U.S. Improves to 3-0 in U19 World Cup With Win over Hungary

U.S. Improves to 3-0 in U19 World Cup With Win over Hungary
by dillon77 (2019-07-23 10:14:42)

The United States probably played its best game of the u19 Women's Basketball World Cup Tournament in Thailand, with a 95-50 win.

Everyone on the roster got into the game, including top 2020 Prospect Caitlin Clark, who had 8 points and 4 assists in just about 20 minutes of playing time (see link to box score).

I was wondering if ND would send someone (more than) halfway around the world to show Clark the degree of interest ND has in her. Chris Dailey of UConn is there, as well, and Paige Bueckers has already verbally committed (UConn is reportedly interested in some players on Canada's team.) Interestingly, Clark and Hailey Van Lith is the only player on the team who is either not already in college or committed to one.

As many of you know, the u19 team -- as was the u18 team last year -- is coached by Jeff Walz. While ND fans have their issues with him in many regards, I've got to give a tip of the hat for the service he and assistant coaches like Cori Close of UCLA are giving to the Uig .S. National Team.

Here are his comments on the team. Note his emphasis on cutting down the dribbling and passing faster in the sequence (I've got to think he's addressing everyone from Bueckers and Clark to Hailey Van Lith, who is noted for a lot of dribbling. Not surprisingly, Van Lith is being heavily pursued by Louisville (as well as Baylor and Oregon State).

“I was really pleased with our effort today,” said Jeff Walz, USA U19 and University of Louisville head coach. “Offensively we were much better. We stopped dribbling the ball so much, which has been a problem for us all through training camp. We’ve got players who are the best on their high school teams, the best on their college teams and they have to dribble on those teams in order for something good to happen. That’s against what we’re trying to get them to do. We want fewer dribbles, more passing and find the open player early. In the first two games we did a very poor job of that. I thought today was much better, and you could see it on the offensive end."

Click here for link at http://www.fiba.basketball/world/u19women/2019/game/2307/USA

Were any ND coaches there? *

Good question! *

It's a Good Question...

..and not just because I asked it, too (in the initial post).

On one hand, you want to show interest in prospects. Secondly, you might want to take a look at talent from other countries, if Notre Dame is starting to be inclined to do so.

On the other hand, Thailand is a long way and ND is pretty aware of what Clark can do. Gosh knows how long an offer has been on the table.

Like folks have mentioned, let's get her an OV in September (if she was not the person in the covert appearance on campus in June).

Long way - and there are budgets, but ....

I get tired of Notre Dame always being behind in spending. I realize that a lot of schools operate in the red in their athletic budgets. Notre Dame is not one of those. I know football covers the expenses of the non-revenue sports, but I'm guessing that if women's basketball is not operating in the black, it is not requiring much of a subsidy (unlike most other schools).

And then there are alumni (some with planes) that might cover such an excursion.

Now I'm sure there are many legit reasons for not being there of which we aren't aware - let's just don't let $$$ be one of them if the spending is deemed necessary.

P.S. I'm good at spending other people's money, but if they have it ...

and yet

Geno and his #1 assistant had no problem jumping on a plane and traveling to, was it Romania[?] to visit a recruit who has since verballed to UConn. I understand Ivey is following a recruit in Finland, will she go visit her?

ND staff does a good job recruiting, just don't want budget

To stop them from traveling the world - if necessary - to get the best players. I don't want us to be outworked or outspent

After Bueckers committed to UCONN

I think I remember her saying the intensity of which UCONN recruited her was a factor. I hope we don't miss on a coveted recruit because we don't recruit them hard enough. Just being ND isn't enough anymore.

you have to ask yourself

if Clark was a 6'6'' stud post player would the staff be in attendance in Thailand showing the flag?

exactly

she and her parents were blown away by the fact that Geno and his asst would make that long a trip to visit with her.

Coach O Went to South America....

..for the U16s, so it can't be that much more to get her to Thailand for a few nights in Bangkok, no?

Showing the face/flag to Clark is completely worth it, says the druthering Dillonite.

Thanks for this. Now we wait for OV's to be scheduled. *