SoonerNorm
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2008
- Messages
- 19,033
- Reaction score
- 1
Based on what you know right now, who would you say is our best player?
Who is our best player?
- Thread starter SoonerNorm
- Start date
SoonerinNC
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2008
- Messages
- 1,752
- Reaction score
- 2
Carter if she is playing at her potential
Maddie if she is healthy
Little if we can consistently get her open
But probably Ortiz
Maddie if she is healthy
Little if we can consistently get her open
But probably Ortiz
soonerstar
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2008
- Messages
- 1,878
- Reaction score
- 6
Ortiz
bluesooner17
Member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2010
- Messages
- 863
- Reaction score
- 3
I am not sure I can say one is better than the other. We currently have some good talent as in Carter, Qrtiz, Maddie, Little, etc., but I would say from what they showed last year I don't know there is one that stands above the other. Now if we are talking VALUABLE I would go with Ortiz.
SoonerNorm
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2008
- Messages
- 19,033
- Reaction score
- 1
I'm going with Peyton. She shoots better than Gabbi from the field, BTA, and at the line. She has the highest basketball of anyone on the team and she led the team in scoring at 15+ points per game.
If Gioya could stop the silly fouling, she would certainly be in a close run for best player. She is more athletic than Peyton or Gabbi.
If Gioya could stop the silly fouling, she would certainly be in a close run for best player. She is more athletic than Peyton or Gabbi.
I don't think there is an answer. Maybe one will emerge this year. The one that we can't do without is Gabbi. We have needed a ball controller since DRob left, someone from whom it is difficult to steal the ball at crunch time. She also makes some surprising things happen at crunch time.
Peyton, Gioya, and Maddie kind of rotated in taking over a game. It seemed that someone usually showed up, but not all three. We seemed to have an advantage to score in streaks if Gioya or Maddie was in the game, not so much with Peyton. Peyton tended to make a play here or there. Gioya and Maddie could take over for a couple of minutes and make a ten-point difference.
It's nice when Kay Kay is hitting layups. It tends to open things up for everyone. I think Gioya was better at working with Kay Kay than Peyton or Maddie were. For some reason, Maddie could hit Kay Kay with a pass in the hands when she was wide open, and she still couldn't score. Sometimes, she would let an easy pass to her hands from Maddie bounce off as though she just didn't close her hands around it. Never seemed to work well with Maddie. Vivi did.
I don't really see a best--yet.
Peyton, Gioya, and Maddie kind of rotated in taking over a game. It seemed that someone usually showed up, but not all three. We seemed to have an advantage to score in streaks if Gioya or Maddie was in the game, not so much with Peyton. Peyton tended to make a play here or there. Gioya and Maddie could take over for a couple of minutes and make a ten-point difference.
It's nice when Kay Kay is hitting layups. It tends to open things up for everyone. I think Gioya was better at working with Kay Kay than Peyton or Maddie were. For some reason, Maddie could hit Kay Kay with a pass in the hands when she was wide open, and she still couldn't score. Sometimes, she would let an easy pass to her hands from Maddie bounce off as though she just didn't close her hands around it. Never seemed to work well with Maddie. Vivi did.
I don't really see a best--yet.
soonermike22
New member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2013
- Messages
- 407
- Reaction score
- 0
At times Gioya, Peyton, Sharane, Kay Kay, and Maddie were our best player for a while, but then all of them could disappear on offense, and/or make inappropriate (dumb) fouls and have to leave. By the end of the year, the most consistent player was Gabbi, partly because she handled the ball and led our offense very well. She also became better offensively. But if she is to remain our best player, she must shoot better mid-range, drive and kick better, continue to be a good catch and shoot 3-point shot, and continue to develop as a leader. Why does she have to get better to be our Best?
Because Kay Kay will be a senior, and start to play like a senior, Maddie and Peyton will become more consistent game to game, and Gioya will learn to be a "all-star' every game. I think we will be very good next year, with several players greatly improved.
And Gabbi can be our best player over-all without having to be the leading scorer, or the only consistent play-maker.
Because Kay Kay will be a senior, and start to play like a senior, Maddie and Peyton will become more consistent game to game, and Gioya will learn to be a "all-star' every game. I think we will be very good next year, with several players greatly improved.
And Gabbi can be our best player over-all without having to be the leading scorer, or the only consistent play-maker.
SoonerNorm
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2008
- Messages
- 19,033
- Reaction score
- 1
Unless Sherri comes down hard on Kaylon and Gioya for silly fouls during practice, I don't think they will improve during games.
TheMont
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2015
- Messages
- 937
- Reaction score
- 49
"Best" and "most valuable are two very different things. Take the men's team, for example, where there is a pretty unanimous selection for best player (Buddy), but you could make valid arguments that the most valuable player is Isaiah for his defense or Spangler for his rebounding/energy/intimidation or Woodard for being a floor general/clutch FT shooting.
