Just got home from the game. Two of us Cardboarders chatted at halftime. Can't ask for a much better start to the season, although it gets much harder fast with Washington State and Gonzaga coming up in days.
Kate at the last presser noted that we would be a very good three point shooting team this year. It certainly was true tonight.
So far, and very early, these are my impressions:
1) Most improved player may be Clardy, given that she has developed a reliable three point shot that we almost never saw last year. Combine that with her excellent ball handling, defense, and her ability to drive to the basket and she has become a good all rounder.
2) Nunu is potentially a superstar in the making. She lacks the height of a Nneka or a Kiki, but has the athleticism and (at this point in her career) a better outside shot.
3) All three freshmen had their good moments, and it is easy to see each of them developing. Shay has unbelievable quickness and drove baseline for a basket that I would never have expected to see a freshman make. Peterson seems to be a terrific stretch 4 with a deadly three point shot. Umeh has a lot of touch for a big kid and rebounds well.
4) Lepolo is still rusty, coming back from injury, and now she has very serious competition. Harriel has come on very strong, Clardy is so much more versatile than a year ago. Even Papadaki got into the act tonight, had an amazing block and some nice assists.
5) Stevenson seems solid and contributes defensively and with rebounds, but thus far her offense has been tepid. I keep waiting for Ogden to look like she plays offense with confidence, but she hasn't shown us that so far this year. We've only seen Lepolo briefly this year, but so far there is little sign of change. Any one of these three could come on strong, but not so far when it comes to scoring at least, even though they each contributed in other ways. Which can't be dismissed.
6) Demetre and Bosgana continue to be effective, but their play to me looks very similar to what we have seen from them before. No radical changes there. Both are very very good at times, and they were last year too.
We will know a lot more after we finish the next two games and have some serious competition, but so far I am encouraged. The blossoming of Clardy and Agara--while Demetre and Bosgana continue apace--combined with all the options at point, make for a winning team.
Kate at the last presser noted that we would be a very good three point shooting team this year. It certainly was true tonight.
So far, and very early, these are my impressions:
1) Most improved player may be Clardy, given that she has developed a reliable three point shot that we almost never saw last year. Combine that with her excellent ball handling, defense, and her ability to drive to the basket and she has become a good all rounder.
2) Nunu is potentially a superstar in the making. She lacks the height of a Nneka or a Kiki, but has the athleticism and (at this point in her career) a better outside shot.
3) All three freshmen had their good moments, and it is easy to see each of them developing. Shay has unbelievable quickness and drove baseline for a basket that I would never have expected to see a freshman make. Peterson seems to be a terrific stretch 4 with a deadly three point shot. Umeh has a lot of touch for a big kid and rebounds well.
4) Lepolo is still rusty, coming back from injury, and now she has very serious competition. Harriel has come on very strong, Clardy is so much more versatile than a year ago. Even Papadaki got into the act tonight, had an amazing block and some nice assists.
5) Stevenson seems solid and contributes defensively and with rebounds, but thus far her offense has been tepid. I keep waiting for Ogden to look like she plays offense with confidence, but she hasn't shown us that so far this year. We've only seen Lepolo briefly this year, but so far there is little sign of change. Any one of these three could come on strong, but not so far when it comes to scoring at least, even though they each contributed in other ways. Which can't be dismissed.
6) Demetre and Bosgana continue to be effective, but their play to me looks very similar to what we have seen from them before. No radical changes there. Both are very very good at times, and they were last year too.
We will know a lot more after we finish the next two games and have some serious competition, but so far I am encouraged. The blossoming of Clardy and Agara--while Demetre and Bosgana continue apace--combined with all the options at point, make for a winning team.