Charlie Creme's 2014-15 Pre-Season Poll

[Moooooo]

Expectations are growing . . .

The Link

 

[Seattle4UT]

Horns are deservedly getting some recognition. Coupled with this year's incoming class, the expectations are well-deserved.

 

[hoopsalot]

Wow. That is a lot of expectation for a team that has not been in the top 25 for years; and just won its first NCAA game in years. I hope the team is there, but would like the team to have a chance to work up to the top ten with wins.

 

[DINO22]

I like that.
Go Texas.

 

[utfannforlife]

With the graduation of Dolson and Hartley, this year is as wide open from top to bottom as it has been in a while. Its great to see Texas starting to get national recognition, so I look forward to seeing what happens when we actually roll the ball out on the court

 

[Moooooo]

Texas was such a good rebounding team this past season, and expected to be just as good if not better next season. With so many players returning from a Top 20 team, and adding a great scorer and defensive player like Ariel Atkins (to replace Chassidy Fussell in the starting lineup), expectations should be high. Hoping someone (Celina, Krystle, Brooke or Empress) really asserts themselves at the point.

 

[utfannforlife]

If Empress could get better at the point position, I think thats what would allow us to turn the corner sooner rather than later. A starting line up w/ Davenport, Sanders, Atkins, Nneka and Imani, I cant think of very many teams where we wouldnt have the edge in multiple positions from both an athletic and talent standpoint. Not to mention the fact that points for opposing teams would be hard to come by if Karen Aston's M.O hold true to form.

We should finish no lower than 2nd in the B12, even though we will likely be favored to win (as the talent indicates we should be, based on the competition) I will not make the same mistake of doubting KM's coaching ability because I look for them to play the same way this upcoming year as they did in the last with defense first and tons of points on the break, and they will get a large portion of their scoring from Davis and Prince. Thats pending Prince's healty of course, because when healthy, she can fill it up with the best of them.

 

[Moooooo]

Empress is a wildcard for 2014-15, IMO.

She played some point this past season, and that definitely gave us a bigger, stronger, better defender at that position. Her 3-point shooting was pretty good, and she can definitely penetrate and drive to the basket. Too many charging calls negated her effectiveness, though.

If she can become more consistent all the way around, she could end up back in the starting lineup (at either PG or SG; more likely at SG, IMO). She is one of our most athletic players, so that in itself separates her for some of our other guards.

 

[utfannforlife]

Exactly, offensively she gives us more than Celina and Krystle. BUT she doesnt have as good of a "floor game" and being at the point gives her the best opportunity to start IMO. Because Brady is as close to what you would consider "a lock" at SG with what she gives us on offense and defense and her energy in general. And Atkins is already physically ready to play college ball and her talent speaks for its self, it will just be up to her to see how well she can handle the faster pace and mentally adjust. She's too talented not to start and get A LOT of minutes so that just about settles the 3 spot as well.

 

[Moooooo]

No doubt Brady gives maximum effort; but, she couldn't buy a layup against Maryland, and that really hurt us. Just like Empress, she also gets called for a lot charges. But, she's a very good free throw shooter, and can also shoot well from behind the 3-point line.

Whether Atkins plays SG or SF, I think she will start. I'm not convinced Brady will be a starter (when conference season rolls around). When it comes to athleticism and defense, she is behind Empress, Brianna, and Ariel. But, she is experienced and will be a fourth-year junior.

I'm hoping competition in practice will push everyone's game up a notch; there appear to be a mulitude of lineup possibilities, which is good.

Not sure if it would work consistently, but I'd love to see a "big and physical" lineup every now again:

PG 5'9 Empress Davenport
SG 5'11 Ariel Atkins
SF 5'11 Nekia Jones
PF 6'1 Nneka Enemkpali
C 6'7 Imani McGee-Stafford

 

[BabHorn]

Pretty high expectations but certainly in line with the coaching staff’s. Can’t help but think that the players are also working hard towards that. They saw the improvement after one season. Another season can only bring better results.

Re the starting lineups, the following started the last eight of nine games with the exception being senior night: Nneka, Imani, Brady, Celina and Chassidy. Those four will be difficult to push out of the starting lineup, though. Not impossible, just difficult. Someone playing better will get the start. That’s the pattern so far established by Coach Aston. I can’t see anyone returning getting complacent. They know that playing time will be at a premium.

The one thing that Celina and Krystle need to improve on is scoring. They have to be able to score a couple of baskets more a game. Empress was second on the team in TOs (83) and first among the perimeter players. That’s an area she needs to work on. Brady was our best FT shooter last season, better than Chas, whom I thought of as pretty much automatic from the FT line. But she averaged less than 2 FTs a game. She needs to get to the FT line more often.

Someone will need to replace Chas’ shooting from BTA. Even missing games with that knee injury, Chas led the team with 131 3s. Brady with 104 attempts from BTA was second on the team. Celina was average at 34% while Krystle (43%) and Nekia (47%) were outstanding.

Nneka & Imani averaged double digits in scoring but also ranked first and third in TOs. Neither averaged one assist per game. For that matter, neither did Kelsey. Given the dominance of our post game, that really needs to change. The high low post game needs to improve as does the passing from the post when double or triple teamed. Re TOs, for some reason, our guards had trouble making entry passes. I’m looking forward to seeing how they improve in that area.

Given the rotation used last year, there should be plenty of playing time for the top 10-12 players, regardless of who starts. At this point, my starting lineup at the beginning of the season would be:
Center: Imani
PF: Nneka
Wings: Brady & Empress
PG: Celina

The only one I consider a lock at this time is Nneka.


The talent we got coming back and the frosh coming make that top ten ranking understandable. It’s a high bar but that’s where the team is headed. And where the staff wants to be at a minimum. There’s a lot of room for improvement, both individually and as a team. That’s worth looking forward to.

 

[utfannforlife]

Bab since Imani is going to be a full go ahead for the summer this time around dont you think she would be a lock too? And in my assessment of our team with Emp at the point, I certainly agree that her TO's have to diminish in a big way for that rotation to be successful. I just think on paper with what I know so far that would be our best line up possible regardless of who we line up against.

Regarding the loss of chas, we lose a more than able (and willing) three point shooter. But there is also some addition by subtraction there as well because the ball tended to stick with her a little more than most coaches would like. And a lot of the team would stand at watch from time to time as well. Now with a more mobile and dangerous one on one player in Atkins I look for the offense to change and attack the basket.

My hope is that a few of the girls really really kick it up a notch and have break out years with Celina becoming an even more effective offensive weapon, and Nekia's improved conditioning allowing her to play more minutes.