Go to Player/Leader

[bluesooner17]

Getting close to tournament time and looking at past championship team there always seems to be that one player on the team that takes over the game or is the leader directing the traffic. Connecticut seems to always have a great team, but even they have had their Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, and on on their parade goes. Baylor has had Brittney Griner, Odessey Sims, and Sophia Young. Tennessee has had Candace Parker, Chamique Holdsclaw, and a host (which in my opinion is missing from this years team and could cost Holly her job). The year A&M won it they had Danielle Adams. Years we were in the Final 4 we had Stacey Dales and Courtney Paris, but I don't see that type of person on this team. The closes I would say is Maddie, but she is in the wrong position again just my opinion. Freshman coming in Mulkey, Dungee, and Rich are any of these that player? I don't know anything about Rich, but looking at their current HS teams I would say no with a ? mark on Dungee as she has shown to take over a game just not be the leader as I believe that is the coaches daughter. We have Llanusa coming in could she be that person? As with Courtney, Adams, Griner you have to have someone who can direct traffic for them unlike Stewart, Moore, Parker, etc. that can do about all of it. Thoughts?? My opinion without one I don't believe we can get to where we want to get.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I think you're right, we don't have a Stacey Dales or a Whitney Hand or a Danielle Robinson. Those players were great players and they were leaders. First, we don't have any great players. Even if one or two are leaders, you still need a couple of stars to get to the final four.

Like you, I don't know what to expect from Morgan Rich. I think Dungee will be good. I don't know if she has the potential to be great but time will tell. I still think she will help us. I think Nancy can be very good if, she is willing to work hard, get a lot stronger, and play aggressively, especially going after every rebound, and realize a center in our offense needs to score.

I actually like the potential of Ana more than the others. She is athletic, she has a quick first step, she can shoot pretty well from outside but she can get inside as well. She needs to work getting stronger, improve ball handling, and outside shooting and I think she will. When you combine athleticism with skill, you have a potential for a great player and that's what I see in Ana. I'm not sure she will be a team leader but she will make us better.

 

[sybarite]

We have never made it to the Final Four without a great point guard: Stacy or Danielle. It's nice to have an All-American post, but they aren't the ones making the decisions in a critical situation.

I think we do have a great player, and that player is emerging a bit differently from what Sherri and Chad had thought. Maddie is learning to take over games without scoring. I don't think scoring was ever her problem, until this year. But, she has learned that she can control a large part of the game by blocking shots, steals, passes, and hustle. When we play really well, it is usually Maddie that has something to do with it.

We had hoped that Gabbi would be our point. She still may develop into that point. I think she has the trait. But, she has more to learn than she thought she did. Dungee and Llanusa are talents that can find ways to score, but they aren't points. Nancy can dominate an interior, but she isn't the one that you want with the ball with a minute left in the game. We have a lot of the pieces of a title covered, something that we haven't really had since 2002. But, we need that floor leader to develop. In theory, it could be Maddie with a point forward. It could be Gabbi if she develops. It might even be Penzo. But, the key is to have at least balanced scoring, dominance in the paint, someone that is as disruptive as T'Ona or Maddie, and a POINT.

 

[35TangoTango]

I think we have a take over the game player in Gioya. Still working back into shape, but it's getting there. If she had not been hurt this year, we would be a top ten team (just my opinion).

As to the point position, Gabbi's advancement seems to have suffered from her time playing on the USA team this summer vs. working here all summer. Maybe next year she will come closer to expectations.

Everything I've heard about Dungee would indicate that she has the ability to beat people one on one, and the confidence to do it in critical situations.

 

[tycat947]

I think we have a take over the game player in Gioya. Still working back into shape, but it's getting there. If she had not been hurt this year, we would be a top ten team (just my opinion).

As to the point position, Gabbi's advancement seems to have suffered from her time playing on the USA team this summer vs. working here all summer. Maybe next year she will come closer to expectations.

Everything I've heard about Dungee would indicate that she has the ability to beat people one on one, and the confidence to do it in critical situations.

