[Grad Fan]

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

I wonder if Tara previewed the current starting line-up with how White started the scrimmage:
Jones
Jump
Brink
Emma-Nnopu
Iriafen

This avoids having to have someone like Hannah getting the defensive assignment on quick opposing point guards, since Agnes gives you a lot more defensively than Brooke. A bit of an offensive drop off, so will depend on how much Agnes can keep opposing defenses honest

[Grad Fan]

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

I wonder if Tara previewed the current starting line-up with how White started the scrimmage:
Jones
Jump
Brink
Emma-Nnopu
Iriafen

This avoids having to have someone like Hannah getting the defensive assignment on quick opposing point guards, since Agnes gives you a lot more defensively than Brooke. A bit of an offensive drop off, so will depend on how much Agnes can keep opposing defenses honest

[BosCard]

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

I wonder if Tara previewed the current starting line-up with how White started the scrimmage:
Jones
Jump
Brink
Emma-Nnopu
Iriafen

This avoids having to have someone like Hannah getting the defensive assignment on quick opposing point guards, since Agnes gives you a lot more defensively than Brooke. A bit of an offensive drop off, so will depend on how much Agnes can keep opposing defenses honest

I think you may be right, especially if Emma-Nnopu can generate some offense through the occasional 3, slashing to the basket or designed plays where they post her up in the block.  I do think we will face a lot of sagging defenses where they decide that they will dare Jones and Emma-Nnopu to shoot the 3 because that is a better outcome than either of them driving

[BosCard]

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

I wonder if Tara previewed the current starting line-up with how White started the scrimmage:
Jones
Jump
Brink
Emma-Nnopu
Iriafen

This avoids having to have someone like Hannah getting the defensive assignment on quick opposing point guards, since Agnes gives you a lot more defensively than Brooke. A bit of an offensive drop off, so will depend on how much Agnes can keep opposing defenses honest

I think you may be right, especially if Emma-Nnopu can generate some offense through the occasional 3, slashing to the basket or designed plays where they post her up in the block.  I do think we will face a lot of sagging defenses where they decide that they will dare Jones and Emma-Nnopu to shoot the 3 because that is a better outcome than either of them driving

[bl82]

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

I wonder if Tara previewed the current starting line-up with how White started the scrimmage:
Jones
Jump
Brink
Emma-Nnopu
Iriafen

This avoids having to have someone like Hannah getting the defensive assignment on quick opposing point guards, since Agnes gives you a lot more defensively than Brooke. A bit of an offensive drop off, so will depend on how much Agnes can keep opposing defenses honest

I had the same thought, GradFan. This might be our best defensive team, with a relatively balanced lineup. If Agnes can continue to attack the basket like she did at the scrimmage and also hit her threes with some regularity, she will be hard to displace in the lineup.

[bl82]

5. Iriafan
4. Brink
3. Demetre
2. Jump
1. Jones

I wonder if Tara previewed the current starting line-up with how White started the scrimmage:
Jones
Jump
Brink
Emma-Nnopu
Iriafen

This avoids having to have someone like Hannah getting the defensive assignment on quick opposing point guards, since Agnes gives you a lot more defensively than Brooke. A bit of an offensive drop off, so will depend on how much Agnes can keep opposing defenses honest

I had the same thought, GradFan. This might be our best defensive team, with a relatively balanced lineup. If Agnes can continue to attack the basket like she did at the scrimmage and also hit her threes with some regularity, she will be hard to displace in the lineup.

[BosCard]

If we assume (and this is all guessing at this point) our starting 5 is:
Jones
Jump
Emma-Nnopu
Brink
Iriafen

Then who are the next 5 up?  This is my guess:

PG:  Lepolo
SG:  Nivar
SF:  Prechtel at the 3 point line but she guards the opposing PF
PF:  Belibi but she guards an opposing wing
C:  Betts

You could replace Prechtel with Demetre but she may have to wait till next year when she becomes our designated 3-point shooter with Jump and Prechtel graduating

[BosCard]

If we assume (and this is all guessing at this point) our starting 5 is:
Jones
Jump
Emma-Nnopu
Brink
Iriafen

Then who are the next 5 up?  This is my guess:

PG:  Lepolo
SG:  Nivar
SF:  Prechtel at the 3 point line but she guards the opposing PF
PF:  Belibi but she guards an opposing wing
C:  Betts

You could replace Prechtel with Demetre but she may have to wait till next year when she becomes our designated 3-point shooter with Jump and Prechtel graduating

[OCcardinal]

I wonder whether we might see the following lineup at some point (Brink told Jason Dumas in a recent interview that Tara had been giving her the opportunity to "run some 3" in practice).

