WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm

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RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - cardfan1996 - 03-04-2023

Just to clear this up because Tara talks about me-first (iPhone, iPad analogies) a lot on subject of the portal:

Just because a player leaves does not mean they have a me-first mentality. They may not mix well with the coaching staff or teammates, it may not be the best offensive or defensive system to showcase their skills, or another coach’s vision for them may align with their own. And we also don’t know what promises were made during recruiting and kept or not kept. Also Nil changes the game entirely, and playing time matters. No one would call a coach me-first or selfish for seeking more money and a bigger platform elsewhere.

As an Ashten fan (her the person and the player), I hope that if she decides not to go pro immediately, she can find a program where she can start or at least get substantial playing time, and a program that will develop her to her potential. Stretch 5s that can also defend the paint are not just walking around in great numbers. If anyone should have a beef it’s her, not Betts or anyone else. She went from PAC-12 6th woman of the year as a Freshman to savior during the 2021 title run, to yesterday getting *looks at notes* zero minutes in a game where the paint was so compressed that no one could get in or out.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - Card10Fan - 03-04-2023

I think Betts will stay at Stanford. I also think she should play more than she does. She’s impactful when she’s in the game. I do think there could/will be some transfers out after this season.

Has Tara said at any point that she hopes Hannah, Fran, Ashton will return for a Covid fifth year? Last year throughout the season she was on the record saying she hoped the Hull’s would come back for an extra year. We’ve heard nothing of that sort this year right?

Maybe it’s just time for this senior group to move on. I’d love for two of them to return for another year but maybe there’s more to the story. Your upperclassman need to be the hardest workers and it feels like we’ve lacked some leadership on the court from upperclassmen in games we’ve lost this year.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - cardfan1996 - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 09:12 AM)Card10Fan Wrote: I think Betts will stay at Stanford. I also think she should play more than she does. She’s impactful when she’s in the game. I do think there could/will be some transfers out after this season.

Has Tara said at any point that she hopes Hannah, Fran, Ashton will return for a Covid fifth year? Last year throughout the season she was on the record saying she hoped the Hull’s would come back for an extra year. We’ve heard nothing of that sort this year right?

They probably already told Tara their plans. Typically you don’t go through the emotional turmoil that is senior day if you were planning to come back. They’ve already won a title. Ashten apparently has both her bachelors and masters, and she would start right away in an offensive system like UConn, Tennessee, Louisville, Duke, N. Carolina you name it. Her skillset would be highly sought after. Fran would start at any number of programs in the Top 10 except S.Carolina, LSU, Indiana maybe. The only reason I can think that Hannah would leave is if she thinks her guard skills can be developed better elsewhere because this year at least playing time is not an issue (though it seems from posts from those close to her that she is not getting the same spotlight shined on her as Cam and Haley and that might be an issue that probably is not solved through the portal).

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - 81alum - 03-04-2023

This stuff keeps up and I might as well go back and change the title of this thread to "WBB: Feeding the Trolls."

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - MV72018 - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 03:34 AM)TheWildJacko Wrote:
(03-04-2023, 12:09 AM)MV72018 Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 09:39 PM)81alum Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 09:18 PM)BosCard Wrote: The tournament will decide this season. Either we will redeem ourselves and get to the Final Four or more. Or we will lose in the Sweet Sixteen and it will be a toilet bowl season relative to the potential of this team.
Agreed about the importance of the Big Dance now. We just have to see how far our coming 2 seed can carry us. I guess I would be content with the 2008 model when we knocked off #1 seed Maryland and made it all the way to the title game, but I worry about the 2013 model (loss to Georgia in the sweet 16).

We have enormous talent on this team, but it has not completely come together and jelled all year. It has been a very uncharacteristic year as far as improvement goes. We now have 5 losses for the season, with the likelihood that we will wind up with six. That is high for Stanford WBB, but is especially surprising with our current talent level.

