Looking towards the 2016-17 season . . .

Moooooo said:
I think we are going to spread the floor more, and not try to feed the post as much. Kelsey has a very good mid-range game, and that will help draw her defender away from the basket. But, I wouldn't be surprised to see Joyner play more inside than anyone due to her strength and quickness. As a young player, her confidence could be established based on getting some early layups while playing down low.

Spreading the floor hopefully opens lanes for our guards to penetrate; that was not Celina's strong suit the last 4 seasons. But, Brooke, Alecia, and Lashann should be able to do that more often.

Granted, a lot of the above depends on the twins being able to knock down the 3-point shots consistently when they are on the court. I'm not sure how many 3-pointers were made by Celina and Empress this past season, but those makes have to be supplied by new/returning players. And, since we only have one new guard in Alecia, that means 3-pointers from other positions are going to be needed.

Hopefully, Jamie Carey will bring some new offensive ideas and plays. I'd like to see more backdoor plays and more cuts to the basket.
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Celina started last season hitting 3s at almost .500 but tailed off and finished the season at .333. Empress was at .268. Brooke attempted the most (162) and finished with the best % - .414. Celina (96) and Empress (82) were 2nd and 3rd in attempts. I expect the twins to be much better - .350+.

http://stats.texassports.com/sports/w-baskbl/2015-2016/teamcume.htm#TEAM.TEM
 
If Jordan Hosey and Jada Underwood can add some shot-making from mid- to long-range, that will add to the team's arsenal. Jordan hit a few 3-poiners last season, and definitely showed confidence when she shot them. With more players able to play PF, I think Jordan could find her spot at SF. I think Jada will play the SF and PF depending on the opponent; believe I saw some highlights that prove the 3-point shot is part of her game; it might need to become a bigger part of her game if she is to play on the wing in college.
 
There are some very thoughtful analyses by smart basketball minds in this thread. Like Moooooo, I've always wanted to see more backdoor plays and cuts to the basket. Seems to me, especially against a zone, we've often tended to stand around on the outside, passing back and forth, hoping to get it inside, but without guards or small forwards making cuts to the basket. Lashann has helped us get out of this with her great driving ability. Our offense looked really smart against UConn.
 
The question is, besides Kelsey, who else is going to play center? And does it even matter? Do we even play the center position in the same way we've been doing? I don't think we can. It would be a mistake to try to use Joyner Holmes as a static back to the basket center type when Lang's off the floor. You've got to let her move. She's got an outside shot, range and mobility. She's more valuable playing Connecticut style---a big girl who goes both inside and outside on different plays. Even if the Canadian twins disappoint a little---and I don't think they will---we will have more offensive potential than any Texas team in two decades. Our starting guard ensemble will be the best we've ever had. Higgs, McCarty and Atkins can take it to the hoop with any kind of opening and score off the dribble. Two of them can hit from outside; and I expect Higgs to also improve that part of her game this season. As you know, I'm an optimist about the future prospects of Underwood and Hosey. Given that mix, we've all predicted we HAVE to spread the floor and move the ball around. I agree with those who say our offense looked much smarter at the end of the season, as our guards took the main role. Aston went with a four guard lineup much of the game against UConn, so she understands, I think, how to use a different mix of personnel. I'm fascinated with how it may work out.
 
Dr. D said:
I'm fascinated with how it may work out.
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So true. Earlier this year, I told anyone who would listen that '16-'17 would be a disappointment if we did not land in the Final 4.

But that's a big matzah ball to swallow, and I wonder if I would really feel disappointed if we were somehow eliminated in the Elite 8 again but our personnel showed promise to win it all the following season. Either way, Final 4 finishes are definitely the new standard around here.
 
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Lots of options if everyone is healthy (summer and beginning of season). Not being healthy at those times has stymied the progress of some players recently.
 
Just wanted to pose a question. We are all excited about what the team will be able to do on offense, and believe me, I'm curious to see it too. But, what will be the defensive plan against, say Baylor, if they go big with 6'6", 6'4", and 6'4"? Will Coach Aston finally resort to a zone defense, like teams have played against Texas for the past few seasons?

