(03-21-2018 09:42 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 08:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-20-2018 09:31 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(03-20-2018 09:26 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  59-78 at just under 7:00 to go.

Holding steady after the horrific final 3 min in 1Q and the whole 2Q. Points off turnovers going to 4Q 4-20.

Not surprising since we are one of the worst fast break teams I've ever witnessed. One of the few areas we really need to work on next season. No question the spate of season-ending injuriies and resulting 7 - 8 man rotation wore the team down over the final 4 - 6 weeks of the season. Nicole, in particular, was a totally different player the first half of the season vs. the second half.

Really looking forward to next year, when we should be serious contenders for a conference championship and NCAA birth.

and NCAA birth.

Please no more NCAAs.

(03-21-2018 08:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Really looking forward to next year, when we should be serious contenders ...

How athletic is Nancy Mulkey?

At 6'9", she certainly could be dominant near the basket, if she's strong enough to get to and hold her position against aggressive foes and quick/agile enough to shoot, defend, rebound and block shots without getting fouls.

I watched her a little in practice early in the year. My impression was that she really moves well for her size and has really nice hands and feet. I think she will be an impact player not just an imposing presence. My observation was very brief however.

Also returning will be Raney, Ellig and Alao. I think there are very high expectations for all three along with the three freshmen.

It could get interesting next year.

(03-21-2018 03:33 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 08:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Really looking forward to next year, when we should be serious contenders ...

How athletic is Nancy Mulkey?

At 6'9", she certainly could be dominant near the basket, if she's strong enough to get to and hold her position against aggressive foes and quick/agile enough to shoot, defend, rebound and block shots without getting fouls.

http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-ba...ncy-mulkey

Several years ago recruiting profile but agility never seemed to be an issue. Another summer in the weight room and she could really be a force. I’d say a men’s equivalent would be 7’3 or so? Might buy tickets to women’s basketball next year, looking forward to a team with solid talent and execution.

My early guess at the 2018-19 lineup (assuming everyone is healthy outside of Olivia Ogwumike - just going to keep her out for now).

The freshman from Kinkaid will be the starting PG and the other starters will be Erica Ogwumike, Nicole Iademarco, Shani Rainey and either Nancy Mulkey or Alexah Chrisman.

The main bench will be Grigsby, Stanton, Wiggins, Alao and Ellig. I think the 6-6 freshman from California could be a redshirt candidate (but if she's ready to play right away, she's certainly in the mix). Unless Ozoude shows marked improvement, I don't think she or Bennett will play much. If Olivia returns, the potential rotation of 12 deep is pretty stout.

(03-21-2018 06:07 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  My early guess at the 2018-19 lineup (assuming everyone is healthy outside of Olivia Ogwumike - just going to keep her out for now).

The freshman from Kinkaid will be the starting PG and the other starters will be Erica Ogwumike, Nicole Iademarco, Shani Rainey and either Nancy Mulkey or Alexah Chrisman.

The main bench will be Grigsby, Stanton, Wiggins, Alao and Ellig. I think the 6-6 freshman from California could be a redshirt candidate (but if she's ready to play right away, she's certainly in the mix). Unless Ozoude shows marked improvement, I don't think she or Bennett will play much. If Olivia returns, the potential rotation of 12 deep is pretty stout.

I thought Ozoude outplayed Chrisman down the stretch, and in the post-season. I know she's just a Freshman, but Chrisman appeared to me to be severely limitted on the offensive end, and while she does add bulk in the post, she's a poor rebounder. At least Ozoude has some offensive upside.

I think Stanton might still start at PG. Apart from a few really rough games, she was pretty good for us this year. I think Ozoude has a ton of potential to be a key cog in the rotation, but it all depends on how she continues to develop. She was basically unstoppable in P&R down the stretch because she's a much better screener than Chrisman. The problem is that she's still really lost on defense and struggles under pressure and making secondary decisions. I'd expect Chrisman to learn how to shoot that elbow jumper, but even if she doesn't, she'll still see time because of her defense.

Regardless of who starts, we'll likely have 12+ players who are deserving of seeing 10+ minutes per game. We should be really deep and talented, assuming we avoid the injury bug.

It's the upside, too, that's exciting. What happens if Ozoude and Chrisman improve + Smith comes in and immediately plays like a top-100 recruit + Olivia is healthy, or some sort of combination? I still want to see how Langley changes the offense + a bunch of other things, but our ceiling is really high.

Indiana won the Women's NIT today in front of over 13,000 people (!) today at home over Virginia Tech. They beat TCU in the semis in front of 7000 (TCU had knocked off New Mexico on the road in the round before).