NC_UBfan

Just caught the last 1:30 OT Ball St. losing on the road to NIU 71-76. I'll take our ugly road win over a pretty loss🤘

Earlier in the year they would have found a way to lose. Gutty win good game for Ogden 3 big 3s all in the 4th quarter. Matches total conference wins from last season.

Timely 3pt shooting by Ogden!!!

Next step for this team is to not play at the level of the competition. The offensive execution has been terrible missed layups, poor passes, lack of execution and too many fouls. Defensively they are playing extremely well. Let’s see if the half time adjustments are executed.

Valid points, in this new area of portal access every year is potentially a rebuilding year. So if no one transfers the roster only loses the two grad students. Watson and Rana although both seniors both have an additional year of eligibility. As far as the intensity goes every coach building a competitive program is wired tight on the court. Off the court is where that counts and for Watson to follow her from USC Upstate to UB says something. The 24 class looks nice although I think the team needs another athletic 6'2+ post. As for when success comes its up to the AD and university to have built a strong relationship with the women's program to anchor her to UB. Having to fundraise 5k for massage therapy is not a good look why not give that women's program? Why can't we buy player jerseys? Alnutt should be doing these things now versus if/when another school comes trying to do something. Good problems to have!

Officially one game past the half way point in conference play sitting 6-4 in fourth place. Of the four conference losses Ball St., UT, Kent St. and WMU the only "bad" loss was to WMU. The losses to UT and Ball St. games was a combined 9pts which happened to the difference to the Kent St. game. I think BG was our best conference win. The team defense has steadily improved along with the rebounding. Of particular note is the halftime adjustments Burke and staff are making. Burke and staff from my perspective been engaged communicating, coaching and at times admonishing with some hard language. I am not against the language used if it gets the message across which it seems to work. Early fouls have been an issue of late which can be accounted for the increased on ball aggressiveness I'm sure Burke can live with that. The FT shooting has improved especially from the freshmen Davis and Lewis-Williams as a team now making 70% leading MAC in attempts. Its abundantly clear that Watson is the best player in the conference hands down avg 25pts a game. If she keeps this up and the wins continue should be a real conversation about POY. Noticed since the 47pt game teams have played a poor mans box and 1 and flash trap her in half court to get the ball out her hands. To her and Burkes credit they have used her more as facilitator and decoy spacing the floor allowing other players favorable match ups and open shots on ball reversals. With all that being said Watson is so dynamic she still gets her shots up I would bet the over on a triple double before the year is out. Of the 8 games left I'm most looking forward to the BG, Kent St. and Ball St. rematches the most. At this point in the season I don't think there will be another "bad" loss. The players seem to have found their place in the offensive flow. The way the team is playing its about time to make plans for a March trip to Cleveland.

EMU played something like a box and 1 to deny her the ball but she still ended w/21 which could have been more she was uncharacteristically inefficient 9/2 9/22 40% 0/4 3pts. Miami guards are big but move slow so hoping this prediction of 30+ comes true

EMU has 3 athletic forwards 6’2”+ that are active rebounders they keep two on the floor running a lot of post 2 post actions. Size and athleticism in the post is a weakness in our roster so Johnson, Davis and Ogden have to box out and stay out of foul trouble. Pushing pace and paint touches by our guards hopefully will lead to easy points and EMUs posts collecting fouls. I think Rana matches up really well to have a good game same with Lopez. Limit extra possession, stay out of foul trouble and keep TOs below 10 we win🤘🏽

Up coming home game against Eastern Michigan I have Watson +33.5

Looks like the ladies need our help. Kind of surprised the program doesn't have this already but I contributed what I could. Anything to help get them ready for another trip back Cleveland 🤘 https://x.com/UBwomenshoops/status/1753086232110714950?s=20

Ogden had herself a game!!!

On the road at Athens to derail a Bobcats team on a 3 game win streak. Thankfully they don't have the size of UT but they shoot 3 at a high volume 28 att per game 7 made per, but they have lowest opponent 3 fg percentage. Defensively they trap a lot leading the conference w/11 stls per game. Ball security, rebounding and staying out of foul trouble has to be a priority coaches/players have to read the refs to see how they are calling the game. Its clear teams have are going scheme to "limit" Watson's impact. I would like to see her breakdown the defense and distribute more before she goes of 40. I hope this is the game Ogden gets her shooting touch back the kid is struggling a bit. Winnable game lets start this run!

Great post but what I think your missing she is averaging 29.8 in conference which is crazy.

