The TEAM is in disarray. Let's look at what is consistent and what is different. Sherri has won with all kinds of talent. She won with players that nobody else wanted. She went to the Final Four with unknowns. Now, we think Sherri has lost it? Really?
If you have ever taught, ever coached, or ever played, you have found that there are people who have everything it takes, but they can't be taught. They may be brilliant, but they somehow don't use logic in their thought process. They may be athletic, but they continue to make mistakes that keep them from manifesting it. There are practice players. Often, there are game players who just can't deliver at crunch time. A bench player is better at crunch time.
Behavior is behavior. Sometimes, you can overcome it by teaching or coaching. Sometimes, it is like alcoholism. It just hangs on for life, and there is no way to overcome it. Every day is a potential success, or failure.
We have talent. Aaryn was a McDonald's All-American. Griffin was a Parade All-American. Kornet was a WBCA All-American and the MVP of their all-star game. Hook was recruited as a freshman. There isn't anything wrong with the potential.
Vegas could shoot when she got to OU. Some thought she would be a point guard. Others recognized that she was not a good ball-handler. She has learned to play defense. But, after four years, she is still a spot up shooter. She doesn't create her own shot. If she tries, she is as likely to dribble it off her foot as she is to get off a shot. She dribbles into trouble and loses the ball. She has never been one that you wanted to have the ball. She catches and shoots, and she is not good if you ask her to create more. She is what she was as a freshman, with a bit better defense.
Griffin is a role player and a good one. The problem is that she is being asked to be a Chamberlain, Paris, or Jabbar. She is someone who can kill you if you are concentrating on someone else. She hits cripples well. She plays solid defense, and she blocks shots well, better than officials think. But, she is not a power center.
Morgan? Morgan is like the other two seniors. She is good, if she isn't the focus. She is a role player. But, none of these three are vocal leaders. None are what you look for in a leader. They aren't the ones who want the ball at crunch time. They would all prefer to have someone else that the defense is concentrating on. We don't have that player.
We had it in Whitney. I think we had it in Maddie. I think we will have it in Ortiz, maybe in Pierre-Louis and Carter. Maybe in Little. But, we don't have it this year. I'm not sure that you can teach it or coach it. I think Sheri was absolutely certain that she had it in Morgan. I think Sherri is more disappointed than the board.
If we had a go-to player, I would love to have these three on my team. But, none is that go-to player. We can't rely on them to show up. The best at making an effort in every game has been Griffin. But, all need that go-to player to work off of.
As much as we have taught it, we still don't block out on rebounds. We still dribble it carelessly and get it stolen. We make the same mistakes, and it doesn't improve. Aaryn makes every mistake now that she did as a freshman. Morgan makes every mistake now that she has ever made, perhaps more of them since she has the ball so much. Griffin has improved. But, there is no Jo, no Whitney--no Maddie.
I think Sherri has made only one error. She did not recognize that none of these were gong to step up. Someone has always stepped up for her. Every year, someone steps up to take the reins late in the year. This year, she doesn't have anyone, and it has caught her off guard. She needs to work though Gioya, Sharane, and Kornet---maybe even with the other freshmen, and find some key for the future. We have those who will step up next year.
