|
|
Post by skyrider on Mar 24, 2019 5:51:15 GMT -8
The Beavers appear to be playing "not to lose". With this team, I get the feeling that it would be a close game if they played against a small high school team.
Somehow their "mojo" seems gone. They have an incredible talent in Slocum who seems to be very under utilizied by Coach Rueck. Great a coach as he is, it appears that in her case he may be too rigid in demanding that every player fit into the exact pattern he wants.
To watch the Beavers have terrible difficulty with defensive pressure, when you have a player like Slocum to break that pressure, is painful to say the least.
No way do the Beavers get by Gonzaga unless something major changes (like maybe the Zags don't show up for the game!).
Still love the team and coach, but something is just not right with this team. Perhaps it is as simple as not having good enough talent. However, it seems to be something more.
Their play seems very "mechanical" like they are over thinking everything.
Every team they play is going pressure them on defensive to force turnovers. By now, you would think they would be used to it. To the contrary, they seem to be getting worse and worse at handling it.
As usual, would be interested to see what others think!
P.S. I echo what others are saying, what in the world has happened to McWilliams? Perhaps she is injured in some way?
Go Beavers!
|
|
|
|
Post by lotrader on Mar 24, 2019 6:49:36 GMT -8
Destiny & Rueck are still trying to find an equilibrium. Leaving Destiny on her own, means trying to make the "perfect" pass, and result is turnover. Sometimes OSU looks to "mechanical", to your point, because our point guard (Destiny or Aleah) look over to Rueck for the next play. If you have watched any other teams in the tournament, some teams go with a motion offense, and the passing is awesome, and, player movement is constant. It would be nice to see OSU, at times, run a motion offense. However, in the 1st half, OSU had some very nice passing, only to miss the open shot? Gonzaga is a solid team. OSU can bet Gonzaga, but, it will be another difficult challenge, like BSU. No easy games. Thankfully, we are playing at home, which gives OSU the edge in this next game.
|
|
|
|
Post by skyrider on Mar 24, 2019 7:27:54 GMT -8
Thanks for the observations. Excellent points!
Any thoughts on why McWilliams is struggling so much?
|
|
|
|
Post by beaverwbb fan on Mar 24, 2019 8:47:56 GMT -8
If you look at the “game flow” on ESPN of the Washington and Boise State games, the similarities are stunning. In both games, we built a big lead about midway through the second (lead reached 14 in both games with about 4:50 left in 2Q), only to gave it dwindle down before halftime (UW cut it to 4 and BSU to 8). In both games the opponents took the lead about midway through 3Q, but OSU came back to take the lead before the other team built a lead of 4 or more. Then OSU made miraculous come backs in both. The difference was UW hit their final shot and BSU didn’t. I think maintaining that second quarter lead and building on it could have ended the game in both situations. Being down 14 vs. 4 or 8 is a huge difference in the locker room, especially when UW and BSU had the momentum.
It has definitely been quite an adjustment year for Slocum. At Maryland, she ran the show. Here I think she helps run the show. Her mom retweeted something about her sitting on the bench at a key time, so I’m going to guess they aren’t always thrilled. Destiny is much more capable than the way she plays. She doesn’t seem to have the same confidence, but I hope it can be built back up. Some of her turnovers just make you think “really?”, because she is too good to be making some of the mistakes like picking up her dribble.
|
|
|
|
Post by rmancarl on Mar 24, 2019 8:52:07 GMT -8
I know a few of Destiny's friends, fans, and of course her Mom, wonder why Destiny is not playing more minutes. If I were her parent, I'm sure I would wonder the same thing, but I agree with SR's decision on playing time. Destiny is the most talented player on this team, but Mik is the best player, and Aleah may have the best basketball 'smarts'. It's a nice problem to have, and one reason I'm pretty excited about next year. I think you will see a lot of improvement in how Destiny handles the point at OSU next season. This year in the system will help big time next year. Destiny wants to play, and I'm sure she will be in SR's ear wanting to know what she needs to do to improve.
As for Katie Mac....Last year she had an important role as a ball handler. There was no Destiny. Aleah wasn't quite ready yet, and Katie was needed to help Mik handle the ball. Other than not being aggressive, Katie played her role just about perfectly, solid on D, shot the ball well, and was clutch when needed. This lead to her playing the most minutes on the team. I thought she would play the most minutes again this year, and be more aggressive. Obviously, with Destiny and Aleah playing as they are this year, Katie hasn't been needed in that ball handling role, but she also hasn't attached the bucket, or shot as well as I thought she would. Other than her shots not falling, I'm not sure we should have expected a whole lot more from her this season. She recognizes the talent around her, and usually defers to them. I respect everything Katie has done for this team and this program. I hope she ends the year strong, makes a couple more clutch shots or free throws (like the two last night), and leaves the program on a high.
|
|
|
|
Post by skyrider on Mar 24, 2019 9:00:47 GMT -8
Thanks for the insights.
It would be great to at least see them play one tournament game this year where they really play relaxed, shoot well, and play up to the potential they have.
