Love Geno & CD more than anyone. Think you are way over reaching here. Sabolly & Hebard have played 76 games together under a pretty good coach themselves. That fact alone makes them twice "as experienced" as Megan and ONO. That is a big advantage IMO.
Definitely not favoritism. ONO was chosen for FIBA Americup because she was a better fit for that team and yes ONO probably outperformed Ruthy at the camp. We are not talking about the camp. We are talking Oregon vs UCONN. Ruthy has been playing excellent basketball alongside Sabrina for 3 full season now and with Sabally for 2. She has a huge advantage vs ONO who has been playing with her UCONN teammates for only 1 season.
This isn’t so much a retort at my fine colleague JordyG as it is a reflective overview of our perceived bias against one Chennedy Carter. To wit, after her freshmen year where she failed to mesh with two really good players in Anriel Howard and Danni Williams who promptly transferred out of the program, many of us thought “ugh oh, what is going on under Gary?” I was super skeptical especially after Chennedy’s early season suspension. But then somehow, the team started to gel and played very well at the end of the year with a young squad. I became more analytical in my assessment in the concept that maybe Gary Blair feels he has his Maya Moore/Diana Taurasi sans the great supporting cast they had, but with a pretty good supporting cast. Look, I am not saying CC is DT or MM but she is a talent and talent not only plays but also wins at the NCAA level. Plus Gary Blair is a really good coach and he does have an NCAA Title. He is still at or near the top of his game as a coach even at his age.. The real question is Can they all take that next step up to become a great team worthy of a final four. Without a doubt in my mind, they are better than ANYONE else in the SEC. Are they a shoe in for the Final Four? No, of course not but they are in that short list of potential teams. Baylor, Oregon, OSU, UConn, Louisville, Stanford and Texas A&M. Yes, I specifically left off Maryland (BTW I just bought the season tickets for their games), MSU, SC, NC State (I might qualify Wes’s team as my sleeper pick!).
I mostly agree. In many ways though most responses here are talking about experience with a system, the players around her, excellent play for a length of time, and her play in and with competition. But the quote was Hebard is "significantly" better than ONO. The things many have mentioned here seem peripheral to the statement. Given that, I don't think Hebard is significantly better than ONO. Not that these peripheral things aren't important, and they may be an important factor when the two teams meet up. But Hebard "significantly" better than ONO? I may be wrong, but uh-uh. Last year was last year. Anyone here think that ONO would have beaten out Hebard for a spot on the team last year? Not a chance. ONO's sophomore leap clearly appears to be the thing that is significant. No, to me the difference in the upcoming game will be the play of Sabrina and not the edge up front.
I think Graves is a great recruiter who has done an outstanding job of building a top tier WBB program at Oregon, with a big assist from Phil Knight. I also give credit to Graves for being smart enough to let Ionescu take over big games to win or lose with the ball in your best player’s hands, as he did this past season against MS St in the Elite 8 and Baylor in the National Semifinal. Once upon a time Geno did much the same thing with DT and later on with Maya.
This isn’t so much a retort at my fine colleague JordyG as it is a reflective overview of our perceived bias against one Chennedy Carter. To wit, after her freshmen year where she failed to mesh with two really good players in Anriel Howard and Danni Williams who promptly transferred out of the program, many of us thought “ugh oh, what is going on under Gary?” I was super skeptical especially after Chennedy’s early season suspension. But then somehow, the team started to gel and played very well at the end of the year with a young squad. I became more analytical in my assessment in the concept that maybe Gary Blair feels he has his Maya Moore/Diana Taurasi sans the great supporting cast they had, but with a pretty good supporting cast. Look, I am not saying CC is DT or MM but she is a talent and talent not only plays but also wins at the NCAA level. Plus Gary Blair is a really good coach and he does have an NCAA Title. He is still at or near the top of his game as a coach even at his age.. The real question is Can they all take that next step up to become a great team worthy of a final four. Without a doubt in my mind, they are better than ANYONE else in the SEC. Are they a shoe in for the Final Four? No, of course not but they are in that short list of potential teams. Baylor, Oregon, OSU, UConn, Louisville, Stanford and Texas A&M. Yes, I specifically left off Maryland (BTW I just bought the season tickets for their games), MSU, SC, NC State (I might qualify Wes’s team as my sleeper pick!).
