Higher Post: Sometimes you need a timeout to see the play.
...and here comes rivalry week!
Congregation, please stand up….
…and take time to celebrate every moment!
This week I’m going to start with a personal story. Sure, we could talk about mid-season awards, more of the Burley Hurley, or the Game of the Week (#5 LSU/#2 South Carolina) being postponed a day due to 8 inches of snow in Baton Rouge??
However, this week I traveled up to Boston for #3 Notre Dame at Boston College. I had been looking for a way to see this team play in person and Boston is the closest, so I was thrilled to see this game was at Chestnut Hill.
Being from Massachusetts, I made a week of it to visit friends and family all scheduled around this game. As the week progressed, I got more and more excited. I planned to go into Boston for the day to play in the city, check out some places I had not seen in a while (go to shops, get coffee at places I love, etc) before meeting friends at BC for the game later.
I drove my rental car to BC to park there and take the T into Boston. I could have taken the train in, but I preferred to have my car for flexiblity. However, as I arrived, I got into a fender bender with another car in the lot. Being a rental, I suddenly started panicking about my insurance coverage - did I get all I need? As I was swapping info with the other driver, I got a text that one friend was sick and needed to cancel. Then, I got another that something came up and my other friend couldn’t make it. So, suddenly it was just me. A bummer because I was looking forward to seeing friends, but for the game, it’s ok. I have no issues going to a game by myself.
So, I hop the T and head into the city. While the accident was minor and no one was hurt, it was weighing on me. How did that happen? I’m playing the event over and over in my head, thinking if I didn’t stop for coffee, or if I parked in the other lot, or took the train in, this would not have happened. This kind of hindsight is dumb because you never know any other paths, but it bothered me and I could not shake the dark clouds. How could I have done this differently? It was all about bad timing and any other decisions would have changed the timeline.
Once in the city, I discovered that places I wanted to go to were closed. Permanently. Suddenly, I‘m alone in Boston with no plan with only my thoughts with hours to burn. What was I doing here? I stopped in a local restaurant to get lunch and roll back my mind for a moment - remember, you are here for this game! Remember how excited you were for this? Don’t let sad thoughts of the day ruin it. You love this stuff. You are fine.
Suddenly, I get a message from another friend out and in Amherst and they are driving out to join me. Big fans of the women’s game, they want to see this Irish team too. Ok, excitement starts to come back and the sadness starts to sub out like it was in foul trouble.
I get back to Conte Forum and go in the doors. I got there early because it’s GA and I wanted to get some pics - oh, and I had lots of time. I watched warm ups. I saw coaches giving last instructions. I saw Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo goofing with the ref.
Then ,the game tipped and suddenly all the bad feelings of the day were gone. BC is a decent team that does not have all the parts to do damage to a team like Notre Dame, but won’t make the win easy for them either. Hannah Hidalgo got her usual 23 points and 5 steals (more below). I gabbed with other Irish fans, alums, parents, etc. It was awesome to be there.
As the final buzzer sounded, my friends and I went out to the concourse to say final goodbyes. We were not going the same direction, so we didn’t need to leave together. My friends left through the main exit and I decided to go out through the other exit because it was closer to the garage I parked in.
As I exited, I saw the Notre Dame bus and a small crowd waiting at the exit for the team to come out. Interesting, but it was 25 degrees out and who knows how long they would be, so I passed the crowd, but as I did, I saw coaches and players coming out. And at just that moment, here comes Hannah Hidalgo herself. The player who was the gateway for me to start loving this Irish team and who has truly become my favorite active college player today. If you have read this before, you know how true that is.
Despite the cold, Hannah goes right to an excited crowd of young girls looking for pics and autographs, making sure she stops for each one to accommodate. I decided to wait for a moment to see if she would get up towards me and when she did, I said, “Hannah, can I get a quick pic?” She jumped right next to me for the selfie. I told her that her game is an absolute joy to watch. We thanked each other and she moved to the next pack of kids looking for her attention.
As I walked back to my car, I suddenly realized that everything that happened that day led to this moment and how crazy it was to be trapped in my brain all day. If I didn’t park at that garage, I would not have gone through that exit. As I sat there earlier in the day, I was feeling bad that I ‘should have done this’ or ‘should not had done that’ but it all had a fun ending after all because that is the only way it could have played out.
The bottom line - You can’t second guess moments. You just make the most of every moment as they happen because you never know where it is going to go.
#Go Defense.
We Got Next: Games to watch this week! (all times EST)
…Saturday is light with big games, but Rivalry Week begins!
Men’s Games:
#9 Kentucky at Vanderbilt (Saturday, 2:30p, ESPN) Don’t look now, but Vandy is fighting for an invitation to the Dance.
Georgia at #5 Florida (Saturday, 3:30p, SEC) The Return of Mike White
New Mexico at UNLV (Saturday, 3p, FOX) The Running Rebels are looking for that big win for a bid. First place New Mexico would be the one.
