Maybe it's time for Sherri to retire

[SoonerNorm]

Abi wasn't an elite player and Griffin certainly isn't.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Bringing in an elite big or two is not only preferable for me, I think it's a must if OU expects to compete with the best teams on our schedule in the non-conference as well as the Big 12.

Teams with quality bigs have pounded OU inside in every game I have watched. Nicole is tall enough and she tries her best. She just doesn't have the bulk to bang down low, even against shorter post players. Besides, she's not what I would call an elite big by any means.

Question for the board. When was the last time Sherri signed an elite big? I can't think of one since the Paris twins were here.

I have another question for you. Does this team have any leadership? I have watched four or five games this season and I still haven't identified the leader(s) on this team. When Whitney Hand was around, I didn't have to ask that question.

One would expect the leader to be Ellenberg or Hook. But if they are, I haven't seen it. Certainly not the way Hand put her leadership ability on display. Judging by what I have seen, this team lacks leadership. If I'm right, that may explain the inconsistencies in the team's performance from one quarter to the next or one game to the next.

Is the answer for Sherri to retire or be replaced? Not in my opinion. But anyone who can't see that the program needs a transfusion of better and bigger players is in denial. If the assistants aren't putting OU in a position to do that, maybe it's time for them to go.

Some on this board feels there is no leadership on the team. A few others think Morgan shows good leadership. I really don't have a clue.

I think most agree that Sherri may have to really look at her assistants and determine if it's time to shake things up.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

I don't think Sherri should be fired and I never said that.

I said I'd hate to see this program lose ground and have someone as wonderful and successful as she's been have two or three more bad years in a row and then get fired.

I knew when I posted I'd get some heavy fire. That's OK.

My best wish is that Sherri recognize the problem and move swiftly to correct it.

He comments since the Tech game and again today seem to indicate she has lost this team and doesn't know how to get them to play at the top level.

That's pretty disturbing when you think about. This is a senior laden team with one pretty solid junior and she's saying she doesn't know how to fix what's wrong with the team she put together and is a veteran squad.

NOT GOOD.

I agree with Syb and others. Talent isn't the main problem -- although I think it's a part of it. Something is wrong with, or between, these girls and/or the players and coaches. For all we know, there's a problem between the coaching staff. It's not like that hasn't happened before.

Something needs to change. That is the only certain thing in this program now.

 

[rocjunkie]

I think Ada and Oliver make excellent points.

So I will throw in my two cents. First thing I would ask Sherri, and I am not trying to be funny, What is most important, your shoes, teaching, writing a novel, or making OU women's basketball the very best it can be. If it is indeed the latter, then its time to bring in new blood, some one with passion and who can relate and recruit with the best of them and bring OU basketball back to an elite position. It is true that OU women's basketball isn't exactly an important cog in the Universitie's athletic priorities, because it's not football. However because of Sherri's past successes she has earned the salary the regents have ok'd whether it is justified or not. I just think there needs to be a change in the coaching and recruiting atmosphere to get a leg up. Now let me say this, I do think we have some incredible kids coming in next year, and if Maddie is at full strength, with Peyton being ready to step in, we have the makings of a really good team.

That brings me to another problem. Ada is absolutely right, we have no leadership on this team what so ever. Aaryn shows up when she feels like it, Morgan gives her all, but disappears way too often. Sharane plays hard, but has too many inconsistencies. We really don't have any one to depend on when it gets to crunch time. The one kid we have that to me gives every thing, every time she hits the floor is Nicole Kornet. She hustles, she has guts and toughness about her, I just wish she was in control and didn't have so many bad games, but you have to love her passion. Besides lack of leadership, we are so fundamentally poor its not funny. We can't make simple lay-ups. We have no passion for rebounding, lack of communication, and take too many possessions off. I do hope if the kids don't make it to the NCAA tournament, they vote not to play in the WNIT. Why reward your self to extend a horrible season.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Clearly we are not playing up to our potential. Maybe being picked to win the conference was a bit ambitious, but we have shown we can play with the better teams. We just can't do it consistently.

I doubt that anyone outside the program and maybe even the people in the program has an idea of what is wrong, but it seems that something is wrong. Maybe they are even trying so hard that they are creating too much pressure on themselves. But the way OSU beat us to almost every ball tonight suggests that we are not playing hard on a consistent basis. It has happened in other games.

I don't buy that Sherri's players don't improve. I don't think Courtney did but Ashley certainly did. Also Abi, Nye, Amanda Thompson, DRob, etc. I thought that Ellenberg and Hook had dropped off dramatically this year but a look at the stats indicate that they are not that far off last years stats (other than the number of treys Ellenberg is hitting). Griffin certainly has improved, but while I understand that OSU made some adjustments why did she dominate at Norman and almost totally disappear tonight.

We appear to have potentially good recruits coming in next year while this year our recruits appear to be better than their reps, but none were real highly regarded. Hard to understand why a Stokes would opt to ride the bench at UConn when she could be a star at OU. But those type seem to look at us and say no. Particularly the big players. Maybe they don't like Sherri's 4 guard offense.

I would be the last to lobby for Sherri to retire. She and Joe C have to decide that. I do think she needs to ask herself if this year is an anomaly or is there something that needs to be fixed.

 

[Stringmusic]

Sherri Coale is an outstanding coach. We have a collection of excellent players but we do not have a team. They do not communicate well and they do not play as a team. Sherri is trying to get her mind around that and understand it so she can fix it. We need to have some patience and give her a chance to do that.

 

[SKSooner]

What was OU women's basketball before Sherri Coale's arrival? That's what you'll get when she leaves. Just look at Texas Tech & Texas. We'd likely be in the same boat.

 

[j2d2]

I think she needs to shake up her staff as Stoops did...She needs to hire a coach who can recruit with the best of them..

She would never fire Ross and I dont think she should. Everyone else should go. Staff shortcomings may be the reason Cunningham left.