As the calendar turns, Caps focus attention to Geelong and December schedule

The UC Capitals fell to the Perth Lynx 91-67 at the AIS Arena on Saturday, as the Lynx capitalised on the much-anticipated debut of Chinese superstar Han Xu, who didn’t disappoint with 22 points (10/12 fgs), 4 rebounds and 2 blocks.

While the result wasn’t ideal, there were a number of positives to take away from this game. Zitina Aokuso finally played her first full game as a Cap and while the stats don’t really pop out, she was moving well and her energy and impact was undeniable.

The free-throw shooting was also much better, albeit in a lower volume, and the Caps kept pace with the Lynx for most of the game, before the lead blew out a bit late in the game. Yes, the final margin was a 24-point loss, it certainly didn’t feel like it for the most part.

“Our level of compete this game was higher than what it had been, even if it didn’t indicate that on the scoreboard,” said Caps head coach Paul Goriss after the game.

So where does that leave us – a third into the season, we’re sitting at the bottom of the ladder with a 2-6 record. At times it hasn’t looked good, and it’s probably not what we all expected in the offseason. BUT – it’s not as bad as it looks and there’s plenty of reasons to remain optimistic about the Caps’ chances moving forward. Here’s why:

The schedule is home-friendly in December

The Caps have six December games and four of those will be at home. All four of those home games (9/12 v Lightning, 12/12 v Flyers, 20/12 v Venom, 27/12 v Flames) will be against teams that occupy the 4 to 7 spots in the ladder. The Caps also face the Venom (on the road) to open the month. The schedule presents a good chance to stack up some wins against the teams that the squad is competing against for a top 4 spot, although Coach Goriss says the team will take it one game at a time.

“I think we just have to look forward to the next opponent. At this point, we just can’t afford to look too far even with the ladder being what it is,” says Goz.

“We just need to focus on the things we need to be better at and be more detailed with and focus on the next opponent rather than too far ahead.”

The only game against the top 3 this month is against the Lynx (road, 23/12) so with December being the season of giving, we’re hoping that Santa gifts us a whole bunch of Caps wins this holiday season.

Have you seen the ladder?

Yes – the Caps are (sadly) at the bottom for now (2-6). But a quick look at the ladder will show that the team isn’t out of it by any stretch. While the top 3 have created a bit of a cushion, the Flyers, who currently sit at the 4th spot is 3-4. Geelong and Adelaide are tied for 5th/6th at 3-6, and the Flames are just above the Caps with a 3-7 mark.

“The mood’s pretty good. Even though we’re at the bottom, we’re really only a game or so out of the top 4 so things aren’t as grim as it may seem,” said Isa Brancatisano after Tuesday’s practice.  

As mentioned above, 5 of the 6 December games are going to be against teams sitting in that 4 to 7 range so there’s a real chance for the Caps to stack up some much-needed wins here and make some ground in the standings.

The roster will finally be at full-strength (and the team still believes)

The Caps have had their full complement of players for all of three minutes all season. Yes, the other teams have all had their own roster issues to navigate through, and that’s all part of the game, but it does make a huge difference having players available. Against the Lynx last weekend, the Caps got Zitina back but were without Kadi Sissoko, who was recovering from a concussion. Heading into this weekend’s clash against Geelong, the Caps are projected to have the full lineup for only the second time all season.

The team also has full confidence in turning things around.

“The work that we do every week puts us in a good stead to come out and expect good result. The work ethic of the players, how they go about practice, how they go about scout, how they go about film – it shows how much they care and are committed to the process, and the chemistry and belief is still there that we can be good,” says Goz.

“We’ve got a talented group, we all like each other, and we all want to do this for each other. We’re putting the work in and we believe it’s going to happen,” says Isa.

The UC Caps take on the Geelong Venom on the road this Sunday, before playing two home games next week at the AIS against the Adelaide Lightning on Tuesday 9 December and against the Southside Melbourne Flyers on Friday 12 December. Make sure you get your tickets today.

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