Who gets the time?

[sybarite]

NIcole didn't get a lot of time. She got 11.9 minutes per game last year, but only 7.1 minutes in conference play. As Maddie's time increased, it seems that it was largely at Nicole's expense. Maddie was 13.9 overall, but 15.9 in conference play. The roster still lists Nicole as a 6-1 Guard. Was she really used as a guard? I kind of thought she was a small forward. She wasn't a ball handler.

I would think that the ones that might benefit from Nicole's departure (I really do wish her well, and I would love to see her here on Senior Night) would likely be EJ, Shaya, and maybe Maddie, perhaps, McKenna. Thus, I think it is the forwards (what is Maddie?) that would have competed with Nicole for time.

We haven't seen EJ. We haven't seen enough of Shaya to know what she can do. The last good look I had was in an Iowa/Florida AAU game. She did rebound pretty well in the 16 minutes that she played, and she hit both of her free throws. Missed her only shot from the field, a three. I get the feeling that she could be a decent rebounder. That is supposedly EJ's forte, that and shot-blocking. Since our needs are rebounding and interior defense, I suspect that the best rebounder of Shaya, EJ, and McKenna will get some time. The other two may do some sitting. Vivi and Kay Kay seem to have the rotation at post set.

I don't know that I ever thought of Nicole as being in competition with Maddie, Peyton, or Gioya. Maddie subbed for Sharane and Gioya a lot. Was Maddie a part-time forward?

I don't exactly know where Penzo fits, but I think we will see her on the court. I think LaNesia has to step up or find she is on the bench. T''Ona is Gabbi's replacement, and I don't see that changing. The one thing that has changed is that we are now comfortable with Maddie bringing up the ball, which may limit T'Ona's time. Maddie can go inside, which T'Ona may lack.

Sherri made the comment that Gioya and Derica have improved, or maybe it was that you would expect them to improve because they were juniors instead of sophomores this year? Derica has to hit her shot, or she will spend some time on the bench. That's basically what she brings. She can't shoot 31% from three and stay on the court..

I look for Kay Kay and Vivi to continue their rotation. Sherri says that EJ will be rotating at the post. Shaya, EJ, and McKenna will be looking for time at forward. Will Maddie play some point forward? I think we will see a four-guard rotation at times with Maddie, Gioya, Peyton, and Gabbi. Gioya will have to be effective more than the first three minutes of the half to stay on the court.

I'm not sure how Derica and Gileysa fit in until I see it. I get the feeling that Penzo is a 5-9 version of Maddie. The words that I kept seeing were "deceptively fast." I think we will be trying to fit Penzo in.

 

[bluesooner17]

If Penzo is everything Sherri said she was before she got hurt I would believe she will get the minutes. I believe we could see a couple more leave after this year unless they like riding the bench, because we are still stacked with guards.

 

[soonermike22]

Sharane was not big, but she played inside, and the playing time available by both her and Nicole being gone can't be separated completely. We will have to have someone to help our center rebound, and guard bigger players. Ever who gets the open starting spot will influence who gets the minutes Nicole left available. If a bigger inside player starts, Nicole's time would go to a guard. If a true guard becomes the starter, we may have to substitute differently. So my answer is "No idea until we see who improved, who starts, and how the 2 new players look"

 

[SoonerNorm]

I don't look for Penzo to make an impact this year. In fact, when we are up against a tough opponent, I look for Sherri to go mainly with starters with 2-3 reserves getting a few minutes. Last year I thought Sherri sometimes went too deep in her bench which prevented the starters from really jelling and playing consistent basketball. Starters need to play in order to be tough in March and I look for Sherri to limit her bench this year when we get into conference play. Having a deep bench is good if there isn't a significant drop off from starters to reserves but right now there is a gap in talent at most positions. The biggest key this year is going to be the play of Maddie. If she can stop the fouling and turnovers and score, we can be pretty good. If not, this could be another long year.

