Starting Lineup

[thewez]

So Sherri went back to the starters from the beginning of the season. Do you think she was just trying to give a wake up call to Little, KK, and Carter? Or is she just going with the hot hands?

 

[soonerstar]

Kornet will be starting some during the conference season. However, she will have to shoot better than she did last night. Zero points between Kornet, Campbell, and Ortiz.

 

[sybarite]

I think Sherri gave LaNesia a chance, and she did well at first, only to slow down with time. Unless someone steps up to take their jobs, I think she'll go with her first choice from the summer, the original starters. But, I also think that she has made it clear that a mistake will get you some time beside her on the bench. She jerked Gabbi last night, until Maddie got hurt. T'Ona is just a few minutes per game type replacement, no threat to Gabbi. Maddie is a threat to everyone. Kornet---was this her first totally quiet game this year?

 

[soonermike22]

I think it was a wake up call to be aggressive, take your offensive shots, and if you make a mistake let it be a physical mistake doing something, not a passive sit and watch mistake.
The team was more energized and aggressive last night.

 

[womenssports]

So Sherri went back to the starters from the beginning of the season. Do you think she was just trying to give a wake up call to Little, KK, and Carter? Or is she just going with the hot hands?

I think for KK she was trying to give a wake-up call. I think for Little and Carter she was trying to find her five best as a team.

Think Kornet will get as much playing time as most but ALL of the three
point shooters have to do something besides put up 3 pointers. I would be giving Derica more minutes but then I am not in practice and don't even get to actually see many of the games.

Still wondering about Shaya.....even Whitney got a minute last night. Is she thinking about red-shirting her? I can't really see that.

Am glad we start the big 12 at home. Kind of wish W. Va. wasn't our first game.

Anyone hear anything about Maddie? Kid needs a break.

 

[thewez]

Redshirting Shaya might not be a bad idea. I'm sure she is still working on getting to full strength, and we are a pretty deep team as it is.

 

[BigT14]

Redshirting Shaya might not be a bad idea. I'm sure she is still working on getting to full strength, and we are a pretty deep team as it is.

+1

 

[atlantasooner]

I hate saying this but ou probably better off recycling that ship sooner than later.

 

[keysersose]

So before the game, Tubbs said that SC had indicated a need to settle on a rotation so that the players could get used to playing with each other (on the court at the same time). Then, she did not do so in the Yale game. So, afterward, in her interview, she said again that she needed to find the group of players that could stay on the floor and said, once again, that she thinks she is not good in her substitution decisions. I had assumed that she filled out the lineup because two years ago injuries gave her a short bench. I've been interested to observe that Auriemma almost never has more than 8 players upon whom he intends to rely. So, might we have too many players to manage?

 

[soonermike22]

So before the game, Tubbs said that SC had indicated a need to settle on a rotation so that the players could get used to playing with each other (on the court at the same time). Then, she did not do so in the Yale game. So, afterward, in her interview, she said again that she needed to find the group of players that could stay on the floor and said, once again, that she thinks she is not good in her substitution decisions. I had assumed that she filled out the lineup because two years ago injuries gave her a short bench. I've been interested to observe that Auriemma almost never has more than 8 players upon whom he intends to rely. So, might we have too many players to manage?

At times we seemed to lose continuity. So yes, but you still have to have the ninth, tenth, and so on ready to play in case of fouls or injuries, or occasionally match-up. Better to have this problem than not enough players!

 

[sybarite]

The number of players that you manage depends largely on how they have learned to operate within your system. It seems to me that Sherri has a quicker hook this year than in the past. A turnover may get you immediate time beside her on the bench. She is looking for hustle, and I have seen her pull Sharane twice on lack of hustle early in the game. Recently, she has been trying to make some points with Gabbi.

This isn't the most experienced group. I think Geno does get cooperation from his players. He reminds me more of a Seal Team commander who insists that they do it his way. If they don't, he has another top recruit to use while you learn to do it his way. He can get away with using six or seven. Kiah was hardly used until late last year because she was just inactive. Now, she has blossomed as a senior. She sat until she blossomed.

I think Sherri has a little more depth in her talent, but none of them are ready to be consistent until they get a bit more experience. It would be nice if we had a couple step up to be consistent. Until then, I think she'll be forced to teach on the run. One senior. Two juniors. Only one has started any number of games.

 

[cowboysooner]

OK, after watching a few games. Here is my starting lineup:

treece at the 4
KK at the 5
little at the point
carter on the wing
manning on the wing (I would use manning and little interchangeably at point and wing

Ortiz would be back up point
Campbell is first off the bench on the wing
Wiliams is second off the bench on the wing
Kornet is third off the bench on the wing

Kornet would be my backup 4
VIVI would back up KK

 

[soonerstar]

I like your idea of having Treece and KK in there at the same time.

