Discussion

[Jennifer]

Saw this on ouinsiders.com board. SOmeone pulled it from Raiderpower.

Comments?

Textom, I like your projection for OU to finish about 4th in the Big 12 next year. They will have to work hard even to finish that
high.
But consider this scenario:

(1) OU's incoming recruits added some height (two 6'-3" posts), some speed (two wing/guards from Oklahoma HS), and some all-around
toughness (Chelsi Welch from Plainview). No top 100 players, but some arguments made for Welch and the post from Albuquerque (Preston), who
supposedly outplayed Cisti in a few HS matchups.

(2) ESPN and other major media fawn all over Sherri Coale and the OU program in pre-season publications and news stories.

(3) 2002 early signing date sees OU grab two or three of the top 50 players in the USA. Sherri capitalizes heavily on this years' success.

(4) OU finishes 4th place in Big 12. ESPN fawns over Sherri Coale some more.

(5) OU hosts another sub-regional (and wins both games). ESPN fawns even more, to the point that some of us are getting sick of it. (But not the
recruits who are relishing the apparent fact that a DI coach is like "one of the girls").

(6) OU loses out in the round of 16 or 8, but is still praised (by ESPN) for the wonderful job that Sherri Coale did after losing Stacey Dales and 4
other seniors from the previous banner season.

(7) An even better recruiting haul to follow the media bandwagoners to OU.

( Back to near the top in quicker time than any of us thought possible.

Now, I realize that only the first three statements are valid at this point. But it's not a huge stretch to see the remaining possibilities play out.

I agree with you that the Lady Raiders have better talent coming back than OU. MUCH BETTER. And we should do VERY WELL in the next few
years. I'll be extremely disappointed if we don't.

I'm not completely sold on Sherri Coale's coaching genius at this point either. Sorta like those people who claim Marsha would never have won a
NC without Swoopes. It's hard to give credit anywhere but to Stacey Dales.

However, the most important factors I use to grade a Coach is how her/his team plays defense, and their conditioning. Sherri passed those two
tests with flying colors this year. An added dimension to her team is the motion offense, of which I have become a much bigger fan after watching
OU and our men's team more closely. It allows a team with more marginal talent to compete with better athletes, plain and simple.

Once again, I hope you and the others are correct about Sherri Coale being a one-hit-wonder. Next fall's early signing class will tell us alot about
her ability to recruit elite players. Then next season's play will give her a chance to prove us right or wrong about her "genius".

[This message has been edited by Jennifer (edited 04-02-2002).]

[Jennifer]

And my half baked reply.


One thing regarding her recruiting ability, etc. that hasn't been pointed out.
She did what she did with this team without any HS All Americans, without any of the most sought after players. Even if she doesn't recruit Top 10
talent, she has proven that she can make a winning team out of a bunch of blue collar hard workers. If you look at the other 'Top' teams, then
talentwise, athlete wise, you may think OU was lacking. Uconn, Tn, Duke, Purdue, Vandy, Stanford are all packed with high ranked, highly sought
after players, yet OU was better than all but one of those teams this year.
I think Dionnah Jackson is the highest ranked player she's signed, though I don't remember specifics.

This Tech person says that Tech has much more talent coming back. True, they have a solid nucleus coming back, Pierson might be back (which
I think could be a bad thing), Cisti was playing with lots of confidence late in the season, and they have one of the top 2 PG's coming in (Erin
Grant). But, another thing this year's OU team showed is what great chemistry and teamwork can do. All of the above doesn't mean anything (ie
high ranked players, etc) if you don't mesh together as a team. OU had that down.

I would pick OU to finish 4th in the league next year, but expect them to pull some upsets, most likely later in the season. A lot of what happens
depends on how their schedule falls. They do get ISU, KState, and MU at home, but will travel to CU, NU, and KU.

Final note--though Stacy Dales is alot of the reason OU got to where they did, if it wasn't for a coach selling her vision, and then leading the way,
then Stacy Dales may not be quite the household name today (at least in Big 12 country). And I can't not mention the great players like Caufield,
Phylesha Whaley, Caton Hill, and others...
Coale has coached the last 2 Big 12 Players of the year (Whaley 1x, Dales 2x), neither of which were highly recruited out of HS.

