WBB: wheels coming off

[burmafrd1943]

Worst time for it to come.

Defense is still good but everything else seems to be falling apart.

if they lose early in the NCAA tournament, this is truly an incredibly wasted season

I am sadly beginning to wonder about Coaching and also the players as well. Everything was clicking for most of the season but then it all falls apart. and we cannot blame it on injuries either; not this year.

 

[IrishHerb]

Agreed.

I think I noticed that things weren't going as smoothly a few weeks ago. They still managed to win, but didn't look the same. Then the back to back losses ... and now this.

Don't claim to be a basketball expert, so can't point out what is wrong now.

 

[BGI User 1596]

You could tell when they struggled with mediocre Cal.

 

[burmafrd1943]

Agreed.

I think I noticed that things weren't going as smoothly a few weeks ago. They still managed to win, but didn't look the same. Then the back to back losses ... and now this.

Don't claim to be a basketball expert, so can't point out what is wrong now.

Does not make sense really. They beat a number of top 10 teams fairly easily.
the big problem was Hidalgo going into a serious shooting slump and others not being able to make it up; but their defense was able to compensate. But you still have to be able to score and now that has reached the point where its costing them games.
In modern college basketball if you hold a team to 60 points or so you SHOULD WIN.
Especially with the talent we have.

I hate to think that the pressure has gotten to them and that is why they are folding.

 

[NWfor3]

Shot 38%, 20% from three

 

[tkirish]

At this point there’s nothing much a coach can do. Where is the senior leadership ? They look lost in the wilderness. You cannot manufacture “ swagger”. You either know you’re good or not. Right now I just get the sense that these young ladies are playing like they expect to lose. Play like that , and the prophecy becomes reality. This team needs a major attitude change. Meaning, they need to start playing with an attitude. Otherwise it could be a 2nd round departure.

 

[echowaker]

Miles is terrible right now. Can't shoot, horrible decision making and an absolute liability on defense. Need Citron more involved in the offense in my opinion. Westbeld really struggled too. Bad time to be out of sync.

 

[burmafrd1943]

Miles is terrible right now. Can't shoot, horrible decision making and an absolute liability on defense. Need Citron more involved in the offense in my opinion. Westbeld really struggled too. Bad time to be out of sync.

a couple of weeks ago they looked like favorites for the Final Four

now I can see them losing in the first rd

For a team that had spent virtually the whole season top five to fade now...

 

[burmafrd1943]

I was worried about Hidalgo who is pretty much back to normal and then Westfield is in a funk and Citroen is also in la la land.
You are not going to win Tournament Games with only one real scoring threat

they have a week of practice, almost, to get their heads back together.
The TALENT is clearly there; its just not performing

 

[HDK]

Shot 38%, 20% from three

I think this is what it boils down to. They are just not shooting well.

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

Worst time for it to come.

Defense is still good but everything else seems to be falling apart.

if they lose early in the NCAA tournament, this is truly an incredibly wasted season

I am sadly beginning to wonder about Coaching and also the players as well. Everything was clicking for most of the season but then it all falls apart. and we cannot blame it on injuries either; not this year.

Is it the worst time for this to happen or the best time?

Just playing devils advocate here. They have the opportunity to fix things up before the big dance.

Hate to say it, but perhaps similar to michigan vs ohio state last season.

 

[burmafrd1943]

Is it the worst time for this to happen or the best time?

Just playing devils advocate here. They have the opportunity to fix things up before the big dance.

Hate to say it, but perhaps similar to michigan vs ohio state last season.

I don't know if they can get their act all the way back in time

 

[BGI User 1596]

Is it the worst time for this to happen or the best time?

Just playing devils advocate here. They have the opportunity to fix things up before the big dance.

Hate to say it, but perhaps similar to michigan vs ohio state last season.

No

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

No

I guess only time will tell.

Hopefully they makes some tweaks, get hot and start up a win streak. But odds are, you are probably right. It's very close to tourney time.

Ohio state had like a long time after michigan to adjust. ND woman ball does not have that luxury.

