Notre Dame in 2012-13.

[HuskyNan]

Just wanted to add that none of the above should detract from Nneka. She, too, is a great player that just has the misfortune of playing the same year as a transcendent player, much like Nicole Powell.

 

[cardfan]

Griner is much, much more than just a tall woman. She got great hands, a deft touch around the basket and terrific passing skills. She's fluid on both offense and defense. If simply being tall made a woman a great player, 6-9 Alyssa DeHaan would have been National POY. DeHaan was very good, an All American honorable mention, but nowhere near as dominant as Griner.

BTW, blocks are more than just being tall, too. It has a lot to do with timing and positioning. Tall kids that just swipe at the ball usually get called for fouls but BG averages only 2 fouls a game and has not fouled out this year.

I understand all that Nan, but I don't think she is fluid as you do. Her ht and wing span is a huge plus.

 

[cardfan]

Just wanted to add that none of the above should detract from Nneka. She, too, is a great player that just has the misfortune of playing the same year as a transcendent player, much like Nicole Powell.

agree somewhat. Nneka has the misfortune of not being on ESPN.

 

[Vowelguy]

funny guy. It's not like the Big 12 is that great.

5 to 7 Big12 teams will make the tournament. Add in the WNIT, and I bet 9 of the 10 teams make the postseason.
The PAC will get 3 in the NCAAs and probably 6 of 12 in the postseason.

Also, Baylor had 21 games against the Sagarin top 50. Stanford just 10.

 

[Scotter]

agree somewhat. Nneka has the misfortune of not being on ESPN.

She's on Fox Sports frequently enough. People have seen Nneka play.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Agreed. Wasn't excluding them from the discussion; was just listing other teams that could be strong next yr.

Does ND have the possibility of Diggins being the 2 next year? I suspect not without something changing fast and remarkably, but (and I cannot claim it as an original idea) I think her talents are much better suited to the 2.

 

[msf22b]

Going back to UTENN, like ND, they are losing a lot, especially forecourt and gaining little.
They may be the team, that for a season or two has a measurable drop.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I know. 6'8" is a huge advantage. pun intended.

And accurate, but BG has advanced tremendously from where she was as a Frosh and she clearly is the POY because she is such a game changer in so many ways.

 

[Vowelguy]

Going back to UTENN, like ND, they are losing a lot, especially forecourt and gaining little.
They may be the team, that for a season or two has a measurable drop.

I will be surprised if they don't. They may end up better than the ill-fated 2009 team only because they'll have better guards than they did then. But they will also not intimidate teams they way they used to -- everyone will see this as their chance to finally beat them.

And with a 9-player roster, they are very vulnerable if there are injuries.

 

[bbsamjj]

RU will be in a unique situation next year in that, for the first time in the CVS years, I believer their two best players (Oliver and Lee) will be in the post. This year, RU has Oliver in the post and that's about it. Next year, they'll at least have some size to back up the starters--even if Hollivay and Butts are raw.

RU's freshmen this year certainly got plenty of time on the court, but they never found a groove. I still think they all have a lot of potential (especially Laney), but they will need to step up.

The question will be who will be RU's point guard next year. Shakeena Richardson? Wheeler? Canty? Someone will also need to step up and knock down outside shots to free up the post.

 

[easttexastrash]

Anyone who indicates that BG is not fluid and athletic, doesn't have any moves around the basket and can't shoot from distance (15 to 17 feet) is absolutely uneducated. She dropped 45 on KSU today and made it look easy. Many of those shots were from 10 to 15 feet.

Nneka is a very good player. BG plays the game at a level that Nneka will never reach. BG puts hours in the gym working on her game and hours in the weight room to improve her strength. Her skills are not all natural. It has take a lot of work to get to where she is.

 

[easttexastrash]

Yes.

Disagree that Griner's ht makes her the better player. I'm looking at offensive package, Nneka's skills are greater in many areas; footwork, outside shots, moves to the basket, etc. (all from my vantage pt in 3rd row)

OMG...when are you going to give this up? Almost every poster agrees that Griner is the player of the year yet you still want to argue this point. If Nneka were the best player she would win these awards as they start being announced.

You have no idea what Griner is capable of. You make it sounds as if she is some clumsy tall girl that lopes around the court. She is an incredible athlete, in a way different that Nneka. Point blank, Nneka does not have an impact on the game like Griner does. It is just a fact and you can accept that fact or deny it and continue to argue a point that is based on emotion and team spirit.