PG: Jones
SG: Jump
SF: Brink
PF: Belibi
C: Betts/Iriafen

[OCcardinal]

I wonder whether we might see the following lineup at some point (Brink told Jason Dumas in a recent interview that Tara had been giving her the opportunity to "run some 3" in practice).

PG: Jones
SG: Jump
SF: Brink
PF: Belibi
C: Betts/Iriafen

[old spanish trail]

I wonder whether we might see the following lineup at some point (Brink told Jason Dumas in a recent interview that Tara had been giving her the opportunity to "run some 3" in practice).

PG: Jones
SG: Jump
SF: Brink
PF: Belibi
C: Betts/Iriafen

I'd look for it.

[old spanish trail]

I wonder whether we might see the following lineup at some point (Brink told Jason Dumas in a recent interview that Tara had been giving her the opportunity to "run some 3" in practice).

PG: Jones
SG: Jump
SF: Brink
PF: Belibi
C: Betts/Iriafen

I'd look for it.

[Card10Fan]

I wonder whether we might see the following lineup at some point (Brink told Jason Dumas in a recent interview that Tara had been giving her the opportunity to "run some 3" in practice).

PG: Jones
SG: Jump
SF: Brink
PF: Belibi
C: Betts/Iriafen

I'd look for it.

That’s so much length on the floor at one time. If our guards get beat on the perimeter, teams are gonna have to make mid range jump shots because we have shot blockers and rim protectors in the paint. I like it. I think we can be really good defensively because of our size. I’m all for trying the big lineup. The best players need to be on the floor and our post/bigs are really really good.

[Card10Fan]

I wonder whether we might see the following lineup at some point (Brink told Jason Dumas in a recent interview that Tara had been giving her the opportunity to "run some 3" in practice).

PG: Jones
SG: Jump
SF: Brink
PF: Belibi
C: Betts/Iriafen

I'd look for it.

That’s so much length on the floor at one time. If our guards get beat on the perimeter, teams are gonna have to make mid range jump shots because we have shot blockers and rim protectors in the paint. I like it. I think we can be really good defensively because of our size. I’m all for trying the big lineup. The best players need to be on the floor and our post/bigs are really really good.

[81alum]

One think you can be sure of with Tara--at some point we will in fact see every possible formation we have discussed on the floor.  Especially in the preseason she substitutes liberally and tries out many combinations. 

I think we won't really know Tara's deep thinking on the matter until we hit the games that pose a real challenge to us.  Then the experimentation will stop and she will put forward the players she has the most confidence in to win the game on both ends of the court. 

We will see everything under the sun for a little while, and then we will see the actual state of the team on November 20.  Of course, who we see get the lion's share of the minutes on Nov 20 may in part be determined by what the players are able to do during this three week experimental period beginning now.

[81alum]

One think you can be sure of with Tara--at some point we will in fact see every possible formation we have discussed on the floor.  Especially in the preseason she substitutes liberally and tries out many combinations. 

I think we won't really know Tara's deep thinking on the matter until we hit the games that pose a real challenge to us.  Then the experimentation will stop and she will put forward the players she has the most confidence in to win the game on both ends of the court. 

We will see everything under the sun for a little while, and then we will see the actual state of the team on November 20.  Of course, who we see get the lion's share of the minutes on Nov 20 may in part be determined by what the players are able to do during this three week experimental period beginning now.

[jonnyss]

I wonder whether we might see the following lineup at some point (Brink told Jason Dumas in a recent interview that Tara had been giving her the opportunity to "run some 3" in practice).

PG: Jones
SG: Jump
SF: Brink
PF: Belibi
C: Betts/Iriafen

I'd look for it.

That’s so much length on the floor at one time. If our guards get beat on the perimeter, teams are gonna have to make mid range jump shots because we have shot blockers and rim protectors in the paint. I like it. I think we can be really good defensively because of our size. I’m all for trying the big lineup. The best players need to be on the floor and our post/bigs are really really good.

i'm guessing that an opponent would have to play zone against that line-up. in player-to-player, one defender will be really out-matched by one of our 3 bigs.

