Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="DefenseBB, post: 2536316, member: 7492"] Rocky-I think you are on to something here and have me thinking down the path (and maybe on different option) that while the core 5 have all suffered the same travails that these subs are facing, maybe they haven't figured out how to be strong mentors to help them through this. I remember Stewie having to pull KLS aside to help her during that funk. If players aren't getting it in practice, we have 5 who are so why isn't there more communication on this? To me, this weeks starting lineup comments addressing what Geno pointed out is the first public effort to mentor the players, now comes the time to privately mentor them. The other curious thing to me is we have a rather large team vs. past years so sub-groups could exist. I mean, each class used to have 2 or at most 3 players in it and only the Stewart, Moriah and Tuck class kept all 3 all 4 years. Soniya was a class of 1 so she had to acclimate with upper class teammates to assimilate. Gabby and Kia were a class of 4 but Sadie immediately left, Courtney was hurt initially and then she left. KLS and Napheesa were with Boykin who immediately left so they too had to assimilate. Bent, Crystal Dangerfield and Kyla while on a small team had 2 transfers around waiting and is where we see some "longer struggles" in getting "it". Crystal Dangerfield didn't rise as quickly as Stewie, KLS, Kia but more like Gabby, Moriah. With 4 new player added into the mix this year, the four could keep to themselves more often than not and that may be creating the less than stellar mentoring. Team dynamics matter and even though they are always together, a group of 13 vs. a group of 9/10 bond differently. The one irritation I have with Geno, to be frank, is "star" players who can make a difference should get better communication due the upside they present-think DT, Stewie and KLS. MW should be getting this same expectation and communication sort of what Z is currently getting. Geno has to leverage his very experienced staff and evolve both MW and Z. Add Mikayla in as well because next year we lose Kia and will need a system experienced guard while CW figures it out. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach