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SHU WBB 2015-2016

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Pat5389

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Aug 10, 2003
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Tony Bozzella's squad will be coming off one of this program's greatest seasons ever but we will be losing three starters to graduation and may not have readily available replacements on our current roster to make up for those losses.

Dan, when you or one of your Pirate Crew reporters conducts a closing interview with Tony, I suspect it will be not only a retrospective overview of what they accomplished in 2014-2015 but also a prospective view toward next season.

Here are some questions you may wish to raise:

1. With three of our four primary scoring threats gone, where will points come from next year ?

2. Although Tabitha Richardson Smith (= "TRS") is a major offensive star............unlike Kedeidre Simmons and Daisha Simmons, she's not great at creating her own shot. How will we prevent opponents from "going-to-school" on the way De Paul contained TRS in the BET finals ? I fear that we may see "box-and-one" or even "triangle-and-two" gimmick defenses geared to prevent TRS from even taking shots in 2015-2016 and I'm not sure that there is anyone else who can possibly make teams pay a price for such irregular defensive schemes.

3. Who do we project as serious contenders for the three open slots in our starting lineup to join TRS and Tiffany Jones ?

4. Cat Egan showed herself to be a very valuable defensive asset in several key games...................spending significant time on the floor during a number of big comeback runs. She brings rebounding, defense and passing talent that belongs on an NCAA Division I level to the Pirates and her ball handling and turnover avoidance seemed to be improving as the season progressed. However, she has, thus far, been no scoring threat at all and her presence allows opponents to focus more defensive resources on our more dangerous scoring options. What can Ms. Egan do to develop at least some level of scoring capability during the off-season ?

5. Will our starting point guard next season come from this year's team (Jordan Mosely ?) or be a fifth-year transfer in graduate student or a freshman ? Basically, who will be tasked with getting the ball to TRS in a position from which she can score ?

6. Have we used all the scholarships coming available or are there still some left for additional recruits and/or transfers ?

7. Did any scholarship players transfer in between September, 2014 and January 2015, who will be eligible to play next season ?

Thanks
 
1. Tab will be the primary scorer. The frontcourt players will need to step up as well since the backcourt won't be nearly as strong as it was this year.

2. That is a major concern going into next year. If other players don't step up offensively, we will be easy to stop if Tab is face-guarded.

3. Aleesha Powell will be eligible and is slated to be the starting PG. The starting SF/third guard position is up in the air. For the second frontcourt spot, it will depend on the staff's strategy. Lubirdia Gordon could start at C with Jones at PF, but that would leave the bench with very little frontcourt experience. The second option is to start a forward with less experience and bring in the experienced Gordon for valuable minutes off the bench. I think they'll go with the second option.

4. Practice her mid-range game and hit the weight room.

5. Barring injury, Powell will likely be the starting PG.

6. Brashey Ali's scholarship is available and will be used on a recruit this year.

7. Powell transferred in, will be an eligible senior, and will likely start.
 
From "shupirates.com" about Aleesha Powell



2011- 14 at Iona College: Appeared in 94 games over three seasons, making 65 starts, while averaging 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists during her career... As a junior started in 29 games played and ranked third on the team in scoring with 11.7 ppg leading to Second-Team All-MAAC honors... Also averaged 3.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 30.4 minutes per contest during her junior campaign... Hit 42.4 percent of her long-range shots to rank fifth in the MAAC and shot 86.0 percent from the free-throw line, the second-most efficient clip in the league... Hit the game winner in a 60-59 win over Monmouth (1/24/14)... Had 16 double-digit scoring efforts, including four 20-point games... Named to MAAC All-Academic team... Scored 21 points in WNIT game against Harvard (3/20/14)... Averaged 9.8 points per game during her sophomore season when she made 23 starts in 33 appearances... Scored 10 points along with six assists and five rebounds at Drexel in the WNIT (3/21/13)... Named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team after averaging 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 29 appearances with 13 starts in 2011-12... Led the Gaels with 47 steals, 1.6 per game, to go along with 1.9 assists per game during her freshman season.

High School: Averaged 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals per game during her career at William Penn Charter School... Named team MVP during each of her four seasons and concluded her prep career with 1,510 points... Ranked in the Top 100 for point guards in the Class of 2011 by ESPN HoopGurlz and was a McDonalds All-American nominee... Starting point guard for the nationally ranked AAU Philadelphia Belles Nike Elite Team.
 
Will somebody explain to me why they didn't try to get the ball to Tab last night in the 2nd. half . She was open many times and they never got her the ball.
 
Originally posted by silkcitypirate:
Will somebody explain to me why they didn't try to get the ball to Tab last night in the 2nd. half . She was open many times and they never got her the ball.
Click to expand...
Because of the Rutgers defense. It was very good.
 
She was smothered it seems to me . And her shot was way off - for her.

She played her heart out.

Can't ask for more than that.

Love the women's program. Something to believe in, win or lose.
 
The team has the potential to be good again next season. There are a lot of questions.

Right now the only two players I see as definite starters are TRS and Tiffany Jones, who was a very pleasant surprise this season. If they both continue to improve and develop, they could be a very strong foundation to build around.

