[81alum]

I continue to think it would be good for the team to play extended minutes (not just garbage time) with Chiney on the bench to give them the confidence that they can play essentially as well if she goes down with a rolled ankle or gets into foul trouble when it is a critical game.  They will face a different offensive situation if defenders aren't sloughing off to double and triple team Chiney.  They will have to step up and take to the offensive themselves.

I agree with this, especially as we face some less accomplished teams.  I have noticed that when Chiney goes out there seems to be a greater intensity on the part of each remaining starter.  It is not so much that I think we need to prepare for the possibility of Chiney being injured or fouling out--if that happens it will be a disaster no matter what preparation we have.  Rather, I think it may help the other players to learn to be more aggressive, more offense-minded, and to learn the nuances of the system when they have to be prepared to pass to any of the other four players rather than having the Chiney crutch to lean on.  And this will improve their play down the road when Chiney is in.

A completely separate argument centers on the development of our bench players.  If we get some big leads against some of the weaker schools I hope that Tess, Bonnie, Taylor, and Jasmine get some extended time.  But it is equally or more important for the main starters other than Chiney to hone their offensive capabilities together.

By the way, in a couple of articles I have read this year I sense that Ruef would have liked to come back.  And in the latest Michell Smith article there is this:

Ruef is in her fourth year of eligibility. And all of Stanford's scholarships are spoken for next season.  "I am trying not to let that get to me," Ruef said. "Sitting out last year, I did realize that I took for granted being able to play. It was tough to come to practice, watch every practice, go to every game and not be able to do anything. That has helped me this year."

Anyone have some insight into whether Tara can pull a rabbit out of her hat to keep Reuf here another year, or whether she would want to?  We will have Beebe, McCall and Johnson next year--all three 6'3" and highly talented--but of course none of them have played at the college level, although they all have strengths and perhaps one of them might start in her first year. 

[81alum]

I continue to think it would be good for the team to play extended minutes (not just garbage time) with Chiney on the bench to give them the confidence that they can play essentially as well if she goes down with a rolled ankle or gets into foul trouble when it is a critical game.  They will face a different offensive situation if defenders aren't sloughing off to double and triple team Chiney.  They will have to step up and take to the offensive themselves.

I agree with this, especially as we face some less accomplished teams.  I have noticed that when Chiney goes out there seems to be a greater intensity on the part of each remaining starter.  It is not so much that I think we need to prepare for the possibility of Chiney being injured or fouling out--if that happens it will be a disaster no matter what preparation we have.  Rather, I think it may help the other players to learn to be more aggressive, more offense-minded, and to learn the nuances of the system when they have to be prepared to pass to any of the other four players rather than having the Chiney crutch to lean on.  And this will improve their play down the road when Chiney is in.

A completely separate argument centers on the development of our bench players.  If we get some big leads against some of the weaker schools I hope that Tess, Bonnie, Taylor, and Jasmine get some extended time.  But it is equally or more important for the main starters other than Chiney to hone their offensive capabilities together.

By the way, in a couple of articles I have read this year I sense that Ruef would have liked to come back.  And in the latest Michell Smith article there is this:

Ruef is in her fourth year of eligibility. And all of Stanford's scholarships are spoken for next season.  "I am trying not to let that get to me," Ruef said. "Sitting out last year, I did realize that I took for granted being able to play. It was tough to come to practice, watch every practice, go to every game and not be able to do anything. That has helped me this year."

Anyone have some insight into whether Tara can pull a rabbit out of her hat to keep Reuf here another year, or whether she would want to?  We will have Beebe, McCall and Johnson next year--all three 6'3" and highly talented--but of course none of them have played at the college level, although they all have strengths and perhaps one of them might start in her first year.