 

[soonermike22]

I don't look for Penzo to make an impact this year. In fact, when we are up against a tough opponent, I look for Sherri to go mainly with starters with 2-3 reserves getting a few minutes. Last year I thought Sherri sometimes went too deep in her bench which prevented the starters from really jelling and playing consistent basketball. Starters need to play in order to be tough in March and I look for Sherri to limit her bench this year when we get into conference play. Having a deep bench is good if there isn't a significant drop off from starters to reserves but right now there is a gap in talent at most positions. The biggest key this year is going to be the play of Maddie. If she can stop the fouling and turnovers and score, we can be pretty good. If not, this could be another long year.[/QUOTE

With or without Maddie, we probably won't truly have a shot at a regular season conference championship. But even without her, we should be better than last year. Weren't we 21-12, second place in conference, NCAA tourney win? Not a championship year, but definitely not a "long year" like 2013-14. We will be better than that this year.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I don't look for Penzo to make an impact this year. In fact, when we are up against a tough opponent, I look for Sherri to go mainly with starters with 2-3 reserves getting a few minutes. Last year I thought Sherri sometimes went too deep in her bench which prevented the starters from really jelling and playing consistent basketball. Starters need to play in order to be tough in March and I look for Sherri to limit her bench this year when we get into conference play. Having a deep bench is good if there isn't a significant drop off from starters to reserves but right now there is a gap in talent at most positions. The biggest key this year is going to be the play of Maddie. If she can stop the fouling and turnovers and score, we can be pretty good. If not, this could be another long year.[/QUOTE

With or without Maddie, we probably won't truly have a shot at a regular season conference championship. But even without her, we should be better than last year. Weren't we 21-12, second place in conference, NCAA tourney win? Not a championship year, but definitely not a "long year" like 2013-14. We will be better than that this year.

I agree that our chance of winning the conference is very slim. But, I could see us 3rd in the conference this year unless Maddie comes to play every game.

 

[sybarite]

I think that Baylor, Texas, and OU will all be somewhat difficult to beat this year. We did beat both of them last year. We know we can do it.

I don't think it is simply that Maddie has to step up. I think it is essential that we develop an interior presence, especially against Texas. They took advantage of our inability to defend a 6-7 girl, and she scored whenever she wanted. Those were key points that set the tone for our defense. Kay Kay, Vivi, and EJ are critical to our strength. We must control the boards and be at least fifty percent in the paint.

We need consistency from everyone. Even Peyton had a tendency to disappear in some key games. We had no idea which Gioya would show up, or how long she would stay. In comparison, Maddie was rather reliable late in conference play with the exception of the game that she was injured (K-State?). We really need for two options to exist other than Kay Kay that are viable for at least ten points.

We spent a year learning about each other. I suspect that we will have a slight advantage in that respect this year. We also have one hopeful option. If Maddie emerges as a 10-14 ppg scorer, there isn't a player in the conference that can stop her. She is too tall for guards and too quick for forwards. Maddie and Vivi blocked shots by the opposition centers last year. The blocks per minute were high.

Can we refrain from losing to a KU at home?

 

[soonermike22]

Yes, we can always have a bad stretch, but too many players are going to be better. Gabbi and ViVi both improved during the year last year, and should be even better from the start this year. Gioya had games where she flashed dominance, and should have more next year. Normal improvement from role players should give great depth again. Peyton might get consensus first team conference good. Kaykay might learn to be a consistently good player. New players may or may not fill roles and contribute, especially by conference time. Any thing better this year from Maddie is gravy. WE WILL BE BETTER. I just bet my house....I mean my horse saddle on improvement.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Sherri clealy tried to use her depth last year. I think the difference between her and what Kruger does is that Sherri lacked a clear pattern. You could usually predict the first two or three off the bench for Kruger in 14-15 and the entire rotation of 9 the previous season.

Sherri had 8 players with the most minutes off the bench including Little in a game she did not start. Maddie was a constant with 12 times having the most minutes off the bench after the beginning of conference play. that is still only 2/3 of the time. Totally she was in the top 3 in minutes played off the bench in 15 games which is less than half of the 33 games played.

Kornet had 8 games with the most minutes off the bench and 18 games with the top 3 minutes.

Wyatt and LaNesia Williams had the most minutes off the bench 4 times. Williams started 7 games, Kornet one and ViVi one in the game that KayKay sat for the entire game.

