[standfan]

What I noticed about the games is that most offenses featured a lot more driving than we do, and not only by super speedy players.  Many players took the initiative when they had a lane.  Also many teams shot far more mid-range stuff than we typically do.  I can't say how many they made or if that was the right thing to do.  Does make me wonder if our offense will not be really great unless we are much more aggressive going to the basket and that means almost every player.  You don't need to be special to drive well.  You need the mentality, the right skills, which can be learned, and a scheme that works.  

This is a good observation. The teams that are winning are aggressive and committed to attacking the basket. There is no passive play or predictable slow it down offense. It also feels like most teams still alive have coaches that allow their players to use their skill sets and just play. I think we became way too system focused this year and probably the players felt if they drove and missed and that wasn't the play, they would be subbed out. A little more freedom to just read, react, attack and just play might have been beneficial. 

Simply put, we need to have and utilize more ways to score.

I am really curious to see what adjustments Tara makes next year:
I think Betts starts at center and Brink at PF, with Iriafen and Demetre completing the post rotation. Brink and Iriafen both have good post moves, drive well from anywhere in the key and can hit mid-range shots. Betts is the best lob pass target since Jayne and (I think) will develop a solid shot from 10' or less. That's a lot of offense from the posts. (I also have hope, particularly given her FT% most of the season, that Brink will regain and improve her outside touch and become a 35% 3PT shooter next year. I don't know why she lost her outside shot this year but was glad she stopped taking 3s.) I'd love to see Demetre become the consistently great shooter it seems she could be.
We know what we have with Jump (thanks for coming back), but maybe she will be more aggressive in creating mid-range opportunities next year. I'm optimistic about a sophomore jump in Nivar's game. She is a smooth athlete and has the tools to develop an all round game, including drives and mid-range jumpers. I hope Bosgana improves too. She needs little encouragement to be aggressive, is long and athletic and drives well. But her finishes at the rim need to get better and her 3PT % increased by 5-10%. (But I will be surprised if she develops a mid-range jumper.) I'm a fan of Agnes because she works hard and has improved each year. I hope there is another rung in her ladder.  
Lepolo had a great FR season for a PG. It didn't end as well as we would have liked, but there is real promise. She can score at each level although her short stature limits drives to the basket. But if she can score 8-10 /game with 6+ assists and a 3.5 A/TP ratio she'll be a big part of the offense.

On O and rebounding both ends, Jones is a whole lot to replace. But IMO, her presence also limited how some of the other players played. (The last minute or so of the Old Miss game is an example - I'm not blaming Haley.) Next year they have the chance to step up. And Tara needs to figure out (after a year which IMO was not her best) to make it all work. (I think the D will be solid.)

The are a lot of "hopes" above, but that's what fans are for. No one in the country will think we are not a big challenge. If it comes together we can could win the competitive PAC-12 title and go deep into the tournament.

[standfan]

What I noticed about the games is that most offenses featured a lot more driving than we do, and not only by super speedy players.  Many players took the initiative when they had a lane.  Also many teams shot far more mid-range stuff than we typically do.  I can't say how many they made or if that was the right thing to do.  Does make me wonder if our offense will not be really great unless we are much more aggressive going to the basket and that means almost every player.  You don't need to be special to drive well.  You need the mentality, the right skills, which can be learned, and a scheme that works.  

This is a good observation. The teams that are winning are aggressive and committed to attacking the basket. There is no passive play or predictable slow it down offense. It also feels like most teams still alive have coaches that allow their players to use their skill sets and just play. I think we became way too system focused this year and probably the players felt if they drove and missed and that wasn't the play, they would be subbed out. A little more freedom to just read, react, attack and just play might have been beneficial. 

Simply put, we need to have and utilize more ways to score.

I am really curious to see what adjustments Tara makes next year:
I think Betts starts at center and Brink at PF, with Iriafen and Demetre completing the post rotation. Brink and Iriafen both have good post moves, drive well from anywhere in the key and can hit mid-range shots. Betts is the best lob pass target since Jayne and (I think) will develop a solid shot from 10' or less. That's a lot of offense from the posts. (I also have hope, particularly given her FT% most of the season, that Brink will regain and improve her outside touch and become a 35% 3PT shooter next year. I don't know why she lost her outside shot this year but was glad she stopped taking 3s.) I'd love to see Demetre become the consistently great shooter it seems she could be.
We know what we have with Jump (thanks for coming back), but maybe she will be more aggressive in creating mid-range opportunities next year. I'm optimistic about a sophomore jump in Nivar's game. She is a smooth athlete and has the tools to develop an all round game, including drives and mid-range jumpers. I hope Bosgana improves too. She needs little encouragement to be aggressive, is long and athletic and drives well. But her finishes at the rim need to get better and her 3PT % increased by 5-10%. (But I will be surprised if she develops a mid-range jumper.) I'm a fan of Agnes because she works hard and has improved each year. I hope there is another rung in her ladder.  
Lepolo had a great FR season for a PG. It didn't end as well as we would have liked, but there is real promise. She can score at each level although her short stature limits drives to the basket. But if she can score 8-10 /game with 6+ assists and a 3.5 A/TP ratio she'll be a big part of the offense.

On O and rebounding both ends, Jones is a whole lot to replace. But IMO, her presence also limited how some of the other players played. (The last minute or so of the Old Miss game is an example - I'm not blaming Haley.) Next year they have the chance to step up. And Tara needs to figure out (after a year which IMO was not her best) to make it all work. (I think the D will be solid.)

The are a lot of "hopes" above, but that's what fans are for. No one in the country will think we are not a big challenge. If it comes together we can could win the competitive PAC-12 title and go deep into the tournament.