Penzo and how she fits in

[Oliver Hardy]

Let's talk about Ms. Penzo and how she may fit in next season. We haven't done that.

A 5-9 combo, good enough to make some impressive lists; coming off and injury.

With the emergence of Edwards and even L. Williams as back-up points, I would look for her to to fill in more for Carter more than anyone. I don't have a good feel for how many minutes she might get, but I think if her consistency is better than Carter's she may log some decent minutes.

I could also see her filling in for Peyton, but I couldn't really locate how good she is behind the arc. I also noticed that her free throw shooting has appeared to be poor on some reports.

What does everyone else know and think given last season's players and performance? Has your opinion changed with the outcomes of last season?

 

[SoonerNorm]

I doubt she will get significant minutes this coming year. This will be her first competition in D-1 basketball so it will be a learning experience.

 

[AustinTXSooner]

I don't think we have any idea what she can do. She tore up her knee far too early for the public to get any idea.

I love Edwards tenacity on defense, but there's a reason that Ortiz averaged over 32 minutes a game. There's a huge drop-off on offense when Edwards is out there. And it's not just from Gabbi's scoring. The defense sags off Edwards just like they used to do with Brittney Brown. It makes it harder for others to score as well.

If Edwards want to "emerge", she needs to work on her 15+ ft shooting. Otherwise, it's very likely that she sees fewer minutes when either Penzo is healthy, or Maddie plays with full confidence.

 

[sybarite]

I think Edwards showed signs of having developed a three-point shot at the very end of the year. It wasn't enough to know whether it was real or luck. That would help.

Penzo: Sherri has always been fond of Stacy Dales look-alikes. Maddie Manning was the new Stacy Dales. What she is referring to is the ability to see the floor and manage the floor or offense. It was interesting last year that after Maddie had been a rarely-used guard, Sherri brought her in early in a game and said to take over. Maddie did, and it worked. After that, it was intermittent. In that game, Maddie simply took over. The announcers, probably because they are fed information by Sherri, constantly mention that Maddie has great court vision. Tubbs said she was the best practice shooter on the team. The announcers constantly refer to Maddie's long arms and what that does on defense---and offense. Maddie is a floor manager, more so than Gabbi. She does need some time on court.

Penzo has also been mentioned by Sherri as having great court vision. I think she has finally stopped short of saying the next Stacy Dales. But, if you go back and look at the statistics of the teams in the U-16 tournament in which Penzo was named to the All-Tournament team, she did a little bit of everything. She led the tournament in steals by a huge margin. She was also among the leaders in rebounders. I think she was the leading rebounder on the Puerto Rico team. She was inconsistent as a shooter, from everywhere. One story that I saw about the tournament called her a court magician. She is where the ball is.

Let's get a little perspective about Penzo and how she fits. Penzo enrolled at OU this past year---at 16? I haven't heard when she turned 17. She was on the same All-Tournament team with
Asia Durr---going to Louisville this year
Katie Lou Samuelson--going to UConn this year
Lauren Cox----going next year.

Penzo went to college a year earlier than these others, despite being their age.

I don't know if she will be court ready this year. Just watching her walk around with the team this year, I think she is a very, very confident and relaxed sixteen or seventeen year old. She was a part of things, and she has never seen the floor. I look for her to start slowly this year. At some point, I think she will make headlines, probably before April.

 

[tycat947]

I think Edwards showed signs of having developed a three-point shot at the very end of the year. It wasn't enough to know whether it was real or luck. That would help.

Penzo: Sherri has always been fond of Stacy Dales look-alikes. Maddie Manning was the new Stacy Dales. What she is referring to is the ability to see the floor and manage the floor or offense. It was interesting last year that after Maddie had been a rarely-used guard, Sherri brought her in early in a game and said to take over. Maddie did, and it worked. After that, it was intermittent. In that game, Maddie simply took over. The announcers, probably because they are fed information by Sherri, constantly mention that Maddie has great court vision. Tubbs said she was the best practice shooter on the team. The announcers constantly refer to Maddie's long arms and what that does on defense---and offense. Maddie is a floor manager, more so than Gabbi. She does need some time on court.

Penzo has also been mentioned by Sherri as having great court vision. I think she has finally stopped short of saying the next Stacy Dales. But, if you go back and look at the statistics of the teams in the U-16 tournament in which Penzo was named to the All-Tournament team, she did a little bit of everything. She led the tournament in steals by a huge margin. She was also among the leaders in rebounders. I think she was the leading rebounder on the Puerto Rico team. She was inconsistent as a shooter, from everywhere. One story that I saw about the tournament called her a court magician. She is where the ball is.

Let's get a little perspective about Penzo and how she fits. Penzo enrolled at OU this past year---at 16? I haven't heard when she turned 17. She was on the same All-Tournament team with
Asia Durr---going to Louisville this year
Katie Lou Samuelson--going to UConn this year
Lauren Cox----going next year.

Penzo went to college a year earlier than these others, despite being their age.

I don't know if she will be court ready this year. Just watching her walk around with the team this year, I think she is a very, very confident and relaxed sixteen or seventeen year old. She was a part of things, and she has never seen the floor. I look for her to start slowly this year. At some point, I think she will make headlines, probably before April.