Let's see if a little time for sober reflection and intense practice can give us a much better 2nd tourney than our first.

In all sincerity, I disagree that there is "enormous talent" on this team. Cam, Jump, and Jones, YES. But I don't see enormous talent beyond that. Jury is still out on Betts; she has great size but is slow and couldn't cover Boston-type opponents. Don't yet see much ability to shoot when she's further than 4-5 feet away. Btw, I agree with another poster that Cam is the only one on the team who plays with relentless intensity. SC is light years ahead of SU on that front. Teams reflects their coaches personalities. I venture to predict that the women's game is going to get progressively more intense and feisty over the next five years. It's not going to be (relatively) mellow, low-contact, and "polite" like it used to be. It's going to require teams that want to win to adapt to the new reality.

Please, in the future, if your inclination is to comment on how our team is not talented or they don't "want to win," consider not posting. Just give it a thought.

You have a serious problem accurately conveying statements of others. First, in response to the poster to whom I responded, I questioned whether this team has "enormous talent" beyong Cam, Jum. and Jones. I did not make the ludicrous claim that the team is, as you put it, "not talented." Straw horse anyone? Second, I did not state that the team members "don't 'want to win.'" Do not attribute to me, in quotes no less, words I did not use. I was referring to "relentless intensity" and stated that I believe that Cam alone on this team plays with it (which is my opinion and could of course be wrong). The intensity with which one plays is quite different from whether one wants to win. I dare say that EVERYONE on the team wants to win, but it's patently obvious that not everyone on the team plays with relentless intensity. Kindly reread and, if necessary, edit your draft posts for accuracy of attribution before posting them. Thank you.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - 81alum - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 09:20 AM)cardfan1996 Wrote: The only reason I can think that Hannah would leave is if she thinks her guard skills can be developed better elsewhere because this year at least playing time is not an issue (though it seems from posts from those close to her that she is not getting the same spotlight shined on her as Cam and Haley and that might be an issue that probably is not solved through the portal).

No. Another reason might be if she did not find or was not admitted to an MA program at Stanford. So many people on this board ignore the academic complexities of Stanford. So many fan posts are, for obvious reasons fan-centric and not student-centric.

Anna Wilson went through senior day 3 times, so so much for the theory that doing so tells us much about the intentions of players. Sometimes decisions about whether a player can come back or not are simply not made by senior day. Most graduate admissions letters come out in April, for example.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - chimera - 03-04-2023

(03-03-2023, 11:50 PM)cardfan1996 Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 10:38 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 10:08 PM)chimera Wrote: Oh come on, UCLA doesn't go as deep as Stanford does and Close is no genius at subbing. I don't see the times played in the stats yet but against UA, UCLA played their starters over 30 minutes and this was game three for them. They went to over time in their first game. Stanford has gone deeper than them most games. There is no reason anyone on our team should be all that tired, certainly not more tired than UCLA. Jones and Jump play a lot, probably a bit too much, but sitting another minute or two shouldn't make a vast difference. This isn't UConn where he rides his starters plus one sub for 40 minutes.

Minutes aren’t up yet, but both teams played 10 players and bench points were Stanford 21, UCLA 9. I would be surprised if there was a large discrepancy in the distribution of minutes between the teams.

BC

It’s Haley’s rest that is at issue. Think of all the cumulative minutes she has logged this year. She is not a robot. Personally I think she should have put a stop to it in November when it was apparent Tara’s grand vision of her as a point guard was not working out for her and her numbers and draft status were falling. She was being bullied online for not being able to close out games the way people were accustomed to seeing her in previous years. She is someone Stanford depends on to close out games and is historically more effective in that role rested going into the 4th. This year, she is taking on even more responsibility and ballhandling. No one plays 40 minutes in the pros even if they are down going into the 4th quarter. Stef Curry takes his rest so he can have his legs in the 4th to make his shot. Times have changed. What Tara has been doing for the last 35-40 years has not changed but it is no longer best practices for athletes, and it hasn’t been for the last decade. Alot of the big programs have their kids wearing wearables that provide information when that kids need to rest.

