WBB: Time to Step Up - Printable Version

WBB: Time to Step Up - Printable Version

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WBB: Time to Step Up - treetop11 - 02-08-2023

Our team has a brobdingnagian challenge ahead. We have 6 ggames left in the regular season; at the AZ schools this weekend, home vs the LA schools, and last weekend at the Mt schools. Not only are we at a disadvantage having 4 of the last 6 on the road, 5 of the 6 games are against the five of the teams closest to us in the standings. Only ASU can be thought of as mor or less a gimme. The loss at UW really hurt as it gave us no room for error. We are tied with Utah and only one game ahead of CU, and both teams have an easier schedule left. They play the AZ schools so that is a wash. And though WSU and UW (playing better lately) are decent teams, Utah and CU get them at home, and the LA schools we have to face are better. That leaves the last weekend in SLC and Boulder. Utah and CU have the advantage at home plus they get to play Cal. So we have two tough away games against our closest competition in the standings and Utah and CU can probably coast agst Cal.

Then we have the P12 tournament. Barring a total collapse of our team, we will finish in the top 4 and get a first round bye, even if Utah or CU or AZ pulls off a fantastic run the next 6 games and wins the regualr season. With the overall quality of the conference this year, winning the P12 tournament will be a feat for the eventual winner. Our team cannot expect to be an easy favorite especially if we get seeded lower than #1. But regardless of seed, there are 10 teams that can win against any other team on a given night.

Then we have the NCAAs. Creme currently has us still as a #1 seed. He said we are the final 1 seed - oddly though as the last 1 seed, I actually think our bracket is easieer than the other #1 seeds. However, However, if lose two or more games in P12 competition, perhaps only one more, we get knocked out of the #1 seed, but hopefully stay in the #16 to get home games in the first and second rounds. But none of this is a given and we know that there are a number of quality teams that could beat us. No guarantees obviously, but we should make the Sweet 16. Beyond that it could be a crap shoot.

So, winning the P12 regular season, the P12 tournament, and at least advancing to the Final Four (our minimum goal) are very much up in the air, and with the play of the team in recent games and our schedule ahead, it's not unreasoanble to think that the odds are against us to achieve any of those accomplishments.

If this team, which has been ranked #2 most all season and almost #1, hopes to achieve the lofty goals from preseason on, it is time for the team to step up. The team needs to prove that it is truly elite and dominant. The team has to show that it can and will beat quality teams, and do so one after the other. It needs to have the swagger to say "Bring on your best and we will defeat you" and then do so. The team has to make opponents fear playing Stanford, rather then harboring thoughts that they can upset us and take down the "big dog". This means that the coaches really have to get their act together with lineups, rotations, strategies, and preparation. The players need to really dig in, work hard, and raise their level of energy and intensity EVERY game znd EVERY possession - no time to rest or coast now. They need to be confident, assertive, and aggressive. They need to live up to their potential and use their Stanford smarts on the court. We have discussed at length the weaknesses or pitfalls for the team and other observers have noted the same, so we know the concerns.

Despite the uphill challenges ahead of the team which make me pessimistic, I do see reasons for optimism:

1. In Brink and Jones, we have two bona fide, legit All American players. At any level of basketball, we know that just one superstar player can carry a team and make it a winner/champion. We have two. Throughout the season, there haven't been that many games where it's been virtually the Brink-Jones show. Mostly, one or the other has been the major performer. Part of the reason is how teams have played us, but I also think part is due to Cam and/or Haley deferring to other players so as get the others involved and contributing so it wouldn't be just the duo. Cam and Haley are very capable of together taking over and dominating games and now is the tiem to do it. At this point, I'm not worried about them being the highest scorers and rebounders for both teams in every game going forward - give me 20+ pts. and 10-20 rebounds for them each game and the odds of us winning out go way up.

2. Jump's slump will stop. She is too good of a natural shooter and works too hard for her to continue her shooting woes. She will staerting hitting again, regain confidence, and quit pressing. More importantly, if Brink and Jones really assert themselves, teams will have to loosen up somewhat on Hannah. That will give her more open shots.

