My estimate at the game was about 1600.

The game plan now of ACC teams is don't let our three point shooters get an opem look. This particularly affects Lulu. Michele has increased her scoring if she can stay in the game. They decided to front her and have us throw the ball over the4 top. And it worked. I would let Michele set a pick up at the top and pick and roll. If she scores enough then maybe it will free the three point shooters.

We are looking tired. Our bench is not scoring. The travel is wearing us out. Not playing our best at the end of the season. In the post game interview, Marta looked down. She said it was because of her turnovers. BC sold out at the top to press us but we didn't always get in side. It would seem is we put three point shooters in the corners and threw over the top there would be openings.

Who is going to the game on Sunday?

Does our bench even look to score? Abigor will shoot down low. But I rarely see Anastasia or Noble shoot. Donez seems to play defense. Ackerman seems to be out with her medical condition. King, Maul and Mafua seem to be end of bench players for now, so wen inserted, they are not being asked to shoot.

With Onyiah, Williams, Noble, Krimili and Ackerman definitely not back next year (Suarez is a question), it will be a whole new team - talented, but not college experienced.
I think Smith has decided to just ride the veterans as far as this team can go.

gljone said:

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That was...ugly.

Cal did not help themselves with numerous unforced TOs. I do not usually comment about the refs...but they were terrible. Simply awful. Especially the two men. Jayda got the raw deal on a couple of calls, as did Lulu. The game slowed to a crawl at the end.

At this point, I just don't see Cal limiting their TOs. They'll average 18-20 per game - it's just going to be that way.

The starters had 22 TOs!

However, if they don't force passes and if they move the ball quicker against pressure they can mitigate the TOs with transition baskets. But they just don't seem to see when they have the advantage. Once the pressure is broken, there is usually an odd-player rush and you're probably playing 4-3. Several times tonight, Cal guards (Kayla or Io) had a chance to break the paint but chose to stop and circle back...into perimeter pressure. Considering Cal's massive advantage in the paint, I'd have thought attacking the rim in those situations would have been a higher percentage play.

If someone who was there, am I wrong?

But guess what? A win. And their 20th. Better than the alternative!

A good chance for a weekend sweep, which is necessary, considering the opposition.

There were 2000 in attendance - not bad due to the weather.

Go Bears! Get the sweep!

---

I was at the game last night and you are spot on about our attacking the rim and the refs.

I understand that as a team you need the mindset of running set rotations in the half court offense, and using discretion during transition breaks. But last night, BC was extending out so far (they've watched the blueprint from recent games), that if Kayla can beat her defender off the dribble she has no choice but to attack. And in most occasions she is capable of that. The fact that she didn't do that as often as she could have contributed to the ridiculous amount of turnovers that we ended up with. Same goes for transistion. There are times when you have to be aggressive to produce baskets. Last night's game was a classic example of showing how sometimes you need to be aggressive to REDUCE turnovers, otherwise you actually get "bullied" into making them.

And the refs last night, my goodness, completely incompetent.

Shocky1 said:

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the refs criticisms on this board are hilarious, it's as tho ur completely unaware that wbb in 2025 is not like the candy azz soft game played 50 years ago as today's game is physically (and sometimes violently) played by +1 athletic apex predators

if u visit the message board sites of top16 teams there are zero criticisms of the refs, last nite's game wuz 1`00% fairly called tho they could literally call michelle for a moving screen foul every time she attempts one

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Shocky, every time someone criticizes the refs you always label it as posters thinking this game is like the "candy azz soft game played 50 years ago." Newsflash: The problem with the refs last night was that they were calling the game too close. Get it? My whole gripe with the refs last night was that they weren't letting the players play enough, which actually SUPPORTS your "candy azz" theory.

I have to keep repeating this. It's NOT about the refs being biased, its about the refs being incompetent. "Candy azz" or no "candy azz", I was 15 feet away from the court last night (a lot closer than you were), and those refs SUCKED. And honestly, nobody gives a sh*t about what other message boards say. So you can think it's hilarious all u want, but the opinions I'm reading here on last night's officiating are accurate, and because they are justified, people here are going to offer them. After all, this is an opinion board.

wvitbear said:

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My estimate at the game was about 1600.

The game plan now of ACC teams is don't let our three point shooters get an opem look. This particularly affects Lulu. Michele has increased her scoring if she can stay in the game. They decided to front her and have us throw the ball over the4 top. And it worked. I would let Michele set a pick up at the top and pick and roll. If she scores enough then maybe it will free the three point shooters.

We are looking tired. Our bench is not scoring. The travel is wearing us out. Not playing our best at the end of the season. In the post game interview, Marta looked down. She said it was because of her turnovers. BC sold out at the top to press us but we didn't always get in side. It would seem is we put three point shooters in the corners and threw over the top there would be openings.

Who is going to the game on Sunday?

---

Not down necessarily but very disappointed in her performance. All three of them were not happy with how they played last night. Turnovers, missed layups, misfiring on 3's, etc. It will be motivation for practice today and preparation for Syracuse.

I'll be there Sunday. I haven't missed a game yet this season. Plus, I went on two road trips (San Jose State and Stanford).

