As we're watching the journey of this edition of the WBB through the season so far, I wanted to post some of my own observations, having watched all 7 games. I've been thinking about each person as individuals within the team setting and will describe some images or impressions for some of them, in particular non-starters.
Jordan Molyneaux. I continue to reflect on how important her contribution was in the NC State victory. Our center and two fighting forwards (Gordon, Jones, Byrne) were on the bench with four fouls apiece and almost an entire quarter to play in a heavyweight boxing match. The only choice left for Coach is Molyneaux, who has not had a lot of in-game experience to cover about 8 minutes - a vast chasm of defeat opportunity in basketball. She held her position again and again, got some key blocks and rebounds, and basically was the bridge to reach two minutes left (or less) when Gordon could come back in. She saved the team to deliver Gordon's opportunity to return - and wow, Gordon shut the door with rebounds and the monster block to seal the victory. But I tip my cap to Molyneaux, unsung but truly important.
Martha Kuderer. We have seen very little of Kuderer and many may not have a sense of how important a player she will become. One asks - does a player have the un-teachable instincts and skills to know and player the game? I saw my first primary sign of this in the Northern Iowa game. Kuderer in very spare minutes launched and missed a three and followed up her missed shot and got the put back. Sign 1) as a spare-minutes freshman, she did NOT defer her shot when it was the right opportunity to take the shot. Sign 2) although she missed and there were many players under the basket fighting for the missed ball (!), she slashed towards the basket and as the ball continued to bounce among other hands, she flew in and grabbed it. Sign 3) instead of putting it on the floor, she kept the ball high and immediately put it back for the layup. All these little signs of great instincts and tools. I'm really looking forward toward her continued growth. I know - a lot of air time for a young unheralded player - I want to make sure fans realize that she will be an important contributor over the next four years.
Jordan Mosley. There are players on the bench who are not the sixth man, nor are they the last option. They're immediately next (so-called seventh) and can fit into all sorts of situations. Inman was this player, but with her loss, Mosley has stepped right into this role very well. What I like in particular is how she gets the unexpected rebound. Not to mention that she usually makes solid passes. She's reliable. She's a classic lunch pail player. Without fanfare, get's the job done in an unassuming manner. Really valuable to the team this way.
LaTecia Smith. We saw less of her during the tournament than in the previous games. I don't have much of a single image or signature moment for her just yet, however, the PG rotation is Powell, Richardson and then Smith, so she is in the learning the ropes stage. What I really like about her so far is that when she comes in, I have a continued confident feeling that she will lead the team, with good ball handling, with understanding of the plays. It does not mean that her star is shining or outshining just yet. She strikes me as patient and steady and with a fire that will be unleashed when the time comes (next year) to take the team upon her shoulders as lead PG (paired, I believe with JaQuan Jackson). If a team starts first with it's PG and then stands upon the shoulders of its C, then my view is that the next three years, it will be Smith and Byrne as our foundation.
Claire Lundberg. During the Bryant game, Coach assigned her to a long stretch and she showed me that she was picking up speed in movement laterally and digging into the game. She has been very tentative so far in her development, so I've been worried on her account. She had such a solid showing in that game that Coach was ecstatic with praise for how hard she worked. She finally got more than one shot to drop in a game. She still defers (lack of confidence) but I am hopeful during this stretch in December that she gets some more time. It may be that we do not finally begin to see her more often until next year.
I have not mentioned our starters and our true sixth man, Byrne. The ferocious bedrock of Gordon, the shake-and-bake of Richardson, the take-you-out-into-the-parking-lot of Byrne (!!!), the feisty grit of Jones, and the toreador-like-killer-threes of Richardson-Smith, but I'll sign off with these notes of my current favorite image of Aleesha Powell.
Aleesha Powell. There are the great trees battering each other from both sides trying to get the ball under the boards. And there is Powell, pint-sized, with jets on feet, gliding like the Silver Surfer. Into the trees she goes, so small she totally disappears and then pow - shazam - she's out the other side with ball in hand, still flying through the air! Okay - my heart just bursts with happiness.
