11-18-2012, 02:00 AM
Hard for me to add anything of significance to what has already been said. The Bows had heart, and knew how to play, but were hopelessly overmatched.
I'll restrict myself to general impressions.
The whole team is better in nearly every aspect except one: no Nneka.
Taylor is better. Chiney is better. Amber is better, and Ruef appears to be back. I think Tess will be a factor by the end of the year, but her free throw shooting is painful to watch. Oh, by the way, Tinkle is better.
I think Jasmine is going to become a positive force by the start of the PAC-12 season at the latest.
Our section at Maples referred to Bonnie as the "fawn" mostly because of her gait and partly because she looked to be about twelve years old max. Well, I think the fawn has become a Doe. She's played pretty tough these last two games.
There is still the mysterious pass the ball on the perimeter until the shot clock expires lulls, but generally I've liked the ball movement more this year than last.
I really like Erica Payne, but I don't think she will play meaningful minutes in any meaningful game. I don't see Sara James helping unless she really steps it up.
What I think I've seen thus far is that Toni, Amber and Jasmine will get the lion's share of the minutes at the guard spots. Taylor and Bonnie will share minutes at the three with Ruef taking some of those away depending on the match ups. Chiney and Jos will get most of the time at 4 & 5 with Ruef spelling one or the other as the situation demands. Tess will get more minutes as the season progresses, but it remains to be seen whether Tara will trust her in key spots.
Except for the minor problem of not having Nneka, this is a better team. I kid. I'm a kidder. In all seriousness, the overall improvement of just about everyone and the addition of a healthy Ruef adds up to a final four team, despite the lose of perhaps the greatest player in StAnford's WBB history.
I didn't think so at the start of the season, but I think so now. I'm not making reservations for New Orleans yet, but i am mentally preparing myself for going. (Amy and Tara would scold me for getting ahead of myself even that much.)
By the way, people kept congratulating us on Stanford's win over the Ducks when they saw our Stanford gear. We just thanked them. Football still seems to be more popular than WBB. Go figure!
I'll restrict myself to general impressions.
The whole team is better in nearly every aspect except one: no Nneka.
Taylor is better. Chiney is better. Amber is better, and Ruef appears to be back. I think Tess will be a factor by the end of the year, but her free throw shooting is painful to watch. Oh, by the way, Tinkle is better.
I think Jasmine is going to become a positive force by the start of the PAC-12 season at the latest.
Our section at Maples referred to Bonnie as the "fawn" mostly because of her gait and partly because she looked to be about twelve years old max. Well, I think the fawn has become a Doe. She's played pretty tough these last two games.
There is still the mysterious pass the ball on the perimeter until the shot clock expires lulls, but generally I've liked the ball movement more this year than last.
I really like Erica Payne, but I don't think she will play meaningful minutes in any meaningful game. I don't see Sara James helping unless she really steps it up.
What I think I've seen thus far is that Toni, Amber and Jasmine will get the lion's share of the minutes at the guard spots. Taylor and Bonnie will share minutes at the three with Ruef taking some of those away depending on the match ups. Chiney and Jos will get most of the time at 4 & 5 with Ruef spelling one or the other as the situation demands. Tess will get more minutes as the season progresses, but it remains to be seen whether Tara will trust her in key spots.
Except for the minor problem of not having Nneka, this is a better team. I kid. I'm a kidder. In all seriousness, the overall improvement of just about everyone and the addition of a healthy Ruef adds up to a final four team, despite the lose of perhaps the greatest player in StAnford's WBB history.
I didn't think so at the start of the season, but I think so now. I'm not making reservations for New Orleans yet, but i am mentally preparing myself for going. (Amy and Tara would scold me for getting ahead of myself even that much.)
By the way, people kept congratulating us on Stanford's win over the Ducks when they saw our Stanford gear. We just thanked them. Football still seems to be more popular than WBB. Go figure!