I hope we have more balance

[SoonerNorm]

This year when it came to running the offense, it was Morgan. There was a drop off in talent between she and Jaz. I look for perhaps Edwards to help in that department.

When it came to scoring, we looked to Aaryn. Yes, we had some others to step up at various times but Aaryn was certainly our bread and butter when we needed a bucket.

No one came close to Jo when it came to crashing the boards.

This year, if Aaryn's scoring drops back to 14 or 15 per game and Sharane increases her scoring from 10 up to 14-15 points per game, keep Griffin around 11 or 12 ppg, keep Morgan around 10 and then get 8 to 10 from Maddie and 8 or so from Kornet, I will be really pleased. Whatever we get from the freshmen will be an added bonus.

I do not want the scoring burden just to be on Aaryn.

I also believe the same thing is needed on the boards. Griffin needs to up her production to 7 or 8 boards per game, Kaylon needs to be close to those numbers and everyone else who plays needs to grab 3-5 boards.

Balance will not only take pressure off certain players but it will make us much more of a challenge to defend.

 

[35TangoTango]

Spot on. Shooters on both wings puts real pressure on interior defense. Also some depth so that someone having an off night (or off 4 minutes) can be replaced with someone of near equal talent.

 

[rocjunkie]

Agreed.

 

[cowboysooner]

I think our lineup next year will be: Griffin at the 5, Manning and Campbell at forward, AE at the 2 and Morgan at point. Against a big team where we are struggling on the boards, I think Sherri will switch Williams with Campbell and move Maddie outside.

I anticipate Maddie will guard the opposing 4 and then Sherri will run a 1 "in" and "4" out on offense.

I haven't seen the new girls and one or more of them could factor I suppose. But, Morgan will enter the year as a 3 year starter at point (can't see that changing), AE will enter as a 4th year starter on the wing, Griffin as a 3d year starter in the post. So, it is hard to see these positions changing.

Like Syb, after having had an opportunity to watch her a little, I can't see Maddie not starting. And, my guess that Campbell starts ahead of Williams is based upon a belief that Sherri learned the hard way with the twins that you have to have someone at every position that is quick enough to man defend. Frankly, I just don't remember how quick Williams is and can't remember if she is really just a 5 or whether she can defend the 4. If she can, then I think she will be in the mix to start.

JMO

 

[SoonerNorm]

Cowboysooner, I love to talk about the possibilities. None of us know what will happen but thinking out loud is fun! I find myself changing my opinion on a regular basis and I will probably change it a few more times before this fall.

Here is what I predict:

Morgan- PG (I agree, don't see that changing)
Aaryn- SG (she is all-conference and will be considered for some AA teams)
Maddie- SF (I don't know if she can shoot as well as Kornet but I know she is more athletic and can create much better. She is a high energy player and we need intensity to perform at our best).
Sharane- PF (too good offensively and the best defensive player we have. Team would not be as tough without her).
Kaylon- C (I know, I know, everyone thinks I'm nuts (you're probably right!) but, I think we need to be tougher inside and Kaylon can be a banger. Griffin does some good things but she is a finese player, not a banger. Plus, she is more athletic than Griffin and has better hands.

If I had to give a 2-deep today, it would look like this:

PG- Morgan/Edwards
SG- Aaryn/Maddie
SF- Maddie/Kornet
PF- Sharane/Kornet
C- Kaylon/Griffin

 

[Oliver Hardy]

We all agree on 3 of the starting five: Morgan, Aaron and Nicole.

Where it gets interesting is when you try to figure out the mix between Manning, Campbell and Kay-Kay - and even Durrett and Kellog.

I think clearly we HAVE to have Campbell on the floor starting. She has the energy and drive and bravery/toughness of Whitney. She's good for 10 to 20 points a game, she can drive, shoot the 3 decently and rebound. She also can man up. She gives up size under the basket, that's true, but it is also true she's been decently effective there too.

I think she may be the best overall player on the team next season. Certainly, that can be suggested for discussion.

I think Maddie, if healthy and ready to go, is the clear next choice as a starter. She had worked her way into the line-up. She too seemed to have the qualities of Hand and Joe. She was getting time at the point. She can just, it seems, do it all.

