One could make the case that Coach Kim should have phased in her high-octane approach to basketball; because, when all is said and done, and, no matter the suggestions/claims at her Intro, this was to be a two, three year (or more) installment plan. She must have known, as many here have suggested, that the depth of our current roster was not fully-suited, or quite up to the SEC task, especially in this initial season. But then, there was that incredible, 14-0 early-season, and well, here we are.
We really did appear to lack confidence on Sunday. Missing shots, many of them, uncontested, can have that effect. OTOH, we were actually there, or almost there, and in some big games, against three, four, or more ranked opponents, precisely due to the System. How many times did we endure stall tactics, most recently the Georgia Lady's two-minute shoe lacing demonstration? And, remember the Iowa All-American - Lucy Olsen - inexplicably heaving two, game-changing, awful passes ...due to exhaustion? Iowa's starting five committed 23 turnovers! In other words, because of the System, we beat some really good teams; plus, a missed, wide open three, a put back in Nashville, a couple key missed shots or assignments in the Texas and LSU games, or we have at least three more wins. And, very importantly, Talaysia is on the recliner, looking forward to our first SEC Tournament game, Tomorrow, or even Friday. Oh well.
I think what I'm getting at is, that, in year one - Kim Caldwell - we're close. Very close. Rather than a thing of beauty, however, it is oftentimes, disheveled. Yes, a few close games were literally won by exhausting our opponents. Now, we're having to admit to what some have claimed: this approach (with our current personnel) does not always work against the better, deeper teams. However, if you think you're witnessing the finished Kim Caldwell Project, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. Soon.
I still fear that we will lose against hair-on-fire Vanderbilt, tomorrow. IF we play tomorrow (I believe we will). And, we might lose key prospects, precisely due to the System we run. And yet, we literally have five very promising Ladies, three of them, All-Americans, heading our way! And the pluses-minuses of the portal are just around the corner. So, exciting times, regardless of how the SEC-NCAA Tournaments play out.
Cheers.