[stopandpop]

The team is back and practicing.

Yay! Can't wait for this season to get going.

Such a fun time of year when we meet the new players and watch Tara the chess master arranging her pieces and experimenting with openings.

I’d be interested in seeing a “big” lineup with Jones at PG, Jump at SG, Demetre at SF, Belibi at PF and Brink at C.  The question mark is can this lineup defend quicker guards.  Jump and Demetre would have trouble staying in front of their respective assignments but maybe Brink blocking shots is enough to overcome that.  It’s on offense where this lineup would shine as both Jump and Demetre would be in the corner as 3-point threats spreading the floor.  This gives Jones, Belibi and Brink a lot of room to operate.  And because this team is so big, they should try and invert the ball to post up Jones or Demetre because one or both of them will have to be guarded by a small guard.  Jones will demolish whomever is guarding her in the post.  I’m not sure I’ve seen enough of Demetre’s post up game but I imagine she could shoot over the smaller guard since she is a good midrange shooter.

I'm sure we will see Tara experimenting with lineups like that, but she will probably also see what Emma-Nnopu, Lepolo, Papadaki, and Harriel can do.  We keep imagining a big lineup, but we don't really know what those four guards may be capable of providing.  Emma-Nnopu is outstanding on defense, and quite often one of our 5 on the floor is a defensive specialist--e.g. Anna Wilson, Bree Roberson, etc.  The others we really have no information on.  And that is not mentioning 5'8" guard Lauren Green, just added to the roster as a walk-on.

Tara is figuring out what she can get out of our guards, right now, in practice.  We are going to have to wait a little longer.

Some excellent points.  Any of those lineups would win a lot of games.  We know that Tara is moving Brink to power-forward to give her more operating room and take advantage of her unique skill sets.  We also know that Haley will (offensively) will be point guard/point f orchestrating the offense and breaking down defenses like no one else can and yes- posting up.  My take- to get to the championship game again we might need a couple of adjustments: more quickness on the perimeter, not just defensively, but quickness to penetrate defenses.  Nivar and Harriel may potentially fill that bill.  

I love Fran's (beast) game, but there were times last season when she had difficulty scoring and defending against much taller/bigger posts.  Two choices for different reasons- Kiki and Prechtel.  Kiki showed so much power and explosiveness in her freshman year and her footwork improved immeasurably by the end of the season.  I predict her skill sets will begin to match her power and defensive front lines will not have the luxury of double-teaming Brink.  Kiki is a good leaper and shot-blocker as well.  Why Prechtel?  She has already shown she can be an adequate defender (power wise) against the likes of Boston and other powerful posts.  Ashten has never shown an inclination to be a strong inside player, but I think Tara might ask more of her.  Prechtel's biggest value is, of course, forcing the opposing 'big' to come out and guard against her 3-point dagger shots.  What does that do?  Prechtel hits Brink in stride and it's all over. 

We have discussed Betts numerous times.  She is a potential program-changer.  Re-watching many of her HS and FIBA

[stopandpop]

The team is back and practicing.

Yay! Can't wait for this season to get going.

Such a fun time of year when we meet the new players and watch Tara the chess master arranging her pieces and experimenting with openings.

I’d be interested in seeing a “big” lineup with Jones at PG, Jump at SG, Demetre at SF, Belibi at PF and Brink at C.  The question mark is can this lineup defend quicker guards.  Jump and Demetre would have trouble staying in front of their respective assignments but maybe Brink blocking shots is enough to overcome that.  It’s on offense where this lineup would shine as both Jump and Demetre would be in the corner as 3-point threats spreading the floor.  This gives Jones, Belibi and Brink a lot of room to operate.  And because this team is so big, they should try and invert the ball to post up Jones or Demetre because one or both of them will have to be guarded by a small guard.  Jones will demolish whomever is guarding her in the post.  I’m not sure I’ve seen enough of Demetre’s post up game but I imagine she could shoot over the smaller guard since she is a good midrange shooter.

I'm sure we will see Tara experimenting with lineups like that, but she will probably also see what Emma-Nnopu, Lepolo, Papadaki, and Harriel can do.  We keep imagining a big lineup, but we don't really know what those four guards may be capable of providing.  Emma-Nnopu is outstanding on defense, and quite often one of our 5 on the floor is a defensive specialist--e.g. Anna Wilson, Bree Roberson, etc.  The others we really have no information on.  And that is not mentioning 5'8" guard Lauren Green, just added to the roster as a walk-on.

Tara is figuring out what she can get out of our guards, right now, in practice.  We are going to have to wait a little longer.

Some excellent points.  Any of those lineups would win a lot of games.  We know that Tara is moving Brink to power-forward to give her more operating room and take advantage of her unique skill sets.  We also know that Haley will (offensively) will be point guard/point f orchestrating the offense and breaking down defenses like no one else can and yes- posting up.  My take- to get to the championship game again we might need a couple of adjustments: more quickness on the perimeter, not just defensively, but quickness to penetrate defenses.  Nivar and Harriel may potentially fill that bill.  

I love Fran's (beast) game, but there were times last season when she had difficulty scoring and defending against much taller/bigger posts.  Two choices for different reasons- Kiki and Prechtel.  Kiki showed so much power and explosiveness in her freshman year and her footwork improved immeasurably by the end of the season.  I predict her skill sets will begin to match her power and defensive front lines will not have the luxury of double-teaming Brink.  Kiki is a good leaper and shot-blocker as well.  Why Prechtel?  She has already shown she can be an adequate defender (power wise) against the likes of Boston and other powerful posts.  Ashten has never shown an inclination to be a strong inside player, but I think Tara might ask more of her.  Prechtel's biggest value is, of course, forcing the opposing 'big' to come out and guard against her 3-point dagger shots.  What does that do?  Prechtel hits Brink in stride and it's all over. 

We have discussed Betts numerous times.  She is a potential program-changer.  Re-watching many of her HS and FIBA