I looked at the conference minutes played stats. Jones played about 35 MPG in conference. Several top players on various teams played around that or more. She played fewer minutes in the non-conference schedule. In fact I distinctly recall someone, I think it was you, complaining at that tine that Jones and Brink were not getting enough minutes to be able to assert themselves and get in sync in the early conference season. There is nothing unusual about her minutes. It is possible she is dinged up or ill and we fans do not know, but her minutes, while a bit more than ideal, should not be a big problem. I'm pretty sure the basketball team has worn those monitors for years now, so that is just another assumption/complaint based on nothing.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - cardfan1996 - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 09:40 AM)81alum Wrote:
(03-04-2023, 09:20 AM)cardfan1996 Wrote: The only reason I can think that Hannah would leave is if she thinks her guard skills can be developed better elsewhere because this year at least playing time is not an issue (though it seems from posts from those close to her that she is not getting the same spotlight shined on her as Cam and Haley and that might be an issue that probably is not solved through the portal).
No. Another reason might be if she did not find or was not admitted to an MA program at Stanford. So many people on this board ignore the academic complexities of Stanford. So many fan posts are, for obvious reasons fan-centric and not student-centric.

Anna Wilson went through senior day 3 times, so so much for the theory that doing so tells us much about the intentions of players. Sometimes decisions about whether a player can come back or not are simply not made by senior day. Most graduate admissions letters come out in April, for example.

Hey that could be a possibility but I think both Anna and Alyssa are the exception not the rule. And Anna is certainly the most exceptional case wouldn’t you agree? Bringing your family out 3x for senior day is not usual or expected.

I think if any of the Funky Four stays, it will be Hannah. But as a graduate of Stanford, the perception was never that graduate programs at Stanford (not the medical school or law school obviously) were more rigorous than undergraduate admissions process. Things may have changed though.

(03-04-2023, 09:57 AM)chimera Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 11:50 PM)cardfan1996 Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 10:38 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 10:08 PM)chimera Wrote: Oh come on, UCLA doesn't go as deep as Stanford does and Close is no genius at subbing. I don't see the times played in the stats yet but against UA, UCLA played their starters over 30 minutes and this was game three for them. They went to over time in their first game. Stanford has gone deeper than them most games.  There is no reason anyone on our team should be all that tired, certainly not more tired than UCLA. Jones and Jump play a lot, probably a bit too much, but sitting another minute or two shouldn't make a vast difference. This isn't UConn where he rides his starters plus one sub for 40 minutes.

Minutes aren’t up yet, but both teams played 10 players and bench points were Stanford 21, UCLA 9. I would be surprised if there was a large discrepancy in the distribution of minutes between the teams.

BC

It’s Haley’s rest that is at issue. Think of all the cumulative minutes she has logged this year. She is not a robot. Personally I think she should have put a stop to it in November when it was apparent Tara’s grand vision of her as a point guard was not working out for her and her numbers and draft status were falling. She was being bullied online for not being able to close out games the way people were accustomed to seeing her in previous years. She is someone Stanford depends on to close out games and is historically more effective in that role rested going into the 4th. This year, she is taking on even more responsibility and ballhandling. No one plays 40 minutes in the pros even if they are down going into the 4th quarter. Stef Curry takes his  rest so he can have his legs in the 4th to make his shot. Times have changed. What Tara has been doing for the last 35-40 years has not changed but it is no longer best practices for athletes, and it hasn’t been for the last decade. Alot of the big programs have their kids wearing wearables that provide information when that kids need to rest.

I looked at the conference minutes played stats. Jones played about 35 MPG in conference. Several top players on various teams played around that or more. She played fewer minutes in the non-conference schedule. In fact I distinctly recall someone, I think it was you, complaining at that tine that Jones and Brink were not getting enough minutes to be able to assert themselves and get in sync in the early conference season. There is nothing unusual about her minutes. It is possible she is dinged up or ill and we fans do not know, but her minutes, while a bit more than ideal, should not be a big problem.  I'm pretty sure the basketball team has worn those monitors for years now, so that is just another assumption/complaint based on nothing.

