11-26-2021, 07:47 PM
(11-26-2021, 06:42 PM)BillBradley Wrote: If that 25 footer doesn't go in for South Florida, we win the game and the mood on the board is way different. Looks like I'm definitely an outlier when it comes to confidence about this team. I would most certainly have preferred to win today, but all in all I'm pretty happy with where we are because a few things have happened that I personally think we need in place to be great:I have grown to really appreciate your posts. I think you have captured my sentiment too.
1) Cam has to be a focal point of the offense and step into the role of being a legitimate threat all the time (i.e. no more games with 4 shots). This is a big step for her, it's happening, and I give her and the coaching staff credit for evolving. The other players have to adjust around that. It may mean less/no playing time for the other bigs. But it's necessary for the team to be great. Cam also has to stay on the court. Looks like she's learning how.
2) Lacie needs to be the point guard (yes, this is my opinion and others feel differently I know). I won't elaborate any more as to why because I already have and don't want to sound like a broken record. For me, the decision isn't even close.
3) We need to have Jump and others (today Demetre) hit threes. I think this is beginning to happen. We know Prechtel and Wilson can and will deliver from deep. I also think we'll get 3's from Cam and the Hulls, and maybe even Haley too as the season progresses. With Cam being more of a threat down low and being a good passer, we'll get more open threes (a la her passes to Demetre and Lacie today). That is so tough to guard. Either double her and we get a 3 or don't and see if you can stop her with one defender.
Some of the issues we've seen so far will simply go away on their own over time. They will start making their free throws at a reasonable %. It may not be 75%, but it will be more than 60%. Haley and Lexie will also return to their former selves (actually I'm kinda worried about Haley). When these things start to happen, we will be beating teams like Texas and USF by double digits. (South Carolina is another level above though. Gonna be tough to take them down, especially at their place).
My biggest question is can the players hang together through all this churning and find their on-court chemistry? This is not easy, for coaches or for players. But I do think Tara excels in this area and the players do trust her. They also benefit from knowing what it takes to be a champion. Not sure there's a better coach out there to handle such a large roster.
Stay tuned for a fun year. Really psyched to see what tomorrow will bring.
Over the many years I have been a fan of Tara and WBB, there have been countless moments like this one where I did not understand coaching decisions that were made during a loss. Quite often I never learn the reasons behind some of those decisions, since the program holds its cards very tightly to the vest. But on those occasions when we do learn the reasons--as used to happen from time to time at chalk talks, or at press conferences, or from players after a season was over--I have invariably been satisfied that the coaches knew more than I did. I have hard Tara take the blame for some bad decisions--she truly has no ego problem with admitting mistakes--but the depth and reason behind her decisions is obvious on those somewhat rare occasions when she explains them. So like any fan I question decisions, but I also remain humble, knowing that there almost always are good answers.
And so I remain very optimistic about this season. I think we will lose more games along the way, but I think the team will solve its issues and jell in time to win the Pac 12 and go on a tear through the NCAAs.
Think of what we have already seen the last couple of games. Brink is on the verge of becoming a dominant player, perhaps on the order of Chiney. Demetre showed nerves of steel coming into the game and confidently hitting her shots when we were coming from behind. And she is a freshman, and yes she made a couple of critical freshman mistakes, but we now have seen a glimpse of where she is heading. Belibi had a fabulous first half against one of the nation's top teams yesterday. These splashes of success will not go unnoticed, and will be seized upon by Tara and integrated into the future of the team.
Finally, perhaps also the team is reacting not only to the loss of Williams, but--if we take Brewer's article seriously--to the accumulated stresses of winning a national championship during the worse pandemic of the last century. Conditions this year are radically different from what they were last year, and the emotional roller coaster has not come to a halt yet. Consider that our sophomores and freshmen are about to take their first in-person exams in college, in about a week or so. There is something to be said for the accumulated normalcy of a routine, which will settle in after Fall quarter.