Remember - next game is a huge grudge match - at Georgia. Hope you all set aside time to catch this game and root for our team!
GO PIRATES!!!
Jordan Molyneaux. I continue to reflect on how important her contribution was in the NC State victory. Our center and two fighting forwards (Gordon, Jones, Byrne) were on the bench with four fouls apiece and almost an entire quarter to play in a heavyweight boxing match. The only choice left for Coach is Molyneaux, who has not had a lot of in-game experience to cover about 8 minutes - a vast chasm of defeat opportunity in basketball. She held her position again and again, got some key blocks and rebounds, and basically was the bridge to reach two minutes left (or less) when Gordon could come back in. She saved the team to deliver Gordon's opportunity to return - and wow, Gordon shut the door with rebounds and the monster block to seal the victory. But I tip my cap to Molyneaux, unsung but truly important.
Martha Kuderer. We have seen very little of Kuderer and many may not have a sense of how important a player she will become. One asks - does a player have the un-teachable instincts and skills to know and player the game? I saw my first primary sign of this in the Northern Iowa game. Kuderer in very spare minutes launched and missed a three and followed up her missed shot and got the put back. Sign 1) as a spare-minutes freshman, she did NOT defer her shot when it was the right opportunity to take the shot. Sign 2) although she missed and there were many players under the basket fighting for the missed ball (!), she slashed towards the basket and as the ball continued to bounce among other hands, she flew in and grabbed it. Sign 3) instead of putting it on the floor, she kept the ball high and immediately put it back for the layup. All these little signs of great instincts and tools. I'm really looking forward toward her continued growth. I know - a lot of air time for a young unheralded player - I want to make sure fans realize that she will be an important contributor over the next four years.
Jordan Mosley. There are players on the bench who are not the sixth man, nor are they the last option. They're immediately next (so-called seventh) and can fit into all sorts of situations. Inman was this player, but with her loss, Mosley has stepped right into this role very well. What I like in particular is how she gets the unexpected rebound. Not to mention that she usually makes solid passes. She's reliable. She's a classic lunch pail player. Without fanfare, get's the job done in an unassuming manner. Really valuable to the team this way.
LaTecia Smith. We saw less of her during the tournament than in the previous games. I don't have much of a single image or signature moment for her just yet, however, the PG rotation is Powell, Richardson and then Smith, so she is in the learning the ropes stage. What I really like about her so far is that when she comes in, I have a continued confident feeling that she will lead the team, with good ball handling, with understanding of the plays. It does not mean that her star is shining or outshining just yet. She strikes me as patient and steady and with a fire that will be unleashed when the time comes (next year) to take the team upon her shoulders as lead PG (paired, I believe with JaQuan Jackson). If a team starts first with it's PG and then stands upon the shoulders of its C, then my view is that the next three years, it will be Smith and Byrne as our foundation.
Claire Lundberg. During the Bryant game, Coach assigned her to a long stretch and she showed me that she was picking up speed in movement laterally and digging into the game. She has been very tentative so far in her development, so I've been worried on her account. She had such a solid showing in that game that Coach was ecstatic with praise for how hard she worked. She finally got more than one shot to drop in a game. She still defers (lack of confidence) but I am hopeful during this stretch in December that she gets some more time. It may be that we do not finally begin to see her more often until next year.
I have not mentioned our starters and our true sixth man, Byrne. The ferocious bedrock of Gordon, the shake-and-bake of Richardson, the take-you-out-into-the-parking-lot of Byrne (!!!), the feisty grit of Jones, and the toreador-like-killer-threes of Richardson-Smith, but I'll sign off with these notes of my current favorite image of Aleesha Powell.
Aleesha Powell. There are the great trees battering each other from both sides trying to get the ball under the boards. And there is Powell, pint-sized, with jets on feet, gliding like the Silver Surfer. Into the trees she goes, so small she totally disappears and then pow - shazam - she's out the other side with ball in hand, still flying through the air! Okay - my heart just bursts with happiness.
Remember - next game is a huge grudge match - at Georgia. Hope you all set aside time to catch this game and root for our team!
GO PIRATES!!!