[jonnyss]

I wonder whether we might see the following lineup at some point (Brink told Jason Dumas in a recent interview that Tara had been giving her the opportunity to "run some 3" in practice).

PG: Jones
SG: Jump
SF: Brink
PF: Belibi
C: Betts/Iriafen

I'd look for it.

That’s so much length on the floor at one time. If our guards get beat on the perimeter, teams are gonna have to make mid range jump shots because we have shot blockers and rim protectors in the paint. I like it. I think we can be really good defensively because of our size. I’m all for trying the big lineup. The best players need to be on the floor and our post/bigs are really really good.

i'm guessing that an opponent would have to play zone against that line-up. in player-to-player, one defender will be really out-matched by one of our 3 bigs.

[bl82]

I think we might see a lot more zone than we are used to unless at least one person other than Hannah can be a consistent 3-pt threat

[bl82]

I think we might see a lot more zone than we are used to unless at least one person other than Hannah can be a consistent 3-pt threat

[BosCard]

I think we might see a lot more zone than we are used to unless at least one person other than Hannah can be a consistent 3-pt threat

The free throw line is a weak spot of the zone as well so Jones, Brink or Iriafen hitting jumpers from there would soften up a zone as well.

[BosCard]

I think we might see a lot more zone than we are used to unless at least one person other than Hannah can be a consistent 3-pt threat

The free throw line is a weak spot of the zone as well so Jones, Brink or Iriafen hitting jumpers from there would soften up a zone as well.

[81alum]

The very best teams, like South Carolina, are going to think they match up and consequently won't play zone.  Many many lesser teams will play zone and hope that we get unlucky from three.  That is how it has been for 10 years.

Iriafan's mid to long range jumper, Demetre's midrange jumper, Jump's treys and perhaps the emergence of Emma-Nnopu or Nivar on offense plus the possibility of Prechtel from range should all be enough to defeat the zone.  Jones made a three and certainly has a good mid range shot. 

However, the dirty little secret of jump shooting is that both makes and misses are infectious.  There are days when everyone shoots very well and they feed off of each other, and days when no one shoots well and the misses seem to feed off of each other.  So long range shooting can be unreliable as a group even when we have lots of weapons, and opposing coaches know this and figure they might as well roll the dice and play zone.  But the best teams won't roll the dice, but attempt to contest everything.  And it is the best teams we have to worry about most.

[81alum]

The very best teams, like South Carolina, are going to think they match up and consequently won't play zone.  Many many lesser teams will play zone and hope that we get unlucky from three.  That is how it has been for 10 years.

Iriafan's mid to long range jumper, Demetre's midrange jumper, Jump's treys and perhaps the emergence of Emma-Nnopu or Nivar on offense plus the possibility of Prechtel from range should all be enough to defeat the zone.  Jones made a three and certainly has a good mid range shot. 

However, the dirty little secret of jump shooting is that both makes and misses are infectious.  There are days when everyone shoots very well and they feed off of each other, and days when no one shoots well and the misses seem to feed off of each other.  So long range shooting can be unreliable as a group even when we have lots of weapons, and opposing coaches know this and figure they might as well roll the dice and play zone.  But the best teams won't roll the dice, but attempt to contest everything.  And it is the best teams we have to worry about most.

[WBB fan]

ESPN has put out its pre-season top 25 player list

www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34921136/women-college-basketball-top-25-players-country-2022-23

Haley is #3 and Cam is #6 -- Stanford the only team with two in the top 10 (or 6 if you want to look at it that way). But there are other teams with two in the top 25, including South Carolina.  Interesting comments re Haley, including a definitive that she will be the PG. Haley and Cam are the only Pac-12 players on the list, though Charlisse Leger-Walker, Kate Reese, and Charisma Osborne did "get votes"

[WBB fan]

ESPN has put out its pre-season top 25 player list

www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34921136/women-college-basketball-top-25-players-country-2022-23

Haley is #3 and Cam is #6 -- Stanford the only team with two in the top 10 (or 6 if you want to look at it that way). But there are other teams with two in the top 25, including South Carolina.  Interesting comments re Haley, including a definitive that she will be the PG. Haley and Cam are the only Pac-12 players on the list, though Charlisse Leger-Walker, Kate Reese, and Charisma Osborne did "get votes"

[Jskass]

agree and would add:
1. Pac-12 underrated and Reese should be there;
2. If Olivia Miles had headed west we'd have 3, but I trust Tara; and
3. Those Iowa-Iowa State games could be fun to watch (given their presence on the list). I saw the Iowa State 3x3 team in Springfield MA this summer (along with Stanford's) and they were QUITE good with great chemistry among their players.

