predictions for the season

[redsteve]

Back in Oct. I thought we might get to around 21-8, 20-9. We're close..the last 3 home games and at least another in the B1G tourney will have to be wins, if we are to have a chance of the NCAA tourney, or of course the NIT. I doubt we'll be sitting at home after the B1G tourney....we will see post season play.

 

All along, I assumed, and thought it would be automatic that RT would would get her 15-20 pts per game, but it's not happened. Apparently because of the injury. It's made a difference. She still just isn't moving like last year.

 

It's been a real up and down year with all the injuries still haunting us. This has been the rebuilding year that should have been expected. Lot's of good wins, and improvement, a few disappointments along the way. A couple of things to work on this summer, but we have improved, and set up what should be a pretty good next year.

 

Next 4 games are everything, to cap the year. The opportunity is there. 

[kansashusker]

We probably aren't that far off the records we should have.   Iowa loss at home haunts us a little.  -- The frustrating thing for me is we are talented enough to be better.  Your best players have to be your best leaders and competitors to be great and we have a unique mix of personalities in that regard. That is why when things go poorly for us, we rarely right the ship that game.  Rather, it snowballs on us in a hurry.  I do think Nat has made tremendous strides in this area from freshman to soph year, and hopefully Jess can too next season (if she does it will be a thing of beauty because she is so talented and skilled at her size it is amazing). 

 

I think RB being hurt has hurt us in the area of competitive toughness too as I think she is one of our better competitors.  The emergence of Jas has helped in this area also.  Still there is no question who our 3 best players are and we need ALL three (not just nat) to HATE losing and fight when its hard not just when its easy. 

[huskerchode]

I was thinking the same regarding the Iowa loss. That was a winnable game and we just let it get away. I think the Cal loss is also somewhat haunting. So close in that one battling on the road. We would be 19-7 right now with a very bright outlook had we gotten the win in those two games.

The blowout losses are concerning. I expected that from UConn, Maryland, and OSU, but not from Minnie and I definitely didn't see us with some of these slow starts where we have been buried in the first half and then had to play catch-up. It worked for the Creighton game because CU isn't really all that good, especially compared to teams in our conference. Other times it seems we have a decent start and then a lull for several minutes where we miss shots or have dumb turnovers. I suppose that is due to our youth and lack of depth issues due to injury/illness throughout the season.

Right now we seem to have a decent rotation. We can sub Jas, Anya, and Burns and feel good about their play. Maddie did some good things yesterday and maybe a few not so good things but she will learn and we will need her athleticism going forward.

I thought Washington had a couple of good moves in her few minutes yesterday. Sure wish we could see more of her earlier in the game.

[kansashusker]

We have so many things we can and will improve on.  The three freshman are sooooo talented it is crazy. And they all want to learn and help the team. Its just a big jump from hs to Big 10 and it is a process that takes time.  Biggest thing is just learning how to compete hard every second of every game.  For example, Jess shouldn't be twice as fast leading the break dribbling as she is getting back on defense.  Difference is sprinting back every possession isn't important enough to her to fight through the fatigue yet. Watch some time, she only hustles enough getting back on defense to be in front of her person who is the trailing post.  Never sprints to ball level in transition D to make sure ball is stopped and lane is plugged.  Similar thing for Maddie who is our best athlete. She has to attack the basketball on rebounds.  She is a foot taller than Esther and Woody and has played 3 times more minutes than them but has same number of rebounds as them on the season.  Right now she is still "thinking" which creates a moment of hesitation which is the difference between getting the rebound and not getting the rebound.  These are all very correctable things that are part of the process. People just need to be patient. They are all good kids that want to do well.  -- If we can get that natural growth, and plug in some more competitive toughness as jess matures next year we should see tremendous improvement.