***ISU WBB @ Vanderbilt***

[BoxsterCy]

Also, I doubt staff planned on TeeTee wanting to leave either.

TeeTee leaving didn't surprise me. It was an odd matchup for her and ISU, IMHO. She played at Hopkins where they have a running offense and pressure/pressing defense. That was her strength and she was not a shooter, centers shoot more threes in HS than she did. Just nothing like what she would ever see at ISU. Because of that I was kinda surprised she picked us. It's too bad she loses a year of eligibility because of that injury.

 

[Buster28]

I was at the game on Saturday. It was definitely disappointing that we gained the lead in the final few minutes after coming back from double-digit deficits in both games (Drake, Vandy), but couldn't hold on. One thing I was surprised to see was how much ISU struggled getting around Vandy's screens in the first half. They were better in the second, but it looked like they'd never seen one for the first 20 minutes.

With a young team, the (zone) defense will make a lot of mistakes that an experienced team would not normally make - like leaving a 3 point shooter so wide open in the corner that no one even saw her until the shot was halfway to the hoop. Vandy was much more aggressive than they had been up to that game. Coach White (the post-game interview was on their video board) said she challenged them to push on defense and be more aggressive over the last two games. Until I heard that, I was wondering how a team that played like that and managed to lose their first 5 (?) so badly. But it made sense. Durr's defender stuck to her like absolute glue and she could barely get a shot off. Had Carleton not been able to score 30, this game could have been a blow-out loss.

Iowa State is already so close to being a decent team this year. Too many things need to align in each game for us to win, as of now. One thing is 'off' and ISU's risk of picking up an 'L' increases greatly. This game could have been won, just as the Drake game could have finished differently. I think finishing will happen with time. Would be nice to see results this year (as I believe we will). Would be even better to see things click on both sides of the court by Wednesday.

 

[mitten1975]

TeeTee leaving didn't surprise me. It was an odd matchup for her and ISU, IMHO. She played at Hopkins where they have a running offense and pressure/pressing defense. That was her strength and she was not a shooter, centers shoot more threes in HS than she did. Just nothing like what she would ever see at ISU. Because of that I was kinda surprised she picked us. It's too bad she loses a year of eligibility because of that injury.

The same applies for Nia Washington. I think the only way I would want to play for this team is if it were guaranteed beforehand that I would be picked a coach's favorite. If I got on the team and found out I was in the coach's doghouse, I would leave as soon as arrangements could be made.

 

[kcdc4isu]

The same applies for Nia Washington. I think the only way I would want to play for this team is if it were guaranteed beforehand that I would be picked a coach's favorite. If I got on the team and found out I was in the coach's doghouse, I would leave as soon as arrangements could be made.

Not clear why Nia's name has come up. I have been impressed with her play so far this year. I was concerned that she might get pushed around by bigger guards but so far that has not happened. Has hit some shots and dished out assists and only 4 turn overs.

 

[mitten1975]

Not clear why Nia's name has come up. I have been impressed with her play so far this year. I was concerned that she might get pushed around by bigger guards but so far that has not happened. Has hit some shots and dished out assists and only 4 turn overs.

She is practically non-existent in the rotation right now. I predicted this last year, she is not the type of player that would ever want to go to Iowa State, because she doesn't have the skills that Fennelly uses with is cherished and revered offensive and defensive scheme.

Believe me, I am not saying that she doesn't have talents and skills.

 

[kcdc4isu]

She is practically non-existent in the rotation right now. I predicted this last year, she is not the type of player that would ever want to go to Iowa State, because she doesn't have the skills that Fennelly uses with is cherished and revered offensive and defensive scheme.

Believe me, I am not saying that she doesn't have talents and skills.

Simple question then, why did we recruit and why did she except? Were we the only people who recruited her?

 

[mitten1975]

Simple question then, why did we recruit and why did she except? Were we the only people who recruited her?

All I could find was that Washington was recruited by Syracuse for a long time and then got passed over. She had her heart set on Syracuse but then accepted ISU. Not sure how highly ranked she was but espn had her at 96th. She acted like she really wanted to go to ISU, but I think all recruits get excited about going where they are going.

It said Billy was the one that recruited her, and I believe that we have been recruiting in recent years more by ranking than recruiting based on the style of offense and defense. I don't know if the idea is that we will adapt to the players, or that the players will adapt to us. The article that I read described Nia just as she plays, which isn't I believe Fennelly style ball, they called her an up-tempo, open court style player which I think is accurate. The same is true with Tee Tee Starks.

I can't say anything about the why's except that I am baffled by it, and that Fennelly won't change his offense and defensive scheme to fit the talent. He may change this year, but I doubt it.

 

[runbikeswim]

First, I'll start with the good.

If our frosh stay, next year looks to be special with Mere, Bride, Carleton, Middleton being seniors. Nia and AD Juniors. Wise, Kristin, and Rae having a year under their belt, and the addition of scoring phenom Ashley Joens, and hopefully Maddie and Morgan add to it.

We all see the potential this year, so this year can still turn, but the defense just has to get better. We can talk about post play needing to be better for the offense, but for goodness sake, we are shooting lights out. It defense and rebounding that concerns me, if that improves, I won't rule out the tournament yet. There is so much talent on this roster.

