[81alum]

On point guard: 

"Haley's playing point, Talana's playing point, Indya Nivar, Jzanzia Harriel has really improve a lot."

On the identity of this year's team:

"We are a big team--we've got to rebound.  That's No. 1.  We've got to get on the O-boards.  If we rebound and we play defense the way we are capable of we'll be able to run.  We want to play high octane basketball--go, go, go."

On who has improved:
"Kiki Iriafan has really improve a lot....People have really improved.  People like Brooke Demetre have really improved.  Kiki has really improved.

Will the freshmen have a role?
"I definitely think our freshmen will be able to help us.  They definitely will have a role."  But then she moved on. 

My interpretation of Tara's interview:  she wants the offense to be fast to use our depth to wear down opponents.  She also wants to use our size to dominate the boards in a way we sometimes did not last year.  It does not sound as if any freshmen will be starting, but they will be getting minutes.  She emphasized Kiki's improvement twice and praised Prechtel and Belibi as great mentors.  Makes me think Iriafen may start.  Also emphasized Demetre's improvement.

Based on this interview, this is how I see it, but with no one getting more than low 20 minutes range until league play begins, so lots of players getting time for a couple of months.

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

[81alum]

On point guard: 

"Haley's playing point, Talana's playing point, Indya Nivar, Jzanzia Harriel has really improve a lot."

On the identity of this year's team:

"We are a big team--we've got to rebound.  That's No. 1.  We've got to get on the O-boards.  If we rebound and we play defense the way we are capable of we'll be able to run.  We want to play high octane basketball--go, go, go."

On who has improved:
"Kiki Iriafan has really improve a lot....People have really improved.  People like Brooke Demetre have really improved.  Kiki has really improved.

Will the freshmen have a role?
"I definitely think our freshmen will be able to help us.  They definitely will have a role."  But then she moved on. 

My interpretation of Tara's interview:  she wants the offense to be fast to use our depth to wear down opponents.  She also wants to use our size to dominate the boards in a way we sometimes did not last year.  It does not sound as if any freshmen will be starting, but they will be getting minutes.  She emphasized Kiki's improvement twice and praised Prechtel and Belibi as great mentors.  Makes me think Iriafen may start.  Also emphasized Demetre's improvement.

Based on this interview, this is how I see it, but with no one getting more than low 20 minutes range until league play begins, so lots of players getting time for a couple of months.

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

[BobK]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams.
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

[BobK]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams.
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

[stopandpop]

On point guard: 

"Haley's playing point, Talana's playing point, Indya Navar, Jzanzia Harriel has really improve a lot."

On the identity of this year's team:

"We are a big team--we've got to rebound.  That's No. 1.  We've got to get on the O-boards.  If we rebound and we play defense the way we are capable of we'll be able to run.  We want to play high octane basketball--go, go, go."

On who has improved:
"Kiki Iriafan has really improve a lot....People have really improved.  People like Brooke Demetre have really improved.  Kiki has really improved.

Will the freshmen have a role?
"I definitely think our freshmen will be able to help us.  They definitely will have a role."  But then she moved on. 

My interpretation of Tara's interview:  she wants the offense to be fast to use our depth to wear down opponents.  She also wants to use our size to dominate the boards in a way we sometimes did not last year.  It does not sound as if any freshmen will be starting, but they will be getting minutes.  She emphasized Kiki's improvement twice and praised Prechtel and Belibi as great mentors.  Makes me think Iriafen may start.  Also emphasized Demetre's improvement.

Based on this interview, this is how I see it, but with no one getting more than low 20 minutes range until league play begins, so lots of players getting time for a couple of months.

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

I agree on the starting lineup.  Yes, we lack quickness on the perimeter and might be vulnerable to defensive pressure, but this lineup presents so many problems for our opponents. We already have a 2-headed monster in Jones and Brink.  If Kiki has significantly improved (as reported) I see her emerging as a beast in the post and Stanford becomes a 3-headed monster backed up by the shooting of Demetre and Jump.

[stopandpop]

On point guard: 

"Haley's playing point, Talana's playing point, Indya Navar, Jzanzia Harriel has really improve a lot."

