What’s become more obvious since Thursday?
Stanford is lessened in the absence of Cameron Brink.
Oregon State is lessened in the absence of Raegan Beers.
Washington State is lessened in the absence of Charlisse Leger-Walker.
Colorado is lessened in the absence of Jaylyn Sherrod. I’m sometimes capable of understatement.
I still think UCLA is lessened in the absence of Emily Bessoir, but that team’s so good, not much.
Utah would be better if Gianna weren’t in a cast, Jenna weren’t bleeding, and whatever’s the matter with Isabel this time weren’t the matter.
With three games remaining, one game separates nos. 2 through 5 in the standings, and the one who finishes at 5 has to play on opening night in Las Vegas.
I said Thursday that among the 7-12 teams, Arizona is a likely spoiler if they pressed a higher-ranked team into a rash of turnovers. Stanford made a season-high in their home loss to Arizona, but I’m not sure the Wildcats pushed them into it as much as the Cardinal just kinda fell apart?
Should Southern Cal thrash Utah at the Galen Center tomorrow, I can probably cancel flight and hotel reservations for Salt Lake. If Padilla and Forbes continue to play as they did against Colorado, USC ends up in Cleveland for the last weekend.
It probably hasn’t crossed Coach Gottlieb’s mind — basketball coaches can’t see more than a couple days ahead — but this is the kind of storyline that national media salivates over: NBA Cavaliers assistant coach Gottlieb returns to Cleveland for an NCAA championship in view.
Last time I exchanged words with Coach Gottlieb, I said I couldn’t believe she was actually in Cleveland unless she sent me a picture of His Honor Kevin Johnson in a Cavs uniform from the walls of her new office.