One of the strengths of this coaching staff appears to be that players show significant improvement in the off-season and from year to year. Janee Johnson is a good example.

The women's game is dominated by the bigs even more than the men. You saw how they got killed on the boards last night. That's why Lubirida Gordon's potential development and improvement is so important. Will she step it up?

And what about bigs such as Lundberg and Molyneaux, who was a redshirt this season? How much can they contribute? Will the 6-1 Kucera develop and get minutes?

The guards who are returning have now experienced success. Will the experience of tasting success and falling short at the end motivate them to get over the hump, as Bozzella might say? They better work hard because there are a couple of in-coming freshman who could take their jobs.

First, there's Latecia Smith from Narbonne HS in CA. She is very skilled and quick. (I believe she's a four-year starter) Smith also appears to be great talker and leader. Check out the linked news story. Listen to the way she handles herself in a press conference. That's very impressive for a high school student.

Then there's Ashanae McLaughlin from Murray Bergtraum HS in NYC. Could she be a starter? We will see about her and the other in-coming talent.

MY TWO MAJOR AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

--Free throw shooting: Inman shot 63 percent, Gordon 57 percent, Jones 47 percent, Egan 40 percent, Ekedigwe 31 percent. Those are ridiculous numbers. You cannot be serious, as Dickie V would say.

--Body Language and energy: I love the team. I'm a huge fan. I bleed Pirate Blue. I'm confident each player works very hard. The last two games really hurt to watch. But frankly, as I've mentioned before, I frequently don't like their body language on the court.

This fact was emphasized even more last night when I stayed for the UConn game. They don't run onto the court as a team. They SPRINT onto the court as a team at the beginning of the game and at halftime. They seem to be involved in a lot of team drills. (RU did that, as well.)

When there's a substitution, UConn players run on and off the court with energy. This happens every time.

It's as if they understand that the vibe they portray- even when the game clock is not running- tells the coaching staff that they're locked into the zone of the game. That's a sign of truly "buying-in" to the program. They set a disciplined tone for the game.

SHU players, on the other hand, walk onto the court at halftime. Actually, they don't walk, they lumber onto the court as if it's a death march. When they're subbed out, they frequently do a slow walk to the bench. I don't like that. If I was a coach, I'd demand what Auriemma demands.

Perception can be reality. What's the reality?

http://abc7.com/sports/narbonne-girls-basketball-team-removed-from-playoffs-for-illegal-uniforms/541592/
 
Thanks, everyone. The insights of those, such as yourselves, who see many more games in person are highly valued and sincerely appreciated.

I realize that a coach shouldn't be making any statements in March about who will start and/or play in November, so your input, supported by the knowledge that comes from closely following the program, helps fill that void.

I believe that a young lady named "Brady" will also be coming in on scholarship from one of the elite programs here on Long Island (Lutheran). I think she is a "big", who is expected to develop over time but may not have an immediate impact on our primary rotation during 2015-2016.

Tony's use of the "Ali" scholarship becomes critical now, as we try to find the missing ingredients to a regular rotation of at least 7 or 8 players, who can be counted on to contribute for an average of 10+ minutes per game throughout the average of 30+ Big East and non-league contests.

From what I've read, as of this point in time, such a list would look like (listed alphabetically by Category):


Category A = Likely

Jones
Powell
L. Smith
T. Richardson-Smith


Category B = Strong Possibilities

Egan
Gordon
Inman
Mosley

Category C = Good Possibilities

Brady
Kucera
Lundberg
Mc Laughlin
Molyneaux


Clearly, it would be ideal if the 14th ("Ali") scholarship could result in our deployment of another Category A...................or at least a Category B addition to these lists..................and hopefully, further personal/athletic development and coaching can upgrade some of my Category Cs to Category B or A and upgrade one or more Category Bs into Category A rotation members for 2015-2016.
 
You are thinking about Taylor Byrne, a 6-1 shooting forward from Long Island Lutheran.
 
400,

Yes, you are absolutely right. Thanks for bailing me out with the correct information.
 
It's very early but next year's starting lineup will probably look like this depending on how well the girls progress before the season starts.

PG Sr 5-6 Powell
2G Working on a strong recruit
SF Sr 6-0 Richardson-Smith
PF Sr 6-3 Jones
C FR 6-2 Molymeaux

The two freshmen guards, from NY and Calif are expected to be strong rotation players. Gordon will have to work on her skill set but is expected to be a rotation player too.

The other returning young ladies will vie for rotation spots.
 
Originally posted by Halldan1:
It's very early but next year's starting lineup will probably look like this depending on how well the girls progress before the season starts.

PG Sr 5-6 Powell
2G Working on a strong recruit
SF Sr 6-0 Richardson-Smith
PF Sr 6-3 Jones
C FR 6-2 Molymeaux

The two freshmen guards, from NY and Calif are expected to be strong rotation players. Gordon will have to work on her skill set but is expected to be a rotation player too.

