mlindsay
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I have been very critical of Holly and the way she has handled things as a coach.
As a person who has been around the game my entire life (my uncle played in college and overseas) and having played the game in high school as well as coached the game (both as Head Coach and Assistant coach on the AAU circuit) to working with my sisters on their skill set (one played in high school but an injury stopped her from playing in college) and the other who is currently a senior for a Division II program, I haven't coached at the level Holly has but I know a thing or two about the game, as many other posters do.
I don't want to be critical of her, but it's hard to when it seems like when one step is taken forward we seem to take a few steps back. One of the major concerns for me (outside of the losing to the teams we shouldn't lose to). I'm finding that some players don't seem to know their roles or what is required of them for the team to be successful. Even with 9 players (many of which are High School All American's) we can still make some noise if changes were made.
I am going to list some changes I would make and will wait for suggestions from others.
The changes are;
1.) Bench the Seniors
a.) Jordan Reynolds has shown us the past 3 (now in her final season) years that we have really seen the best of her. It is time to see what someone else can do with the minutes she gets. Maybe her coming off the bench her senior season might light a spark under her and give us a punch off the bench.
b.) Playing Nunn and Russell together is a disaster in a sense because both are used to occupying the block. At Winthrop Nunn was our Russell and her team had to get her the ball inside. Having her at the high post is doing her (and the team) disservice. She can provide quality minutes behind Russell so that we don't have to play Russell 35 plus minutes a game.
2.) Start MeMe and Middleton together
The two of them have chemistry with one another and although MeMe isn't a great shooter, she isn't afraid to shoot (or attack the zone). Middleton should be used off of screens to knock down 3's.
3.) Let Diamond play the Point
This year Diamond has really tried to be a "team" player (which I think the assessment of her not being one is overblown) and much of her frustration is probably from the feeling that she has to do too much. She can get off her shot when she wants but can also get her teammates involved. She has a very high Bball IQ and if allowed to play how she truly plays this team would be tough to be despite of the coaching.
4.) Nared has to be the aggressor
Too many times she is standing at the 3Pt line waiting to shoot instead of getting into the open spot in the Zone and attack. We need her too attack and stop trying to shoot 3's. Diamond is looking to Nared to get Jamie going really before she gets herself going as she knows how important each other is to the teams success.
5.) Russell has to dominate
Every game has to be a double double with at least 2 to 3Blks. She has been playing very good but we need her to be great. She is hesitant at times, I know she gets beat up but she has to be strong and make her moves quickly. A lot of times she sits and wait to make her move. She also needs to be more vocal. My coaches always told me the PG was the conductor and the Center was the enforcer. If the girls aren't cutting to the basket when she is triple team she needs to get on them. If they aren't getting to their spots defensively she needs to get on them. We have too many nice girls, our 5 player has to be the nastiest (we have always had that from out 5s) during game time and not the nicest.
6.) Find minutes for Harris and rest Dunbar due to her injury.
a.)Dunbar is hurt and we will need her (she's a zone buster) when we get into SEC and (hopefully) Tournament play. We have to rest her when we can and truly monitor her. We also can't wait until we down 10/15 points to throw her in and expect her to be savior.
b.) Harris should see at least 3 minutes a half; If for nothing else to get her foot wet/block a few shots and rebound. I understand you have to show it in practice but some players just aren't good practice players. Some players just perform better in front of the lights. Kiah Stokes was a liability for Geno offensively but he found ways to utilize her to change other teams game plans, we must do the same.
Moving forward the lineup should be;
Starters/Bench
PG-Diamond/Reynolds
SG-Middleton/Diamond
SF-Jackson/Dunbar
PF-Nared/Nared
C-Russell/Nunn/Harris
Diamond and Nared should be the two players play 30 plus minutes with Russell playing the most behind them. At least 2 of those 3 should be on the floor at all times.
As a person who has been around the game my entire life (my uncle played in college and overseas) and having played the game in high school as well as coached the game (both as Head Coach and Assistant coach on the AAU circuit) to working with my sisters on their skill set (one played in high school but an injury stopped her from playing in college) and the other who is currently a senior for a Division II program, I haven't coached at the level Holly has but I know a thing or two about the game, as many other posters do.
I don't want to be critical of her, but it's hard to when it seems like when one step is taken forward we seem to take a few steps back. One of the major concerns for me (outside of the losing to the teams we shouldn't lose to). I'm finding that some players don't seem to know their roles or what is required of them for the team to be successful. Even with 9 players (many of which are High School All American's) we can still make some noise if changes were made.
I am going to list some changes I would make and will wait for suggestions from others.
The changes are;
1.) Bench the Seniors
a.) Jordan Reynolds has shown us the past 3 (now in her final season) years that we have really seen the best of her. It is time to see what someone else can do with the minutes she gets. Maybe her coming off the bench her senior season might light a spark under her and give us a punch off the bench.
b.) Playing Nunn and Russell together is a disaster in a sense because both are used to occupying the block. At Winthrop Nunn was our Russell and her team had to get her the ball inside. Having her at the high post is doing her (and the team) disservice. She can provide quality minutes behind Russell so that we don't have to play Russell 35 plus minutes a game.
2.) Start MeMe and Middleton together
The two of them have chemistry with one another and although MeMe isn't a great shooter, she isn't afraid to shoot (or attack the zone). Middleton should be used off of screens to knock down 3's.
3.) Let Diamond play the Point
This year Diamond has really tried to be a "team" player (which I think the assessment of her not being one is overblown) and much of her frustration is probably from the feeling that she has to do too much. She can get off her shot when she wants but can also get her teammates involved. She has a very high Bball IQ and if allowed to play how she truly plays this team would be tough to be despite of the coaching.
4.) Nared has to be the aggressor
Too many times she is standing at the 3Pt line waiting to shoot instead of getting into the open spot in the Zone and attack. We need her too attack and stop trying to shoot 3's. Diamond is looking to Nared to get Jamie going really before she gets herself going as she knows how important each other is to the teams success.
5.) Russell has to dominate
Every game has to be a double double with at least 2 to 3Blks. She has been playing very good but we need her to be great. She is hesitant at times, I know she gets beat up but she has to be strong and make her moves quickly. A lot of times she sits and wait to make her move. She also needs to be more vocal. My coaches always told me the PG was the conductor and the Center was the enforcer. If the girls aren't cutting to the basket when she is triple team she needs to get on them. If they aren't getting to their spots defensively she needs to get on them. We have too many nice girls, our 5 player has to be the nastiest (we have always had that from out 5s) during game time and not the nicest.
6.) Find minutes for Harris and rest Dunbar due to her injury.
a.)Dunbar is hurt and we will need her (she's a zone buster) when we get into SEC and (hopefully) Tournament play. We have to rest her when we can and truly monitor her. We also can't wait until we down 10/15 points to throw her in and expect her to be savior.
b.) Harris should see at least 3 minutes a half; If for nothing else to get her foot wet/block a few shots and rebound. I understand you have to show it in practice but some players just aren't good practice players. Some players just perform better in front of the lights. Kiah Stokes was a liability for Geno offensively but he found ways to utilize her to change other teams game plans, we must do the same.
Moving forward the lineup should be;
Starters/Bench
PG-Diamond/Reynolds
SG-Middleton/Diamond
SF-Jackson/Dunbar
PF-Nared/Nared
C-Russell/Nunn/Harris
Diamond and Nared should be the two players play 30 plus minutes with Russell playing the most behind them. At least 2 of those 3 should be on the floor at all times.