OSU Offense

Alarming! Won't win many PAC-12 games averaging 55.0 points per game. Someone else pointed out that in the WSU game, it didn't look like we had any offensive sets other than the high post screen for our guards. I'm used to seeing actual offensive sets being executed. Lack of a point guard like Aleah, Syd, Destiny is definitely one of the major issues in getting defenses to not overplay the passing lanes and respect our point guard's ability to score (outside shot, getting to the rim, etc.).

OSU's offense is based on 2 things

1 - A post player who can get deep position and score reasonably efficiently. 
2 - A PG who can read the defense out of a high pick and roll, and make the right play depending on the defense.  And very importantly, punish a D by drilling threes if the guard tries to go under the screen. 

Most of the focus has been on the issues with the guard play, but I think some of the issue start with our posts without TJ.   KB and Jelena sets good screens, but doesn't seem to have the lower body strength to get really good position in the paint.  Taylor when she posts up is getting 5, 6 feet from the rim or closer.  KB especially is getting pushed out 10, 12 feet or farther when she tries to post up.  This disrupts the spacing of the rest of the offense.  Also, when Taylor gets the ball deep where on an offensive rebound or a post up, it's 2 points.  She was shooting 65% from the field and has been well above 50% her entire career.  Both Jelena and KB tend to miss more than there fair share of layups.  Deeper position and better finishing by the posts would help a TON. 

As for the point guards, Tea Adams got into the paint several times yesterday, but made the wrong read.  I'm not sure if the shot blocks of Mulkey from Sunday where in her head, but she tried to pass off several times when she should have just layed it in.  She also isn't really a large threat to just pull on the 3 if folks go under the screen.  

Talia to me just needs to trust her eyes a little bit more.  I think she's trying to make the perfect play, instead of just making the simple one.  I also think she's pressing because she's not shooting as well from 3.  I think we will win at least one game this year against a very good team, simply because TVO will get hot shooting the ball.  If we can knock down threes it will make a big, big difference. 

Finally, I want to see the 3 freshman guard play more together.  I think sooner or later a Greta is going to figure it out, and have some big games.  This season may have some growing pains, and isn't as smooth as we want it to be, but I'm going to enjoy watching these players improve. 

Really good comments in this thread. So, do the issues outlined by Bosch completely explain why it looks like we aren’t running any offensive sets? That is, we are trying to run them but just aren’t able to execute? For sure, there is not much movement on offense. Pretty easy to defend.

All good points here.

I think it is important to develop a pipeline at the PG position.

Hate to say it but tsdtr has Paopao and gets five star Chance Gray next year. Gray will have the opportunity to learn college ball without being thrown into the fire. Right now things are out of sync with that position for Scott.

We are still running stuff, it's just getting blown up at the first action so we aren't getting into any of the secondary or tertiary looks.  The only thing we are really running well consistently is the set we used to get Taya and Jelena the 3's against Colorado.  That got us a good look from 3 for both Taya and Ellie on Wednesday but they didn't knock it down.   Scott's never really ran a pass a screen away or motion offense, mostly relying on 1/4 or "horns" sets on offense and plays off of them.  Historically we have gotten 4-5 layups a game off a backscreen set for the big out of that action, but we haven't hit on that much lately either. When we've ran it we have either passed it late and it's been tipped, or the big isn't open and we still try to force it. 

I think if we really are missing TJ for the rest of the year Scott will go to perhaps something a bit different as the base set.  I wish I could watch the last 4 minutes or so of yesterdays game again, because we seemed to be running some different sets there and both Greta and AJ got to the rim.  I think our hopes are going to be based on the game slowing down for those two, and TVO just relaxing and knocking down shots. 

Good answer. We're definitely still running plays, but are struggling at it. Two or three times early we attempted to have wing/guard cut to the hoop, getting the pass from the big. They were covered well, timing was off, passes weren't perfect. It was actually a little painful to watch and left me wondering how often we are running this in practice, and how well is it being defended in practice? Besides all of that, this team just misses their open shots. If it wasn't for the Noelle, your usual contributors were 0-10 from three. How would the game have gone had they shot 3-10, which should be a given from this team. Unfortunately, Talia is not shooting as good as last season, Ellie isn't either. Emily has been horrific, which is not what we would expect given her history. Taya, who is having a good 3pt shooting season, only had one attempt. Whatever happens the rest of this season, the future is still bright.