—Stanford: So much size & depth on this roster, but who starts at PG? Haley Jones? A freshman? Someone else? The PG play they get this season will determine their National Title potential.
—Arizona: Can they put it all together, finish first in the Pac, and win a Title? More talent, depth, and experience on this roster than there was in their NC game two Tourneys ago against the team above...
—Oregon: Even without Sedona Prince, can it still be business as usual for Oregon? The Ducks still have size on the roster, even if now they’ll be super young & inexperienced in the frontcourt. The loss of Prince is a significant setback that follows an offseason filled with players leaving the program, but the Ducks still have the ability to finish in second place if experienced guards like Te-Hina Paopao and Endyia Rogers stay healthy and step up their games.
—UCLA: Will Cori Close be able to keep her heralded freshmen class together? There are enough starting-caliber returners on this team where most of these freshmen will be coming off the bench, if they're even in the rotation. With multiple graduations after this season, the minutes will be there for the youngins – just maybe not now (except for Kiki Rice). Impatient players may transfer...
—Oregon State: Can Scott Rueck refocus the defense? The Beavs' slow, defense-oriented style of play has gotten away from them in recent seasons, and perhaps as a result, they haven't done as well. It may hinge on the talented freshmen who are sure to get big minutes.
—Utah: What can former Pac-12 FOY Alissa Pili add to this group? What does she have left in the tank? They should be Dance-bound again without her, but if she integrates well, how much could she raise this group's ceiling?
—Colorado: How do the Buffs replace Mya Hollingshed? A more utilized Quay Miller? Arizona transfer Aaronette Vonleh adding a boost? More of a focus on guardplay? There are options, but JR Payne will have to pick the right one.
—Washington State: Has this team already peaked? Charlisse Leger-Walker was less efficient last season, her sister running the point alongside her has graduated, and Kamie Ethridge didn't make any obvious upgrades to this roster. After these past two nearly unprecedented seasons, the Cougs still haven't actually won an NCAA Tourney game – ever.
—USC: Is it actually a good thing that this is darn near a new-look group? Lot of good players either graduated or unexpectedly transferred out last spring, but maybe a fresh start (including players transferring in) will be good. If nothing else, Rayah Marshall is back and should be surrounded by several veterans.
—California: Who'll be the second option on this team after Jayda Curry? Lutje-Schipholt? A transfer like Martín, Tuitele, or Langarita? A freshman like Bonner? It would be good for both the team as well as Curry's development if she had some players she could rely on distributing to when necessary.
—Washington: Is Dalayah Daniels cut out to be the first option on this team? which was something the team really lacked last year, hence the lack of wins. Without one, it'll be more of the same this year.
—Arizona State: Was Natasha Adair the right choice for this job? Coming from Delaware, she'll need to figure out how to establish connections here on the west coast, and fast. Even the prior coach never got the high-end recruits to come here.
Last Edit: Oct 28, 2022 13:35:59 GMT -5 by Deleted
As for Stanford, our point guard at Carondelet last year, Talana Lepolo, may have a major impact. She's about 5-9, very strong, very smart, very competitive. Great passer, sees the floor -- but the big question was her shot. Her shot had side-to-side rotation, rather than backspin, and even though I didn't know her very well, I pulled her aside and wasn't the first to say "You have to fix your shot, or you'll cost yourself a million dollars."
Apparently she has fixed her shot, and if she's a credible threat from three-point distance, she could get a lot of minutes for Stanford. She's really, really good, but with her old shot mechanics, I was hesitant to promote her. Word is, though, that she can shoot it a little now, and that's all she needs.
Great kid, too ... even listened politely to an old guy.
Cal? A tiny backcourt and a lack of scoring will create issues. The entire Cal athletic program is a dumpster fire, and basketball is impacted by the lack of a practice facility. The only place players can work out on their own is at a student gym that's packed with pick-up players at all hours. And the lack of success in recent years hasn't helped. Charmin Smith is doing what she can, but it's really hard to recruit there, for both athletic and academic reasons.
1. Stanford (11) 2./3. Oregon 2./3. Arizona 4. UCLA 5. Utah (1) 6. Oregon State 7. Washington State 8. Colorado 9. USC 10. Washington 11. Cal 12. Arizona State
Coaches Poll had Oregon 2nd & Arizona 3rd Media Poll had Arizona 2nd & Oregon 3rd Everything else being the same
Tara VanDerveer apparently thinks Utah will be at least the second-best team (behind hers) in the standings... 🆗 then.
I would tend to agree with either poll in a general sense. My Huskies could surprise teams this year though if any semblance of a first option is now on our roster. 🙏🏼
I only saw it today, but during her media session, VanDerveer mentioned that Haley Jones has been playing PG “obviously” (so don’t be surprised to see her start in that spot), and that VanDerveer has “experimented” with putting Cameron Brink at the 3 because of how much post talent is on the roster this year. Jones has worked on ball-handling and perimeter shooting over the summer, while Brink has tried to develop her perimeter skills in general. We’ll see how that all might pan out.
Jones & Brink were also asked about their favorite W players sorta both past & present. Jones said Tamika Catchings and still has her Fever jersey (so now I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see Indiana take Jones if they don’t get the #1). Brink mentioned Breanna Stewart, and if she’s trying out the SF spot like Stewart has in the past, that could be an indication as to how/where Brink wants to develop her game.
