"Cat chasing our tail" -CNC

I loved Bella's message to fans. Seemed especially targeted to folks on these boards.

Players say the same bs about Aranda, and we are 7 abysmal years in.

Sorry, but, eventually results have to be considered. Not just "we love coach"

This program has gone south in a hurry! Texas Tech beat us twice this year and by 30 points in one of those games and they lost to the 4th best team in the SEC(LSU) by 50 points yesterday.

There is a big disconnect somewhere on offense. Defense seemed a little improved (not great but improved) this year.

I for one cannot take the sloppy play and completely wasted possessions that seem to plague us constantly. Why can we not make layups, esp through contact? Why do we struggle at inbounding the ball? Its very sad to see some of our players not improve (or get worse). Scott went from being a star to a liability as the year went on. Bella got better on defense but regressed on offense over her career.

I don't know what the problem is but something is not working and that is on the head coach. Are her schemes too complicated? Do we not do skills drills?

I know a lot of people like to blame talent level, but it is a lot more than that. I suspect our previous coach would have this same group of gals performing at a much much higher level that we saw this year.

Sadly I'm just expecting more of the same next year.

BearFan33 said:

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There is a big disconnect somewhere on offense. Defense seemed a little improved (not great but improved) this year.

I for one cannot take the sloppy play and completely wasted possessions that seem to plague us constantly. Why can we not make layups, esp through contact? Why do we struggle at inbounding the ball? Its very sad to see some of our players not improve (or get worse). Scott went from being a star to a liability as the year went on. Bella got better on defense but regressed on offense over her career.

I don't know what the problem is but something is not working and that is on the head coach. Are her schemes too complicated? Do we not do skills drills?

I know a lot of people like to blame talent level, but it is a lot more than that. I suspect our previous coach would have this same group of gals performing at a much much higher level that we saw this year.

Sadly I'm just expecting more of the same next year.

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I would agree with you on Scott. If I NEVER see her in the point guard position again, even temporarily,, it will be too soon. She doesn't guard the ball well and is prone to having it stolen when one on one. She tries to drive and leaves the ball exposed for a straight steal, tie-up or dribbles it off her leg. For too many games lately she can't hit anything and forces up shots she should not be taking. As you stated she has been a liability much of the last half of the season.

Scott's shooting-itis woes seemed to spread to just about everyone else to the point where nobody could hit much of anything, even when open and had time to get set for a shot. The only truly bright spots I saw as the season progressed was DLB and the potential of Marcayla (who we have now likely lost for next year). Buggs became a beast on the boards, even against taller players. But she couldn't stay on the floor because of fouls. I will miss her energy, desire, and determination. Deng showed promise early of being reliable early-on but was turnover prone and became iffy on shooting and sometimes seemed lost out there on defense.

Don't know what happened to Bella. Someone here mentioned later in the season that she appeared to not being able to move as well, but nothing was ever said about her being injured or reduced mobility. Her shooting was abysmal and her trademark of taking charges declined more and more as the season progressed. Perhaps somewhere along the line she took one or two too many.

Our post play was poor from an offensive perspective. It was not good enough as a threat for teams to have to double to leave a shooter open as we had when Vonleh was here. Kyla has little touch around the rim and Johnson for whatever reason was often out of the game. Nelms had better offensive skill, but she often does not have the height or jumping ability to compete well with teams having talented bigs.

We now can have almost a clean slate and that is probably a good thing at this point. Point guard, post and a RELIABLE outside shooter I would think are the priorities. I don't know who will want to leave on their own accord, but personally I don't know that I consider any of the ones we have left to be absolutely must keeps. Marcayla may be an exception, but I doubt with her injury many teams would go after her this coming year. Deng must become better on defense and quickness, if that is possible. If Scott could correct her faults, that would be wonderful, but I fear her actions are so ingrained the only way to force real change and improvement would be to bench her, but if you do that, what is the point of having her.

Will be interesting to see how things progress over the portal season. Also to watch TCU and Tech. Will Campbell find and convince another top elite player (for the third straight season) to come in to anchor their team...they lose a lot this year. Will Tech have money pouring in for players? I don't think Gerlich is anything special as a coach, but Tech already committed to softball and football. I doubt WBB is not on the priority list to replace those 9 seniors with the best money can buy. I would be surprised if we don't see headline names going to Lubbock.

pluce said:

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The only person at that post game press conference that actually seemed visibly upset about the loss and the way they played was Buggs. Collen didn't really act all that bothered by it.

This team had no scoring options after Scott. No semblance of order or continuity on offense. She did not address the point guard situation after last season knowing Jada was leaving as well as Andrews and Felder. No inside scorer was recruited after losing Vonleh. She better get scorers and ball handlers in the portal. Last years team was better and she did not address what was needed.
I submit that if Johnnie Harris had not been hired, we may not have gotten Scott and Deng and then where would we be? Even worse than this team.

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I mean, I think the entire WCBB world knows that Harris was a package deal with Scott and Deng. That was the "strategy" that CNC put into motion during the portal. Extremely one dimensional and didn't have anything to do with her, the university, or her program.

bawitdaball said:

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pluce said:

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The only person at that post game press conference that actually seemed visibly upset about the loss and the way they played was Buggs. Collen didn't really act all that bothered by it.

This team had no scoring options after Scott. No semblance of order or continuity on offense. She did not address the point guard situation after last season knowing Jada was leaving as well as Andrews and Felder. No inside scorer was recruited after losing Vonleh. She better get scorers and ball handlers in the portal. Last years team was better and she did not address what was needed.
I submit that if Johnnie Harris had not been hired, we may not have gotten Scott and Deng and then where would we be? Even worse than this team.

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I mean, I think the entire WCBB world knows that Harris was a package deal with Scott and Deng. That was the "strategy" that CNC put into motion during the portal. Extremely one dimensional and didn't have anything to do with her, the university, or her program.

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But what we don't know....was that the best deal on the table that we could get to get the type of players we felt we needed? We are all guessing what the situation is with NIL and mostly using it to push our opinions one way or another.

We have seen us be in the final 3-5 for top notch recruits or transfers only to lose them to teams mostly still playing. Why are we not getting them? If it was because of our coach and her system, would they be keeping us into the final decision? That would not seem to be reasonable unless they are just stringing us along, but why would they do that?

I wish the numbers were all on the table, but that is never going to happen. We are left with trying to connect dots that may or may not be real.

Maybe on Scott but if you listen to her talk she says that is not the case and that she came on her own. Think Deng is a Harris add.

possible12 said:

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But, as shouted from the roof tops (you know who) that the "new age" "pro style" CNC will incorporate will draw players like flies, if given time.
The wave of the future. Just give it time. KM was too old school, post players are obsolete. It's womens college basketball. BS...Not near enough of those types to fill rosters of excellence.

Nope. can't just roll out the ball to aau and go win big. Gotta coach'em up Maybe even holler something mean.

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I'll give AP credit.

At least he's acknowledged that CNC has some major shortcomings and has stopped making excuses for her.

Can't say the same for others on here.

Some of y'all are still in denial, and basically think CNC deserves Coach of the Year honors for these mediocre results.

Dcheetah said:

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Maybe on Scott but if you listen to her talk she says that is not the case and that she came on her own. Think Deng is a Harris add.

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Scott would be crazy to publicly state that she followed her coach. At the VERY LEAST, it was huge upside.