I like the options we are going to have to score points. But we also have to defend. How does the team go about out rebounding, and defending a larger inside presence? I guess we could just rely on out scoring! Would that be the plan?

I'm just curious to opinions on that.
 
jusme828 said:
Just wanted to pose a question. We are all excited about what the team will be able to do on offense, and believe me, I'm curious to see it too. But, what will be the defensive plan against, say Baylor, if they go big with 6'6", 6'4", and 6'4"? Will Coach Aston finally resort to a zone defense, like teams have played against Texas for the past few seasons?

I like the options we are going to have to score points. But we also have to defend. How does the team go about out rebounding, and defending a larger inside presence? I guess we could just rely on out scoring! Would that be the plan?

I'm just curious to opinions on that.
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There's no way that baylor would play 3 post players like that at the same time. But you do make great points about trying to match up with teams that have a little bit more size. I think Imani's shot blocking/ rim protection and rebound will be the most difficult things to replace next year. Coach Aston will probably mix things up and play zone and man during games. I also think the team will have to rebound by committee.

The offense might be better next year, but I think the defense and rebound won't be as good without Imani making up for perimeter players getting beat off the dribble and her coming over to block or alter the shot.
 
Yeah, we may not be as good on defense. Ultimately we still have great athletes and they'll play very good D; but it's different when a 6'7" windshield wiper is cleaning up behind you. That let our guards gamble a lot and over play...As for Baylor, suddenly they're even tougher underneath, and they still have great guards. I think they will use one of their centers, with Cox at power forward and Davis at SF. Very formidable. Maybe the deepest, best front line in America. Holmes is the natural to guard Cox. Who to put on Davis is the biggest question. We need to guard her without sacrificing our own offensive fire power...because we won't stop the Bears and win with defense. We will have to out score them to beat them.
 
Dr. D said:
Yeah, we may not be as good on defense. Ultimately we still have great athletes and they'll play very good D; but it's different when a 6'7" windshield wiper is cleaning up behind you. That let our guards gamble a lot and over play...As for Baylor, suddenly they're even tougher underneath, and they still have great guards. I think they will use one of their centers, with Cox at power forward and Davis at SF. Very formidable. Maybe the deepest, best front line in America. Holmes is the natural to guard Cox. Who to put on Davis is the biggest question. We need to guard her without sacrificing our own offensive fire power...because we won't stop the Bears and win with defense. We will have to out score them to beat them.
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In my opinion Davis is a lot more effective at the PF postion. She uses her speed and quickness against bigger 4 players. And if she's being guarded by a smaller guard at PF she is able to use her size advantage. If Davis does play SF they will be easier to guard because they won't be able to space the floor very well. Cox isn't a consistent perimeter jump shooter and neither is Davis. That's why I just don't see Mulkey playing Davis at SF.
 
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Obviously I have no inside knowledge about what she'll do, but it's got to be pretty tempting for Mulkey to try to use a center and Cox on the court at the same time, and I don't think they can play Cox at small forward. It seems a waste to just rotate those three great centers and use them one at a time. If you're right and they play Davis at PF, that means a swing type at SF, doesn't it? So Baylor wouldn't regularly "go big?"
 
Dr. D said:
Obviously I have no inside knowledge about what she'll do, but it's got to be pretty tempting for Mulkey to try to use a center and Cox on the court at the same time, and I don't think they can play Cox at small forward. It seems a waste to just rotate those three great centers and use them one at a time. If you're right and they play Davis at PF, that means a swing type at SF, doesn't it? So Baylor wouldn't regularly "go big?"
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I think they'll probably play Prince at SF with Davis at PF and one of the front court players at center. Ever since Cox committed to baylor I've always felt that playing time for all three of those players was going to be difficult. I think Beatrice is the best all around center. Brown is the better pure post player but she doesn't have the quickness and athletic ability of Beatrice. Unless they're blowing a team out, I think it's going to be very difficult to get all three front court players valuable playing time.

