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Post by kiyoat on Oct 27, 2021 11:18:35 GMT -6
Some overall thoughts after going through those interviews:
Lots of teams seem to have made some roster upgrades in recruiting and the transfer portal.
Lots of coaches are confident and optimistic about the season, but I suppose that would be true just about every season.
Other than SDSU, I'm most worried about games against NDSU and Western. Those coaches are proven winners, and seem to have the best plan for fixing deficiencies. Denver doesn't seem too interested in playing defense, and Omaha isn't that interested in playing offense. ORU, KC and UND loading up on transfers could help, but it's no guarantee of anything. UST just doesn't have the size/athletes to contend, but I have a feeling that they will win some surprising games anyway.
I'm hopeful that the league will win some more non-conference games than usual. That would be something.
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Post by captaincoyote on Oct 27, 2021 11:46:19 GMT -6
I think it says a lot that we are the only team talking about having an NCAA tournament win as one of our goals for the season (at least from what was included in the synopsis), but I'm sure SDSU has that on their minds as well. Also, the positive talk about our team leadership tells me that we are unlikely to see anything less than consistent and high quality effort. This team can be special and seems motivated to be so. I can't wait to see them back in action.
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 27, 2021 15:50:00 GMT -6
USD Basketball media Days: (thought I'd just combine it with this thread)
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 27, 2021 15:52:21 GMT -6
Definitely a different format than the traditional in-person all-conference media days. Thanks, Covid.
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 28, 2021 6:36:48 GMT -6
WBB media day interviews
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Post by golfingyote on Oct 28, 2021 8:11:11 GMT -6
This team should be so fun to watch this year. Was really curious to hear the thoughts around jumps from the younger players in that sophomore/freshmen group. We know what we are getting from the big 3. I think if we get the jumps from that sophomore group plus potentially grace larkins being a key contributor- lookout. Larkins was really really good in hs in Iowa so was curious to hear about her, and she was singled out a few times in a good way.
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 28, 2021 8:42:09 GMT -6
...plus potentially grace larkins being a key contributor- lookout. Larkins was really really good in hs in Iowa so was curious to hear about her, and she was singled out a few times in a good way. Grace reminds me a lot of Allison Arens - at least from what I saw in the recruiting videos. Very athletic, and born to play defense. I also agree about the returning super-freshmen. Ciara Duffy started at PG as a true freshman, just like Krull. Ciara's stats weren't bad as a freshman, but they got steadily better in each of her four years. I think we might see an even smarter, more seasoned version of Krull at PG. All of the tenaciousness and confidence, with better decisions. Watson's development was outstanding, from what little we got to see due to injury. I could see her making huge strides this winter as well. I can see a little "Junkard Jas" in Kiah, with tough rebounding and opportunistic scrappy defense. This staff has shown, time and time again, that they are all about development. And they get results. Including in strength/conditioning.
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 28, 2021 9:22:23 GMT -6
Here are the questions I have about the "other programs" in the League:
10. UST - Can they get out of the basement in year one? - I think they can. They won't have the horses, but they are a program that has a winning culture, and that's half the battle.
9. UND - Can they fix all of the things that ail them with transfer guards? - I have my doubts. Having experienced and talented players transfer out was eye-opening. I don't know what the answer is, but at least they are trying something. I think they probably should have started fresh with a new coach.
8. Omaha - Was the tournament run a fluke? - IMO it wasn't a fluke, but I'm not sure they are ready to be an upper-half team, either. Coach Banks seems to have bonded well with her players, and is getting the best out of them. But they desperately need better outside scoring, and I don't know where that is coming from.
7. Western Illinois - Can JD and the Leathernecks get back to being a top-4 type team? - I say yes. Maybe this is just me liking the coach (great twitter follow), but I believe that they have fixed their egregious rebounding and defensive issues. And they remain a quick-scoring threat.
6. ORU - Has Misti Cussen finally hit the jackpot in the transfer market at forward? - I remain skeptical. For several years ORU has had numerous players transferring in and out, especially at the center/forward spots. For several years Kenni Jo Lippe has proven to be an exceptional player and leader for her team. For several years they have been a threat from the arc, but not big or physical enough in the paint. I think we will see more of the same.
5. Denver - What in the hell has gone on behind the scenes? - Answer: obviously some dysfunction. Coach Turgeon brought a winning basketball strategy to the Pios, with a fast-paced arc-shooting offense. Apparently the culture wasn't great, though. From the player's perspective, New Coach Woods has fixed the culture. That's good. From Coach Woods' words, they aren't that interested in fixing or playing defense. That's bad.
4. Kansas City - Can they upgrade their size and talent to stay in the top-4? - I'd say yes to the talent, maybe to the top-4. Similar situation to ORU, but for whatever reason I think they might do better. Just a gut feeling.