3. I have to believe that Lepolo's ankle is healing more each day. She hasn't been as qucik and decisive since the injury. I think it's part of why the team hasn't seemed as fast paced as earlier. If she returns to form, she is a quality PG in terms of excellent ballhandling, above average passing, and she has shown to make a good percentage of shots when she takes them. More importantly, Nivar has been given more minutes and is responding. That not only allows Lepolo to get some rest, but gives Tara more options.

4. Guard play is critical in late season and postseason, and frankly I don't think we match up compared to the top opponents we have ahead of us. We're not bad, but our opponents are better inthe backcourt. However, I still beleive that we have the best big players in the country and at depth. And as undefeated So Carolina has proven, if you have several quality big players who can score and dominate the boards, you can win with an above average but not super backcourt. Our bigs matched up with SC's and controlled most of the game. Our bigs need to step up and dominate going forward. On O, they need to attack the basket often and get second chance putbacks with O rebounds. On D, every opponent should get challenged and stuffed in the paint and fear trying to go agst our post players. With the incredible depth in the post that we have, there should be no reason not to be really aggressive and worry about fouls except for Brink whose value is also so high on the O end. If our bigs step up, it wil relieve pressure on our wings and guards and they will perform better. Our strength is our bigs, we need to impose that strength. Teams should have to try and mathc up us rather than us trying to match up with them.

Withthe above in mind, I would like to see 2 bigs on the court all the time with at least one big being a capable 3 point or mid range shooter. For O, I would have Haley play what would be considered a 4 and one of the two bigs playing what might be considered a 3 but also lots of high low post action with the two bigs. On D, Haley would guard the opponent's 3 and the 2 bigs control the paint. With 2 strong post players guarding the paint and not having to pack the paint, we should force teams to become almost exclusively jump shooters from further out. I like our odds that way. One thing we have to guard agst is the opponents pressuring us and playing physical and aggressive to cause us turnovers. Our players need to be equally or more aggressive positioning, catching, and going for balls - and every player needs to be careful on their passes - no lazy ones. If we don't give up easy transition baskets, I like our chances very much to holding opponents scoring and shooting percentages way down.

RE: WBB: Time to Step Up - OCcardinal - 02-08-2023

You share some good thoughts treetop, but I disagree with two of your comments.

(02-08-2023, 01:51 PM)treetop11 Wrote: We are tied with Utah and only one game ahead of CU, and both teams have an easier schedule left.

Both teams have to play us. I'd rather be us than them.

(02-08-2023, 01:51 PM)treetop11 Wrote: The team has to show that it can and will beat quality teams, and do so one after the other.

I wouldn't pinpoint that as an issue. We have 5 wins over current top 25 teams, including in back to back games. Only Connecticut has more (6). And it will be a lot easier to win back-to-back games against quality teams if Cam isn't sick, as she was last week. (And who knows who else may have been sick too.)

RE: WBB: Time to Step Up - 81alum - 02-08-2023

(02-08-2023, 04:14 PM)OCcardinal Wrote: (And who knows who else may have been sick too.)

A lot of fans were heartsick.

I'd much rather that we were on a roll and the offense was scoring 100 points as we once did. On the other hand, it is going to be truly fascinating to see what Tara does. And the chalk talk next week could be one of the most interesting ever.

But yes, the general thrust of your analysis is correct. Now is (to use that overused term) "an inflection point." The next six games will render all of our speculation moot, and will clear up all mysteries. One way or another, we will know what there is to be known about this year's team. There won't be any rabbits coming out of any hats after this run.

I do wonder, however, if we might see a rabbit or two coming out of Tara's hat tomorrow. If she is going to make any major adjustments, I feel like this is the very last chance, really.

RE: WBB: Time to Step Up - treetop11 - 02-08-2023

(02-08-2023, 04:14 PM)OCcardinal Wrote: You share some good thoughts treetop, but I disagree with two of your comments.