Agreed. T'Ona hit 2 threes the last few weeks of the season and only 1 last season so she doubled her output. If she can develop a reliable 3 when she's open that would help her game immensely.

As for Penzo, during the end of season banquet on Tuesday night, Sherri stated that Gilly could play positions 1-4, if needed, so that falls right in line with the Maddie comparisons. She's been fully released to practice now so she will have the full summer to get back into shape and be available in the fall. I'm very anxious to see her game.

 

[Mac]

Agreed. T'Ona hit 2 threes the last few weeks of the season and only 1 last season so she doubled her output. If she can develop a reliable 3 when she's open that would help her game immensely.

As for Penzo, during the end of season banquet on Tuesday night, Sherri stated that Gilly could play positions 1-4, if needed, so that falls right in line with the Maddie comparisons. She's been fully released to practice now so she will have the full summer to get back into shape and be available in the fall. I'm very anxious to see her game.

If Ou has to use Penzo at the 4 vs the big 12 teams, we could be in for a long season...

 

[tycat947]

If Ou has to use Penzo at the 4 vs the big 12 teams, we could be in for a long season...

She said she was capable of playing the position, not that she would be in that position. She's about the same size as Sharane who played the 4 most of her career. Also, Gilly just turned 17 recently.

 

[Mac]

She said she was capable of playing the position, not that she would be in that position. She's about the same size as Sharane who played the 4 most of her career. Also, Gilly just turned 17 recently.

Most of the teams in the big 12 are getting big...

 

[SoonerNorm]

If Ou has to use Penzo at the 4 vs the big 12 teams, we could be in for a long season...

I think it is safe to say she will not replace Ortiz, Little, Gioya, or Williams. Agreeing with you, I seriously doubt she can replace Maddie or whoever the 4 will be.

 

[sybarite]

It is interesting that Penzo, Cox, Samuelson, and Durr were all selected to the same All-Tournament team by the people who were there to watch the tournament, by the coaches, I think.

Now, if Cox, Samuelson, or Durr were to change their minds and come to OU, would anyone be saying that they would ride the bench while others started ahead of them? Is the grass always dry in Norman?

I would not be surprised at all if the 2016--2017 starting lineup included Mulkey, Maddie, Gabbi, and Gileysa.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

It is interesting that Penzo, Cox, Samuelson, and Durr were all selected to the same All-Tournament team by the people who were there to watch the tournament, by the coaches, I think.

Now, if Cox, Samuelson, or Durr were to change their minds and come to OU, would anyone be saying that they would ride the bench while others started ahead of them? Is the grass always dry in Norman?

I would not be surprised at all if the 2016--2017 starting lineup included Mulkey, Maddie, Gabbi, and Gileysa.

Possible Syb, but I am always hesitant to crown high school players as dominant in their freshman years. I doubt any of the mentioned players make consensus all American their freshman year. By the way has that ever happened? Boy, it would take one tremendous recruiter to bring in such a player.

 

[sybarite]

You mean, like Courtney, who did.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

Perhaps Mulkey has a chance.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Perhaps Mulkey has a chance.

She is not a big-time scorer or rebounder. Those are important when it comes to making All-American teams and that is what set Courtney apart.

 

[Mac]

It is interesting that Penzo, Cox, Samuelson, and Durr were all selected to the same All-Tournament team by the people who were there to watch the tournament, by the coaches, I think.

Now, if Cox, Samuelson, or Durr were to change their minds and come to OU, would anyone be saying that they would ride the bench while others started ahead of them? Is the grass always dry in Norman?

I would not be surprised at all if the 2016--2017 starting lineup included Mulkey, Maddie, Gabbi, and Gileysa.

Maybe she'll be a surprise... You do have a point, even tho all the players you named were consistent top 10 kids...

 

[SoonerNorm]

Maybe she'll be a surprise... You do have a point, even tho all the players you named were consistent top 10 kids...

Was Penzo a top 200 player? I don't think she was but I might have her confused with someone else.

 

[sybarite]

Who cares? She was in Puerto Rico until her senior year.

She was ranked in the top five of all of the U-16 players at a time when she was playing only the best that six countries had to offer. I think that is much stronger than some recruiting service.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Blue Star had her ranked #260.

 

[sybarite]

Blue Star had her ranked #260.

Did Blue Star consist of the coaches that went to watch her and the other top players in the western hemisphere play against each other in the U-16 tournament? Is Blue Star as well-informed as they are as to how she performed against the best that the western hemisphere had to offer---and selected her as one of the top five performers?

No?

Then, Blue Star is hardly relevant. Are they?

 

[scrybe]

I think I'm lost on exactly what it is we're arguing about here. Sybarite said he wouldn't be surprised to see Mulkey, Maddie, Gabbi and Penzo in the starting lineup in 2016-2017. He/she was challenged quickly and in a big way.

Is it really that big a stretch to imagine all four of those players starting in 2016-17? Gabbi will be a junior at that point, Maddie, what, a junior (possibly)? And Penzo will be a redshirt sophomore, with hopefully a year of experience under her belt.

Mulkey will be the only freshman in that group, and frankly, I'll be surprised if she isn't a starter by at least the second half of her freshman year. I'm not saying she'll be a consensus All American as a freshman – and I don't think sybarite said that either.