GO Bears!!

RedlessWardrobe said:

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gljone said:

---

That was...ugly.

Cal did not help themselves with numerous unforced TOs. I do not usually comment about the refs...but they were terrible. Simply awful. Especially the two men. Jayda got the raw deal on a couple of calls, as did Lulu. The game slowed to a crawl at the end.

At this point, I just don't see Cal limiting their TOs. They'll average 18-20 per game - it's just going to be that way.

The starters had 22 TOs!

However, if they don't force passes and if they move the ball quicker against pressure they can mitigate the TOs with transition baskets. But they just don't seem to see when they have the advantage. Once the pressure is broken, there is usually an odd-player rush and you're probably playing 4-3. Several times tonight, Cal guards (Kayla or Io) had a chance to break the paint but chose to stop and circle back...into perimeter pressure. Considering Cal's massive advantage in the paint, I'd have thought attacking the rim in those situations would have been a higher percentage play.

If someone who was there, am I wrong?

But guess what? A win. And their 20th. Better than the alternative!

A good chance for a weekend sweep, which is necessary, considering the opposition.

There were 2000 in attendance - not bad due to the weather.

Go Bears! Get the sweep!

---

I was at the game last night and you are spot on about our attacking the rim and the refs.

I understand that as a team you need the mindset of running set rotations in the half court offense, and using discretion during transition breaks. But last night, BC was extending out so far (they've watched the blueprint from recent games), that if Kayla can beat her defender off the dribble she has no choice but to attack. And in most occasions she is capable of that. The fact that she didn't do that as often as she could have contributed to the ridiculous amount of turnovers that we ended up with. Same goes for transistion. There are times when you have to be aggressive to produce baskets. Last night's game was a classic example of showing how sometimes you need to be aggressive to REDUCE turnovers, otherwise you actually get "bullied" into making them.

And the refs last night, my goodness, completely incompetent.

---

I totally agree about being aggressive. If it's open then drive to the basket. You can score, draw a foul, or find someone with a better shot. Worst case you can dribble past the basket and back outside. All better than dribbling around aimlessly where the defenders are concentrated.

Earlier in the year, we had four players on the floor with reliable three point shots. And Lulu had emerged as a leading scorer. Last night we shot 5-24 on threes and Lulu went 1-9. We seem to need better ball movement and extra passes to get people open and hitting once again.

annarborbear said:

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Earlier in the year, we had four players on the floor with reliable three point shots. And Lulu had emerged as a leading scorer. Last night we shot 5-24 on threes and Lulu went 1-9. We seem to need better ball movement and extra passes to get people open and hitting once again.

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I agree to a point. But in Lulu's case last night, of her eight missed shots, it seemed like about half of those were decent open looks that she just flat out missed. Maybe a little of her issue right now is simply in her head.

No matter what, if things don't get better, the game next Sunday at Virginia Tech might not have a good result. Team and coach need to get on it.

Williams is the key to breaking down opponents extended defense strategy

She needs to get into the paint and aggressively attack the basket and either score with layups or floaters, drop off to our post, or kick out to shooters

Also our weak side shooters sometimes need to slash even though one of our plays is to throw cross court as the defenses are staying on the one pass away shooters

We are also missing our experienced backup center Ackerman who would help against some of these defenses

Finnish Oski said:

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That was one of the worst officiated games I've ever been to in any sport anywhere. They called everything and anything and mostly against Cal. That and all the Bear turnovers made it an ugly game. Still the lede is that the Bears are now 20 game winners with five left in the regular season.

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Really felt Jayda's frustration with fouls called on her when she made a great defensive play. Lulu stayed with her, so she didn't get a technical. Jayda is the 6th man player essential for the Bears winning games. Love her skills and intensity... What a team player! Due to a recent injury, did not want to venture out in the rain and watched via ACCNX on my computer. I will be at Haas on Sunday.

HoopDreams said:

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Williams is the key to breaking down opponents extended defense strategy

She needs to get into the paint and aggressively attack the basket and either score with layups or floaters, drop off to our post, or kick out to shooters

Also our weak side shooters sometimes need to slash even though one of our plays is to throw cross court as the defenses or staying on the one pass away shooters

We are also missing our experienced backup center Ackerman who would help against some of these defenses

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Natalia was dressed for the game and took part in pregame warmups. Perhaps they are trying to give her extra rest. Or it's a case of matchups.

Shocky1 said:

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the refs are higher paid than high school refs but a small fraction of wut nba refs are paid

guess wut??

the $8 steak at safeway is NOT gonna be as tasty as the $85 per ounce japanese a5 waygu at nobu malibu, got it?

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So if I follow your logic, yes the refs suck but no one is allowed to comment on it. And because there are very expensive high priced steaks, you should accept and not complain or have any expectations for any cheaper steak you eat.

I get that you think you are making a great point and believe in self-destiny and creating your own reality...but in the "real world" you mention, very few people are able to enjoy the privilege and luck of creating their own world and so they should have every right to analyze it and expect more.

Cal made 21 of 28 twos (75%) so I understand not passing much out of the post.