Twister Sister Summary - It’s Tournament Time

[acoustimac]

With the regular season over the real fun begins. It’s tournament time!

TSS – It’s Tournament Time

It’s time for the first tournament after an arduous regular season. For many teams this is the last hurrah as the next loss is the end of the season. For the Sisters, they have a strong enough resu…

twistersistersummary.wordpress.com

 

[geewago]

I plan to take in every bless-ed minute of every bless-ed game until the bless-ed thing is over with. And then I hope to come home and find that we've been blessed with some rain because our corn which is around 3 inches tall will be hurting severely in 10 days if it doesn't get a blessing from the sky.

 

[cmhawks99]

With the regular season over the real fun begins. It’s tournament time!

TSS – It’s Tournament Time

It’s time for the first tournament after an arduous regular season. For many teams this is the last hurrah as the next loss is the end of the season. For the Sisters, they have a strong enough resu…

twistersistersummary.wordpress.com

Yeehaa.. it’s a great time of the year. And it’s crazy to think but over the last few years I’ve become way more enamored with Women’s Basketball than men’s, which is a pretty significant about-turn to what I’ve historically been most of my life….

 

[cmhawks99]

With the regular season over the real fun begins. It’s tournament time!

TSS – It’s Tournament Time

It’s time for the first tournament after an arduous regular season. For many teams this is the last hurrah as the next loss is the end of the season. For the Sisters, they have a strong enough resu…

twistersistersummary.wordpress.com

Good article… I honestly think they should substitute Audi in and out more regularly. Something like three minutes on two minutes off. Or maybe 3.5 on 1.5 off…

And they need to stick to it rigidly.

And Addy Brown completely getting her groove back changes that team from “OK” to a very tough out.

With all that said it still comes down to the defense and the thing is this… As long as Audi is there & Fennely is coaching they are never going to play good interior defense. I’m honestly not sure Brown is that great of a defender or at least she hasn’t been asked to be.

But there is absolutely no reason whatsoever, especially with the diminutive size of most of their guards that they can’t put more pressure on the ball. I don’t know, maybe the guards lack the athleticism to put that kind of ball pressure on. But as I’ve said, in other threads, the university of Nebraska men’s team & the Iowa men’s team neither one have a ton of “great athletes“ and they are playing significantly better ball pressure defense than they ever have.

Surely the Iowa State women could do the same if they wanted to

 

[BoxsterCy]

Wildcard for Cyclones this week might be the back-to-back games given the recent article on how long it takes Brown to get ready for each game. She did play 31 minutes vs KSU but is her back injury up to playing games with essentially no rest and recoup time?

 

[cmhawks99]

Wildcard for Cyclones this week might be the back-to-back games given the recent article on how long it takes Brown to get ready for each game. She did play 31 minutes vs KSU but is her back injury up to playing games with essentially no rest and recoup time?

Did not realize that

 

[ZorkClone]

Good article… I honestly think they should substitute Audi in and out more regularly. Something like three minutes on two minutes off. Or maybe 3.5 on 1.5 off…

And they need to stick to it rigidly.

And Addy Brown completely getting her groove back changes that team from “OK” to a very tough out.

With all that said it still comes down to the defense and the thing is this… As long as Audi is there & Fennely is coaching they are never going to play good interior defense. I’m honestly not sure Brown is that great of a defender or at least she hasn’t been asked to be.

But there is absolutely no reason whatsoever, especially with the diminutive size of most of their guards that they can’t put more pressure on the ball. I don’t know, maybe the guards lack the athleticism to put that kind of ball pressure on. But as I’ve said, in other threads, the university of Nebraska men’s team & the Iowa men’s team neither one have a ton of “great athletes“ and they are playing significantly better ball pressure defense than they ever have.

Surely the Iowa State women could do the same if they wanted to

To your first point I bolded, I agree. I've heard Audi has the "authority" to sub herself in and out, so I think that plays into the choppiness of Alisa's minutes.

To your second point I bolded, to me it's clear that Bill doesn't value defense, so he just doesn't want to. Maybe this type of lax defense worked in the 2000's, but the game is progressing to be more physical, and our way isn't really working anymore.

 

[cmhawks99]

To your first point I bolded, I agree. I've heard Audi has the "authority" to sub herself in and out, so I think that plays into the choppiness of Alisa's minutes.

To your second point I bolded, to me it's clear that Bill doesn't value defense, so he just doesn't want to. Maybe this type of lax defense worked in the 2000's, but the game is progressing to be more physical, and our way isn't really working anymore.

I’m inclined to agree with you on the BF point. I don’t think he necessarily cares but if these folks have somehow “convinced” themselves that it worked 20 years ago, they are sadly mistaken…

I’m not as big a men’s basketball fan as I was in the 80s and 90s and I’m definitely not as big a fan as I was even 10 years ago. Over the last couple years, I’ve watched the Iowa State and Creighton men’s teams more than I have Iowa.

