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Post by wbosh15 on Jan 28, 2020 8:45:29 GMT -8
We've been talking a ton about the issues the team currently has, (scoring droughts, late game defensive rebounding, shooting). I wanted to talk about what folks has seen that give them hope. I have three things from the weekend that give me optimism for the rest of the year.
1 - The pass from Taylor to Mik for a layup in the first quarter Sunday. Yes it was one play, but it was great patience and a great read from Taylor to make that pass as the double game. If she develops that type of feel for the game and a bit better back to the basket scoring, she will really be special.
2 - Aleah going 3-3. Shooters can tend to be streaky, so hopefully the prolonged drought will now lead to a hot stretch.
3 - Rebounding issues. The thing that makes me worry less about the rebounding going forward, was the circumstances in which they occurred. Against Stanford, it's because we went to a 4 guard line-up while they stayed big. It was a gamble to most likely try to counter Prechtals shooting, but it's a tough ask to rebound against Stanford when then are still big and we are playing Mik at the 4. Against Oregon, the rebounding issues where mostly when we where in zone. Experience from these games will teach Taylor and Kennedy how to counter a big like Ruthie who especially when the ball swung and she was weakside, was playing for rebounding position. The trade offs of playing a team as talented offensively as Oregon. Go zone to neutralize the pick and roll, but you are in danger with rebounding.
I get frustrated with the losses like everyone else, sometimes I have to remind myself that it really is a joy just to watch them. Days like Sunday made that reminder easier. Enjoy the ride.
Go Beavs.
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Post by lotrader on Jan 28, 2020 9:23:39 GMT -8
Agree. Still want to see more Jas!
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Post by 411500 on Jan 28, 2020 9:53:59 GMT -8
Just a brief comment about Jas and her game....First, I don't attend practices so obviously I can only base my observations on her game performance..
Here is what I observe. Jas, right now, is what some call an "open court" player. She runs the floor very well, from FT line to FT line she is a gazelle...She has excellent court speed and excellent full court dribble speed. In addition, she is a good rebounder for her size.
She can shoot an open 3, when she is squared up, quite well - her 3-point shot is much, much improved over her Frosh year.....
The thing that keeps Jas on the bench is that she has trouble passing within the tightness of the offensive set - on a Rueck team that alone will keep you on the bench. Despite the fact that she is a good open court dribbler, she has lots of trouble dribbling in half-court traffic (kinda like Mik as a Frosh). Right now, at this stage of her development, Jas is an "almost there" player, which is to say she has nailed several of the demands made of a starter but not enough of them....
If she can learn to play Rueck's half-court game as effectively as she plays the full court game she will be a great asset to the team..
Until then she is a role player....
Ironically, I think Jas would be a featured player on several Pac teams that do not stress the half-court offense as much as OSU does...USC, UCLA, Arizona and UW come to mind....On these teams I believe she would shine much more than she does at OSU.
If she were on Stanford's roster she would be facing the same issues that she faces here with the Beavs.
Like I say, just a few of my personal observations on her game, with an emphasis on why she doesn't receive more floor time.....
GO BEAVS !!
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Post by baseba1111 on Jan 28, 2020 10:22:25 GMT -8
I think Jaz is like many players that most of us that have played or coached any have seen before... a very athletic player who isn't exactly a honed football, baseball, in this case basketball player. Jaz is very athletic but not a great basketball player. At times she is very mechanical, she can be fluid and graceful as mentioned "free throw line to free throw line", but can be a bit robotic it certain skills versus equally athletic basketball players.
What folks here see in spurts of play would not be what you would necessarily see in extended minutes. She is a great change of pace, but even at their worst (shooting) Kat and Aleah are much better overall players. SR knows what he has in each player. To me Jaz is not the difference maker that some may think she is.
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Post by beavertd on Jan 28, 2020 10:38:32 GMT -8
I am extremely encouraged by the two freshman. I'm encouraged that Slocum has played pretty well through this series of losses. I am encouraged that we are getting spot minutes from our Sophomores.
I'm encouraged that Rueck is not showing cracks, and still strongly believes in the process. I look forward to the rest of the season.
I'm also very encouraged with the quality of player we are recruiting this cycle. I agree with what baseba1111 has said, we are about two years away from truly being elite. When Brown and Jones are Juniors, and if Goforth is the real deal, watch out.
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Post by dryside on Jan 28, 2020 10:49:28 GMT -8
I agree with baseba1111..his assessment of Jaz is spot on.Solid athlete,but at this juncture of her basketball career unrefined. Womens basketball has come a long ways in a very short time.That doesn't mean it is a finished product.Slocum is the only player we currently have that has the ability to drive with a vision and still can pull up take the step back and get her shot off.We have talent but not to the point it can create and adjust on the fly to various looks on defense.When the shots are falling we are a tough out.When they aren't we don't have a go to plan B. There is one player we are recruiting that in my opinion is a must get.Talia Von Oelhoffen.She is a bigger,stronger version of Slocum.
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Post by sewingbeaver on Jan 28, 2020 12:00:02 GMT -8
I am encouraged by the competitive spirit of this team combined with compassion/heart for the fans and the game. They are indeed a joy to watch. I am encouraged that they have the discipline to play the game and not be dramatic on the court. Classy and very easy to admire. Go BEAVS.
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billsaab
Freshman
Retired. Live in SW Washington on 73/4 Acres.
Posts: 589 
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Post by billsaab on Jan 28, 2020 14:32:24 GMT -8
I really prefer a more open game. Not like the former duck coach did but more of a wooden Miller style with real pressure defense. Not likely to see Scott’s team scoring 80-90 points a game. In my opinion it is why the ducks are out recruiting us. We do recruit well but we get 1 really great player and the bastards get 5. Hard to beat that. Even with a good defence minded coach like Scott.
