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Post by beavershoopsfan on Apr 22, 2019 7:16:32 GMT -8
Five PAC-12 squads are among the top 19 teams in this very early poll. Oregon at #1. Stanford at #3. Beavs #6. UCLA #16. Arizona State #19. UConn at #7. When was the last time that Oregon State University appeared ahead of UConn in a women's basketball poll or rankings list? www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26556334/sabrina-ionescu-oregon-lead-way-too-early-top-25-2019-206. Oregon State Beavers Oregon State will have size to spare with incoming freshman 6-6 Kennedy Brown and 6-3 Taylor Jones to go along with 6-9 Andrea Aquino, who redshirted this season, and 6-7 Patricia Morris, who played sparingly as a freshman. The backcourt, though, is the key to the Beavers' success and more of a sure thing. Destiny Slocum (team-high 15.4 PPG and 4.5 APG) should be even better in her second season in Corvallis at the point. Aleah Goodman (10.7 PPG) and Mikayla Pivec (15.2 PPG, team-high 9.2 RPG) provide versatility and, if Kat Tudor (46.5 3-point field goal percentage) can come back from a torn ACL in her left knee suffered in January, the Beavers also have an elite shooter. |
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Post by greybeav on Apr 22, 2019 7:23:38 GMT -8
I wonder when he wrote this, he was not aware of Jelena coming to OSU or the fact that Japreece Dean is back for another year at UCLA, two things I spotted so far.
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Post by wbosh15 on Apr 22, 2019 7:34:21 GMT -8
I've got a feeling your UCONN question is exactly never. But it's fantastic that the program is now at this point. |
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Post by rmancarl on Apr 22, 2019 8:28:02 GMT -8
How often do you find the Beavers ranked ahead of this group? UCONN, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Louisville, South Carolina, and Mississippi State
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Post by 411500 on Apr 22, 2019 11:19:33 GMT -8
It looks to me like the thinking of these "way too early" prognosticators goes something like this:
The Beavs are loaded with proven perimeter players with a headline grabber to boot. Namely, Pivec, Goodman, Tudor, Corosdale AND Slocum.
The Beavs also have a stable of unproven tall athletes similar to the ones Rueck has previously molded into stars.
If one of these "unprovens" develops into a Marie Gulich or a Ruth Hamblin the Beavs are a Top 10 (maybe a Top 6) team....
Personally, I think a lot of us here agree with that general scenario....
Now the waiting game begins to see what happens, and who develops, on the Big front...
For the moment we will avoid the question of what happens if none of the unproven Bigs develop in a big way.
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Post by newduke2 on Apr 22, 2019 13:14:49 GMT -8
I acknowledge I don't know jack s*** about where teams should be ranked. That said, IMO a number 6 preseason ranking seems a bit generous. To me, Creme is (1) giving OSU an unspoken benefit of the doubt when it comes to the "bigs" (two or more) being capable of making strong contributions leading to or supporting numerous wins, and is (2) assuming the guards get back their outside shooting touch and it lasts the whole season as opposed to fading late like it did this year. ("fading late" may be kind...it was pretty awful at times)
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Post by rmancarl on Apr 22, 2019 13:17:05 GMT -8
Before thinking about this top 10, I have to say that I think Arizona deserves a top 25 spot over Arizona State. Am I wrong?
Arizona returns all their starters including rising star Cate Reese.
Arizona State gave minutes to a lot of players last year, but probably lost their two best.
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Post by beaverwbb fan on Apr 22, 2019 13:52:30 GMT -8
Before thinking about this top 10, I have to say that I think Arizona deserves a top 25 spot over Arizona State. Am I wrong? Arizona returns all their starters including rising star Cate Reese. Arizona State gave minutes to a lot of players last year, but probably lost their two best. I agree. Arizona State loses three starters in Ekmark, Johnson-Champman, and Ibis. Ibis was the focal point of their offense this year, Ekmark was a three-point threat, and Johnson-Chapman was an athletic, long 5 player. They will likely be a little weaker in the post this year. |
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2ndGenBeaver
Sophomore
Posts: 1,838 
Grad Year: 1991 (MS/CS) 1999 (PhD/CS)
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Post by 2ndGenBeaver on Apr 22, 2019 18:55:30 GMT -8
It looks to me like the thinking of these "way too early" prognosticators goes something like this: The Beavs are loaded with proven perimeter players with a headline grabber to boot. Namely, Pivec, Goodman, Tudor, Corosdale AND Slocum. The Beavs also have a stable of unproven tall athletes similar to the ones Rueck has previously molded into stars. If one of these "unprovens" develops into a Marie Gulich or a Ruth Hamblin the Beavs are a Top 10 (maybe a Top 6) team.... Personally, I think a lot of us here agree with that general scenario.... Now the waiting game begins to see what happens, and who develops, on the Big front... For the moment we will avoid the question of what happens if none of the unproven Bigs develop in a big way. I think that scenario (none of the bigs develop in a big way) is a low likelihood scenario. I think Patricia Morris was starting to really come along (at least the Cal game and uo game, she really ate her Wheaties before those games). AA has had a year in system, and is really smooth in warmups/drills (again, that is not substantial evidence, but should she play, she will not have been thrown in the deep end of the pool). I have high hopes she will play given the last few games she started participating in the defense/offense drills, so clearly on some sort of progression. Jelena seems to have some polish already, and you can't coach height, so she might provide only spot duty, but I suspect she will be in the rotation. Kennedy has the attitude to succeed, and has been already playing (albeit All-star games) against/with several Pac-12 level players. And Taylor was still considered top-10 in (all) Texas, and not all 10 were post players...... So for none of PM, AA, JM, KB or TJ to pan out seems low likelihood to me. Discounted in all of this is the potential for Taya to continue to progress (see her rebounding in the last several games). And early in the season we also can run Maddie and Janessa out there, though I do think minutes in the paint might become a rare commodity unless you are 6'3" or taller given the number of players - and we really need to find the contributors, because I think senior Mik could be the basis of a deep run and super season without even pondering other backcourt players..... What is crazy is a too-soon ranking of #6 in the country means we are only thought of as third best in the Pac-12. There are going to be some seriously battle-tested teams in the Pac come March 2020. Has there ever been a Final Four with all 4 teams from a single conference? Go Beavers! |
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Post by beaverwbb fan on Apr 22, 2019 19:15:33 GMT -8
I agree. With all the options of Morris, Aquino, Brown, Jones, and Mitrovic, I hope one will be ready at the 5 next year. Rueck has pretty much always used a 4-out-1-in offense, surrounding the big with shooters. I know Brown and Aquino may not be true 5s, but at 6’6” and 6’9”, they have the size to do so. If Rueck feels those are his best options until Morris and Mitrovic are ready, he will use them. I can’t wait for Italy. I hope it is live streamed somewhere...maybe the facebook like the A&M game was.