The point being I remember seeing a stat way back in the late 90s and early 2000s that no men’s team has ever won a NC without a defensive rating I believe in the top 50s. You don’t have to be very smart to immediately understand. You have to be able to play “above average” defense to win big.

Tom Davis was a good Full Court press Coach, & rebounding too. But those teams never played particularly good man to man, have court defense.

The fact that Lisa Bluder and Caitlin got the Iowa women to two straight championship games with pretty average defense, is quite remarkable really. Like BF, She also never pushed defense heavily, although to her credit… When they absolutely had to that team, including CC could play some pretty good defense in isolated stretches.

The long winded point is this: if you have goals to win championships, you better be stressing the hell out of defense!!

As far as the Audi thing above goes… Having a regimented schedule would fix some of those lineup consistency issues as well. If I understood you correctly.

 

[mwwbbfan]

To your first point I bolded, I agree. I've heard Audi has the "authority" to sub herself in and out, so I think that plays into the choppiness of Alisa's minutes.

To your second point I bolded, to me it's clear that Bill doesn't value defense, so he just doesn't want to. Maybe this type of lax defense worked in the 2000's, but the game is progressing to be more physical, and our way isn't really working anymore.

I disagree with this - the problem is that his dominate offensive player is a major liability on the defensive end. It is difficult to design a defense to play basically 4 on 5 against Big 12 teams. The defense was fine in non-conference but conference teams have the talent and coaching to take advantage of that. If you watched the end of the K State game they were doing Offense / Defense subbing for Audi and Willy to try to mitigate that.

 

[cmhawks99]

I disagree with this - the problem is that his dominate offensive player is a major liability on the defensive end. It is difficult to design a defense to play basically 4 on 5 against Big 12 teams. The defense was fine in non-conference but conference teams have the talent and coaching to take advantage of that. If you watched the end of the K State game they were doing Offense / Defense subbing for Audi and Willy to try to mitigate that.

Well your point about ACs defense is accurate, but that doesn’t change the fact that his guards don’t play particularly good defense either. At least over the last several years when I’ve started paying attention to them they never seem to….in my opinion.

I’m willing to be disproven, but that’s how I’ve seen it.

 

[ZorkClone]

I disagree with this - the problem is that his dominate offensive player is a major liability on the defensive end. It is difficult to design a defense to play basically 4 on 5 against Big 12 teams. The defense was fine in non-conference but conference teams have the talent and coaching to take advantage of that. If you watched the end of the K State game they were doing Offense / Defense subbing for Audi and Willy to try to mitigate that.

I agree that Audi exacerbates the problem, but it was an issue before Audi too.

Season	Torvik Adjusted D rank
25-26	79
24-25	52
23-24	58
22-23	26
21-22	63
20-21	83

These are the defensive ranks from Torvik from the last few years. I think you are right that I was exaggerating that Bill doesn't care about defense, but to CMhawks point the one season we had pretty good defense we win the most games in program history, the Big 12 tournament, host the ncaa first weekend, and make it to a sweet 16.

We've had torvik top 20 offences for all those years, I have to wonder if we were willing/able to sacrifice some offence for better defense if we would have has more success.

 

[cmhawks99]

I agree that Audi exacerbates the problem, but it was an issue before Audi too.

Season	Torvik Adjusted D rank
25-26	79
24-25	52
23-24	58
22-23	26
21-22	63
20-21	83

These are the defensive ranks from Torvik from the last few years. I think you are right that I was exaggerating that Bill doesn't care about defense, but to CMhawks point the one season we had pretty good defense we win the most games in program history, the Big 12 tournament, host the ncaa first weekend, and make it to a sweet 16.

We've had torvik top 20 offences for all those years, I have to wonder if we were willing/able to sacrifice some offence for better defense if we would have has more success.

Yes 22/23 appears to be an outlier, but most assuredly shows the significance of having a top-tier defense. I would say a defensive ranking of 26 fits that bill.

I’m actually surprised to see it’s even in the top 80 this year. The games I’ve watched and it’s been quite a few. They have been horrible.

 

[ZorkClone]

Yes 22/23 appears to be an outlier, but most assuredly shows the significance of having a top-tier defense. I would say a defensive ranking of 26 fits that bill.

I’m actually surprised to see it’s even in the top 80 this year. The games I’ve watched and it’s been quite a few. They have been horrible.

The P4 teams below us are in defensive rank order Indiana (17-13), Kansas (18-12), Rutgers (9-20), Purdue (13-16), UCF (11-18), Houston (7-22), Wisconsin (13-16), Florida State (10-20), Wake Forest (14-16), Cincinnati (11-19) , Northwestern (8-21) Boston College (5-26) and Pitt (8-23).

Not exactly a group we want to be associated with.