(02-08-2023, 01:51 PM)treetop11 Wrote: We are tied with Utah and only one game ahead of CU, and both teams have an easier schedule left.
Both teams have to play us. I'd rather be us than them.

(02-08-2023, 01:51 PM)treetop11 Wrote: The team has to show that it can and will beat quality teams, and do so one after the other.
I wouldn't pinpoint that as an issue. We have 5 wins over current top 25 teams, including in back to back games. Only Connecticut has more (6). And it will be a lot easier to win back-to-back games against quality teams if Cam isn't sick, as she was last week. (And who knows who else may have been sick too.)

Assuming you're right about them having to play us and we dispatch them as we did at Maples - not a given since we are at their place, the fact is that they both have easier other opponents left on their schedule than we do. So greater chance that we lick up one or more losses than them. Not saying that will happen, but reality is we have a toughe road ahead.

You're right about us being right at the top for quality wins. And yes, Cam dominating as I described as needed, was affected by he being sick. But my post was not to say htat we couldn't - or haven't shown - that we can beat quality teams consistently, it was meant to underscore my point about us having swagger or simply confidence and aggression. There is a tendency to have thoughts that when you on top that a letdown is possible/expected, especially when everyone puts a target on your back and you get their best effort. I'm saying that the team should not accept that negative thought to creep in, but rather, go out there with the attitude that they can and will beat the best, one after another.

To 81 alum, good points, but I wonder whether it really is a matter of Tara making changes - like with personnel as we have bandied about here - or do the coaches and players need to fortify their attitudes and beliefs from where they started the season and impose their will on our opponents? We are who we are with our known strengths and weaknesses - but the same applies to all our upcoming foes. So perhaps it boils down to who wants it more and who maximizes their strengths?

Baez87 - Baez87 - 02-08-2023

These are young women doing their damnedest to win in a competitive basketball world. Take, for example, a few minutes ago: Marquette 59 - UCON 52.
Let’s enjoy the season one game at a time and not get ahead of ourselves.

RE: WBB: Time to Step Up - 81alum - 02-08-2023

(02-08-2023, 07:09 PM)treetop11 Wrote: To 81 alum, good points, but I wonder whether it really is a matter of Tara making changes - like with personnel as we have bandied about here - or do the coaches and players need to fortify their attitudes and beliefs from where they started the season and impose their will on our opponents? We are who we are with our known strengths and weaknesses - but the same applies to all our upcoming foes. So perhaps it boils down to who wants it more and who maximizes their strengths?

And of course it is up to Tara to figure that out. Sometimes you can make too many changes, try to hard, when focusing on a consistent plan or the basics may be what the team needs. Or not. And the coach needs to know which.

After all the bloviating that I and other fans have spewed on this board, it is times like this that I am so grateful that Tara has to make the decisions and not me! She does have a significantly better track record than I have ;P

RE: Baez87 - MV72018 - 02-08-2023

(02-08-2023, 07:53 PM)Baez87 Wrote: These are young women doing their damnedest to win in a competitive basketball world. Take, for example, a few minutes ago: Marquette 59 - UCON 52.
Let’s enjoy the season one game at a time and not get ahead of ourselves.

Gerald Ford mastered the art of walking and chewing gum simultaneously. No reason why concerned people on this board can't "enjoy the season" and think ahead to the tough games" at the same time.

RE: WBB: Time to Step Up - TheFarm07 - 02-08-2023

(02-08-2023, 08:15 PM)81alum Wrote:
(02-08-2023, 07:09 PM)treetop11 Wrote: To 81 alum, good points, but I wonder whether it really is a matter of Tara making changes - like with personnel as we have bandied about here - or do the coaches and players need to fortify their attitudes and beliefs from where they started the season and impose their will on our opponents? We are who we are with our known strengths and weaknesses - but the same applies to all our upcoming foes. So perhaps it boils down to who wants it more and who maximizes their strengths?
And of course it is up to Tara to figure that out. Sometimes you can make too many changes, try to hard, when focusing on a consistent plan or the basics may be what the team needs. Or not. And the coach needs to know which.