Nah I don’t think that was me unless you are not applying any context to my words. I probably didn’t think our starting lineup had a chance to gel and look at them in March, a team who looks at times like it lacks chemistry.

Here is what I believe - I don’t think any player should be playing more than 30 minutes/game and they shouldn’t play at all if they are injured or ill. No player should compromise their health or long term career by playing ill or injured because it will help a millionaire’s resume (not just Tara but ANY coach). I think Paige compromised her long term career last year for Geno when she was clearly playing on one leg at times and Azzi may be on track to make the same unfortunate compromise this year. These players owe these coaches less than nothing.

Edited to add: re: Haley. If you have eyes, what do you see? Did Haley look exhausted to you vs S. Caroline, Utah recently or vs UCLA yesterday? Name a game in which she got no rest going into the 4th quarter of the game and was able to make her 15 foot shot (because that is her shot)? I honestly can’t think of one game under those circumstances where her shot from that distance wasn’t short to the rim. Why do you think that is? Mostly she is still able to post up and make layups but that requires spacing on the floor.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - chimera - 03-04-2023

Well than a big percentage of starters all across the country are being misused by their coaches because many play more than 30 minutes. Seems like your standard is not anywhere close to universal, to the contrary. Nobody was discussing injuries and there are none that we know about so I have no comment on that except of course players should not play if an injury they carry could be a long term problem.

You do realize you are sort of blaming Jones by saying she gets exhausted playing minutes that many other players play without getting exhausted? If she is "exhausted" in the 4th quarter of games, maybe she is not in the best basketball shape (I am NOT saying this but it follows from you saying she is so tired she can't shoot late in games. I also don't think it is true - she's had plenty of games where she played great late in games). I don't find it credible that UCLA players were able to hit long twos and threes late in the game on their third game in three days yet our poor players were so worn out they couldn't cope. You keep moving the goalposts so I am done with this conversation.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - Deejaatee - 03-04-2023

Slightly different take.

I am disappointed that we did not win last night and will not win the PAC-12 tourney title. But I am excited that we won the regular season championship (remember, we may have 8 teams in the Dance). And excited for the Big Dance.

I do think we are a Final Four team. And I think that now that we are out of the PAC, we will do well.

The PAC is an elite conference with several quality coaches who have been coaching against Stanford for years. They understand how Tara thinks and directs her team. And they have built their teams in ways that can compete with Stanford, the standard. Their theory is that if they can compete with Stanford, they can compete with anyone. Nice to be the standard they are aiming at. But that means that from time to time, they are going to beat us.

That said, with Jones and Brink, we have two All-American level players that other teams have to game plan around. And with Jump, we have one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, who is so good that other teams completely change their defense to shadow her. And her defense has improved to the point she is often guarding other teams' top guards.

I am comfortable going to battle with this nucleus of three.

Lepolo showed this weekend that she has recovered from her injury, and gotten her second freshman wind. She shows a better understanding of the gameplan. And her continued growth allows Jones to roam, which fits her skills better.

Personally, I would stay with the big lineup to start every game, starting Iriafen instead of Emma-Nnopu. I think that tells every team that they have to match us. Not the other way around. But Tara sometimes goes with those she trusts.

Speaking of Trust, that is proably the one area where I would like to see Tara expand this tournament season. She tends to rely heavily on those she trusts, sometimes to the point of failure (see Jones losing her sea legs in the last few games). She does indeed have that deep bench. But it is only good if you use it wisely. Play your people. Even, if you don't yet fully Trust them.

That is what sets Dawn Staley apart from Tara at this point. She trusts her bench players to play through mistakes and gain momentim through playing.

