Stanford 79 Albany 35
In the first five minutes, Cameron Brink had 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists. She’s going to triple again, I thought, but Albany then stayed beyond Brink’s reach — until the 4th, when a Great Dane offensive rebounder tried to put it back, and Brink smacked it away.
21 pt, 19 rb, 4 bk, 2 as in 26 minutes. Sheesh.
I read that Stanford and Albany exchanged their pregame scouts on each other. Great idea, helps everybody.
I didn’t remember Coach VanDerveer spent a year at Albany as a student-athlete. What I best remember from her book Shooting from the Outside is that her brother beat her at chess, which she hated. I thought: I can do something about that, and sent her my book.
Washington 58 Hawaii 41
Washington (7-0) played down to Hawaii’s (2-5) level, resulting in the worst game I’ve seen yet.
Add to that a very long replay review — I think replay review delays more than helps, and should be benched.
The game’s bright spot for me was when the director cut to a defender backpedaling, and over her shoulder there’s a media man who looks bored out of his skull. Elbow on the table, hand up to rest his head.
I was reminded that Hawaii coach Beeman is probably a great interview. During an NCAA tournament game, a sideline personality asked the routine softball questions, and Coach Beeman took it seriously. It was as if she weren’t aware of the unspoken contract that on-air conversations must follow “Bull Durham”.
She did it again at this halftime. Sideline guy asked about adjustments, and she said the Rainbow Wahine had to improve in four areas, plus how and why.