After all the bloviating that I and other fans have spewed on this board, it is times like this that I am so grateful that Tara has to make the decisions and not me! She does have a significantly better track record than I have ;P

I am wondering - I know we ran the triangle offense back then, but did we run into the same issues immediately after Wiggins graduated in the late 2000s and early 2010s when our frontcourt was our strength - Nneka/Appel/Pedersen and then Chiney in for Appel? We had Pohlen as a guard but she was more than just a three-point shooter. Our relative weakness was our other guard. We had JJ Hones & Melanie Murphy in there, but relative to the superstars, it was more of a vulnerability. I guess they showed more consistency with their jump shooting so that teams couldn't sag off of them.

I am trying to think of any similar situations in the past and what Tara did to give us some idea of what she might or might not implement down the stretch run.

RE: Baez87 - treetop11 - 02-09-2023

(02-08-2023, 07:53 PM)Baez87 Wrote: These are young women doing their damnedest to win in a competitive basketball world. Take, for example, a few minutes ago: Marquette 59 - UCON 52.
Let’s enjoy the season one game at a time and not get ahead of ourselves.

Don't be a snob Baez. It's what fans and other sports observers do. Why do you think that they do Bracketology? Are they taking it one day at a time? Your first statement is pedantic and something we all know and agree with. My initial post was long, but I can restate its intent briefly: we have tough row to hoe ahead of us to win championships, but we can do it and it will require our team to put it in anothe gear and play to our strengths.

Yes, I sw the Uconn thing. I was checking the play by play on ESPB website since no video coverage and rooting for Uconn to go down.

(02-08-2023, 08:15 PM)81alum Wrote:
(02-08-2023, 07:09 PM)treetop11 Wrote: To 81 alum, good points, but I wonder whether it really is a matter of Tara making changes - like with personnel as we have bandied about here - or do the coaches and players need to fortify their attitudes and beliefs from where they started the season and impose their will on our opponents? We are who we are with our known strengths and weaknesses - but the same applies to all our upcoming foes. So perhaps it boils down to who wants it more and who maximizes their strengths?
And of course it is up to Tara to figure that out. Sometimes you can make too many changes, try to hard, when focusing on a consistent plan or the basics may be what the team needs. Or not. And the coach needs to know which.

After all the bloviating that I and other fans have spewed on this board, it is times like this that I am so grateful that Tara has to make the decisions and not me! She does have a significantly better track record than I have ;P

I think most on this site are in the same boat; we like this team, know the terrific talent and great coach, and bleed Cardinal red. So we things seem to go sideways, we're looking for answer and hoping that the coaches and players find them despite all our "armchair HC or PG expertise" (sarcasm about our expertise compared to coaches and players).

Baez87 - Baez87 - 02-09-2023

You are right MV72018. I’m sure that everyone has mastered the challenge of walking and chewing gum at the same time. Although I’m not as sure that everyone can rub their stomach and pat their head at the same time!
Seriously though, I’m sure that all of us focus on the coming game while glancing ahead at the challenges of the season, the conference and national seedings, and how the other teams are faring. It’s all part of being a fan across the territory of a long season. Each of us chooses what part of the process we wish to emphasize.
Personally, I like to take a coach's approach — anticipate what lies ahead, but focus on one game at a time. In this particular thread, we seemed to be obsessing on the difficulties that lie ahead. So my comment was to moderate that tendency, but I don’t take issue with talking about the future games. And I have no fantasy about controlling how others behave. I simply interject my point of view when I have one.
It seems to me that we on the Cardboard are filling a role much like the anxious expectant father at a home birth. The patient (the team) is being attended to by the doctor or midwife (the coach) and we fans on the Board are out in the kitchen boiling water (for no particular purpose, but to curb our anxiety). When the child emerges, we cheer loudly and say "we had a hand in this!” And we do! We love the game and enjoy strategizing while cheering our players on.
I enjoy being a fan. And I enjoy reading the posts on this board.
Now, let go out and beat Arizona!!!

RE: WBB: Time to Step Up - M T - 02-09-2023

I like good analogies!