and its funny to me why I don't think this team has played close to it's potential. At times we look sloppy, unorganized and not very deep in some areas. Not sure why I feel this way because our performance against the toughest schedule in the country states otherwise.
Maybe the fact that we really don't have one true point guard...we have three good ones? This is a very unconventional team and every time I watch them play I see MM constantly trying to find the perfect style. Trying to mold 5 all-american type players into a "perfect mold" is very interesting to watch.
I'm not sure I have ever seen a teem that fits together like this one in women's college basketball. Usually it's one big and a great guard. We have 2 great big's, (maybe 3 soon) and 3 of the best wings in the country.
I have not been high on Jordan's play but maybe her struggles are because the rest of the team is not used to playing with a true point?
Interested to see what you folks think.
we freely substitute in the 4th qtr and give up 6-10 pts vs the opposition which still has its starters in. If we kept our starters in our ppg would go up by at least 5 and pts allowed per game by at least 8 lower increasing our gap in these games by at least 13. Last year these starters were still playing late into the 4th qtr. If Muffet's goal was to maximize scoring and miinimize pts given up, she would be setting records this year. However it appears her goal is to get the younger players experience when she can, experiment with the rosters, maybe with a look to next year, and reward the walk-ons while winning comfortably. This allows her to look disgusted more often while the subs make turnovers and give up way too many easy baskets that would never be allowed by the starting 6
for taking the long term view. Sure, it's nice to beat a team by 50, but at the end of the day, does it do you an y good as opposed to beating by 25 and having your starters out for the 4th quarter? At a minimum, in decreases the chance for a starter to get injured. Strategically, getting minutes for the younger players not only develops depth but also helps build the team for next year. I hope we do this all year, get to the Tournament healthy and fresh, and kick the **** out of the field.
multiple ball handlers who can bring the ball up and execute fast breaks. Add to that bigs being able to provide long outlet passes and running down for fast breaks, breaks down lesser talented teams much more. ND has become very effective in all phases of the game.
Watching all of Notre Dame and Oregon games have shown they have lots in common in how they play. Both have gotten much better after their loss, especially in their D. Both are using their subs more effectively. They both have a few bigs who can spell their excellent starters and change the game a bit. They both have one true guard sub, but your ccmment on Nixon is astute as I think she seems to need the ball in her hand more than the other 3 ND starters which is why she is less effective. The Ducks freshman guard Chavez is playing more in the flow of the game and so there is less drop off on offense. infact she takes a lots of minutes from Boley, because she is better on D and is great with the flow of the game. It seems when Nixon comes in the game changes.
Still the defense is what controls the game and ND's keeps improving there. I think Muffet is starting to manage the players based on their defensive intensity. She also will pull a player if she make two many mistakes on the offense (TOs, bad shots, silly passes). Having the subs to do this and knowing her starters can still perform has really made a difference in how she manages the game.Still it does make the team less reliable which makes us think they don't always play to their potential. Last year we were just hoping those 6 players wouldn't break, especially when they were against tough teams.
It's a long season. Talented teams don't bring it all the time, but hopefully they are ready when the need to be. Did you see what #2 Golden State did to the top team in the West Denver last night. ND will be ready when they need to be.