How about some lineup predictions

[SoonerNorm]

It will be interesting to see what Sherri decides to do when it comes to a starting lineup. Although I think 1, 2, and 5 are fixed, there are questions at the 3 and 4 (and possibly some concern that Kaylon might be the starting 5 although I'm not counting on it). I expect Maddie to start at the 3 and Sharane at the 4, but there are obviously other possibilities. Sharane is more of a true 3 but if you want your best 5 players on the court, I don't see how you can leave her off and the 4 is about the only place left for her even though we should have Kaylon, Portia, and Shaya fighting for playing time. What Sharane lacks in height she makes up for in quickness, shooting ability, and getting to the rim.

Here is my guess at the 1s and 2s and 3s:

PG- Morgan, T'ona, Maddie
G- Aaryn, Maddie, Gioya
SF- Maddie, Kornet, Derica
PF- Sharane, Kaylon, Portia
C- Griffin, Kaylon, Portia

As I said, it will be interesting. Just glad to see us have some depth this year which gives Sherri more options.

 

[sybarite]

I went back through about ten years of media guides to see the OU statistics for those years. Sherri plays more people in more minutes than a lot of folks think. I think we'll see more spreading this year. Usually, at least nine people, if we have nine competent people recruited to play basketball and healthy, play ten minutes per game. I don't know that we've had this many healthy.

I look for this backbone:

Ellenberg--Hook--Griffin---Manning

Who else plays may fit around that. It would seem that there is probably more of a need for rebounding than anything else, given that backbone. Does this give an edge in minutes to Kaylon, Kornet, Portia, Shaya, and Felisha? I think two of those will get at least ten minutes per game, maybe three, just because we need boards and interior size on defense.

I wonder if the ten-second clock will result in specific time for Edwards?

I don't know about positions. I don't think Sharane can be the answer inside due to he size, primarily because of defense. But, she can be a tweener.

I look for something like:

30 Ellenberg
30 Hook
30 Manning
24 Griffin
14 Campbell
14 Williams ---if she's healthy
16 Kornet
10 Carter
10 Kellogg
8 Wyatt
6 Durrett
4 Edwards
4 Gibbs

 

[SoonerNorm]

The problem with projecting playing minutes of each player is, it all depends on the competition. When we are up 15 points, Sherri will take out staters like Morgan and Aayrn and they might not play more than 25 minutes in the game. In those games you will likely see just about everyone get some playing time. But, when we play really good teams, Aaryn and Morgan might play 40 minutes each while Sherri only goes 7 or 8 deep. Obviously, that means some will not get to play at all.

 

[sybarite]

The problem with projecting playing minutes of each player is, it all depends on the competition. When we are up 15 points, Sherri will take out staters like Morgan and Aayrn and they might not play more than 25 minutes in the game. In those games you will likely see just about everyone get some playing time. But, when we play really good teams, Aaryn and Morgan might play 40 minutes each while Sherri only goes 7 or 8 deep. Obviously, that means some will not get to play at all.

I think you'll see a minimum of ten play in every game once they get rolling. Two or three will probably be brought along more slowly. I think she has the talent to play ten, and will.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

Sorry Syb. I disagree completely on Campbell. No way you can only play her 14 minutes. No way. She is an absolutely proven commodity. She starts and plays at least 25.

I also don't think Kay-Kay is going to be healthy enough for 14 minutes until conference season.

I also don't think Durret even sniffs 6 minutes a game.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I think you'll see a minimum of ten play in every game once they get rolling. Two or three will probably be brought along more slowly. I think she has the talent to play ten, and will.

If Sherri plays 10 players significant minutes (10 or more) against Duke and Baylor, I will be very surprised. But, if so, I will be the first to say that it's great that we have that many players who can fill in at any given time.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Sorry Syb. I disagree completely on Campbell. No way you can only play her 14 minutes. No way. She is an absolutely proven commodity. She starts and plays at least 25.

I also don't think Kay-Kay is going to be healthy enough for 14 minutes until conference season.

I also don't think Durret even sniffs 6 minutes a game.

I agree on Campbell. If I remember correctly, Campbell had the highest 3pt percentage of anyone on the team during conference play. She is also the best defender on the team. I will be shocked if she doesn't play 25 minutes per game.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Speaking of Campbell, some are concerned she isn't tall enough to play PF. She is about the same height as Danielle Gant who played PF at A&M. Both are very athletic which allows both of them to play well against taller girls. Sharane can out jump most 6'2" girls any day of the week. She is also quicker than most of them as well. Even when Sharane is playing the 3, many of her shots are taken inside of 15 feet. I don't recall her getting her shots blocked when she has been in the paint going up against much taller girls. She is also pretty effective hitting the boards. I don't think her lack of height is a real issue.

 

[sybarite]

Gant was 5-11. Sharane is 5-10. That's a big inch, especially with the changes in just the past few years. How well does 5-10 guard 6-2?

 

[SoonerNorm]

Gant was 5-11. Sharane is 5-10. That's a big inch, especially with the changes in just the past few years. How well does 5-10 guard 6-2?

 

[Oliver Hardy]

Well, we've consistently seen Sharane guard/vex taller players with her quick feet, fast hands and block out/rebounding ability.

Unless her mark is a forward from UConn or Notre Dame, I think she'd do Ok.

 

[YCN]

Height, especially at the forward psitions and PG, is an overpriced commodity, at least in the women's game: the game I really love. Court awareness, hustle and solid all-around skills trump height on any given day.

Having said that, if a player has the qualities above AND size, of course she'll be prized, and IMO, overvalued as a player.




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