In all 6 players were among the top three in minutes played off the bench at least 10 times. That makes it hard to get in the flow because someone new is in the rotation part of the time. She did get into a pattern where Maddie and ViVi were first off the bench but in a large part because of the foul trouble by KayKay and Carter.

 

[soonermike22]

Some opponents, like texas with their height, causes you to alter substitution patterns, but last year we seemed to be "trying out" starters earlier in the year, and then trying to see who was "hot" and therefore got more minutes. But I agree with SoonerinNC that we never got a good rhythm of substitution where everyone knew what their role was. Sometimes that works ok if everyone is ready to play when called upon, and sometimes players are more comfortable with a set routine to follow. I think that with more experienced starters, and returning subs, we will be more in tune with each other, and be a much better team. Gabbi was new to college and starting, Peyton and Goyia new steady starters, and lots of new faces to blend in. Part of coaching is figuring out what allows your TEAM to play best, even if good players get less playing time.

 

[sybarite]

I think early in the year that Sherri had little idea of who would be able to do what. At the outset, it seemed that LaNesia could be an offensive force. Then, that part of her game disappeared. We saw some indication that McKenna might be ahead of Vivi. Vivi developed. Derica and Nicole never really came around like we expected.

By the end of the year, it appeared that Sherri had discovered a couple of things:

1. Her best relief for early foul trouble or early lethargy from Sharane or Gioya was Maddie. Maddie replaced both. Once she got into the game, she often didn't come back out.

2. When Gabbi struggled to bring the ball up court, Maddie and Peyton seemed to have no difficulty. T'Ona could do it, but her time was more limited. She came in more for fatigue than for the abilities that she had. She was our point backup for substitution purposes. Maddie and Peyton were the backups on responsibilities.

3. Kay Kay and Vivi were almost in a four-minute rotation. They both tired, and it got to where Sherri would relieve them after three or four minutes just to keep them fresh. That actually seemed to reduce Kay Kay's fouling. She wasn't being puled for two fouls, but after two minutes of inactivity.

4. I think Sherri had a lot of confidence in her top eight (Maddie, Vivi, and T'Ona off the bench).

5. She used Maddie at times to be a spark plug. Gabbi was a spark plug on her own at times.

I expect to see the same people involved. Will EJ, Shaya, McKenna, or Gileysa join them? Sherri has eight players who beat Baylor in Norman. Now, who joins the group?

 

[tycat947]

Sherri clealy tried to use her depth last year. I think the difference between her and what Kruger does is that Sherri lacked a clear pattern. You could usually predict the first two or three off the bench for Kruger in 14-15 and the entire rotation of 9 the previous season.

Sherri had 8 players with the most minutes off the bench including Little in a game she did not start. Maddie was a constant with 12 times having the most minutes off the bench after the beginning of conference play. that is still only 2/3 of the time. Totally she was in the top 3 in minutes played off the bench in 15 games which is less than half of the 33 games played.

Kornet had 8 games with the most minutes off the bench and 18 games with the top 3 minutes.

Wyatt and LaNesia Williams had the most minutes off the bench 4 times. Williams started 7 games, Kornet one and ViVi one in the game that KayKay sat for the entire game.

In all 6 players were among the top three in minutes played off the bench at least 10 times. That makes it hard to get in the flow because someone new is in the rotation part of the time. She did get into a pattern where Maddie and ViVi were first off the bench but in a large part because of the foul trouble by KayKay and Carter.

I think part of the difference in substitution patterns between Kruger and Coale were that Lon didn't have as many options as Sherri. He had quite a few on the roster but a couple were redshirting and there were quite a few walk-ons which would not have been high on substitution list. Sherri on the other hand had more options and I'm sure a lot of who were "firsts off the bench" was based on how players performed in practice and also, I think injuries (or past injuries) came into play. I'd guess they were very careful of Maddie's playing time because of her past injuries and also if she'd had soreness during the season, especially early, after basically not being on the court for 2 years. Same with Vivi. You could tell she was improving in all facets of her game late in the season after just being released to play less than a month before practice began last fall. Also, inconsistency in play affected the substitution patterns with the women. I suspect, and hope, a lot of that inconsistency will go away this year and that Maddie and Vivi are back to full strength and fully conditioned for this season.