[TonyLima]

Yes, this year has marked a change of tone to our WBB threads, with several members who rarely posted in the past now voicing strongly critical opinions of Vanderveer's coaching decisions.  I welcome more interest in WBB, certainly.

Her is my take on this: I know for a fact that Tara Vanderveer knows more about basketball than all the posters on this board combined, and I trust her judgment far more than I trust my own or that of my fellow posters.  However, that should not restrain me or anyone else from questioning her decisions or discussing shortcomings in strategy, tactics, personnel, etc.  That is in fact what fan boards routinely do--our enjoyment is based in part on testing our own amateur ideas out in public and seeing how they fly.

However, every time we do so, we also should ask ourselves "what are the reasons for why a 1000+ game winner has made the choices and decisions she made."  She must have constraints and knowledge that we do not have.  While Tara could be wrong about various things--she is never wrong for random reasons or for lack of attention to detail.  Her "meticulosity" is legendary.  There is a purpose to everything she does, even when she tries something that does not work.  I want to know what led  a great basketball mind to making the decisions she made--even the bad ones.  This is what I mean about criticizing from a standpoint of humility--the recognition that she knows much more than I do, or than you do, and made a choice that may not make sense to us on the face of it.  What is the explanation?  

I also believe that whenever we are discussing players--WBB or others--we ought to avoid overly rhetorical criticisms.  Pointing out a weakness in performance is one thing, but this can be done by stating facts and avoiding adjectives.  I may slip up sometimes, but that it is my goal--to focus on performance without attributing motives, desire, etc. that  are more speculative.  Who among us knows what is really going inside the head of a player, regardless of how nonchalant she may look to your eye or mine?  I think those of you who have been parents of college athletes understand the distinction I am making.

A few years ago I criticized a player in another forum and a different sport. Today I remind myself every day that the players are still kids. Please go easy on them.

[TonyLima]

Yes, this year has marked a change of tone to our WBB threads, with several members who rarely posted in the past now voicing strongly critical opinions of Vanderveer's coaching decisions.  I welcome more interest in WBB, certainly.

Her is my take on this: I know for a fact that Tara Vanderveer knows more about basketball than all the posters on this board combined, and I trust her judgment far more than I trust my own or that of my fellow posters.  However, that should not restrain me or anyone else from questioning her decisions or discussing shortcomings in strategy, tactics, personnel, etc.  That is in fact what fan boards routinely do--our enjoyment is based in part on testing our own amateur ideas out in public and seeing how they fly.

However, every time we do so, we also should ask ourselves "what are the reasons for why a 1000+ game winner has made the choices and decisions she made."  She must have constraints and knowledge that we do not have.  While Tara could be wrong about various things--she is never wrong for random reasons or for lack of attention to detail.  Her "meticulosity" is legendary.  There is a purpose to everything she does, even when she tries something that does not work.  I want to know what led  a great basketball mind to making the decisions she made--even the bad ones.  This is what I mean about criticizing from a standpoint of humility--the recognition that she knows much more than I do, or than you do, and made a choice that may not make sense to us on the face of it.  What is the explanation?  

I also believe that whenever we are discussing players--WBB or others--we ought to avoid overly rhetorical criticisms.  Pointing out a weakness in performance is one thing, but this can be done by stating facts and avoiding adjectives.  I may slip up sometimes, but that it is my goal--to focus on performance without attributing motives, desire, etc. that  are more speculative.  Who among us knows what is really going inside the head of a player, regardless of how nonchalant she may look to your eye or mine?  I think those of you who have been parents of college athletes understand the distinction I am making.

A few years ago I criticized a player in another forum and a different sport. Today I remind myself every day that the players are still kids. Please go easy on them.