What Baylor and UConn fans think of Joyner and U.T.

Discussion in 'Women’s Basketball' started by Dr. D, Oct 2, 2015.

  1. Dr. D

    Dr. D 250+ Posts

    I checked out the Baylor and UConn fan blogs after Homes committed. They universally agreed Joyner Holmes is a phenom and a fabulous addition for Texas---a potential program elevator. UConn fans were just glad she went to U.T. instead of Notre Dame or Tennessee. One Baylorite who has watched her play called Joyner "the reincarnation of Sheryl Swoopes, only a little bigger." There was also a consensus that if Texas lands Sabrina Ionescu, the sky's the limit--- #1 class of 2016 and maybe Final Fours down the road. (Most observers, however, thought that Sabrina will probably stay home on the West Coast.) A couple of people wondered how in heck Aston would be able to juggle playing time with so many talented guards, which is not a bad question. The general opinion on both sites was that Aston has unquestionably elevated the Texas program with successfully stronger classes, to the point where we are going to be a big problem for people. Several made the comment, "Now we'll see if she can coach." I got the impression they respect Aston as a good coach; but what they're asking is does she have the chops to take elite talent to the highest level. The U.T. offense has been stuck in the low 60's per game; and you don't go to Final Fours or win Big 12 championships with that kind of point production. I tend to think our problem has been more a matter of personnel than coaching. Texas just hasn't had consistent outside shooting or star scorers from the guard position over the last decade. Basketball is 80% players and 20% coaching. But when you do assemble elite talent, that's when it's up to the coaches to take them to the highest level. Hopefully the incoming players really are elite and by 2016 we will run a prolific offense that looks more like Notre Dame's or Baylor's. That's what it will take to go all the way.
     
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  2. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    I am looking for that to happen this year. Realistically, the only major contributor we lost from last year was Nneka and we add some more talented posts and guards to the mix.
     
  3. rattfatt

    rattfatt 500+ Posts

    You make great points, I feel the same way as well. I recently talked about how Coach Aston needs to step her game up when it comes to the x's and o's and that the offense left a lot to be desired. But I totally agree that we have not had elite guard or perimeter play since Coach Aston has been at Texas. Which is why I'm just as excited to have Alecia as I am to have Joyner. I think she's going to be special, i'm also excited about Lashann but the thing that still worries me about this years team is are lack of 3 point shooting.

    We do not shoot the ball well from the 3 point line which is going to be a problem this year. That's why I feel Coach Aston should be focused on trying to add quality 3 point shooting rather than just athleticism. With the talent level of the players that Coach Aston has continued to bring in, she doesn't have to be Geno she just has to run an offense that puts those players in the right positions and gets the most out of them.
     
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    Last edited: Oct 3, 2015
  4. Slgore76

    Slgore76 100+ Posts

    I too am looking forward to this year's team. Hopefully, the injuries don't occur like last season. I do believe if the injuries didn't occur this team had the potential to really make a splash. They kind of fell into the sweet 16 as the unlikely team. I will give Aston's coaching credit for the constant rebuilding she was forced to deal with. But I too am waiting to see if she can actually install an offense that puts players in position to excel. Like last year, the talent is there, with the 2014, 2015 recruiting classes and next year's incoming class. Set the rotation, implement and offense that gives you the best chance to win.
    I will say Ariel look like a completely different player after the injury which apparently lingered throughout the season. So I am looking forward to seeing if she and Brooke make their sophomore jumps with the added talent. I'm excited to see this team. There will be some good games Tenn, Baylor, OU and into the tournament.
     
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  5. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    Fair comments on the UConn board.

    Coach Aston continues to improve her recruiting classes each season. Last season, the team was playing very well up until Ariel's injury. That loss at ISU was just inexcusable, and Fennelly out-coached Aston; that has to stop. The next loss at OU was the beginning of the team just getting out of sync. Losing Nneka at Baylor was a huge blow. The home loss to ISU again was on the coaches, IMO. That lost at WVU was again on the coaches.

    Team making the Sweet 16 was a great milestone for all involved. Gotta build on that.
     
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  6. rattfatt

    rattfatt 500+ Posts

    Huh, how exactly did Fennelly out coach her? By playing a zone and betting on the fact that a team that's not a good 3 point shooting team would eventually miss 3 point shots. Or was it Fennelly's offense which is not very complicated where his 5 players who are all reasonably good 3 point jump shooters jack up tons of 3's. Fennelly is a great example of running an offense that's not very complicated but it fits his players and what they do best, which is shoot a lot of 3's.
     
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  7. loyallonghorn

    loyallonghorn 500+ Posts

    I was listening to an insightful podcast with Geno Auriemma. He is of the opinion that coaches don't win games, the players do. But coaches can sure lose games. It was insightful and they also discuss the 2003 Final Fourt against our Longhorns.
     
  8. loyallonghorn

    loyallonghorn 500+ Posts

    Definitely basketball is a copy-cat sport. That game against IwSt exposed Texas's weakness and thereafter, every team packed the paint in a zone defense to neutralize Imani and Kelsey.

