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Post by ricke71 on Dec 15, 2018 11:48:02 GMT -8
Several members have commented about the difference between Beav WBB and the PAC-12 program just to the South, regarding how the teams are using their bench during the non-conference portion of the schedule.
Injuries are unpredictable, but a cruel reality of playing in a conference as tough as the PAC-12. Non-conference games prior to PAC-12 are the best opportunity for a coach to develop their bench, not just for having a functionally deep rotation, but also to prepare for an injury to a starter(s).
Granted all factors are not equal in terms of strength of schedule (when comparing OSU w tsdtr) - though over the past 4 games, each team has played 1 quality opponent, and several cupcakes - and both teams are 3-1 during that stretch.
OSU has averaged the use of 6 bench players during that 4 game stretch, with an average of 43 bench points.
tsdtr has averaged the use of 3 bench players during that 4 game stretch, with an average of 12 bench points.
I'd be curious to know how other PAC-12 title contenders are using their Nov-Dec games to develop depth for the upcoming conference season (just 3 games away).
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Post by 411500 on Dec 15, 2018 12:00:37 GMT -8
ricke71 - bench strength, depth of reserves, interesting bb topics....
Just a quick comment or two: a coach works on cultivating bench strength based on the quality of players who are sitting on the bench.
Playing bench players, unto it self, is not necessarily helpful, nor is is it automatically beneficial to team success. The bench players must be good players to begin with - then they must get better on top of that.
Rueck MUST use his bench this season because 3 of the players sitting on it are starters at one time or another...That is a rare luxury.
Some programs have weak bench players - getting these players on the court is not that much of a priority for the coach.
Sometimes forgotten is the fact that bench players don't become good players just because they get floor time. Floor time is a necessary but insufficient condition.
Bench players have got to be players to begin with, then floor time will improve their game and their overall team play.
Anyway, that's how I see it.......
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Post by ricke71 on Dec 15, 2018 12:32:45 GMT -8
411500 - very good points. Indeed there is a luxury of former starters on the bench for the Beavs...and also a big? at the 5 position, both of which likely influence Reuck’s approach.
Still, if a team lacks quality depth in November, and doesn’t use game time in Nov/Dec to prep/improve those lesser players, they might be forced into using them (without that prep) in the PAC-12, in the event of a February injury or two.
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Post by believeinthebeavs on Dec 15, 2018 12:42:20 GMT -8
No comparison between the "quality" opponents. Michigan state is not comparable to nd.
Look at the close wins each program had, syracuse (18) gave the schmucks everything they could handle before the schmucks pulled out a two point win. SC came back on the Beavs at the end and they were previously a top 10 team that fell to 13 before we played them.
Tuesday will show what the schmucks are made of when they play Mississippi State at home.
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Post by beaverwbb fan on Dec 15, 2018 12:56:38 GMT -8
Stanford playing like a serious contender right now. They are up 41-24 over #3 Baylor at half. Baylor has had troubles with the Pac-12 over the past few years. Only losses last year were OSU and UCLA. Arizona St. gave them troubles this year and now Stanford. But they also lost to Gonzaga.
Kiana Williams is a really, really good player for Stanford. We were second for her. She plays 1 and 2. She and Slocum would be dangerous.
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2ndGenBeaver
Sophomore
Posts: 1,837 
Grad Year: 1991 (MS/CS) 1999 (PhD/CS)
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Post by 2ndGenBeaver on Dec 15, 2018 14:23:06 GMT -8
411500 - very good points. Indeed there is a luxury of former starters on the bench for the Beavs... and also a big? at the 5 position, both of which likely influence Reuck’s approach. Still, if a team lacks quality depth in November, and doesn’t use game time in Nov/Dec to prep/improve those lesser players, they might be forced into using them (without that prep) in the PAC-12, in the event of a February injury or two. It was interesting to see the substitution patterns yesterday when the outcome of the game was (after the first quarter [and perhaps even then] never in doubt). It is clear that Jo is the first choice for the "tall timber in the paint" configuration right now. I don't know if there was hope AA could have helped there, but that was ruled out between her health issues and whatever else led to the AA's redshirt decision. For the record, I suspect one component of that decision was the fact that since she has only been hooping since she was 15 and SR's system is quite sophisticated, she would not see the minutes this year. PM is not getting the kind of minutes (yet) that would lead you to believe she will be early off the bench any time soon, and so the "single big" patrolling the paint might only be a few minutes per game or in the few games where we need to counter tall timber..... Which leads to the other possible approaches - sit JG and rotate through some tasteful combination of Taya + MW/JT/KTMac.... - it is interesting to see KTMac jump center in the last few games on the opening tip off - there are lineups where it may make sense. The question mark at 5 also leaks over to our 4(s), and so I think we are going to really see SR's coaching acumen this season. Next year might get even more interesting, where the *average* height of the team he could credibly field could be 6'4" or so........and that is with DS at point. Go Beavers! |
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Post by mike74 on Dec 15, 2018 16:29:59 GMT -8
Oregon has played a much more difficult early season schedule even before Mississippi State next week (#24 SOS vs #170 for Oregon State) which has probably factored into the amount of time the 4 player bench gets so far. With depth limited, Oregon is forced to play rotations similar to UCONN & Notre Dame (Irish won National Championship with 6 scholarship players last year and the Huskies rarely rotate more than 8 players every year). Stanford also almost always has an 7-9 player rotation scheme every year.
Injuries would obviously have a severe impact on the Ducks and not so much for the Beavs.
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Post by rmancarl on Dec 15, 2018 19:47:58 GMT -8
Not trying to be technical, but I wouldn't call South Dakota State a cupcake. They have defeated a ranked team, and played Baylor close. There is no doubt in my mind that to date, the ducks have played a tougher schedule than the Beavs.
Speaking of benches, you've got to love the scoring that Tudor brings off the bench, but Goodman has really been impressive as well. There is no doubt Destiny is a star, but this team is in good hands with Aleah as well. I will be curious to see how well she handles quick guards this season but I'm not overly concerned. The sophomore class, Slocum, Goodman, and Corsodale is a pretty impressive group.
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