[Treebound]

What really hurt is losing all our experienced upperclass: NuNu, Ogden, and Clardy... Throw in MAS too.

And all of them graduated (dunno about MAS).   I am beginning to think we may never keep another starting player for 4 years again.

 If we have a good team culture and success on the court, I think we'll lose the occasional grad transfer but there's no reason to think it'll become an epidemic.

/

I think there are two reasons to think it will be.  First, Stanford has made it possible for its players to graduate in 3 years.  That would have been impossible or difficult in decades past.  And second, there will always be lucrative deals with piles of money awaiting our graduating WBB players.  Turning down the money to stay for a fourth year when they already have the degree--that may not happen even for a coach they like.  On the other hand, if it really is all about the coach, maybe this helps to explain Kiki's decision, knowing she would be playing for Paye in her senior year. I guess we will only find out if we get a good coach and see whether it really makes any difference or not.

A couple of thoughts:
1) This should be a major wake up call for Paye and I'm fairly certain that JD has taken this very seriously.   How much she can evolve/change for the better is a big question, but motivation should be high.  The culture needs to change and likely some personnel too.

2) Re grad transfers - Stanford enables many of our student athletes to take summer classes and some transfer in with units.  I don't begrudge them going to get another degree from another program as it can be very hard to get into or participate in most of our programs as a new grad and an athlete.  

3) As John Madden often said:  "Winning is the best deodorant!  It masks a lot of stink."  Yes, I'm hopeful the program can both improve its culture and go deep in the Dance.  That will help on multiple fronts.  Paye needs to focus and change...not easy, but necessary.

[Treebound]

What really hurt is losing all our experienced upperclass: NuNu, Ogden, and Clardy... Throw in MAS too.

And all of them graduated (dunno about MAS).   I am beginning to think we may never keep another starting player for 4 years again.

 If we have a good team culture and success on the court, I think we'll lose the occasional grad transfer but there's no reason to think it'll become an epidemic.

/

I think there are two reasons to think it will be.  First, Stanford has made it possible for its players to graduate in 3 years.  That would have been impossible or difficult in decades past.  And second, there will always be lucrative deals with piles of money awaiting our graduating WBB players.  Turning down the money to stay for a fourth year when they already have the degree--that may not happen even for a coach they like.  On the other hand, if it really is all about the coach, maybe this helps to explain Kiki's decision, knowing she would be playing for Paye in her senior year. I guess we will only find out if we get a good coach and see whether it really makes any difference or not.

A couple of thoughts:
1) This should be a major wake up call for Paye and I'm fairly certain that JD has taken this very seriously.   How much she can evolve/change for the better is a big question, but motivation should be high.  The culture needs to change and likely some personnel too.

2) Re grad transfers - Stanford enables many of our student athletes to take summer classes and some transfer in with units.  I don't begrudge them going to get another degree from another program as it can be very hard to get into or participate in most of our programs as a new grad and an athlete.  

3) As John Madden often said:  "Winning is the best deodorant!  It masks a lot of stink."  Yes, I'm hopeful the program can both improve its culture and go deep in the Dance.  That will help on multiple fronts.  Paye needs to focus and change...not easy, but necessary.