[treetop11]

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?

My answer to your last question is that there are not great options.  Two bigs and one shooter did not work and was ditched.  the small line-up was helpful for a bit but in the end is not going to work well enough because we still have just one shooter out there, the starting guards don't score or create shots for others well enough, and now the rebounding is suffering when Jones is on the perimeter and we are still in a smaller line-up.  I don't know a solution that would jell in time.  The bench hasn't played enough to really get comfortable.  If I was the boss I might consider starting Nivar at the 2 if we keep the small line-up or Bosgana.  Nivar hasn't scored much but I feel it is there, she just needs time on court, which we may not have enough of left this season.  

I actually might go something like Brink, Jones, Demetre, Jump and Lepolo or Brink, Jones, Bosgana, Jump and Nivar or Lepolo if they want to stay small, or if they want to go bigger again, I'd go Iriafen (or even Betts), Brink, Jones, Bosgana, Nivar or Lepolo.  I don't really think Nivar is a solution at pg this season.  Rather see her at the 2.  At any rate, I would want to play my drivers more (Nivar and Bosgana) and not go with only one perimeter shooter pretty much ever. Eh I don't know.  I am talking out my butt at this point.  O and D broke down late, both need something.

No, you're not talking out of your butt. You're making perfect sense and I wish the coaches could hear you. You're recommending a line up (and rotation with the players mentioned) that I can see would work as a tighter rotation to stick with down the stretch. We need to have players who drive and attack the basket and 3 point shooters to win in college basketball today. Even if opponents pack it in, still need to attack the basket through passes into the post and drives. Drive and score or draw fouls or if just well defended kick out for threes. You are posing lineups with 3 shooters on the floor and 3 players capable of driving with 2 premier rebounders. The only adjustment I would make is for you bug line up, I would have Prechtel instead of Iriafen because Ashten will take and make 3's and I like her D and rebounding better and the big lineup would be effective with her when we playe teams with a bulky post player who is physical. But overall, your suggestions are spot on.

[treetop11]

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?

My answer to your last question is that there are not great options.  Two bigs and one shooter did not work and was ditched.  the small line-up was helpful for a bit but in the end is not going to work well enough because we still have just one shooter out there, the starting guards don't score or create shots for others well enough, and now the rebounding is suffering when Jones is on the perimeter and we are still in a smaller line-up.  I don't know a solution that would jell in time.  The bench hasn't played enough to really get comfortable.  If I was the boss I might consider starting Nivar at the 2 if we keep the small line-up or Bosgana.  Nivar hasn't scored much but I feel it is there, she just needs time on court, which we may not have enough of left this season.  

I actually might go something like Brink, Jones, Demetre, Jump and Lepolo or Brink, Jones, Bosgana, Jump and Nivar or Lepolo if they want to stay small, or if they want to go bigger again, I'd go Iriafen (or even Betts), Brink, Jones, Bosgana, Nivar or Lepolo.  I don't really think Nivar is a solution at pg this season.  Rather see her at the 2.  At any rate, I would want to play my drivers more (Nivar and Bosgana) and not go with only one perimeter shooter pretty much ever. Eh I don't know.  I am talking out my butt at this point.  O and D broke down late, both need something.

No, you're not talking out of your butt. You're making perfect sense and I wish the coaches could hear you. You're recommending a line up (and rotation with the players mentioned) that I can see would work as a tighter rotation to stick with down the stretch. We need to have players who drive and attack the basket and 3 point shooters to win in college basketball today. Even if opponents pack it in, still need to attack the basket through passes into the post and drives. Drive and score or draw fouls or if just well defended kick out for threes. You are posing lineups with 3 shooters on the floor and 3 players capable of driving with 2 premier rebounders. The only adjustment I would make is for you bug line up, I would have Prechtel instead of Iriafen because Ashten will take and make 3's and I like her D and rebounding better and the big lineup would be effective with her when we playe teams with a bulky post player who is physical. But overall, your suggestions are spot on.