[Deejaatee]

Slightly different take.

I am disappointed that we did not win last night and will not win the PAC-12 tourney title. But I am excited that we won the regular season championship (remember, we may have 8 teams in the Dance). And excited for the Big Dance.

I do think we are a Final Four team. And I think that now that we are out of the PAC, we will do well.

The PAC is an elite conference with several quality coaches who have been coaching against Stanford for years. They understand how Tara thinks and directs her team. And they have built their teams in ways that can compete with Stanford, the standard. Their theory is that if they can compete with Stanford, they can compete with anyone. Nice to be the standard they are aiming at. But that means that from time to time, they are going to beat us.

That said, with Jones and Brink, we have two All-American level players that other teams have to game plan around. And with Jump, we have one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, who is so good that other teams completely change their defense to shadow her. And her defense has improved to the point she is often guarding other teams' top guards.

I am comfortable going to battle with this nucleus of three.

Lepolo showed this weekend that she has recovered from her injury, and gotten her second freshman wind. She shows a better understanding of the gameplan. And her continued growth allows Jones to roam, which fits her skills better.

Personally, I would stay with the big lineup to start every game, starting Iriafen instead of Emma-Nnopu. I think that tells every team that they have to match us. Not the other way around. But Tara sometimes goes with those she trusts.

Speaking of Trust, that is proably the one area where I would like to see Tara expand this tournament season. She tends to rely heavily on those she trusts, sometimes to the point of failure (see Jones losing her sea legs in the last few games). She does indeed have that deep bench. But it is only good if you use it wisely. Play your people. Even, if you don't yet fully Trust them.

That is what sets Dawn Staley apart from Tara at this point. She trusts her bench players to play through mistakes and gain momentim through playing.

Tara needs to heed her own statement about getting out of the way of her team. She needs to loosen the reins a little on her other players.

That would allow her to take advantage of the multi-skilled Bosgana; the three point shooting presence of Prechtel in the post; the speed of Iriafen and Belibi on the wings; and the shooting ability of Harriel running the point behind Lepolo, allowing Nivar to scramble around with Emma-Nnopu causing havoc. And no, I didn't forget Betts just continuing to expand her presence game to game.  

Regardless of how Tara puts things together though, I am excited for what's to come this tournament season.

Let the dance begin.

[Deejaatee]

Slightly different take.

I am disappointed that we did not win last night and will not win the PAC-12 tourney title. But I am excited that we won the regular season championship (remember, we may have 8 teams in the Dance). And excited for the Big Dance.

I do think we are a Final Four team. And I think that now that we are out of the PAC, we will do well.

The PAC is an elite conference with several quality coaches who have been coaching against Stanford for years. They understand how Tara thinks and directs her team. And they have built their teams in ways that can compete with Stanford, the standard. Their theory is that if they can compete with Stanford, they can compete with anyone. Nice to be the standard they are aiming at. But that means that from time to time, they are going to beat us.

That said, with Jones and Brink, we have two All-American level players that other teams have to game plan around. And with Jump, we have one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, who is so good that other teams completely change their defense to shadow her. And her defense has improved to the point she is often guarding other teams' top guards.

I am comfortable going to battle with this nucleus of three.

Lepolo showed this weekend that she has recovered from her injury, and gotten her second freshman wind. She shows a better understanding of the gameplan. And her continued growth allows Jones to roam, which fits her skills better.

Personally, I would stay with the big lineup to start every game, starting Iriafen instead of Emma-Nnopu. I think that tells every team that they have to match us. Not the other way around. But Tara sometimes goes with those she trusts.

Speaking of Trust, that is proably the one area where I would like to see Tara expand this tournament season. She tends to rely heavily on those she trusts, sometimes to the point of failure (see Jones losing her sea legs in the last few games). She does indeed have that deep bench. But it is only good if you use it wisely. Play your people. Even, if you don't yet fully Trust them.

That is what sets Dawn Staley apart from Tara at this point. She trusts her bench players to play through mistakes and gain momentim through playing.

Tara needs to heed her own statement about getting out of the way of her team. She needs to loosen the reins a little on her other players.

That would allow her to take advantage of the multi-skilled Bosgana; the three point shooting presence of Prechtel in the post; the speed of Iriafen and Belibi on the wings; and the shooting ability of Harriel running the point behind Lepolo, allowing Nivar to scramble around with Emma-Nnopu causing havoc. And no, I didn't forget Betts just continuing to expand her presence game to game.  

Regardless of how Tara puts things together though, I am excited for what's to come this tournament season.

Let the dance begin.