Monday, October 31, 2022

AS A. PREVIEW OF OUR SEASON - WHAT DID SATURDAY'S INTERSQUAD SCRIMMAGE TELL US ABOUT OUR 2022/2023 TEAM ?

It told me we enjoy an amazing bounty of riches. From number one to number fifteen, so much talent! And not only talent - you could see the thousands of hours of hard work each player has invested to enable them to be out there on that practice floor. 

And since April there's been great improvement! Haley looks more like a Player of the Year candidate and a number one draft pick. Cameron is on her way to becoming a face the basket slasher, a mid-range jump shooter, and a spot up long distance threat. Hanna is more of a threat off the dribble, who can drive around and score against any defender who gets in her grill. Kiki looks to me like an All-Pac12 player!  

We have three weeks to get ready for the Gamecocks. In those three weeks we play one D2 Exhibition and five D1 games. We'll be ready. Of course, we miss the grit and urgency of Anna and the Hulls. On the other hand, Jones, Brink, Iriafen and Emma Nnopu played with the intensity those three brought every day. In the next three weeks, more of that intensity needs to infuse all fifteen of our players.

Fran wasn't able to play and I'm sure this season she's going to bring it every day.        

The five freshmen were a terrific surprise. Their skill level certainly shows the years of training and preparation that will enable them to contribute in the near term. Talana Lepolo appeared ready to bring the ball up the floor and initiate the offense against intense defensive pressure. Lauren Betts seemed to lack confidence and I'm hoping she gets enough playing time in the next three weeks to feel more comfortable out there. She's got all the strength and ability she needs.

As I watched, my thought of a starting five took shape:

Kiki

Hanna

Haley

Cam

Fran

What would your starting five look like?

And a second string might be:

Agnes

Talana

Ashten

Brooke

Lauren B.

I felt our second string could make it into ESPN's top twenty-five teams in the country. These next three weeks are going to be great. I can't wait to welcome the Gamecocks into Maples. 

Let the games begin!!

LET'S GO STANFORD!!





Saturday, October 15, 2022

OUR PRESEASON MATCHUPS WITH SOUTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE IN MAPLES COULD BE A PREVIEW OF OUR FINAL FOUR OPPONENTS!!


UT Lady Vols Logo

Charlie Creme has put out a revised bracket for the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. You may have seen it. The four Number One seeds in his projection are South Carolina, Stanford, Texas, and Tennessee. And as you know, we play South Carolina on November 20 and Tennessee on December 18 - both in Maples. I've previewed our game with the Gamecocks, so now I'll give you the lowdown on the Lady Volunteers. 

But first, since my preview of the Gamecocks, Dawn Staley went to the Transfer Portal shopping for a veteran replacement for Destanni Henderson and signed Kierra Fletcher, a 5'-9"point guard grad student transfer from Georgia Tech. 

It's taken Kellie Harper a few years to get the team from Rocky Top back into national contention, but believe you me - they're back. She went shopping in the Transfer Portal and has basically, rebuilt her team. 

1. Rickea Jackson is a 6'-2" senior forward transfer from Mississippi State. Is she good? She's better than good. She's All American good. Last season she averaged 20 points and 7 rebounds per game. She's quick and explodes off the floor. 

2. Jillian Hollingshead is a 6'-5" sophomore forward transfer from Georgia. As a freshman she played behind their All SEC post player Jenna Staiti. Averaged 12 minutes, 5 points and 4 rebounds. She's mega-talented and athletic. 

3. Jasmine Franklin is a 6'-1" grad student forward transfer from Missouri Valley. She was obviously their best player in the two tournament games we played them in recent years.

4. Jasmine Powell is a 5'-6" senior point guard transfer from Minnesota. Last season she averaged 6 assists and 5 points per game. She's the veteran point guard Kellie needed to pull all this talent together.

Among her starters from last year

1. Jordon Horston a 6'-2" senior guard is back from injury which caused her to miss most of last season.  She was the team's leading scorer before getting injured. Kellie Harper says this season she's better than ever.

2. Tamari Key, their 6'-6" post player decided to return for her fifth season because she knew she needed more seasoning before entering the WNBA draft. She's been an up and down player during her career, but this could be her big year. She's long both in physique and experience. 

The Vols will be a great challenge for the Cardinal. If the tournament goes as Charlie Creme predicts - we're playing both our semi-final and our championship game opponents in the pre-season. Let's beat'em both!     

LET'S GO STANFORD!!

 

THIS IS A BIG WEEKEND!

  On Friday we get USC and Sunday UCLA.  The Trojans are ranked #15. They brought in five strong players through the Transfer Portal and lan...