[spike5882]

It would really surprise if Betts doesn't start for UCLA and plays 20+ minutes per game.  You may not have followed the 2023 FIBA Women's Americup.  Betts had an outstanding tournament and was the best player for the Silver Medal USA Team competing against far more experienced opponents, particularly Gold Medalist Brazil (Team USA lost to Brazil twice).

I didn't see any Americup games, but I viewed that 2nd place finish as a damning result for the players on the US roster.  The US women had won the Americup every time they played it except for a single narrow loss in 1997.  (The Haley Jones-lead team 2 years ago easily beat all comers, including Brazil.)  But Betts stats were indeed decent.

I was more impressed with the fact Talana Lepolo helped Team USA's U19 team win a gold medal in the FIBA World Cup in Spain this past July. She averaged 17.7 minutes, 3.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Her assists average was 2nd most on the US team, behind only Hannah Hidalgo, who is the top point guard recruit in the 2023 class. (By comparison Kiki Rice only averaged 2.1 assists in 20 minutes per game). Lepolo also had an impressive semifinal performance against France where she was 2-2 on 3s and had 5 assists (in 18 minutes). She had the highest efficiency per minute of any guard in that game. Pretty encouraging.

I am not one who is overly happy Betts left.  But her performance in Americup was pretty outstanding.  And while US did get silver, this is the first time they had used college players.  It is a senior team tournament, and the past gold medal teams contained predominantly pro players.  So, while they got silver, Betts was pretty phenomenal playing against the senior players of other countries.

I also was impressed to some extent with Lepolo over the summer.  I did watch the games, and some games she impressed me.  Others were so so.  However, she and Hidalgo were really the only true point guards. Rice and others are more 2 guards, even if they play point.  They try to score, while Lepolo and Hidalgo are more facilitators.  However, I do think Lepolo has tremendous upside and I was ecstatic to see her get this experience this summer and truly hope it helps her up her game.  I probably liked her last year much more than most on the board, and I hope we see great things from her this year.

Also curious to see Iriafen. For the first week or two last year, I thought she was going to be the break out star. And then she kind of seemed to get timid, and went downhill the rest of the season. But she has the potential to be a superstar. She needs to build her confidence though. I hope this is her year. She can be great.

[spike5882]

It would really surprise if Betts doesn't start for UCLA and plays 20+ minutes per game.  You may not have followed the 2023 FIBA Women's Americup.  Betts had an outstanding tournament and was the best player for the Silver Medal USA Team competing against far more experienced opponents, particularly Gold Medalist Brazil (Team USA lost to Brazil twice).

I didn't see any Americup games, but I viewed that 2nd place finish as a damning result for the players on the US roster.  The US women had won the Americup every time they played it except for a single narrow loss in 1997.  (The Haley Jones-lead team 2 years ago easily beat all comers, including Brazil.)  But Betts stats were indeed decent.

I was more impressed with the fact Talana Lepolo helped Team USA's U19 team win a gold medal in the FIBA World Cup in Spain this past July. She averaged 17.7 minutes, 3.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Her assists average was 2nd most on the US team, behind only Hannah Hidalgo, who is the top point guard recruit in the 2023 class. (By comparison Kiki Rice only averaged 2.1 assists in 20 minutes per game). Lepolo also had an impressive semifinal performance against France where she was 2-2 on 3s and had 5 assists (in 18 minutes). She had the highest efficiency per minute of any guard in that game. Pretty encouraging.

I am not one who is overly happy Betts left.  But her performance in Americup was pretty outstanding.  And while US did get silver, this is the first time they had used college players.  It is a senior team tournament, and the past gold medal teams contained predominantly pro players.  So, while they got silver, Betts was pretty phenomenal playing against the senior players of other countries.

I also was impressed to some extent with Lepolo over the summer.  I did watch the games, and some games she impressed me.  Others were so so.  However, she and Hidalgo were really the only true point guards. Rice and others are more 2 guards, even if they play point.  They try to score, while Lepolo and Hidalgo are more facilitators.  However, I do think Lepolo has tremendous upside and I was ecstatic to see her get this experience this summer and truly hope it helps her up her game.  I probably liked her last year much more than most on the board, and I hope we see great things from her this year.

Also curious to see Iriafen. For the first week or two last year, I thought she was going to be the break out star. And then she kind of seemed to get timid, and went downhill the rest of the season. But she has the potential to be a superstar. She needs to build her confidence though. I hope this is her year. She can be great.