I agree. Sherri said last week on show that they really have to monitor her minutes because she isn't back to 100%. Brenda stated on telecast that Gioya still had soreness. Her injury IMO really affected the development of this team because she really had a skillset no one really has, or at least, not as good. 85-90% Gioya still provides a lot to this team. I'm not sure she will be 100%, injury free AND conditioned, this year though but the closer she gets, the more she will help.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Gioya is our best all around player when 100% healthy (probably our best player now as suggested by Tango). I wish she would have redshirted this year and had two years to play.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I think ViVi is the closest to being able to take over a game now. She will be better than KayKay in the long run if not now. She seems to score against anyone but that will be tested against the Baylor giants. But she has done well against a big Texas team. She is also potentially very good on the boards and on D.

Goiya showed us last year in the early conference games that she could take over a game and score 8-12 points in a row. She is showing signs of getting to that point again. But the big question is "was that hot run last year an anomaly or the real Goiya.

Ortiz showed us the ability to make plays in a clutch situation last year but seems to have taken a significant step back. May be confidence. But she has some abilities.

Mulkey is taller than Stewart but while mobile, not nearly as mobile as Stewart. Also she doesn't have Geno demanding that she becomes better than the limits she places on herself. If she developed a very aggressive attitude she could become a dominator.

I like Dungee but she looks more like a shorter Leah Rush potential.

The think I like most about Llanusa is that she has really improved her outside and mid range shooting to complement her ability to get to the rim. She also plays a very intelligent game. She could be a game changer for sure. Probably the most likely of the players coming in.

I saw a highlight film on Rich that I thought was impressive. The thing that caught my eye was how quick her hands are. She deflected a ton of balls. Seems to always have her hands in the passing lane. She also seemed to have a good offensive game but I think the highlight reel was before her injury.

My favorite for a dominating player is my must get choice, Jessi Murcer. As a freshman she already had a total offensive game. From outside, mid range, floaters and a great change of pace to get to the hoop. Supposedly she is a big Sherri and OU fan. Need to get a commitment now.

 

[35TangoTango]

The problem with any post player being the go-to player when the game is on the line is that you have to get the ball to her, rather than her going to get the ball.

 

[womenssports]

Gioya is our best all around player when 100% healthy (probably our best player now as suggested by Tango). I wish she would have redshirted this year and had two years to play.

me too....BUT not for the team, because I believe we need her more now than we will in two years.......I wish she would have done it for herself, so she would have had the experience to play at full strength.........

I love watching her play. I love that she is also now (according to interview)
asserting herself in the huddles, becoming a leader. That does not seem to
come naturally to her but believe we need it.

 

[womenssports]

We have never made it to the Final Four without a great point guard: Stacy or Danielle. It's nice to have an All-American post, but they aren't the ones making the decisions in a critical situation.

I think we do have a great player, and that player is emerging a bit differently from what Sherri and Chad had thought. Maddie is learning to take over games without scoring. I don't think scoring was ever her problem, until this year. But, she has learned that she can control a large part of the game by blocking shots, steals, passes, and hustle. When we play really well, it is usually Maddie that has something to do with it.

We had hoped that Gabbi would be our point. She still may develop into that point. I think she has the trait. But, she has more to learn than she thought she did. Dungee and Llanusa are talents that can find ways to score, but they aren't points. Nancy can dominate an interior, but she isn't the one that you want with the ball with a minute left in the game. We have a lot of the pieces of a title covered, something that we haven't really had since 2002. But, we need that floor leader to develop. In theory, it could be Maddie with a point forward. It could be Gabbi if she develops. It might even be Penzo. But, the key is to have at least balanced scoring, dominance in the paint, someone that is as disruptive as T'Ona or Maddie, and a POINT.

I agree a point guard is critical but as Sherri has said, in 2002, it was point guard by committee. We don't make it if Ross isn't there or Caulfield. We needed the three seniors to make it.

In 2009 and 2010, we needed Danielle but also needed CP3 in 2009 and Amanda in 2010. Amanda willed us to win a few games that season. She certainly was responsible for us coming back to have a chance at beating Stanford. (and of course, this is jmo....I mean we are all stating opinions, not facts.......I hate to have to add that, it seems unnecessary but sometimes it seems if you don't say it, then your statement is going to be more offensive........and I am not talking about you, Syb. Am sure you know I don't believe I am talking facts)

 

[Mr. Carter]

Gioya is our best all around player when 100% healthy (probably our best player now as suggested by Tango). I wish she would have redshirted this year and had two years to play.

I wanted her to redshirt myself! Kept telling her to do it