MSU Women @ UNC

[BobcatDel]

1 of 14 shooting? Getting outrebounded big time. Tough to win games like that.

[BelgradeBobcat]

Bad shooting. Too many sub 40% outings for this team.

[mslacatfan]

Bummer

[MSU01]

What a huge missed opportunity. Darian goes for 32 points on 13-18 shooting and the rest of the team shoots 11-50 for 22%. On the plus side, I don't hate the potential 2/3 semifinal with SUU if both teams get there.

[BobcatDel]

What a huge missed opportunity. Darian goes for 32 points on 13-18 shooting and the rest of the team shoots 11-50 for 22%. On the plus side, I don't hate the potential 2/3 semifinal with SUU if both teams get there.

Huge miss…dang. Not exactly going into tourney on a high note. After a 9 game win streak we finished the conference 4-4 in last 8 games.

[MSU01]

The WBB bracket is all set:

#1 ISU vs #8 UNC/#9 EWU
#4 NAU vs #5 UM

#2 MSU vs #7 Sac/#10 Weber
#3 SUU vs #6 Idaho/#11 PSU

MSU went 8-2 against the teams on its side of the bracket and 6-4 against the other side.

[BelgradeBobcat]

The WBB bracket is all set:

#1 ISU vs #8 UNC/#9 EWU
#4 NAU vs #5 UM

#2 MSU vs #7 Sac/#10 Weber
#3 SUU vs #6 Idaho/#11 PSU

MSU went 8-2 against the teams on its side of the bracket and 6-4 against the other side.

Yeah, not a horrible draw. Our team is very capable of winning it all...or losing in their first game. Neither would really surprise me. I really have no idea with this bunch.

[MSU01]

The WBB bracket is all set:

#1 ISU vs #8 UNC/#9 EWU
#4 NAU vs #5 UM

#2 MSU vs #7 Sac/#10 Weber
#3 SUU vs #6 Idaho/#11 PSU

MSU went 8-2 against the teams on its side of the bracket and 6-4 against the other side.

Yeah, not a horrible draw. Our team is very capable of winning it all...or losing in their first game. Neither would really surprise me. I really have no idea with this bunch.

The good news is you can say pretty much the same thing about any of the Top 5. Idaho State has also had a few headscratchers, most recently their come-from-behind win at home over 0-20 Portland State.

[BelgradeBobcat]

The WBB bracket is all set:

#1 ISU vs #8 UNC/#9 EWU
#4 NAU vs #5 UM

#2 MSU vs #7 Sac/#10 Weber
#3 SUU vs #6 Idaho/#11 PSU

MSU went 8-2 against the teams on its side of the bracket and 6-4 against the other side.

Yeah, not a horrible draw. Our team is very capable of winning it all...or losing in their first game. Neither would really surprise me. I really have no idea with this bunch.

The good news is you can say pretty much the same thing about any of the Top 5. Idaho State has also had a few headscratchers, most recently their come-from-behind win at home over 0-20 Portland State.

The two most scary teams might be montana and Northern Colorado right at this moment. Both are on the other side of the bracket.

[Bobcat4Ever]

What a huge missed opportunity. Darian goes for 32 points on 13-18 shooting and the rest of the team shoots 11-50 for 22%. On the plus side, I don't hate the potential 2/3 semifinal with SUU if both teams get there.

Huge miss…dang. Not exactly going into tourney on a high note. After a 9 game win streak we finished the conference 4-4 in last 8 games.

This game was simply inexplicable. We played terribly, except for Darian and Leia on offense. Darian had five or six steals as well. We gave up three-pointers as least as well as usual — one Bear player was 4-4 in the first quarter and seemed unguarded. I went back and watched one of them and her defender(s) had wandered way off and both had their backs to her. An easy skip pass made for an uncontested three.

Our shooting, and our whole game actually, has never been the same since the Wednesday re-routing of our travel from Oregon for the Thursday game in Cedar City. The return game in Bozeman was the only game where we looked like the Bobcats. I know UNC in Greeley is a “bring your own energy” place but, for a game where they held a conference championship in their paws, it was strangely missing.

[Catlady]

What a huge missed opportunity. Darian goes for 32 points on 13-18 shooting and the rest of the team shoots 11-50 for 22%. On the plus side, I don't hate the potential 2/3 semifinal with SUU if both teams get there.

