On the guard discussion -
Diggins professional choice to forgo international play is I think a mistake in terms of her preparedness for USA basketball. The NT competes internationally and familiarity with rules and opponents is one of the byproducts of playing overseas. The other byproduct is the flexibility developed to integrate into disparate teams quickly. The WNBA is clearly the strongest competition, but it is also the shortest competition and the rules and officiating are significantly different than they are in the other leagues around the world. I am sure she works out and works on specific aspects of her game in the off season, but she isn't playing team ball and learning to adapt to different officials or to adapt her game to different teammates strengths and weaknesses. While she is working out in a gym for 8 months, her competition for the national team is playing 6+/- months of competitive basketball. I understand she has lots of other interests in life, but purely from a USA basketball perspective, it is not the best preparation. The last time she played an international competition was 6 years ago at the university games an age specific event. (I am discounting the 3x3 event 5 years ago as while it is a form of basketball it has little to do with the 5x5 game.) [Food for thought: I am not sure there has ever been a pro player selected to the NT team who has never played for an international team at least some of their career]
Sims on the other hand has chosen to play overseas and I think that choice gives her a leg up in the next cycle. Her injury as well as Diggins' I think sealed their being left off this team whether they had a realistic shot or not - the choice was being made in Feb and neither were able to take the floor - for a player with a solid track record with the team that might not have been important, for a young player yet to establish themselves I think it was critical.
The two young guards that I though might have a chance were Robinson (since injured and out) and Vandersloot. But I will take former USA PG and current coach Dawn Staley's word for it - neither were yet ready. And I'll come back to another thing - USA (as does most of the world) take the Olympics much more seriously than the WCs. There was one slot for a 'rookie' on the twelve man roster and Stewart was not competing with Parker, she was competing with a possible guard/wing, and in that competition she won hands down regardless of the need to find a new guard. Stewart will absolutely be on future NT teams (health permitting) and none of the new guard/wings in consideration can be identified as locks for the next team.
Looks like I picked an interesting night (last night) to see a movie with my wife....
I've previously posted that I could see why Diggins was not selected in this year's process and the reason is very similar to what you just posted...Sky is still rehabbing and given her lack of experience at this level, it just didn't seem to be right time/right place.
In a (much) earlier post, I also brought up that Geno said it was important to bring in younger players to join the fray and work with possible peers down the road. That quote stuck me as prescient, given today's announcement and comments by people like Dawn Staley. However, I also remember DT -- who is known for saying what's on her mind -- saying she was impressed with the development of newer guards and specifically remember her bringing up Kayla McBride, Sky and Jewell (among others, such as Sloot, I believe).
Obviously DT is not on the selection committee (maybe a few years down the road) but I trust her judgement in what constitutes talent. Plus, in my humble opinion as a former coach, player and observer, all these women can play. Interestingly, my contention all year was that if there was any former ND guard who I thought was ready for prime time, it was K-Mac, as her overseas and WNBA play has proven. She is one tough package who could've helped this year, let alone soon. However, knowing K-Mac, she'll come back for the next round of tryouts firing on all cylinders.
As Orangutan pointed out, Sloot is going to be pushing up in years next go-round and I fear her chance was now. But I sincerely hope Geno's comments from February and DT's observations and opinions allow some of these players (those mentioned and others like MoJeff) -- circumstances and health notwithstanding -- to get their chances for national team duty/play.
That said, here's a post-script to the guard talk: Parker should be on this team. Why? She does things that other players simply can't because of her unique talents and/or skills, whether it's scoring, facilitating, rebounding and/or just being in the right place at the right time. She gets it! . That's a good...no, very good...thing to have on any team when you're up against it. That's it, save for Go U.S.
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