Substitution Strategy

[Sweetest OU Girl]

I attended both the A&M game and the Kansas game, and have now had time to go back and watch recordings of each. It is interesting that in both games we went into serious scoring slumps after making wholesale substitutions.

I had noticed in the Kansas game that after replacing several of the starters with several new players, Sherri was even having to yell at them from the sideline about how to align for the inbounds. It looked like total confusion. Then we went into that prolonged scoring drought that allowed Kansas to get within 4 points. A similar pattern occurred in the A&M game in the 3rd quarter and the aggies ran away from us.

The TV folks were emphasizing that using so many different combinations was good for handling situations we would get into over the year.

Is that the way to think about it? If so, why are few (none?) outstanding teams doing that?

The other issue seen when we slump is just simply missing shot after shot and careless turnovers. But at least part of that is related to subbing.

 

[Hoopdreams79]

Texas uses 10 players pretty regular. Their bench is deep and it allows Aston to give different looks. So I would say top programs are doing this.

 

[sybarite]

I think Sherri knows that when the Big Twelve Tournament starts, she will be starting Kay Kay, Maddie, Gioya, Peyton, and Gabbi with Derica, Vivi, and T'Ona as the primary subs. But, she would also welcome an upgrade if someone were to step up, and she needs those who will play meaningful minutes to learn the system as well as how to work together.

The biggest thing that I notice when the subs enter is that the offensive flow is disrupted. We may start by getting some people open, and they may hit shots. But, the flow that gets people open tends to stop when we substitute. T'Ona and LaNesia tend to look for their own shots. They rarely give it up on a break, trying to take it to the rim. Usually, it doesn't work. Nearly all assists that T'Ona gets are to the posts. She doesn't seem to find other players who might be open. It becomes more of a post game with T'Ona.

Thus, it becomes more difficult for Peyton to score. Maddie looks for the spot shooter when she drives the lane. Others tend to look to the rim. Kick outs to Peyton come from the post or from Maddie. Both T'Ona and LaNesia need to learn to look for the outlet as they drive. They are too short to get to the rim consistently, and they need to kick it. Gioya was pretty good last year at dumping to the post on drives.

I would like to see a rule that said that T'Ona and Gabbi are not allowed to dribble in the last fifteen seconds of a quarter until they get the flow going.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

Texas uses 10 players pretty regular. Their bench is deep and it allows Aston to give different looks. So I would say top programs are doing this.

I haven't watched Texas enough to know how they are subbing. Does Karen take 4 players out and put 4 others in when the team is on a nice run?

If so, have they gone into scoring slumps at that time?

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

I would like to see a rule that said that T'Ona and Gabbi are not allowed to dribble in the last fifteen seconds of a quarter until they get the flow going.

Why the last 15 seconds of a quarter syb? That situation doesn't happen much.

I did notice in the Kansas game that T'Ona was doing better at not dribbling into the area under the basket.

I wonder if that worked a lot in High School and she has had a hard time getting out of an old habit?

 

[sybarite]

Why the last 15 seconds of a quarter syb? That situation doesn't happen much.

I did notice in the Kansas game that T'Ona was doing better at not dribbling into the area under the basket.

I wonder if that worked a lot in High School and she has had a hard time getting out of an old habit?

At the end of the first three quarters last night (as we have had several nights), we had the ball for the last shot. Rather than working for the shot, we stood around and let Gabbi or T'Ona dribble the ball at midcourt. With about seven seconds left, they would drive towards the lane, usually being confronted, and try to find a way to shoot over someone. Failed every time. Not once did we get everyone moving and try to get it to a spot shooter for the last shot, and there was no way that they were going to leave the post open. Each became a wasted possession.

 

[j2d2]

At the end of the first three quarters last night (as we have had several nights), we had the ball for the last shot. Rather than working for the shot, we stood around and let Gabbi or T'Ona dribble the ball at midcourt. With about seven seconds left, they would drive towards the lane, usually being confronted, and try to find a way to shoot over someone. Failed every time. Not once did we get everyone moving and try to get it to a spot shooter for the last shot, and there was no way that they were going to leave the post open. Each became a wasted possession.

Absolutely accurate. Incomprehensible. We are persisting in a failed tactic and expecting a different result.

 

[gwydion]

Absolutely accurate. Incomprehensible. We are persisting in a failed tactic and expecting a different result.

I believe that is the definition of insanity.

 

[j2d2]

Sherri has said that she is not good at substituting in a timely fashion.

That was my point.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

Sherri has said that she is not good at substituting in a timely fashion.

That was my point.

I haven't heard her say that, but she does not seem to like to pull a player after a really bad decision. Perhaps she is trying to be careful with calling them out in public. That is the way professors have handled situations in class for many years. For example they never announce individual scores to the entire class. It is handled individually. But athletics has usually been handled differently.