Huge miss…dang. Not exactly going into tourney on a high note. After a 9 game win streak we finished the conference 4-4 in last 8 games.

This game was simply inexplicable. We played terribly, except for Darian and Leia on offense. Darian had five or six steals as well. We gave up three-pointers as least as well as usual — one Bear player was 4-4 in the first quarter and seemed unguarded. I went back and watched one of them and her defender(s) had wandered way off and both had their backs to her. An easy skip pass made for an uncontested three.

Our shooting, and our whole game actually, has never been the same since the Wednesday re-routing of our travel from Oregon for the Thursday game in Cedar City. The return game in Bozeman was the only game where we looked like the Bobcats. I know UNC in Greeley is a “bring your own energy” place but, for a game where they held a conference championship in their paws, it was strangely missing.

I’m not sure if it’s energy or heart, but only one player wanted a Championship ring and that was Darian. The rest of the team did not show up. I hate to use the word “soft” but that’s what it looked like. I wonder if they even brought the trophy to Greeley? How do you play like that for the championship? I love Binford and think she runs a great program, but someone needs a seminar on 3pt defense. We got toasted (again) from the 3! Every coach in the big sky should be figuring out right now how to get their 3 pt shooters in position against the Cats……. Because our defenders are focused on backing off the shooter versus contesting the shot. Also the rebounding effort was not at the level for a team trying to win a championship. We got our butts kicked! I’m going to Boise to cheer on the team, but will be surprised if I’m there on Saturday. This team doesn’t hunger for success!

[Bobcatsinmso]

It has been a long weird season. The team ( other than DW) looked tired. Lady Cats are in a good position to rest, recharge, and focus on the tournament. I like their chances. Go Lady Cats!

[Ilikecats]

Defending the 3 has been a common theme with this program for many years. I’m at a lost for words what’s going on, but it’s no secret. That is not our strength. I think we’re last or second to last in the conference in that statistic. It’s easy to have a career night shooting the against us because nobody is close to you! It’s like a practice drill, with no time limits.

[BobcatDel]

Defending the 3 has been a common theme with this program for many years. I’m at a lost for words what’s going on, but it’s no secret. That is not our strength. I think we’re last or second to last in the conference in that statistic. It’s easy to have a career night shooting the against us because nobody is close to you! It’s like a practice drill, with no time limits.

Overall decline in defensive performance this year. Last year we ranked 2nd in league for fewest points allowed….this year we fell to 8th. Last year we ranked 4th in allowed 3 pt % (31%) made and this year we rank 10th in allowed 3pt % made (33%).

Couple that with the decline in our own 3pt shooting and you have a recipe for failure. Last year we ranked 1st in number of 3s made and 2nd in % made at 35%. This year we have fallen to 10th place in % 3s made at 30%. Guess the Tori Martell effect was bigger than I thought!

But my own frustration lately has been with the rebounding, defense and lack of hustle plays. Down the stretch we have a couple games where we were just terribly out hustled and out rebounded…like last night with something like 10 rebounds more by UNC or like SUU with over 20 more than Cats. Rebounding is a basic fundamental of blocking out and hustle….are we just tired physically and mentally?

[BobcatDel]

What a huge missed opportunity. Darian goes for 32 points on 13-18 shooting and the rest of the team shoots 11-50 for 22%. On the plus side, I don't hate the potential 2/3 semifinal with SUU if both teams get there.

Huge miss…dang. Not exactly going into tourney on a high note. After a 9 game win streak we finished the conference 4-4 in last 8 games.

This game was simply inexplicable. We played terribly, except for Darian and Leia on offense. Darian had five or six steals as well. We gave up three-pointers as least as well as usual — one Bear player was 4-4 in the first quarter and seemed unguarded. I went back and watched one of them and her defender(s) had wandered way off and both had their backs to her. An easy skip pass made for an uncontested three.

Our shooting, and our whole game actually, has never been the same since the Wednesday re-routing of our travel from Oregon for the Thursday game in Cedar City. The return game in Bozeman was the only game where we looked like the Bobcats. I know UNC in Greeley is a “bring your own energy” place but, for a game where they held a conference championship in their paws, it was strangely missing.

