My New Starting 5

[Speedy17]

Did Manning get better? How about Little or Ortiz? Did Vining or Hook get better? How about Courtney? How many people here and elsewhere have voiced their opinion that she didn’t?

I say they didn’t. They were good players coming in (Courtney was great) and they were good players going out. But they didn’t grow or improve, IMO.

Conversely, I would say Amanda did, Abi did and D-Rob did.

But I agree with Spock. For every one you can say did improve, you can name 3-4 that didn’t.


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Kind of ironic that I mentioned ViVi and said she got better at OU. Syb responds that she knew nothing before coming to OU when she averaged 22 points and 13-14 boards while winning the Florida State title and was rated higher than the most recruits coming to OU.

Courtney never got better and neither did Ashley. I consider Abi Olajuwan as Sherri's biggest wasted talent that should have been playing from the beginning. If she had been given minutes, Sherri might have won a national title. She should have had playing time but sat and sat. Vining was thought to be the greatest shooter ever - only to leave to play for Arkansas Tech. Ironically, there are only two OU players in the WNBA - Danielle Robinson and Courtney Paris. It has been a long time since either put on the Crimson and Cream.

I was thinking where does Sherri rank among the women's coaches at OU these days. I know she is behind Patty, K.J., and I believe Lindsey Gray-Walton will leave her behind quickly. The downward slide is getting steeper by the day for Sherri.

 

[sybarite]

You should look at Vivi's background again, reflecting also on the league in which she had played. She only had a couple of years in the game, and she was quite raw. Where was she from?

Abi was also quite raw. She didn't have any enthusiasm for the game and selected OU partially because she wanted to be able to have someone else be the star (Courtney). When she got the opportunity, we were actually in fights on this board about whether she or Joanne should be playing at the post. Abi came on at mid-year, and we did make it to the Final Four.

The first Final Four came with a post who was actually a forward-type adapted to post. We had Rush at post until Courtney got here. We did have another post that A&M dreaded, but she wasn't given high accolades on this board. Her 6-6 height was a shot-altering presence.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

I think most people using common sense and basic knowledge realize this program has been in a slump for going on a decade.

Until this recent class made it on to our hardwood this season about the only real bright spot for years had been ViVi.

I’ve said this before and I repeat it here now:

Sherri should be given 3 years maximum to fully turn around this program — again.

I don’t know if she can, or wants to, but she deserves the opportunity to try.

That doesn’t mean we have to be stupidly, blindly, loyal to her and not criticize her or the players the way so many have argued for so long.

It means being fair minded with great expectations, with cheers, praise, and thoughtful support — and vocal criticism when deserved.

Fans don’t have all the information, but — as the saying goes — the proof is in the pudding — and that is what college coaches are ultimately judged upon.




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[Mac]

I don’t look at players like Abi or Amanda every really got better at OU, we never really got to see what Abi could do because she was on the bench so long... Amanda came in with a broken jumper and she left with a broken jumper, she was pretty much a undersized 4 and with the help of a developing coaching staff should have been able to transition to the wing... I will say D Rob and Ny got better but I think it was a combination of both players putting in work and the coaches putting in time vs demanding players to get better...

Campbell-Olds who used to get to line a lot seemed to regress during her time at OU, with the right development, she should have been All Big 12 for 3 years instead of going from 6th man as a rookie to honorable mention her final 2 years...

As far as starters I would go with

Tatum- she doesn’t fill up the box score but I think she’s our best defender and normally Sherri likes to go with a 4 year starter at the point guard position... if she can work on her shooting and assist to turnover ratio she could look like a total different player next year...

Shay- I still think she’s our best player, she just need to trust her teammates and slow down...

Ana- ideal size for the wing, she could lead the team in scoring, she has a high IQ and good foot work, her shooting numbers leave to be desired tho...

Madi- likely our future All big 12 preformer, she just needs time to adjust to the size of the college game...

EJ/Dee- our most athletic bigs, if Sherri told EJ or Dee to simple run rim to rim I’m sure they could score a lot of easy buckets...

Taylor would be my 6th man, bringing her off the bench will improve our defense, give her a chance to watch the game flow and really open things up when she comes in, forcing the other team to make adjustments...