[TheFarm07]

[quote author=TheFarm07 link=topic=16748.msg191096#msg191096 date=1491176264]
Next year, Alanna and Brit will be our main threats, and I think we will go as far as that they can adjust to being the go-to players and how the other players are able to step up and fill the void.

I'd argue they're already there. Here's Alanna and Brit's stats over our five tournament games, against New Mexico State, Kansas State, Texas, Votre Dame, and South Carolina:
Alanna: 15.6 pts, 8.8 rebounds, .525 shooting percentage
Britt: 16.8 pts, 5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, .42 shooting percentage

In fact, their stats are arguably better than either Karlie or Bird:
Bird: 13 pts, 11 rebounds, .4375 shooting percentage
Karlie: 10.6 pts, 2.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, .485 shooting percentage

Now granted, Karlie was hobbled against South Carolina and that affects her numbers, and obviously defenses were more keyed in on Bird and Karlie, but it's nonetheless encouraging to see that Alanna and Britt actually outscored the seniors over the course of the tournament, when the stakes are highest, the pressure greatest, and experience the most valuable.
[/quote]

I meant, this year they had Erica and Karlie on court with them, so the defensive focus wasn't primarily on them and you could argue #1 on the scouting report was guarding Karlie and preventing her from getting open looks at 3-pointers and #2 was preventing Erica to score on the inside.

Without them, Alanna and Brit will rise to the top priorities on the scouting report and they will get the primary attention and focus. It will help if the other 3 players on court with them can show consistently they can score as well, so that defending players can't just sag off of them and double team or leave to help when Brit's driving or Alanna's posting down low.

This is quite a quote, coming from Tara, and noting that Tara is usually most revealing and blunt immediately following the end of a season.  Remember the interview last year when she commented on Lili's need to be more unselfish, and Kailee's need to commit more to basketball?  Well, this year, she seems to be hinting that the four incomers will have legitimate chances to play immediately. 

How many of the four freshmen should play right away? “All of them,” VanDerveer said.

Tara almost never encourages thinking that freshmen can play right away.  I wonder if this came from a press conference that we could view, and put it in some context?  Anyone know?  Or was this a Fitzgerald exclusive?

Oregon proved how much you can do with talented freshmen, if you are willing to absorb early season losses and get them loads of experience.  Maybe Tara is open to changing with the times.

I couldn't find her quote in the postgame interview transcript after Friday's loss. Maybe she said it later. Especially with Kiana and Maya, they seem talented enough to be able to contribute immediately, (not saying Moschkau and Jerome can't)

I think Tara will have a little more luxury of maybe working them into games, especially if we have an easier non-conference schedule, to play them when we are up big and blending them in 1 or 2 at a time with our more established players rather than playing 3 or 4 freshmen at a time, which Oregon was doing more of.

[TheFarm07]

[quote author=TheFarm07 link=topic=16748.msg191096#msg191096 date=1491176264]
Next year, Alanna and Brit will be our main threats, and I think we will go as far as that they can adjust to being the go-to players and how the other players are able to step up and fill the void.

I'd argue they're already there. Here's Alanna and Brit's stats over our five tournament games, against New Mexico State, Kansas State, Texas, Votre Dame, and South Carolina:
Alanna: 15.6 pts, 8.8 rebounds, .525 shooting percentage
Britt: 16.8 pts, 5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, .42 shooting percentage

In fact, their stats are arguably better than either Karlie or Bird:
Bird: 13 pts, 11 rebounds, .4375 shooting percentage
Karlie: 10.6 pts, 2.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, .485 shooting percentage

Now granted, Karlie was hobbled against South Carolina and that affects her numbers, and obviously defenses were more keyed in on Bird and Karlie, but it's nonetheless encouraging to see that Alanna and Britt actually outscored the seniors over the course of the tournament, when the stakes are highest, the pressure greatest, and experience the most valuable.
[/quote]

I meant, this year they had Erica and Karlie on court with them, so the defensive focus wasn't primarily on them and you could argue #1 on the scouting report was guarding Karlie and preventing her from getting open looks at 3-pointers and #2 was preventing Erica to score on the inside.

Without them, Alanna and Brit will rise to the top priorities on the scouting report and they will get the primary attention and focus. It will help if the other 3 players on court with them can show consistently they can score as well, so that defending players can't just sag off of them and double team or leave to help when Brit's driving or Alanna's posting down low.

This is quite a quote, coming from Tara, and noting that Tara is usually most revealing and blunt immediately following the end of a season.  Remember the interview last year when she commented on Lili's need to be more unselfish, and Kailee's need to commit more to basketball?  Well, this year, she seems to be hinting that the four incomers will have legitimate chances to play immediately. 

How many of the four freshmen should play right away? “All of them,” VanDerveer said.

Tara almost never encourages thinking that freshmen can play right away.  I wonder if this came from a press conference that we could view, and put it in some context?  Anyone know?  Or was this a Fitzgerald exclusive?

Oregon proved how much you can do with talented freshmen, if you are willing to absorb early season losses and get them loads of experience.  Maybe Tara is open to changing with the times.

I couldn't find her quote in the postgame interview transcript after Friday's loss. Maybe she said it later. Especially with Kiana and Maya, they seem talented enough to be able to contribute immediately, (not saying Moschkau and Jerome can't)

I think Tara will have a little more luxury of maybe working them into games, especially if we have an easier non-conference schedule, to play them when we are up big and blending them in 1 or 2 at a time with our more established players rather than playing 3 or 4 freshmen at a time, which Oregon was doing more of.