Our best player is Peyton. She wins the head-to-head with Gioya because of basketball IQ.
I think our most valuable player is either Gabbi or Kaylon. We are a much better team with KayKay on the floor. How many games last season did we pull away in the second half because she had to sit for most of the first half and then came in more focused?
Our best player is Peyton. She wins the head-to-head with Gioya because of basketball IQ.
I think our most valuable player is either Gabbi or Kaylon. We are a much better team with KayKay on the floor. How many games last season did we pull away in the second half because she had to sit for most of the first half and then came in more focused?
What I found interesting is the number of games that we made ten-point runs to take or extend a lead with both Gioya and Kay Kay on the bench. In the Texas game that we won, for example, Gioya got her second foul at 18:07. Kay Kay got hers at 8:02. We were down 14-15 with both out. We led at halftime, 31-28.
Gioya ended up with 11 points in nine minutes. Kay Kay scored 7 and had 5 rebounds in 21. Maddie took over for Gioya after experimenting with LaNesia, and she had 14 points and a little bit of everything in 21 minutes. Vivi had six points and seven rebounds, and we won by 11 with Gioya and Kay Kay not exactly dominating the stat sheet. That happened a few times. Vivi came up at the strangest times and seemed like a veteran. She played well late in the game on several occasions getting key rebounds or blocks.
Gioya ended up with 11 points in nine minutes. Kay Kay scored 7 and had 5 rebounds in 21. Maddie took over for Gioya after experimenting with LaNesia, and she had 14 points and a little bit of everything in 21 minutes. Vivi had six points and seven rebounds, and we won by 11 with Gioya and Kay Kay not exactly dominating the stat sheet. That happened a few times. Vivi came up at the strangest times and seemed like a veteran. She played well late in the game on several occasions getting key rebounds or blocks.
womenssports
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 1,509
- Reaction score
- 28
Will not take into account EJ since she hasn't played a college game as yet.
Kay Kay, Gioya, and Maddie are the ones who I see as having the skils, talent, physical requirements to be the best this year, but each needs to step up her game and I don't know if it will happen with any of the three.
I am interested in seeing how good Vivi can become this year.
Kay Kay, Gioya, and Maddie are the ones who I see as having the skils, talent, physical requirements to be the best this year, but each needs to step up her game and I don't know if it will happen with any of the three.
I am interested in seeing how good Vivi can become this year.
SoonerinNC
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2008
- Messages
- 1,752
- Reaction score
- 2
One thing to remember about Ortiz is the almost impossible shots she made in crunch time last year. She seems to rise to the occasion.
And she just made the US U19 team, as well!
Oliver Hardy
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2010
- Messages
- 3,930
- Reaction score
- 1
I'd say Gabbi.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Occasionally, there is a re-broadcast of one of the women's games on cable this summer. I have watched a couple and taped a couple for further study. I found the Texas game in Norman to be very revealing. This was early in the season, and Texas had only lost one game. They were a dominant interior team.
Gioya started well, but only played a couple of minutes. Texas couldn't hit shots, and we kept making mistakes. We had no replacement for Gioya, and nobody was stepping up. We fell behind 24-16, and a turnover had us on defense again. But, Peyton stole the ball and drove for an easy layup with Texas not getting back. That started a run.
A key was that Maddie was inserted with about ten minutes left in the first half. Until then, we had tried LaNesia and Nicole, trying to find some replacement for Gioya. Nicole at least made a three. But, once Maddie entered the game, it became the Maddie/Peyton Show.
We saw several things revealed. Kay Kay couldn't shoot over Texas. She was choking. Sharane simply didn't have the athletic ability to shoot over Texas. She did make some free throws late in the game. Gioya was on the bench. But, we went from 24-16 to a lead of 31-28 at halftime, a 15-4 run with only a three from Gabbi and a nice driving layup by Vivi. The rest was due to two people who had the athletic ability and basketball IQ to deal with Texas, Peyton and Maddie. They scored. But, they did more than that.
Stats lie. They don't count the tips that allow us to get or keep control of the ball. They don't count the interference that long arms and good footwork creates. Peyton got three free throws when she missed one, but Maddie tipped it back to her, and she was fouled again on the way back up. I think Peyton got a rebound. No credit for the tip.
They dominated the flow of the game, and OU took the lead over Texas into halftime. They had some key defensive and rebounding help from--Vivi. She had the size and athletic ability to deal with Texas inside.
It was interesting that Gabbi, Peyton, and Maddie were getting the rebounds. Several were kept alive by Maddie. There were times that her hands were the highest on a competitive rebound. Even when she wasn't in position to get the rebound, her long arms and rather high jumps created tips that helped us get the ball. At one time, Enempkali was being guarded by Maddie, and she had trouble with Maddie's height and arms. She didn't even try to go over Maddie like she had over Sharane. Sharane worked hard to keep Nneka away from the basket, but Nneka was bigger, stronger, and more athletic. Maddie was actually taller than Nneka, and she jumped higher.