On the identity of this year's team:

"We are a big team--we've got to rebound.  That's No. 1.  We've got to get on the O-boards.  If we rebound and we play defense the way we are capable of we'll be able to run.  We want to play high octane basketball--go, go, go."

On who has improved:
"Kiki Iriafan has really improve a lot....People have really improved.  People like Brooke Demetre have really improved.  Kiki has really improved.

Will the freshmen have a role?
"I definitely think our freshmen will be able to help us.  They definitely will have a role."  But then she moved on. 

My interpretation of Tara's interview:  she wants the offense to be fast to use our depth to wear down opponents.  She also wants to use our size to dominate the boards in a way we sometimes did not last year.  It does not sound as if any freshmen will be starting, but they will be getting minutes.  She emphasized Kiki's improvement twice and praised Prechtel and Belibi as great mentors.  Makes me think Iriafen may start.  Also emphasized Demetre's improvement.

Based on this interview, this is how I see it, but with no one getting more than low 20 minutes range until league play begins, so lots of players getting time for a couple of months.

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

I agree on the starting lineup.  Yes, we lack quickness on the perimeter and might be vulnerable to defensive pressure, but this lineup presents so many problems for our opponents. We already have a 2-headed monster in Jones and Brink.  If Kiki has significantly improved (as reported) I see her emerging as a beast in the post and Stanford becomes a 3-headed monster backed up by the shooting of Demetre and Jump.

[bl82]

I was hoping that Nivar might force herself into the starting lineup and give us more perimeter speed, but it looks like either Kiki or Brooke with be the fifth starter. Interesting that when talking about frosh PGs, Tara mentioned Lepolo before Nivar twice while rattling off names. Note sure whether to read anything into that. Harriel seemed to be an afterthought in the mention category and no mention of either of our Greek up-and-comers.

As an aside, we will be a very tall team looking to push tempo. You don't see that often, BUT Cam, Kiki and Fran are speedsters going down the court, so our bigs can really get out there and run. I wonder who other than Haley will be running the break.

[bl82]

I was hoping that Nivar might force herself into the starting lineup and give us more perimeter speed, but it looks like either Kiki or Brooke with be the fifth starter. Interesting that when talking about frosh PGs, Tara mentioned Lepolo before Nivar twice while rattling off names. Note sure whether to read anything into that. Harriel seemed to be an afterthought in the mention category and no mention of either of our Greek up-and-comers.

As an aside, we will be a very tall team looking to push tempo. You don't see that often, BUT Cam, Kiki and Fran are speedsters going down the court, so our bigs can really get out there and run. I wonder who other than Haley will be running the break.

[WBB fan]

ESPN has predictions for each conference Player of the year - PAC-12 -- predict Haley with Cam being her main competition for the honor

www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34872777/2022-23-preseason-player-year-picks-every-division-women-college-basketball-conference

---

[twitter]https://twitter.com/JDumasReports/status/1584350154164879361[/twitter]

---

https://www.kron4.com/sports/stanford-wo...ng-season/

Full video is here! 

Tara did some water skiing in the offseason. I thought this was a fun interview to listen to that might shed some light on this season. It's a good call out that Ashten and Fran are being great mentors in practice. Tara mentioned that Brooke and Kiki are greatly improved over the course of the summer and that the competition is fierce. I don't think we've gotten any answers apart from the fact that Hayley will be playing point forward, with Lepolo, Harriel, and Nivar providing the backup by committee.

Thanks for posting the link. Great to have the full interview, and yes, definitely fun to listen to.

[WBB fan]

ESPN has predictions for each conference Player of the year - PAC-12 -- predict Haley with Cam being her main competition for the honor

www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34872777/2022-23-preseason-player-year-picks-every-division-women-college-basketball-conference

---

[twitter]https://twitter.com/JDumasReports/status/1584350154164879361[/twitter]

---

https://www.kron4.com/sports/stanford-wo...ng-season/

Full video is here! 

Tara did some water skiing in the offseason. I thought this was a fun interview to listen to that might shed some light on this season. It's a good call out that Ashten and Fran are being great mentors in practice. Tara mentioned that Brooke and Kiki are greatly improved over the course of the summer and that the competition is fierce. I don't think we've gotten any answers apart from the fact that Hayley will be playing point forward, with Lepolo, Harriel, and Nivar providing the backup by committee.

