[Hieronymus]

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Human nature.  Higher expectations for WBB than MBB.  During earnings season the stock market almost always gauges stocks by comparing actual to estimated earnings.    I think the same applies to sports.

Agree. At least for me though, my expectations aren't really about past performance. My expectations are based on the level of talent that each coach has to work with. Okorie is special, but after that there isn't much else on the men's team even with Okpara. The men have both skill and athleticism deficiencies that are insurmountable over the course of the season. Way different than Haase's teams with multiple NBA level players in his years. The women's team is different than that, IMO. By no means do I expect a level of performance as our team that had Cam, Lexie, Haley, Kiana...a mostly WNBA starting lineup. I do, however, think this team (when healthy) should be a top-20 team. By all the rating systems, our women's team is in the mid-30's, and it's been that way for quite some time. I don't see the team improving, with similar thinking as other posters who callout repeated issues like offensive stagnation, poor passing, and ball control (which, BTW, the issue in my mind isn't just counting the number of turnovers it's a level deeper - it's the number of live ball turnovers that result in points for the other team). I just have a more positive read on our players, and I believe the talent is there to be a Top-20 team. Others might believe the talent is not there, too many freshmen minutes, etc. and Kate should get a pass for this season too. I get that, just don't agree with it.

And they no longer have Okpara - out for the year. The men had a shot at the tournament with him and no chance without. They have no depth to cover his loss. No genius coaching strategy is going to fix that. Now you can fault the lack of depth, but there is no solving his absence this year.

[Hieronymus]

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Human nature.  Higher expectations for WBB than MBB.  During earnings season the stock market almost always gauges stocks by comparing actual to estimated earnings.    I think the same applies to sports.

Agree. At least for me though, my expectations aren't really about past performance. My expectations are based on the level of talent that each coach has to work with. Okorie is special, but after that there isn't much else on the men's team even with Okpara. The men have both skill and athleticism deficiencies that are insurmountable over the course of the season. Way different than Haase's teams with multiple NBA level players in his years. The women's team is different than that, IMO. By no means do I expect a level of performance as our team that had Cam, Lexie, Haley, Kiana...a mostly WNBA starting lineup. I do, however, think this team (when healthy) should be a top-20 team. By all the rating systems, our women's team is in the mid-30's, and it's been that way for quite some time. I don't see the team improving, with similar thinking as other posters who callout repeated issues like offensive stagnation, poor passing, and ball control (which, BTW, the issue in my mind isn't just counting the number of turnovers it's a level deeper - it's the number of live ball turnovers that result in points for the other team). I just have a more positive read on our players, and I believe the talent is there to be a Top-20 team. Others might believe the talent is not there, too many freshmen minutes, etc. and Kate should get a pass for this season too. I get that, just don't agree with it.

And they no longer have Okpara - out for the year. The men had a shot at the tournament with him and no chance without. They have no depth to cover his loss. No genius coaching strategy is going to fix that. Now you can fault the lack of depth, but there is no solving his absence this year.