 

[MarieM]

Loyd doesn't play for whitney young

They will be bringing in Jewell Loyd
#4 who is ELITE #1 guard and led Whitney Young in Ilinois to an undefeated season and #3 Nationally Ranking. They also got Marbrey #32 guard NJ,she will excel in their system,Huffmam #52 guard CA.They were in the mix for some elite bigs,but that didn't happen. You do not lose Novosol,Peters,and Mallory and with the returning players and Fr,not be less than what they have been the past 2 seasons! With Diggins SR,Mcbride SR,Achowna JR, as the big3 returning with reserves,Wright,Turner,Miller, Loyd and Marbrey will get plenty of time. They obviousely will be a guard oriented team. They will probably have an excellent class in 2013,but Diggins will be gone. What we are bring in with#1 Breanna,#2 Mo,#4 Morgan and everyone returning other than Tiff the landscape will have dramatically changed. We will be a prohibitive BE favorite and with Baylor really seperated from all other teams.
Loyd is special and Marbrey may be a sleeper. Meaning above HG ranking and contributing next season.
Compared to us in 2012 WOW

KML SO Ferris SR
Engelin JR Stewart FR
Tuck FR
Johnson JR
Dolson JR
Stokes SO
Buck SR

CD SR MO FR Bria JR
Banks So

 

[Sonny44]

OMG...when are you going to give this up? Almost every poster agrees that Griner is the player of the year yet you still want to argue this point. If Nneka were the best player she would win these awards as they start being announced.

You have no idea what Griner is capable of. You make it sounds as if she is some clumsy tall girl that lopes around the court. She is an incredible athlete, in a way different that Nneka. Point blank, Nneka does not have an impact on the game like Griner does. It is just a fact and you can accept that fact or deny it and continue to argue a point that is based on emotion and team spirit.

Oh well, an African swallow may be, but not a European swallow. That's my point.

 

[msf22b]

When you think of the potential of their now-departing senior class of Rushdan, Speed and Sykes, that simply did not develop into the kind of players that was expected, you have a recipe for continued diminishment.

 

[ScarlettB]

You can't include Rushdan in any list of players who didn't develop into the kind of player that was expected. She is first team Big East and the heart and soul of the team. She is one of the best to ever play for Rutgers, despite all of her injuries. There is no quit in her.

As for how RU will fare next year, it will depend mainly on how the current freshman class steps up. Richardson should be the main one at the point, but CVS likes to use her guards interchangeably.

 

[JS]

And with a 9-player roster, they are very vulnerable if there are injuries.

Tennessee will bring in multiple junior college players in the spring signing period.

They'd have to be awfully lucky to catch lightning in a bottle again in the form of a starting quality player (a center is where they'd most hope to), but at least the jucos will fill out the numbers for a more comfortable roster size.

 

[doggydaddy]

Tennessee will bring in multiple junior college players in the spring signing period.

They'd have to be awfully lucky to catch lightning in a bottle again in the form of a starting quality player (a center is where they'd most hope to), but at least the jucos will fill out the numbers for a more comfortable roster size.

They have their sights on 3 JC players.

Wilka Montout 6’4” C French Guinea, South America, Northeast Oklahoma A&M
Uju Ugoka 6’2” P Lagos, Nigeria, Gulf Coast College
Kelva Atkins 5’5” SG/PG, Stem, NC Columbia State CC

I wouldn't be surprise if they all come to Tennessee.

As currently comprised, the only true center is 6'3 Harrison and she to put it in perspective, from what I've seen, she needs to get a lot stronger to handle Div I posts. 6'2 Burdic k plays more of a small forward although she is a capable rebounder. 6'1 Spani is a guard who can play the 3 as well.

That's it coming back from this year for any size. Next tallest player is 5'11 Williams.

They did recruit a terrific power forward in 6'2" Graves and a sleeper forward in 6'1 Jones.

It should be interesting to see how a team that coaches defense and rebounds handles being a team this short on size. They went to zone this year after years of man to man. Will a team so inexperienced be able to do that?

 

[MarieM]

Sykes was ranked #2 coming out of high school right behind
EDD and never played like it.. even at the PAN AMERICAN games i thought she would've been the best player since she was the only really known one and she didn't dominate Breanna Stewart did..

When you think of the potential of their now-departing senior class of Rushdan, Speed and Sykes, that simply did not develop into the kind of players that was expected, you have a recipe for continued diminishment.