I'm surprised that they were using such a comprehensive search and extensive trials to find just the right players and then just turning them over to a HS coach before the change was made. Berube is excellent.
Agree on all points especially Van Lith and the rankings. On Van Lith, just decide where you want to get to and go! Probably just a bad habit picked up watching her HS teammates run around trying to get open. On the rankings, I'm surprised anyone pays attention to them. The only qualifications you need to be an "evaluator" is a laptop and a lot of free weekends.
The fact that I have her fourth on a team where she is two years younger than about half the team, is an indication of just how much of a freak I think Fudd is. She led the team in average minutes played!
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I hear Jones is accepted to Stanford, so we Cardinal fans are crossing our fingers hoping to get her, but she won't make her decision for a while yet.
Perfect fit.
Revisit Storrs
There will be quite a list of outstanding coaches with UConn pedigrees that will be up for the HC job in Storrs once the Master steps down.
Went from watching the game to doing the week's shopping. Just got back and read excellent insights and comments from one and all. Some thoughts from walking the aisle and the kitchen table (now):
- Interesting how Fudd and/or Jones would often manage the situation from out front, then Bueckers would do her magic off the weave, almost in a flanking movement. This suits her because she has an ability to see things beyond the corner of her eye and the coordination and touch to get it done. She can easily play combo guard.
- Agree that Belibi has improved in a major way. Some of those bunnies she missed came about -- I believe -- due to where she was when she received the ball (like under the backboard sometimes). Working with a solid post coach will help a lot.
- Horston demonstrated a nice mid-length baseline jumper. So that's not dead and gone from the game.
- Very solid all-round game from Jones today. Interesting that at the end of day, despite being known as a "guard-oriented" team, the three players who were ostensibly this team's frontcourt all made the all-tourney team.
- After watching most of the games without commentary, the many words coming out of our announcers was a blow to senses. Two thoughts there: let the picture tell a lot of the story; and, if you're going to comment on NCAA coaches or schools, do a bit more homework than "I saw a Texas shirt there" or an "Irish shirt in the front row". If they're going to get us on a 7-day trial, make it seem like the money is worth it.
On that note, hope the team enjoys a great night of celebrating and has a superb flight home.
Great job to one and all.
Interested in your opinion UConn about Carla.
Tufts is a wonderful small school and as you point out D3 basketball is decidedly less intense than D1. Add that Carla was born and raised in CT. She and her wife Meghan are raising a son and daughter. The grass isn’t always greener.....
Revisit Storrs
Don’t know if she was born in CT. but she graduated from and won two state titles at Oxford HS in Oxford Mass. My daughter played against her and Kara Wolters when they were teammates on the Central Mass. AAU club.
Here we go again....
I agree with most all you've said except about Bueckers defense. If she had to run through a screen or slide over on a pick and roll, too often she'd lose her mark. More often than not the bigs inside would pick her up. No, her game isn't perfect. Fudd on the other hand, the youngest player in the tourney, was far more consistent on defense, plus rarely turned the ball over on offense. That is the reason she played so many minutes. Otherwise you and Coco have the sum of it. Although I'd like to say Horston at the 2 and CW at the one would make me one happy boy. We'll have to wait a few for Fudd, so be verwy, verwy quiet.