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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:31 pm

jefferysinclairView user's profile






Joined: 19 Mar 2007
Posts: 11


Location: A-Town





Hi Group - just would like to know everyone thoughts on the past season? Good year? Bad Year? Disappointing year? Did the team turn the corner and is on the right track? It started out good, but ended in a big letdown.
Take care folks - it was a good ride for the most part?

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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:43 pm

The MaroonView user's profile






Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 459


Location: Bethlehem, PA





jefferysinclair wrote:
Hi Group - just would like to know everyone thoughts on the past season? Good year? Bad Year? Disappointing year? Did the team turn the corner and is on the right track? It started out good, but ended in a big letdown.
Take care folks - it was a good ride for the most part?


Very Happy  I just started the same thread about 30 seconds after you did.

Right now isn't the best time---I'll probably post later in the week. But I'm disappointed overall. We showed to much talent to end this year with a 2-8 run.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:38 pm

curiousgeorgeView user's profile






Joined: 08 Mar 2008
Posts: 11







I've watched this team all year and am most disappointed.  This team has lots of talent that wasn't developed properly.  Tammy's decisions regarding the starting lineup and substitutions were questionable at best.  Vandy tried to do too much herself, Spicer obviously got burned out, and starting Purr made no sense at all.  This team has five scholarship freshmen and sophomores that got way too little playing time.  As far as I am concerned this coaching staff needs to go, although I doubt that will happen given the early success this season and number of overall wins.  The 2-8 record over the last ten games says it all for me.

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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:27 am

The MaroonView user's profile






Joined: 23 Feb 2007
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Location: Bethlehem, PA





curiousgeorge wrote:
I've watched this team all year and am most disappointed.  This team has lots of talent that wasn't developed properly.  Tammy's decisions regarding the starting lineup and substitutions were questionable at best.  Vandy tried to do too much herself, Spicer obviously got burned out, and starting Purr made no sense at all.  This team has five scholarship freshmen and sophomores that got way too little playing time.  As far as I am concerned this coaching staff needs to go, although I doubt that will happen given the early success this season and number of overall wins.  The 2-8 record over the last ten games says it all for me.


Thanks for posting CuriousGeorge---Sometimes I feel like there are only about 3 of us that care!

First where I agree---Spicer was out there too much. Has nothing to do with her ability or how much I like her as a player---but they didn't do a good job of pacing her minutes. When she got in foul trouble we had no plan B to be able to go long stretches of time without her. I liked what I am going to ASSume that Lauren Jackson was hurt because I really don't understand why she disappeared altogether.

Re: Purr---Tammy's offense is most effective with a low post player who understands it---that player was Purr who was unfortunately at 60% from my vantage point. Not only that, but she was undersized. If I'm Tammy I have a meeting with "Vegas" on Monday and tell her that a large part of any success the team is going to have next year rests on her shoulders. Without a strong inside presence that can counteract the growing number of good, back to the basket players emerging in the PL, without someone who can make the good passes from the high post to the slashing players (next year mostly Garner and Wright) and kick it out to Zavocki and Spicer when need be---the team is going to be limited in what it can do. Amanda has shown an incredibly soft touch and good hands at various times---next year she has to make the mental leap and realize she's IMPORTANT to the success of the team.

Wright's continued development will obviously be key...Until we can get her foul-shootin respectable (it's obvious she worked hard as hell on it) and develops a little better range there's only so far she can go---but with all of that said she has the potential to be the best player to come through the program in 2 decades. The sky is the limit for her.

We lose a hell of a lot in Vandy. I hope I can see her again before she graduates to tell her how much I enjoyed watching her bust her ass.

But overall...I'm with you. I'm disappointed. For me I thought success would be going .500 in the regular league season and winning a tourney game--we were good enough to do both, we did neither.

As for tammy's job it's a non-issue. When Bruce kept her after last year he basically gave her the reins until she has a full team of scholarship players. She has what looks to be a good recruiting class coming in on the heals of what I consider a very good class now (Wright, Jackson, Virgin).
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:40 am

seenalotView user's profile






Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 305







I am not a huge fan of womans hoops and while disappointing in many respects, like the second half fold, there was some progress and the cupboard is not nearly as bare as it is on the mens side.

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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:04 am

LafalumView user's profile






Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 843







In the end for both programs it comes to down to the effectiveness of this year's recruiting. There is no excuse...both coaches have had a full recruiting cycle, new recruits will obviously have a good shot at a lot of minutes given the graduation of seniors who played a good portions of this year's game minutes.  
You're right, that Bruce gives his coaches a lot of rope, in both cases it is well justified but every year that rope gets shorter. I actually think on the women's side we are in slightly better shape but both teams need  strong post players. The three pt shot won't be as easy next year and rebounds will be tougher to come by for both teams.
But a tip of the hat to this year's seniors, they played with heart and ability and we welcome them as alumni and will miss them on the court!!!

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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:25 pm

curiousgeorgeView user's profile






Joined: 08 Mar 2008
Posts: 11







Quote:
Re: Purr---Tammy's offense is most effective with a low post player who understands it---that player was Purr who was unfortunately at 60% from my vantage point. Not only that, but she was undersized. If I'm Tammy I have a meeting with "Vegas" on Monday and tell her that a large part of any success the team is going to have next year rests on her shoulders. Without a strong inside presence that can counteract the growing number of good, back to the basket players emerging in the PL, without someone who can make the good passes from the high post to the slashing players (next year mostly Garner and Wright) and kick it out to Zavocki and Spicer when need be---the team is going to be limited in what it can do. Amanda has shown an incredibly soft touch and good hands at various times---next year she has to make the mental leap and realize she's IMPORTANT to the success of the team.


