Trakh is a solid coach and scouted us well. I continue to think an underrated story is how much C.al's decline has enabled schools to spend their week primarily preparing to play us because they know C.al will be the far easier matchup. USC shut down the lanes really well and it really disrupted Jones, and they double-teamed in the paint to disrupt Belibi. I don't think Belibi has the size or skill (yet) to go toe to toe with a true center like Jackson.
That opened up the outside, and Kiana let it rain, w/ enough treys from others to keep their defenders honest around the perimeter. I really am beginning to think Williams plays only as well as we need her: she is clutch when it matters and sometimes markedly off when it doesn't. Here's hoping that theory holds up on Monday, because we'll definitely need her then.
Brink was fantastic. It's not just height but also her long limbs - she can surgically reach up and block or grab the rebound in a way I can't think of another Stanford big being able to do. The Ogwumike's used their physical presence more to open up space, as did Appel. Brink is almost like a longer, taller Hull sister in her ability to poke and block shots.
What I'd like to see more of: I'd like to see Jones try more step back or stop and pop jumpers to keep the defenders honest - they knew where she was going and were ready to close in on her as she went down the lane. Similarly, it'd be nice if Belibi developed the ability to turn, and step back and shoot rather than always turn in. As another poster said, she basically has the same two moves and they're relatively easy to predict. When she lacks a reach advantage (as with Jackson), her shots are pretty easy to block.
And I know we talk about having a lot of crowding at the post, but I actually think Prechtel's bigger problem is crowding in the guard positions. In an ideal universe, Prechtel would play a high post on offense, but in most lineups Tara ran there was only one true post because both Jones and the Hulls can rebound well enough to guard like a big, and between Williams, Wilson, 2x Hulls, Jones, and Jump, there's a lot of shooting ability in those positions. I'd love to see some time where Prechtel shares the court with Belibi or Brink where she's at the high post, because she has the ability to step back and shoot threes or step in a shoot from the line, and I also think she could screen at the key and help Jones cut inside. I feel like some of her most successful plays on offense last season were in that role, but for whatever reason there just hasn't been a lot of two-forward sets so far this season. In fact, I had to blink twice because at one point it was Williams, Wilson, Hull x2, and Jones, and we had no true forward whatsoever! Truly a testament to how well the Hulls and Jones can rebound for their size.
That opened up the outside, and Kiana let it rain, w/ enough treys from others to keep their defenders honest around the perimeter. I really am beginning to think Williams plays only as well as we need her: she is clutch when it matters and sometimes markedly off when it doesn't. Here's hoping that theory holds up on Monday, because we'll definitely need her then.
Brink was fantastic. It's not just height but also her long limbs - she can surgically reach up and block or grab the rebound in a way I can't think of another Stanford big being able to do. The Ogwumike's used their physical presence more to open up space, as did Appel. Brink is almost like a longer, taller Hull sister in her ability to poke and block shots.
What I'd like to see more of: I'd like to see Jones try more step back or stop and pop jumpers to keep the defenders honest - they knew where she was going and were ready to close in on her as she went down the lane. Similarly, it'd be nice if Belibi developed the ability to turn, and step back and shoot rather than always turn in. As another poster said, she basically has the same two moves and they're relatively easy to predict. When she lacks a reach advantage (as with Jackson), her shots are pretty easy to block.
And I know we talk about having a lot of crowding at the post, but I actually think Prechtel's bigger problem is crowding in the guard positions. In an ideal universe, Prechtel would play a high post on offense, but in most lineups Tara ran there was only one true post because both Jones and the Hulls can rebound well enough to guard like a big, and between Williams, Wilson, 2x Hulls, Jones, and Jump, there's a lot of shooting ability in those positions. I'd love to see some time where Prechtel shares the court with Belibi or Brink where she's at the high post, because she has the ability to step back and shoot threes or step in a shoot from the line, and I also think she could screen at the key and help Jones cut inside. I feel like some of her most successful plays on offense last season were in that role, but for whatever reason there just hasn't been a lot of two-forward sets so far this season. In fact, I had to blink twice because at one point it was Williams, Wilson, Hull x2, and Jones, and we had no true forward whatsoever! Truly a testament to how well the Hulls and Jones can rebound for their size.