They also have Cave at the center position who gave them good minutes last year. Beavers is a post player on the roster as well. The bottom line is that there will probably be some transfers on that roster after this season.
 
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I agree with you they are "over centered" if they just rotate them at that position. That's another reason I thought she would at least try to use two of them together, like we used to occasionally play Lang and Imani together. Against some teams it worked; against others it didn't; and we gradually did it less and less. But if Baylor just rotates the centers individually, they did probably waste a scholarship. ( I read some commentary on Baylor and UConn forums speculating on Cox playing PF, so somebody over there has thought about it.)
 
Dr. D said:
I agree with you they are "over centered" if they just rotate them at that position. That's another reason I thought she would at least try to use two of them together, like we used to occasionally play Lang and Imani together. Against some teams it worked; against others it didn't; and we gradually did it less and less. But if Baylor just rotates the centers individually, they did probably waste a scholarship. ( I read some commentary on Baylor and UConn forums speculating on Cox playing PF, so somebody over there has thought about it.)
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I think Cox will probably play PF. And when Davis gets into foul trouble or needs rest Cox will replace her at PF. But a great player like Davis isn't going to be out of a game that much. I think Mulkey will play two post players together when Davis is out of the game. But just like I've said before, one of those three post players will not get much playing time this year because of Davis being at the PF position. And because none of those players have SF skill including Davis.
 
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Didn't Davis play some at SF last season? Don't think it was an easy transition.

Brown wasn't in the best condition to start the season, so her minutes were limited. Mompremier runs the floor much better and is quicker. Just like last season, she will probably get the most minutes at Center. Neither has a face-up game or a mid-range jumper to play away from the basket.

Cox didn't go to Baylor to sit on the bench; I'm sure Mulkey explained to her many times how they plan to use her. It wouldn't surprise me if she played some SF, PF, or Center in order to get plenty of court time.

Prince seems to shoot mainly form beyond the 3-point line, and that's about it. Injuries have been part of her career; wouldn't surprise me if her minutes diminish this season.

I doubt Sczepanski-Beavers and Alyssa Dry will see the court much; those are the likely transfers in December or next May.
 
Moooooo said:
Didn't Davis play some at SF last season? Don't think it was an easy transition.

Brown wasn't in the best condition to start the season, so her minutes were limited. Mompremier runs the floor much better and is quicker. Just like last season, she will probably get the most minutes at Center. Neither has a face-up game or a mid-range jumper to play away from the basket.

Cox didn't go to Baylor to sit on the bench; I'm sure Mulkey explained to her many times how they plan to use her. It wouldn't surprise me if she played some SF, PF, or Center in order to get plenty of court time.

Prince seems to shoot mainly form beyond the 3-point line, and that's about it. Injuries have been part of her career; wouldn't surprise me if her minutes diminish this season.

I doubt Sczepanski-Beavers and Alyssa Dry will see the court much; those are the likely transfers in December or next May.
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I doubt very seriously if Cox sees any playing time at the 3. She simply does not have the foot speed for it, not does she have the offensive skill set to make that work. While Davis did play the 3 last year, she was not every effective at all. She is an undersized but NATURAL 4 all the way. I'm sure Cox will see playing time at the 4 and 5. Cox is more of a 4. Cox is a very nice player, but having watched both Cox and Holmes for many years, I'm sure glad we ended up with Holmes~~~~~
 
A couple of different thoughts.

1. We will likely press much more, as we will start the season deeper and more athletic that we have in probably 14-15 years. That leads me to believe that we will play a much more mixed bag of defenses, as dropping back from a press to a m2m defense is very VERY difficult.

2. I rarely route for BU these days since Mulkey has been quite unprofessional as it relates to our team/coach and program but I will probably pull for them against Uconn because with them playing UT and BU this year they could make some huge strides in recruiting the state even more than they already do.

