Lady J's: Game 17 at FSU, Jan. 10 Sun., 4pm (RSN)

[GTJT622]

The Lady J's travel to Tallahassee for yet another tough game in the rugged ACC. The Noles are 19th in the current AP poll and 15th in the Coaches Poll. They are 11-4 overall and 1-1 in the ACC, coming off a blowout win over BC at home by 33 pts. Their lone loss in the ACC was at Louisville on NYD by 10.

The game will be televised on the following regional sports network affiliates...
• FOX Sports South
• FOX Sports Carolinas
• FOX Sports Sun
• FOX Sports Midwest
• FOX Sports Indiana
• Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus
• MSG Plus
• NESN
• ROOT Sports Pittsburgh
• SportsTime Ohio
• FOX Sports Detroit
• FOX Sports North Plus
• FOX Sports Southwest
• FOX Sports West
• ROOT Sports Rocky Mtn.
• ROOT Sports Northwest

...as well as streamed live via ESPN-3.

Sue Semrau's Noles currently has 4 players averaging scoring in double figures and led by 5'11" Soph. Forward Shakayla Thomas at 16.7 ppg. Pretty impressive considering Thomas is 6th on the team in minutes per game. She is closely followed by dominant 6'4" Sr. Center Adut Bulgak at 14.7 ppg along with leading the Noles in boards per game at 7.8. Don't rest on her from the perimeter as she's hitting just south of 50% from outside the arc.

Spaniard Leticia Romero (5'8" Guard) is 3rd in scoring at 11.3 ppg and is hitting an amazing 56.3% from outside the arc. Finally, 5'8" Jr. Guard, Brittany Brown, is contributing 10.5 ppg and leads the team in 3-pt FG attempts.

This is a very balanced team with strong inside-out threats who will place a lot of pressure on our defense. The Noles lead the all-time series, 23-20, though I don't believe Tech's information guide is accurate since it shows Tech having won last year at home when we lost (by 20). The Lady J's did win in our last trip to Tally 2 years ago, 86-78.

Aaliyah Whiteside needs some help. Hopefully, the Lady J's can get off to another good start like they did at Raleigh Thursday night, but then defend the perimeter far better than we did in the 2nd half against the Pack.

After this game and brutal 4-game stretch to open the ACC schedule, the Lady J's come home for 4 of the next 5 and the lone road game is very winnable at Clemson. If the LJ's have any legit aspirations for getting on the NCAAT bubble, we need to swipe a win some place where it is unexpected. This is one of those opportunities for sure.

Go Lady J's!!

 

[Buzzforlife]

You are giving me a shimmer of hope where I had already mentally "tallied" this game in the loss column. Sure hope we can reach the bubble.

Do you see an answer to guarding Bulgak? Katarina? Zone switches(although fearing those 3's)?

 

[GTJT622]

If Bulgak scores 30 in the paint and we can successfully cover their guards on the perimeter, I'll take our chances with those stats. We are leaving 3-pt shooters (which Bulgak can and will do as well) way too wide open of late. At ND was terrible but it has continued.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Pardon this gripe session on Sunday, but the therapist is praying it is not me calling again. MBobby is probably basking today in his decision to retain CBG, and the Women are in Tally(so whomever is assigned to look over that program will be sleeping late).

It is no coincidence that every top 25 team has a packed house or so it seems. South Carolina is jammed to the rafters, so are the Irish. Betting that UConn will be sold out at 5 p.m. against the #22 team nationally, also in their conference. I doubt ND would let me in because I'm not 60 yet. They are scorching UNCheat, with the GreyHairs going all geritol in the seats.

How can bus loads of people come from Chicago or wherever, and we have zero retirement home residents in our empty 9k seats at McCamish? It is very depressing to watch because our coach does get fired up for the games. She, the Band, Richard, JF61(and family), might be it on a regular basis.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Couldn't get over the hump. That was quite a comeback run near the end of the second quarter.
The ACC is unforgiving. If you have a weak spot, the better teams will exploit it.

 

[GTJT622]

UNC game is now a must-win to have any shot at restoring hope for this season. The next 3 games are very winnable and only the homer vs the Irish is a definite loss on the remainder of the schedule.

But, this team needs a win. Any kind of win. A blowout or a 1 pt win in 5 overtimes. Doesn't matter. Need a W badly. Otherwise, the hole we are digging will be so deep we can't get out.

 

[GTJT622]

FWIW, rr.com schedule has been updated to advise 3 more road games will be streamed live via ESPN-3...

J-24 at Clemson
F-4 at Va Tech
F-7 at Syracuse