Tara needs to heed her own statement about getting out of the way of her team. She needs to loosen the reins a little on her other players.

That would allow her to take advantage of the multi-skilled Bosgana; the three point shooting presence of Prechtel in the post; the speed of Iriafen and Belibi on the wings; and the shooting ability of Harriel running the point behind Lepolo, allowing Nivar to scramble around with Emma-Nnopu causing havoc. And no, I didn't forget Betts just continuing to expand her presence game to game.

Regardless of how Tara puts things together though, I am excited for what's to come this tournament season.

Let the dance begin.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - Maple Leaf - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 10:26 AM)Deejaatee Wrote: Slightly different take.

I am disappointed that we did not win last night and will not win the PAC-12 tourney title. But I am excited that we won the regular season championship (remember, we may have 8 teams in the Dance). And excited for the Big Dance.

I do think we are a Final Four team. And I think that now that we are out of the PAC, we will do well.

The PAC is an elite conference with several quality coaches who have been coaching against Stanford for years. They understand how Tara thinks and directs her team. And they have built their teams in ways that can compete with Stanford, the standard. Their theory is that if they can compete with Stanford, they can compete with anyone. Nice to be the standard they are aiming at. But that means that from time to time, they are going to beat us.

That said, with Jones and Brink, we have two All-American level players that other teams have to game plan around. And with Jump, we have one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, who is so good that other teams completely change their defense to shadow her. And her defense has improved to the point she is often guarding other teams' top guards.

I am comfortable going to battle with this nucleus of three.

Lepolo showed this weekend that she has recovered from her injury, and gotten her second freshman wind. She shows a better understanding of the gameplan. And her continued growth allows Jones to roam, which fits her skills better.

Personally, I would stay with the big lineup to start every game, starting Iriafen instead of Emma-Nnopu. I think that tells every team that they have to match us. Not the other way around. But Tara sometimes goes with those she trusts.

Speaking of Trust, that is proably the one area where I would like to see Tara expand this tournament season. She tends to rely heavily on those she trusts, sometimes to the point of failure (see Jones losing her sea legs in the last few games). She does indeed have that deep bench. But it is only good if you use it wisely. Play your people. Even, if you don't yet fully Trust them.

That is what sets Dawn Staley apart from Tara at this point. She trusts her bench players to play through mistakes and gain momentim through playing.

Tara needs to heed her own statement about getting out of the way of her team. She needs to loosen the reins a little on her other players.

That would allow her to take advantage of the multi-skilled Bosgana; the three point shooting presence of Prechtel in the post; the speed of Iriafen and Belibi on the wings; and the shooting ability of Harriel running the point behind Lepolo, allowing Nivar to scramble around with Emma-Nnopu causing havoc. And no, I didn't forget Betts just continuing to expand her presence game to game.

Regardless of how Tara puts things together though, I am excited for what's to come this tournament season.

Let the dance begin.

Excellent analysis and constructive recommendations/ideas.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - gailtate - 03-04-2023

Looking forward, as always, seeing the women in The Tournament. This is a really good team. Emphasis on "good". Frustrating to watch the inconsistency, yes, but this is NOT Dawn Staley's machine. Neither is anybody else.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - TonyLima - 03-04-2023

An overlooked point. Losing means a few more days of rest.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - cardfan1996 - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 10:17 AM)chimera Wrote: Well than a big percentage of starters all across the country are being misused by their coaches because many play more than 30 minutes. Seems like your standard is not anywhere close to universal, to the contrary. Nobody was discussing injuries and there are none that we know about so I have no comment on that except of course players should not play if an injury they carry could be a long term problem.

You do realize you are sort of blaming Jones by saying she gets exhausted playing minutes that many other players play without getting exhausted? If she is "exhausted" in the 4th quarter of games, maybe she is not in the best basketball shape (I am NOT saying this but it follows from you saying she is so tired she can't shoot late in games. I also don't think it is true - she's had plenty of games where she played great late in games). I don't find it credible that UCLA players were able to hit long twos and threes late in the game on their third game in three days yet our poor players were so worn out they couldn't cope. You keep moving the goalposts so I am done with this conversation.

