UW-Arkansas State Game

[scoutnwhoops]

I went to the game yesterday. The Dawgs played without Argens and McCormack which shortened their inside rotation.

Sami Whitcomb's jumper was on and helped baloon their first half lead to 19. They saw some full court trapping pressure in the second half that gave them problems and then they compounded it in the chaos by letting Arkansas State's long range shooter get clean looks. The lead was cut to six in the last four minutes but the Dawgs put on a little burst when they figured out the pressure.

Redmon looked good again in spots and Florence is a model of how hard you should play the game no matter what positon you play. She gets to every loose ball and rebounds better than anyone her size I've ever seen and its all determination. If that rubs off on the young UW guards they're play will take another step up.

Laura McLellan was the most effective post the Huskies had. She just played strong and under control. She rebounded with authority which is what was missing outside of her this game. This kept them from any transition game early on.

My impression is if they had McCormack and Argens they would have owned the boards and probably would have opened the game up. The guards I think needed this game as they are sure to see more pressure than they have so far as they get deeper in to the season. They seem to be improving though. They're playing together better.

[MCPOjim]

Thanks for the input. My question is, what the heck has happened with Augustavo. Lack of min comes from lack of production. I agree with you on Florence. If anybody had ten of her they would be awesome.
I agree with you about handling the pressure. With the size they have and the other three running, it is layup city. If they have a problem for a while to make the adustment, they will see it every time they put in new people. Good report Mr. Scout.

[funhoops]

I went to the game as well and agree that Florence is by far the most agressive player on the Husky squad and would make anyone's All-Hustle team. It will be interesting to see if Whitcom will be able to get her shot of against quicker more athletic players in the Pac 10

Coach J is an intense and positive coach. She spent most of the game about 2 feet past the coaches line and several times she was so far on the court she could have shot a 3 pointer. I also watched her encouraging young players and using their mistakes as moments to teach.

This team is in serious need of players with more athleticism. Florence gets up and down the court extremely well and Redmon can fill a lane but that its. Several of the post players are solid but they seem to be slow or in need of more conditioning. Its interesting that Coach J says they want to play defense and run, when she may have the least athletic team in the Pac 10. Not to mention, the only team in the Pac 10 without an African American player on its active roster.

The crowd seemed to be really behind this team and that should help keep them close in a few home games but I think it will be a long season for the Huskies.

[scoutnwhoops]

Augustavo's role reminds of a couple younger kids I had playing up a few years from my club coaching days. You insert them in the line up, run a few plays to get them shots, if they hit, they stay, if they miss, they come back out.

Argens and McCormack are the more athletic posts and need to get healthy. McLellan is coming off injury so its no wonder there may be a conditioning issue but she is the most consistent presence.

On Whitcomb, I think she'll get her shot off still but the shot selection is what bothers me. I know she's told to go in and be aggressive but I questions some of those decisions. She's just a soph. so I guess that comes with the territory.

Once they get their spacing and get more comfortable together I think Redmon will show some mismatch problems for some folks. I think she can take some 3's down on the box and hit some turn arounds J's on them.

As for the African American issue, I don't think Coach J can be criticized. Banks is injured and we don't know anything about the Nichols situation yet. If you look forward to next year and assume Banks returns for her RS senior year you'll have three African American players next year with the incoming freshman. I don't know what the right numbers should be but I think given the rebuilding for the new style of play Coach J will get the kids that fit her system regardless of skin color.

A healthy Morton I think would help. She can get up and down the court with just about anyone and hasn't gotten going yet. They need to get her some run as Florence is a senior and they don't have any point guards coming in. Well she has to be healthy first.

It should be a roller coaster year but hopefully the learning curve is steep.

[vedette]

I also went to the Sunday game, first time I've seen them play. I was kind of shocked at how thin McCormack is. I hope she can hold her own and her position against the Appels of the world. I don't know what to think about Morton. I guess she is theoretically fit to play, and it appeared for a moment that she might go in very late in the first half. I hope she works out, as I think June was projecting her as the point guard of the future. Redmon seems very confident. Augustavo seems to have no function except to shoot from deep, so if she is not hitting, she's sitting.

It may be a long year, but I am very optimistic about what Coach Jackson is doing.

[MCPOjim]

A healthy Morton I think would help. She can get up and down the court with just about anyone and hasn't gotten going yet. They need to get her some run as Florence is a senior and they don't have any point guards coming in. Well she has to be healthy first..
Chris, I highlighted this as you overlooked Kingma. Kingma can do now what Florence and Morton can plus shoot the "3", Creat off the dribble when the shot clock is five or less, take it to the hoop on the bigs and get fouls, and if you foul her, sorry about that, she can shoot foul shots in her sleep. She is what is called the five package. Her stop and pop is what befuddles defenses. With a crew like her AAU team that can catch a pass, UW can go far with her. She is like Daesha Henderson now at SPU, she can dribble and run faster than the other team can. Kingma was recruited as a 2-3, but that was the former coach. I still think Sara Mosiman will and can play the point. She, (Kingma) took Alex Montgomery in the second half last year and shut her down. Lincoln couldn't beat Jackson with its other players. She hit 7 "threes" in a row against Auburn Riverside, was fouled shooting the 8th and made all three foul shots. She did this with AR double and triple teaming her the whole game. So, if needed she can fill the gap if the coach needs her to.
Note: She made state in the 400 meters as a freshman. She long jumps and is part of Jackson's relay crew. If she had time to train, she would be an outstanding distance runner. As a forward in soccer, she gets beat up every game. The Everet Hearld's soccer player of the year. To close, the gal has all the tools. I admit I am biased a bit, but aren't we all.