 

[sybarite]

OK, after watching a few games. Here is my starting lineup:

treece at the 4
KK at the 5
little at the point
carter on the wing
manning on the wing (I would use manning and little interchangeably at point and wing

Ortiz would be back up point
Campbell is first off the bench on the wing
Wiliams is second off the bench on the wing
Kornet is third off the bench on the wing

Kornet would be my backup 4
VIVI would back up KK

I can see your reasoning, but I'm not sure that Little can bring the ball up the court against a good point guard. She was OK against Yale. I love Maddie, and I want her back ASAP. But, I think it was obvious against Yale that she was experiencing some pain. Even with pain, she tried to make a play. She just has to take it easy and work her way back into good health. I doubt she can take more than ten minutes per game.

I think we have to make Gabbi learn the point. She has the best tools and needs to learn what to do with them. Sharane has some issues right now, but she has been our most consistent. McKenna looks great one moment, and very inexperienced the next, as does ViVi.

I suspect that we will go with Gabbi. I think we will see more and more of McKenna and Vivi as they get used to the idea of playing at this level. Both have some talent.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I'm the one that is always complaining that Sherri does not use her depth. This year she seems to be going to the other extreme which is OK in the pre-conference. She says herself that she is not doing a good job subbing and that she is causing confusion with her substitutions.

If you look at the last 6 games KayKay is usually in the game when not in fould trouble. Also Ortiz and Campbell-Olds are getting regular minutes. But the following 8 must be scratching their heads about where they fit.

Minutes per game (last 6 starting with most recent)
Little -28-24-11-15-25-22
Carter-27-17-11-8-11-16
Vionese-3-13-11-17-10-10
Kornet-19-12-31-28-22-4
Wyatt-4-18-27-7-11-27
Manning-9-7-10-9-0-1
Treece-14-21-12-4-8-5
L Williams-15-18-12-22-24-37

She is either doing a lot of experimentation or a lot of players are in and out of the doghouse. I have no clue what her rotation is. With the depth we have she should have established a 9 or 10 rotation and press from end to end with her up tempo offense. Since she seems determined to go small a constant pressure defense is a great equalizer.

It is not rocket science and as organized as Sherri is otherwise I don't understand why it is not as clear as it is with the men.

You can set up the rotation before the game based on how they are playing in practice and how they matchup with the other team. With todays technology you have access to films after the first game of the season. Then you adjust as the game goes on particularly in the final 10 minutes.

Of course you have to adjust with fouls but KayKay is the biggest question there and we have 10 more fouls to give with ViVi and Treece.

I would start KayKay, Campbell, Kornet, Ortiz and Little. I would probably have KayKay out of there in 5 minutes with either ViVi or Treece and then put her back in at about the 10 minute mark and then get the other backup in before halftime. If KayKay stays out of fould trouble and plays wll then she could have more second half minutes. I would have Carter, L Williams and Maddie replacing the outside players at about 8-10 minutes rotating with the other 4 starters. If one of other 4 got into early foul trouble I would just move up Carter or Williams and probably get Derica in sometime in the first half. Earlier if no one else is hitting outside shots. The second half could be set up similarly but the biggest difference is that you want to have your best players for that game out there in crunch time.

An assistant could manage the subs with all that Sherri has to do. Then all
she would have to do is make changes to the plan when needed.

I'm not a great believer in a quick hook because of poor play or mistakes in the game unless it becomes real extreme and then you take them out to give them time to think about it and put them back in. Your practices should determine who you can depend on most of the time. And I know some have trouble converting practice play to games. But you have to work that out from game to game. You just create havoc if your players look up and suddenly there are 2 or 3 players in the game that you have not played with that much in practice. Also basketball is a game where one player can make the other 4 look great or bad.

A lot of crazy ideas but had fun making them up.

 

[sybarite]

NC, I can see your points. I'm not sure that Sherri has been here before. In nineteen years at OU, I don't think she has had this many possibilities. I think she has about twelve players who would be in her top eight in the average year.

Carter: had essentially been replaced. But, she had a great game against Yale, maybe her best at OU. She probably got the opportunity because LaNesia was beginning to be quiet after such a strong start.

Peyton: had been losing some time. I think it is largely due to defense. But, she perked up offensively having a good game.

Maddie: injury. I think she has gone down three times already this year. She still has some weakness in those knees. She probably was on the way to a twenty minute night until she went down.