An amazing individual effort by Watson dropping 47 on the best defense in the MAC that is ranked 7 in Mid-Major Poll. A few positives to be taken away from this game. Although shots were not dropping for the two freshman Davis and Lewis-Williams they had good looks in the flow. Second half defense limited UT to 30pts and limited UT to 5 made 3pts at 26% for the entire game. The 2:1 disparity in foul calls was comical at best that just killed us. Burke has done a good job with this young team only 9pts separates wins over Ball St and UT. Enjoy watching them play hope they rest and got another road game ahead at Ohio ready for the start of a win streak!

The ladies get a opportunity to earn a statement win against the 2nd best team in MAC. As of late there is a visible change in how active they communicate on defense, adoption of the defensive schemes coaches are calling and they are not getting out hustled for 50/50 balls. This activity compensates for our lack of interior presence which will be tested against the size of UT who has 6'5 and 6'2 coming off the bench. Have to deal with the elite level 3pt shooting 67% for Wiard who had a 40pt game vs Kent and pure scoring of Lockett. Lockett is coming off a knee injury shooting touch is not there but has been quick to drive and pickup fouls. Speaking of fouls Watson picked up early fouls the last3 games this would be a great game for her to not along with everyone else. Her ability to put pressure on UT will continue to create opportunities for KLW, Rana and Lopez. I think we matchup favorably at the guard positions again its the size in the post that concerns me. I wonder if Ogden has shown enough in practice to get back in the starting lineup? Her size and ability to make 3pts can help relive some of the pressure from Davis and Johnson. This is a winnable game if we 10 or fewer fouls, team rebound,70% or higher FTs, keep UT 28% or below from 3pt, and 10 or fewer TOs.

Way to close out the game great hustle by KLW to get the chase down block. Looks like Burke had enough of the non production from Ogden I hope she gets her shooting touch back soon. Lopez provided solid mins and as usual Davis did very well off the bench. The surprise of the day was FTs and rebounding!! This may have been the best all around defensive game played. Although BG ended 30% (8/26)from 3pt the team fought over or switched on just about every screen contesting almost every shot. Weakside rotation helping the helper limited BG to only 7 Orebs. They fought for every 50/50 ball and had only 5 TOs. Going to need the same level of intensity for Toledo

BG has committed to deny well attempt to deny the paint Watson is getting there with ease. I'm torn on the volume of shots Watson 8/21 taken but that seems to be ok w/Burke. Team rebounding has been clutch especially O boards. Great move by Burke going 4 guards to chase BG off 3pt line they made a few 25ft+ but I can live w/that as long as they rebound 😅. Let's close this out

Glad to turn the page from that WU loss already moved my lunch up a hour to catch this early game. The few positives that can be applied to this game there is enough scoring to compensate a Watson "off night" and team rebounding has significantly improved. I'm sure the turnovers have been addressed. Keeping BG off the glass will mean containing Erika Porter who had 19 reb her last game. Get to see the matchup of KLW and Kohler. Kohler decomitted opening a spot for KLW hope this is the first of many match ups.

I don't agree but I understand. It was to match up with the WMU all guard line up they ran in the 4th. Gines is a big guard 5'10 better perimeter defender has more speed than Ogden but lacks the size and is not a threat to hit 3s which would have deterred WMU from blitzing Watson. Two passes and you would have either Ogden or Rana with a open look. We are a young team made ALOT of mental mistakes and I think they played down IMOP. If they had the same intensity as the Ball St game we walk them 15+. This is the first and hopefully last bad loss on the way to a 10+ win conference record.

Thoughts on Lembo? https://www.si.com/college/southcarolina/football/south-carolina-footballs-st-coordinator-pete-lembo-interviewed-for-hc-position-with-buffalo-bison

Well we’re would this half be if they hit those missed layups in the 1st quarter. This team at time shows high promise and at other shows its inexperience and plays down. This half they played down to WMU. Come out the half stay out of foul problems and close this team out

Agreed!!! I’m high on Lopez she is very skilled I think the game is finally slowing down for her she had a good showing last game.

WMU avg 7.2 made 3pts per game and has a player Zarycki that is avg 50%fg, 40%3pt ,90%ft which is tough. Defending the 3 and winning the rebounding and 50/50 plays are crucial. WMU does not have the size we struggled against so exceeding their intensity without fouling. I hope we can get Ogden going she seems to play much better at home. Watson can be counted on to be exceptional just need to be a bit more efficient than last game. Winnable game hope they pull it out!

As long as the same rule applies to head and assistant coaches right sit out a year after before taking a new job.