[TheFarm07]

This is, I think, one of the differences between Stanford WBB and some other teams.  Certain other teams attract great physical talent that plays well in relatively simple systems and takes less preparation.  Tara runs sophisticated offenses and defenses that leverage one of the advantages that we have--high intelligence and discipline.  Unfortunately, it takes time--sometimes years--for her players to learn the system well enough to internalize it in muscle memory.  Tempie talks about frosh being "a step or two slow" since they are pausing to think a bit too much.  Those who don't get started until November have an even greater disadvantage. 

Someone like Karlie, who was not a physically gifted as some other players, nevertheless has become a crucial contributor because she knows Tara's systems better than anyone else on the court, and can play four positions and know exactly what to do in any situation.

It is frustrating that it takes such a long time to integrate our frosh--and we will no doubt feel the same way next year with another outstanding group coming in.  But I think it is also what has made Stanford so competitive over the years despite the severe limitations on our admissions.

I think your analysis 81 underscores the particular importance in our program of not "missing" when it comes to a recruiting class, because of the time it takes to develop players.

We saw it in the last couple years when we had a (relative) dip in wins and postseason success, because our HS Class of 2012 (the class that just graduated Stanford this past year) was supposed to feature Alyson Beebe the #13 ranked recruit in the nation as the centerpiece. But because she never took the court due to injuries, there was no star player to bridge the gap between Chiney and the class that included Amber, Bonnie and Taylor and then to this year's upperclassmen in Erica and Karlie.

[TheFarm07]

This is, I think, one of the differences between Stanford WBB and some other teams.  Certain other teams attract great physical talent that plays well in relatively simple systems and takes less preparation.  Tara runs sophisticated offenses and defenses that leverage one of the advantages that we have--high intelligence and discipline.  Unfortunately, it takes time--sometimes years--for her players to learn the system well enough to internalize it in muscle memory.  Tempie talks about frosh being "a step or two slow" since they are pausing to think a bit too much.  Those who don't get started until November have an even greater disadvantage. 

Someone like Karlie, who was not a physically gifted as some other players, nevertheless has become a crucial contributor because she knows Tara's systems better than anyone else on the court, and can play four positions and know exactly what to do in any situation.

It is frustrating that it takes such a long time to integrate our frosh--and we will no doubt feel the same way next year with another outstanding group coming in.  But I think it is also what has made Stanford so competitive over the years despite the severe limitations on our admissions.

I think your analysis 81 underscores the particular importance in our program of not "missing" when it comes to a recruiting class, because of the time it takes to develop players.

We saw it in the last couple years when we had a (relative) dip in wins and postseason success, because our HS Class of 2012 (the class that just graduated Stanford this past year) was supposed to feature Alyson Beebe the #13 ranked recruit in the nation as the centerpiece. But because she never took the court due to injuries, there was no star player to bridge the gap between Chiney and the class that included Amber, Bonnie and Taylor and then to this year's upperclassmen in Erica and Karlie.