On Women's Basketball

Temple review

Posted by: Tony Bleill

Monday, November 24, 2008 2:55 AM

Illinois' loss to Temple on Sunday displayed many of the reasons why the Illini could be in for a long season. There were no positives. Collectively and individually, the Illini played poorly, and we'll get into that in a bit. First, a few points that are sticking in the mind:

--If you appreciated Temple's style of play, that's a good thing because it's not too far from what Illinois will be doing once Jolette Law gets her type of talent on the team. The Owls are long and tall, athletic and quick, and relentlessly aggressive. That's what a Law-coached team will look like, in time. It had to bother Law that her team lost to a club that plays with that style. I know she lamented her team's lack of aggressiveness. It wasn't a shock because that's a common malady for teams filled with freshmen. They get timid when they fall behind against an aggressive team. Why does it happen? Who knows? But it does. And unless you have someone who can snap them out of it, you're likely headed to an L. Temple took it to Illinois, and the Illini didn't respond, particularly at the backcourt positions, where Illinois played exclusively with first-year players because of Chelsea Gordon's absence. 

--Law said afterward that this was a game her team shouldn't have lost. I'm not so sure that's the case. The better team won. Temple has been to the last five NCAA tournaments, though this team is retooling a bit after graduation took some key seniors. Still, there is plenty of talent for first-year coach Tonya Cardoza, a former UConn assistant. Temple was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10, and maybe that'll come to fruition. But the Owls have talent, more than many of the teams in the Big Ten, including Illinois. If these teams played 10 teams, I think Temple would win the majority because of their style, defense and multiple offensive weapons. 

--Terrific game plan by Cardoza in defensing Illinois. The Owls packed it in around Jenna Smith and dared Illinois to shoot from the perimeter, and the Illini obliged way too much. If you're an opposing coach, you're an idiot if you don't defend Illinois in that manner. Smith's supporting cast couldn't find a way to get it done on Sunday. They'll get more chances soon, you can be sure of that.

--Smart, disciplined defensive teams will give Illinois headaches this season. If you keep the Illini in front of you, and if you surround Jenna Smith, you can beat Illinois. The savviest defensive teams on the Illini's schedule: Michigan. Purdue. Minnesota. If you slow Smith, turn Illinois into a jumpshooting team and keep the Illini off the boards, they're beatable. The Owls kept Illinois in front of them and gave up the perimeter jumper. Illinois has several players who aren't reliable scoring options, putting immense pressure on Smith to score. 

--Four days after she shined against Missouri, freshman guard Macie Blinn struggled against Temple. Blinn shot 0 for 5 in a game in which the Illini really needed someone to knock down some perimeter shots. She missed all three of her three-point shots in 24 minutes. Hey, that's what happens with freshmen. Up one minute, down the next. 

--Would Illinois have won if Chelsea Gordon (injured ankle) had played? I doubt it. But the Illini probably did miss her intangibles, as Law suggested afterward. Gordon provides a calming influence and, as Law noted, is the team's "glue." 

--Michigan's victory against No. 13 Vanderbilt on Sunday, on the heels of the Wolverines' three-point loss against No. 12 Texas A&M, shows that the Wolverines could easily surpass expectations this season. (Don't ask me to explain that loss to Akron, a bad MAC team, however.) The Wolverines overachieved last season and I think they'll do it again this year. That's a well-coached team.

--Back on Wednesday with a look at what I consider to be the worst play in basketball. 

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