[TheFarm07]

[quote author=TheFarm07 link=topic=17570.msg206684#msg206684 date=1508114027]
Wow, are we that pessimistic about the team?

No, not pessimistic, just imaging worst case scenarios. Losing twice to OSU, and also to UConn, Baylor, Tennessee and UCLA would leave us 6-7. While I think it's unlikely we would lose *all* of those games, I could easily see us losing any one of them, and honestly, I would be very happy with a 3-3 split of those six games, because only two of the six are at home. I'm also wary of Gonzaga, since we lost to them last year. It is a testament to Tara's and the other coaches' abilities that our teams are always much better in March than in November, but it will take Tara time to figure out the puzzle pieces with such a young roster and she will be doing it largely on the road and against the very best teams.

Again, I don't expect us to lose all of these games, but my point is that unlike the late 00's when we regularly played this strong of an OOC schedule, we aren't going to start the season ranked 2nd, 3rd or 4th. We don't yet have pre-season polls, but this way-too-early projection had UConn at 1, UCLA at 3, Baylor at 5, and Tennessee at 8 (albeit when Diamond DeShields was still planning to return). That's a heck of a challenge for a young team.
[/quote]

True, we are not exactly starting off slowly when we play Ohio State and UConn to immediately open the season. It's too bad the schedule didn't work out where we could have an easy game or two to ease into the season before diving into a premiere matchup.

I can see your point in a worst case scenario how we can limp into conference play with an ugly record. If that happens, I hope the committee will remember that those losses were against a high caliber of opponent and not defeats to middling teams.

Plus, Baylor, UConn, etc. also did not lose as much to graduation so it might be easier for them to gel quicker.

It is interesting for Tara to schedule such a tough non-conference schedule with our losses on graduation as opposed to last year where we had the bulk of our starters returning.

I am holding out hope that we can use especially the opening games as the level of competition we need to rise to as the season progresses. Ohio State has Kelsey Mitchell, with Bri gone, I am wondering who will get the assignment of guarding her.

[TheFarm07]

[quote author=TheFarm07 link=topic=17570.msg206684#msg206684 date=1508114027]
Wow, are we that pessimistic about the team?

No, not pessimistic, just imaging worst case scenarios. Losing twice to OSU, and also to UConn, Baylor, Tennessee and UCLA would leave us 6-7. While I think it's unlikely we would lose *all* of those games, I could easily see us losing any one of them, and honestly, I would be very happy with a 3-3 split of those six games, because only two of the six are at home. I'm also wary of Gonzaga, since we lost to them last year. It is a testament to Tara's and the other coaches' abilities that our teams are always much better in March than in November, but it will take Tara time to figure out the puzzle pieces with such a young roster and she will be doing it largely on the road and against the very best teams.

Again, I don't expect us to lose all of these games, but my point is that unlike the late 00's when we regularly played this strong of an OOC schedule, we aren't going to start the season ranked 2nd, 3rd or 4th. We don't yet have pre-season polls, but this way-too-early projection had UConn at 1, UCLA at 3, Baylor at 5, and Tennessee at 8 (albeit when Diamond DeShields was still planning to return). That's a heck of a challenge for a young team.
[/quote]

True, we are not exactly starting off slowly when we play Ohio State and UConn to immediately open the season. It's too bad the schedule didn't work out where we could have an easy game or two to ease into the season before diving into a premiere matchup.

I can see your point in a worst case scenario how we can limp into conference play with an ugly record. If that happens, I hope the committee will remember that those losses were against a high caliber of opponent and not defeats to middling teams.

Plus, Baylor, UConn, etc. also did not lose as much to graduation so it might be easier for them to gel quicker.

It is interesting for Tara to schedule such a tough non-conference schedule with our losses on graduation as opposed to last year where we had the bulk of our starters returning.

I am holding out hope that we can use especially the opening games as the level of competition we need to rise to as the season progresses. Ohio State has Kelsey Mitchell, with Bri gone, I am wondering who will get the assignment of guarding her.