#16 Ole Miss at #22 Mizzou (Saturday, 6p, SEC) Its like the only teams not in the SEC mix are the ones still in BigXII.
#7 Houston at #12 Kansas (Saturday, 6:30p, ESPN) The Battle for the Big XII
#6 Tennessee at #1 Auburn (Saturday, 8:30p, ESPN) College GameDay tips off a new season at Auburn for a marquee matchup.
UAB at #24 Memphis (Sunday, 1p, ESPN) Both at tied atop the American standings.
#9 Kentucky at #6 Tennessee (Tuesday, 7p, ESPN) Time to tipoff Rivalry Week with The Battle of The Bourbons.
VCU at Saint Louis (Tuesday, 8p, CBSSN) We get to see the new look Billikens (that kinda look like last season’s Indiana State) on national TV!
#7 Houston at #23 West Virginia (Wednesday, 7p, ESPN+) Yup, a Big XII game.
Massachusetts at Rhode Island (Wednesday, 7p, ESPN) The Minutemen are suddenly surging and a matchup with Archie Miller’s Rams is always a rough rivalry.
#4 Alabama at #14 Miss State (Wednesday, 9p, SEC) Just in case the SEC wasn’t represented this week.
Women’s Games:
#1 UCLA at #8 Maryland (Sunday, 2p, NBC/Peacock) Juju Watkins and USC put the only blemish on the Terrapins’ record. Can Lauren Betts and the Bruins go for the Maryland sweep? Or, do the Terrapins return the favor?
#14 Duke at #18 Georgia Tech (Sunday, 2p. ACCextra) GT looking for regain their buzz.
Vanderbilt at #19 Alabama (Sunday 2, SEC) Can Vandy pull off another upset?
#25 Baylor at #9 TCU (Sunday, 3p, ESPN2) Lillie Van Lith looking to snap their 1-game losing streak.
#2 South Carolina at #17 Tennessee (Monday, 7p, ESPN2) Oooooh! That’s all.
#15 Oklahoma at #5 LSU (Thursday, 7p, ESPN2) I’ll tune in just for Kim’s fits
#19 Alabama at #11 Kentucky (Thursday, 7p, SEC) I have Georgia on my mind.
#23 Minnesota at #4 USC (Thursday, 10p. Peacock) The Juju/B1G tour continues.
#13 North Carolina at #22 California (Thursday, 10p, ACCNet) Just another Thursday in the ‘Another Coast Conference’
Keeping up with the Hannahs
Two of my favorite players are not only incredibly fun to watch…but are both named Hannah! I dedicate this section to them. We try and keep up with them during a pivotal season!
Hannah Stuelke (Junior / Forward / Iowa):
Some hard news this week. First, the Iowa Hawkeyes wrapped up their west coast swing splitting games with Oregon (L) and Washington (W), however they were not able to do it with Hannah Stuelke on the squad due to a concussion.
With 3:40 to go in the overtime period of Iowa’s game against Nebraska on Jan. 16, Stuelke tangled for a rebound with Nebraska’s Jessica Petrie in which Petrie’s arm stretched around Hannah’s head and pulled it back, twisting her body down to the ground, in what was described as an equivalent to a face mask foul in football.
While it was a harder foul and Hannah went down to the court, her head never touched the floor, giving no signs of a possible concussion. But, you don’t need to hit your head to be concussed. Play continued with Hannah going to the line, but according to Hannah, the hoop was moving as she attempted her free throws, missing both. She went to the bench for the remainder of the game. It was not obvious to the viewers or the commentators, who commented on Stuelke exiting the game (for Addy O’Grady) as a strategic move.
According to Coach Jan Jensen, Hannah “did not look good before we left [for Oregon]” She remained behind in Iowa City due to concussion protocol. She is listed as day-to-day but with no timetable for her return.
This is a big blow for this young Hawkeye team, who need their experienced star forward as they are going through a rough patch of conference play.
But, most importantly, is the concern for Hannah’s health more than anything. Games are important but concussions are not something that the athletic world takes seriously enough. Our thoughts are with her and hope for her strong health and speedy return. More to come as this story develops.
Up Next (all times EST):
No games for the Hawkeyes this weekend, which is good break for Hannah.
Tuesday 1/28 - Northwestern at Iowa (8p, BTN)
Sunday 2/2 - #4 USC at Iowa (1:30p, FOX)
Hannah Hidalgo (Sophomore / Guard / Notre Dame):
Meanwhile, as one Hannah sits out, another returns, as Hannah Hidalgo returns to action after missing two games due to light ankle sprain.