3. NDSU - Can they crack into the top-2, and upset the SD apple cart? - Very tough task, but I'll go with yes. Collins has proved his chops as a coach and motivator, and now he has a deeper more experienced roster. Look out. They nearly knocked off USD last year. I think this is the year they knock off the Jacks.
2. SDSU - Can they keep Myah healthy and repeat as regular season champs? - I'll go with NO. No doubt they have the talent and coaching to accomplish this, but I don't know if Myah can stay healthy all season. Even if she doesn't have another major re-injury (and I seriously hope that does not happen), she will likely either A) not be the same player physically or mentally, or B) have to stay out of too many games or minutes due to not being 100%. Even with a healthy Myah, I like NDSU's and USD's chances in those games. AJ has been talking about playing fast for the last three years, and talked about better shooting and guard play for the last two years. Neither has happened. Color me skeptical.
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Post by kiyoat on Oct 28, 2021 9:46:04 GMT -6
My prediction for finish:
1. USD 2. NDSU 3. SDSU 4. WIU 5. KC 6. ORU 7. Denver 8. UST 9. Omaha 10. UND
I'll happily admit that my personal bias probably influenced my picks. I'd love for the Jacks to stumble. I have a high opinion of Collins and Gravina as coaches (although now I see that the three male coaches in the league are listed 2, 3, 4... oops). I like the underdog story of UST. I probably have a bias against newer coaches. Whatever. The beauty of sports is that the court is a level playing surface. Prove me wrong.
Anyone else want to make a prediction?
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Post by gopheryote on Oct 28, 2021 13:51:22 GMT -6
My prediction for finish: 1. USD 2. NDSU3. SDSU 4. WIU5. KC 6. ORU 7. Denver 8. UST9. Omaha 10. UND I'll happily admit that my personal bias probably influenced my picks. I'd love for the Jacks to stumble. I have a high opinion of Collins and Gravina as coaches (although now I see that the three male coaches in the league are listed 2, 3, 4... oops). I like the underdog story of UST. I probably have a bias against newer coaches. Whatever. The beauty of sports is that the court is a level playing surface. Prove me wrong. Anyone else want to make a prediction? As I was reading this I was mentally picturing how SDSU would be much improved on offense and it will again be a 2 team race. But then I saw they needed a big 4th quarter to beat St. Cloud State 60-45. Maybe you are right with NDSU. At the end of the regular season they had 3 straight games with the SD schools where they had a chance to win late. (The 4th game and SLT game were both blowouts by the Yotes.)
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Post by gopheryote on Oct 28, 2021 15:36:52 GMT -6
I guess I will take a shot:
1. USD 17-1 T2. SDSU 15-3 T2. NDSU 15-3 4. KC 11-7 5. UNO 9-9 6. WIU 8-10 7. UST 6-12 8. ORU 5-13 9. Denver 3-13 10. UND 1-17
I guess I see it as a very top-heavy league this year. NDSU's non-con schedule allows for some wins against decent teams, so their NET ranking could be better than we are used to seeing from the non-SD teams. Although UST won't have a ton of size, I still think the bottom of the league will be pretty weak, and I can see them winning some games. I doubt anyone is running the table this year. USD will still be working in some inexperienced players, SDSU likely isn't totally healthy (and will have to play in Vermillion), and it is an 18 game schedule this year - which is a lot of nights to have your laser-focus-game-face. I do expect this year's Yotes team to be much more athletic (Watson, Ugofsky, & full-speed Krull) and longer (Williston, Hansen/Sankey/Mazurek/Peplowski providing meaningful minutes). Yotes played a lot of freshmen last year - should see some improvement this year.
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Post by Coyote Fan on Oct 28, 2021 20:42:13 GMT -6
I am not buying that NDSU will be in the top 2. They are better but I need to see more.
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Post by gopheryote on Oct 28, 2021 20:52:14 GMT -6
I am not buying that NDSU will be in the top 2. They are better but I need to see more. Well, top 3 anyway (tied for 2nd in my wild-ass predication). They were 3rd already last year. I think they take some steps forward and SDSU stays relatively flat - with the possibility of a step backwards if Selland can't play 30 minutes a game.
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Post by gopheryote on Oct 29, 2021 5:26:34 GMT -6
Does anyone know who the Yotes played in the 'secret but not too secret' scrimmages? How did it go? (Both men and women.)
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Post by GoYotes on Oct 29, 2021 7:06:34 GMT -6
The women have/will scrimmage Iowa State. (Likely the only way Fennelly will ever have his team play the Coyote women) and the men scrimmage Mankato tomorrow in Sioux Falls.
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