Gabbi: Think, Gabbi, think.

Vivi; this does surprise me. She has shown that she can play under pressure. The Illinois game was a stunner. But, she only had three minutes against Yale? I'm not sure that I understand this one.

McKenna: I think her ability to hit a short jumper has impressed Sherri. When they are absolutely determined not to let us have a layup, she can shoot.

Kornet: has been our most consistent, until Yale. That was her first bad night. But, I think Tubbs said that she'll probably be the sixth man. He loves the sixth man.

This team may take more teaching than normal. But, the upside may be there. This team could make it to at least the Sweet Sixteen, hopefully this year. Last year, I didn't see that team going anywhere. There is enough talent to do something. But, it may take some time to blend. We may not have that much time this year. I think you have to try because you can't let the talent remain undeveloped. Remember 2005?

 

[soonerstar]

I understand everyone wanting Coale to finalize her 8 or 9 player rotation, but I think she is still playing more is that no one has really surpassed the competition at that position. It is still too close to call. One game, Kornet, for example, plays lights out and the next she does nothing. She is not the only one. I am just using her as an example.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I'm the one that is always complaining that Sherri does not use her depth. This year she seems to be going to the other extreme which is OK in the pre-conference. She says herself that she is not doing a good job subbing and that she is causing confusion with her substitutions.

If you look at the last 6 games KayKay is usually in the game when not in fould trouble. Also Ortiz and Campbell-Olds are getting regular minutes. But the following 8 must be scratching their heads about where they fit.

Minutes per game (last 6 starting with most recent)
Little -28-24-11-15-25-22
Carter-27-17-11-8-11-16
Vionese-3-13-11-17-10-10
Kornet-19-12-31-28-22-4
Wyatt-4-18-27-7-11-27
Manning-9-7-10-9-0-1
Treece-14-21-12-4-8-5
L Williams-15-18-12-22-24-37

She is either doing a lot of experimentation or a lot of players are in and out of the doghouse. I have no clue what her rotation is. With the depth we have she should have established a 9 or 10 rotation and press from end to end with her up tempo offense. Since she seems determined to go small a constant pressure defense is a great equalizer.

It is not rocket science and as organized as Sherri is otherwise I don't understand why it is not as clear as it is with the men.

You can set up the rotation before the game based on how they are playing in practice and how they matchup with the other team. With todays technology you have access to films after the first game of the season. Then you adjust as the game goes on particularly in the final 10 minutes.

Of course you have to adjust with fouls but KayKay is the biggest question there and we have 10 more fouls to give with ViVi and Treece.

I would start KayKay, Campbell, Kornet, Ortiz and Little. I would probably have KayKay out of there in 5 minutes with either ViVi or Treece and then put her back in at about the 10 minute mark and then get the other backup in before halftime. If KayKay stays out of fould trouble and plays wll then she could have more second half minutes. I would have Carter, L Williams and Maddie replacing the outside players at about 8-10 minutes rotating with the other 4 starters. If one of other 4 got into early foul trouble I would just move up Carter or Williams and probably get Derica in sometime in the first half. Earlier if no one else is hitting outside shots. The second half could be set up similarly but the biggest difference is that you want to have your best players for that game out there in crunch time.

An assistant could manage the subs with all that Sherri has to do. Then all
she would have to do is make changes to the plan when needed.

I'm not a great believer in a quick hook because of poor play or mistakes in the game unless it becomes real extreme and then you take them out to give them time to think about it and put them back in. Your practices should determine who you can depend on most of the time. And I know some have trouble converting practice play to games. But you have to work that out from game to game. You just create havoc if your players look up and suddenly there are 2 or 3 players in the game that you have not played with that much in practice. Also basketball is a game where one player can make the other 4 look great or bad.

A lot of crazy ideas but had fun making them up.

I like that starting 5 as well. I won't be surprised if Sherri settles on that group. I think it would benefit play if Sherri picks a starting 5 and stays with it. I like the fact she has experimented but now it's time to get serious and develop some continuity. That's hard to do when the lineups change from game to game.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I was really hoping Maddie would be a starter this year and be one of the better players. I'm beginning to think that we are going to have to wait at least a year to see her possibly take on that kind of role. When you look at how little Sherri has played her, it is pretty obvious that Maddie is struggling during practice as well. I'm pulling for her as she is a great kid and teammate but she has a ways to go to make a significant impact.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I get as frustrated with Kaylon as anyone on this board but, once in a while she will use a drop-step or spin move and look like a superstar. She has really good quickness on those moves. Hopefully, the coaching staff will insist she use that quickness on a regular basis to get around defenders and get to the rim.