SMU 64 - #3 Notre Dame 88:
Picture it, it's Sunday night. I’m in Amherst, MA for an unexpected additional night due to the snow storm that is rolling in, I leave the hotel and go to a local sports bar for dinner and to catch this game. Naismith bless the Amherst Public House for taking in a traveling hoopster in need of food and the ACC Network during the NFL playoffs.
As the storm was just starting to open up, it was not busy at the bar. But then, in come a pack of middle aged dudes for the second game between the Bills and the Ravens. Looking around to see where ‘they’ would like to watch their game, one of them pointed to my screen and said to the bartender, ‘you can put it there’.
Oh, that’s not happening. Even if I was not watching that, the game was already on the sandwiching screens. Not even a ViewMaster has 3 identical views. I immediately spoke up while shaking my finger saying ‘ahh no. I’m watching this.” I didn’t take my eyes off the game just for effect of seriousness. Surprised at the resistance, he backed off.
That ended that..for a bit. Because about 10mins later, it got fun. I got the question:
“So, your daughter goes there? Niece? What is your connection to this team?
That is when the fun began. I told him that I have zero connection to this team accept for my love of the game and how I absolutely LOVE watching this team. He asked what it was that I liked, so I started listing off all my usual talking points:
They are the most balanced team in all college hoops; men’s and women’s.
Olivia Miles as a graceful assist machine.
Sonia Citron as the silent offensive assassin.
and Hannah Hidalgo as the self-proclaimed ‘pest’ on defense. She is all hands and makes any opposing ball handler’s life miserable. She is second in the country in Steals Per Game, only second to Duquesne’s Megan McConnell.
Ok, now I was showing off since I was in Atlantic 10 country, I thought I would throw some Duquesne in there. I ended by challenging them to just watch and enjoy.
Before you know it, they did. I heard them commenting things like ‘nice drive’ and ‘what a pass’ while noticing that the football game was at a commercial. One by one, we all started talking hoops and experiencing the joy that is this team.
If I wanted anything out of “Keeping up with the Hannahs” it was to bring attention to two players who were below the radar. If I could make one more fan, I did my job.
The great irony is that I didn’t expect this Irish team to become one of my favorite overall teams to watch in all of the years I have been watching college hoops. The more you give, the more you receive.
#3 Notre Dame 89 - Boston College 63:
Moving on from the story above the fold to the game itself. Boston College is a tough team, but not enough to beat the top of the conference. They will scare them.
Within the first 5mins, Olivia Miles racked up 2 fast fouls, taking away some of Coach Niele Ivey’s flexibility. BC ran with the Irish for most of the first half before Notre Dame started to run away with it slowly racking up a 26pt lead.
The interesting observation on this game that was spoken across the folks in the stands. This was a ‘quiet’ win. There were no flashy moments we have come to see and enjoy in most Notre Dame games this season. At times, Hannah Hidalgo seemed to still be shaking off some rust from her time on the bench. However, that was just visual. She got her usual 23pts and 5 steals, so she certainly got the job done.
However, watching the postgame presser, you could see Hannah was upset with her performance. It was not up to her standard of what she expects of herself showing that she sets the bar really high. That is the mindset of a champion. And, that must bring some chills to Blacksburg, VA. as the Irish travel there next to take on the Hokies of Virginia Tech.
Up Next (all times EST):
Thursday 1/30 - #3 Notre Dame at Virginia Tech (6p, ACCExtra)
Sunday 2/2 - #3 Notre Dame at Louisville (Noon, ACCExtra)
Five Touches: Passing around the hoops world
Teardrops: Washington retired Husky great and current Aces star Kelsey Plum’s No. 10 jersey at halftime during their game against Purdue. She is the first WBB player in Washington history to be retired. Not a dry eye in this house.
AND ONE!: Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell missed her first game as head of the Lady Vols program this week because she gave birth to her first child; a son named Conor Scott Caldwell. As if the SEC isn’t hard enough! Congrats Coach!
Poor Dartmouth. #Awkward: The Ivy League will not join the NCAA antitrust settlement allowing university athletic departments to pay players directly. This basically has them living in the past, clinging to the old amateur model. Quite a slap on the Dartmouth squad that tried to unionize.
And speaking of revenue sharing… Indiana University eliminates 25 positions in its athletic department as its braces for revenue sharing. Some employees laid off were long time career members of the department. Maybe, stop all the dead money payments to coaches you oversign and get impatient on.
Raygun (the shirt company, not the breaker) flies again! Raygun, the Iowa-based store and print shop that makes many Hawkeye themed (and NIL) shirts, is ‘Unrivaled’ in its creativity and speed to market. They hit again with this “LACE JAM” shirt as Laces’ (and former Iowa WBB) star Kate Martin has been killing it in the new 3x3 league. Check out more of their stuff here. No kickbacks for me, but I am open to a collab if they find this… Call me!
Final Seconds
Ok, time to run. Enjoy the games this week!
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Always live One Shining Moment at a time. Never be boring.