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Message: [QUOTE="Dillon77, post: 3810717, member: 6620"] Boy, that's a question that make's The Bench squirm. I'm not sure if it's any one thing, but could be a case of the sum being worse when you put many things together. Here goes: [LIST] [*]This heretofore unknown injury that she was recovering from since over the summer and up to practice. Not a lot has been brought up about it, but could it have been that serious to have... [*]made Sam, quite frankly, not look game ready., even now? [/LIST] She just looks a step slower on the open court, a reaction slower when trying to grab a loose ball, not as dynamic on a box out or reacting to a baseline move. [LIST] [*]Plus, Destinee Walker bonked her in the BC game with her forearm and Sam's now wearing a mask over her (broken?) nose. She looked very sluggish yesterday and her facial expressions indicate she's laboring. [*]Um, where does she play? In all fairness to her, Sam's been playing here, there and everywhere in her time at ND; in part, because the one true center -- Mik Vaughn -- is hurt more often than not. And now, she's got to figure out where she goes and fellow wing Maddy Westbeld goes. [*]While some elements of an offense look somewhat familiar, the jury is still out on what Niele's basic offense is. Last year, Sam often got the ball around the 8-ft. mark where she actually developed a nice turnaround or fadeaway jumper. Not this year. Maddy gets that ball...and justifiably so. [*]Strange thing is, she's shooting 50% from the field and 44% from three, which most people would jump at, but save for the Miami game, she just hasn't been a force. In fact, she was a liability against Wake yesterday with misdirected passes and bad positioning on defense. Abby Prohaska, the 5'10 flaming redheaded overachiever, was more effective. [/LIST] - I'm hoping this is a case of a player who has just started a race 50 yards behind without being in shape and can't catch up. But I'm (more than) a bit concerned by that "step late and/or off" on-court behavior. - Maybe, she can emulate Westbeld's no-nonsense approach and work ethic to be a force in the ACC. Next year, incoming point guard Olivia Miles could make a statue look good with her passes, so Sam will get the ball in an open area to wing it. Hopefully -- knock on wood - Vaughn and Nat Marshall can man the post while Maddy W. holds down the "low forward" area, so Sam can be an efficient shooting wing....probably only. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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