I’m not sure if it’s energy or heart, but only one player wanted a Championship ring and that was Darian. The rest of the team did not show up. I hate to use the word “soft” but that’s what it looked like. I wonder if they even brought the trophy to Greeley? How do you play like that for the championship? I love Binford and think she runs a great program, but someone needs a seminar on 3pt defense. We got toasted (again) from the 3! Every coach in the big sky should be figuring out right now how to get their 3 pt shooters in position against the Cats……. Because our defenders are focused on backing off the shooter versus contesting the shot. Also the rebounding effort was not at the level for a team trying to win a championship. We got our butts kicked! I’m going to Boise to cheer on the team, but will be surprised if I’m there on Saturday. This team doesn’t hunger for success!

I asked Coach Bin about this and Bobcat4Ever mentioned it on another thread…I don’t see the leadership on the floor that is taking this team on their back and “hungering for the win”. We had that heart and soul with Fallyn Freji and Peyton Ferris and Riley Norgard and Blair Braxton. But they were senior leaders at the time…..

I was still “sulking” this morning in how we missed such an opportunity to possibly have 3peat champions this year and for next 2 years. I was sulking enough to say “why go” to Boise! But I am over that.

I sat down and reflected on last year and how that young team was a group of overachievers…a team that was one of the two or three youngest teams in the nation at any level and what they did to get that second place spot. Then I remembered my excitement this fall, excited for that same team a year older and stronger (sans Tori) and their potential to win it all and even dreaming of a NCAA tourney game or two….and now thinking they have underachieved against my “grandiose hopes”…..maybe I am just not being realistic.

Anyway, trying to get my optimism back up….and hoping for a run in Boise. I’ve seen them play great ball when they have it all together…are they up to it now??

I’ll be there cheering no matter what….I love the program Coach Bin has built and hope they can bring home a trophy and auto invite.

[aucat]

Well I'm still sulking. Last night the opportunity was there for the Lady Cats to add 2022 on the banner and claim a championship. It appeared to me that there was one player who absolutely wanted it and brought every ounce of energy she could muster. Rebounding, defense, steals and making shots. I think she played the best game of the season, and why not, this game was for a championship. The rest of the team? Low energy. Poor defense. Terrible shooting.

I have to say that I have attended every men's and women's game in person and have followed both teams on ESPN+ when on the road. Other than one game against Weber, I don't recall being befuddled at the men's team. But on quite a few occasions, and last night against UNC was yet another one, I have found it so very difficult to watch this Lady Cat team. They have truly played some outstanding games, such as against UM and SUU at home. But my gosh, with a championship on the line, why did only Darian show up? I may be surprised but I'm not expecting this team to do much in Boise this year.

[arvcat2]

Defending the 3 has been a common theme with this program for many years. I’m at a lost for words what’s going on, but it’s no secret. That is not our strength. I think we’re last or second to last in the conference in that statistic. It’s easy to have a career night shooting the against us because nobody is close to you! It’s like a practice drill, with no time limits.

Perhaps the sub-par 3 defense has a lot to do with the overall lack of speed & quickness with this team. White, Lamardo, & Jackson are the only ones that have an extra gear. The rest….not.

[MSU01]

A lot of talk about the defense, but UNC had 60 points with 1:30 to go in the game before padding their score with free throws once MSU had to start fouling. On most nights MSU is going to win if they can hold the opponent in the low/mid 60s, but the shooting was just atrocious last night aside from Darian. There were some ups and downs for sure, but I find it hard to get too disappointed about the regular season as a whole when they were picked in the preseason to finish 2nd behind Idaho State and ended up...finishing 2nd behind Idaho State.

[BobcatDel]

A lot of talk about the defense, but UNC had 60 points with 1:30 to go in the game before padding their score with free throws once MSU had to start fouling. On most nights MSU is going to win if they can hold the opponent in the low/mid 60s, but the shooting was just atrocious last night aside from Darian. There were some ups and downs for sure, but I find it hard to get too disappointed about the regular season as a whole when they were picked in the preseason to finish 2nd behind Idaho State and ended up...finishing 2nd behind Idaho State.

