WBB UCLA preview -
BobK - 10-31-2017
http://www.stanfordfbc.org
Go to the usual site which isn't updated but click on it for the UCLA story and updates
Also check the grads playing overseas under alumnae news
And # 2??
https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/10/31/womens-preview-top-10-uconn-geno-auriemma
Re: WBB UCLA preview -
oldalum - 10-31-2017
#2 seems like a pretty big leap of faith at this point, what with a new system and some new players in the mix.
Re: WBB UCLA preview -
mbdude - 10-31-2017
It does. But maybe since Alanna and Nadia have both grown an inch according to article they move us up. (Roster does show 6'4, 6'3 for alanna and nadia so they have grown)
Re: WBB UCLA preview -
chimera - 10-31-2017
Nice preview. UCLA should be very good. I don't think Close is an elite coach, however. She is pretty good but her teams seem to underperform the talent level. They have two star seniors this year and a lot of younger talent so if they don't make a big push this year, when will they?
#2 for us seems too high for sure. Who will shoot threes and spread the floor? We are young and unproven at guard aside from Marta (assuming Brit plays the 3, which I think she should, but what do I know). so who are our other point guards and who is a scorer at the point and the 2?Â
Re: WBB UCLA preview -
81alum - 10-31-2017
We are a younger team with more raw talent than any Stanford team in quite some time. Combine that with Vanderveer's track record of creating more improvement from the beginning of the year to the end than any other coach--and you can conjure up some very optimistic scenarios for the end of this season.
But we are far from being the No. 2 team right now, and whether we get there or not this season will depend on many variables. So I don't put much stock in that ranking other than to say people do have some rational basis for optimism about our team's future development.
Re: WBB UCLA preview -
TheFarm07 - 11-01-2017
I was surprised at the #2 ranking as well with teams like Baylor, Mississippi State and Texas returning a lot of key players from last season.
I definitely agree with 81alum's observation that our high ceiling potential combined with Tara's ability to mold all the parts into one cohesive and high-functioning unit gives us a lot of optimism for this season, but also a lot of volatility especially with our schedule.
Rankings mean little, especially at the beginning of the season without any games played. We'll see heading into December and then January with our brutal non-conference schedule how our team reacts and responds.
Meanwhile, just a few days away from our exhibition game and about 10 days from our season opener! Been waiting for this since our yet disappointing and painful loss to South Carolina in the Final Four.