Watched the first half of this (given the outcome might not watch the second.)
A few first half impressions:
1. I didn't see an offense. There didn't seem an obvious plan of any kind. Maybe SoCar is just too good, but I wonder what the girls thought they should be doing? certainly not just watching Hildalgo dribble around (no matter how good she is at it.)
2. Defensively, they were just overmatched at the physical areas in the paint (at almost every position.) That wore them down, I'd say mentally more than physically. Even mid-sized SoCar players went over and through ND "bigs". I see no solution to this but it might only be a problem vs SoCar and a couple of other teams --- we'll see, I guess. It definitely wasn't just the 6'7" girl.
3. No one can guard inside AND outside when in zones, but I noticed that most of SoCar's damage came on the side of the floor opposite Citron, which probably means she hustled better and was smarter getting back to the shooters than the other wings. Briefly, Citron and Risch seemed to have a good communication on their perimeter, but it doesn't make any difference if you're getting mugged down low.
4. Hildalgo is potentially spectacular (I don't like the stop and flex crap while the opponent comes back at you and your back turned, but she'll grow out of that juvenile egocentrism --- probably.) Needless to say she WAS the offensive show. She is a defensive pest, but not yet an all-around defender --- she's VERY small and a risk-taker. But thanks that we have her.
5. SoCar was WAY faster than us --- their point guards faster than Hildalgo as well (by miles.) WAY more athletic. We competed for a quarter and a bit more, but physically the book was written. The little girl from Fordham will not do us any good if we don't run an offense. That even suppresses Citron and Westbeld, to say nothing of Watson and the subs.
Disappointed for sure. Gerad Parker needs to design better offensive schemes at the least (Wait! This is Basketball I'm talking about not ND Football right? --- wish I could appreciate the joke more, but ... sigh.)