3. I hate to say I told you so, but Dry and Beavers will regret flipping from UT to BU because they're the least talented/athletic of the 3's and 4's on the roster and will likely see limited to No playing time which just makes me sad because I know they were very talented and could make an impact on several high level programs. And on that same note that would be the same for Charli, hopefully her and her parents seek out a program that has a need at her position because Mulkey has a reputation of "over recruiting" which not only hurts the kids, but the womens game in general.
 
I see no reason to cheer for Baylor against UConn. Both BU and UT will be striving to get the #1 seed in the OKC regional (and avoid getting sent to the Bridgeport, CT regional); a win against UConn by either of us helps RPI. While I'd rather UConn already have some losses before we play them, Baylor beating them strengthens Baylor's recruiting more than a UConn win helps their recruiting in Texas.

Alyssa Dry is a point guard. While she and Beavers were at one time verbally committed to Texas, it's hard to know exactly what happened that led to their decommitments. We ended up having room for one of the twins based on that. We'll see how things turn out for everyone soon enough.
 
That didn't take long. Justis Sczepanski-Beaver dismissed from Baylor program for violation of team rules.
 
Saw this in the comments section under the NBC story:
"Hum, the school is not revealing the violation. She must have reported a rape by one of the football players."

OUCH.
 
Well with the release of the non-conference schedule, we can be sure that we will know where we stand by the time the conference season gets under way. This is far in a way the most challenging schedule I can remember us having. I am really looking forward to how the team reacts to the "no nights off" mentality.

I am even more excited for the 17-18 schedule with Stanford, Miss. State, Uconn and FSU traveling to Austin.
 
This schedule sounds like a bit much to me. I thought last year's strength of schedule was about right. It will certainly be exciting at any rate.
 
JoeDallas said:
This schedule sounds like a bit much to me. I thought last year's strength of schedule was about right. It will certainly be exciting at any rate.
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I'm inclined to agree - fine line between "iron sharpening iron" and getting worn down just before conference play begins.
 
Lots to like/dislike in that 11-game non-conference schedule:

- From a strength perspective, hard to top a collective group of Stanford, Miss. State, South Carolina, UConn, Tennessee, and Florida State; has to be the toughest 6-game set of opponents we've scheduled in decades

- I'd prefer the team open at home instead of playing on the road at Stanford. Would like a game (other than exhibition) under our belts before that tough road game. NOTE: Saw that Lili Thompson may have quit the Stanford team.

- As someone mentioned, that 11 day stretch is extremely tough. Especially having to play against South Carolina at home, and then travelling to play UConn in 3 days.

- Playing only two of those marquee games at home is disappointing; for a program trying to increase fan attendance, that just isn't gonna do it. @Stanford and @Miss. State are return trips; our turn to host Tennessee. Wish UConn or FSU were at home this season to balance things out.

- Probably won't start a new series with MSU next season, but I could be wrong. Seems like Stanford and Tennessee will continue to be mainstays on our schedule as they have been for many years; definitely okay with that. UConn might end up joining that group (if we continue in the Top 10). While USC is part of the SEC/Big 12 challenge, I could see Coach A. agreeing to schedule a game at Columbia, SC next season; but, we do go to Georgia for our road part of the SEC/Big 12 challenge.

- Wish we didn't play so many in-state / regional schools which don't really challenge our team or attract fans. Coaching staff kind of has to find a balance between Top 25 teams and teams whose RPIs are probably lower than 150.

- Playing one game on the East coast and one game on the West coast is good. Three games against SEC teams is a bit much. Glad we are playing an ACC team. Wish we'd play a Big 10 team.

If I had to pick an 11-game non-conference schedule, it might look something like this:

- Marquee matchups: Stanford, Tennessee, UConn, FSU, South Carolina, and Ohio State
- Others: New Mexico, Colorado or BYU, Rice, Illinois or Mizzou (for Alecia), NC State or Wake Forest (for Jatarie)
 
The message is: Karen Aston has a very very high opinion of her team to schedule this murderer's row of a schedule.
 
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