12-02-2022, 12:08 AM
With fans like these, who needs foes? Sheesh. Last month we were despairing that we were doomed without a PG. Now we have one, but we're despairing that she isn't putting out massive offensive production 10 games into her college career.
In my 12+ years watching Tara teams closely, I cannot ever recall Tara handing the keys to the offense to a freshman PG from game one of their freshman year. Amber Orrange didn't start until midway through her freshman season. Kiana Williams didn't start until midway through her freshman season. Candice Wiggins is the only one I can recall who started from day one, and she was always more of a do-everything combo guard than a pure PG.
BTW: Nika Muhl was a much more highly recruited than Lepolo, but even she has only really come into her own the past season or so, thanks in part to Geno's truly exceptional ability to develop his players season over season.
And here's the comparison of their freshman stats:
Muhl: 4.9 PTS .381 FG% .343 3PT% 2.6 A 1.9 TO
Lepolo: 4.1 PTS .472 FG% .250 3PT% 5.7 A 2.1 TO
So Lepolo has a better shooting percentage overall, twice the assists, roughly comparable turnovers, 1 point less per game, and the only category she's weaker at is treys.
Yes, we will obviously want more offensive production from Lepolo in an ideal world. But every team has weaknesses, and we knew all along that missing out on Olivia Miles and Kiki Rice was going to leave us thinner at the point. Given what we've got to work with, I am just so thankful she's been able to pick up from Lacie and Anna and generate the same number of assists in 10 games that Wilson generated in 35 games.
In my 12+ years watching Tara teams closely, I cannot ever recall Tara handing the keys to the offense to a freshman PG from game one of their freshman year. Amber Orrange didn't start until midway through her freshman season. Kiana Williams didn't start until midway through her freshman season. Candice Wiggins is the only one I can recall who started from day one, and she was always more of a do-everything combo guard than a pure PG.
BTW: Nika Muhl was a much more highly recruited than Lepolo, but even she has only really come into her own the past season or so, thanks in part to Geno's truly exceptional ability to develop his players season over season.
And here's the comparison of their freshman stats:
Muhl: 4.9 PTS .381 FG% .343 3PT% 2.6 A 1.9 TO
Lepolo: 4.1 PTS .472 FG% .250 3PT% 5.7 A 2.1 TO
So Lepolo has a better shooting percentage overall, twice the assists, roughly comparable turnovers, 1 point less per game, and the only category she's weaker at is treys.
Yes, we will obviously want more offensive production from Lepolo in an ideal world. But every team has weaknesses, and we knew all along that missing out on Olivia Miles and Kiki Rice was going to leave us thinner at the point. Given what we've got to work with, I am just so thankful she's been able to pick up from Lacie and Anna and generate the same number of assists in 10 games that Wilson generated in 35 games.