2022-2023 Season

Discussion in 'Women’s Basketball' started by Zig72, Mar 28, 2022.

  1. Zig72

    Zig72 500+ Posts

    Moving on. This new thread is for items that will affect next season. The impetus came from DFW_Horn's post in the 2021-2022 thread:

    Queen declares for the Draft, not returning.


    Great player....good riddance. The road to the 22-23 Big12 championship just got a little easier. Next up, Ashley Joens.
     
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    Last edited: May 22, 2022
  2. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    Ashley Joens has never hurt us like Queen has.
     
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  3. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    Yeah, the real threat from Iowa State is that defensive wizard and ultimate stopper, Lexi Donarski.
     
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  4. Zig72

    Zig72 500+ Posts

    Not head-to-head, but Iowa St finished one game ahead of us in the standings. I'd prefer she move on to a brilliant professional career. Ashley, the grass is much greener over there.
     
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  5. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    I wouldn't celebrate too early until we actually know what Texas is going to look like next year. But not having to play against her will obviously help. I think she always played with a chip on her shoulder playing against Texas because we basically chose Charli over her.
     
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  6. HornView

    HornView 1,000+ Posts

    Joens just announced she’s staying at ISU another year said that team is special and has more to accomplish
     
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  7. Bobcat

    Bobcat 500+ Posts

    Good decision on her part. We don’t need to fear ANY player, and I have no doubt we will be imminently better next year.
     
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  8. brnkj

    brnkj 2,500+ Posts

    I figured she would stick around another year... wise decision.
     
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  9. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    Yep. The players that Texas has coming in next year will help to be able to defend them even better than this year if that's even possible.
     
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  10. loyallonghorn

    loyallonghorn 500+ Posts

    Without Nalyssa, that Baylor ship is listing (tilting) and I'm not surprised Queen is jumping off ship even though she remains offensively unpolished.

    I really do like Lexi Donarski's game. She's a good, but not Rori Harmon great, on ball defender. But if Lexi were in the same backcourt as Rori, just WOW.

    And with Ashley Joens, all those post counter moves works in the college game (for the most part) but won't work in the WNBA against bigger and more athletic defenders. She's going to have to take her game outside, but she lacks the speed and change of direction quickness for the pros. But Ashley will now put Iowa State's scoring record far out of reach to be broken with her 5th-Super Senior year.

    I'm glad Joens will return so Iowa State could be Texas's foil.
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2022
  11. cnb

    cnb 5,000+ Posts

    After watching film on Ndjacalenga and Muhammad , Ndjacalenga is the only one that's ready to compete for playing time IMO. Muhammad is strictly a post and will have to learn to be a wing.. And if you think Lattimore is slender.
    And Codio has missed most of her season.
    I love their athleticism and length, but it will be a while for them.
    It's going to have to come from Lattimore and Femme or an as yet acquired transfer. Again IMO
     
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    Last edited: Mar 28, 2022
  12. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    You really believe that? Who of our 2022 true freshmen do you think can guard returning super-seniors like Ashley Joens, Ayoka Lee, Taylor Robertson, and Madi Williams?

    Our 3 seniors (if they don't return) will be missed for many reasons, but especially their defensive matchups against those 5th-year players.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
  13. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    From a physical ability standpoint when it comes to Iowa State, which is who was I talking about, yes. Joens is a hybrid guard/ foward in their 4 guard offense. I DO believe that Nwenentanda with her height, length, and mobility as a 6'2 wing can do a really good job defending Joens. And the same goes for Amina.

    Go watch the Desoto State Championship game from last year against Rori and Kyndal. Amina caused fits for Rori in Desoto's half court defense because of her ability to move at that size. Codio is similar, she's obviously just not as tall as the other two.

    From an individual defensive stand point, I think those 3 can be really good and MIGHT be able to contribute right away because of height, athleticism, and versatility defensively. And because those positions don't necessarily require muscle/strength.

    Teaching them team defense and tendencies of those players is what they'll need to learn IMO. Playing against big, strong, post players such as Lee is a different story.
     
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  14. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    Muhammad is not strictly a post. She doesn’t have the wing outside shooting skills yet but really can get out on you. CNB….you’re correct that it will take time to define her as a 3. And Mooo is correct that initially none of them will be a good defensive matchup with Joens et al. Which in my fair and biased opinion means we need a transfer or two that has the same hard-nose defensive style.
     
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  15. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    Sorry, but expecting a true freshman to be able to play average to great defense against 5th year senior all-conference and/or All-American players is setting expectations way too high, IMO.

