[teejers1]

I love our team, and I am very proud of what it accomplished last year.  That said, I do not think we are the favorites to repeat. 

1) Last year was the most unusual year in the history of NCAA WBB.  I think it may have helped us more than it hurt us.  Who knows whether we can sustain the same focus we had in a more "normal" year.

2) We barely eeked out two wins to take the national championship.     We also lost twice along the way and looked quite beatable at times.  We would get leads and then let games become competitive again.  We were no juggernaut.  Many of our teams in past years looked more dominant for more of the season that last year's team did.

3) We don't yet know whether we will have an adequate replacement for Williams.  We hope so, but no one really knows yet.  If none of the possibilities work out, then our stock will plummet.  Not having a recognized, excellent point guard is enough of a reasons to question our prospects.  

4) Repeating will require certain players to improve from last year.  Brink has to defend effectively without fouling, Belibi needs to get her mojo back that she appears to have lost in the second half of last year.  We have no way yet of knowing if this will happen.  For example, for several years I felt we would be a contender if only Dodson played up to her potential, but she never quite did.  Will that be true of our developing players this year or will we see major improvement from someone like Brink?

Before these questions are answered, I think we deserve to be thought of as a likely final four team, but no more.

Guard play is crucial, particularly in the NCAAs.  Last year revealed that in several instances - AZ, Louisville come immediately to mind.  Even UConn.  What's interesting is that Stanford eked out a title w/o stellar play from Ki in the Final Four.  But she was still good, even if not Peak Kiana.  Stanford is not going to have a Peak Kiana guard on this year's team.  Period.  Thus, Wilson, JVG, and the NW transfer are going to have to be good in their roles (moving ball, making open shots, and feeding posts) for Stanford to compete against the elite teams.  But in games there are invariably times when the O isn't working and you need a player to break down a defender one-on-one.  Kiana could do that.  I don't think any guard on the current roster can (at least that I've seen play).  That could be Stanford's Achilles Heel this season.  (I do think Brink can beat any post player one on one - whether face up or back to the basket - but it's tough to get that isolation for bigs).

And just because it cannot be overemphasized:  Stanford made it to the Final Four (and won the championship), thanks to Big Red.  As I said real time, I hope the Prechtel family has the tape of the Louisville coach's post-game interview for posterity.  Rarely does a non-starter get that kind of love/respect from an opposing (and losing) coach.  [Paraphrasing]:  

Q.  Coach, what would you say happened today?
A.   Ashten Prechtel happened.

It doesn't get any more awesome than that!

[teejers1]

I love our team, and I am very proud of what it accomplished last year.  That said, I do not think we are the favorites to repeat. 

1) Last year was the most unusual year in the history of NCAA WBB.  I think it may have helped us more than it hurt us.  Who knows whether we can sustain the same focus we had in a more "normal" year.

2) We barely eeked out two wins to take the national championship.     We also lost twice along the way and looked quite beatable at times.  We would get leads and then let games become competitive again.  We were no juggernaut.  Many of our teams in past years looked more dominant for more of the season that last year's team did.

3) We don't yet know whether we will have an adequate replacement for Williams.  We hope so, but no one really knows yet.  If none of the possibilities work out, then our stock will plummet.  Not having a recognized, excellent point guard is enough of a reasons to question our prospects.  

4) Repeating will require certain players to improve from last year.  Brink has to defend effectively without fouling, Belibi needs to get her mojo back that she appears to have lost in the second half of last year.  We have no way yet of knowing if this will happen.  For example, for several years I felt we would be a contender if only Dodson played up to her potential, but she never quite did.  Will that be true of our developing players this year or will we see major improvement from someone like Brink?

Before these questions are answered, I think we deserve to be thought of as a likely final four team, but no more.

Guard play is crucial, particularly in the NCAAs.  Last year revealed that in several instances - AZ, Louisville come immediately to mind.  Even UConn.  What's interesting is that Stanford eked out a title w/o stellar play from Ki in the Final Four.  But she was still good, even if not Peak Kiana.  Stanford is not going to have a Peak Kiana guard on this year's team.  Period.  Thus, Wilson, JVG, and the NW transfer are going to have to be good in their roles (moving ball, making open shots, and feeding posts) for Stanford to compete against the elite teams.  But in games there are invariably times when the O isn't working and you need a player to break down a defender one-on-one.  Kiana could do that.  I don't think any guard on the current roster can (at least that I've seen play).  That could be Stanford's Achilles Heel this season.  (I do think Brink can beat any post player one on one - whether face up or back to the basket - but it's tough to get that isolation for bigs).

And just because it cannot be overemphasized:  Stanford made it to the Final Four (and won the championship), thanks to Big Red.  As I said real time, I hope the Prechtel family has the tape of the Louisville coach's post-game interview for posterity.  Rarely does a non-starter get that kind of love/respect from an opposing (and losing) coach.  [Paraphrasing]:  

Q.  Coach, what would you say happened today?
A.   Ashten Prechtel happened.

It doesn't get any more awesome than that!