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Post by 411500 on Jun 14, 2018 15:48:39 GMT -8
This past season was a remarkable adventure for the team and the coaches...
The team's progress in virtually every phase of the game from November to March was, in my view, exceptional. The team as a whole improved impressively, but the improvement that took place in some of the players was absolutely outa sight.
One player who saw spectacular growth was Kat Tudor. I'm an amateur coach (retired) but even I could see the galactic strides she made this past season. Several of her teammates really upped their game during the course of a long season, especially Corosdale, Gulich, and Goodman. But Tudor's progression from a good to excellent player this year was pretty darn impressive...
Here are a few armchair observations on the improvement in Kat's game this past season - of course, only from my view of things.
1. 3-point shooting. Kat was known as a shooter way back in October, but, in reality she had a very limited 3 repertoire. Basically, for her it was (a) drift to daylight, (b) catch, (c) shoot. Her game demonstrated a very limited approach to 3 point shooting.
By the February she had learned to run off screens to shake her defender for a 3; she also learned to explode from the low post up to the point (thru an elevator screen), spin 180 and release from distance. This move she executed numerous times against Tennessee & Baylor. Her skill set in getting open while being pressured improved significantly.
Now Kat is not only a gifted shooter, she knows how to work thru sticky defences to get open from distance. If it sounds easy, it isn't. She is the ONLY player on this year's team who could do it effectively and consistently.
2. Rebounding. Here she progressed from average to excellent. She got stronger at positioning, tougher at holding her ground when boxing out, aggressive in protecting the ball after grabbing a rebound; quick at outlet release. At the beginning of this past season I was among those who predicated that the Beavs would suffer bigly on the boards. They didn't. Kat's improvement as a rebounder was one of the reasons this year's team was so strong on the boards.
3. Defense. Again, she grew from good to excellent. Her physicality, her toughness, her tenacity increased every week from Jan. to March. She takes contact and absorbs impact impressively (and courageously) considering her body mass. She's not lightning fast, but she has good length, quick hands, and importantly, she's tough. Her defensive game by the end of March was top notch - even by OSU standards. It's possible she will be a All Pac-12 Defensive player next season.
4. Attack the bucket off the dribble. In fairness, she still has a way to go on this one - but considering her almost total lack of attack in December where she ended the season was a big step forward.
5. Improved from being a "specialty" player on the perimeter to a total player.
So, that's kinda my take on the progression of Kat's game this year. She was a huge factor in the Beaver's success. She will be promoted as an All-American candidate her Senior year if she makes All-Pac-12 this upcoming season...
I do not see anyone taking much of Kat's floor time next season. With Katie Mac playing small forward next season you will hear a lot about Kat, Mik & Destiny being the best guard trio in the country. Hopefully, they will be.
I wouldn't bet against it....
GO BEAVS !!🏀
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greybeav
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Post by greybeav on Jun 14, 2018 17:55:17 GMT -8
A really interesting read, thanks
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Post by beaveragain on Jun 14, 2018 19:45:25 GMT -8
Thank goodness someone had the gumption to write something.
By the end of the year Taya was our 2nd best rebounder and is, since Das Hammer isn't allowed to play here any more, now our best returning rebounder. Also she has started to become a dependable scorer. You don't see a place for her in the coming season?
I agree with everything you said about Kat. Particularly about her improvement in rebounding and defense. She still has problems with certain defending types but she has shown herself to be a dedicated worker on her weakness's and I don't doubt that next season will see even more improvement.
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Post by bvrbooster on Jun 14, 2018 21:40:06 GMT -8
Well, somebody's going to have to throw the little orange ball into the stands with the rest of the bench players, and it sure ain't gonna be Destiny or whoever starts at center (unless Scott decides to go small). So Katie, Kat, Taya, and Mikayla are 4 people with only 3 starting spots among them. Somebody has to be the first off the bench. It's a nice type of problem for Scott to have, and I imagine he'll try several combos before choosing one.
One thing is certain; if the new bigs can play, he'll have lots of viable options. He can go very big up front, with Aquino, Morris, and Corosdale, or he could have a very effective 4 guard team on the floor with McWilliams, Slocum, Tudor, and Pivec (or Goodman or Simmons). It's going to be fun.
If it didn't mean the rain was starting again, I'd almost wish the season were beginning next week.
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Post by beaverwbb fan on Jun 15, 2018 5:51:47 GMT -8
IMO, there is a couple of conference games where CR could start 4 guards + Taya at the 5, but going against the $ucks or someone like Baylor, and other teams with height, Aquino, Morris, or Jo will have to start. Will be a luxury having a deep bench next season. go beavs!
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Post by 411500 on Jun 15, 2018 7:06:01 GMT -8
I was planning to write "player improvement" comments on Pivec, Corosdale and Goodman this weekend - but I'm heading to the airport for an unexpected 4 day trip.
If someone else has similar ideas or comments about how different players matured during the 2017-18 season I think a lot of readers would find them interesting....
.....I think when October rolls around Coach R is going to be saying something along these lines: "We've got 7 starters and who begins the game isn't that important."
It's a nice problem to have. I don't think Coach has ever had it before....
GO BEAVS !!
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Post by believeinthebeavs on Jun 15, 2018 14:15:43 GMT -8
I am very intrigued in who starts and who plays next season. The only one I see as locked in is KtMac but at what position? Destiny is almost a sure thing at point. Kat and her vast improvement last year is for sure in the running. The rest is up to how they improve in the off season. We have enough guards/wings to field two really teams.
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2ndGenBeaver
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Post by 2ndGenBeaver on Jun 15, 2018 17:39:04 GMT -8
While I completely agree with the OP that Kat has improved dramatically - quicker perimeter shot, rebounding, dribble drive, defense, motor when on the floor......I was getting ready to provide a passionate rebuttal and make the case that Taya had made the biggest strides during the course of the season. And then I started reflecting on several of the other players, and I was happy to come to two conclusions:
1) several players had made significant strides through the 2017-2018 season
2) several of those players still have not peaked
I think Kat does have All American potential.
I believe if you go back and look at Taya from her early season DNP-CD at Duke to what she was doing in the Baylor or Tennessee games, you could make a similar argument for Taya as was made for Kat.
Mik became a much better ball handler and decision maker before our eyes. KTMac began to defer less and assert more. Aleah's ball handling and court awareness increased dramatically.
Scott Rueck is going to be able to run all sorts of team combinations out there next year.....
I actually think Jazz Simmons will be a contributor next year based on talent, and Patricia and Andrea will have to log minutes by necessity in the post (even if Jo can go for 20+ minutes), though I project AA doing in the post what Taya did at forward this season and starting by the time Pac-12 rolls around. Unless PM comes along well in the post and AA can spell Taya and play forward.
Destiny primary ball handler, spelled by Aleah and Mik.
Taya spelled by Maddie/Jazz/AA/Janessa.
KTMac or Kat starting at the other guard......spelled by Jazz/Mik/Aleah.
The permutations and combinations in the backcourt are mind blowing.
If we get a serviceable post (and I have to believe we will have that between PM/AA/JG), this team should contend for the Pac-12 title and go far in the post-season.
I too would wish the season began tomorrow if not for the need to experience some summer weather....
Go Beavers!
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Post by newduke2 on Jun 15, 2018 19:42:26 GMT -8
I agree with 2ndgenbeaver that Kat, KTMac, Mic, and Taya all made strides and improved aspects of their games during the season...but Marie was still the cornerstone of the team on both ends of the floor, as much or even more so late in season. So the improvements of the other starters must continue and then some if the 4 (plus Destiny) are going to collectively make up for Marie's absence. I don't have a good feel for how much Jo, Andrea or Pat will be able to contribute. I am not holding my breath, but maybe one or 2 of the post players will surprise. KTMac is now the only 4th year senior on the team (Jo is a 2 year senior), and like her predecessor, she must follow Marie's footsteps and take the reigns and fully lead the team (vocally, offensively, defensively).
Also, Aleah needs to get significant floor time each game...8 minutes plus per game. I hope she is willing to hang in there for 3 full seasons as the backup point guard to Destiny. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2018 4:30:08 GMT -8
I am very intrigued in who starts and who plays next season. The only one I see as locked in is KtMac but at what position? Destiny is almost a sure thing at point. Kat and her vast improvement last year is for sure in the running. The rest is up to how they improve in the off season. We have enough guards/wings to field two really teams. Yeah, we almost have enough good players that we could field "two really good" teams, each of which could probably end in the top half of the Pac-12 standings. Regarding KMac, we are so deep that I don't see how she is guaranteed to be a starter. Assuming that we start at least 1 big by the start of the Pac-12 season, we've got a big and Slocum as sure starters IMO. Taya's size, shooting, and rebounding qualify her as a starter, too. That leaves 2 spots open for { KMac, Pivec, Tudor, Goodman, Simmons }. Can anyone prove to me based on stats that KMac is better than Pivec or Tudor? Nope. Pivec's rebounding and being solid in all other aspects puts her above KM. Tudor is a better shooter, and it's been pointed out that she's developing all other aspects of her game, too. Her skills are indispensable. Goodman is a better ballhandler and possibly a better shooter. Simmons has chutzpah, smarts, and experience beyond anything we've ever seen in a freshman at OSU. I agree Rueck will probably start KM, but only because he feels obligated. She does hit the big shot and she's got size and smarts, but other players are better. I really, really hope that all our players understand that having less court time is a necessary thing that goes along with being a (potentially) top-5 team nationally if our new bigs (PM and AA) can perform at a high level. |
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Post by lotrader on Jun 16, 2018 8:01:19 GMT -8
Katie will start. So will Pivec. Rueck LOVES both of these kids. Pivec will be much improved this season at wing, after spending this past year having to handle the point. Katie is Rueck's top defensive player, and for that alone, will start and play significant minutes as she did last year.