 

[Telx1]

Basketball is a funny game with often team wide hot and cold streaks. As a team, we are shooting poorly right now, which impacts individual confidence, which snowballs. When shots aren’t falling, you need to attack the basket and get to the free throw line. I haven’t seen any of the past three games, so have no opinion about coaching, except to opine that Ivey should have them playing aggressive defense and attacking the basket and making free throws to regain their shooting confidence. Would not be surprised at all if they shoot lights out in their next game.

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

Basketball is a funny game with often team wide hot and cold streaks. As a team, we are shooting poorly right now, which impacts individual confidence, which snowballs. When shots aren’t falling, you need to attack the basket and get to the free throw line. I haven’t seen any of the past three games, so have no opinion about coaching, except to opine that Ivey should have them playing aggressive defense and attacking the basket and making free throws to regain their shooting confidence. Would not be surprised at all if they shoot lights out in their next game.

Really makes me think how much different basketball is versus football.

 

[Telx1]

Really makes me think how much different basketball is versus football.

One thing I’ve noticed throughout the year in the dozen games I’ve watched, is that this team depends heavily on defense and scoring on up tempo transitions. It’s a great formula for winning, and it’s a great fit for our talent. But, it’s damn near impossible to depend on this at seasons end when tourneys begin. To win championships, you need to be able to play effective half court offense against swarming defenses that put constant pressure on the ball. There have been several periods during our dominant winning streak where teams were successful in forcing us to play half court offense against pressure defense, and we looked vulnerable. This team is used to taking uncontested threes and getting lots of layups, and my concern is whether they have adequately developed the passing and cutting and timing necessary to beat half court pressure defenses.

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

One thing I’ve noticed throughout the year in the dozen games I’ve watched, is that this team depends heavily on defense and scoring on up tempo transitions. It’s a great formula for winning, and it’s a great fit for our talent. But, it’s damn near impossible to depend on this at seasons end when tourneys begin. To win championships, you need to be able to play effective half court offense against swarming defenses that put constant pressure on the ball. There have been several periods during our dominant winning streak where teams were successful in forcing us to play half court offense against pressure defense, and we looked vulnerable. This team is used to taking uncontested threes and getting lots of layups, and my concern is whether they have adequately developed the passing and cutting and timing necessary to beat half court pressure defenses.

Completely agree. Playoff basketball baby.

Game gets tighter, more physical, refs lay off the whistle a tad bit more. Scoring in transition becomes tougher for sure .

You will love this:
When you mention the importance of cutting and timing I literal had instant flashbacks of the best ND basketball team of my lifetime. ( I'm 30 )

Pat C, Jerian G, August, Bonzie, the silent assassin Vasturia, demetrius..

I remember them being unbelievable at moving without the ball.

Still think they could of won the national championship if they didn't let kentucky escape at the end in the elite 8. They would of faced Wisconsin in final 4, then Duke, whom the irish already beat in ACC tourney.
Pretty traumatic. Haven't sniffed elite 8 since.

 

[buckey]

I was worried about Hidalgo who is pretty much back to normal and then Westfield is in a funk and Citroen is also in la la land.
You are not going to win Tournament Games with only one real scoring threat

they have a week of practice, almost, to get their heads back together.
The TALENT is clearly there; its just not performing

Talent just ok. Maddy is horrible and doesn’t try. Citron can’t handle the ball and can’t create. Defenses have Miles number and she can’t play d. King has regressed under our staff. Our bigs are so so. Hannah only true great player

 

[burmafrd1943]

Talent just ok. Maddy is horrible and doesn’t try. Citron can’t handle the ball and can’t create. Defenses have Miles number and she can’t play d. King has regressed under our staff. Our bigs are so so. Hannah only true great player

this is an example of true stupidity
Our laides kicked pretty much everyones butt all season long and you claim talent is just OK
moron alert

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

this is an example of true stupidity
Our laides kicked pretty much everyones butt all season long and you claim talent is just OK
moron alert

The woman literally recruit at the level chase wishes our football team did. Lol

 

[buckey]

this is an example of true stupidity
Our laides kicked pretty much everyones butt all season long and you claim talent is just OK
moron alert

Well. Calling names is a sign of intelligence then. You apparently no nothing about basketball. And likely nothing else. Call me a moron if you like or show some insight and show us how smart you are—loser

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

Well. Calling names is a sign of intelligence then. You apparently no nothing about basketball. And likely nothing else. Call me a moron if you like or show some insight and show us how smart you are—loser

When you compare past championship woman's teams to our woman's team, it's not entirely unfair to say they can't win

But I'm not sure about labeling our like #2 seed girls as average. Let's at least go with above average maybe?