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Post by beavershoopsfan on Jan 28, 2020 15:01:39 GMT -8
I really prefer a more open game. Not like the former duck coach did but more of a wooden Miller style with real pressure defense. Not likely to see Scott’s team scoring 80-90 points a game. In my opinion it is why the ducks are out recruiting us. We do recruit well but we get 1 really great player and the bastards get 5. Hard to beat that. Even with a good defence minded coach like Scott. A college WBB team won't be able to average 80-90 points without pushing the ball in transition to take advantage of favorable numbers. Would love to see Slocum get the green light to push it and probe the lane like UCLA's Dean and Ionescu do. It puts pressure on the opposing defenses and can create space for OSU's perimeter shooters. |
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Post by rmancarl on Jan 28, 2020 15:23:03 GMT -8
I agree with 411500 regarding Jazz (I go by Jazz because that's what she uses on twitter). I see much improvement for her this season, and if she can follow that up with as much improvement this coming off season, she will play an important role next year. She'll have competition though with Destiny and Aleah returning, and Shasha an Savannah coming in. I think there will be some on this board that will be a bit surprised by Savannah because she hasn't garnered the attention of some other recruits. Let's not forget what Coach Rueck has built in the past with recruits that have flown under the radar.
What gives me hope? The team culture, desire of the players to win, strong coaching, and knowing that a couple members of this team aren't playing their best ball yet. This in part is to no fault of their own. I feel extremely bad for Kat, who obviously didn't get to prepare for her Senior season the way she would have liked, but has worked hard to get where she is.
What gives me hope? The team last year seemed to peak a few weeks early. After beating oregon and UCLA, they never seemed to put strong performances together again. I don't know if they were tired, or what, but they seemed to lose the edge. My hope would be that this season, they would get stronger at the end. There is more reason to expect that to be the case than in seasons past. They have two freshman (and a couple sophomores) that will learn a ton these next few weeks, and they have some players that could get their shot to return. That in itself would make a huge difference. I do believe this team, as much as any in the SR era, could get stronger as the NCAA's get closer, but we will have to wait to see if that does happen.
What gives me hope? SR built a winning program without landing a lot of big name star power coming from the HS level. We've already seen the change in recruiting the last couple years, and the early indications are that future recruiting classes will remain stronger than in years past.
I'm way to big of a beaverwbb fan, so these losses hurt. I don't know how the team will respond, or if they will improve, but the one thing we should have is hope, because if you look at the Beavs with an analytical eye, I think more falls on the "hope" side than on the 'gloom' side.
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Post by dryside on Jan 28, 2020 15:23:43 GMT -8
BINGO ! Beaverhoopsfan... you hit the nail on the head.IF you have a thoroughbred...Slocum.. you let her take the bit in her mouth and run ! The only time she comes off the court is when she ask out...You can only afford 1 or 2 spot up shooters otherwise you become stagnant and easy to defend.Slocum has that certain IT that basketball IQ that you seldom find.Too many times she is looking at the bench to see what set we want to run instead of pushing the ball and creating pressure on the defense.....
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Post by azbeav on Jan 28, 2020 15:32:54 GMT -8
I am encouraged by the composure shown by the team in the 2nd half of the first game and the 1st half of the second game. They were much more confident during those spells than they had been against UA,ASU or Stanford. Of course they didn’t have it during the 2nd half but it is coming around. Scott will build on that and we will be much more solid in the 2nd half of the season.
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rafer
Sophomore
Posts: 1,627
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Post by rafer on Jan 29, 2020 11:07:47 GMT -8
BINGO ! Beaverhoopsfan... you hit the nail on the head.IF you have a thoroughbred...Slocum.. you let her take the bit in her mouth and run ! The only time she comes off the court is when she ask out...You can only afford 1 or 2 spot up shooters otherwise you become stagnant and easy to defend.Slocum has that certain IT that basketball IQ that you seldom find.Too many times she is looking at the bench to see what set we want to run instead of pushing the ball and creating pressure on the defense..... See exhibit 1, Mens BB!!! |
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billsaab
Freshman
Retired. Live in SW Washington on 73/4 Acres.
Posts: 589
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Post by billsaab on Jan 29, 2020 13:18:12 GMT -8
All good thoughts. We are to slow on offense.,The Teams like U conn and u of o and UCLA play faster. To me it is easier to recruit to an aggressive system than to our system.?we could speed it up and play more people. I doubt we will though.,That is the difference in style and results.,Could throw Vaylor and Notre Dale in their as well.
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Post by beavershoopsfan on Jan 29, 2020 13:54:25 GMT -8
All good thoughts. We are to slow on offense.,The Teams like U conn and u of o and UCLA play faster. To me it is easier to recruit to an aggressive system than to our system.?we could speed it up and play more people. I doubt we will though.,That is the difference in style and results.,Could throw Vaylor and Notre Dale in their as well. OSU's ball movement has been methodical throughout Coach Rueck's tenure. The continuing success for the program has been based upon execution of the offense to obtain high quality shots for its shooters, a healthy rebounding margin, and limiting the opposing offenses to a low FG %. It would be difficult to change horses in midstream now, but the team must execute the offense more precisely and shoot better in order to win games against quality opponents. I would likewise like to see OSU play faster and move the ball more crisply around the perimeter to force the defensive players to have to move. I think it is easier for opposing defenses to guard OSU because many of our offensive plays seem to be simply having a point guard dribble for extended periods trying to get around a hedge while the other Beavs are screening to free a teammate for a three-point shot. I know that it is more complex than that, but often the OSU offense seems to be a two-person game (a point guard and a post) with two other players wedged in the respective corners for spacing purposes. |
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