|
Post by dorothymantooth on Dec 19, 2014 10:54:24 GMT -5
BYU could give PSU trouble the same way Illinois and McMahon gave them trouble. The block, the size of BYU can just grind you down. Hampson can hit over the block like no one else PSU has seen this year. Rose is going to have to find their vulnerabilities and go after them. It's not so much that PSU has to get a lot of players going -- they just have to find one hole in that BYU block. I'm not sure what it is. BYU's backcourt also looked quite good against Texas. They play hard and smart. I really don't see a weakness on that team. They serve tough, their block is beautifully formed, and they have two top shelf outsides in Gray and Hamson. Why exactly was this team unseeded anyway? They do rely on swing blocking and I think that can be exploited by quick offense and misdirection, which are things Hancock does really well. If TX had a setter like that (let alone her serving) they would have had a much better chance. BYU was impressive ,for sure. Texas was not impressive, for sure. BYU's freshman setter and backcourt seemed shaky to me. As always it will be a match decided by the serve receive and passing battle and PSU and Texas are not equivalents in that department. A freshman setter who has not even started all year goes up against one of the best playing the position. People were overly impressed by Stanford's dismantling of Florida and underwhelmed by PSU's tight contest with Wisconsin. Florida and UW are not equivalents, as we saw last night. PSU is battle tested and "been there, done that." BYU is in rarefied air and has a day to think about it. RR and Olmstead have one day to game plan against an unfamiliar opponent. Not much time and the advantage goes to RR. If BYU just comes out and "lets it all hang out" they have a puncher's chance at knocking out the champ. Their big block could be the wild card that keeps them in the match. On paper I see PSU in three. But they don't play the match on paper. They play it on fake plastic wood. Punchers chance implies someone could get out played and land one good blow and win. We are talking about sustaining a high level of play over three games. To your point I can see BYU letting it all hang out and winning a game, but I just don't see how with PSU's depth, experience, compete level, and Hancock how BYU wins this match.
|
|
|
Post by jagdpanther on Dec 19, 2014 10:59:42 GMT -5
BYU could give PSU trouble the same way Illinois and McMahon gave them trouble. The block, the size of BYU can just grind you down. Hampson can hit over the block like no one else PSU has seen this year. Rose is going to have to find their vulnerabilities and go after them. It's not so much that PSU has to get a lot of players going -- they just have to find one hole in that BYU block. I'm not sure what it is. BYU's backcourt also looked quite good against Texas. They play hard and smart. I really don't see a weakness on that team. They serve tough, their block is beautifully formed, and they have two top shelf outsides in Gray and Hamson. Why exactly was this team unseeded anyway? They do rely on swing blocking and I think that can be exploited by quick offense and misdirection, which are things Hancock does really well. If TX had a setter like that (let alone her serving) they would have had a much better chance. If PSU gets multiple hitters going that should spread BYU out and make the block less effective.
|
|
|
Post by dunninla on Dec 19, 2014 11:37:25 GMT -5
To me PSU is a 5 point per set favorite. PSU in 3.
|
|
|
Post by MTC on Dec 19, 2014 11:40:35 GMT -5
Sort of what they have been doing all season long. The cast of lethal attackers seems to change almost every week. Micha is doing a masterful job of distributing the ball this season.
|
|
|
Post by jagdpanther on Dec 19, 2014 11:48:14 GMT -5
To me PSU is a 5 point per set favorite. PSU in 3. After how BYU has played and what happened with Wisky in the finals last year, are people really that confident in PSU...? I think PSU certainly can wipe BYU, but... BYU is a really good team. This is not going to be easy for either team. I just hope PSU comes out on top. I want another championship shirt.
|
|
|
Post by hardbop on Dec 19, 2014 12:15:54 GMT -5
May or may not be relevant but the mantra is that teams don't win in their first trip to the final match of the season. The three top NC winners...PSU, Stanford and UCLA lost the first three, three and two times they made it to the final. Would be quite an achievement for BYU to not only be the first unseeded team there but to win it and do it with a frosh setter. To do it against the 500 pound gorilla in the room would be an epic accomplishment. Any body know what Vegas has to say?
|
|
|
Post by tomclen on Dec 19, 2014 12:38:24 GMT -5
Giuseppe the Lion Slayer
|
|
|
Post by pogoball on Dec 19, 2014 15:36:42 GMT -5
I don't think it's a foregone conclusion. PSU's hitters are generally young and inexperienced. They tend to be successful because the passing allows them the faster offense. If they get slowed down with mediocre passing, that BYU block would dominate the match.
Honestly, I think Frantti is going to struggle all match.
|
|
|
Post by Mocha on Dec 19, 2014 15:39:47 GMT -5
Does anyone know which OKC bar the BYU celebration party will be at?
|
|
|
Post by madonna on Dec 19, 2014 15:40:12 GMT -5
Would be fun if the BYU players will all have drawn on mustaches on their faces when playing in the Title match.
|
|
|
Post by bc2016 on Dec 19, 2014 15:59:33 GMT -5
To me PSU is a 5 point per set favorite. PSU in 3. After how BYU has played and what happened with Wisky in the finals last year, are people really that confident in PSU...? I think PSU certainly can wipe BYU, but... BYU is a really good team. This is not going to be easy for either team. I just hope PSU comes out on top. I want another championship shirt. I am sure you will be able to order 1 off BYU's website by Monday:)
|
|
|
Post by jagdpanther on Dec 19, 2014 16:04:08 GMT -5
I am sure you will be able to order 1 off BYU's website by Monday:) *crickets*
|
|
|
Post by bc2016 on Dec 19, 2014 16:22:02 GMT -5
Frogs are good too:)
|
|
|
Post by Mocha on Dec 19, 2014 16:28:07 GMT -5
Curious to see which team Kevin Hambly will be rooting for.
|
|
|
Post by timduckforlife on Dec 19, 2014 17:30:41 GMT -5
BYU's defense has been extremely underrated. They know how to play behind the block and they have the luxury of being able to do that too. Hitters just can't go OTT against them, and therefore much easier to defend. Parker is a very good libero, almost has the most digs in BYU history as a junior. Welling understands the game and is one of their best servers. Texas served pretty much exclusively to her when she was on the court, and that didn't go well for them, she was passing dimes all night.
Courtney and Franti are going to struggle as is their middle attack. PSU will need their slides, right side, and even pipes going well if they want to win. Granted, PSU has all of that and is why they are so good. And add that BYU will need to pay particular attention to Hancock going over on 2, I think she will do that a lot to try and throw off that BYU block.
|
|