The other returning young ladies will vie for rotation spots.
Click to expand...
Jordan Molyneaux is/was very raw. She has the size and athleticism and hopefully her skill set has improved during this redshirt year to be a starter.
 
Halldan1, I like that lineup. It has needed size.

Molyneaux started on her high school team which won Colorodo state championships her final two seasons. The team finished her last season ranked in the top five nationally by USA Today. (I believe they may have finished #2)

Just based on that background, her size and spending one season practicing with the NCAA Pirates, Molyneaux must have something to contribute next season, especially on the boards.

Since you mention Powell as possible starter, I looked up her stats for her final season at Iona when they were 26-6. In 32 games she started 29 and averaged 30.4 minutes. She averaged 11.7 ppg, which is good when the beastly Damika Martinez is going for 24.9 ppg and Joy Adams is averaging a double-double.

--She shot 42 percent on 3-pointers. That's a strong number.
--She was an 85 percent free throw shooter. Sign her up.
--122 assists vs. 80 TOs. Not great but not bad. There could be a lot of factors in that stat.

And you never know. One of the players on the current roster could emerge. I hope so.

Who will the Pirates sign next? There are still four unsigned ESPN top 100 players. One can dream. Can there be an international player surprise? Any hints? Clues? Give us something to look forward to/think about.
 
Sorry I can't mention the recruit.

Regarding Powell. Saw her in an early season scrimmage. At first since I didn't recognize her I thought she was a walkon. But she looked very good so I asked after the game who was the guard going up against Simmons and I was told it was Powell.

So at least in that one game she looked like a quality Big East player.
 
Since there's no info forthcoming yet about a 2015 recruit check out the link showing clips with a detailed analysis of 2016 recruit Ali Fitzgerald, a guard from Penfield HS near Rochester.

Keep in mind that these clips are from prior the start of her junior season.

The Pirates are going to be stacked at the guard position for next 3-4 seasons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_donSnFqwxA
 
Long Island Lutheran won their third straight New York State championship last night in Albany. (It was their second AA)

SHU recruit Taylor Byrne scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Lutheran will probably finish ranked No. 2 in the MSG Varsity tri-state rankings. Manasquan will likely finish No. 1. We'll find out this week.

(If you're an Optimum customer you can log in and read the Newsday article.)

http://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/girls-basketball/long-island-lutheran-girls-basketball-wins-federation-title-1.10148980
 
Just like the men , this team needs to add size and would love for that high quality 6'4"/ 6'5" player to commit to SH, although if I knw Tony and his staff they're looking everywhere to find that player.
 
80, Halldan1 mentioned "the recruit."

Maybe that recruit is the recruit they need.
 
400
Dan indicated the strong recruit they're working on is a 2G unless there's another ship available for a big.
 
Thanks, 80.

It will be interesting to see how success will impact recruiting.

I see that ASA, a JC in NYC that has sent a couple of players to SHU including Tiffany Jones, has several bigs on their roster- three of them international players.

The late signing period starts April 15. Maybe we'll find out around that time.

http://asacollegeavengers.com/sports/wbkb/2014-15/roster
 
The 6-2 Taylor Bryne from Long Island Lutheran was named to the MSG Varsity 2015 All-Metro Girls Basketball Second Team.

The 6-3 Sam Fuehring from Lodi Immaculate was named to the First Team. She was recruited by SHU- as Halldan1 first reported here- but signed with Louisville which really sucks because Fuehring and Byrne would have been a deadly combo at the forward/center spots.
 
Seton Hall recruit Latecia Smith, a guard from Narbonne HS, has been named by the LA Times as the Los Angeles Section Player of the Year.

There have been lots of top honors for incoming recruits.
 
After the signing period we will have an interview with Tony Bozzella. We are waiting because we want to have him comment on all his new players.
 
That's great to know, Halldan1. I wish all coaches would stay in touch with fans and alumni during the long off-season.

I look forward to hearing his thoughts about the recruits, the returning players and off-season activities.

I know you didn't ask for questions, but can you ask who he thinks the sleeper(s) are among the returning players? Most of them did not really get a lot PT, so we don't know what they can do.

Check out this number: 4,275

That's the number of minutes played by the graduating players and Ali. If I'm on the Pirates roster, I'd be highly motivated to grab my share of those minutes in 2015-2016.
 
Originally posted by 400SOAVE:
That's great to know, Halldan1. I wish all coaches would stay in touch with fans and alumni during the long off-season.

I look forward to hearing his thoughts about the recruits, the returning players and off-season activities.

I know you didn't ask for questions, but can you ask who he thinks the sleeper(s) are among the returning players? Most of them did not really get a lot PT, so we don't know what they can do.

Check out this number: 4,275

That's the number of minutes played by the graduating players and Ali. If I'm on the Pirates roster, I'd be highly motivated to grab my share of those minutes in 2015-2016.
Click to expand...
Good question that I'd also love to hear the answer to. There are plenty of minutes to go around and there won't be two players averaging close to 40 minutes a game like Di-Di and Daisha did this season. It will be interesting to see who made improvements during this season, who will make improvements during the offseason, and who will step up when next season begins.
 
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