But in the Kansas game, a moment occurred when T'Ona pulled off one of her egregious errors, and Sherri instantly jumped up and sent in a replacement. You could read her frustration by the body language. Interestingly though, she sent in 2 girls - perhaps to make it a little less obvious.

 

[Sooner Cal]

We have two girls who should be forbidden to shoot.&

We play too many girls.

Treece should play more, especially when Pierre-Louis is in.

Peyton needs to relax. Goya needs to play more and she will.

 

[sybarite]

Sherri has said that she is not good at substituting in a timely fashion.

That was my point.

Sherri makes a lot of comments. How we respond often tells more about us than what it means to Sherri. I can remember (paraphrased statements) her saying such things as:

--she doesn't like recruiting
--she is not good at substituting
--T'Ona is our most improved player
--she expects Maddie to be the best player in the conference
--we have a chance for a Final Four

Which one (s) of these you run with defines you. I don't know that it says much about Sherri is that she tends to be somewhat humble, and she encourages her players.

 

[35TangoTango]

Sherri makes a lot of comments. How we respond often tells more about us than what it means to Sherri. I can remember (paraphrased statements) her saying such things as:

--she doesn't like recruiting
--she is not good at substituting
--T'Ona is our most improved player
--she expects Maddie to be the best player in the conference
--we have a chance for a Final Four

Which one (s) of these you run with defines you. I don't know that it says much about Sherri is that she tends to be somewhat humble, and she encourages her players.

+1

This is right on the money. She didn't get to be a hall of fame coach by not knowing how to substitute.

BTW, In my opinion T,ona in spite of her obvious fault of running too far under the basket may indeed be our most improved player. And I think Coach does an excellent job of alternating her and Gabbi at just the right time.

And it was Chad who said Maddie could become the best player in the conference.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Maddie is not even the best player on the team. When she accomplishes that, then it might be time to see what other accomplishments might be attainable.

 

[35TangoTango]

Maddie is not even the best player on the team. When she accomplishes that, then it might be time to see what other accomplishments might be attainable.

That's right. Obviously someone sees potential there. Now she gets the unenviable job of guarding Nina Davis.

 

[sybarite]

+1

This is right on the money. She didn't get to be a hall of fame coach by not knowing how to substitute.

BTW, In my opinion T,ona in spite of her obvious fault of running too far under the basket may indeed be our most improved player. And I think Coach does an excellent job of alternating her and Gabbi at just the right time.

And it was Chad who said Maddie could become the best player in the conference.

Chad said she would be the best. Sherri said she would be one of the best. I think Chad had an unlimited time frame, whereas Sherri meant this year.

I wonder why someone would be eager to accept the idea that Sherri doesn't like to recruit or can't substitute properly, but would reject that Maddie might become the best player in the Big Twelve?

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

Chad said she would be the best. Sherri said she would be one of the best. I think Chad had an unlimited time frame, whereas Sherri meant this year.

I wonder why someone would be eager to accept the idea that Sherri doesn't like to recruit or can't substitute properly, but would reject that Maddie might become the best player in the Big Twelve?

Watching Maddie play is interesting. I think you could make the argument that she is our best player - but it does not show up in the "points scored" line. Lots of folks just get so focused on that one stat that they lose sight of what else is happening. And it is easy to do. But some coaches have a philosophy designed around having one player take most of the shots. Obviously their scoring totals will be exaggerated. But shooting 25 times, making 10, picking up 5-6 free throws, and ending up with 25 points does not mean you were the best player on the court.

But because Maddie is being asked to do so much more than score, it takes a discerning eye to see it. Other teams know it. Did you read what Gary Blair said about their concerns about her? She handles the ball extremely well, she can shoot 3's well, she is an excellent defender, she moves without the ball, she has lots of "game smarts", etc.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Watching Maddie play is interesting. I think you could make the argument that she is our best player - but it does not show up in the "points scored" line. Lots of folks just get so focused on that one stat that they lose sight of what else is happening. And it is easy to do. But some coaches have a philosophy designed around having one player take most of the shots. Obviously their scoring totals will be exaggerated. But shooting 25 times, making 10, picking up 5-6 free throws, and ending up with 25 points does not mean you were the best player on the court.

But because Maddie is being asked to do so much more than score, it takes a discerning eye to see it. Other teams know it. Did you read what Gary Blair said about their concerns about her? She handles the ball extremely well, she can shoot 3's well, she is an excellent defender, she moves without the ball, she has lots of "game smarts", etc.

I don't believe Sherri has ever discouraged Maddie from shooting.

 

[soonerstar]

I don't believe Sherri has ever discouraged Maddie from shooting.

Neither do I. I do not think she has told her not to shoot.