    I hope you're right, but look at the scoring numbers players like Joens and Roberston put up against experienced veterans like Joanne and Audrey who are warriors on defense. Double-figures every time, I believe.
     
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  16. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    Audrey and Joanne were warriors. And both are great defenders in their own right. But Audrey is maybe 5-11 to 6'0 tall with not a lot of length, and average to above average athleticism. Joanne is a good athlete that's maybe 5'6 to 5'7 guarding a bigger player in Robertson.

    I think that they can play average defense on natural physical ability alone. The issues that I think they'll have IS that experience that Audrey and Joanne had. And learning player tendencies and how to play assignment, team defense at the college level. But we'll see.
     
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    Last edited: Mar 28, 2022
  17. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    And, that doesn't happen overnight. You have to experience it in the actual game matchup to really grasp it. It probably took Joanne and Audrey like 2.5 seasons of college experience to adjust to the speed of the college game as defenders, and 4-5 games against Ashley Joens to learn her tendencies; and she still scored like 20 points every single game against Texas, other than maybe one when she was in foul trouble.
     
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  18. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    You're not going to completely stop a great player. You just want to make it as hard on them as you can. If she scores 20 points on 15-20 shots, you've done your job.
     
    • Winner Winner x 2
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2022
  19. hoopsalot

    hoopsalot 500+ Posts

    I was surprised and gratified to hear D Antonelli (Loves Offense) take time to praise Audrey. “Plays the game the right way” and “always in the right position.”
     
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  20. Bucksgal

    Bucksgal 500+ Posts

    I agree with you. I think scrimmages and pre-conference games are all about developing talent before conference play starts. Plenty of opportunities to gain knowledge and skills.
     
  21. cnb

    cnb 5,000+ Posts

    You guys are assuming too much on the incoming freshman. Number 1, they have to get used to college ball/ life. Number two and most importantly , they have to get used to Vic and his practices. If you want to place so much emphasis on a freshman, look no further than Hunter.
    Still a mystery as to why she virtually disappeared by the end of the season after an amazing first game.
    Still believe the portal will supply some answers. Off seasons are fun.
     
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  22. Bucksgal

    Bucksgal 500+ Posts

    Well, I guess some freshmen are quicker on the uptake, like Rori. Perhaps she is the exception rather than the rule. However, I get your overall point. The transfer portal gives instant experience. I hope Coach Vic gets his hands are some real winners. After the last two seasons, I cannot imagine he will not.
     
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  23. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    Yes, she is the exception.

    As athletic is Lattimore is, she still has a long ways to go on defense. I was guilty in the pre-season thinking she'd be someone as a true freshman who could really help us guarding one of ISU's bigs who liked to float to the perimeter. She played 21 minutes at ISU (which is great), 6 minutes at home against ISU, and 0 minutes in the conference tourney against ISU.

    I was guilty of thinking that just because these recruits are highly-ranked and display special skills in high school that they ALL will transition easily in college. I should have remembered based on some of our past recruits (even before Vic's arrival) that it's such a small percentage of true freshmen who end up contributing right away.
     
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  24. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    I didn't say that they were all going to be Rori right out the gate. Every player is different. But I do believe that that they can contribute right way against certain teams like Iowa State because of their natural, physical abilities. I also understand that there's a learning curve that they have to adjust to.
     
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  25. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    Joanne opted in to the WNBA draft.

     
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  26. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    Good for Joanne!

    Disappointing for us as fans. She will be missed for all she did on both ends of the court.

    IMO, Vic will need to bring in someone who can play PG at an adequate level. As good as Rori is, she needs some rest. And, heaven forbid she were to sustain an injury that kept her out of any game(s).
     
  27. Run Pincher

    Run Pincher 2,500+ Posts

    I don't understand the wise decision comments on Joens. She's already going to be a top 10 pick. She's not going to improve that much if any. She's not going to get much better. She could have a let down year and drop significantly. She could have a career ending injury. Take the $ and run??

    I'm curious about the gooner women. Well, their draft decision that is. Definitely not curious about anything else.
     
  28. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    Other Big 12 names on the list:
    • Baylor - Nalyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Jordan Lewis
    • TCU - Michelle Berry, Lauren Heard, Aaliyah Jackson
    • Tech - Vivian Gray, Taylah Thomas
    Did I miss anyone?
     
  29. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    I think we are all guilty of prematurely projecting greatness on Freshmen athletes to one extent or another. I think we can all be forgiven for our excitement.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  30. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    :p

    [​IMG]
     

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