NEW YORK – The first order of business is to look back at last Sunday’s Maggie Dixon Classic from Madison Square Garden. Baylor defeated St. John’s 73-59 in a game that was a challenge for the top-ranked Bears. St. John’s did a great job defending 6-8 Britney Griner and point guard Odyssey Sims. Griner was held to eight shots. She did make six en route to a 17-point, 13-rebound afternoon. Sims shot 2 for 10, scoring eight points. Getting some daylight was redshirt junior forward Brooklyn Pope. She put up a team-high 19 points along with 8 rebounds. In a slow to moderate paced game (Baylor 65 possessions, St. John’s 63) the offensive efficiency:
Baylor 112
St. John’s 94
Very efficient offense and solid D by Kim Mulkey’s club.
The key of the Four Factors. Two of them actually. Baylor enjoyed a 22-6 free throw rate edge and a 43-31% lead in the offensive rebounding percentage department.
For defense, there is a metric that showed Baylor’s outstanding job. The formula:
Defense = blocks + steals/personal fouls
The Bears clicked in at 1.86 while St. John’s was .625.
Game two saw Tennessee defeat DePaul 84-61. The Lady Vols do not have a superlatively talented marquee type like a Candace Parker. No problem. They are solid with a number of good players and an outstanding defense. In an up-tempo game with DePaul at 83 possessions and Tennessee at 81, the efficiency clearly shows the dominance of Pat Summitt’s Lady Vols:
Tennessee 101
DePaul 75
The key of Four Factors. No surprise, it’s defensively-oriented. DePaul could not handle Tennessee’s pressure full court or changing zones in half court. The result? Twenty four turnovers and a very high 30% TO rate. A 43-18% edge in free throw rate was another plus for Tennessee.
The two winners, as noted, had sizable advantages in free throw rates. A good part of that can be explained looking at points in the paint in the box score. Baylor had a 52-30 margin over St. John’s, while Tennessee enjoyed a 50-18 showing against DePaul. Post up and/or attack the basket and you get to the line. Plain and simple.
The Lady Vols shot 0 for 5 from three to which assistant coach Holly Warwick quipped, “this proves we are not an all-perimeter team.”
Manley efficiency leaders on the two games:
B. Griner, Baylor 31
E. McPherson, St. John’s 22
B. Pope, Baylor 20
J. Penny, DePaul 16
G. Johnson, Tennessee 16
K. Hayden, Baylor 16
Amazing. In a 101-43 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kentucky forced 48 turnovers. The TO rate for the Lady Lions was 58%. I can’t remember seeing one that matched that total.
Tempo Free agrees. Princeton, you are good on the defensive end. A local writeup listed Princeton as number eleven in the country giving up 54 points per game. After a 78-67 loss to DePaul, the Tigers are now giving up 56.5 points per outing, which is a very commendable total. Of greater significance is the fact Princeton allows opponents just an 8o offensive efficiency. The Tigers are also forcing a 29% turnover rate. Those last two totals tell more and leave a greater impression than just the points allowed average.
Another special moment from the Maggie Dixon Classic…..
It was very special to see Pat Summitt receive the Maggie Dixon Courage award at the classic. The long-time Tennessee mentor and legend is battling Alzheimer’s disease. “Pat (Summitt) has had a tremendous impact at Tennessee,” Warwick said. “In fact, she has done for women’s basketball what John Wooden did for the men.” Warwick went on to note that seasons at Tennessee have championship expectations. “If you don’t get a championship at Tennessee, the fans look at the year as a disappointment,” she said. “That is a testament to what Pat Summitt has built.”
Beyond championships, Summitt today is sending a stronger message. She is the Lady Vols head coach and still involved in practices and games. “Through her (Summitt) example Pat is showing us,” Warwick said. “You can have this disease, battle it and still be productive.”
Incredible courage from an incredible individual.