Name games where she got zero rest going to the 4th and made a 15 foot shot.

I am not implying anything about her fitness because I don’t think it’s healthy to “push yourself pass the point of fatigue.” That is a very 80s mentality. AND I think most Power 5 programs are unethical so saying everyone does something, yea okay. Cori made Charisma play on a torn meniscus last year just to get an NIT bid. These coaches couldn’t care less. Parents and student athletes need to stick up for themselves.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - Card10Fan - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 11:06 AM)TonyLima Wrote: An overlooked point. Losing means a few more days of rest.

We had an extra day of rest over UCLA and which team had more energy in the fourth quarter? Rest is overrated. Three games in three days didn't seem to bother UCLA and they aren't any deeper than our team. I guarantee our team and coaches would rather be playing Sunday than have an extra two days of rest.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - TheWildJacko - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 09:27 AM)MV72018 Wrote:
(03-04-2023, 03:34 AM)TheWildJacko Wrote:
(03-04-2023, 12:09 AM)MV72018 Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 09:39 PM)81alum Wrote:
(03-03-2023, 09:18 PM)BosCard Wrote: The tournament will decide this season. Either we will redeem ourselves and get to the Final Four or more. Or we will lose in the Sweet Sixteen and it will be a toilet bowl season relative to the potential of this team.
Agreed about the importance of the Big Dance now. We just have to see how far our coming 2 seed can carry us. I guess I would be content with the 2008 model when we knocked off #1 seed Maryland and made it all the way to the title game, but I worry about the 2013 model (loss to Georgia in the sweet 16).

We have enormous talent on this team, but it has not completely come together and jelled all year. It has been a very uncharacteristic year as far as improvement goes. We now have 5 losses for the season, with the likelihood that we will wind up with six. That is high for Stanford WBB, but is especially surprising with our current talent level.

Let's see if a little time for sober reflection and intense practice can give us a much better 2nd tourney than our first.

In all sincerity, I disagree that there is "enormous talent" on this team. Cam, Jump, and Jones, YES. But I don't see enormous talent beyond that. Jury is still out on Betts; she has great size but is slow and couldn't cover Boston-type opponents. Don't yet see much ability to shoot when she's further than 4-5 feet away. Btw, I agree with another poster that Cam is the only one on the team who plays with relentless intensity. SC is light years ahead of SU on that front. Teams reflects their coaches personalities. I venture to predict that the women's game is going to get progressively more intense and feisty over the next five years. It's not going to be (relatively) mellow, low-contact, and "polite" like it used to be. It's going to require teams that want to win to adapt to the new reality.

Please, in the future, if your inclination is to comment on how our team is not talented or they don't "want to win," consider not posting. Just give it a thought.

You have a serious problem accurately conveying statements of others. First, in response to the poster to whom I responded, I questioned whether this team has "enormous talent" beyong Cam, Jum. and Jones. I did not make the ludicrous claim that the team is, as you put it, "not talented." Straw horse anyone? Second, I did not state that the team members "don't 'want to win.'" Do not attribute to me, in quotes no less, words I did not use. I was referring to "relentless intensity" and stated that I believe that Cam alone on this team plays with it (which is my opinion and could of course be wrong). The intensity with which one plays is quite different from whether one wants to win. I dare say that EVERYONE on the team wants to win, but it's patently obvious that not everyone on the team plays with relentless intensity. Kindly reread and, if necessary, edit your draft posts for accuracy of attribution before posting them. Thank you.

Apologies for misquoting you, but the sentiment of your post was quite negative, and I was responding to that. Also the fact that you basically never come on here to post positive things. You didn’t explicitly say the team wasn’t talented or didn’t want to win, but I do think you implied it. Or perhaps I just took it in the worst way because I don’t ever see you posting positive things here. Even when we win, you pick things apart.

