Observations from Wednesday

[Buddha]

WOMEN vs. Texas Southern
• We're 10-2. Anytime you get to double-digit wins before the calendar flips over into January, you're doing a lot of things well.
• Sam Mahnesmith was the reason we won. When everyone else was ice-cold, she knocked down some 3s to keep us ahead.
• Jillian Samuels is a better player this year — her ball-handling looks better, and she mixed in a few midrange jumpers, rather than shooting only from outside the arc.
• Christine Elliott looked frustrated at times. There were moments when she looked like she could do whatever she wanted to. Other times, she looked hesitant. Somehow, she's got to get mad/confident all the time.
• Heidi Brandenburg is coming along. Last year, she was really raw. Against Texas Southern, she had a couple of hoops when she took a pass from the high post and spun to the hoop for layups.
• It was the second game in a row that wasn't pretty — if we play like that at Utah, we're in trouble — but it's nice to see a team play poorly and still figure out a way to win.

MEN vs. Army
• This game was scary — Army is a very disciplined, well-coached team (of course), and plays terrific defense. After the tough trip to Hawaii, I was afraid of hangover.
• Pap Dia played as well as I've ever seen him play. He's bigger and stronger than anyone on the Army team, and he played that way.
• No sure why Derek Williams didn't start, but he probably has been our best player this year. He came off the bench, and ran the offense pretty smoothly. He does the things you need in a point guard: he protects the ball, he gets it to his teammates in places where they can get their shots off, and when he gets hacked down the stretch, he hits his free throws.
• Paul McCoy showed a few flashes that he might be snapping out of his funk. Hasn't happened yet, but he's just too good and too much fun to watch for this to continue. The guy is as talented a player as I've ever seen, and I refuse to believe he won't break out of it.
• Justin Haynes might be the most improved player we have this year. He's playing good defense, and much more active offensively, getting out on the break and beating people off the dribble. He looks like he might become a very good player before he's through.

[Mestengo]

Justin did stand out last night.

[Pony4Life]

You're right about the women — who looked like they were getting ready for New Year's Eve all game long — knowing how to win even when they play like garbage ... which they did.

No mention of Brittany Gilliam? With Delisha Wills out for the year, she's even more vital than ever for the Ponies this year.

As much of a head-scratcher as Paul McCoy has been, Mo Faye has been a little bit of the same — at times sensational, but such a streaky shooter and occasionally foul-prone that he sometimes plays himself out of the game.