Last Edit: Oct 26, 2022 19:02:56 GMT -5 by Deleted
Brink is so athletic for her size. In high school, she would just do crazy stuff -- leading the break, attacking the rim from the perimeter. It didn't always work, but it was clear her athleticism was at a different level than most posts. But athleticism, as we all know, does not necessarily translate directly into basketball success.
Ideally, though, Jones would play off the ball and Brink would be a stretch four. But the Cardinal have a lot of weapons and no matter who they run out there, they'll be really good.
If Jones is at the 1 and Brink is at the 3, Jump will probably always have to be at the 2 for floor-spacing. Unless the posts can reliably hit 3s (Prechtel is one), that’ll be the one glaring weakness with a super-big lineup, with another being defensive quickness. I’d be surprised if Brink actually started at the 3 though. She’ll probably start at the 4 (which is where her future is, I’d agree), where VanDerveer has multiple options she can roll with to start at the 5. Curious to see how #1 overall prospect Lauren Betts looks/fits in, I’m sure VanDerveer will find a rotation spot for her.
I hope my Huskies have at least one of the freshmen guards in the rotation given our lack of PGs, and redshirt anyone who doesn’t get a rotation spot – unlike how we handled last year’s freshmen, all of whom transferred. Sounds like we already have some PG candidates.
hey clayk any knowledge you can recall on our Bay Area freshmen Teagan Brown (Oak Ridge) and Elle Ladine (Pinewood)? I’ve seen some clips here & there of all our freshmen, and Ladine has impressed me the most – pure outside shot, and her body type is one that can handle the added physicality at the college level unlike our other frosh (imo). Ladine is apparently one of those backup PG candidates, despite probably being a true off-guard.
Guess I gotta update the Oregon section of my Biggest Questions list above. 🙃 Hate this for Sedona Prince, especially since she’s had to sit out a season before (unrelated foot injury her freshman year).
That said, no one should feel bad for this Ducks program as a whole (yet). Still talent aplenty if the others can stay healthy. Prince has been neither a true star player nor a real glue player per se for this team on the court. Kelly Graves now has minutes for his young forwards to work with, and if they do well, the Ducks may be better off for it.
Last Edit: Oct 28, 2022 14:57:15 GMT -5 by Deleted
She really had the potential to have a breakout season considering she was their only legit center. Now Oregon is likely forced to go small or play their freshman center.
She really had the potential to have a breakout season considering she was their only legit center. Now Oregon is likely forced to go small or play their freshman center.
Actually, Oregon returns 6-8 Phillipina Kyei, who played some minutes last year and was on Team Canada's World Cup roster in Australia. Oregon may still go small at times, but Kyei likely becomes the team's starting center now. Even if Graves opts to start Basham instead, well, we've seen a freshman lead Oregon in scoring before (Ruthy Hebard) en route to a good run in the Big Dance (Elite 8 appearance).
Even without Sedona Prince, no one should be feeling bad for this Oregon program as things stand now. (I certainly don't as a forever Duck h8r.)
Really interesting article, worth the read to get those coaches' perspectives. Sounds like it has become more or less a gentleman’s agreement amongst the coaches to play by the rules as well as be cordial and present-minded. They all also seem pragmatic & self-aware about how they can both cash in and have it go against them.
I wish these coaches encouraged their freshmen more to take academic redshirts. They’re the least likely to get minutes in this environment nowadays.
Ten players transferred from one Pac-12 school to another in the offseason following the 2021-22 season. The previous season that number was five. In two seasons, an entire collegiate roster has moved to a new school within the same conference. …
The Pac-12 has seen as much intraconference movement as any conference in the country. The SEC tops the list with 11 intraconference transfers heading into this season, but with 14 teams. The ACC and its 15 teams saw nine intraconference transfers. …
Bendu Yeaney – Arizona to Oregon State Aaronette Vonleh – Arizona to Colorado Koi Love – Arizona to USC Jade Loville – Arizona State to Arizona Dalayah Daniels – Cal to Washington Peanut Tuitele – Colorado to Cal Kemery Martín – Utah to Cal Alissa Pili – USC to Utah Taya Hanson – Arizona State to Oregon Taylor Bigby – Oregon to USC
It makes sense because recruits out of high school can see that their coaches will support them by allowing them to leave if they want out. After all, if a player is unhappy, she hurts the team. This way, a high school recruit is told "We think this is a great fit for both of us, but sometimes things don't work out. If they don't, we'll help you find a better spot."
Getting rid of the strict sit-out-after-transferring rule was the best thing for everyone, and it really does allow talent to get more spread out across the wcbb landscape – even if not by that significant an amount – since one can probably assume that the most talented players want the most minutes.
I hope I get to see my team's freshmen play this year (and if not, then redshirt). Really excited to see Elle Ladine in particular, I hope she gets her fair shot and doesn't transfer out.
When the Cougars hit the hardwood on Monday, they will do so with 84% of their scoring from last season still on the roster. The Cougars only lost three players from last season, each to graduation. The most significant loss is Krystal Leger-Walker, the poised court general who followed Ethridge from her previous job at University of Northern Colorado to WSU.
I don't have much skin in the game – and haven't for a while tbh. (I just want my Huskies to be NIT-eligible at the end of the season, which – probably not, but we did just have one of our best showings of the season, so maybe! A kid can dream...)
But it is nice that it's already a sure thing how no one's gonna finish undefeated in conference play this year. The conference even has a slight chance of getting as many as eight teams into the Big Dance at this point – though there's a lot of season left to be had.
Last Edit: Jan 19, 2023 12:38:23 GMT -5 by Deleted