11-08-2021, 08:13 PM
Tara held a webinar for season ticket holders this evening and answered questions about the team. Here are a few of my notes, hopefully others will chime in too.
1) There will be Chalk Talks this year, but they will be on Zoom. Not sure how that is going to work in terms of timing.
2) Tara answered the point guard question numerous times, and the answer is "it will be by committee." She said in our system we need not to think about "point guard" so much and think about "play maker" instead.
3) She confirmed what we have all seen--that Emma-Nnopu has gotten her attention with great improvement and defensive presence.
4) She indicated that the freshmen do not expect to start, and they and Hamilton have a lot to learn to be able to play in our system "without thinking," but that she thinks this will happen as it did for Brink half way through last year.
5) She commented on Belibi's improvement in glowing terms.
6) She raved about Iriafan's physicality and skillset, especially her rebounding and said "she loves to play defense." She can go left or right and finish well under the basket, has a good mid range jump shot, and next year will be shooting the three too. She also indicated that rebounding and defense will earn players playing time.
7) In response to the numerous "are they still hungry" types of questions she pointed out how this may be the most competitive squad they have ever had with 17 talented players competing for playing time, and did not think there would be a let down. The implication is that there is always someone else waiting to step onto the court if a player doesn't earn the time.
8) Harriel has not been able to fully practice due to some sort of medical condition but she has recently started to and we will see more of her.
9) Bosgana is only 17, is a long ways from home, and even so Tara indicated that she was one of our outstanding play makers with a big upside. She volunteered some of this information when talking about "point guard by committee."
10) Demetre is a tremendous talent and a highly intelligent basketball player.
....and a lot more that I am probably forgetting but others will share.
1) There will be Chalk Talks this year, but they will be on Zoom. Not sure how that is going to work in terms of timing.
2) Tara answered the point guard question numerous times, and the answer is "it will be by committee." She said in our system we need not to think about "point guard" so much and think about "play maker" instead.
3) She confirmed what we have all seen--that Emma-Nnopu has gotten her attention with great improvement and defensive presence.
4) She indicated that the freshmen do not expect to start, and they and Hamilton have a lot to learn to be able to play in our system "without thinking," but that she thinks this will happen as it did for Brink half way through last year.
5) She commented on Belibi's improvement in glowing terms.
6) She raved about Iriafan's physicality and skillset, especially her rebounding and said "she loves to play defense." She can go left or right and finish well under the basket, has a good mid range jump shot, and next year will be shooting the three too. She also indicated that rebounding and defense will earn players playing time.
7) In response to the numerous "are they still hungry" types of questions she pointed out how this may be the most competitive squad they have ever had with 17 talented players competing for playing time, and did not think there would be a let down. The implication is that there is always someone else waiting to step onto the court if a player doesn't earn the time.
8) Harriel has not been able to fully practice due to some sort of medical condition but she has recently started to and we will see more of her.
9) Bosgana is only 17, is a long ways from home, and even so Tara indicated that she was one of our outstanding play makers with a big upside. She volunteered some of this information when talking about "point guard by committee."
10) Demetre is a tremendous talent and a highly intelligent basketball player.
....and a lot more that I am probably forgetting but others will share.