Thanks for posting the link. Great to have the full interview, and yes, definitely fun to listen to.

[81alum]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams. 
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

Tara seems to have picked Utah.  11 votes for Stanford, and coaches can't vote for their own team.  The only other #1 vote was Utah. 

I wonder if Tara sees something special in Utah this year, or if she was just being polite and distributing her vote around.

[81alum]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams. 
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

Tara seems to have picked Utah.  11 votes for Stanford, and coaches can't vote for their own team.  The only other #1 vote was Utah. 

I wonder if Tara sees something special in Utah this year, or if she was just being polite and distributing her vote around.

[bl82]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams. 
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

Tara seems to have picked Utah.  11 votes for Stanford, and coaches can't vote for their own team.  The only other #1 vote was Utah. 

I wonder if Tara sees something special in Utah this year, or if she was just being polite and distributing her vote around.

Tara has been a big fan of Lynne Roberts and Roberts reported last year than when she was having issues with her team's success that she called Tara and Tara was very supportive with her time and feedback/advice.

[bl82]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams. 
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

Tara seems to have picked Utah.  11 votes for Stanford, and coaches can't vote for their own team.  The only other #1 vote was Utah. 

I wonder if Tara sees something special in Utah this year, or if she was just being polite and distributing her vote around.

Tara has been a big fan of Lynne Roberts and Roberts reported last year than when she was having issues with her team's success that she called Tara and Tara was very supportive with her time and feedback/advice.

[BobK]

Excellent words from Tara on Lepolo on media day
Also Ashten can dunk. That’s 4

[BobK]

Excellent words from Tara on Lepolo on media day
Also Ashten can dunk. That’s 4

[WBB fan]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams. 
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

Tara seems to have picked Utah.  11 votes for Stanford, and coaches can't vote for their own team.  The only other #1 vote was Utah. 

I wonder if Tara sees something special in Utah this year, or if she was just being polite and distributing her vote around.

Tara has been a big fan of Lynne Roberts and Roberts reported last year than when she was having issues with her team's success that she called Tara and Tara was very supportive with her time and feedback/advice.

Tara may be more aware of Utah's potential than others are -- and don't forget, Utah had two fantastic freshmen last year, both are back and are likely to be even better.

[WBB fan]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams. 
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

Tara seems to have picked Utah.  11 votes for Stanford, and coaches can't vote for their own team.  The only other #1 vote was Utah. 

I wonder if Tara sees something special in Utah this year, or if she was just being polite and distributing her vote around.

Tara has been a big fan of Lynne Roberts and Roberts reported last year than when she was having issues with her team's success that she called Tara and Tara was very supportive with her time and feedback/advice.

Tara may be more aware of Utah's potential than others are -- and don't forget, Utah had two fantastic freshmen last year, both are back and are likely to be even better.

[81alum]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams. 
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

Tara seems to have picked Utah.  11 votes for Stanford, and coaches can't vote for their own team.  The only other #1 vote was Utah. 

I wonder if Tara sees something special in Utah this year, or if she was just being polite and distributing her vote around.

Tara has been a big fan of Lynne Roberts and Roberts reported last year than when she was having issues with her team's success that she called Tara and Tara was very supportive with her time and feedback/advice.

Tara may be more aware of Utah's potential than others are -- and don't forget, Utah had two fantastic freshmen last year, both are back and are likely to be even better.

Yes, and they get Pili transferring from USC.  Pili has been hampered by injuries, but had a fantastic freshman year when she was healthy.

[81alum]

For media day

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1584915...OctFJhzz7A

Ranking the teams. 
I’d say Oregon State lower USC a bit higher

Tara seems to have picked Utah.  11 votes for Stanford, and coaches can't vote for their own team.  The only other #1 vote was Utah. 

I wonder if Tara sees something special in Utah this year, or if she was just being polite and distributing her vote around.

Tara has been a big fan of Lynne Roberts and Roberts reported last year than when she was having issues with her team's success that she called Tara and Tara was very supportive with her time and feedback/advice.