[Jskass]

agree and would add:
1. Pac-12 underrated and Reese should be there;
2. If Olivia Miles had headed west we'd have 3, but I trust Tara; and
3. Those Iowa-Iowa State games could be fun to watch (given their presence on the list). I saw the Iowa State 3x3 team in Springfield MA this summer (along with Stanford's) and they were QUITE good with great chemistry among their players.

[here4WBB]

Schedule question here - does anyone know why we do not have any games scheduled with Texas this year?  Thanks.

[here4WBB]

Schedule question here - does anyone know why we do not have any games scheduled with Texas this year?  Thanks.

[81alum]

Schedule question here - does anyone know why we do not have any games scheduled with Texas this year?  Thanks.

I don't really know, but I think we finished a home-and-away last year, with the COVID year interrupting.  I don't think we traditionally played Texas, although I remember another home-and-away earlier.  Texas was never like Tennessee or even UConn.  We didn't do so well in the last set, losing both games, and the year we didn't play them--we won the natty.

2021 Nov 14 at Stanford
2020 no game
2019 Dec 29 at Texas

[81alum]

Schedule question here - does anyone know why we do not have any games scheduled with Texas this year?  Thanks.

I don't really know, but I think we finished a home-and-away last year, with the COVID year interrupting.  I don't think we traditionally played Texas, although I remember another home-and-away earlier.  Texas was never like Tennessee or even UConn.  We didn't do so well in the last set, losing both games, and the year we didn't play them--we won the natty.

2021 Nov 14 at Stanford
2020 no game
2019 Dec 29 at Texas

[qwerty49]

I think we might see a lot more zone than we are used to unless at least one person other than Hannah can be a consistent 3-pt threat

The free throw line is a weak spot of the zone as well so Jones, Brink or Iriafen hitting jumpers from there would soften up a zone as well.

In recent years the free throw line has been a weak spot in our offense as well.  Let's hope we can improve a lot here.  IIRC in our best years we were above 70% as a team.   Perhaps someone here has the actual stats.

[qwerty49]

I think we might see a lot more zone than we are used to unless at least one person other than Hannah can be a consistent 3-pt threat

The free throw line is a weak spot of the zone as well so Jones, Brink or Iriafen hitting jumpers from there would soften up a zone as well.

In recent years the free throw line has been a weak spot in our offense as well.  Let's hope we can improve a lot here.  IIRC in our best years we were above 70% as a team.   Perhaps someone here has the actual stats.

[81alum]

I think we might see a lot more zone than we are used to unless at least one person other than Hannah can be a consistent 3-pt threat

The free throw line is a weak spot of the zone as well so Jones, Brink or Iriafen hitting jumpers from there would soften up a zone as well.

In recent years the free throw line has been a weak spot in our offense as well.  Let's hope we can improve a lot here.  IIRC in our best years we were above 70% as a team.   Perhaps someone here has the actual stats.

Last year our free throw shooting was 68.7%.

I remember when we first implemented the Princeton a bunch of teams played zone just to destroy the rhythm of the offense, and it often worked.  Tara seemed taken by surprise by the number of zones we were facing--and of course as teams had success with it others copied them when playing us.  Oregon was always playing zone, but not a lot of other opponents.

I can't remember the specific opponent, but Tara put Nadia Fingall at the elbow and let her shoot 2s, and she had one of the best games early in her career.  It was indeed the softspot in that particular zone.

Oregon's zone at the time was far more effective since their athletes could move so quickly, making the zone behave more like a man.  I sometimes wonder if that should be OUR defense this year, with all the length and athleticism we have.

[81alum]

I think we might see a lot more zone than we are used to unless at least one person other than Hannah can be a consistent 3-pt threat

The free throw line is a weak spot of the zone as well so Jones, Brink or Iriafen hitting jumpers from there would soften up a zone as well.

