[StanUSwagU]

Some general observations from a WBB casual. The last game I watched in person was last year (Tech lost in Palo Alto) and the time before that, Olympia Scott may have been on the floor.

1. I get the frustration, and like I said I am a casual, so who am I to say much of anything, but two years of not being elite and everyone bails? 

2. I get those who root for the names on the back as much as the name on the front, but if the "mercenary era" is just too much, root for the name on the front and don't worry so much about the sausage making. Stanford could survive a rotating cast of players in any number of sports. The education of NARPs wouldn't suffer. Maybe their recreational experience would be better.

3. Stanford could still be a high school program ('get old and stay old') if it could retain players. The fact that it can't retain players is what is alarming. The erosion started under VanDerveer (Betts would have been handy to retain, for just one example) and in addition to the fact that one can retire when one wants to retire, she might have seen the tipping of leverage from coach to player to be more than she wanted to deal with on an ongoing basis, so it was really time to exit stage left or right.  Granted, that would be tough with a flailing program but it is still an option. 

4. She didn't exit stage left or right. Her name is on the court, she still has an office in the building, and she's at all the coach introductions, teaching a class, etc. She seems to be like Wooden was for the 35 years after he retired. A constant presence and reminder that you aren't her and your program isn't what hers once was. I wonder if that is distracting or overwhelming Paye? I was in Paye's shoes once and it can be a thing.

5. I read 81Alumn's example of when they lost to Ole Miss in 2023. I think they just lost. This wasn't Bambi going against Godzilla (best existential short film ever, btw). Jones was a senior, Iriafin was a sophomore, Brink was a junior, Jump was a senior, and yes Betts was a freshman, but all-World, I thought? Stanford's roster tally was 4 seniors, 2 juniors, 4 soph/RS frosh, and 4 frosh. Basically half the team were upperclassmen with national title experience. Add two junior transfers and it would be large and perfectly balanced roster. Ole Miss on the other hand had six transfers (2 graduate, 3 senior, and 1 soph) and 2 seniors, 3 juniors, and a frosh. Obviously worried more about today than tomorrow and I guess it paid off for them, but this wasn't some insurmountable task. Stanford just lost.

6.

7. I doubt they fire Paye so quickly with VanDeveer still having an office and probably a say. I haven't tracked the coach in waiting scope card honestly. Definitely trying to continue the legacy but as people have said, the signs were there. UVA just dumped their coach after an unexpected Sweet 16 run and wholesale player mutinies, which are super easy these days, will do that to a coach. If that happens it should happen soon or does this become a Troy Taylor deal and VanDeveer takes one for the team of intramural-level players next fall while they do a search.  I don't think they've done a search since getting VanDeveer out of Columbus. I know nothing about the Nike guy and if he is a real AD or more of a corporate manager.

*********
Hi Jacket3ree,

1. Hope all is well.

2. Great insightful post by you, as always.

3. Was wondering what your 6th bullet point was, it didnt seem to post.

[StanUSwagU]

Some general observations from a WBB casual. The last game I watched in person was last year (Tech lost in Palo Alto) and the time before that, Olympia Scott may have been on the floor.

1. I get the frustration, and like I said I am a casual, so who am I to say much of anything, but two years of not being elite and everyone bails? 

2. I get those who root for the names on the back as much as the name on the front, but if the "mercenary era" is just too much, root for the name on the front and don't worry so much about the sausage making. Stanford could survive a rotating cast of players in any number of sports. The education of NARPs wouldn't suffer. Maybe their recreational experience would be better.

3. Stanford could still be a high school program ('get old and stay old') if it could retain players. The fact that it can't retain players is what is alarming. The erosion started under VanDerveer (Betts would have been handy to retain, for just one example) and in addition to the fact that one can retire when one wants to retire, she might have seen the tipping of leverage from coach to player to be more than she wanted to deal with on an ongoing basis, so it was really time to exit stage left or right.  Granted, that would be tough with a flailing program but it is still an option. 

4. She didn't exit stage left or right. Her name is on the court, she still has an office in the building, and she's at all the coach introductions, teaching a class, etc. She seems to be like Wooden was for the 35 years after he retired. A constant presence and reminder that you aren't her and your program isn't what hers once was. I wonder if that is distracting or overwhelming Paye? I was in Paye's shoes once and it can be a thing.

5. I read 81Alumn's example of when they lost to Ole Miss in 2023. I think they just lost. This wasn't Bambi going against Godzilla (best existential short film ever, btw). Jones was a senior, Iriafin was a sophomore, Brink was a junior, Jump was a senior, and yes Betts was a freshman, but all-World, I thought? Stanford's roster tally was 4 seniors, 2 juniors, 4 soph/RS frosh, and 4 frosh. Basically half the team were upperclassmen with national title experience. Add two junior transfers and it would be large and perfectly balanced roster. Ole Miss on the other hand had six transfers (2 graduate, 3 senior, and 1 soph) and 2 seniors, 3 juniors, and a frosh. Obviously worried more about today than tomorrow and I guess it paid off for them, but this wasn't some insurmountable task. Stanford just lost.

6.

7. I doubt they fire Paye so quickly with VanDeveer still having an office and probably a say. I haven't tracked the coach in waiting scope card honestly. Definitely trying to continue the legacy but as people have said, the signs were there. UVA just dumped their coach after an unexpected Sweet 16 run and wholesale player mutinies, which are super easy these days, will do that to a coach. If that happens it should happen soon or does this become a Troy Taylor deal and VanDeveer takes one for the team of intramural-level players next fall while they do a search.  I don't think they've done a search since getting VanDeveer out of Columbus. I know nothing about the Nike guy and if he is a real AD or more of a corporate manager.

*********
Hi Jacket3ree,

1. Hope all is well.

2. Great insightful post by you, as always.

3. Was wondering what your 6th bullet point was, it didnt seem to post.