(12-23-2013 12:32 PM)Dwight Wrote:  I think it depends on the player whether development will be promoted by being on the court during games before the player is ready. A young player could get discouraged and lose confidence. Some might do better learning in practice every day and developing their game that way. In any event, I think that Cullop is going to put the team on the court that she thinks has the best chance to win games this year. It's not really fair to punish a senior who is the best player at her position just because you as a coach have given up on the team. Besides, I don't think Cullop has given up on this team.

Hey, I just want to be clear...I don't think anyone here has suggested that the freshmen play "in place of" any seniors, or as "punishment" to a senior? There are 3 seniors, but we need to put 5 ladies on the court. Seems to me that we should be able to move enough players on & off the court to accomplish both? True, we need Inma and Dola on the floor as much as possible. True, Jones and Reecher are probably only accustomed to playing the post position, and while not impossible it would be tricky having them both on the floor at the same time...but why not have Baker, Braun & deAlfredo in the mix more with Reed-Lewis, Capotosto, Monokano (who is getting minutes) and Recker (when she's back)?

I just think it's gonna be a looong MAC season if we try to play with basically 6 or 7 players...Ball State was forced into that last season, and while they didn't have a miserable season, I still remember how tired and outgunned they were when we beat them in the MAC tournament game.

(12-23-2013 09:17 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Jones is going to be in pain all season. The only way she'll get better is to rest. Plus she tweaked her knee this week.

I was hoping to see one or two of the freshmen break out already. My thinking has always been that if a player is going to be great, you will see it early in their freshman year.

There have been flashes of potential from all of them but no one has showed consistency on either offense or defense. And there are a couple who looked better early on than they have in the past few games. And then there is the mysterious disappearances of Olivia Braun and Lindsey Baker. It is particularly mysterious given the short bench.

(12-23-2013 12:42 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(12-23-2013 12:32 PM)Dwight Wrote:  I think it depends on the player whether development will be promoted by being on the court during games before the player is ready. A young player could get discouraged and lose confidence. Some might do better learning in practice every day and developing their game that way. In any event, I think that Cullop is going to put the team on the court that she thinks has the best chance to win games this year. It's not really fair to punish a senior who is the best player at her position just because you as a coach have given up on the team. Besides, I don't think Cullop has given up on this team.

Hey, I just want to be clear...I don't think anyone here has suggested that the freshmen play "in place of" any seniors, or as "punishment" to a senior? There are 3 seniors, but we need to put 5 ladies on the court. Seems to me that we should be able to move enough players on & off the court to accomplish both? True, we need Inma and Dola on the floor as much as possible. True, Jones and Reecher are probably only accustomed to playing the post position, and while not impossible it would be tricky having them both on the floor at the same time...but why not have Baker, Braun & deAlfredo in the mix more with Reed-Lewis, Capotosto, Monokano (who is getting minutes) and Recker (when she's back)?

I just think it's gonna be a looong MAC season if we try to play with basically 6 or 7 players...Ball State was forced into that last season, and while they didn't have a miserable season, I still remember how tired and outgunned they were when we beat them in the MAC tournament game.

I am not sure where all of ideas are coming from on here..everyone has to have confidence in our outstanding coach....she knows her players better than one else....she knows what strengths she recruited them for...every coach has a plan for every player to have success and contribute to the success of the team...

There is no substitute for playing time...practice time is good but not as good as game situations...she has been using each freshman in situations that each can have success...if you think back to her years here she has not force feed any freshman....she was how ever forced to use some of them much sooner than she has in the past due to injuries early in the season...

As in the past she will use everyone on the team according to the players strengths.....with such a young team the only reasonable goal is to be ready at the end of the season for the MAC championships....and never has she settled into a pattern of playing only six or seven players....she will play each player based on the game situation and how they practiced before the game...STAY CONFIDENT....AND GO BLUE!