In recent years the free throw line has been a weak spot in our offense as well.  Let's hope we can improve a lot here.  IIRC in our best years we were above 70% as a team.   Perhaps someone here has the actual stats.

Last year our free throw shooting was 68.7%.

I remember when we first implemented the Princeton a bunch of teams played zone just to destroy the rhythm of the offense, and it often worked.  Tara seemed taken by surprise by the number of zones we were facing--and of course as teams had success with it others copied them when playing us.  Oregon was always playing zone, but not a lot of other opponents.

I can't remember the specific opponent, but Tara put Nadia Fingall at the elbow and let her shoot 2s, and she had one of the best games early in her career.  It was indeed the softspot in that particular zone.

Oregon's zone at the time was far more effective since their athletes could move so quickly, making the zone behave more like a man.  I sometimes wonder if that should be OUR defense this year, with all the length and athleticism we have.

[here4WBB]

Schedule question here - does anyone know why we do not have any games scheduled with Texas this year?  Thanks.

I don't really know, but I think we finished a home-and-away last year, with the COVID year interrupting.  I don't think we traditionally played Texas, although I remember another home-and-away earlier.  Texas was never like Tennessee or even UConn.  We didn't do so well in the last set, losing both games, and the year we didn't play them--we won the natty.

2021 Nov 14 at Stanford
2020 no game
2019 Dec 29 at Texas

thanks.  I was hoping we'd play them at Maples again since Vic Schaefer coaches such a different game.  I'm not a fan of his style, but it caught us unprepared, and I think it makes us tougher as a team.

[here4WBB]

Schedule question here - does anyone know why we do not have any games scheduled with Texas this year?  Thanks.

I don't really know, but I think we finished a home-and-away last year, with the COVID year interrupting.  I don't think we traditionally played Texas, although I remember another home-and-away earlier.  Texas was never like Tennessee or even UConn.  We didn't do so well in the last set, losing both games, and the year we didn't play them--we won the natty.

2021 Nov 14 at Stanford
2020 no game
2019 Dec 29 at Texas

thanks.  I was hoping we'd play them at Maples again since Vic Schaefer coaches such a different game.  I'm not a fan of his style, but it caught us unprepared, and I think it makes us tougher as a team.

[WBB fan]

Not sure if this belongs in the "open practice" tread or here, but I'll go for here. Last night, at the 2nd open practice (the one for boosters), all 15 played, including Fran, who still had tape around her hand. Afterward, she was one of the four players who was on a panel to answer questions (the others -- Hannah, Kiki, and Brooke) and she had taken the tape off, was genturing with her hands. During the last of the practice, cool-down, when everyone was doing push-ups, Fran was exempted and did curls instead, I assume to avoid putting pressure on that hand.

In followup to what others said about the Saturday open practice, which I was not able to attend, I was also very impressed with Lepolo last night. She moves very well, a sturdy body that's not going to get pushed around, great ball handling.

At the reception following, Tara answered questions and about the Vanguard game, said that two people who have never started before would be starting, declined to say who they were, instead said, come to the game and find out.  My guess is Kiki and Agnes (I noted this also in the Vanguard game thread). She also said that they are going to be resuming the in-person pre-game chalk talks, though did not say when.

[WBB fan]

Not sure if this belongs in the "open practice" tread or here, but I'll go for here. Last night, at the 2nd open practice (the one for boosters), all 15 played, including Fran, who still had tape around her hand. Afterward, she was one of the four players who was on a panel to answer questions (the others -- Hannah, Kiki, and Brooke) and she had taken the tape off, was genturing with her hands. During the last of the practice, cool-down, when everyone was doing push-ups, Fran was exempted and did curls instead, I assume to avoid putting pressure on that hand.

In followup to what others said about the Saturday open practice, which I was not able to attend, I was also very impressed with Lepolo last night. She moves very well, a sturdy body that's not going to get pushed around, great ball handling.

At the reception following, Tara answered questions and about the Vanguard game, said that two people who have never started before would be starting, declined to say who they were, instead said, come to the game and find out.  My guess is Kiki and Agnes (I noted this also in the Vanguard game thread). She also said that they are going to be resuming the in-person pre-game chalk talks, though did not say when.