So look at the A&M stats from last year, pause and think about and then let us know all your thoughts -those who doubt the Aggies. Humbly. Submitted DBB
This isn’t so much a retort at my fine colleague JordyG as it is a reflective overview of our perceived bias against one Chennedy Carter. To wit, after her freshmen year where she failed to mesh with two really good players in Anriel Howard and Danni Williams who promptly transferred out of the program, many of us thought “ugh oh, what is going on under Gary?” I was super skeptical especially after Chennedy’s early season suspension. But then somehow, the team started to gel and played very well at the end of the year with a young squad. I became more analytical in my assessment in the concept that maybe Gary Blair feels he has his Maya Moore/Diana Taurasi sans the great supporting cast they had, but with a pretty good supporting cast. Look, I am not saying CC is DT or MM but she is a talent and talent not only plays but also wins at the NCAA level. Plus Gary Blair is a really good coach and he does have an NCAA Title. He is still at or near the top of his game as a coach even at his age.. The real question is Can they all take that next step up to become a great team worthy of a final four. Without a doubt in my mind, they are better than ANYONE else in the SEC. Are they a shoe in for the Final Four? No, of course not but they are in that short list of potential teams. Baylor, Oregon, OSU, UConn, Louisville, Stanford and Texas A&M. Yes, I specifically left off Maryland (BTW I just bought the season tickets for their games), MSU, SC, NC State (I might qualify Wes’s team as my sleeper pick!).
So look at the A&M stats from last year, pause and think about and then let us know all your thoughts -those who doubt the Aggies. Humbly. Submitted DBB
Hebard WAS significantly better than ONO last season. But this summer it was ONO playing on the senior select team. Now some might just say Geno put the fix on, but ONO isn't lost playing and practicing with Fowles, Charles et al. Add to that the long history of talented UConn players seemingly regressing in their 1st year only to rise like a phoenix from their freshman ashes to become an AA.
So I would remove "significantly" from your comparison and bold "at this time".
Also, what's the plan for next year or the year after? Just keep collecting size? To me good backcourt play is still the key to winning championships. Sabrina, to me, is as close to a transcendent guard I've seen in a long time. Can he win without one? Can he win with one? If he doesn't take the chip this year my opinion of him will be drastically reduced, and the idea of him winning a chip at all even more diminished.
Sabrina has been very good in her first three year but I would not call her a "dominating" player. She has 24 loses in her first three years and only 1 FF appearance.
Ionescu was 6-24 for the game, but still, Oregon was tied with Baylor with a minute left primarily because Ionescu was relentless in attacking Baylor’s defense.
Their team chemistry is fine! Been at practices and I know some of the girls personally! Only graduated 2 years ago. They are stronger than ever! Also, queen and smith are going to be really good this year! Also, decosta! I’m seriously offended that the defending national champions aren’t picked to make it to the final four when we return pretty much the same team
It seems forever that this type of discussion happens almost every year:
"UConn lost their key player(s); The freshmen were disappointing; looks like a rebuilding year".
Sound familiar?
What you fail to appreciate is that UConn freshmen actually improve.
Very very very few UConn players "get it" in their 1st year. Most, if they get in at all, play a minor role and not in meaningful minutes.
I hope someone else can play the post this year so Hebard can return to the 4 she played as a freshman. I thought she was better there where she could roam the floor. Not having to guard the opposition's center would also free her up to do more shot blocking.
Christyn started out of necessity because Geno didn't have a lot of other "viable" options. She made the obligatory freshman mistakes along the way, but she learned from them, and moved on.Juicy landrum hit 2 threes in the title game dude!
UConn can lose star players and not skip a beat the next year, but other schools can't...
Pretty much.