Good to hear from a Belmont supporter. I don't mind being challenged/corrected if I'm off-base. But your information also brings up other questions.
- Who else recruited Tessa Miller? Did she get interest from SEC/ACC schools?
- I didn't articulate my comparison well. I'm aware Miller is primarily an internal player -- kind of a Liz Karlen -- whereas Pissot has become almost a one-trick bomber from the player I saw/scouted in high school in New Jersey. Does a Vandy want to have players who are , for wont of a better phrase, somewhat one-dimensional in their offensive approaches? (There, that's better.... )
- I'm familiar with Madison Bartley and was a bit surprised she didn't get more of a chance at Baylor. Bartley, btw, was a high school teammate of ND's own Maddy Westbeld.
- So, if you don't think Miller is P5 ready, why would she even bother transferring? See no reason to go to a Big East where none of her family could see her. I watched Marshall and the new coach likes to play in waves. Maybe Miller could be part of one of them? Or, could she bridge the gap for new coaches at Clemson, Miami or Va. Tech?
Gosh knows Wake Forest could use some help.
Thanks for the scouting report and I hope this move works out for her. And that Bartley gets to see the court next year in Waco.
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Good questions.
* Not sure who else recruited Tessa, but she has thrived at Belmont. As you probably know, the Bruins are good. They compete with and even defeat some P5 teams from time to time and made a near-seamless move from the OVC to the MVC. Still, sheer size and athleticism compared to top-tier P5 teams is a problem. Miller moved from power forward to post with Bartley's departure. She handled it well against most MVC posts, but would definitely need to be a forward in a P5 setting.
* Coach Ralph definitely isn't satisfied with one-dimensional players on offense. At one point this season, she said in a post-game press conference that she didn't care if a player can score, it they don't rebound and play defense, the won't play. I felt at the time it was obviously aimed at Pissott, Aga Makurat and Ryanne Allen. To her credit, Piissott, who just did not seem comfortable with the physicality of SEC play, did improve in those areas. They even started posting her up a little bit late in the season with somewhat mixed results. I fully expect that to continue and increase in frequency. She handles the ball well, but she has trouble shaking some of the defenders she faces. I look for a big leap from her next season if she puts in the work, which she seems willing to do.
* I really can't say what Tessa's motivation is for leaving. It could be she knows she has only one more year to play and just wants to experience it in a different place. Also, I don't mean to say she'd never see the floor at a P5 program, just that I don't see her playing nearly the type of role she plays at Belmont. She has a former teammate in Knoxville, so maybe that really is her destination. The Lady Vols need several players, and not all of them will be stars or starters even. They could certainly do worse in terms of a locker room presence. Wake and Clemson could also be interesting. She
could wind up signing with an elite program. Bartley did. It just depends on what kind of role she is looking to play.
See, you got me started again. I miss talking basketball instead of the transfer portal, don't you?