[swok34]

I think you are right about Dionnah being the highest "ranked" recruit Coale has signed......

though some of the freshmen of this years team were recruited by others......Wadsworth's mother told us she was recruited by
Texas Tech, Baylor, Vanderbilt, OU and Texas (until Texas found who they needed for her position).

I read a quote from Sherri that she does have recognition to at least get past the high school coaches now....each year that "exposure" has seemed to blossom and I would think OU would start having recruits that have OU on their list as much as they are on the Dukes and the Purdues.

[ChipperF1]

"I hope you and the others are correct about Sherri Coale being a one-hit-wonder. Next fall's early signing class will tell us alot about
her ability to recruit elite players. Then next season's play will give her a chance to prove us right or wrong about her "genius".

Sounds like a lotta jealousy coming from West Texas. I never thought people out there cottoned to such emotion.
This persons rant insults a fine Red Raider program.

But it isn't first dispatch of anti-Sherri feeling I've heard. You oughta hear what some Stanford fans I know have said.

Oklahoma has no "High School All-Americans" and the are #2 in the nation.
Nebraska has two "High School All-Americans" and I'd trade both to any other team for a crate of used jogbras, and the straps wouldn't have to be clean.

---ChipperF1

[RaiderPower1]

First, let me say that I am strongly against posting stuff from other boards. It just doesn't seem right to copy it and then discuss the topic on another board. If you would like to reply then create an account at RP.com to talk about this thread.

Originally posted by ChipperF1:
Sounds like a lotta jealousy coming from West Texas. I never thought people out there cottoned to such emotion.

I know that a lot of the posters from RP.com aren't from west Texas. As a matter of fact, many come from Austin and Dallas so one person's views don't necessarily mean that their opinion is the consensus amongst us TRUE West Texans. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

[ChipperF1]

Then Raider, I stand corrected.

Dallas? Could be up here in Connecticut and fit right in. That ain't Texas. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[Press]

I have friends in New Mexico and go to Loboland.com and there’s a NMSooner that has done the same thing there too. Could it be the same one? I guess I don't understand why you would even care what a couple bitter Tech fans (TexTom) think at this point? I say respond to the reply on the forum from which it came and speak your peace--have at it!.

I think jealousy is a valid assessment for most any team that didn't make the Final Four, actually, because that's what every team in the country aspires to accomplish at some point.

[Jennifer]

yikes, wasn't trying to get anything stirred up here.
I just enjoy reading other's opinions and discussing such...yet I'm not about to go register on RP.com (don't even know the website).

[DblT81]

This one post is taken out of context, somewhat. If you want the full discussion go to RP and respond there, not here.

The person that posted that message was responding to something Textom and many others had written. It is actually a rational post responding to some irrational Tech fans who were spouting off and some rational Tech fans who have differing opinions as to OU's future. The person that wrote this message is actually defending OU, but when you carve it out and post it here.....

There was an OU fan, I think, that did register and respond to part of the discussion. Only, the name they used is one that many on RaiderPower would assume was a Longhorn football fan.

[Bball Girl]

There are some folks who are only happy when THEIR team wins...they pan THEIR team when they lose and knock other teams when they win.

I can't say I was overly found of Coale when I first got to Tech 4 years ago...I thought she was all fluff. But I've come to see the substance there and the passion and the belief and the ability she has to create a team environment. She brings her own style to the game and that isn't going to hurt us at all.
It will also be an amazing day when ESPN starts fawning over OU..because if and when that happens they will also find a lot of other things to fawn over in the Big 12.

Sharp, Berry, Conradt are all names that open doors. There is no reason why a few more names can't be added to that list (and already are for that matter). At the WBCA all star game we sat by a mother of a teenage wbb player who dreams of playing ball for Coach Sharp. That felt good and I'm sure there are now plenty of young women out there dreaming of playing for Sherri Coale..that helps the game.

The "rebuilding" years at Tech have usually been good years and have proved the media wrong. Maybe the pressure is off..I don't know. If anything, KSU should have taught us all a very good lesson...same coach, different team...won 2 games in the Big 12 last year and this year speaks for itself. There are young girls in Manhattan now dreaming of playing for Coach Patterson and that too is good for the game.

One of these days, Sharp, Foster, Conradt, Summitt, etc. will retire. They have taken this game we are all so passionate about to another level and I see nothing wrong with the hands that are already there taking it to another level.

[hornsofthedilemma]

Thanks, Jennifer, for the post. It almost made me want to go to Raiderpower and see what was up in the stream, something I wouldn't normally want to do given that it's a Raider board and I am not a Raider fan. If your intention was to spread some info that is in the public domain, but might not be seen by some of us, you did that, and I'm grateful. I'll try not to take it out of context as my fellow Big 12 fans caution.

[Jennifer]

Well, maybe someone more familiar with the raiderpower site will be so kind as to post the link to the whole discussion here, as to ensure that nothing gets taken out of context.

[DblT81]

http://www.raiderpower.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=9&t=001578

There are other threads too with similar discussions but this is the one with the specific post.


BTW, wtfan is great wbb fan, is rational, and one of the better people posting at RP. That is why I took offense to what he said there being posted here. If you don't agree with his words or his tone, go to RP and respond. Let him defend his opinion or reply to your response, if he didn't mean it the way it sounded to you.

[DblT81]

And for those who don't want to go there to read the whole thing, here is what wtfan said initially in that same thread:

wtfan posted 04-01-2002

Textom, I hope you're right about how long it will be until Coale gets back to the top. But I'm more than a little concerned that she will get back sooner rather than later.
Two things impressed me the most about OU this year:

(1) Relentless defense. This CAN be coached and emphasized and recruited for. I expect to see them continue to be good defensively simply as a result of Coale's coaching philosophy.

(2) Excellent motion offense. Those girls moved the ball around all year long with extreme efficiency. That offense allowed them to reach the championship game in spite of having an "average" inside game. UConn finally exposed them for that marginal inside game. We almost did at Boise. Duke did at one point in the second half. But UConn did for almost the entire game. However, OU stayed in the game with UConn because their motion offense allowed them to get a lot of decent looks on the perimeter and on drives.

With relentless defense and efficient motion offense, OU will continue to be a threat at a high level. Their superb conditioning was a factor in most every game, including the UConn game.

The only player that realistically can't be replaced is Stacey Dales. As good as Caufield and Ross were, they could be replaced much easier. And Jamie Talbert was decent, but not irreplaceable.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that OU will be as good next year as they were this year. They won't be. But with decent recruiting, great conditioning, relentless defense, and an efficient motion offense, they will be competitive right away next year. And they could be back to the top real soon after that.

In today's sound bite society, Sherri Coale's visibility and personality will allow her to snag some great new recruits.



Sounds to me like that wtfan is impressed with Coale and the Sooners.

[DblT81]

Originally posted by ChipperF1:
Sounds like a lotta jealousy coming from West Texas. I never thought people out there cottoned to such emotion.
This persons rant insults a fine Red Raider program.

But it isn't first dispatch of anti-Sherri feeling I've heard.


Chipper, if you read all the posts this Tech fan wrote about SC and OU, you would know that he is not jealous. He has a healthy respect for OU and is worried about their challenge to Tech in the future as any true realistic fan of the Lady Raiders would be. This person does NOT have an anti-Sherry bias. In fact, he has said that she is a good coach, only time will tell if she is a genius. He didn't say she wasn't a genius, it just takes a more than a couple of good years by a coach before you can lable them as such.

That is a Tech message board. What do you want him to say? That OU is good and Sherri Coale is good and he hopes that they stay on top of the conference forever?

Instead he said, *OU is going to be better next year than some think, maybe not the best right away, but still good and Sherri Coale is good so they will be really good sooner rather than later and he hopes he is wrong and the others are right about OU not hanging around the top of the conference so that Tech can get back on top.*

Now- if you want to gripe about what some of those other idiots on RP said about OU, go ahead. This time you picked on the wrong one.

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by DblT81:
That is a Tech message board

Exactly why I won't go post there....

ANyhow, my original post (2nd in this thread) stands.

BTW, wtfan is great wbb fan, is rational, and one of the better people posting at RP. That is why I took offense to what he said there being posted here. If you don't agree with his words or his tone, go to RP and respond.

I wasn't criticizing his/her opinions...just throwing something out for discussion point/counterpoint style. Obviously, this isn't the direction I intended that discussion to go, so I'll just drop it now.
Now that the season is over, maybe it's just time to take a BB hiatus for a while.

[This message has been edited by Jennifer (edited 04-02-2002).]

[YCN]

Jennifer, don't leave us here...

We need you within the community. Hey, I've had plenty of posts go in directions I couldn't imagine.

We all love women's basketball - that's what's really important!

[DblT81]

Jennifer, I think I've given you the wrong idea about RaiderPower. There are many very knowledgable wbb fans. There are HS coaches and parents who know a bunch about wcbb. There are, of course, the immature fans who don't know much and scream their opinions. But those guys only pop up when Tech loses, so they aren't around much right now. There are many fans who are critical of everything Marsha Sharp does and doesn't do. There are members who think Tech should be recruiting nationwide and stop looking locally and there are members who think Tech should not have passed on recent local girls who went to UNM and Okla.

Most of the posts concerning Oklahoma in the last week are complimentary of OU and Sherri Coale. Contrary to the guy who posted on OUInsider, Tech fans do not call her Coales. Some Tech fans are worried that OU has passed Tech by and there is much discussion why or if this has happened. There is a thread discussing if it will take the Sooners 10 years to get back to the final 4 comparing to Tech who hasn't been there in 10 years. The general feeling is that it will not take OU as long as it has taken Tech. Look at the title of that thread I linked, "A fine effort". Most of it was very respectfull of the Sooners. In fact, I think there has been much more negative comments about Sharp than Coale in the last week.

I don't disagree with anything you said in your "answer" post, and I don't think wtfan on RP would have any problems with what you said either.

BTW, his comments about Dales go back to what Tech has had thrown back in their face a million times: Tech only got there because of Swoopes, since then they haven't been back (so that proves the naysayers theory). Well, until OU gets back, the "OU only got there because of Dales" will be thrown at you. Its like the tiresome "the B12 is not a legit good conference because it's never had a final 4 team" argument. BTW, Tech had some quality players on the floor with Swoopes-Michi Atkins was Tech's Caton Hill, and Krista Kirkland was Tech's LaNeisha Caufield, etc.

Many Tech fans are talking about *back there* as the final 4. That is how they define success. Top 25 for 10 straight years, Elite 8 appearances, Kodak All-Americans, conference MVP, national coach of the year, winning the conference or the conference Tournament, Tech has achieved all of these things in the years since the NC and those are small victories to be proud of, but many Tech fans will not be satisfied until the Lady Raiders return to the final 4.

So be prepared. Until OU goes back, which could be very soon, it will be, "Dales took them there".

[doubleT]

I may be biased, but I see Tech finishing 1st next year with OU falling to 5th or 6th. Let's face it, they're losing too much. As TEXTOM posted on RP.com, OU is losing 70% of their scoring, 55% of their rebounding, and about 65% of their blocks, assists and steals.

Hardly anyone outside of the top 6 players saw any playing time this year. How is OU expected to play as well as a "team" (as JENNIFER mentioned earlier in this thread) when they've never played together in real games? It will take a while for OU to get back to the level they were at this year. They were at this level because of their talented backcourt duo and years of playing together. It takes time to replace something like that.

And yes JENNIFER, there is no speculation, Plenette Pierson will return next season. As a matter of fact, she never left the team. She was at every home game showing her support in the stands, and worked out and trained with redshirt Jametra Clark and the coaches. Plenette and Jametra will be a very valuable additions to this already deep Lady Raider team. I see the starting lineup as follows:

G Erin Grant
G Jia Perkins
F Jolee Ayers
F Plenette Pierson
C Cisti Greenwalt

Or start a 3-guard rotation with Natalie Ritchie or a JC guard who might be brought in before next season. Combine that with some already talented bench players and the No. 5 ranked recruiting class in the nation and this Tech team looks to be great for years and years to come.

As for predicted order of finish for next year:

1. Tech
2. Texas
3. KSU
4. Colorado
5. Oklahoma
6. Baylor
7. Missouri
8. ISU
9. OSU
10. Nebraska
11. Texas A&M
12. Kansas

I guess 5-10 could be a toss-up, but I think the top 4 are pretty sure bets. I'm probably giving OU a little too much credit by placing them at No. 5 but I still expect them to be competitive.

Here's a link to TEXTOM's post:
graduation losses (http://www.raiderpower.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=9&t=001553)

Your thoughts?

[schooner2]

Originally posted by DblT81:
So be prepared. Until OU goes back, which could be very soon, it will be, "Dales took them there".

Or the saying should be Dales, Caufield, and Ross took them there. What a great 3-guard tandem. 4 if you include Jackson. Really makes you wonder how long it will be till OU has that kind of backcourt again. Could be a long time.

Very true DblT81. I've already started worrying about this because EVERY coach has to deal with their success at some point. By "deal" with it I mean when they don't duplicate the success, then some naysayers start their hooting. Sherri will be given a reprieve in 2002-2003 because the drop off in experienced talent is quite obvious. But after that, who knows.

I would think most of us here, people I like to call true level-headed ever-lasting fans would never think that Tech won it all in '93 just cuz Swoopes took them there. Swoopes was the player that put Tech over the top that season. But there's no way Swoopes could elevate the team if Sharp hadn't built such a wonderful foundation. A foundation so strong that it's a given Tech hosts every year in the NCAA Tourney. That's really incredible.

OU still has to show they can do what Tech has already done during the decade of the 90s.

Sherri brings so many intangibles to the OU program beyond the Xs and Os and recruiting. And that is why this program has a great chance at turning into a Tech, maybe even a Purdue, and maybe even a Tennessee or UCONN. We shall see over the next few years.

I kind of liken OU's current status in its own history of building a great program to that of UCONN in 1991. They just came off a Final Four appearance although they didn't make it to the championship game. They had won 2 of the last 3 Big East Tournament titles. Then they had to rebuild after the 1990-91 season. It took them till 1994 before they won their conference tournament again. And it was 1995 before they returned to the Final Four - but in a big way this time as they won it all with their first national championship.

OU fans have become spoiled already. Of course it only takes tasting success just once to become spoiled. I hear so many people saying we have a shot at winning the Big 12 next year. Maybe a shot, but not a great one and definitely not as good of a shot that we had the past two years. It's as if people are already putting on the blinders to what is happening all around us in the Big 12. One thing is for sure, the Big 12 looks like it could become the dominant conference for years to come. The coaches in this league are very impressive and more and more and more recruits are coming the Big 12's way. That talent continues to pour into this conference.

The question is will OU fans mix in a little patience to allow Sherri to continue building this program or will the naysayers become deafening in a couple of years? We just can't be blind to the fact that KSU, Tech, and UT will start next season with more talent than OU. And, even more experienced talent. Sure Jackson and Hill have now experienced a Final Four. But OU could be starting 3 players next season that have yet to even play a game as a Sooner.

I could go on and on - I'll stop there for now.

[schooner2]

Originally posted by doubleT:
As for predicted order of finish for next year:

1. Tech
2. Texas
3. KSU
4. Colorado
5. Oklahoma
6. Baylor
7. Missouri
8. ISU
9. OSU
10. Nebraska
11. Texas A&M
12. Kansas

I guess 5-10 could be a toss-up, but I think the top 4 are pretty sure bets. I'm probably giving OU a little too much credit by placing them at No. 5 but I still expect them to be competitive.

Your thoughts?

I don't have a clue as to what your basing Colorado's expected 4th place finish on. Colorado loses just about more than anyone else in conference. They lose Bohman who was very instrumental for them down the stretch, they lose Hartshorn, Nightingale, and Roulier. They return Bjorklund, the oft-injured Lapped, Wirt, and Scott. That's a decent group, but I don't think that matches up with what OU even returns.

OU has Jackson and Hill. Maybe that's only two people, but it's two very key people. A strong inside force and a fantastic point guard - probably the best in the Big 12 next year (either Jackson or Wilson). You can easily build a team around two players like that.

Baylor, like Colorado, returns a very good inside player (Blackmon for Baylor, Bjorlund for Colorado), but who will run point? For both teams, it will not be someone of the caliber of Jackson or Wilson. ISU loses Welle and Gahan which is huge. Have a feeling Junod will be very good for them - but what about a proven inside presence? Not there, at least not a proven one.

So, actually, I believe OU is a strong pick for 4th in conference. And Tech, KSU, and UT all have to come to Norman next year. And you know that won't be easy for them. So OU could make it interesting.

Who knows about the rest. I think ISU, BU, and CU will probably battle it out for 5th, 6th, and 7th. Could be same top 7 cuz I really don't see a lower-echelon team poised to burst into the upper-echelon.

[swok34]

The question is will OU fans mix in a little patience to allow Sherri to continue building this program or will the naysayers become deafening in a couple of years?

Great question.....and I think there is probably a fan base of
perhaps 2000 or even 3000 that will be patient.

I ran into a players father on my way home from the championship game at a burger joint in SA; I didn't know who he was and asked what he thought about the game........at the end of our conversation, he said "we'll be back next year".....and as I was walking off, I said...I don't think we will be Final Four material next year, perhaps in a FEW.....

As I was waiting for my order, one of the folks with him told me he was so and so's father, and we spoke a moment about his daughter.....and then he started telling me these players that are up and coming.........patience, naw, there are a lot of bandjumpers, especially for the women's bb program.

I just don't feel that it's fair to Caton Hill, nor Dionnah Jackson...since those are the 2 players who saw the primary minutes on a team that's left of a national champ runner-up.....to put those kind of expectations on a team.

I have absolutely no idea what kind of team OU will have next year, but what I do know is that I've never watched Coale-led team that I didn't thoroughly enjoy......I think it's going to be a "fun" year and even if they find themselves in 12th place in the Big XII, I'll still be sitting in my seat yelling "Go Sooners".

[ChipperF1]

"I just don't feel that it's fair to Caton Hill, nor Dionnah Jackson...since those are the 2 players who saw the primary minutes on a team that's left of a national champ runner-up.....to put those kind of expectations on a team.

Well Swok, welcome to Olympus. It's cloudy up there isn't it?

In looking at the Big 12 next season, the coaching strength will again make a huge difference. The beauty of this league is you have solid coaching in most programs, and all the best team are well schooled.
In my mind each team has a glaring question. Some have more than others. But all have something that if they address well, they will win.

1. Texas Tech. This is best team in terms of talent, and they could be a pick for Atlanta. Question: Is Plenette Pierson persona non grata? Pierson is on trial. Any teammate or coach who says "all is forgiven" is lying to you. If Pierson has her head screwed on right, everything else falls into place.

2. Kansas State...They are young, have some weapons, could use some additional athleticism. Question: How will this team react to being the target? The expectation just got a lot higher in Manhattan. Just ask Bill Snyder how high it can get.

3. Iowa State...Lose Welle. Lose Gahan. Lose Cizek. Two starters and a spot reserve. But again Bill Fennelly seems to get a team together. Question: Can some inside strength emerge? And will this team change its strategic thinking to take greater advantage of Lindsey Wilson's skills?
To put ISU in the second division in my mind is laughable. A Bill Fennelly coached team may have a down year, but not that far down. ISU may play candypants perimeter basketball, but one thing I've seen from this team is they can muck and grind themselves above their station. So I'll never count them out.

4. Oklahoma....Dionnah Jackson learned this year that she can play, and she'll be confident to do so. Caton Hill has to step into leadership, and all those widebodies on the bench now have to earn their scholarship. Question: How much of a coach Sherri Coale now?
Really its not a question. When you go from 5-22 to Final Four in the space of five years, you just don't do that by accident. You get the kids and you develop them, and Sherri done it. If the kids want it, and OU's kids have shown they do, Coale will bring 'em home.


5. Texas....Inside, you can't mess with Texas. Four excellent inside players coming back. Jody has that old school big fierce Longhorn team. Question: Is there a guard in the house
Guard play hurt the Longhorns at times this year and that way I have them fifth. With so many top end guards in the league, you need one. Develop a guard, you move up. Again, Jody has to coach. And we all know she can.

6. Baylor...Still very young a green, but I like Blackmon inside. She's ahead of her develop curve Question: Who'll step into the yawing chasm left by Dani Crockcrum and Sheila Lambert
What usually set a team back is when kids have to expand roles. It is hard to do, especially when you have bench kids having to do it. Another opportunity from Kim Mulkey-Robinson to earn her money. Another coach I won't bet against.

7. Colorado...It's Tera Bjorklund's show. She's the best player coming back, and leads a lot green players back. Question: Well Ceal Barry find a backcourt?
Ceal will need a lot of patience. Stafford and Richardson have more athleticism and deeper potential than Roulier and Nightingale, but Jenny and Mandy put up the results. The next backcourt will be talented but unpolished.

8. Missouri...Good core group returning with Unrau and Barr. They could move higher. Another WNIT trip is in the bag at least
Question: Can they develop perhaps another shooter and another rebounder? Will this school really take the next step forward supportwise?
To the first question, Cindy Stein has her work cut out for her. The second question I fear will be a negative answer.

9. Texas A&M...Peg Gillom has some kid who want to play. One more year of Toccara Williams. Recrurting and school support will be CRITICAL
Question: Why doesn't this school see the potential some folks see for Texas A&M

10. Kansas.....Marian Washington likes her next group of freshman. I find them interesting as well, and sometimes fresh faces can refire a coach's engines, even old engines like Washington
Question: Will the new Kansas AD do to Marian what her did to Terry Allen
Jayhawks fans, be afraid of Al Bohl. Be very afraid. This man has football on the brain, much like Oklahoma State. People like him tend to be carcinogenic to solid sports programs.

11. Oklahoma State* This is conditional based on what happens in the coach search in Stillwater. I hope the rumors about certain decisions being made aren't true.
Question: Who is the next coach? Is he or she beaten before she starts? Will the kids want to play for someone else, given the classless way the Halterman situation was handled?
The answers are "who knows", "they may be", and "could you blame them if morale is down".

12. Nebraska....Some potential here with a HS All-American and a high level recruit coming in at point guard. This team showed flashes of respectibility. Question: Is this Paul Sanderford's final year? Should the team have a senior night?
The answers are "yes" and "no". It would take a Kansas State-style season to save Paul Sanderford, and as I've well stated over and over again he's not worth saving. As for senior night? I'd wouldn't have one. This is the worst senior class in the history of program. If I were head coach at Nebraska no senior would see playing time this year, except for Keasha Cannon.



[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 04-03-2002).]

[schooner2]

Originally posted by ChipperF1:
3. Iowa State...Lose Welle. Lose Gahan. Lose Cizek. Two starters and a spot reserve. But again Bill Fennelly seems to get a team together. Question: Can some inside strength emerge? And will this team change its strategic thinking to take greater advantage of Lindsey Wilson's skills?

To put ISU in the second division in my mind is laughable. A Bill Fennelly coached team may have a down year, but not that far down. ISU may play candypants perimeter basketball, but one thing I've seen from this team is they can muck and grind themselves above their station. So I'll never count them out.

Laughable? Maybe. Yet with all the weapons this season they finished 6th. Just 1 game from being in the 2nd division. Now they become more one-dimensional than they've been in years. Teams will key in on Wilson and Junod. For ISU to finish third assumes that Cofield and/or Bremer have to contribute a great deal to this team's success. Possible. But definitely not a given.

I can't put ISU third until I see proof that Cofield and Bremer can step in and be half of what Welle was for this team.

7. Colorado...It's Tera Bjorklund's show. She's the best player coming back, and leads a lot green players back. Question: Well Ceal Barry find a backcourt?
Ceal will need a lot of patience. Stafford and Richardson have more athleticism and deeper potential than Roulier and Nightingale, but Jenny and Mandy put up the results. The next backcourt will be talented but unpolished.

The more I think about Colorado.......if the Buffs somehow pull a good point guard out of thin air, then the Buffs could go places. There's a good, experience supporting cast on this team and Bjorklund should at least be 2nd team All-Big 12. Have a decent point guard to help lead the team and the Buffs are in business. But that's a big, no, HUGE if.

[elfdenmom]

Personally I don't see OU finishing below third. Tech, Texas, and KSU will all be in the hunt for #1, but things happen, as we found to our sorrow at Tech this year. Colorado, Baylor and ISU will all be dangerous, but OU will be in there at the end. Don't forget that those unheralded bench players went against Dales, Caulfield & Co. all this year, and I bet they learned a LOT!