Eggers article on Rueck

Sounds like Rueck still talks to them

Nice story....although he refers to Mitrovic as Milicic a couple times later in the article, lol. Interesting tidbits about Yeaney being a true point guard and TVO as a more natural two. It will be very interesting to see how this team pans out.

I'm surprised there hasn't been a lot more comment on this article. Here's a few comments from the article, and my thoughts:

Regarding how to handle the transfer portal:

“You’re always looking to see if you can do everything a little better,” he says. “Communication is at such a premium these days. That’s an area I have made a point to continue to try to do a better job.” “If there are going to be massive transfers every year and you have to build one-year teams — well, that’s a lot different than what I’ve done in the past. I’ve tried to transfer-proof my program. But now, if it’s just (coaching a player) for a year, it’s a year. It’s going to be more work in April, for sure. We’ll just have to embrace that. If I choose to coach, that means I choose to handle the transfer world. I’m going to have a good attitude about it.”

1st, I agree completely on communication. If coach wants to keep players in the program, the staff needs to work on making the environment as good as possible. I've always like the 'we are family' theme, but I think it's got lost along the way. For future success, the Oregon State family needs to be a tight family. I like what I am seeing from the freshman class. Let's see if the program can keep them. Communication is the other key. The staff needs to make communication with the players a priority. As for the rest of SR's comments above, we'll have to see how he handles it if players continue to transfer out. I'm not convinced yet that he has learned to turn the transfer portal into a positive.

On Bendu: Yeaney is a true point guard who shot poorly last season at Arizona (.378 from the field, .300 from the 3-point line). Rueck appreciates her work on the other side of the ball.
“Bendu is also embracing the opportunity to be more of a scorer this season. She has been a consistent threat from 3 in our preseason workouts.”

I've never thought of Bendu as a true point guard. Interesting that coach does. I do expect she will play a major role in helping get the ball up the court. As for Bendu embracing the opportunity to be more of a scorer, I've been expecting that. She was a great scorer in HS and her first two seasons at Indiana looked like she may develop into a college scorer, but then she transferred to a program that had Ari McDonald and Cate Reese among others, and Bendu thrived defensively. As a sophomore at Indiana, Bendu shot .394 from 3, and averaged 9ppg. The Beavs need someone (along with Talia) who can put the ball in the bucket. Bendu's shooting efficiency hasn't been great the last couple years, but I think her being at home, playing in front of friends, and being the veteran, may be just what is needed for her to have a career year. If I'm a betting man, I would bet on this being the best year of her career. I hope it happens.

As for the freshman superstars, SR comments "They’re a little bit ahead of where I expected them to be coming in.” Is that coach just giving coach speech? I hope he is right. They are obviously talented. The question is, how ready are they as freshman? I think asking them to come in and perform as well as Talia did in her first season is asking a lot, but for the Beavs to reach the goals Coach is expecting, that may be what is needed. I'd feel better if they already had a year in the program.

Go Beavs.

With respect to Scott saying the freshmen are ahead of where he expected them to be, I believe this is about 12 years in a row he's said that, or words to that effect. But, of course, you wouldn't expect him to say otherwise.

From reading between the lines, this is what I took to be the starting lineup on day 1
Post--Jelena-With Raegan backing up
Power--Timea--with Raegan and Shalexxus backing up
Wing--Shalexxus or AJ---Whoever wins the battle with the other being the primary backup, and Lily and the youth behind them
1.5/2 guard--Talia--Backups at the 1 and 2 would be AJ, Shalexxus, Mannen, and the freshmen.
Point---Bendu

We'll see what develops during fall camp. Hopefully there will be strong standouts.

That also is an effect of the changing dynamics of the players coming out  of high school. The are far ahead in respect to skill development. However, they still need to work on integrating that skill in to a team concept. That is what they need to learn in college and also why many transfer out. They think the issue is the team they are on rather than their own weakness in that area. In high school most of these players were the stars and the team was factored around them. In college they need to learn to integrate their skills with those of the players around them. 

Scott is the type of coach that emphasizes the team aspect of the game. A lot of those high school stars are not used to that even though it is exactly what they need to succeed at the next level. its the final stage of the development of their game. It's as Geno says. These players coming in already know how, they just need to learn when.