We can go back and forth about what “enormous talent” actually means, but #1 recruit in the country usually implies that. Same for #20, and TBH, the majority of the players playing for our team and other top Div. I teams. So saying the rest of the team isn’t enormously talented is actually fairly insulting, even if you didn’t say they were “not talented” (which I will grant you). So again, sorry for misquoting you, but I think your post was insulting to the team and I would love to see you try to post positive things occasionally to offset all of the negative comments you make on here.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - skip75 - 03-04-2023

I agree with Deejaatee and gailtate - it's time to look forward to March Madness. And while the season up to now has had some frustrations, it has provided a really high level of competition, excitement, & entertainment.

The gauntlet that Stanford has been through should have them well prepared. In 7 of their last 8 games, they have gone up against teams that, according to the latest Bracketology, are projected to be seeded 6 (Arizona), 10 (USC), 4 (UCLA), 5 (Colorado), 2 (Utah), 12 (Oregon), and 4(UCLA again). I'm not sure that any team other than South Carolina could have survived that stretch much, if any, better than Stanford did.

The women's tournament used to be very predictable. Anticipating who would make the Final 4 was not that difficult. I'm looking forward to a lot of great competition and and more "madness" than ever before.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - cardfan1996 - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 10:26 AM)Deejaatee Wrote: Slightly different take.

I am disappointed that we did not win last night and will not win the PAC-12 tourney title. But I am excited that we won the regular season championship (remember, we may have 8 teams in the Dance). And excited for the Big Dance.

I do think we are a Final Four team. And I think that now that we are out of the PAC, we will do well.

The PAC is an elite conference with several quality coaches who have been coaching against Stanford for years. They understand how Tara thinks and directs her team. And they have built their teams in ways that can compete with Stanford, the standard. Their theory is that if they can compete with Stanford, they can compete with anyone. Nice to be the standard they are aiming at. But that means that from time to time, they are going to beat us.

That said, with Jones and Brink, we have two All-American level players that other teams have to game plan around. And with Jump, we have one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, who is so good that other teams completely change their defense to shadow her. And her defense has improved to the point she is often guarding other teams' top guards.

I am comfortable going to battle with this nucleus of three.

Lepolo showed this weekend that she has recovered from her injury, and gotten her second freshman wind. She shows a better understanding of the gameplan. And her continued growth allows Jones to roam, which fits her skills better.

Personally, I would stay with the big lineup to start every game, starting Iriafen instead of Emma-Nnopu. I think that tells every team that they have to match us. Not the other way around. But Tara sometimes goes with those she trusts.

Speaking of Trust, that is proably the one area where I would like to see Tara expand this tournament season. She tends to rely heavily on those she trusts, sometimes to the point of failure (see Jones losing her sea legs in the last few games). She does indeed have that deep bench. But it is only good if you use it wisely. Play your people. Even, if you don't yet fully Trust them.

That is what sets Dawn Staley apart from Tara at this point. She trusts her bench players to play through mistakes and gain momentim through playing.

Tara needs to heed her own statement about getting out of the way of her team. She needs to loosen the reins a little on her other players.

That would allow her to take advantage of the multi-skilled Bosgana; the three point shooting presence of Prechtel in the post; the speed of Iriafen and Belibi on the wings; and the shooting ability of Harriel running the point behind Lepolo, allowing Nivar to scramble around with Emma-Nnopu causing havoc. And no, I didn't forget Betts just continuing to expand her presence game to game.

Regardless of how Tara puts things together though, I am excited for what's to come this tournament season.

Let the dance begin.

I get your point but why would Tara not trust Ashten? Better still, why would she trust Agnes, Lepolo, Betts, Kiki . . .Fran, Hannah, but not Ashten?

Ashten has performed at a high level in pressure situations in way more consequential games than any of the above. She is known as the most clutch player by her teammates (according to their own poll).