Yes I remembered the pre-season prediction of a second place finish and I understand the “not being too disappointed” comment. I sometimes go there too. But here is why I am disappointed….this is a team that has the potential and players to be a champion. We had to “play down” to lose a championship…no excuses. We lost 4 of the last 8 games including two losses to teams without a winning record to lose a championship. At the least we would have earned a co-conference championship and likely an invite to WNIT as a minimum. Championship caliber teams just don’t do that. In fact, looking at how we closed out the season we weren’t even worthy of a second place finish….it’s lucky we had several good winning streaks early or we wouldn’t have finished where we did.

It isn’t just defense. Some of this is discussed elsewhere so I am repeating. Compare this team to last year. We allowed 5 more points per game and scored 3 points per game less. An 8 point swing advantage to the opponents…. Not a good formula. We fell from 2nd best scoring defense to 8th. Our 3 pt defense fell from 4th best to 10th in the league. Our 3 pt shooting declined from 2nd best to 10th. Our overall FG% dropped us from 5th in league to 9th and our field goal defense is now over 41% FG made against us….or 7th worst in league. Our rebound margin was positive last year but fell to a negative and 8th place in the league. My point is that this team hardly ranks in the top half of the conference in any meaningful category (ok ok we still rank 1st in free throw percentage). Is this a sophomore slump since we have so many on the team? How much do we really miss Tori’s leadership? How do you turn it around at tourney time?

I love the Lady Bobcats, I love the quality of the students and athletes Coach brings in. I have enjoyed attending every game I could since moving back to Bozeman and I will be there in Boise cheering my heart out for them. I’ve seen them play some outstanding ball and if they can pull it together they can win a tourney championship. I want Darian to walk away from a career at MSU with 3 championships. She has one under her belt with the Conference Championship in 2019-20 with the winningest team in Bobcat history (tourney canceled before championship game), I want to win this tourney, I want to see the ladies win the conference and tourney her senior year! There is work to be done next week Lady Cats…go get ‘em!

[Catlady]

A lot of talk about the defense, but UNC had 60 points with 1:30 to go in the game before padding their score with free throws once MSU had to start fouling. On most nights MSU is going to win if they can hold the opponent in the low/mid 60s, but the shooting was just atrocious last night aside from Darian. There were some ups and downs for sure, but I find it hard to get too disappointed about the regular season as a whole when they were picked in the preseason to finish 2nd behind Idaho State and ended up...finishing 2nd behind Idaho State.

Yes I remembered the pre-season prediction of a second place finish and I understand the “not being too disappointed” comment. I sometimes go there too. But here is why I am disappointed….this is a team that has the potential and players to be a champion. We had to “play down” to lose a championship…no excuses. We lost 4 of the last 8 games including two losses to teams without a winning record to lose a championship. At the least we would have earned a co-conference championship and likely an invite to WNIT as a minimum. Championship caliber teams just don’t do that. In fact, looking at how we closed out the season we weren’t even worthy of a second place finish….it’s lucky we had several good winning streaks early or we wouldn’t have finished where we did.

It isn’t just defense. Some of this is discussed elsewhere so I am repeating. Compare this team to last year. We allowed 5 more points per game and scored 3 points per game less. An 8 point swing advantage to the opponents…. Not a good formula. We fell from 2nd best scoring defense to 8th. Our 3 pt defense fell from 4th best to 10th in the league. Our 3 pt shooting declined from 2nd best to 10th. Our overall FG% dropped us from 5th in league to 9th and our field goal defense is now over 41% FG made against us….or 7th worst in league. Our rebound margin was positive last year but fell to a negative and 8th place in the league. My point is that this team hardly ranks in the top half of the conference in any meaningful category (ok ok we still rank 1st in free throw percentage). Is this a sophomore slump since we have so many on the team? How much do we really miss Tori’s leadership? How do you turn it around at tourney time?

I love the Lady Bobcats, I love the quality of the students and athletes Coach brings in. I have enjoyed attending every game I could since moving back to Bozeman and I will be there in Boise cheering my heart out for them. I’ve seen them play some outstanding ball and if they can pull it together they can win a tourney championship. I want Darian to walk away from a career at MSU with 3 championships. She has one under her belt with the Conference Championship in 2019-20 with the winningest team in Bobcat history (tourney canceled before championship game), I want to win this tourney, I want to see the ladies win the conference and tourney her senior year! There is work to be done next week Lady Cats…go get ‘em!

Post of the season !