Rotation Settling Down/Chemistry Building?

[atlantasooner]

Like all posters the lost month of December spent on the road was pretty disappointing. Starter rotation changes. Players looked great one game, horrible the next game. It's was understandable why game over game Sherri's rotation was all over the place.
The lack of game to game consistency was driving most fans crazy. Each game you'd be unsure who would lead the team in scoring. And not in a good way.
However, the last two big 12 games have shown some positive moves going forward. Considering competition it's the best back to back games of the year.

First, Gioya Carter is playing out her mind right now. She's the athletic scoring guard that OU needs. On defense and on offense her speed and quickness are a difference maker. Her first step acceleration to the hoop is really working for her. And she's finishing at a high level. If this is her new standard of play, wow.
KK is playing very well. She's scoring in the post. And seems to be doing a better job on fouling. Hard to argue with her production at center.
If Lanesia can improve her game as well, OU will have a pair of lightning quick scoring guards not ever seen in the program.
Slowly Peyton Little seems to be working out of her redshirt funk. Hitting more mid range shots while providing 3 point range.
Ortiz v KU (especially at the start at the second half) was the game manager that OU needs.
Sherri's also effectively using her bench to keep her starters fresh. WVU ran out of bodies in the second half while Sherri had fresh weapons.

Nagging questions.
Sharane's scoring/ aggressiveness?
Kornet's minutes? Is she hurt?

 

[sybarite]

Sharane is taking what she is told to do too seriously. She is trying desperately to feed Kay Kay, and it isn't working. Those passes are always intercepted. She needs to do what Gioya is doing. Get to the middle, and either she or Kay Kay will be open as the defense rotates. Get it inside that way. Sharane also has to learn not to go straight up. Stay on the move. She is short, and they block her shot when she goes straight up. Her free throws come when she is moving to the basket.

Sherri says that Gioya began her change against Arkansas. It was in full swing against Yale, and it hasn't stopped. We haven't seen the defense adjust to her early yet. Kansas did adjust, after she scored eleven points in a minute or so.

I'm not sure that Payton is a long-range shooter right now. She had that reputation, as did her uncle. But, she has not shot the three well in college---yet. What Peyton is very effective at is being a garbage collector. Some of the most devastating players that I have ever seen are garbage collectors. They just seem to be where the ball goes, and they make a steal, a pass, or a quick shot. It always seems to work as long as you react quickly. Peyton seems to be at her best when not trying to shoot from outside, but just get in the middle and take advantage of things. Rebounds, steals, all kinds of things. You can't remember how she scores, but she ended up with 16, and that is becoming Peyton. Hustle players tend to be good at picking up the garbage.

I don't discount Maddie or Vivi. I suspect that they will be there at the end. I think Vivi may be our best interior player since Courtney. She is so inexperienced. Yet, she does have a knack.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I have mixed emotions about only using 7 or 8 players. Yes, I know that's what Geno does but it really doesn't matter what Geno does because he's going to beat your tail regardless of who he puts on the floor. We're not UCONN.

To become more like UCONN, we have to have more players who can play like Gioya is playing right now. That means we have to recruit better players. In order to recruit better players, I wonder if keeping so many players off the court is going to hurt in that effort. I don't think it's unreasonable to assume most girls want to get some minutes in a game after working so hard in practice, weight room, etc. Playing in a game is the icing on the cake. If there is no icing, do they want to hang around for some dry crumbs?

I thought the thing most of us were excited about a few weeks ago was the fact Sherri had plenty of players on the roster that she could keep fresh legs on the court at all times and run the opponents into the ground. Not only that but, it allowed for everyone to have some icing.

Here are the players who have shown are capable of playing well, at least some of the time:

Gabbi
Peyton
Gioya
Sharane
Kaylon
LaNesia
Kornet
Treece
ViVi
T'ona
Derica
Maddie

That's twelve who I agreed with Sherri can play. Maybe they aren't on their game every night but when they are, they play pretty well, certainly well enough to give some starters some rest.

If they weren't recruited to play, what was the purpose of their recruitment? Just to be practice players and cheerleaders on the bench?

Honestly, I like the platoons Sherri used in one or two games earlier. I think we have 5 A players to start and 5 B players who are capable of playing well. Here is an example.

Starters

Gabbi
Peyton
Gioya
Sharane
Kaylon

Team B

T'ona
LaNesia
Kornet
Treece
ViVi

I don't think there is a huge drop-off from Team A to Team B. In fact, I know there's not. Derica is capable of subbing in either team when needed as is Maddie.

Okay, I've made my argument for more players. I recognize that fewer players also has some advantages but I will let others expound on that if they wish because I'm tired of typing.

 

[sybarite]

I don't think it is a good idea to limit the rotation to nine either, especially when we may be called for forty fouls on some night. I wonder if Sherri isn't trying to get five or six to understand each other and where they'll be, after which she can add a player a week.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

That makes sense, both of you. I think Edwards is the player she is working into the second rotation regularly now. Kornet comes off the bench before she does, but Edwards is getting equal or more minutes the last two games.

Kornet is an enigma to me right now as is Sharane, so I would hope Wyatt very soon gets the same treatment Edwards is getting now. Hope the same for Vivi.

Maddie, I just think she's getting mop up minutes unless we are in desperation-for-a-body-mode (thinking of those 40 fouls a night Syb mentioned. We all know it's coming in the Big 12 with those ref jokers we have).

Maddie is clearly either not 100 percent or never will be. A harsh reality. I feel for that girl. I am afraid, however, I think this may be how she finishes out her Sooner career.