hot take--Stanford is better than last year

[nwhoopfan]

Start with the SIGNIFICANT improvement of Iriafen. She is now a problem everybody else will have to deal with. She's not quite like one of the Ogwumike sisters, but the closest thing they've had since. No offense to Erica McCall, who had a nice career.

They lost some savvy vets and a trio of nice perimeter defenders, but only one of those was a consistent offensive threat. The replacement players overall are more dynamic. Maybe the D won't be quite as good, but I think there are more weapons and the O is better.

Brink and Iriafen comin' at you in the post, that's a headache. Having Prechtel, Belibi and Betts in relief is a luxury most programs couldn't even dream of.

 

[triaddukefan]

Looks at thread title, then looks at the "label?" under your username.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Looks at thread title, then looks at the "label?" under your username.

What?

I like Stanford, but I don't call them "my team." I don't think this is a completely fanatical homer opinion.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Betts had a somewhat "meh" debut, but she's totally bullying CSUN tonight. Starters took the night off starting middle of Q3 and she's been dominating ever since.

 

[triaddukefan]

What?

I like Stanford, but I don't call them "my team." I don't think this is a completely fanatical homer opinion.

How is their backcourt situation looking. I know they have a freshman PG from NC that is supposed to be pretty good.

 

[nwhoopfan]

How is their backcourt situation looking. I know they have a freshman PG from NC that is supposed to be pretty good.

Lepolo was great in their first game, not so much tonight (although she had one absolutely gorgeous dish on a fastbreak). Nivar looked better in the first game as well, she was a bit out of control tonight I thought. Emma-Nnopu and Jump have been the starters so far. Here's a newsflash--you should probably guard Jump behind the 3 point line. Canned 5 of them tonight, a couple with no defender in the same area code. I guess Jones is technically their starting PG? Emma-Nnopu doesn't really jump out at you but she plays hard and Tara obviously likes her if she's starting. Demetre and Bosgana are a pair of long wings who can knock down 3's and do some other things, both looked good to me in both games so far. Lots of options. I guess Tara will have to make some decisions and tighten up the rotation at some point, but a couple easy games so everybody got in. 15 deep tonight including a walk on.

 

[Plebe]

Good to hear it. If they're better than last year, then maybe they won't choke away a huge lead against South Carolina.

 

[jonson]

Start with the SIGNIFICANT improvement of Iriafen. She is now a problem everybody else will have to deal with. She's not quite like one of the Ogwumike sisters, but the closest thing they've had since. No offense to Erica McCall, who had a nice career.

They lost some savvy vets and a trio of nice perimeter defenders, but only one of those was a consistent offensive threat. The replacement players overall are more dynamic. Maybe the D won't be quite as good, but I think there are more weapons and the O is better.

Brink and Iriafen comin' at you in the post, that's a headache. Having Prechtel, Belibi and Betts in relief is a luxury most programs couldn't even dream of.

Iriafen already looked plenty good to me last year, and I'm pleased (for her, not Stanford opponents) that she's now starting ahead of Belibi. A different, but more effective, athleticism imo.

 

[MSSportsGuy]

As good as Stanford was last year, their lack of PG was a major problem. Jones is a great player and also seems like a great young lady but she's not a natural ball handler and also not a consistent outside shooter. We know Stanford's bodies inside are a good as anyone's but their lack of someone who can bail them out with outside shots and help break a press will be the difference in their success. IF they have that this season, they will be almost as dangerous as SC.

They should be one of the final teams standing at season's end based on talent, depth, and coaching.

 

[bballnut90]

I think it's hard to conclude they're better this year based off 2 cupcake wins. Stanford's loaded in the frontcourt but just so imbalanced. I'm a tad skeptical of Jones running the PG spot. She can get the job done but I think she's best on the wing and could see her playing too unselfishly which inadvertently reduces Stanford's scoring weapon offensively.

In the front court, Brink's ability to stay out of foul trouble is untested right now. Glad to see Iriafen take on a more prominent role too--she was extremely productive in limited minutes last year. I think the pieces are there for Stanford to be great once again, but we wont get an idea of that until the SC game in ten days (which should be a doozy).

 

[nwhoopfan]

As far as 3 point shooting, 11-30 in the first game w/ 6 different players making at least 1. In game 2 11-23 w/ 4 players contributing. Jump could be considered a 3 point shooting specialist, but clearly they have a bunch of other players who can hit them. Mostly among the reserves though.

 

[visitingcock]

I think it's hard to conclude they're better this year based off 2 cupcake wins. Stanford's loaded in the frontcourt but just so imbalanced. I'm a tad skeptical of Jones running the PG spot. She can get the job done but I think she's best on the wing and could see her playing too unselfishly which inadvertently reduces Stanford's scoring weapon offensively.

In the front court, Brink's ability to stay out of foul trouble is untested right now. Glad to see Iriafen take on a more prominent role too--she was extremely productive in limited minutes last year. I think the pieces are there for Stanford to be great once again, but we wont get an idea of that until the SC game in ten days (which should be a doozy).

They should be favored at home in ten days. It would be an acceptable loss - this early - on the road - against that team.

Hope we keep up the series after this year and many to come!

 

[mbr33ct]

I think it's hard to conclude they're better this year based off 2 cupcake wins. Stanford's loaded in the frontcourt but just so imbalanced. I'm a tad skeptical of Jones running the PG spot. She can get the job done but I think she's best on the wing and could see her playing too unselfishly which inadvertently reduces Stanford's scoring weapon offensively.

In the front court, Brink's ability to stay out of foul trouble is untested right now. Glad to see Iriafen take on a more prominent role too--she was extremely productive in limited minutes last year. I think the pieces are there for Stanford to be great once again, but we wont get an idea of that until the SC game in ten days (which should be a doozy).

Agree, after looking at their games, I came away not impressed with their OOC games so far. I always thought Stanford played a much stronger OOC schedule. I mean look at these teams they beat up, if this was a tune-up for South Carolina, Stanford is in for big awakening for their upcoming game this Sunday.

 

[visitingcock]

Agree, after looking at their games, I came away not impressed with their OOC games so far. I always thought Stanford played a much stronger OOC schedule. I mean look at these teams they beat up, if this was a tune-up for South Carolina, Stanford is in for big awakening for their upcoming game this Sunday.

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I dunno about how “rude” it will be on their home court, but they will be facing athletes of similar ability for the first time this year.

But really, SCar hasn’t been tested yet this year either. Maryland did stay in it for a half.