Post by 2ndGenBeaver on Oct 27, 2019 16:37:26 GMT -8
What a day. And such promise for us all saying "what a season!".
It is one of those Fall days in Corvallis that reminds you that the Willamette Valley is God's country. My wife and I were able to walk from our home to the game (1 mile), enjoying the sunshine and Fall colors, and on the way back stop in at Joe's Burgers in the MU for a nice Avocado Veggie burger, and then the Superette for some candy, just like we used to from Sackett Hall in 1988....but I digress.
I didn't spend much time pondering the score or even individual scoring......I just watched our players closely. Let me run down the roster:
Taya - out for the game, not dressed, no visible boot or brace (though I perhaps imagined her motion a bit limited, like back or tailbone or glutes area). Given that she wasn't quite the bubbly, smiley TC, she was likely just a bit under the weather, and no need to dress her given the circumstance.
Jelena - dressed down. Looks fine, and in basketball shape - not small for 6'9", but Ruth/Marie solid, not Osahor/Barkley *solid*.
AA - I posted this point elsewhere, but she seems "more" - more engaged, doing more in warmup. Perhaps wishful thinking on my part, but I get the vibes that she is trending upwards, not down - maybe some good news in 2020 for her?
Kat - oh, I hope we get her for another year! Her new hobby seems to be shooting from 10-12 feet past the arc (standing on the end of the center court Beaver).....and making more than half her shots. Wow.
Aleah - she seems more "dynamic" - a bit quicker, and fairly engaged on D. Not looking for her shot as aggressively in this game.
Mik - coach nailed it - more confident. More vocal as well. Pushing and asserting herself more. Won't get as worn down rebounding, and I predict her rebounding numbers will be down this season (but the reason why later)
Patricia - more mobile, more aggressive and athletic. Good speed down the court. Playing with Jones and Brown is going to improve her game a lot. What is her ceiling? Will be interesting to see, but definitely can finish at the rim with her size and pose a problem in the paint for players smaller than her. Wily players might still be able to get around her though.
Destiny - a more under control DS, but with the same speedster tendency. Last season DS would exceed redline on occasion and usually it was a TO, this season seems like her focus is to edge right up to redline. More hands in the lanes, trying to stay in front of her player more on D. More vocal in huddles than I recall from last season, but my memory isn't what it used to be.
Janessa - more comfortable playing outside in, had a couple nice drive from the arc, draw the defender and dish plays.
Jazz - way more confident, very fast up and down the court, finishing better, spotting up better, passing crisper and most importantly, not being a liability on D, keeping her player in front of her better.
Maddie - has bulked up. Rebounding with authority. But she is a tweener.
Mannen - She might only get a few minutes every game, but these will be valuable minutes - she has a good grasp of the system, is a competent cog in the machine, and her energy is just so positive! The few minutes she could spell someone in the backcourt could be a difference maker. Looks to have a good variety of shots, needs some space at 5'6" to pull them off. Don't know how good she is (a'la DS) at creating space yet.
Kennedy - Wow. I *love* Kennedy's game face. She reminds me of Gary Payton (the senior) intensity - she is out there not competing with anyone else, but with herself, to be better and better. If she is the new Katie Mac, than with all due respect, she will represent a significant upgrade at that position in many ways. She sticks her nose into the fray to rebound, and her volleyball background (I think) serves her well in that more than once she redirected a ball going out of bounds to her own player, and I think even once or twice in position to score. I think she starts, soon if not immediately, and will provide a bit of everything - good D with long arms, size and footwork. Scoring aggressiveness. The ability to rebound and go back up and finish. The willingness to launch 3s (didn't hit many this game, but the shot is there). A midrange game. Ability to block, with a good understand of angles and anticipation. All with that intensity!
Taylor - WOW. How did this young lady get rated so low and not get a McD's nod? Again, I understand we were playing Union. Pencil her in as a starter, or the "go in for whoever started at center after a couple minutes and play the majority of the game" person. Her fundamentals are as good as I have seen for a freshman at OSU - men or women - though I will admit to only going back to 1987 when I make that statement. She does not bring the ball down! [She is "Scott Haskins as a senior" good in that department] On several offensive rebounds, she kept the ball at the high point and flipped it back up. She can catch the ball at the high point and flip it back up, while moving to the basket. She has a midrange. She has a hook going either way. She had a couple plays through contact that showed promise. And she is sooooo nimble on her feet - she has the "twitch" that let's her quickly spin either direction. Her footwork is like Marie's as a junior. Her ability to block is better than Ruth was as a freshman. She wants to block (this might be an Achille's heel early for her) everything. Her motor is at a very high level. She's like a paint loving Destiny. At this school, in 4 years time, this is a superstar in the making.
Mik jumped center. She did not win the toss.
I caught one of those orange ball's the players throw out at Introductions - my wife made me feel like I had won her a stuffed animal at the fair :-).
While I have expressed extreme enthusiasm for Kennedy and Taylor, they will still be challenged through the year. They have not been leaned on by Pac-12 heft yet. They have not seen the wily, athletic forwards that might give up an inch or two but have quickness and muscle.......But they are super promising, because the fundamentals and talent is there. Our back court can hold its own with about any in the nation. Well, our front court just got a HUGE upgrade. We will not have the scoring droughts we did as there are so many more places to manufacture points all of a sudden. And the defense on the outside can be more aggressive knowing further challenges await the driver in the paint.
All I can say is that we have the makings of being a much better team than we were last year. And still hoping to get Kat back and see Jalena play. I don't know what that means in a ever improving Pac-12, but this year we have an amazing backcourt that can lead the way, and in Taylor and Kennedy we have the pieces to build around in the years to come......
