iyo, what's the missing piece of the puzzle............

[Southeast]

Re: iyo, what's the missing piece of the puzzle............

Can any of those who have seen Macy Miller play comment on her style? We've seen the amazing numbers, but a lot of us probably don't know how she is getting them. The high rebound numbers give me hope that she has above average athleticism. Is that the case, or is she more of a shooter like Jill Young was?

[Stephen Shirley]

Re: iyo, what's the missing piece of the puzzle............

You guys are in the same boat with us at Middle Tennessee. We have top-50 programs at this point, "always" win our conference and regularly score some quality "upsets" each year. But we lack that one superstar to put us over that hump come tournament time. The Lady Raiders have been blessed with an incredible series of tremendous players the past 10 years, including three WNBA draft picks. But we still haven't been able to land that top-25 recruit that opens the floodgates to other recruits and we have suffered far too many heartbreaking performances in the NCAA tournament.

[rabidrabbit]

Re: iyo, what's the missing piece of the puzzle............

Nobody really figured out how to play against Greiner. That lady was unreal. Pity she played for Baylor. (But hatin' on Baylor isn't nearly as much fun, nor as utterly inexplicable as hatin' on IPFW, so there you go . . .)

And that Xavier team was just plain scary good that year. I don't remember who beat them, but they were the real deal that year. Seems like I recall they were something like #6 in the country when we played them but I might be misremembering that.

I'm still waiting for some Dakota/Minnesota/Wisconsin 6'5"+ girl's HS basketball stud player with mad court skilz (i.e. top 50 prospect) to decide she's really just the most comfortable with Brookings and with AJ, and voila! We'll have our big-time big girl. It'll happen. Just a matter of when. Can't rush it.

Only team that I saw Baylor play where Griner was controlled was last year's game against Louisville. The Cards were ABSOLUTELY MUGGING Griner, usually without her having the ball. They denied the inlet pass to Griner. The other half of the UL/BU game was that Louisville was bombing the 3's, and hitting them (50+ %). With the rule changes on fouling, IMHO, a team couldn't mug the opposing superstar like Louisville did to Griner.

What has set AJ's teams apart is his confidence, ladies' abilities, to be doggone close to interchangeable to 10-12 deep. AJ demands that his players play to 110% for every min that they are on the floor. The teammates do so. I'm not certain that a "superstar" will shine through on the WBB side like Nate did on the MBB side. However, I would like to see AJ continue or start getting the 3star/top 100 players in the upper midwest.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: iyo, what's the missing piece of the puzzle............

To me it's funny how opinions vary.

IMHO- this team is the most athletic WBB we've ever seen at SDSU and that athleticism goes all the way down into the bench. It seems every year that the athleticism seems to go up a notch or two. Yes, there is a lot of youth on the team but come tournament time I would think that they should be past most of the newcomer issues. From the way people are talking about next year's recruits that it will continue. AJ has done a great job in getting players that keep raising the bar.

Could we use a blue-chip 6'3"-6'5" center? You bet, but so could almost anyone outside the top ten.

The Jacks need to keep banging their heads against great competition in the non-conference schedule and continue keep picking up a few more wins in those contests. That will get them further up the food chain, give them the chances at being an at large bid/higher seed in the NCAA Tournament, and most importantly send a signal to recruits that you will have the opportunity to challenge yourself against the best competition out there. Obviously, AJ has done a great job with establishing that culture here and they just need to continue. The next step is to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

The one thing we can't offer is the tough conference of one of the Big 6 conferences. ORU coming back will no doubt help some but it is still quite a leap to that level. We can offer a lot of great things that are extremely important:

1. Succesful teams on the court. No other team has made it to the NCAA's in their first three years of eiligibility. We're at five and counting.
2. Succesful teams in the classroom. NOBODY can say they have a better record in the class. That is important to these ladies.
3. Great environment to play in front of at Frost Arena. Not many places get behind WBB like the Jacks fans do.
4. Fully funded program
5. Nationally known colleges within the university
6. The coolest mascot in the country. OK, that's my ad lib.
7. You can contribute right away! This is often overlooked. At big schools it is hard to get on the floor as a freshman. AJ plays a deep bench and if you earn the minutes you will play. Look at what Kerri Young, Clarissa Ober, and Chynna Stevens are doing. That is something that is very attractive to recruits.

We have the tools to compete against just about anyone and just need to keep improving our stature every year.

SUPERBUNNY

[OldHare]

Re: iyo, what's the missing piece of the puzzle............

A quick look at the MTSU game and I see that 6'1" and 5'10" women had 27 of the 43 rebounds and 35 of the 59 points. Athletic and strong still create problems. 6'4" or 6'5" might be a great asset, but what we have now will still take us to the dance and be competitive. As we go forward and hear that the current team is as athletic as any before, it is hard to curb my optimism. Even with some stumbling and lopsided losses this year, I find it hard to be disappointed with the progress of this team in the OOC schedule. And as the Superbunny has indicated, these are some good student athletes representing the university. Go Jacks!! (Merry Christmas)

[da_coach]

Re: iyo, what's the missing piece of the puzzle............

Can any of those who have seen Macy Miller play comment on her style? We've seen the amazing numbers, but a lot of us probably don't know how she is getting them. The high rebound numbers give me hope that she has above average athleticism. Is that the case, or is she more of a shooter like Jill Young was?

I would say she plays like a better Steph Pauluch if having to draw a comparison with another Jacks player. And I mean that on the HS level...not that Macy is better than Steph or will be better than Steph as a Jackrabbit. Just how she has played at the AA level (like Steph did) she has shown a bit more ability. And Steph was fantastic. No disrespect to her.

She can shoot it a bit better, but is willing to drive, and hit the pullup...and a pretty darn good passer.

Jeez, having her and Keri Young together is really almost unfair when you think about it at the High School level.