 

[buckey]

Does not make sense really. They beat a number of top 10 teams fairly easily.
the big problem was Hidalgo going into a serious shooting slump and others not being able to make it up; but their defense was able to compensate. But you still have to be able to score and now that has reached the point where its costing them games.
In modern college basketball if you hold a team to 60 points or so you SHOULD WIN.
Especially with the talent we have.

I hate to think that the pressure has gotten to them and that is why they are folding.

All seniors folding to pressure? Stupid moron.

 

[sjb75]

The UCLA women won the Big 10 title today over USC, and Notre Dame may be in the UCLA regional out west.

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

Basketball is wierd in that all it takes is a few shooters to get hot....

Next thing you know everything else opens up. Then you get momentum.

Let's see what happens bucky.

Not sure many of us thought after northern Illinois that ND would rip off 13 straight wins afterwards right ?

 

[sjb75]

Basketball is wierd in that all it takes is a few shooters to get hot....

Next thing you know everything else opens up. Then you get momentum.

Let's see what happens bucky.

Not sure many of us thought after northern Illinois that ND would rip off 13 straight wins afterwards right ?

What does football have to do with womens basketball?

Answer. Nothing.

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

What does football have to do with womens basketball?

Answer. Nothing.

Your right, completely different sports.

I was just trying to emphasize the power of momentum is all and that crazy things happen

 

[sjb75]

Your right, completely different sports.

I was just trying to emphasize the power of momentum is all and that crazy things happen

When you are ranked #1 and you lose three of your last 5 games, and the perception, whether it is right or wrong, is that you are losing to less talented teams.... criticism follows.

If they don't make the Final Four, criticism will again be directed at the head coach. And the criticism will be justified based on expectations. Tough business.

 

[Extirpate 6951]

They need to learn the FAKE Flop that Lebron tried against the Celtics.

 

[Kelso86]

Worst time for it to come.

Defense is still good but everything else seems to be falling apart.

if they lose early in the NCAA tournament, this is truly an incredibly wasted season

I am sadly beginning to wonder about Coaching and also the players as well. Everything was clicking for most of the season but then it all falls apart. and we cannot blame it on injuries either; not this year.

This team has lost it's overall collective confidence. Senior leadership is vitally important right now. As Citron said --

"We have a lot of time to work on our game, get better. But knowing that that's it. This next time is it. If we don't give everything we have, give 100 percent of ourselves, then I don't know what we're doing here.

“It's going to be our last chance. I mean, turn the page, get better, and we know we've got one more shot at it, so that's going to be what's motivating us.”

 

[burmafrd1943]

Well. Calling names is a sign of intelligence then. You apparently no nothing about basketball. And likely nothing else. Call me a moron if you like or show some insight and show us how smart you are—loser

you deserve no respect only contempt

 

[burmafrd1943]

All seniors folding to pressure? Stupid moron.

trolls like you are fit for ridicule and nothing else

 

[burmafrd1943]

When you compare past championship woman's teams to our woman's team, it's not entirely unfair to say they can't win

But I'm not sure about labeling our like #2 seed girls as average. Let's at least go with above average maybe?

don't bother with the moron
trolls thrive on attention
so just treat them as total losers and move on

 

[DOMER1964]

Notre Dame Nation:


I love this team, but it seems as though something is off. The key to a championship is Maddie Westbeld. I understand that her play as of late has been underwhelming, but she is the key. I wonder if she is still injured. It does seem as though Olivia at times plays cautious. No diving for ball and the like. They have the talent to win it all, but they can also make an early exit in the NCAA tournament. I hope that they get it together, because the competition will be fierce. It is indeed win or go home. Go Irish!!!!!