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Post by believeinthebeavs on Apr 22, 2019 20:07:44 GMT -8
I see his offensive set to be a 3-1-1 .with a high post and a low post. Ruth played low and Deven/Sam played high. Bre/Kolby low with Marie high. Marie low with Taya high. This year had Jo/Maddie low and Taya high. Taya would drift out to the three line but the initial set had her at the free throw line.
I thought we might see Taya at the post with four shooters out this year but I really didn't see it.
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Post by willtalk on Apr 23, 2019 18:09:13 GMT -8
It all depends on how soon Scott want to transition to the tall lineup that he envisions playing the following year. I don't see Aquino and Brown playing the center position. They are better face to the basket players. The center position will be contested by Mitrovic, Morris and Jones. Aquino and Brown can easily play the PF position even transitioning out to a wing with time.
I do not think Scott gave scholarships to so many post players knowing that so many would get no playing time. He expects both Aquino and Brown to play either at the high post or wing. Both Brown and Aquino are also capable post defenders and could play that position if they wanted a faster team on the floor. Morris still needs to break her habit of not challenging shots in front of her.
How well Mitrovic runs the floor is still a mystery but her post defense looks really good. Unlike Morris, she moves out and challenges shots. I am sure Morris has the ability to excel in that area and her problem is just an uncorrected habit developed in youth ball. Have not seen Jones play so I will not comment on her. But you don't get the recognition she's gotten being a stiff. One of these three will certainly develop into a very good and viable post option.
Because of the mobility of Jones and Morris, along with the mobility and mid-range to outside shooting ability of Aquino and Brown, there should never be a need to play small ball. A team can not have 5 players of that caliber vying for one position so at least two will end up at other positions. Especially since those two have the skills and are better facing the basket. I see Brown and Aquino as interchangeable pieces The points I brought up, I suspect are the reasons why all those players chose Oregan St. despite knowing how many stereotypically post sized players would be here.
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Post by bvrbooster on Apr 23, 2019 19:12:30 GMT -8
Regarding question on whether there has ever been a Final Four with 4 schools from the same conference, I would seriously doubt it. On the men's side, however, back in its day, the Big East did get 3 teams into the Final Four one year.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2019 20:10:02 GMT -8
It all depends on how soon Scott want to transition to the tall lineup that he envisions playing the following year. I don't see Aquino and Brown playing the center position. They are better face to the basket players. The center position will be contested by Mitrovic, Morris and Jones. Aquino and Brown can easily play the PF position even transitioning out to a wing with time. I do not think Scott gave scholarships to so many post players knowing that so many would get no playing time. He expects both Aquino and Brown to play either at the high post or wing. Both Brown and Aquino are also capable post defenders and could play that position if they wanted a faster team on the floor. Morris still needs to break her habit of not challenging shots in front of her. How well Mitrovic runs the floor is still a mystery but her post defense looks really good. Unlike Morris, she moves out and challenges shots. I am sure Morris has the ability to excel in that area and her problem is just an uncorrected habit developed in youth ball. Have not seen Jones play so I will not comment on her. But you don't get the recognition she's gotten being a stiff. One of these three will certainly develop into a very good and viable post option. Because of the mobility of Jones and Morris, along with the mobility and mid-range to outside shooting ability of Aquino and Brown, there should never be a need to play small ball. A team can not have 5 players of that caliber vying for one position so at least two will end up at other positions. Especially since those two have the skills and are better facing the basket. I see Brown and Aquino as interchangeable pieces The points I brought up, I suspect are the reasons why all those players chose Oregan St. despite knowing how many stereotypically post sized players would be here. AA will not play. Mitrovic was his backup plan (IMO) just sayin |
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Post by beavdowg on Apr 23, 2019 20:37:26 GMT -8
So, the question remains...what happened to AA that will keep her from playing for OSU?
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