Tara may be more aware of Utah's potential than others are -- and don't forget, Utah had two fantastic freshmen last year, both are back and are likely to be even better.

Yes, and they get Pili transferring from USC.  Pili has been hampered by injuries, but had a fantastic freshman year when she was healthy.

[stopandpop]

Haley on AP All-American team.  Disappointed that Cam was not on there.  She did receive votes.  Strange because she was AP 3rd. team last season.

Unable to copy the link.  Maybe someone can help here.

[stopandpop]

Haley on AP All-American team.  Disappointed that Cam was not on there.  She did receive votes.  Strange because she was AP 3rd. team last season.

Unable to copy the link.  Maybe someone can help here.

[WBB fan]

Haley on AP All-American team.  Disappointed that Cam was not on there.  She did receive votes.  Strange because she was AP 3rd. team last season.

Unable to copy the link.  Maybe someone can help here.

The link from Sports Illustrated, may be behind a paywall, though.  Sorry if it is.

www.si.com/college/2022/10/25/ap-womens-preseason-basketball-all-america-team

[WBB fan]

Haley on AP All-American team.  Disappointed that Cam was not on there.  She did receive votes.  Strange because she was AP 3rd. team last season.

Unable to copy the link.  Maybe someone can help here.

The link from Sports Illustrated, may be behind a paywall, though.  Sorry if it is.

www.si.com/college/2022/10/25/ap-womens-preseason-basketball-all-america-team

[qwerty49]

Haley on AP All-American team.  Disappointed that Cam was not on there.  She did receive votes.  Strange because she was AP 3rd. team last season.

Unable to copy the link.  Maybe someone can help here.

The link from Sports Illustrated, may be behind a paywall, though.  Sorry if it is.

www.si.com/college/2022/10/25/ap-womens-preseason-basketball-all-america-team

Have they always chosen 6 players on the first team?

[qwerty49]

Haley on AP All-American team.  Disappointed that Cam was not on there.  She did receive votes.  Strange because she was AP 3rd. team last season.

Unable to copy the link.  Maybe someone can help here.

The link from Sports Illustrated, may be behind a paywall, though.  Sorry if it is.

www.si.com/college/2022/10/25/ap-womens-preseason-basketball-all-america-team

Have they always chosen 6 players on the first team?

[jonnyss]

here is the apnews version

i don't see a 2nd or 3rd team. cam is the first player on the also-receiving-votes list that follows. doesn't say if they are listed in order of votes received; but it doesn't seem to be alphabetical.

[jonnyss]

here is the apnews version

i don't see a 2nd or 3rd team. cam is the first player on the also-receiving-votes list that follows. doesn't say if they are listed in order of votes received; but it doesn't seem to be alphabetical.

[WBB fan]

here is the apnews version

i don't see a 2nd or 3rd team. cam is the first player on the also-receiving-votes list that follows. doesn't say if they are listed in order of votes received; but it doesn't seem to be alphabetical.

Here's the link from ESPN

www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34876157/aliyah-boston-caitlin-clark-lead-ap-preseason-all-america-team

[WBB fan]

here is the apnews version

i don't see a 2nd or 3rd team. cam is the first player on the also-receiving-votes list that follows. doesn't say if they are listed in order of votes received; but it doesn't seem to be alphabetical.

Here's the link from ESPN

www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34876157/aliyah-boston-caitlin-clark-lead-ap-preseason-all-america-team

[BobK]

Brink at the 3 ??

https://twitter.com/jdumasreports/status...1OZv182trg

Watch the interview

Today Tara said we are really tall. I thought well yes but more to it

[BobK]

Brink at the 3 ??

https://twitter.com/jdumasreports/status...1OZv182trg

Watch the interview

Today Tara said we are really tall. I thought well yes but more to it

[bl82]

After listening to the interviews, here is my early guess at starters and depth, which is somewhat complicated by the fact that Haley can play four positions, Cam can play 2-3 and quite a few others can play two or perhaps more. I’ve used parentheses to show where Haley might default to based on the other players on the court and used the slash when I felt there was no obvious leader on the depth chart. I do think we will see three “bigs” on the floor together fairly often.

