In Reply to: WBB rewatch v. Michigan posted by TheHappyBurgermeister on February 09, 2026 at 22:02:52
This was the closest we’ve seen to a true top-four team (besides Texas). They’re quick, athletic, and made it really hard for us to generate clean looks. That said, we still found a way to win on the road, and I think that’s a great sign. I was especially impressed with our defense. More than anything, this game gives us a very clear and very doable roadmap for beating elite teams, by simply answering why this one was as close as it was.
First: turnovers. There’s really no excuse for 13 turnovers with our level of ball handling. Too many were careless—forced passes or trying to make a play that just wasn’t there. Lauren, in particular, still has to recognize that when she puts the ball on the floor, the backside double is coming. Either establish deeper position or make the kick-out after one dribble. Which leads right into the next point.
Three-point shooting. We’re far too good a shooting team to go 3-for-13. We have to do a better job getting Kneepkens clean looks. Michigan’s quickness clearly bothered her. I’d also like to see more offensive-rebound kick-outs. I heard a TV guy call them “practice threes,” and I loved that description, that’s exactly what they look like. When we grab an offensive board, the team should be consciously looking for Gianna.
Second-chance points. Michigan had 14 offensive rebounds, which is way too many given our size and strength. That turned into 20 second-chance points. If we rebound the way we’re capable of, this isn’t a close game.
Lastly—and this might be the toughest fix, fast-break points. We had zero, while Michigan had seven. That’s not outrageous given their team speed, but I’d still like to see that gap shrink.
Overall, those are my takeaways. I think we’re going to have to be close to perfect to hang a banner, but these are all areas that can improve. I walked away from this game feeling pretty optimistic.