    Y'all are absolutely right, the weakness was an inability to make 3 pointers when opponents were double teaming in the paint. As a shooting guard, Empress needs to drastically improve her outside game to add to her slashing game. Otherwise, I think her playing time diminishes because her defender is not respecting her outside shots.

    Hopefully the recruitment of Sabrina Ionescu and Natalie Chou can address the glaring weakness.
     
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  9. loyallonghorn

    loyallonghorn 500+ Posts

    You're absolutely right, rattfatt, it was not complicated. But it worked like genius for IwSt.

    Texas's response to the double teams were to experiment with Imani and Kelsey on the floor together to force smaller players to guard both posts at the same time; it was a good response but they struggled playing with each other and the spacing was too cluttered for the experiment to work.

    Texas just needs to spread the floor with consistent 3-point shooters.
     
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  10. Dr. D

    Dr. D 250+ Posts

    Speaking of three point shooters, does anybody know how Lashann Higgs shoots the three?
     
  11. hoopsalot

    hoopsalot 500+ Posts

    Not from personal observation, no. Inconsistent is the scouting report.
     
  12. rattfatt

    rattfatt 500+ Posts

    She does a lot of the other things that we need from our guards like being able to consistently break her man down off the dribble and make plays for herself or teammates, but she is not a good 3 point jump shooter.
     
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  13. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Re 3pt shooters, we will find out more once the season starts, but, if reports are right about Lashann's 3pt shooting, it looks like we will depend on Brady and Brooke. They combined for just under half of the team's 3pt attempts last season and made over 50% of the 3pters the team drained.

    Not to mention that we are really not a 3pt shooting team. We were ranked seventh in 3pters taken and made last season. With our strength inside, we really need more 3pt shooters to take advantage when teams pack it inside.

    I hope Ariel, Brianna, Celina and others practiced their shot and are willing to pull the trigger in games.
     
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  14. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    Seriously? We squandered an 18 point lead late in the first half and with 5 minutes gone in the second half, the lead was gone. The coaches get the blame for not calling timeouts at the right time, and not calling the right offensive and defensive plays in order to stop ISU's run.

    The game in Austin, I believe we lost a 7 point lead to ISU with like 2 minutes to play.

    And, at WVU, we had a double-digit lead with like 3 minutes left, and they went on a run to take the game to OT an win it there.

    Sorry, but those losses are on the coaches.
     
  15. rattfatt

    rattfatt 500+ Posts

    You said she got out coached, give me the specific examples where she got out coached. Again, Fennelly stayed in the zone the entire time because he knew that we're not a good shooting team and that we would eventually start missing those same shots. And what the hell does losing leads at the end of games have to do with being out coached? If you want to say she was the reason they lost those games, even though I don't agree, that's fine but if you want to talk about getting out coached give me the specific examples where she got out coached.

    By your logic I guess that means Coach Aston out coached Sherri Coale since she beat her twice last year in close games, and i don't buy that at all. Our players just made plays down the stretch and Sherri Coale's players didn't. As Dr.D said, and I totally agree, basketball is 80% players and 20% coaching.
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2015
  16. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    So now that Coach A is racking up the recruits, after years of UT being left behind, I guess the criticism turns to her coaching? Wow.

    Years Record Recruiting Class for the next year NCAA
    2012-13 12-18 NR None
    2013-14 22-12 #11 Round of 32
    2014-15 24-11 #6 Sweet Sixteen

    As a season ticket holder, the games are fun to go to again. Give her a break, she's only trending upward!

    And yes, coaching decisions such as the ISU game cost us. But when was the last time you heard UT and Sweet Sixteen in the same sentence?
     
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  17. Dr. D

    Dr. D 250+ Posts

    It is nice to win. And we should do better this year, if only because our personnel are older and stronger. I'm happy with that. But, truth be told, we ain't winning no Big 12 Champeenship until we beat Baylor. Baylor's been loading up, too. Their 2015 Class ranks higher than ours', plus they get a red shirt transfer guard from Duke who was a MacDonald's All-American but hurt her knee her freshman year in Raleigh. If they get Cox and Chou, God forbid, their 2016 bunch will be considered by many to be equal to or better than U.T.'s. Regardless, we won't beat Baylor, now or next year, without a quantum jump in offense. That's just the way it is. So we better find a way to hit the three, or get some kids who can. We can go to the Sweet Sixteen again this year, even the Elite Eight. That will be fun. But Texas won't be righteously back until we beat Baylor straight up in the Big 12. That's when you'll know the worm has really turned.
     
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  18. Slgore76

    Slgore76 100+ Posts

    I couldn't agree more. Baylor first because they are the reigning champs. But with everyone healthy and in their proper position it should definitely make for a more competitive game. Jump shot have to made consistently by the guards. And you need a 3 point specialist. If Sanders/Brooke were that in the past they needs to find that stroke. Atkins has to find her mid-range game also because it went out the window last season.
     
  19. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    I think Ariel's biggest hurdle last season was her confidence - I don't think she was ever 100% healthy and it caused some doubt and frustration.
     

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