I agree the offense needs an effective post player...one that can shoot as well as pass and rebound.  I don't agree that Purr was the best choice just because she understands the offense best.  We didn't use or develop the talent we have.  The complaint for some time was that we didn't have any height.  Now we have it (Smith, Virgin, Niquette) and we don't use it or try to develop it properly.  How many games did these players not even get into?  How many minutes did they play compared to Purr?  It's this lack of player development that drives me crazy.  It was the same for Jackson at point guard to back up Spicer.

I also don't understand why Garner was not a starter.  The argument that she was better coming in off the bench just doesn't cut it for me.  I also think Malone was underrated.  She always seemed to produce for us when she was in.  Finally, I thought it was sad that Johnson didn't see any playing time in her final game as a Leopard, even if it was just to be on the court with the other seniors at the end of the game.

All that said, I'm certainly looking forward to a better year next year, hopefully with better player development.  (Have I mentioned that yet?)

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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:36 pm

pardon meView user's profile






Joined: 19 Mar 2007
Posts: 11







This season for sure was an improvement. lets not forget the 1 to 3 win seasons we had a few years back. George is right about player development not being what it should be or is it that we arent getting players that can develope. You seem do be down on Purr cant quite understand that logic. This is a kid who had knee surgery in December and I thought played as hard or harder than anyone one on the team at about 50%.If she took minutes away from the other post players it was because she out worked them and was the better player.I think if she didnt get injured early in the season we would be singing another tune right now.But injuries are part of the game.

I think the future of the program is headed in the right direction having said that I think it is going to take a step back you cant loose players with the talent and leadership of these 4 and expect to improve. Good luck VVD, Purr. Gomez and Johnson. Thanks for reviving the program and making womens basketball fun to watch again.

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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:06 pm

The MaroonView user's profile






Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 459


Location: Bethlehem, PA





pardon me wrote:
This season for sure was an improvement. lets not forget the 1 to 3 win seasons we had a few years back. George is right about player development not being what it should be or is it that we arent getting players that can develope. You seem do be down on Purr cant quite understand that logic. This is a kid who had knee surgery in December and I thought played as hard or harder than anyone one on the team at about 50%.If she took minutes away from the other post players it was because she out worked them and was the better player.I think if she didnt get injured early in the season we would be singing another tune right now.But injuries are part of the game.

I think the future of the program is headed in the right direction having said that I think it is going to take a step back you cant loose players with the talent and leadership of these 4 and expect to improve. Good luck VVD, Purr. Gomez and Johnson. Thanks for reviving the program and making womens basketball fun to watch again.


First of all---I hope the Seniors leave proud. It kills me they couldn't have found just a tad more success this year because they deserved it---but there was some nice atmosphere at the KSC this year and they deserve all the credit in the world for sticking it out and bringing this program to respectability. Attendance at home games was about 400/game higher than it was 3 years ago. They were a joy to watch--I honestly thought they'd still be playing. Their enthusiasm was contagious.

Purr played because---even at 60-70%---- she was the best available option---which should be a wake up call to at least two other players.  We don't get better in the low post, we aren't going to win a title. In fact this is probably as good as it gets. I keep hearing about the "Center from Michigan." I don' twant to put to much pressure on her--I'd much rather see Niquette or Smith develop---but something has to give. Gomez from what Leone said couldn't practice she was so hurt. What a great group of women!

The cupboard is certainly not bare for next season---but...as is oft repeated on this thread: "player development" is key. In Zavocki and Spicer we have virtually all of our 3 point shooting back---Virgin could become very dangerous if she gets a little more consistent from that range. Wright is I'm sure more than aware she needs to be better at the foul line--nowso more than ever. Jackson's got to get good enough so Spicer can sit 10 minutes a game AND play aggressively without having to worry about foul trouble. For 2 years I've drooled over Smith's beautiful soft shooting touch--but she needs to develop the footwork to stop players her size. Garner, Wright and Spicer are superb--if undersized rebounders---but we're gonna miss Vandy's toughness inside as much as her points.

In my school of thought (which means...zilch) 10 wins is the plateau that moves you from bad to mediocre, 15 and other teams start saying adjectives like "good" when they are getting ready for you. We are almost there---but it will be a challenge. One we can meet though.
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:46 am

carney2View user's profile






Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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The Maroon wrote:
In my school of thought (which means...zilch) 10 wins is the plateau that moves you from bad to mediocre, 15 and other teams start saying adjectives like "good" when they are getting ready for you. We are almost there---but it will be a challenge. One we can meet though.


In my mind - and take it from one who knows, that is a crappy place to be - VDV out and a sophomore Wright in, puts us at about the same place we were last year at this time.  Wright is the marquis (no pun intended) player of this group, and plays a few inches taller than she actually measures.  As all have stated and restated, the keys here are player development and the incoming freshmen.  If all goes VERY well we may move from mediocre to good on Maroon's scale.  Even so, this team is at least two years away.


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