One big win, and it could turn the whole season. It could start with this week.

BUT - While there is all this talk about how our recruiting has gotten better, which it has with some really talented players, we still have had a lot of attrition from poor recruiting. Right now, we only have 2 players left of 5 from the 2015 class, Emily, and Claire. Our junior class, we lost 1 of 3, TT. Our Sophomore class, we have already lost 2 of 4. So, out of our 2015 - 2017 classes, we have lost 6 players out of 12. That, is 50%. Of course, probably only 2 of them had "real" D1 potential, Fernstrom and TT, but still. While we say and hear recruiting has gotten so much better, 1/3 of the last 3 classes of recruits simply weren't good enough, and 2 of the 12 that were, left.

I love our every single one of the 2017 class, and from what we are told, 2018 should be good with Ashley, Maddie and Morgan.

And for 2019, I'd love to hear any insight into McGraw's and McBride's game. I trust that since these were far out offers, they are pretty good.

What this program needs desperately is a few years of stability.

 

[acoustimac]

First, I'll start with the good.

If our frosh stay, next year looks to be special with Mere, Bride, Carleton, Middleton being seniors. Nia and AD Juniors. Wise, Kristin, and Rae having a year under their belt, and the addition of scoring phenom Ashley Joens, and hopefully Maddie and Morgan add to it.

We all see the potential this year, so this year can still turn, but the defense just has to get better. We can talk about post play needing to be better for the offense, but for goodness sake, we are shooting lights out. It defense and rebounding that concerns me, if that improves, I won't rule out the tournament yet. There is so much talent on this roster.

One big win, and it could turn the whole season. It could start with this week.

BUT - While there is all this talk about how our recruiting has gotten better, which it has with some really talented players, we still have had a lot of attrition from poor recruiting. Right now, we only have 2 players left of 5 from the 2015 class, Emily, and Claire. Our junior class, we lost 1 of 3, TT. Our Sophomore class, we have already lost 2 of 4. So, out of our 2015 - 2017 classes, we have lost 6 players out of 12. That, is 50%. Of course, probably only 2 of them had "real" D1 potential, Fernstrom and TT, but still. While we say and hear recruiting has gotten so much better, 1/3 of the last 3 classes of recruits simply weren't good enough, and 2 of the 12 that were, left.

I love our every single one of the 2017 class, and from what we are told, 2018 should be good with Ashley, Maddie and Morgan.

And for 2019, I'd love to hear any insight into McGraw's and McBride's game. I trust that since these were far out offers, they are pretty good.

What this program needs desperately is a few years of stability.

Some of those losses haven't really hurt this team at all. The sophomore attrition has zero impact. Actually positive by opening up scholarships. That class was a real reach after we lost out on some prized recruits. Camber is the one real talent in the class and she's showing it this year. Losing TT is a hit/miss thing. She was decent on defense last year, but a complete non-threat on offense. Our junior class loss...well I won't rehash that mess. That loss did hurt. When you talk about the seniors, it wasn't like Jadda transferred. She graduated. Ricketts graduated as well. Those are not attrition.

 

[runbikeswim]

Some of those losses haven't really hurt this team at all. The sophomore attrition has zero impact. Actually positive by opening up scholarships. That class was a real reach after we lost out on some prized recruits. Camber is the one real talent in the class and she's showing it this year. Losing TT is a hit/miss thing. She was decent on defense last year, but a complete non-threat on offense. Our junior class loss...well I won't rehash that mess. That loss did hurt. When you talk about the seniors, it wasn't like Jadda transferred. She graduated. Ricketts graduated as well. Those are not attrition.

Not to mention, that we lost to the those "prized" recruits last night. Meyer, Gufstason, Stewart, and Doyle were all high on BF's board. I don't know if Ollinger was offered or not.

I know you love coach to the end of the earth, but we can't say recruiting has gotten so much better when we see multiple gambles on several players because we didn't get good recruits.

I did not mention Jadda in my post or stats.

 

[kcdc4isu]

I have often wondered why it is always the coaches fault when we do not get a recruit. Sometimes it is because the player has a college major in mind that fits a certain university. Sometimes a recruit picks a team because it is a constant winner (UCONN as an example) and the chance to say they played on a National champion team. And other times a team fits the players style and lastly sometimes they just like a coach better.

 

[acoustimac]

Not to mention, that we lost to the those "prized" recruits last night. Meyer, Gufstason, Stewart, and Doyle were all high on BF's board. I don't know if Ollinger was offered or not.

I know you love coach to the end of the earth, but we can't say recruiting has gotten so much better when we see multiple gambles on several players because we didn't get good recruits.

I did not mention Jadda in my post or stats.

The last two classes (Class of 17 and 18) have been rated as top 30 recruiting classes for women's basketball. 'nuff said. We had one year that was a reach and they are sophomores right now. It appears one of them is going to work out rather nicely. I can't say I love Coach Fen to the end of the earth. There are things about him that drive me nuts. But I do appreciate what he has and is doing for these young women year after year. The success of our program is just gravy on top of that.