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - Deejaatee - 03-04-2023

(03-04-2023, 11:59 AM)cardfan1996 Wrote:
(03-04-2023, 10:26 AM)Deejaatee Wrote: Slightly different take.

I am disappointed that we did not win last night and will not win the PAC-12 tourney title. But I am excited that we won the regular season championship (remember, we may have 8 teams in the Dance). And excited for the Big Dance.

I do think we are a Final Four team. And I think that now that we are out of the PAC, we will do well.

The PAC is an elite conference with several quality coaches who have been coaching against Stanford for years. They understand how Tara thinks and directs her team. And they have built their teams in ways that can compete with Stanford, the standard. Their theory is that if they can compete with Stanford, they can compete with anyone. Nice to be the standard they are aiming at. But that means that from time to time, they are going to beat us.

That said, with Jones and Brink, we have two All-American level players that other teams have to game plan around. And with Jump, we have one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, who is so good that other teams completely change their defense to shadow her. And her defense has improved to the point she is often guarding other teams' top guards.

I am comfortable going to battle with this nucleus of three.

Lepolo showed this weekend that she has recovered from her injury, and gotten her second freshman wind. She shows a better understanding of the gameplan. And her continued growth allows Jones to roam, which fits her skills better.

Personally, I would stay with the big lineup to start every game, starting Iriafen instead of Emma-Nnopu. I think that tells every team that they have to match us. Not the other way around. But Tara sometimes goes with those she trusts.

Speaking of Trust, that is proably the one area where I would like to see Tara expand this tournament season. She tends to rely heavily on those she trusts, sometimes to the point of failure (see Jones losing her sea legs in the last few games). She does indeed have that deep bench. But it is only good if you use it wisely. Play your people. Even, if you don't yet fully Trust them.

That is what sets Dawn Staley apart from Tara at this point. She trusts her bench players to play through mistakes and gain momentim through playing.

Tara needs to heed her own statement about getting out of the way of her team. She needs to loosen the reins a little on her other players.

That would allow her to take advantage of the multi-skilled Bosgana; the three point shooting presence of Prechtel in the post; the speed of Iriafen and Belibi on the wings; and the shooting ability of Harriel running the point behind Lepolo, allowing Nivar to scramble around with Emma-Nnopu causing havoc. And no, I didn't forget Betts just continuing to expand her presence game to game.

Regardless of how Tara puts things together though, I am excited for what's to come this tournament season.

Let the dance begin.

I get your point but why would Tara not trust Ashten? Better still, why would she trust Agnes, Lepolo, Betts, Kiki . . .Fran, Hannah, but not Ashten?

Ashten has performed at a high level in pressure situations in way more consequential games than any of the above. She is known as the most clutch player by her teammates (according to their own poll).

Prechtel may fit in a different bucket. More like a better talented Alyssa Jerome from the past. She trusts her with the "break glass in case of emergency" approach. Tara knows what Prechtel can do, and sees that need in special circumstances, which may appear in the tournament. I think the issue normally with Prechtel is she is an outside-in post, whereas the team has switched to an inside-out approach. So, to take full advantage of her strengths on offense, requires the right mix of people on the court. Not sure Tara has figured out who that combo would be.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. UCLA Friday 6pm - TheFarm07 - 03-04-2023

I am disappointed that Prechtel has not been getting more playing time this season. With defenders focused on Jump from beyond the arc, Prechtel's shooting ability would help in that regard.

Defensively, she's been known to block a few shots in her day so on that end of the court, I think she would be able to fill in as a paint defender for Brink.

But I guess because she's not accomplished offensively in the paint as some of our other options and Demetre and others provide more outside shooting, that she's been often left on the bench.

Tara's first options for post players off the bench have been Betts and Belibi and I am not saying that either of them don't deserve it, but Prechtel has been shockingly getting very little time lately, maybe a couple minutes at the end of the quarter, but not much beyond that.