Player Management 2017-18

Joyner looks like she's lost a little weight!

 

Sug and Joyner make the cut for the final 12 travel squad! What an amazing run for Alecia "Sug" Sutton! 2 Ladies from Texas making us very proud!! 2 girls from UConn and one from tamu also make the team!

https://www.usab.com/basketball/media/galleries/2017/07/wu19-team.aspx

 

I agree. In every tape or pic of Joyner I've seen lately, she looks like she has lost weight.

 

You are right; she looks leaner in her upper body.

Here is an article with some quotes from Joyner:

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2017/07/wu19-wc-vets.aspx

 

https://www.usab.com/womens/u19/roster.aspx

This is the first time I ever recall seeing weights published for college women. Joyner at a trim 195 - no wonder she is an athletic force around the basket. Sug at a svelte 140 says a lot about her improvement from last year.

 

Not sure how reliable those numbers are - not because of the weight but the height. Joyner is listed at 6-3 (legit) but it has Sug at 6-0. Just looking at the picture at the top of this page shows there's more than a 3 inch height difference.

 

Not if you count the 'do!

It's refreshing to be able to even discuss the accuracy of weight reports.

 

That was the first thing I noticed...Sug had grown 3"!!
'

 

2017-18 roster is up; I had a feeling that it would soon follow after yesterday's announcement about Joyner. Or, perhaps that's why Joyner's announcement came yesterday.

http://www.texassports.com/roster.aspx?path=wbball

 

Now that we know Joyner won't be available until late December at the earliest, I have to believe the front court starters will look like this:

Center -- Jatarie White or Caron-Goudreau (I meant Audrey-Ann)
PF -- Rellah Boothe
SF -- Ariel Atkins

With Atkins sliding over from shooting guard to small forward, I think that allows us to play more of our guards, and that is the strength of this team (assuming the 2 freshmen adjust well to the college game).

SG - Brooke McCarty
PG - Alecia Sutton (although I expect Chasity Patterson to seriously contend for the starter spot)

I think our success in non-conference games in November and December will be based on how much the freshmen can contribute; we need their scoring ability for sure; and, we need Rellah Boothe to help in the rebounding department. If Rellah and Destiny can improve their conditioning in the next five months, then that will allow them to see more minutes on the court.

Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I expect us to take (and make) more 3-pointers than any squad we've had in recent memory. If we do, a lot less ZONE defenses against us!

 

Shoot (pun intended), with Brooke, Ariel, and Sug already able to shoot the 3's with open looks, adding Chasity, Destiny and Rellah will be hard to stop. Hope the coaches are working hard on an offense that spreads the court because it should be potent!

 

Agree, except it will be Audrey, not Khale helping at Center. Khale has to get past the injury bug that has been nagging her.

 

Thanks; wrong twin name

 

Moooooo, I think your analysis about starters, etc. is probably right on. I don't know about Rellah, but I imagine Destiny's conditioning is excellent, what with her summer of 3X3 under Kara Lawson. She just seems like someone who would have a great work ethic to me.

 

There's a recent video of Destiney in the 2017 Recruiting thread as she practices/runs on the Texas court. She acknowledges her conditioning improved the few weeks she's been on Texas, but has more work to do. I'll post it here, as well.

http://www.texassports.com/news/201...fiba-3x3-u18-world-champion-july-15-2017.aspx

 

I think Jatarie White is a shoe in at the 5. I agree with the rest of the lineup, but think Audrey Anne will also play the 4 alot. Rellah is so skilled and this will give her the opportunity to grow quickly. Patterson will play alot and will bring instant offense, but Alecia "Sug" Sutton is going to start at the PG position IMO hands down. Sug Sutton is a VERY VERY SPECIAL player and will show it this year. I think Patterson gets alot of playing time at the 1 and 2. We FINALLY have SHOOTERS at every position. Destiny Littleton can "light it up". Me thinks it will be raining 3s. This is going to be fun......

 

Team having fun during workouts:

 

The new S&C coach has the women working. Mide looks ripped - hopefully she continues to make strides on the court because Texas needs the strength down low to handle some of the posts they'll see this season.



A Cedar Park coach's opinion:

 

I don't mean to insult her, but I wouldn't have thought Brooke could lift that much. I'd hate to go against her.

 

She is tough.....

 

Brooke's scrappiness is a large part of the reason she seems to be one of, if not the, fan favorite on this team. I think refs often give her the benefit of the doubt when it comes to physical play. It seems there's an instance every couple of games where she goes flying (occasionally with some dramatization on her part) when a ball-handler attacks her on the dribble or an opposing screener gets there a half-second late and Brooke draws the offensive foul call where a larger player might have picked up a blocking call. Basically the reverse Shaq/Griner treatment. Not a knock on her talent and ability at all, she's elite, but a great example of turning what is considered a 'weakness' to her advantage. I'd bet most fans on this board probably have at least one instance that immediately comes to mind.

 

Yep, true. She looks like a little kid compared to these big girls. Hard not to want to help her out.

 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the tough feistiness in Brooke. She is one of my favorite Texas players of all time. That saying "it's not the size of the dog but the fight in the dog" always comes to mind with I watch her play.

 

This is why I call Brooke, 3M or Triple M for "Mighty Minnie Mouse"! I think that nickname fits her to a Tee!....By the way...can someone on this site tell me how to attach a word document to my post? Thanks in advance!

 

Still wish I knew what happened to our former S&C coach. Haven't seen that he landed anywhere. Never any kind of official statement from Karen that he was moving on . . .

 

Passing on the knowledge...Brooke and Chasity.

 

TexasSports.com has a new look, and the roster includes photos on the main page:

http://www.texassports.com/roster.aspx?path=wbball

 

I love the look of the Black warm ups or shooting shirts they are wearing!

 

WBB seems to be taking a page from the Texas football S&C program; emphasizing exercises as squats and the clean and press to increase strength in the core and lower body. Zach Zillner certainly has the team concentrating on strict form and doing the exercises the correct way.