#WCChoops Women's Basketball 2021-22 Season Preview

[ZagDad84]

ZD… I just don’t see GU WBB getting any respect this year in the rankings after last years early exit. I think we will need to prove again to them that we are worth of a spot in the top 25. If we get into the dance, as we should, I see a low ranking in the tournament.

Go Zags!!

The Good News is that the Lady Zags got asked to participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis next year. One of, if not the, best Wbb tournaments around with all 8 teams being quality teams. If the Lady Zags had not garnered some respect, they would not have been asked to that quality tournament.

Unfortunately, when you don't live up to your seeding (when you're seeded in the Top 7 and favored in round 1), year after year, in the NCAA tournament that stigma sticks and it takes a lot of shoveling to get back toward the top. Unlike the Spokesman-Review which thinks a 25 win season just about guarantees an "at-large" bid, I have no such hope. Wins over very good mid-major teams just does not carry the same weight a win over ranked teams, a win over P5 teams or preferably wins over ranked P5 teams. We have played Idaho State and will play UC Davis and SF Austin, all of whom are predicted to win their league. I just don't see the writers caring if we beat both UC Davis and SFA, but they care will if we lose.

IMO, the Lady Zags better not lose any more OOC games, maybe split with a ranked BYU team in conference, and make it to the WCC championship game, then I think the Lady Zags will be in the Top-20 in the polls (maybe the Top-15) and have essentially guaranteed an NCAA "at-large" bid. Anything else, then I think they are going to need help from more than one somebodies along the way. Best not to leave it in the hands of the committee, you most likely will not like what you hear.

Go Zags,

ZagDad

[seacatfan]

St. Mary's ran away from Fresno St. in the 2nd half. I can't figure out Fresno St. They have talent but are gonna fall to 2-6. Watched them nearly beat Cal in Berkeley this week. The Cavinder twins can keep them in most games.

SMC is being led by former UW transfer Ali Bamberger w/ a monster game--25 pts/19 reb.

[seacatfan]

Looks like BYU and Utah have a good game going. Cougs have been leading most of the way. Harding and Gonzales doing almost all of the scoring.

[ZagDad84]

Yeah,

If Utah wants to have a chance, they have to keep BYU from shooting over 60% from the field and over 55% from 3.

Interesting that it appears that Laura Gustin is not playing in this game, at least not yet.

ZagDad

[ZagDad84]

The BYU-Utah game is now showing on Pac-12 network.

It had been superseded by the WSU vs USC Mbb game.

Just starting the 3rd quarter and Utah can't seem to guard BYU under the basket or out on the 3-point line. A very dangerous combination for the Utes.

ZagDad

[ZagDad84]

The announcers just said that Laura Gustin is one of four (4) BYU players who are out today under the Covid protocols.

ZagDad

[seacatfan]

Being shorthanded doesn't seem to be hurting the Cougs.

Harding is going off, 29 on 12-15 shooting.

Maxwell had 1 good quarter but was MIA in Q1 and Q3. She's good but inconsistent.

[ZagDad84]

Being shorthanded doesn't seem to be hurting the Cougs.

Harding is going off, 29 on 12-15 shooting.

Maxwell had 1 good quarter but was MIA in Q1 and Q3. She's good but inconsistent.

BYU has 19 players on this year's squad, being 4 players short will have little impact on them particularly since Gustin is the only starter missing.

Utah making a big comeback. Finally starting to hit their 3's and the Utes have been playing better defense.

Utes down 5 with 22 seconds to go.

ZagDad

[seacatfan]

Harding w/ 33, Gonzales 19. The rest of BYU has combined for 30.

[ZagDad84]

Utes down 3 with 13.4 seconds to go.

ZagDad

[ZagDad84]

Shaylee hits 2 free throws to seal the deal.

Cougars win 85-80.

Not to much in comparing the BYU and GU victories over GU. Gonzaga scored more points (89), permitted Utah to score fewer points (71) and had a much wider margin of victory (18) than did BYU. However, the Lady Zags won on a neutral court after a long flight from the mainland while BYU won in the hostile environment of the Utes.

As would be expected, the majority of the points for the Cougars came from Paisley Harding (35) and Shaylee Gonzales (22).

As far as Gonzaga goes, Gustin, if she is playing, is good for 10-15 ppg, Teagen Graham is good for 10-15 ppg and Albiero is good for about 10 ppg. Typically, Gustin, Graham and Albiero will not, individually, beat any single team but Harding and Gonzales certainly can. Harding, Gonzales, Albeiro and Graham can all hit the 3 and have no qualms about taking the 3 whenever they are open. If the zags play the "Hope the miss" defense on the outside perimeter, BYU will kill the Zags. Zags have to guard the cougars all the way out to the 3 point line and keep a hand in their face. Harding and Gonzales never stop moving, cutting back and forth, side to side and top to bottom in the key. You look away for the minute, they will move to the basket, get the pass and hit the layup. They are a very experienced, well coached team that does not make many mistakes. You can get under Harding's skin but she simply plays harder and faster.

Good win for the cougars today against a Pac-12 foe. The Zags need BYU to win as many games as possible and be ranked as high as possible if they want the opportunity to win and move up in the rankings.

Couple of months before Game #1 with the cougars, lots of games to go before then. Hopefully, not to many like last night.

Next up the cougars from WSU.

Let's go Zags.

ZagDad

[seacatfan]

Oregon is severely depleted, but Portland is hanging with them thru 3 quarters at the Chiles Center.

[seacatfan]

USF fell behind USC by 10 in Q1, but now up 8 in Q3. Krimili has 21. She's a player who deserves a lot more recognition than she gets, she's a baller.

[seacatfan]

Portland ended up losing to Oregon by 3, stayed in contact the whole game.

[ZagDad84]

USF fell behind USC by 10 in Q1, but now up 8 in Q3. Krimili has 21. She's a player who deserves a lot more recognition than she gets, she's a baller.

SeaCat, the coaches and players in the WCC are well aware of Krimili, it is the West Coast and National media who are behind in the news. If Krimili has any significant amount of help, USF would have been very dangerous last year. Krimili cannot do it by herself.

ZagDad