08-21-2018, 05:33 AM
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?
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?
