Well-stated and I share the same sentiments. However, I'm going to go ahead and give Baylor the nod just based on their players' experience, the preseason "rankings," and mostly out of "good sportsmanship..." with the full expectation that my young Longhorns team will have a lot to say about who wins the conference.
Agree with you based on their full roster but they lost a lot of depth to graduation and Mulkey’s departure. 1-2 injuries and the conference could be wide open.
IMO none of that changes the fact that they have 2 of the 5 best players in conference. Having 9 players on the roster isn't a big deal in basketball if your starting 5 is good, and when most coaches only play a 7/8 player rotation anyway.
I think he starts a 3 guard line-up with Ashley, Aliyah Matharu, and Joanne as the guards with Deyona and Lauren in the frontcourt.
If we remain healthy, I see 11 players getting some pretty significant playing time. The challenge for Vic will be managing the minutes in a way that doesn't disrupt continuity and flow. With this young bunch, there will likely be some who will help him by committing "cardinal" mistakes like blown defense, turnovers, forgetting plays, foul trouble, etc. The real beauty of this roster is that we will be able to keep people on the floor at all times that can play full throttle without worrying too much about foul trouble. Again, this is assuming we are able to keep a fully healthy roster.
I don't think anyone is selling her out. I know I'm certainly not. I expect her to be a big contributor this season.
No predictions are final....unless the predictor is a fly on Coach Vic's wall.You guys' starting line-up predictions are certainly stoking the fires! Officially less than a month to go before tip-off. Yip, Yip, Yipeeeee!
Speculative indeed.
She played both positions in her first two seasons, but I think you're correct in that she mostly played off guard. She is a capable point, but I don't think it's her most natural position.
I’d put Aliyah in the same boat as Joanne when there was talk of her starting at point before Kyra transferred in last season - probably would do a pretty good job for small stretches but not optimum long term especially if you have Rori and Ashley on the roster.
I guessed at Matharu having the ball in her hands to start the season just based on experience.... my speculation could be completely wrong.
Yep. The roster he has assembled has some things that can match up defensively with just about anything except maybe the type of extreme size teams like South Carolina are going to have. Speaking in terms of offense, we've definitely got some scorers at every position now. Of course everything will depend on how quickly the young bunch adapts to the college game at the DI level.
I think Texas will struggle matching up with teams like Stanford that have big wing's/guards like Haley Jones. IMO the wing position and having a big versatile guard with losing Celeste are the missing pieces. But as we know they have commitments from players at those needed positions.
I'd bet that if not for Latasha Lattimore coming in, Precious would still be on the roster for the upcoming season with an eye toward the future but any minutes she would've gotten disappeared.
* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC
