top of mind thoughts on yesterday's game and it's impact. I do appreciate and agree with many of your sentiments. As for the game and certain players here's 3 thoughts:

1. Oregon had a better game plan as well as execution plan against Baylor than ND. They got cold in the end which is why they lost, but Iknow Baylor D had much to do with that. As for ND if Cox hadn't got hurt, it woudn't have been close.
2. Chloe Jackson and Marina did well with their WNBA stock for that game as I think one of those two could sneak into the 2nd round vs their 3rd round projections. On the other hand JY (if she comes out) may have hurt hers. Her reluctance to shoot except for drives when the team needed her is an issue which if I were a GM would have me question her as a high 1st round pick. I still think Arike should be ND's top WNBA pick.
3. Speaking of Arike, I am in awe of what she accomplished on such a big stage. She has two records from this tournament that I don't think will be easily broken. Highest scoring game in a championship on a losing team (2nd overall win or lose) and highest scoring tournament total points on a losing team (144, 4th overall in the history of the tournament). Given last years heroics and this years performance, her last two years in the NCAA tournament have been incredible.

v the Friday/Sunday of making it to the Championship? In most cases the extra time helps from a game planning standpoint and the ability to "rehearse" more. I felt our biggest issue was rushing shots all game; we seemed nervous of their height rather than just going right at them.

as a higher pick than Arike? Why was Durr POY in the ACC two years in a row?

Asia Durr is a great player, but she's essentially a scorer with shooting/scoring stats that are no better than Arike's. Arike brings more to the table in other aspects of the game, as well as star power and an undeniable ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest of stages.

She's a couple inches taller than Arike. It's hard to be a 5-8 2-guard in the WNBA.

I think she's probably a better 3-point shooter and a better defender (and will be helped on that end by her height).

Athletically, she's close to a prototype WNBA 2-guard.

As much as I love Arike, I do think Durr is a slightly better prospect for the next level. I expect both to have long, successful careers, though.

As for the awards, last year she rode the wave of knocking ND off its perch. This year she benefited from the perception that she had less help from her teammates than Arike did.

difference between us and Baylor and may have helped get ND off to the poor start. Any semi game is big for all the teams involved, but when it’s against a historical rival it takes on an added emotional component and in this case even moreso I’d say than any other 2 schools in women’s basketball.

As to the poor start, the team essentially played Baylor even the second and third quarters until Cox went out. It was still at a 12 point deficit when she left late in the 3rd and ND began its comeback and eventually then took the lead.

I don’t think Baylor could have played much better and ND obviously could have. We just needed a better start.

She picked up her fourth foul halfway through the fourth and I was surprised we didn't try to isolate Jackie or Arike or Marina on her to get that 5th foul.

As she did every time and as suggested by Mabrey1