SU has something to say about last night’s Elite 8 match-up of Baylor vs. the UConn women. First of all, this was a great game between two storied teams that have been dominant on the women’s stage for many years. The first quarter which ended with UConn up 26 – 24 was probably as good a 10-minute stretch of college basketball that I watched all season. The pace was incredible and both teams were playing a quick tempo. And let’s call it like it is this year: some of these NCAA men’s games will not go into the time capsule for their offensive prowess. Brutal shooting for long stretches by both teams. This women’s game was excellent.
Now, the rest of the game reverted to the way that Baylor likes to play defense. Lots of grabbing and holding, don’t let the other team run their plays. SU has seen this style of play before. In fact, anyone in the SU subscriber base who played hoops at Blind Brook High School against Rye High School on the boys’ side knows what I am talking about. Grabbing and holding. The idea is that if you grab and hold on every play, the refs won’t call it. The refs will start to accept that is the way tonight’s game will be played and you get away with it. For the final 3 quarters, Baylor got away with it. The game ended up at 69-67 with UConn winning which shows you how much scoring there was in the last 3 quarters.
Which brings us to the last few seconds with Baylor down 2 points. Their play breaks down and one of the players attempts a bit of a fadeaway baseline jumper from around 10 feet with 2 UConn women right on her. Was it a foul? Sure, probably. Both players got the ball but there was some contact. Not called. After the game, coach pissed off. Shooter pissed off. LeBron James pissed off on Twitter. SU says if you basically foul on every possession for the entire game – and certainly the last 3 quarters – then you have to live with it. You got away with calls all game long and this one went against you in the end. Their coach was frustrated in the post-game news conference (somehow her mask ended up in her eye for most of the time which was interesting to watch) but I say you benefited by the way the game was reffed throughout and that is that.
Baylor is a very physical team. They pound it inside on offense and make it hard for you to run your offense. Seriously, they play like the 1990s Knicks under Pat Riley. It’s not enjoyable to watch. The NBA has made the transition away from this style to today’s wide open up and down style which is so, so, much better to watch. Baylor probably got jobbed on that last call but SU has no sympathy. Move on. You can’t have it both ways.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Completely agree with your assessment if the game. How many times did you see the U Conn women on the floor versus the Baylor women? Even Paige showed some emotion with being bumped and grabbed all night
YOU CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
Not totally objective being a long-time UConn women’s fan, but in my opinion, Baylor has no beef, and I would have said the same thing if it went the other way. In real time, it looked like good defense, and how many times in that situation, when refs have to make a split-second call, do we say that you just need to swallow your whistle and let the kids decide the game? As for LeBron, who I love, I don’t consider him to be a credible source in this instance. First of all, as a lifelong Yankee fan, he is now part-owner of the Red Sox? But more importantly, LeBron is like many other superstars in basketball, and I use Joel Embiid as an example. I watched him play before he got hurt, and he played a superb game, scoring 38 points. He also shot about 12 free throws and committed 5 fouls. If you asked him after the game what he thought about the officiating, he would have said he should have shot 20 free throws and committed no fouls. LeBron is the same.
The coach’s mask antics were ridiculous, but she was probably messing with that thing instead of punching someone. At least she says no more COVID testing for tournament games.
As for the game – I did not see it – but did see the men’s Baylor game and that is a very good basketball team with a lot of strength and skill.
Tonight: USC over Gonzaga. Michigan over UCLA.
Wow, going with the Gonzaga upset. Very bold. I have been impressed with Baylor as well. They have some great players and they get after it on defense. The PAC-12 has had a great run in the NCAAs. Certainly did not see that coming.
I was wrong on the USC upset (extremely incorect – but in all fairness it is baseball season here in Georgia) but the Michigan loss is on them… not me They did not convert when they had the chance. As much as UCLA is a Cinderella, Michigan had that game and let it get away (from what I saw as we had two baseball games tonight). But, I don’t think Michigan is going anywhere and they should be back next year. Sort of feel good for UCLA who has struck out on coach picks for football and basketball over the past 20 years, and perhaps the Cincinatti hire may work out for them (a Final Four = the hire “worked out”). Maybe they can hire the current Bearcats football coach to replace Chip Kelly.