[stopandpop]

Anyone catch yesterday's open practice and have any thoughts?  Unfortunately, I was unable to make it, despite my growing enthusiasm about our stellar (pending first impressions) freshman class.

I was there for the open practice.  I love our girls and especially our freshmen class.  I want this team to succeed and I want Kate and her staff to succeed.

Having said that, I was disappointed to see that Stanford will be running the same (left to right/east to west) offense they ran last season; an offense ACC opponents and others (i.e. Ohio State) totally destroy.  This team is a lot more talented and I'm afraid Kate is not going to take advantage of some of their skill sets, not to mention size and length.

As just one example, Hailee Swain is a dynamic 'downhill' player who can break down defenses and score with either hand.  Lateral offenses where players move to perimeter spots, get passes, then rotate the ball back to another perimeter player for a 3-point attempt takes away Hailee's signature moves.  She becomes another perimeter player in the system.

The existing offense removes any option for high post (solid) screens from Stanford's Bigs.  Kennedy and Lara are physically well suited to do this.  Teams that screen Stanford force our defending guards to scramble and oftentimes allow the opponent's guards clear paths to the basket.  Imagine the damage a Hailee Swain or a Chloe Clardy could do with those screens.

On a positive note, Nunu was simply a beast.  No one could stop her going to the rim.  Shay was quick and active.  Carly hit a number of 3 pointers in a row.  Kennedy showed much improvement and mobility.  Lara's footwork and soft touch from distance impressed me.  Even Mary Ashley showed more willingness to look for her shot inside.

The autograph session after the practice was great and fans had a chance to briefly chat with all the players.

Go Card!

Thanks, pop. Great observations. Is there any chance since it's only July that it's too early to assess what offenses Kate and Coaches plan to run once their players settle in? Is it possible that only a few weeks into summer practice they want to get the frosh adjusted to already existing schemes but will fold in more screens and pick and rolls as the team begins to gel? I don't have enough insights about how coaches alter offensive schemes for personnel but I guess I have to think there's still a lot of time between now and November to layer on additional sets, etc.? 

And Marty, what a great comment! My WBB Fandom also took off in the mid 2010s as a result of starting to read the Cardboard and I too now look forward to it more than any other Stanford sport. Just re-upped my season tix, too!

You may be right.  There's always a chance the offense we eventually see in November could look differently than what I saw in practice and yes, there needs to be an existing foundation the freshmen can run.  I will say that in-between the 5-minute scrimmages, Kate and staff broke the group into teams of 4 and ran set plays without opponents and during several of those 10-15 second rounds, I saw Umeh, Eschmeyer and Somfai getting the ball down low or the 2nd. option of getting the ball and passing out to a perimeter player for a 3-pointer.

Of note- Eschmeyer and Somfai looked very comfortable moving out from the post and consistently hitting 3's.  Somfai hit several mid-range shots on the baseline.

Yes, very early in the calendar, but from what I saw, very encouraging.

[stopandpop]

Anyone catch yesterday's open practice and have any thoughts?  Unfortunately, I was unable to make it, despite my growing enthusiasm about our stellar (pending first impressions) freshman class.

I was there for the open practice.  I love our girls and especially our freshmen class.  I want this team to succeed and I want Kate and her staff to succeed.

Having said that, I was disappointed to see that Stanford will be running the same (left to right/east to west) offense they ran last season; an offense ACC opponents and others (i.e. Ohio State) totally destroy.  This team is a lot more talented and I'm afraid Kate is not going to take advantage of some of their skill sets, not to mention size and length.

As just one example, Hailee Swain is a dynamic 'downhill' player who can break down defenses and score with either hand.  Lateral offenses where players move to perimeter spots, get passes, then rotate the ball back to another perimeter player for a 3-point attempt takes away Hailee's signature moves.  She becomes another perimeter player in the system.

The existing offense removes any option for high post (solid) screens from Stanford's Bigs.  Kennedy and Lara are physically well suited to do this.  Teams that screen Stanford force our defending guards to scramble and oftentimes allow the opponent's guards clear paths to the basket.  Imagine the damage a Hailee Swain or a Chloe Clardy could do with those screens.

On a positive note, Nunu was simply a beast.  No one could stop her going to the rim.  Shay was quick and active.  Carly hit a number of 3 pointers in a row.  Kennedy showed much improvement and mobility.  Lara's footwork and soft touch from distance impressed me.  Even Mary Ashley showed more willingness to look for her shot inside.

The autograph session after the practice was great and fans had a chance to briefly chat with all the players.

Go Card!

Thanks, pop. Great observations. Is there any chance since it's only July that it's too early to assess what offenses Kate and Coaches plan to run once their players settle in? Is it possible that only a few weeks into summer practice they want to get the frosh adjusted to already existing schemes but will fold in more screens and pick and rolls as the team begins to gel? I don't have enough insights about how coaches alter offensive schemes for personnel but I guess I have to think there's still a lot of time between now and November to layer on additional sets, etc.? 

And Marty, what a great comment! My WBB Fandom also took off in the mid 2010s as a result of starting to read the Cardboard and I too now look forward to it more than any other Stanford sport. Just re-upped my season tix, too!

You may be right.  There's always a chance the offense we eventually see in November could look differently than what I saw in practice and yes, there needs to be an existing foundation the freshmen can run.  I will say that in-between the 5-minute scrimmages, Kate and staff broke the group into teams of 4 and ran set plays without opponents and during several of those 10-15 second rounds, I saw Umeh, Eschmeyer and Somfai getting the ball down low or the 2nd. option of getting the ball and passing out to a perimeter player for a 3-pointer.

Of note- Eschmeyer and Somfai looked very comfortable moving out from the post and consistently hitting 3's.  Somfai hit several mid-range shots on the baseline.

Yes, very early in the calendar, but from what I saw, very encouraging.