TAM vs. Beavers

TAM destroyed SC in their last game. I think TAM is the team we are seeing now and not the one that started the season with those early loses. From watching the game I certainly appeared that the team in general took them lightly and was not focused to start the game. It certainly showed in their lax defense. I suspect that because of the work on setting up the new rotations and adjusted offense the amount of emphasis on defense that we saw in the past was directed else where. It wasn't just in this game that this was evident, rather it was magnified by the teams lack of pregame focus.

Just some other thoughts------Mc Williams played a good game once she got refocused. Joe showed what she was capable of against the right type of matchup. Goodwin also played well, especially better than normal on defense.

Pivec will be fine. She is the player we saw at the end of last season and the beginning of this one, not the player in the TAM game. She just got caught up in the vacation atmosphere, lost focus and reverted back to her early last season mode of play. The easy game they had against Eastern Washington certainly hurt in that respect as well. All in all the team seemed to gotten caught up in the vacation mentality and forgot they were their for basketball games. But can you blame them. The work their rears off most of the season so taking a bit of a break might be a good thing in the long run. It is easy for us sitting at our computers to say they should be constantly focused. Hey they are not machines but young women who deserve to have a break now and then.

As to the issue of Joe and Trish's playing time--- I sort of mentioned that the roster rotations especially at center served the purpose of preparing for individual game adjustments. The fact that there are a variety of options at the post will be an advantage in the future. You have a small line up and then you can bring in Joe against physical teams. TAM was a physical team that required a player like Joe. The other post options were not either tall or physical enough to play with them. When joe was in the line up they tended to stay out of the paint. She made a defensive difference. Even on offense when she did not get the rebound she would keep the ball alive or tip it to a teammate. She impacted the rebounding far beyond what her stats showed. There are teams the Beaves might face that have the same type of players that TAM had.

Against a really physical team like TAM Trish would get pushed around more than even the other posts not named joe would. She still has a lot to learn in respect to establishing position on both sides of the court. That is more important when you lack the size ( I do not mean height ). A player of her stature who really knows how to establish position is Geomi of Oregon. I she bends and spreads out her stance to lower her center of gravity. This serves multiple purposes. One reason tall players get pushed off their block their high center of gravity. Unfortunately Greaves does not use her a lot and give her a quick hook when ever he find cause. Trish need to learn that technique is she ever wants to be effective at center. She also need to challenge players taking shots not directly in front of her instead of just standing stationary with her arms up. I am certain she was taught to do that early in he basketball career. Trish not only has to make a high school to college adjustment, but she also she to learn many of the things that most high school posts learned in better programs. Scott does have a short hook in respect to her, but we need to recognize and put it into context with what he sees in practice. I suspect we might suddenly see more of her this season once the light come on for her.

In respect to Trish's playing time I do not agree with Lotrader. We generally agree but not on this. I do not understand how he did not see the positive impact that Joe made in the last game when she was faced with a match up she could excel in. I never saw Trish replacing Joe in this sort of match up, but if she gets up to speed she could be an improvement defensively over one of the smaller post options because of her mobility. But right now she seem unsure as to what she is supposed to do. That is why Scott pulls he our quickly. She doesn't know her assignment. That is also why Scott did not give Goodwin that much early playing time last season.

Lotrader often focuses on a players future potential at the expense of objective recognition of their present level of effectiveness. Conversely if he feels a player has no upside he will ignore what that player brings to the table now. That seems to be the scenario being played out in respect to Joe and Trish in respect to his perspective.

Jo,  as in Joanna, not "Joe".  And "Goodman" not "Goodwin".

Yes, Jo was a big factor on defense in ways that do not show up in the statistics. On the offensive end, Jo was 4 for 5 from the field against Duke in 19 minutes of play. It does not matter that the shots were relatively easy. Each one still counts 2 points. I. think this is the first time that I saw an intermittent double team on her where a second defensive player would tentatively sag on Jo. This makes it more difficult to double team a hot 3-point shooter. This game might have been an anomaly, but I wonder if we have underestimated Jo a little by failing to realize that she is inexperienced in terms of meaningful court time and may continue to improve. In any event, she seems to be a crowd favorite. I know some people are behind her because she fights her way through a lack of athletic ability with a realization of what she can and cannot do.

Agree with pretty much all 411 says, except the offensive boards where she is actually the best on the team. But as the rest of the team, slowly, learns how to pass the ball way up there Jo

will score more. But the team has plenty of scoring options, it's defense where Jo makes a difference. It isn't that Jo is going to become an all-american, but that she's doing enough for

the team to succeed.

Wow, can anyone express their views without upsetting you? 

Defense is mostly about footwork and positions. That is an area where Jo still had an upside. She is getting more comfortable establishing position and that I believe has been the difference in her play. We need to remember she is both tall and big and that is very intimidating to those that want to inhabit the paint. I noticed that in the TAM game after she had been in the game for a while they would not even attempt in the paint shots. She would be very valuable against teams that rely on physicality to dominate in the post. She would be a good match up against McCowan or Brown type players. What I also noticed is that Duke put in their really big post to try to counter Jo. That tells you something when teams try to make adjustments to a specific player.

What is also important is that when other teams go small and try to out quick Jo, Scott can counter with his small team.

As too my mistake in respect to calling Jo Joe and Goodman Goodwin, it isn't because I don't know better. Just chock it up to a temp brain fart. I have been known to have quite a few of those. I just have a big laugh at my Maaroon moments, and you are welcome to join in. Unlike some other old farts, i don't get defensive at my own senior moments. in fact I have been having those type of moments my entire life. Nothing I enjoy better than a good laugh, especially at myself. It keeps one humble. I must say that it seems sort of strange calling a female Goodman. It should be either Goodwoman or Goodperson.

Funny.... with all the the "love" and hype AA and PM received Jo is far better at this time, and the team needs her whether in short stints or not. Yet she draws complaints on things she's truly not capable of.

She is not and will never be super mobile. She's not agile. She's really not a "work in progress". She is who she is, has steadily improved in the areas she can and plays an essential role. What else is there?