It probably will need to happen in this next game with Gonzaga (who is a excellent team but lost two outstanding players) because after that most of the teams left will have a significantly more talented players than the OSU team has this year.
Go Beavs!
|
|
|
|
Post by jegerklog on Mar 24, 2019 9:43:34 GMT -8
I think Destiny’s skills are not completely compatible with the more control type of offense that has been imposed to set up what typically becomes a dribbling fest. When she is driving down the court high speed, she sometimes gets open shots which she does not take (perhaps per instruction). Often she stops and looks over to CR for instruction. At this point she has lost her momentum and is quickly doubled teamed by taller players and you know the rest. Many posters think the present game strategy is not working well. Maybe it is time to not wait any longer for the 3 point to return. Given that Gonzaga is substantially better than Washington and Boise State, maybe it is time to loosen things up a bit, maybe bring Simmons or Morris off the bench when a funk period sets in. As a fan, I fully realize that I do not know the entire picture.
|
|
|
|
Post by Henry Skrimshander on Mar 24, 2019 9:45:19 GMT -8
It would be great to at least see them play one tournament game this year where they really play relaxed, shoot well, and play up to the potential they have.
Given our injuries and the unavailability of what was to be a very important cog of our offense/defense, I'd say we overachieved this season. Take the equivalent of Kat Tudor away from every other Pac-12 team and see how it fares. Bet it wouldn't go 14-4 in the Pac-12. Beat Gonzaga and we played to our seed. BSU should have been no worse than a 10 seed. No. 13 seeds are supposed to look like UALR, which the NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, seeded higher than the Broncos. |
|
|
|
Post by bvrbooster on Mar 24, 2019 10:55:23 GMT -8
I have to agree with Hank on this. Between the loss of Tudor and the problems with the 5 spot, this team wasn't going to accomplish much more than it has. As I said in another post, a top ten ranking and making the sweet sixteen would be a very happy end to the year.
Missouri was up by 5 a few minutes ago. Maybe that will be the upset that propels us to that top 10 final ranking.
|
|
|
|
Post by jegerklog on Mar 24, 2019 11:30:16 GMT -8
I certainly agree that the loss of Kat was huge and that the play at the 5 has been mixed though better than I expected. Many posts (messages not players) have indicated that next year’s team will be better. This is also my thinking. However, we will still be inexperienced at the 5 which will presumably be a freshman or a sophomore with very limited experience. Presumably our potential senior posts next year will again be too short for many of the matchups?
More to the point of this thread, it looked like Gonzaga has considerable athleticism under the basket. Will this be a major problem tomorrow?
|
|
|
|
Post by skyrider on Mar 24, 2019 12:20:02 GMT -8
Yes, I am afraid it will be so.
|
|
|
|
Post by beaveragain on Mar 24, 2019 13:39:16 GMT -8
Athletic like UCLA? Jo got 7 blocks against the Bruins.
To win we need,
A- Destiny to stay out of foul trouble.
B- The team to hit 30% from the 3.
C- The rest of the team to have an OK game.
And then it's on to Louisville.
|
|
|
|
Post by beaverwbb fan on Mar 24, 2019 13:46:29 GMT -8
Athletic like UCLA? Jo got 7 blocks against the Bruins. To win we need, A- Destiny to stay out of foul trouble. B- The team to hit 30% from the 3. C- The rest of the team to have an OK game. And then it's on to Louisville. I think limiting turnovers is a big concern too. Way, way too many giveaways last game to Boise State. I still want to see more of Taya at the 5. Taya can guard their 5 and Katie can guard their 4. Mik and Taya are good enough rebounders that we shouldn’t get outrebounded with that lineup. Spreads things out when all 5 can shoot the 3. |
|
|
|
Post by skyrider on Mar 24, 2019 16:39:50 GMT -8
I wonder why Coach Rueck has not been using Tara at the 5 position many times during this year.
Also given that we are not going to have an experienced 5 position for next year, she could fill that role then also and be much further along by having played the position this year.
Jo is giving 100% and has improved tremendously, but obviously often has serious limitations.
I feel she matches up much better against Gonzaga's bigs than Jo does!
Anyway, I hope to see the Beaver's really come to life Monday and defeat an excellent Gonzaga team!
|
|
|
|
Post by believeinthebeavs on Mar 24, 2019 17:44:39 GMT -8
I wonder why Coach Rueck has not been using Tara at the 5 position many times during this year.
Also given that we are not going to have an experienced 5 position for next year, she could fill that role then also and be much further along by having played the position this year.
Jo is giving 100% and has improved tremendously, but obviously often has serious limitations.
I feel she matches up much better against Gonzaga's bigs than Jo does!
Anyway, I hope to see the Beaver's really come to life Monday and defeat an excellent Gonzaga team!
Tara? Taya at the 5 puts KtMac at the 4, a position she has some experience at but then you have two players playing out of their normal position. They both are capable of playing those positions but I don't think Taya is a back to the basket player that Rueck likes. I think that losing Janessa when we did made a bigger impact than maybe we think. She brought a lot of energy and toughness. She complemented Jo and Maddie well. I also hope to see the intensity come back, it would make a victory a little more comfortable. |
|
