Hey guys, here is the game hub for Saturday's Cal women's basketball game against Nebraska. Tipoff for this game is 5:00 PM PST on Pac-12 Networks Bay Area. Here is my list of 5 things to know going into this game.
#1. Nebraska is unranked, but their résumé is solid: The Cornhuskers are 7-1 on the season with their only loss coming @UCONN, the nation's top team. While Cal is the team that is ranked, it isn't like Nebraska is chopped liver. They are a very good team and very much capable of pulling off an upset.
#2. Nebraska has a nice inside-out game: Nebraska's leading scorer, freshman forward Jessica Shepard, is averaging 19.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while their second leading scorer, sophomore guard Natalie Romeo, is averaging 14.8 points and 3.6 assists per game. The Cornhuskers seem to have solid weapons in the paint and on the perimeter, which makes them a more difficult team to play against.
#3. Will Courtney Range be healthy...again? Right when Courtney Range looked to be close to 100% healthy, she went down again on Sunday with a right ankle injury. Hopefully with a week's rest and treatment, she will be ready to go as Coach Gottlieb says she will be.
#4. Who will win the battle on the glass? Nebraska is averaging 45.1 rebounds per game while their opponents average 33.2 rebounds per game. As for Cal, they average 42.6 rebounds per game while their opponents average 35.9 rebounds per game. It will be fascinating to see which team comes down with more boards. Odds are good whichever team does will win the game.
#5. Can Cal finally figure out how to take care of the ball? Cal averages more turnovers per game than they do assists. That's terrible. It would be great to see a distinct improvement in this category on Saturday. If Cal wants to remain a Top-25 team and threaten to win the Pac-12, they'll have to cut back on the turnovers and play more disciplined basketball.
Prediction: I have Cal winning this game 74-73. Statistically, these teams are almost dead even. They shoot roughly the same percentages from three-point range, the field, and the foul line. Plus, they have almost identical rebounding numbers. There is no reason to think this will be an easy win for Cal, but since they are at home and are ranked in the Top-25, I have to give Cal the slight advantage in this game.
Note: I will also be live-tweeting the game from my personal twitter handle @slamdunk406
#1. Nebraska is unranked, but their résumé is solid: The Cornhuskers are 7-1 on the season with their only loss coming @UCONN, the nation's top team. While Cal is the team that is ranked, it isn't like Nebraska is chopped liver. They are a very good team and very much capable of pulling off an upset.
#2. Nebraska has a nice inside-out game: Nebraska's leading scorer, freshman forward Jessica Shepard, is averaging 19.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while their second leading scorer, sophomore guard Natalie Romeo, is averaging 14.8 points and 3.6 assists per game. The Cornhuskers seem to have solid weapons in the paint and on the perimeter, which makes them a more difficult team to play against.
#3. Will Courtney Range be healthy...again? Right when Courtney Range looked to be close to 100% healthy, she went down again on Sunday with a right ankle injury. Hopefully with a week's rest and treatment, she will be ready to go as Coach Gottlieb says she will be.
#4. Who will win the battle on the glass? Nebraska is averaging 45.1 rebounds per game while their opponents average 33.2 rebounds per game. As for Cal, they average 42.6 rebounds per game while their opponents average 35.9 rebounds per game. It will be fascinating to see which team comes down with more boards. Odds are good whichever team does will win the game.
#5. Can Cal finally figure out how to take care of the ball? Cal averages more turnovers per game than they do assists. That's terrible. It would be great to see a distinct improvement in this category on Saturday. If Cal wants to remain a Top-25 team and threaten to win the Pac-12, they'll have to cut back on the turnovers and play more disciplined basketball.
Prediction: I have Cal winning this game 74-73. Statistically, these teams are almost dead even. They shoot roughly the same percentages from three-point range, the field, and the foul line. Plus, they have almost identical rebounding numbers. There is no reason to think this will be an easy win for Cal, but since they are at home and are ranked in the Top-25, I have to give Cal the slight advantage in this game.
Note: I will also be live-tweeting the game from my personal twitter handle @slamdunk406
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