said he had never had his team score 84 points and lose. No doubt the MSST defense against Oregon was substandard for a Vic team but I contend that was more a matchup issue than a team defense issue. We simply did not match well with a team that had hot shooting from outside and quick guards able to drive to the basket. Many have said Vic should have employed a zone defense, that would have been effective against drives to the basket but if the outside shots continued to go in a zone would have been a disaster. Against most of the teams we faced our defense was an asset, against a team like Oregon, I am not sure any team would prevail if they continued to hit from outside. My opinion is that in the Oregon game we needed to take the chance Oregon would cool off from outside and concentrate on stopping the drives, that means I agree we should have employed a zone defense against Oregon.
What I really wanted to see was a McCowan Brown matchup! We did see that matchup two years previous but the 1917 McCowan was an underdeveloped player while the 2019 McCowan was a premier post player. Of course I want MSST to finally win a national championship and I would love for it to be WBB. BTW, posters like you are a major reason I love the BY, knowledgeable and fair.
I have replayed that game numerous times. In my mind, Baylor was the better team, close but in my mind better. What that game illustrated was the effect confidence has on outcome. Morgan William was unbelievable, she was in her zone and she knew her shot was going to be good. Results was, for that moment and game, Morgan was the best player on the court and MSST won. Basketball is a game of confidence and if your shot is falling your confidence grows and you can dominate the entire game, one of the things I love about BBall.
Maybe MSST does not need a tough OOC but WBB does need for the top teams to schedule competitive OOC games. No one want to see an elite team beat a nobody, I realize the schedule is developed before the actual quality of the opponent is available but at least schedule 4-5 OOC opponents having a history of quality WBB play.
To get a 1 seed or higher seed maybe, but to battle tested I don't think so. I this SEC play prepares teams for the tournament. This year the only team Miss St had a problem with is Oregon and defending that pick and roll, I don't consider that Missouri loss a big loss. Now if you're in a conference like the Big 10 and don't schedule tough OOC opponents, then yes, Maryland, you won't be battle tested.