 

[jsb]

AJ is the scholar athlete of the year. I always think that’s one of the bigger honors.

 

[MJ29]

The full listing of award winners.

2026 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 WBB Yearly Award Winners
Player of the Year: Olivia Miles, TCU, G, Gr.
Freshman of the Year: Jaliya Davis, Kansas, F *
Newcomer of the Year: Olivia Miles, TCU, G, Gr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan Harrison, West Virginia, G, Sr.
Sixth Player of the Year: Snudda Collins, Texas Tech, G, Sr.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Arianna Jackson, Iowa State, G, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Krista Gerlich, Texas Tech

All-Big 12 First Team
Taliah Scott, Baylor, G, R-So.
Delaney Gibb, BYU, G, So.
Jaliya Davis, Kansas, F, Fr.
S’Mya Nichols, Kansas, G, Jr.
Audi Crooks, Iowa State, C, Jr. *
Jada Williams, Iowa State, G, Jr.
Olivia Miles, TCU, G, Gr.*
Marta Suarez, TCU, F, Gr.*
Bailey Maupin, Texas Tech, G, Sr.
Jordan Harrison, West Virginia, G, Sr.

All-Big 12 Second Team
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor, F, Sr.
Jade Masogayo, Colorado, F, Sr.
Stailee Heard, Oklahoma State, G, Jr.
Snudda Collins, Texas Tech, G, Sr.
Lani White, Utah, G, Sr.

All-Big 12 Third Team
Gabby Elliott, Arizona State, G, Gr.
McKinna Brackens, Arizona State, F, Jr.
Mya Perry, Cincinnati, G, Sr.
Tess Heal, K-State, G, Sr.
Micah Gray, Oklahoma State, G, Sr.

Honorable Mention: Arizona: Noelani Cornfield; Baylor: Bella Fontleroy, Jana Van Gytenbeek; BYU: Olivia Hamlin; UCF: Khyala Ngodu; Colorado: Zyanna Walker, Desiree Wooten; K-State: Taryn Sides; Oklahoma State: Achol Akot, Jadyn Wooten; TCU: Donovyn Hunter; Texas Tech: Jalynn Bristow; West Virginia: Gia Cooke, Kierra Wheeler

All-Big 12 Freshman Team
Olivia Hamlin, BYU, G*
Caliyah DeVillasee, Cincinnati, G
Logyn Greer, Colorado, F
Jaliya Davis, Kansas, F*
LA Sneed, Utah, G

All-Big 12 Defensive Team
Bella Fontleroy, Baylor, F, Sr.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor, F, Sr.
Zyanna Walker, Colorado, G, Jr.
Donovyn Hunter, TCU, G, Jr.
Jordan Harrison, West Virginia, G, Sr.*

Players are sorted in alphabetical order by school.
*Indicates unanimous selection.

 

[cmhawks99]

The P4 teams below us are in defensive rank order Indiana (17-13), Kansas (18-12), Rutgers (9-20), Purdue (13-16), UCF (11-18), Houston (7-22), Wisconsin (13-16), Florida State (10-20), Wake Forest (14-16), Cincinnati (11-19) , Northwestern (8-21) Boston College (5-26) and Pitt (8-23).

Not exactly a group we want to be associated with.

LOL…no definitely not.

 

[acoustimac]

The P4 teams below us are in defensive rank order Indiana (17-13), Kansas (18-12), Rutgers (9-20), Purdue (13-16), UCF (11-18), Houston (7-22), Wisconsin (13-16), Florida State (10-20), Wake Forest (14-16), Cincinnati (11-19) , Northwestern (8-21) Boston College (5-26) and Pitt (8-23).

Not exactly a group we want to be associated with.

And the fact this team, despite injuries, has won 20+ games is even more amazing

 

[cmhawks99]

And the fact this team, despite injuries, has won 20+ games is even more amazing

I agree with this…. plenty of things to be pleased about as a follower of Iowa State.

 

[Jimbo ISU]

It's not too late for this team to do something special. Let's start by stacking up some wins this week.

 

[VeloClone]

Good article… I honestly think they should substitute Audi in and out more regularly. Something like three minutes on two minutes off. Or maybe 3.5 on 1.5 off…

And they need to stick to it rigidly.

This is defnitely easier said than done. You can't count on a stoppage in play just when you need it to rigidly stick to a schedule like that. There have been at least a couple of times this year where the mid quarter media timeout occurred shortly before the end of the quarter because there were no stoppages.

Besides, the flow and pace of the game could make that quick of a substitution totally unnecessary because it is so slow moving there isn't any stress on Audi requiring a break. I don't think it is broken at this point.

I do like that they have had the ability to do quite a bit of offense/defense substituting in some games when ISU is protecting a late game lead. Audi on offense and Willy on D is the best of both worlds. Bill generally does a good job stockpiling his timeouts so he can use them freely at end of game to make this happen if needed.