PG: Jones - Lepolo - Nivar - Harriel - Papadaki/Green
SG/W: Jump - (Jones) - Emma-Nnopu - Bosgana - Harriel
SF/W: Demetre - (Jones) - Brink - [Belibi/Prechtel]
PF/(SF): Brink - Belibi/Prechtel - Iriafen
C: Iriafen - Prechtel/Betts - Brink

[bl82]

After listening to the interviews, here is my early guess at starters and depth, which is somewhat complicated by the fact that Haley can play four positions, Cam can play 2-3 and quite a few others can play two or perhaps more. I’ve used parentheses to show where Haley might default to based on the other players on the court and used the slash when I felt there was no obvious leader on the depth chart. I do think we will see three “bigs” on the floor together fairly often.

PG: Jones - Lepolo - Nivar - Harriel - Papadaki/Green
SG/W: Jump - (Jones) - Emma-Nnopu - Bosgana - Harriel
SF/W: Demetre - (Jones) - Brink - [Belibi/Prechtel]
PF/(SF): Brink - Belibi/Prechtel - Iriafen
C: Iriafen - Prechtel/Betts - Brink

[SControl]

Excellent words from Tara on Lepolo on media day
Also Ashten can dunk. That’s 4

Not sure if this has been posted but this is a transcript of the full interview from Media Day where Tara touches a little more on the depth at PG at the end:

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=181592

Stanford also shows up in UCLA’s interview where Kiki Rice is asked about turning down the opportunity to play for Tara:

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=181596

[SControl]

Excellent words from Tara on Lepolo on media day
Also Ashten can dunk. That’s 4

Not sure if this has been posted but this is a transcript of the full interview from Media Day where Tara touches a little more on the depth at PG at the end:

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=181592

Stanford also shows up in UCLA’s interview where Kiki Rice is asked about turning down the opportunity to play for Tara:

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=181596

[Grad Fan]

Not sure if this has been posted but this is a transcript of the full interview from Media Day where Tara touches a little more on the depth at PG at the end:

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=181592

A bunch of good details in that article but this quote stuck out to me as a nice upside surprise to my expectations: "Talana Lepolo is as good a freshman point guard as we have ever had at Stanford."

To the downside, not really unexpected, but confirmation that this will be Haley's last year.

[Grad Fan]

Not sure if this has been posted but this is a transcript of the full interview from Media Day where Tara touches a little more on the depth at PG at the end:

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=181592

A bunch of good details in that article but this quote stuck out to me as a nice upside surprise to my expectations: "Talana Lepolo is as good a freshman point guard as we have ever had at Stanford."

To the downside, not really unexpected, but confirmation that this will be Haley's last year.

[81alum]

Tara has been very upbeat at the start of each season for the last few years.  But this is encouraging:

TARA VANDERVEER: I'm really excited about two young guards that we have on our team, actually three young guards. They're all freshmen. Next year I'll probably have more gray hair.

Talana Lepolo is as good a freshman point guard as we have ever had at Stanford. She really is, I think, a fabulous player. Indya Nivar, I think she's doing really well. I don't even think of them as freshmen.

Jzaniya Harriel is another gal that can handle it and run our point. Every day in practice we have four or sometimes five people working at that position.

We're also obviously recruiting point guards. Any more, young people can come in and they really have just the experience and the ability to step right in.


We're really excited about that opportunity for our young point guards.

[81alum]

Tara has been very upbeat at the start of each season for the last few years.  But this is encouraging:

TARA VANDERVEER: I'm really excited about two young guards that we have on our team, actually three young guards. They're all freshmen. Next year I'll probably have more gray hair.

Talana Lepolo is as good a freshman point guard as we have ever had at Stanford. She really is, I think, a fabulous player. Indya Nivar, I think she's doing really well. I don't even think of them as freshmen.

Jzaniya Harriel is another gal that can handle it and run our point. Every day in practice we have four or sometimes five people working at that position.

We're also obviously recruiting point guards. Any more, young people can come in and they really have just the experience and the ability to step right in.


We're really excited about that opportunity for our young point guards.