seems like there are different strategies in the Pac12 (like all conferences)
Cal recruits the athletes and runs the more free flowing motion offense often favored by them
stanford and oregon recruits the skilled, fundamental players and runs a more disciplined screening, cutting, passing offense, with shooters all over the floor
A comparison of our system on the mens side is UCLA. A comparison of Stanford and Oregon's style on the mens side is Utah.
The problem is, stanford also always has a couple of elite athletes and size throughout their lineup
And generation player, Sabrina gives Oregon the elite star they've been lacking
And while Stanford reloads with top talent every year, the recent duck success has propelled their recruiting also
I think a more disciplined, skilled team will usually beat a more athletic team unless there is a major gap. Experience is also the great equalizer. So it really concerns me that this year's veteran team with the best, most experienced player in the conference isn't beating these teams on our home court, and have stumbled a couple times during OOC games (e.g. Harvard). We also lost too many close battles (e.g. UCLA), which I would expect to win as a veteran team.
I think we will be okay this year, but underperform our expectations. We'll reach the tournament, and win the first round, but I felt this was a sweet sixteen and possibly beyond team
But next year?
Cal recruits the athletes and runs the more free flowing motion offense often favored by them
stanford and oregon recruits the skilled, fundamental players and runs a more disciplined screening, cutting, passing offense, with shooters all over the floor
A comparison of our system on the mens side is UCLA. A comparison of Stanford and Oregon's style on the mens side is Utah.
The problem is, stanford also always has a couple of elite athletes and size throughout their lineup
And generation player, Sabrina gives Oregon the elite star they've been lacking
And while Stanford reloads with top talent every year, the recent duck success has propelled their recruiting also
I think a more disciplined, skilled team will usually beat a more athletic team unless there is a major gap. Experience is also the great equalizer. So it really concerns me that this year's veteran team with the best, most experienced player in the conference isn't beating these teams on our home court, and have stumbled a couple times during OOC games (e.g. Harvard). We also lost too many close battles (e.g. UCLA), which I would expect to win as a veteran team.
I think we will be okay this year, but underperform our expectations. We'll reach the tournament, and win the first round, but I felt this was a sweet sixteen and possibly beyond team
But next year?