oldude
bamboo lover
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2016
- Messages
- 16,953
- Reaction Score
- 150,438
“This team lacks experience, size and depth. They are not as talented as last year’s team.” Maybe so, but I suggest there is a quality where this year’s team may actually exceed last year’s team - mental toughness.
Last year’s team was certainly tough, but they were also one of the most talented WCBB teams in history. IMO there was only 1 game all season that presented any suspense as to the outcome: MD at MSG until Saniya the Turtle Slayer ended the suspense. More often than not, last year’s team toyed with opponents like a killer whale playing with a seal, until it gets bored and devours the seal. The NCAA tournament was more coronation than competition. What team loses their best shooter in the 1st half of a national semifinal and coasts to a 19 pt victory, followed by a 31 pt victory in the championship.
Under the theory, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER, this year’s team has experienced a tremendous level of challenge & adversity. To start, the murderers row, 12-game, pre-conference schedule. 6’1” Pheesa & 5’11” Gabby matched up, night after night, against some of the very best BIGS in the nation, consistently outplaying them. Lose 2 different point guards to concussions. Lou got beaten up game after game, sick as a dog vs MD, but performs at an AA level….and Kia was just born tough.
If a 12th banner goes up at Gampel in April, as much as anything, it will be the result of the incredible strength of will and mental toughness this team possesses.
Last year’s team was certainly tough, but they were also one of the most talented WCBB teams in history. IMO there was only 1 game all season that presented any suspense as to the outcome: MD at MSG until Saniya the Turtle Slayer ended the suspense. More often than not, last year’s team toyed with opponents like a killer whale playing with a seal, until it gets bored and devours the seal. The NCAA tournament was more coronation than competition. What team loses their best shooter in the 1st half of a national semifinal and coasts to a 19 pt victory, followed by a 31 pt victory in the championship.
Under the theory, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER, this year’s team has experienced a tremendous level of challenge & adversity. To start, the murderers row, 12-game, pre-conference schedule. 6’1” Pheesa & 5’11” Gabby matched up, night after night, against some of the very best BIGS in the nation, consistently outplaying them. Lose 2 different point guards to concussions. Lou got beaten up game after game, sick as a dog vs MD, but performs at an AA level….and Kia was just born tough.
If a 12th banner goes up at Gampel in April, as much as anything, it will be the result of the incredible strength of will and mental toughness this team possesses.