OU vs Purdue

[Sweetest OU Girl]

I guess I'm one of the ones who do not expect Vivi to dominate the paint in the conference the next couple of years. No doubt she did some nice things yesterday, but she also had some problems - as has been customary over the season. The truth is she is so much shorter than several other posts in the league. That is one of the reasons I am looking forward to seeing how much Nancy can help us. Purdue just did not have any height. Our inside game was good this year until we lost the height advantage. Not too surprising.

With KK gone next year, since Vivi has only been able to play about 20 minutes each game, what will we do the other half of the game? It will take someone to take up the slack for major parts of the game. A really great post should be able to play at a high level most of the game. Courtney never had to leave due to being worn out.

We have obviously all noticed that Vivi can't really jump, but that may not be a huge problem. Courtney did not do a whole lot of jumping either. In some cases that controls the fouls called on a post. It is the lack of conditioning - or what appears to be such - that makes her have to leave the game. Can she fix that or is it a physical limitation? That is a key question.

One thing we can all agree about is that we are fortunate to have Vivi back next year. With KK graduating we already know that a good part of the game we will have a good inside presence.. Many teams do not have that to build on.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

I think he meant to say moose.

Mouse, moose, or mountain? Makes no difference, she doesn't jump over any of them.

I have assumed her decision to not do lots of leaping is due to a combination of the past injury (it could even still hurt a bit at times?) and weight. But she does keep to the floor. In some ways that keeps refs from calling fouls though.

 

[womenssports]

I guess I'm one of the ones who do not expect Vivi to dominate the paint in the conference the next couple of years. No doubt she did some nice things yesterday, but she also had some problems - as has been customary over the season. The truth is she is so much shorter than several other posts in the league. That is one of the reasons I am looking forward to seeing how much Nancy can help us. Purdue just did not have any height. Our inside game was good this year until we lost the height advantage. Not too surprising.

With KK gone next year, since Vivi has only been able to play about 20 minutes each game, what will we do the other half of the game? It will take someone to take up the slack for major parts of the game. A really great post should be able to play at a high level most of the game. Courtney never had to leave due to being worn out.

We have obviously all noticed that Vivi can't really jump, but that may not be a huge problem. Courtney did not do a whole lot of jumping either. In some cases that controls the fouls called on a post. It is the lack of conditioning - or what appears to be such - that makes her have to leave the game. Can she fix that or is it a physical limitation? That is a key question.

One thing we can all agree about is that we are fortunate to have Vivi back next year. With KK graduating we already know that a good part of the game we will have a good inside presence.. Many teams do not have that to build on.

First, about Vivi is she continues to improve. So I believe she will be better than next year. Second, Kay Kay never played over 20 minutes, did she? Vivi's conditioning probably has a lot to do with her acl which I think she came back from too soon her freshman year. No one else on here has seen her
have problems with it but I follow her more than the other players and I have seen her give to it when she starts back down the floor. Another thing is she never had the opportunity to play more than 20 minutes. If the coach says she needs to be able to play 40 minutes and gives her the guidelines to
be able to get in that condition, I believe she will, based upon the condition of her knee. Yes, she has not gotten everything right but what player on this team has who has had much more experience in basketball. No player on this team has improved as Vivi has and I believe it will continue next year. There are some players who she has not played well against this year, including taller players, but she has also outplayed taller players. Courtney played at a time when there were not so many tall players and I don't think she had to be in as good of condition, plus I do not think she had to be in as good of condition as she would be if she were playing for OU now.
My point is, I do think she will be much better than I suspect that you think. Which is fine, we all see different things, have different opinions and hearing from others can help us all see things we wouldn't have otherwise, so not dissing what you are saying. Just seeing it a bit differently, though not completely. I just feel she is learning the game and doing things this year that she couldn't last, even doing things at the end of the season that she couldn't do at the beginning. Does she always do those new things correctly or as well as others, no, but think she is getting there

Also, everyone speculates, but we really do not know how the coach will be able to use Vivi and Mulkey together and how the coach will coach them.
I don't see Vivi dominating the game next year but I see her being the most important part of the puzzle, without having seen the newcomers play with this team. But that is me. Others have other opinions. WRONG, but other!!!
AM COMPLETELY KIDDING.......do not mean that last remark.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

No doubt about what you said, WS. KK also had to be subbed after a few minutes. She did get into better condition as the season progressed and played close to 30 minutes a few times. Vivi also got into better condition as the year progressed. We really need Vivi to be in excellent shape at the start of the year next time since it is unclear how much Nancy will be able to contribute. I hope she can contribute a lot, but you just never know. And we have a couple of other potential inside players coming back - perhaps they will be able to play key minutes. It took the two Baylor freshmen most of the season to get ready to play - but they were quite a bit better toward the end of the year.

 

[soonermike22]

Neither could Caton Hill but she was able to get rebounds. The thing I see about Vivi is that she is continually improving. This is a person who only played 4 years of high school ball, not sure if she played any aau, haven't looked to see. If someone lets her know she needs to improve her vertical jump, I believe she will. That is something that with the right exercise and practice can be improved upon. Plus, she is able to rebound and get blocks now without this skill, so she does other things to be able play the way she plays. I have never seen a player at OU with so little experience improve so quickly and continue to improve. From interviews, she is smart, aware, and her head is in the right place. I have high hopes for her. Not coming down on you, just referencing what I see. I have really loved her attitude from day one at OU and followed her more closely than most players, which does not mean I am more informed. Just stating what I see. I really do not want my comments to become argumentative or negative. NOT saying, it doesn't happen but am trying. SO PEACE.

I agree with you, and was giving ViVi a compliment in comparison to a player who maximized his physical ability with mental acumen.

 

[Stringmusic]

Women - Although I live over here in Arkansas I was able to watch the OU/Purdue game on watchespn.com. Praise the Lord! I saw confidence in the whole team - the commentators mentioned it twice. The guys were loose and having fun - so I think the week of special prep really helped the team's mindset - and the rough play under the basket was something else - it was brutal - like the old aTm games. Our guys gave as good as they got and I was proud of their fight and toughness - hence my comments. ViVi in my opinion will be a star before her days are over. She doesn't jump much and my theory is that tall girls never learn to jump instinctively because they never had to - they were taller than the average high school post. They can, and should, be taught to jump - for tip-ins if nothing else but also to grab more rebounds.

 

[gosooner2]

Some of you take every post WAY to seriously!

 

[womenssports]

oK....wasn't dissing your comment but just saying I think Vivi is a good player, getting better and can learn to jump.....thanks for the reply.......believe we both are impressed with what Vivi accomplishes

 

[womenssports]

Some of you take every post WAY to seriously!

It is difficult to know which are serious and which are not. I wasn't offended by anything, just wanted to discuss what I see in Vivi with others to get feedback.