Peyton and Maddie worked together. Vivi and Gabbi made some shots when Maddie penetrated and kicked out or passed off inside to Vivi. Those four could play with Texas. They could beat Texas.
In the second half, the run was extended to 41-31 with Gioya getting seven quick points before fouling out, having played only nine minutes. Gioya's fouls were often trying to get loose balls, and they called the foul on her every time. In each case, the foul could just as easily have been called on the Texas player going for the same ball. Only one of her five fouls was really a clear foul.
When Texas made a comeback to get within two at 44-42, Gabbi hit a three. Texas was never within ten after that. Peyton and Maddie hit free throws to keep Texas down, and they controlled play.
Curiously, that was the only game of the three in which Texas had their best athlete, but the only one that they lost. We had the right people controlling the floor, and once we had those players together, Texas had trouble. We quit making mistakes so often. No one player had been making turnovers for OU. But, everyone was being forced into bad plays until we had Maddie/Peyton running the game.
Our best player? That's really difficult to say. Gabbi, Maddie, and Peyton bring different things to the game. But, together, they bring so many things that enable us to win. If Vivi continues to make progress, she was really more effective than Kay Kay in the Texas game for us. She did the things that drove Texas nuts. Kay Kay didn't.
The best player may be Peyton, but only if Maddie is on the floor.
Gioya started well, but only played a couple of minutes. Texas couldn't hit shots, and we kept making mistakes. We had no replacement for Gioya, and nobody was stepping up. We fell behind 24-16, and a turnover had us on defense again. But, Peyton stole the ball and drove for an easy layup with Texas not getting back. That started a run.
A key was that Maddie was inserted with about ten minutes left in the first half. Until then, we had tried LaNesia and Nicole, trying to find some replacement for Gioya. Nicole at least made a three. But, once Maddie entered the game, it became the Maddie/Peyton Show.
We saw several things revealed. Kay Kay couldn't shoot over Texas. She was choking. Sharane simply didn't have the athletic ability to shoot over Texas. She did make some free throws late in the game. Gioya was on the bench. But, we went from 24-16 to a lead of 31-28 at halftime, a 15-4 run with only a three from Gabbi and a nice driving layup by Vivi. The rest was due to two people who had the athletic ability and basketball IQ to deal with Texas, Peyton and Maddie. They scored. But, they did more than that.
Stats lie. They don't count the tips that allow us to get or keep control of the ball. They don't count the interference that long arms and good footwork creates. Peyton got three free throws when she missed one, but Maddie tipped it back to her, and she was fouled again on the way back up. I think Peyton got a rebound. No credit for the tip.
They dominated the flow of the game, and OU took the lead over Texas into halftime. They had some key defensive and rebounding help from--Vivi. She had the size and athletic ability to deal with Texas inside.
It was interesting that Gabbi, Peyton, and Maddie were getting the rebounds. Several were kept alive by Maddie. There were times that her hands were the highest on a competitive rebound. Even when she wasn't in position to get the rebound, her long arms and rather high jumps created tips that helped us get the ball. At one time, Enempkali was being guarded by Maddie, and she had trouble with Maddie's height and arms. She didn't even try to go over Maddie like she had over Sharane. Sharane worked hard to keep Nneka away from the basket, but Nneka was bigger, stronger, and more athletic. Maddie was actually taller than Nneka, and she jumped higher.
Peyton and Maddie worked together. Vivi and Gabbi made some shots when Maddie penetrated and kicked out or passed off inside to Vivi. Those four could play with Texas. They could beat Texas.
In the second half, the run was extended to 41-31 with Gioya getting seven quick points before fouling out, having played only nine minutes. Gioya's fouls were often trying to get loose balls, and they called the foul on her every time. In each case, the foul could just as easily have been called on the Texas player going for the same ball. Only one of her five fouls was really a clear foul.
When Texas made a comeback to get within two at 44-42, Gabbi hit a three. Texas was never within ten after that. Peyton and Maddie hit free throws to keep Texas down, and they controlled play.
Curiously, that was the only game of the three in which Texas had their best athlete, but the only one that they lost. We had the right people controlling the floor, and once we had those players together, Texas had trouble. We quit making mistakes so often. No one player had been making turnovers for OU. But, everyone was being forced into bad plays until we had Maddie/Peyton running the game.
Our best player? That's really difficult to say. Gabbi, Maddie, and Peyton bring different things to the game. But, together, they bring so many things that enable us to win. If Vivi continues to make progress, she was really more effective than Kay Kay in the Texas game for us. She did the things that drove Texas nuts. Kay Kay didn't.
The best player may be Peyton, but only if Maddie is on the floor.
