Maddie

[SoonerNorm]

I have seen several posts about Maddie and how great she is. READ THIS NEXT PART CAREFULLY...I like Maddie and agree she certainly has some potential but, I think everyone needs to tap the brakes a bit on how well she is playing, at least for now.

In 6 games of conference play, she has only attempted 16 field goals. That's less than 3 field goals per game, which is the same as T'ona. While her field goal percentage is very good at 50%, it is hard to evaluate much on so few attempts. She has scored a total of 16 points on field goals.

From BTA, she has only attempted 2 shots in 6 games. The only thing that tells us is she turns down a lot of 3 pt attempts which is indicative of a player who is not comfortable shooting 3s.

One area where she has impressed is at the line where she is shooting 80%. I wish every player could shoot free throws that well.

Rebounding- even though she is very tall, she is only averaging 1.5 RPG which is about the same as Derica Wyatt who is playing about 1/3 the minutes as Maddie.

Assist/turnovers- in 6 games Maddie has 7 assists and 10 turnovers.

Blocks- Maddie is tied with Kaylon in blocks at 7 which is very good.

Scoring- She is averaging 6.8 PPG while most of those comes from the line.

As I said, Maddie certainly has potential but it isn't like she is taking over the scoring, rebounding, or assists. If she keeps working hard, we might see her be that kind of player some day but, right now, she is a nice reserve that Sherri can bring in to give a starter a breather.

 

[soonerstar]

Excellent post, Norm.

 

[keysersose]

Excellent analysis. To accurately assess, however, one would need to consider when she is in the game, who she is playing with, and what she is trying to do. So, she is clearly not trying to score, in the way that Carter and Campbell-Olds often do. She clearly is trying to distribute the ball. The one consistent offensive move she makes is the curl screen to the basket. She said in the press that she is working on "finishing" that move. But notice that she will either shoot, make a curl pass to the screener, or make the long pass to the corner. And, this is where a lot of the fouls on her come into play. So, I'd say that she's doing what, at the moment, they want her to do.

 

[AustinTXSooner]

I hope you'll forgive me if I don't tap on the brakes and continue to support her fervently.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I support her along with everyone else.

 

[womenssports]

I believe she is getting better and that I probably prefer her coming in over anyone else. L. Williams and Derica would be my next choices. I really like Nicole and want her to do well, but it is like she is playing on last year's team.
That is not to say that I know exactly what is going on......maybe she isn't getting the ball at opportune times. She just does not look comfortable on court right now.

I really like Derica a lot and just wish she would try to do something offensively other than 3 pointers. She looks like she could. She plays smart ball.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I hope they find a way to have her and Carter in the game at the same time. She could handle the point and that would allow her to be in the game some with Carter and Little. The latter two would benefit a lot from her ability to find open players.

Her turnovers appear to come from going too fast or trying to do a little too much. I think that will improve.

In basketball a single player can make the rest of the team better. She seems to be developing into that type of player.

 

[sybarite]

1. We didn't expect Maddie to be playing much at all just yet.

2. Keysersose is correct in stating that Maddie doesn't come in with the responsibility to score.

Maddie wasn't really doing much of anything until the Texas game. When Gioya went out with something like eighteen minutes left in the first half, Sherri had to do something, most likely something to stir a pot. You don't lose your best scorer and beat Texas.

Two years ago, Maddie didn't do much in the first three games. She was a reserve. Then, in the next three games in Hawaii, Sherri started Maddie, a bit of a surprise. But, Maddie blossomed and scored about eleven points per game with good shooting, intense defense, and the ability to take over a game, which she did to beat Arkansas. Now, once again, Maddie hadn't done much. So, Sherri told her to take charge against Texas. Really? Take charge? With what we had seen this year?

Well. Maddie took charge, and we beat Texas. Without Maddie being inserted, we don't beat Texas. Maddie did score 14, but most of that was free throws as Texas tried to catch up. Texas also fouled her a couple of times as she drove the lane. But, Maddie got everyone involved. The stat sheet only shows two assists. First, it is wrong. Secondly, even assists don't tell the story. She got everyone moving.

Instead of Gioya scoring 18, it was Maddie with 14, Peyton with 13, Gabbi with 8, Kay Kay with seven, Vivi with six, and Sharane with 4. Everyone was involved. Even Gioya scored 11 in her nine minutes in the game. But, it was Maddie directing traffic, controlling what we were doing. Gabbi was free to find her shot. Everyone did their thing.

That's what Maddie was in there to do. She didn't get in to score. Sherri has said that she should begin to take her shot. But, she was in there to direct traffic. Sherri has also said that she would have a lot more assists if people would start hitting their shots when she delivered a perfect pass to them. How many threes have been missed? How many times have Vivi or Kay Kay flubbed a perfect entry pass that hit them right in the hands, alone under the basket? That is what Maddie is there to do. If you work to get open, you will get the ball. It isn't Gioya scoring 24, but it works.

 

[womenssports]

I agree that Maddie is playing better and she is making others better. I think Gioya makes others better because she draws defenders which gives opportunities to other players. Sharane hit a beautiful 3 against Tech because
Gioya took it to the middle drew defenders and passed back out.

Stats only give part of a picture. And many people would have more
assists if the person they passed the ball to would hit their shots....that's a given. Anyway, I think it is important to have Maddie in. I would like to see her come in for Peyton and play with the starting four at times or the starting three and whatever post is in. I am not saying not to start Peyton.

 

[j2d2]

No doubt Maddie's contribution extends beyond the stats. I keep forgetting that she has played very little D1 basketball in two years and that after two serious injuries. That it must take her a while to find her game isnt surprising. It may be that her main contribution will be to make everybody better when she is in the game but look for her to light up the scoreboard when she returns to (a confident)form.

 

[sybarite]

I suspect that Maddie is likely to remain on the bench for now. Sherri made the remark that she is a 1-4, apparently meaning that she can sub for whoever is in foul trouble, hence her replacement of Gioya against Texas, while largely replacing Sharane for a while against OSU (not that Sharane was in foul trouble). It was interesting that she subbed in for Sharane at 12:18 and blocked a shot by Donohoe at 12:13. That was quick, and it was one of two as they held Donohoe for zero points.

That was interesting. Maddie replaced our scorer in one game, and a key defender in another in order to shut out one of OSU's two scorers. She was long enough to intimidate Donohoe from shooting more. Neither is a situation that is likely to get you Big Twelve player of the week, but both performances were key to winning a game.

Tubbs made the remark that Maddie is our best shooter. I guess that he has seen that in practice since he made it early. She doesn't seem afraid to shoot. It's more like her concentration is elsewhere. I guess that Sherri would have to remind her to shoot.

 

[rocjunkie]

I just think she is the ultimate team player. She does a lot of things well, and proved that against the Horns. She is getting comfortable and doing the things we need to be successful. I would like to see her a little more selfish and take some shots, but you can tell she is just as happy passing to a team mate, hounding on defense, or blocking a shot. She is going to be just fine, and better as we get to the real meat of the conference season.