I see the upcoming season as being much more to Sherri's strength and liking than this past season. Sherri is first a teacher. This year, I think her students are a bit more likely to be receptive.
I had the feeling that we were trying to force some veterans to perform as we would have them perform rather than the way they naturally performed. In previous years, we had had seniors who finally took the reins. This past year, I think each was somewhat limited in capability, whether by athleticism or personality, and they just didn't relish having the reins. It led to a runaway program that had no real direction, especially at crunch time. We lost the games that we usually win.
I don't know that we have those limitations this year. We haven't seen players settle into a type as yet. We have a lot of undeveloped pieces, and it is up to each of them and their coaching to see how each will develop. Last year, Sherri let veterans remain on the floor when they obviously were not really doing their jobs because it is what she had. She, and they, were disappointed. This year, I expect the leash to be somewhat shorter. Learn, or we will have someone else with the same level of experience, almost none, who might relish the opportunity.
Sherri does like Kaylon, and I suspect that she will be given every opportunity. She likes Gioya and Sharane. I suspect that each will get the opportunity to hold their positions. But, I suspect that they will be required to perform, or they will find Vionese, McKenna, Shaya, and others with the opportunity to demonstrate that they will learn and perform. Until she announced her departure, I had more faith in Felisha than I had in Kaylon, and that is what Kaylon must overcome, her lack of performance thus far.
I suspect that we will begin with fourteen players having the opportunity to show that they want to play. By January, I suspect that we will have that down to about ten. By the end of February, I anticipate that we will have no more than eight in a regular rotation, but they will be eight who will be aggressive and fight for their positions on the floor.
By the end of March, I suspect that none of this past year's starters would be able to make the starting five. If I had to wager on who I think will start in April, I might go:
Gabi Ortiz
Maddie Manning
Peyton Little
Sharane Campbell
Nicole Kornet
Kaylon Williams
Vionese Pierre-Louis
Gileysa Penzo
McKenna Treece
Shaya Kellogg
Gioya Carter
LaNeisa Williams
Derica Wyatt
T'Ona Edwards
I think the first four are probable starters. The next five will be battling for positions. I think Shaya stands alone due to rebounding strength and few errors and will be a regularly-used reserve. I see the last four as fighting to see who will emerge. I don't anticipate that more than one of the last four will see much time.
It is time for everyone to become aggressive and show that you want to be in the game when it is tied with a minute left.
I had the feeling that we were trying to force some veterans to perform as we would have them perform rather than the way they naturally performed. In previous years, we had had seniors who finally took the reins. This past year, I think each was somewhat limited in capability, whether by athleticism or personality, and they just didn't relish having the reins. It led to a runaway program that had no real direction, especially at crunch time. We lost the games that we usually win.
I don't know that we have those limitations this year. We haven't seen players settle into a type as yet. We have a lot of undeveloped pieces, and it is up to each of them and their coaching to see how each will develop. Last year, Sherri let veterans remain on the floor when they obviously were not really doing their jobs because it is what she had. She, and they, were disappointed. This year, I expect the leash to be somewhat shorter. Learn, or we will have someone else with the same level of experience, almost none, who might relish the opportunity.
Sherri does like Kaylon, and I suspect that she will be given every opportunity. She likes Gioya and Sharane. I suspect that each will get the opportunity to hold their positions. But, I suspect that they will be required to perform, or they will find Vionese, McKenna, Shaya, and others with the opportunity to demonstrate that they will learn and perform. Until she announced her departure, I had more faith in Felisha than I had in Kaylon, and that is what Kaylon must overcome, her lack of performance thus far.
I suspect that we will begin with fourteen players having the opportunity to show that they want to play. By January, I suspect that we will have that down to about ten. By the end of February, I anticipate that we will have no more than eight in a regular rotation, but they will be eight who will be aggressive and fight for their positions on the floor.
By the end of March, I suspect that none of this past year's starters would be able to make the starting five. If I had to wager on who I think will start in April, I might go:
Gabi Ortiz
Maddie Manning
Peyton Little
Sharane Campbell
Nicole Kornet
Kaylon Williams
Vionese Pierre-Louis
Gileysa Penzo
McKenna Treece
Shaya Kellogg
Gioya Carter
LaNeisa Williams
Derica Wyatt
T'Ona Edwards
I think the first four are probable starters. The next five will be battling for positions. I think Shaya stands alone due to rebounding strength and few errors and will be a regularly-used reserve. I see the last four as fighting to see who will emerge. I don't anticipate that more than one of the last four will see much time.
It is time for everyone to become aggressive and show that you want to be in the game when it is tied with a minute left.