Go Beavers!
It is one of those Fall days in Corvallis that reminds you that the Willamette Valley is God's country. My wife and I were able to walk from our home to the game (1 mile), enjoying the sunshine and Fall colors, and on the way back stop in at Joe's Burgers in the MU for a nice Avocado Veggie burger, and then the Superette for some candy, just like we used to from Sackett Hall in 1988....but I digress.
I didn't spend much time pondering the score or even individual scoring......I just watched our players closely. Let me run down the roster:
Taya - out for the game, not dressed, no visible boot or brace (though I perhaps imagined her motion a bit limited, like back or tailbone or glutes area). Given that she wasn't quite the bubbly, smiley TC, she was likely just a bit under the weather, and no need to dress her given the circumstance.
Jelena - dressed down. Looks fine, and in basketball shape - not small for 6'9", but Ruth/Marie solid, not Osahor/Barkley *solid*.
AA - I posted this point elsewhere, but she seems "more" - more engaged, doing more in warmup. Perhaps wishful thinking on my part, but I get the vibes that she is trending upwards, not down - maybe some good news in 2020 for her?
Kat - oh, I hope we get her for another year! Her new hobby seems to be shooting from 10-12 feet past the arc (standing on the end of the center court Beaver).....and making more than half her shots. Wow.
Aleah - she seems more "dynamic" - a bit quicker, and fairly engaged on D. Not looking for her shot as aggressively in this game.
Mik - coach nailed it - more confident. More vocal as well. Pushing and asserting herself more. Won't get as worn down rebounding, and I predict her rebounding numbers will be down this season (but the reason why later)
Patricia - more mobile, more aggressive and athletic. Good speed down the court. Playing with Jones and Brown is going to improve her game a lot. What is her ceiling? Will be interesting to see, but definitely can finish at the rim with her size and pose a problem in the paint for players smaller than her. Wily players might still be able to get around her though.
Destiny - a more under control DS, but with the same speedster tendency. Last season DS would exceed redline on occasion and usually it was a TO, this season seems like her focus is to edge right up to redline. More hands in the lanes, trying to stay in front of her player more on D. More vocal in huddles than I recall from last season, but my memory isn't what it used to be.
Janessa - more comfortable playing outside in, had a couple nice drive from the arc, draw the defender and dish plays.
Jazz - way more confident, very fast up and down the court, finishing better, spotting up better, passing crisper and most importantly, not being a liability on D, keeping her player in front of her better.
Maddie - has bulked up. Rebounding with authority. But she is a tweener.
Mannen - She might only get a few minutes every game, but these will be valuable minutes - she has a good grasp of the system, is a competent cog in the machine, and her energy is just so positive! The few minutes she could spell someone in the backcourt could be a difference maker. Looks to have a good variety of shots, needs some space at 5'6" to pull them off. Don't know how good she is (a'la DS) at creating space yet.
Kennedy - Wow. I *love* Kennedy's game face. She reminds me of Gary Payton (the senior) intensity - she is out there not competing with anyone else, but with herself, to be better and better. If she is the new Katie Mac, than with all due respect, she will represent a significant upgrade at that position in many ways. She sticks her nose into the fray to rebound, and her volleyball background (I think) serves her well in that more than once she redirected a ball going out of bounds to her own player, and I think even once or twice in position to score. I think she starts, soon if not immediately, and will provide a bit of everything - good D with long arms, size and footwork. Scoring aggressiveness. The ability to rebound and go back up and finish. The willingness to launch 3s (didn't hit many this game, but the shot is there). A midrange game. Ability to block, with a good understand of angles and anticipation. All with that intensity!
Taylor - WOW. How did this young lady get rated so low and not get a McD's nod? Again, I understand we were playing Union. Pencil her in as a starter, or the "go in for whoever started at center after a couple minutes and play the majority of the game" person. Her fundamentals are as good as I have seen for a freshman at OSU - men or women - though I will admit to only going back to 1987 when I make that statement. She does not bring the ball down! [She is "Scott Haskins as a senior" good in that department] On several offensive rebounds, she kept the ball at the high point and flipped it back up. She can catch the ball at the high point and flip it back up, while moving to the basket. She has a midrange. She has a hook going either way. She had a couple plays through contact that showed promise. And she is sooooo nimble on her feet - she has the "twitch" that let's her quickly spin either direction. Her footwork is like Marie's as a junior. Her ability to block is better than Ruth was as a freshman. She wants to block (this might be an Achille's heel early for her) everything. Her motor is at a very high level. She's like a paint loving Destiny. At this school, in 4 years time, this is a superstar in the making.
Mik jumped center. She did not win the toss.
I caught one of those orange ball's the players throw out at Introductions - my wife made me feel like I had won her a stuffed animal at the fair :-).
While I have expressed extreme enthusiasm for Kennedy and Taylor, they will still be challenged through the year. They have not been leaned on by Pac-12 heft yet. They have not seen the wily, athletic forwards that might give up an inch or two but have quickness and muscle.......But they are super promising, because the fundamentals and talent is there. Our back court can hold its own with about any in the nation. Well, our front court just got a HUGE upgrade. We will not have the scoring droughts we did as there are so many more places to manufacture points all of a sudden. And the defense on the outside can be more aggressive knowing further challenges await the driver in the paint.
All I can say is that we have the makings of being a much better team than we were last year. And still hoping to get Kat back and see Jalena play. I don't know what that means in a ever improving Pac-12, but this year we have an amazing backcourt that can lead the way, and in Taylor and Kennedy we have the pieces to build around in the years to come......
Go Beavers!