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Post by 411500 on Jun 16, 2018 8:51:12 GMT -8
thickhead....It is always difficult to "prove" anything in basketball, but it is possible to get plausible and convincing ideas about how good players are....So, I'll be airport brief here: Katie Mac not only will start next year, she will be the team captain....She is the best all around player on the team, and the silent team leader....She will probably play 30 minutes in most games next season, unless she incurs injury...
She is a 4 year vet - My guess is that if pressed Coach R. would say she is the one player he most needs on the floor....
Proof. No.
However, I think when it comes to understanding the strength of Katie Mac's total game, her value to running the offense, and her ability to improve the productivity of her teammates, you pretty much miss the mark...
Katie is a coaches dream. No one on this roster is going to take her floor time. Period.
GO BEAVS !!
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Post by bennyskid on Jun 16, 2018 9:19:45 GMT -8
This is just the silliest idea ever. Katie led the team in minutes this year by *miles*. She will start next year.
Scott made his feelings pretty clear at the EOY banquet. He described a play in the second UCLA game when the clock was winding down and we really needed a basket. Jordin Canada was on Katie, who had the ball, and Katie just simply beat Jordin to score. There was a timeout immediately after and Scott took a moment to talk to Katie. He said, "You get it now, don't you? You are BETTER than her." He said it with conviction - that's how good he believes Katie is. Not just, "able to play with Jordin". BETTER than Jordin.
Scott will expect Katie to be a 15-20 ppg player next year. But more importantly (when calculating playing time), he expects that Katie will be the floor leader on defense. Scott mentioned that last year there were things the team simply couldn't execute defensively without Katie - not just because she's 6'2" with guard-type skills, but because her vision and understanding was just levels above the younger players (read: Kat). Scott has said several times, Katie has the best defensive vision and general basketball IQ he's ever coached.
So, yeah, she'll start. And I'll put even odds that she's All-Conference at the end of the year. That's an easy prediction: next year we won't be "feeding the germ", and I expect that Katie will be the top scorer on one of the top three teams in the conference. That, plus her defense, will bring her plenty of accolades.
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Post by believeinthebeavs on Jun 16, 2018 10:18:05 GMT -8
Last spring the team voted Marie and Katie to be the summer leaders. Marie spent much of last summer in Germany leaving Katie in charge of practices. So Katie has the support and confidence of her team mates to go with the coaches.
In accumulated minutes last year she played an entire game, 40 minutes, more than Marie who was in second. Coach obviously felt he needed her on the court.
I think that this year she will pick up where she left off last season and turn into a complete leader on and off the court. I can't wait to see her growth. She may not get the recognition she will deserve, then again hopefully she will, but she is going to be the player who we want to have the ball in critical times. She demonstrated last year that she is a clutch player, no moment was to big for her or lights to bright.
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Post by Werebeaver on Jun 16, 2018 14:31:36 GMT -8
I am very intrigued in who starts and who plays next season. The only one I see as locked in is KtMac but at what position? Destiny is almost a sure thing at point. Kat and her vast improvement last year is for sure in the running. The rest is up to how they improve in the off season. We have enough guards/wings to field two really teams. Yeah, we almost have enough good players that we could field "two really good" teams, each of which could probably end in the top half of the Pac-12 standings. Regarding KMac, we are so deep that I don't see how she is guaranteed to be a starter. Assuming that we start at least 1 big by the start of the Pac-12 season, we've got a big and Slocum as sure starters IMO. Taya's size, shooting, and rebounding qualify her as a starter, too. That leaves 2 spots open for { KMac, Pivec, Tudor, Goodman, Simmons }. Can anyone prove to me based on stats that KMac is better than Pivec or Tudor? Nope. Pivec's rebounding and being solid in all other aspects puts her above KM. Tudor is a better shooter, and it's been pointed out that she's developing all other aspects of her game, too. Her skills are indispensable. Goodman is a better ballhandler and possibly a better shooter. Simmons has chutzpah, smarts, and experience beyond anything we've ever seen in a freshman at OSU. I agree Rueck will probably start KM, but only because he feels obligated. She does hit the big shot and she's got size and smarts, but other players are better. I really, really hope that all our players understand that having less court time is a necessary thing that goes along with being a (potentially) top-5 team nationally if our new bigs (PM and AA) can perform at a high level. "Goodman is a better ballhandler" (than McWilliams) hmm.. McWilliams. 55 turnovers. 1112 minutes. .05 turnovers per min. Goodman. 39 turnovers. 515 minutes. .075 turnovers per min.  |
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