[cardfan1996]

We weren’t looking too good when we lost back to back games against Colorado and UCLA two years ago. Unless you are a truly dominant team (and we aren’t), to win a title it takes a combination of talent and luck. I think we could win our last six, but it would take better play than today to do so, and, against the very top teams (eg South Carolina), we probably need them to not play their best as well.

BC

We lost those because Fran was in the starting lineup and we couldn’t defensive rebound at UCLA or defensive rebound or hold on to the ball at Colorado.

We can get back on track if, like 2021, we change the starting lineup. Brink for Belibi was an easy decision. I have no faith she will replace Agnes and Lepolo with the right players, or replace them at all. 

Tara keeps recycling bad decisions. We already saw how ineffective on offense Agnes and Lepolo in November. We saw how bad Haley was at the 1 in the very first exhibition game. Why are we still seeing this stuff in February?

So what's your answer?

Go back to my first post this year and every subsequent posts. What I’ve said since November, sit Lepolo, start any two of Nivar, Bosgana and Ashten though Ashten seems to have checked out to me (and I don’t blame her getting 2 minutes of playing time here and there). And stop the absolute insanity of Haley running the 1 completely. It’s stupid.

You start a lineup that can beat S. Carolina or UConn. You can’t beat S.Carolina without Ashten. You can’t beat S.Carolina without a 3-post lineup stopping Boston and help on rebounding so I’d make sure Ashten was engaged and playing 20-30 minutes/game. It sounds preposterous to go from 2 minutes per game to 20 minutes but she clearly needs the game reps.

You sit Agnes to the right of Lolo Green and if we need someone who is hyper focused defensively on just their assignment (in other words, we need a face guard), then Agnes can come in for a few defensive possessions. I’d sit Lepolo to the right of Bosgana who if she is not starting, should be first off the bench. Both Bosgana and Nivar are solid ballhandlers and more importantly, can pass in the post.

Re: the rebounding problem. As I said, Lepolo and Agnes do not help make up for the rebounding lost when Tara sat Kiki. Lepolo will freeze and stare at rebounds in her area. Agnes (and Hannah)  will either take off before a rebound is secured or Agnes will just stand and stare on the perimeter because she was hyper focused on her defensive assignment but never blocks out.

[cardfan1996]

We weren’t looking too good when we lost back to back games against Colorado and UCLA two years ago. Unless you are a truly dominant team (and we aren’t), to win a title it takes a combination of talent and luck. I think we could win our last six, but it would take better play than today to do so, and, against the very top teams (eg South Carolina), we probably need them to not play their best as well.

BC

We lost those because Fran was in the starting lineup and we couldn’t defensive rebound at UCLA or defensive rebound or hold on to the ball at Colorado.

We can get back on track if, like 2021, we change the starting lineup. Brink for Belibi was an easy decision. I have no faith she will replace Agnes and Lepolo with the right players, or replace them at all. 

Tara keeps recycling bad decisions. We already saw how ineffective on offense Agnes and Lepolo in November. We saw how bad Haley was at the 1 in the very first exhibition game. Why are we still seeing this stuff in February?

So what's your answer?

Go back to my first post this year and every subsequent posts. What I’ve said since November, sit Lepolo, start any two of Nivar, Bosgana and Ashten though Ashten seems to have checked out to me (and I don’t blame her getting 2 minutes of playing time here and there). And stop the absolute insanity of Haley running the 1 completely. It’s stupid.

You start a lineup that can beat S. Carolina or UConn. You can’t beat S.Carolina without Ashten. You can’t beat S.Carolina without a 3-post lineup stopping Boston and help on rebounding so I’d make sure Ashten was engaged and playing 20-30 minutes/game. It sounds preposterous to go from 2 minutes per game to 20 minutes but she clearly needs the game reps.

You sit Agnes to the right of Lolo Green and if we need someone who is hyper focused defensively on just their assignment (in other words, we need a face guard), then Agnes can come in for a few defensive possessions. I’d sit Lepolo to the right of Bosgana who if she is not starting, should be first off the bench. Both Bosgana and Nivar are solid ballhandlers and more importantly, can pass in the post.

Re: the rebounding problem. As I said, Lepolo and Agnes do not help make up for the rebounding lost when Tara sat Kiki. Lepolo will freeze and stare at rebounds in her area. Agnes (and Hannah)  will either take off before a rebound is secured or Agnes will just stand and stare on the perimeter because she was hyper focused on her defensive assignment but never blocks out.