tedbear said:
Yikes, we are so top heavy. Basically, we are Dream Team, Noemie, and Sarah Darcel.
Haha I couldn't have put it better basically :p
It's really astonishing how Bears have been consistently a
Top 3 team for so long on the backs of a few top studs and given our well-known deficiencies (distance, breast & longer IM...hopefully the latter two's in the process of being addressed), compared to several other Top 10 teams who may lack all-out star-power but somehow makes up for that in terms of deep scoring depth. Of course our relay successes haven't hurt too much, admittedly.
Unfortunately the current edition of the furdette juggernaut has finally managed to combine both top end
talent &
depth, looking pretty unstoppable right now. Their only remaining area of significant weakness is breast, which will surely be patched up with the arrival of the 2018 saplings in the form of Bartel & Raab...
If Cal has any aspirations of keeping up with several fast-rising squads for the next few cycles, let alone stand a chance of seriously challenging LSJU for the team title, goes without saying that Teri & Sarah need to really kill it in the recruiting as far as top talent is concerned (the strength & depth of our 2019 recruits will be a crucial bellwether as we'll be losing 3/4 of the Dream Team, some really incredible & versatile talents there which won't readily find a suitable replacement
~sob~).
Equally as or even more importantly, IMO our coaches should prioritise developing more of the "mid-tier" talent to eventually rise to a position where they can help with the team scoring in the course of their collegiate swimming careers.
But back to more immediate concerns, for the rest of this season:
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"Basically, we are Dream Team, Noemie, and Sarah Darcel": Well
Thleen is Thleen, what more can one say really haha, in other words she's a veritable one woman wrecking crew :p ...
Abbey &
Katie showing encouraging signs of returning to their studly bests, oh they are capable of really lighting it up given their inherent & unparalleled skills, so praying we'll be treated to their potential finally unleashed, yay ...
Amy just needs to temper some of her inconsistencies on the biggest of stages (could be a physical issue such as her stress fractures or that hard-to-pin-down serious stomach bug from her past), as Billy has massively dazzled in the past with some truly formidable chops when allowed to shine, on back & free ...
Nono such an unsung & underrated hero, her key contributions will be sorely missed next year ... all of the aforementioned studs also slated to play major roles in establishing the pre-eminence of our relays and the corresponding treasure trove of invaluable points there ... last but not least, didn't take long for freshie
Sarah to adjust so smoothly to SCY, I'm excited for what Darcel has shown so far, and stoked that Cal finally has a viable potential scoring presence in the
400 IM since the departure of Caitlin, about time! (well
Celina did show tantalising glimpses early on but which frustratingly didn't develop further, and guess
Kelly did steadily improve there)
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Maddie & Robin: Both definitely in(vited)! Not all that worried 'bout
Madds reproducing her stunning performances from her frosh season. Murphy saved her best for last when it really counted back in March 2017, so I have confidence that she will respond well to taper again.
Robin vital on the
800 Free relay, as that would free up Abbey to focus on her 3 individual events, two of which where she has a shot at the national title. Cheering our Dutch-Austrian froski to continue adapting to the little pool as adeptly as she has taken to her studies & embracing all things Cal & Americana-related lol, perhaps just in time to contribute a few points in her individual races (500/200/100 free)?
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Ali, Keaton & Val: On the brink of an invite. Hoping for but not expecting single digit individual points.
Ali will be invaluable as an option on the breast leg of the two medley relays, even if she may end up being called upon for just the morning session. Similarly
Val on the free relays. Perhaps
Keeks will rise to the occasion and deliver in the Backs or shorter IM...at any rate would be encouraging to see Blovad continue to improve, particularly in her back events as the cupboard is a wee thin there scoring-depthwise after Kathleen & Amy.
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Chenoa: Need to drop more time to make NCAAs,
Chenoa will no doubt make it happen @ conference when she gets a bit more rest. Obviously distance is one of our major weaknesses and we no longer have a potent scorer with Cierra's premature departure (furdettes are going to pile on tons of points there
), but would be a bright indicator if Devine keeps up the pace of development from her freshman year here!
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Rest of swim team: Would be ever so luvly if
Dannie,
Sophie,
Coco,
Jenna,
Maija,
Jaz or anyone else were to drop significant PBs @ Pac-12s to qualify for the team bus to Columbus! Regardless of realistic scoring prospects, would be a great reward for the upperclasswomen, and an important learning experience for their younger teammates.
- Dive squad: Prob. more than a mite premature & unreasonable to look to Derek & the 1st year of establishment of Legends to propel Bears to credible national diving threat status lol, but at least we may see 2 out of Phoebe, Briana or Alexa to join their swim counterparts in Ohio come March of 2018.
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SCORING THE NCAA WOMEN'S TEAMS BASED ON 2017-18 MIDSEASON RANKINGSNCAA WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES BASED ON MIDSEASON RANKINGS:
PLACE | TEAM | SCORE1 | Stanford | 383.5
2 | Texas A&M | 368
3 |
Cal | 329.5
4 | Louisville | 260
5 | Michigan | 246.5
6 | Southern Cal | 211.5
7 | Georgia | 203.5
8 | Tennessee | 190
9 | Texas | 181
10 | Kentucky | 117
10 | Indiana | 117
12 | Missouri | 98
13 | Virginia | 95
14 | Wisconsin | 89
15 | NC State | 82
16 | North Carolina | 72
17 | Florida State | 65
18 | Auburn | 57.5
19 | Arizona | 54
20 | Ohio State | 40.5
21 | Hawaii | 40
22 | Arizona State | 36
23 | Minnesota | 32.5
24 | Purdue | 30
25 | Alabama | 22
25 | Denver | 22
27 | Penn State | 21
28 | Pitt | 18
29 | Akron | 13
30 | UCLA | 11.5
31 | Florida | 7
32 | Duke | 6.5
33 | Virginia Tech | 6
34 | Georgia Tech | 3
35 | South Carolina | 2
36 | Notre Dame | 1
36 | Rice | 1
36 | Houston | 1
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