 

[BGI User 1596]

Notre Dame Nation:


I love this team, but it seems as though something is off. The key to a championship is Maddie Westbeld. I understand that her play as of late has been underwhelming, but she is the key. I wonder if she is still injured. It does seem as though Olivia at times plays cautious. No diving for ball and the like. They have the talent to win it all, but they can also make an early exit in the NCAA tournament. I hope that they get it together, because the competition will be fierce. It is indeed win or go home. Go Irish!!!!!

Maddie keeps taking shots to the face…..she’s playing punch drunk….perhaps she should mask up.

 

[burmafrd1943]

Maddie keeps taking shots to the face…..she’s playing punch drunk….perhaps she should mask up.

why in the world is THAT happening? That is my question.
But yeah she should mask up. That loss to Duke was at least partly because she was on the bench for almost half the second half trying to stop a nose bleed caused by another hit to the face.
Was there a foul on that, by the way?

 

[tkirish]

Notre Dame Nation:


I love this team, but it seems as though something is off. The key to a championship is Maddie Westbeld. I understand that her play as of late has been underwhelming, but she is the key. I wonder if she is still injured. It does seem as though Olivia at times plays cautious. No diving for ball and the like. They have the talent to win it all, but they can also make an early exit in the NCAA tournament. I hope that they get it together, because the competition will be fierce. It is indeed win or go home. Go Irish!!!!!

Agreed. When you see a really good team playing at a high level , you always see nice natural flow to how they play. In the last ten games , it seems the ladies are play tight , unsure of themselves. Waiting for somebody to step up and take over. In reality when they were on a roll , they were all playing well and all were making a difference, not just one or two. I think getting this team to stop being so robotic and just go out and run up and down the court is what is needed. Attack on defense, create turnovers and capitalize on scoring chances. When shots aren’t falling from the perimeter, drive and attack the to rim , draw fouls. Just like the scene out of Glory Road. “ Coach , let us do our thing “. Sometimes you can over prepare, overthink and over coach. Just go out and play like you know how. They proved they can beat anyone. This is an entire new season. They need to turn the page and just go for it. That’s my recipe for success. Go Irish ☘️

 

[Telx1]

Completely agree. Playoff basketball baby.

Game gets tighter, more physical, refs lay off the whistle a tad bit more. Scoring in transition becomes tougher for sure .

You will love this:
When you mention the importance of cutting and timing I literal had instant flashbacks of the best ND basketball team of my lifetime. ( I'm 30 )

Pat C, Jerian G, August, Bonzie, the silent assassin Vasturia, demetrius..

I remember them being unbelievable at moving without the ball.

Still think they could of won the national championship if they didn't let kentucky escape at the end in the elite 8. They would of faced Wisconsin in final 4, then Duke, whom the irish already beat in ACC tourney.
Pretty traumatic. Haven't sniffed elite 8 since.

That last second loss to Kentucky is one of the most memorable of ND men’s basketball. We’ve had some great games, especially against UCLA when they dominated college basketball. One the best half court teams I’ve ever watched was the 65 Princeton team with Bill Bradley. Constant motion and great passing, and numerous back door cuts to the basket. Pete Carroll was their legendary coach. That game doesn’t exist in today’s game, but the principles they mastered still apply, especially in playoff basketball as you described.

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

That last second loss to Kentucky is one of the most memorable of ND men’s basketball. We’ve had some great games, especially against UCLA when they dominated college basketball. One the best half court teams I’ve ever watched was the 65 Princeton team with Bill Bradley. Constant motion and great passing, and numerous back door cuts to the basket. Pete Carroll was their legendary coach. That game doesn’t exist in today’s game, but the principles they mastered still apply, especially in playoff basketball as you described.

RIP bill Walton.

My dad tells me all about it!

Bill was very funny. My dad said that apparently after UCLA lost to ND, bill Walton sang the notre dame fight song in front of the reporters ?