Tournament Taylor - Printable Version

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Tournament Taylor - 81alum - 08-21-2018

Pac 12 Bay Area showed our 2015 Pac 12 Tournament win over Cal yesterday, and I was reminded of the remarkable run by "Tournament Taylor."

That year was our first without an Ogwumike and began our current stretch in which we have not dominated the Pac 12.  We did not win the league regular season title (we were 13-5 and somewhat in shock after 12 years of complete dominance) but had a chance at the  tournament title. 

Taylor Greenfield was a career 4 point player, and she bore the brunt of quite a lot of criticism on this board.  This was her senior year, and for three games in a row we were all shocked to see Taylor explode offensively.  Against ASU she had 17, then against Cal she had 20, on 8-11 shooting.  Every point was needed in this 1 point victory, which featured sophomore Karlie sitting on the bench with her arm in a cast, and Bonnie being smothered on the perimeter with the full focus of C.al's defense. 

Starting the NCAAs against Northridge, Taylor scored 19.  Then in the second round she reverted to form with 4 points against Oklahoma, although we still won.  She summoned 8 in a lopsided loss to Notre Dame.

How many times has something like this happened in Stanford athletics?  I mean a journeyman player who has not been particularly outstanding for 4 years suddenly erupts over a few games right at the very end of his/her career?   I am reminded a bit of Tavita beating SC.

It also makes me wonder what would have been needed to get that outstanding level of play out of Greenfield for 3-4 years instead of 3-4 games?  Was it just a fluke that she played so well, or was that capability always there but somehow the coaching could not get her to perform that well during her first 3 3/4 years?

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RE: Tournament Taylor - 2006alum - 08-21-2018

Thanks 81. Interesting post, as always. This is totally uninformed, idle speculation but I know a number of Stanford athletes in other sports who have found so much to do and get involved in at Stanford that even though they won state championships in high school, they just can't keep that same level of focus/interest/dedication once at Stanford, especially when the work it takes to be nationally competitive in college is even greater than what they did in high school.

This seemed to be what happened to another promising 4 recruit of ours who never really emerged in college, Kailee Johnson. (not to be confused with Kaylee Johnson, who did power through a lot of injuries quite admirably and became a true leader for our team). Tara openly said that Kailee needed to decide if she wanted it enough, and that she could become much better if she did, and put in the work. But she didn't, instead stepping off the team before her senior year.

So, again, totally idle speculation, but I wonder if a less extreme version of the same phenomenon was true for Taylor, especially since she was never a top top recruit to begin with? Wasn't she a class president one of her years? I think it's totally possible the she just had other things to focus on at Stanford but by senior spring decided basketball was going to be it and gave it her all for her final games? That plus almost four years of experience could have given her that boost to bring her to another level for what was essentially 160 minutes of basketball. (the three tournament games plus our NCAA opener)

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RE: Tournament Taylor - BobK - 08-21-2018

Kailee actually graduated Dec of her senior year 
Taylor was ranked as high as 18

That said hats off to Taylor for her great finish. 

Dr Rappahahn maybe the best example of thriving as a Senior after being a back up for three years.

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