At 0-4 Texas next. This kind of game always scares me. A good program on a bad streak but at home. DANGER!!! They’ve lost to four ranked teams. This team is too good, especially up front, to keep playing this way. We’ll need to be sharp.
12/9: 23-21 at the half.
At least we’re playing good D. We’re also rebounding. But we’re missing shots (33%) and we’re sloppy (11 TOs).
Better in the 2nd but not a lot. They stay close all the way, even lead a couple of times. We go on a late run and go up 13 with 3:44 left. They rally but can only get it to 4, 58-54. We escaped.
+17, -4, 39-41%, fouls were 9-17 so we won at the line yet again. D was better but I like to keep opponent shooting pct. Below 40% so still some work to do.
13, 14, 1, 2 for Qual, 16, 4, 6, 3, 6 for Tark who’s leading the nation in blocked shots (go figure, he’s a PG), 8, 12, 2 for Young, 11, 2, 2 for Asp, 8, 1, 2 for Lowe.
#15, RPI #2.
At 4-1 Gonzaga. Lost to Hawaii in their last but 2 good wins, and they’re at home. Their SF, best player, tore his ACL in their last game.
12/13: 28-36 at the half.
Not playing well, D is a step slow, we’re sloppy. I stay calm and try to fix it at the half.
Total fail. As bad as we’ve played all season, 52-65. Couldn’t make shots, we stayed sloppy. D was better in the 2nd but that’s all that was.
+6, -3, 35-48%.
11, 5, 7, 1, 3 for Tark, 11, 9, 1, 2 for Qual, 13 for Layt.
Maybe this team isn’t as good as I thought they were. Either that or we haven’t jelled yet. Dad and I, as well as the rest of the staff, discuss it for several hours after we get home. Our problems are led by poor shooting (a woeful .417%), and poor ball handling (more TOs than assists). Much as I complain about the D we’re only giving up 60.5 per. Hopefully a four game home stand will help but the 4th is with #1 in the country UCLA.
6-3 Texas A & M is in. They lose to the good teams and give up points doing so. PG and C are their best players but we’re the better team if we play. We’ve been working hard in practice.
12/16: 32-20 at the half.
Great D! We rebound and make shots, and we take care of the ball.
A good 2nd half too, 70-50.
+15, +1, 46-33% (!).
16, 5 for Lowe, 12, 8, 6, 1, 1 for Tark, 6, 13, 3, 2 for Asp, 9, 7, 3, 1, 1 for Young.
#18, RPI #2.