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Message: [QUOTE="BlueSkyGLW, post: 4057905, member: 11281"] Brutally honest about last year's team defense, especially in the first half of the year....they did improve to be a very good, not lock down defense. But it's more than a little harsh for a team that only had four (two in the starting five) who had enough experience with the read and react switching defense. 8 first-timers on the team makes it virtually impossible to get them to be a coordinated defensive unit quickly - and one of the newcomer, starting fiver was not fully recovered from surgeries. That they eventually became one is a credit to the coaching staff and the team's willingness to work at it until they get it. The heritage of this team requires that it must have a defensive backbone in pursuit of the NC and so they must grow into one almost immediately because most of their non-conference schedule is near the start of the season. As such, it would be a surprise if the optimal offensive potential of the team will be deployed early in the season in search of reaching it. Expect then to see those who had significant roles at the end of last season in most of these early games. Azzi and Caroline may see the most minutes among the newcomers but I wouldn't count out Dorka, assuming she can assimilate quickly and transition quickly into the read-and-react switching defense. Because of the overall length of the whole team, the defensive potential is exciting but the team is unlikely to be a great full-court pressing one. To achieve that, they need more speed all-around - you have maybe three who have shown enough speed. But if they can learn to read and react quickly to switch and close out opponents as their offense tries to execute, then this team can mix it with zone defense variations that take advantage of their length all around. Those Stewie teams did not become great defenses early, so we shouldn't demand that last year's team achieve that, most significantly because of the limitations the pandemic imposed on their preseason. This time, they have a better chance: enough of them have grown with the defensive schemes last year and the newcomers will benefit from a full preseason. I submit that the mix of players on this team and the cross-section of experience will provide a good platform for it becoming an excellent defensive team early, as needed to get through the array of tough non-conference opponents. South Carolina will be difficult but beatable by this team even at their home court. Will this team go unbeaten, probably not, but it is probably the one team in the country with the best chance to be. [/QUOTE]

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