Sunday morning here and there

411500
Sophomore

Posts: 2,054

Sunday morning here and there Dec 17, 2017 11:15:44 GMT -8 lebaneaver likes this

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Post by 411500 on Dec 17, 2017 11:15:44 GMT -8

I'm just throwing out a few general comments this morning. Kinda an informal look at things from where I sit, which, by the way, is a considerable distance from Gill, so take these armchair comments for what they're worth !!

1. Taya Corosdale gets her first start and she looked pretty good in the role. She definitely passes the eye test - lengthy, fluid and hits the 3. If she can play defense and rebound she will be a starter the rest of her career. Right now her game is more finesse than muscular. When she "paints up" she will be something.

2. Thropay seems to be getting less floor time by design - which is a logical consequence of TC's emergence.

3. This team can score from the perimeter better than any OSU team I can remember. Equally important, all of the players can dish to the 3 point shooters effectively, so they can receive and release in a timely fashion. These passing skills are essential to the dominant perimeter game the Beavs will rely on this year.

4. Grymek is working hard and she is dedicated to improving. Whether she can overcome her slow hands and slow feet is far from determined. I think PAC 12 defenses will really frustrate her, but Coach seems confident in her - so we will see. As of now, I am not a believer.

5. Goodman shows real promise. Real promise. Her step-back 3 was not Sydney, but it was closer to it than what anyone else on the roster can deliver.

6. Maddie remains an unknown commodity as far as her role on this team. In this lineup she remains a do-everything-but-score player, and if she truly can do everything she will continue to get important minutes. I have not watched her close enough to know how effectively she plays away from the ball. How well she does all the quiet things coaches love.

7. Pivec & KMac are comfortable setting up their teammates but when crunch time comes in conference play they - along with Gulich - will be the ones called on to deliver.

8. Kat is showing improved attack skills, but she still has a long way to go if she wants to shake the defenders who are going to be in her jersey when conference begins.

9. Finally, this team is playing better, much better, than I thought they would be at this time of the season. They're still short on muscle, and that worries me. But this team has speed, it can run, shoot and pass. That's a great start.

Just a few armchair observations..... GO BEAVS !!

2ndGenBeaver
Sophomore

Posts: 1,837

Grad Year: 1991 (MS/CS) 1999 (PhD/CS)

Sunday morning here and there Dec 17, 2017 13:18:28 GMT -8

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Post by 2ndGenBeaver on Dec 17, 2017 13:18:28 GMT -8

Great observations 411500.....some more, in the same vein:

1. TC will need to add brawn to her brain game, and probably need to bulk up in the process. But I think she brings the most to the party in terms of the forward position this year. I suspect she is the starter at that position the rest of the season.

2. I think both Maddie and Taya's emergence has reduced Thropay's minutes, but I think she showed during the ND game and last night that there is still a role for her, especially if SR elects to play "small ball" like he was experimenting with last night (I have not been looking in on any other Pac-12 teams, so I don't know if there are teams out there where small-ball or twin towers approaches will be called for......)

3. What I like about this team is it appears that there has been an emphasis on quick release - both Kalmer and Kat seem to have sped up their shots. One thing this team could still improve is the passing (even though they are doing well) - lots of tipped balls last night.

4. Marie needs to pass out of the double teams better - she is a load in the paint and will get doubled a lot, I suspect, and with our perimeter game as loaded as it is, no need to force the issue. I will say that this is something I like about Jo's game - she passes the ball back out a lot.

5. Speaking of Jo, I see improvement every game. I suspect that is why SR is so high on her. What is her ceiling? Along with foot speed and hands, her reaction time (especially when the ball goes up when she is on defense) are really the areas of improvement. At present, I tend to agree with you and think we won't see much twin towers this year, and she will be backing up AA next year.

6. Maddie and Janessa are the real unknown commodities of this team - how much they along with Jo continue to improve I think will have a lot to say about this season - with only 10 players, they have to find roles and contribute down the stretch. I heard Patricia Morris is still growing (last reported at 6'7"), so she may be a backup post next year. I think SR said it during his last interview, "he loves height".

7. I would really like to see KTMac be a little more aggressive and "go get hers", even now. I appreciate her ability to set up teammates, but (as you point out) in the crunch she will likely have advantages due to her experience and size that I would like to see her exploit routinely. Her pass-first urge, even in situations where she has a really good shot, is laudable but concerning to me this season.

8. Kat's continued evolution is delightful to watch. She came in with good fundamentals, is a speedster down the court, can finish, not afraid to hit the floor and chase loose balls, has sped up her 3-point release, is starting to attack the rim......is there a mid-range game in there somewhere?

9. This team could overachieve and surprise. And though (as has been pointed out on this forum) Marie will be a big loss next season, I squint and imagine the team adding Slocum, AA, PM and Jazz Simmons, along with the continued growth of some really, really talented players, and think its both time to get season tickets and figure out where the next 3-4 year's worth of Final Fours are going to be played........

GO Beavers!!!

2ndGenBeaver
OSU class of '91 and '99 (CS) / Life Member, OSU Alumni Association (son/spouse/parent of a Beaver)

beaverstever
Global Moderator

Go Beavs!

Posts: 3,225

Sunday morning here and there Dec 17, 2017 14:46:25 GMT -8

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Post by beaverstever on Dec 17, 2017 14:46:25 GMT -8

The 'short on muscle' was something that had me very concerned had we gotten by FSU last year and met MSU. And from the little I saw of the the duck's game against them this year, that seemed to be the weakness MSU exploited. Granted, MSU is as good as they come in that respect, but that seems likely to be bigger weakness us this year. That said, great shooting percentages can cover a lot of flaws - it's just scary thing to rely upon in a one-and-done poststeason.

GO BEAVS!

beaveragain
Sophomore

Posts: 1,824

Sunday morning here and there Dec 17, 2017 16:24:09 GMT -8

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Post by beaveragain on Dec 17, 2017 16:24:09 GMT -8

I don't understand this "short on muscle" thing. Marie and Mik I've yet to see be out-muscled by anyone. While Jo has it, she just needs to learn to use it. And I've seen Taya slam her way through a pick like I've never seen another Beav do while I've watched them over the past 4 years.

My thoughts on the Pac12 season-

Marie gives us +10 every game due to her offense and defense. There just isn't anyone in her class in the Pac.

Mik gives us + 5 in almost all games. She tends to fade in games, I don't know if it's energy or deferring to other scorer's. But she needs to be more hard nosed about leading the team.

KtMc gives the team whatever the coach asks her to provide. Scoring, rebounding, she'll get whatever's needed. But I think if the couch isn't specific she will be all around solid and we will be up a +2.

Taya (if she is the starter) will be up and down as most any freshman would be. Maybe -2?

Kat/Taylor is a solid duo who will beat most of the opposition. It remains to be seen how they match up against the top guards such as Canada and Ion.

Bench has Jo and the other Kat/Taylor and will be fine.

Hmm, I seem to think the Beav's are going to do well this year.