bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Women's BB 12-29-19 03:52 PM - Post#295419
In response to welcometothejungle
Let's hope that Littlefield is in the starting line up at the Palestra. Connolly played great today at PG but Littlefield is one notch higher both offensively and defensively.
Alarie probably played 20 minutes or so with a line of 18/11 with 3 assists and 4 blocks and she did not try that hard to score today.
Although the Blake Dietrick undefeated team was very good, this year's version has the ability to play at another level with their height and defensively. They still need to improve offensively. Plus, simply put, they have Bella.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Women's BB 12-31-19 05:03 PM - Post#295691
In response to bradley
Tigers are now 24th Coaches Poll - 29th AP and #2 Mid-Major. It would be great if somehow they get within the top 25 in the AP Poll at some point and time.
As for IL, fortunately Columbia and Harvard did not get upset last night but it was closer than it should have been. Cornell has a tough upcoming non-conference game wit #19 seed WVU and Penn has a game with top #75 Temple several weeks from now. A few websites have Tigers, Penn and Yale finishing in the top 50 year end but a long way to go.
For the Tigers heading into IL season, the next game at the Palestra and a future game at Yale will be two particularly challenging games although Cornell, Columbia, and Harvard can play. Based on the strength of the IL, 11-3 probably gets them in the NCAAW Tournament but a 13-1 or better IL record, gets them to a seed where they have a fighting chance to get to the Final 16.
If they take care of business during the regular season, they will not have to rely on IvyMadness. The regular season for Princeton, Penn and/or Yale could result in two bids for the IL regardless of the upcoming lunacy in Cambridge in March. Right now, Cornell and Columbia are projected at 100-125 teams and Harvard at 150.
IL season will be very challenging and I am not sure if teams have been this highly ranked, men or women, in IL history.
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JDP
Masters Student
Posts: 575
Reg: 11-23-04
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Re: Women's BB 12-31-19 06:31 PM - Post#295698
In response to bradley
Happy New Years!
I think the Ivy women's conference is the deepest and best I can remember in the past 30 years ... and I think it could be the best Ivy post season ever (Potentially four women's teams NCAA & NIT) ... and the men are doing well this season to keep pace
Sadly while the league can have 3 top 50 teams and 3 more top 125 teams ... still the best way for a second bid would for Princeton (with a super RPI and strong NCAA tournament history) not to win madness (just my view on the clear Power 5 / Big East Bias).
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Women's BB 12-31-19 08:06 PM - Post#295700
In response to JDP
Happy New Year as well!
I would gladly take a 14-0 regular season and lose IvyMadness but the IL competition is simply too challenging. You are correct that the IL will probably get the shaft in the long run regarding the NCAAW Tournament but hopefully not.
Cornell almost upset #19 seed WVU on the road this afternoon which confirms how challenging the IL season will be.
Hopefully, Coach Berube keeps the Tigers focused on every single IL game. To date other than the Monmouth game and a few quarters of some other games, the Tigers have been focused and they are obviously talented.
Penn at the Palestra will be a gret test.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Women's BB 01-06-20 05:53 PM - Post#296169
In response to JDP
Women finally crawl into the AP poll -- #25. AP voters tend not to be big fans of mid-majors. Because the coaches poll has been a better predictor, Tigers will probably only move up one spot - 23 vs. 24, when the poll is released tomorrow. It is important for seeding purposes that the Tigers try their very best to stay within all polls. ESPN bracketologist just moved them to a #7 seed for the NCAAW Tournament away from the dreaded 8 or 9 seed.
NCAA.com just named the top five women players for each position and Bella did make the list for PW with Cox from Baylor who has also been injured for a portion of the season. Bella's numbers are down somewhat this year vs. last year somewhat due to her minutes, 28.7 vs. 32.1 last year plus the Tigers are not quite as reliant on Bella as per the past although that may change in IL play.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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Re: Women's BB 01-07-20 03:14 PM - Post#296209
In response to bradley
NCAAW coaches poll came out and the Tigers are #23 -- firmly in the top 25. It was nice to see Princeton's game Saturday at the Palestra as a top 25 game at the ESPN website.
A loss to Penn at the Palestra will obviously knock the Tigers out of the top 25 in all polls. On the Warren Nolan website, Penn's current RPI is 91 although Nolan projects the Quakers to go 13-1 in the IL and finish with a 25 RPI ranking, 12 behind the Tigers who are also projected to be 13-1 in IL play.
Saturday's game will be very challenging and hopefully Littlefield is fully recovered as they need her with Bella.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2814
Reg: 11-23-04
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01-07-20 07:22 PM - Post#296213
In response to bradley
Berube has done a great job preparing for games. If the team is healthy, I’m confident in the Tigers.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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01-08-20 08:54 PM - Post#296273
In response to Tiger69
Coach Berube talked about how challenging this weekend's game will be at the Palestra. She talked about the excellence of the Penn D as well as the all around abilities of the star frosh, Padilla. Tigers to date have been able to shut down the other team's star other than Doyle - Iowa.
No mention about Littlefield's injury status.
Should be an extreme defensive struggle.
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Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts: 2814
Reg: 11-23-04
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01-09-20 12:15 AM - Post#296293
In response to bradley
I don’t care for the new interviewer who is replacing Jerry Price. His questions dictate the answers he wants. Jerry always had relaxed interviews with Courtney Banghart that could evolve into any direction. Berube is always put on the defensive and has little opportunity to add any new information during her interviews. Bring back Jerry Price.
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bradley
PhD Student
Posts: 1842
Age: 74
Reg: 01-15-16
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01-09-20 12:39 AM - Post#296294
In response to Tiger69
I agree. Believe that Price is back next week.
By the way, Berube's former team is 12-0 with most games being blow outs. Top performers are upper classwomen.
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