Maddie, 2017

[sybarite]

Is it interesting that everyone gets pulled for breathers, except Maddie? Maddie is the one that runs from one player to the other out front to force the defense. Yet, she never seems to tire. She plays the entire game unless she irritates Sherri or gets two fouls in the first half.

When Maddie does control the flow, we see what we saw against the Cyclones. Gioya had open shots---a lot of them. She really wasn't covered much at all. Peyton had a lot of open shots. Neither were hitting their jump shots---until Peyton took over the fourth. But, when Peyton decided to hit a shot, she was open. The concentration was now on Maddie and Vivi, leaving Peyton and Gioya with opportunities. (Ana would love those shots next year.).

Gabbi seems to be stepping up all parts of her game. She is not reluctant to let go of the three, and she can still get to the rim. She has a step back jumper that is difficult to stop, even if you are taller.

The emergence of Maddie is allowing a team to form. I don't know if we can contend with Baylor and UConn, but we may be able to do it by the end of the year. If they all came together for a game, we might well pull off the upset. Maddie is what we have needed, and she has not yet begun to scratch the surface of what she can do.

We have seen several times that she can take over a game with defense and rebounding. If you put that together with a twenty point scorer, that is a player that you can build around. It makes Vivi, Peyton, Gioya, and Gabbi more effective if someone is getting the attention.

 

[soonerstar]

Peyton and Maddie have played the exact same minutes this year, 673. I say Peyuton is the player that holds the team together. She is not flashy, but very steady and does not get rattled. Notice, I did not say who was the best player on the team, I will not get into that.

 

[Stringmusic]

I have long felt that Maddie is Stacy Dales revisited. Maddie is starting to show her vast potential and I hope she keeps it up.

 

[soonerstar]

I have long felt that Maddie is Stacy Dales revisited. Maddie is starting to show her vast potential and I hope she keeps it up.

Wish she could have played her 4 years without the injuries she had here.

 

[BanjoCharley]

You can say that about a lot of players here in the last ten years or so.

 

[SoonerSpock]

Maddie has always had a very high ceiling. But she have never appeared to me to have the mental makeup to overachieve. She can be outstanding one game and disappear offensively the next.

I have taken that to indicate that she prefers to be a team contributor opposed to being a take charge player that wants the ball in her hands where she can make something happen including winning championships.

I think at this point in her career Maddie is the only one that can elevate her game to the next level. Her problem is between her ears. She should demand she touches the ball every possession as she is the one Sooner that has all facets of the offensive game. In the past she has never wanted to take that role. Hopefully that has changed. Their are signs of progress!

 

[sybarite]

I don't know that Maddie saw herself as a star. I think she sees herself as a part of something rather than as the axle around which it all turns. I think Sherri sees her more in a Stacy role, as a star who makes everyone else better by her stardom. Some players do not benefit the team when they become stars. Some create the team by becoming stars. Maddie has to learn that the team is as good as she makes it.

 

[tycat947]

I don't know that Maddie saw herself as a star. I think she sees herself as a part of something rather than as the axle around which it all turns. I think Sherri sees her more in a Stacy role, as a star who makes everyone else better by her stardom. Some players do not benefit the team when they become stars. Some create the team by becoming stars. Maddie has to learn that the team is as good as she makes it.

I agree but I don't think Sherri and Maddie are on the same page as how they see Maddie. Sherri and Stacy were on the same page as they saw Stacy. Seems like a struggle for Sherri to get Maddie to become that go to player, although she's made great strides lately. I don't think it's natural for Maddie. It was natural for Stacy.

 

[Sooners4Life0101]

Maddie's confidence grows every game.

When you look at her career she got hurt the first two years. Then Sherri kind of held her back- by keeping her minutes Down. Then Finally she got started and healthy and that's when the progression started. She needed a year of feeling out defenses and her teammates- To design her a game and really discover what she will need to make it through a season. That's what last year was and I said at the beginning of last season that Maddie is probably a year a way. And she is here now..

Do I expect her to beat Baylor in Waco today? No. I actually think she could have a really bad game today personally- because she's never been "the guy" w/ 10 5 star athletes chasing her around all day and beating her up. But it's game like these, the repetitions as the star- that I believe could turn her into an All-American Next year. She has everything you need- I think she's been aggressive all season long, she's just had to make adjustments- and battle through sum shooting slumps. But every time that girl has faced difficulty- she has come back better and stronger. I'm not getting ahead of myself today because I know she hasn't faced this kind of pressure before- and she could struggle a little, but by the end of year or next year- Look Out because she'll be beating everybody.

we could be extremely good by the end of the year. I don't think we've got it yet, but it's building. I just hope we can get that first two rounds at home- then we can make a run.

 

[22dupree]

Maddie's confidence grows every game.

When you look at her career she got hurt the first two years. Then Sherri kind of held her back- by keeping her minutes Down. Then Finally she got started and healthy and that's when the progression started. She needed a year of feeling out defenses and her teammates- To design her a game and really discover what she will need to make it through a season. That's what last year was and I said at the beginning of last season that Maddie is probably a year a way. And she is here now..

Do I expect her to beat Baylor in Waco today? No. I actually think she could have a really bad game today personally- because she's never been "the guy" w/ 10 5 star athletes chasing her around all day and beating her up. But it's game like these, the repetitions as the star- that I believe could turn her into an All-American Next year. She has everything you need- I think she's been aggressive all season long, she's just had to make adjustments- and battle through sum shooting slumps. But every time that girl has faced difficulty- she has come back better and stronger. I'm not getting ahead of myself today because I know she hasn't faced this kind of pressure before- and she could struggle a little, but by the end of year or next year- Look Out because she'll be beating everybody.

we could be extremely good by the end of the year. I don't think we've got it yet, but it's building. I just hope we can get that first two rounds at home- then we can make a run.

Well said. While it would be GREAT, I also don't expect us to win at Waco today, but I'd like to see us compete and show a fighter's disposition - and I think Maddie is a key there.
When she asserts herself into the game, we're a much better ball club. When she's passive or doesn't impact the game, then we're a lesser product.
I think if we get that assertive, impactful Maddie - and we have for the most part this season - then you're right, we're not a team folks are going to wanna line up to play during the post-season.

 

[soonerstar]

One oif the announcers tonight said Manning told her she was leaning toward trying to get another year of eligibility and be back next year.