What I'm not sure is who is best to play the four. It seems to be a waste of many of Maddie's talents to put here there when the 3 seems better suited for her -- or even point.

Kay-Kay, I just think it's going to take her most of the season to get back completely healthy, build up her court endurance and confidence. Besides, when Griffin gets in foul trouble, who is Sherri going to put in there except Kay-Kay or Kellog -- Durrett (whom she seems to have lost confidence in). From what I've seen from Kellog, she isn't a 5 - but who knows.

It's going to be interesting, especially if you add Little and/or Kellog's sister into the mix.

So how do you keep either of these girls, Maddie and Sharane off the floor as starters? Especially with our unproven bench and newbies? I don't see how you do it.

 

[SoonerNorm]

If Little is eligible immediately (again, I don't have a clue how this works), she will definitely get playing time. I could see her getting good minutes at the 2 and 3.

Hopefully, with our depth this year, we won't have to play anyone more than 30 minutes tops (except in rare cases).

 

[cowboysooner]

Oliver, I agree with your assessment. I think Morgan, AE and Nicole start, and then it gets interesting. Norm has Kaylon starting over Nicole. To be honest, I just can't pull up a memory of KK sufficient to debate that. But, Nicole is a 3 year starter and really improved this year. If she can make equal improvement next year, then you have to play her. She is uniquely tall.

We haven't seen enough of Maddie to really know, but something tells me she is going to be really special. Maybe a poor man's della donne?

I do agree with Norm that it will be hard keeping Sharane off the court. She had a great year and was our toughest player by far.

I'm slowly talking myself into thinking we are going to be really good next year.

 

[soonerstar]

I think we have 7 players returning who could make the starting lineup. I believe Kornet will be really improved next year. Maybe some of the 4 newbies will get a lot of playing time. I would like to see Coale decide her starting lineup game by game by how we match up with the opponents. Someone suggested this on another thread last week.

 

[35TangoTango]

Little will have to sit out a year.

I don't think KayKay has the range and skills we would prefer to have in a power forward in our offense. I see her as alternating at the 5 with Nicole except when we want to be really physical inside at the expense of our offensive schemes.

I think if Portia can advance in the off season, she's our best candidate for the 4. It wouldn't be the first time a JC transfer was much better in her second year.

If you want your best 5 players on the floor regardless of position, you probably play Sharane at the 4.

The good thing is, we're going to have a lot more choices than we had last year.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Here were our best 3 point shooters in conference play:

1. Jo- .417
2. Sharane- .415
3. Portia- .400 (although she only had 10 attempts)
4. Aaryn- .383
5. Kornet- .343
6. Morgan- .323

 

[cowboysooner]

Nearly 42% for Sharane from 3, that is unreal. I had no idea. She seemed to be shooting it pretty well, but 42% is crazy good. Way to go girl.

I agree that Kornet and Durrett will likely be improved next year, and so we will have a returning group of 8 girls that can play. It definitely looks like we will have more options and combinations to work with.

I haven't seen any of the new kids, but their bios on soonersports makes them all sound interesting.

I don't know, but these OKC kids like Williams and Campbell just seem a little tougher than the other girls sherri recruits. If Carter and Edwards fit that mold, I will love it. They just seem to be gamers. Syb has watched Kellogg a couple times and he seems to really like her. So, it sounds like we may have some new kids that will push for minutes next year. That would only make us better.

 

[j2d2]

I suspect that Durrett will come through and be a very good rebounder and a much improved scorer. We need some serious toughness beneath the boards. As much a Nicole has improved she isnt a good athlete and will never be even a decent rebounder.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I suspect that Durrett will come through and be a very good rebounder and a much improved scorer. We need some serious toughness beneath the boards. As much a Nicole has improved she isnt a good athlete and will never be even a decent rebounder.

As bad as we really need strong rebounders, I certainly hope you're right. My concern about Portia is, she doesn't seem to play with much energy. I like to see players who get after it, i.e., Whitney, Sharane, etc. Even if a player is having a bad night, at least they can play hard.