WBB: GSAC

[mcscotsguy]

well i'm tired of responding to the negativity that is "big dog". So..on with the show. The game tonight sounded like Maryville was playing a solid game until a quick stretch in the last 8 minutes where they let a few 3's get knocked down on them...and the lead ballooned to 10. Only down 1 at half...and on the box score they def shot more free throws than us..actually looks like the difference in the scoring. The big 3 posts are doing their jobs it seems but other than Dalton there really is no guard presence. Apparently Draper is still hampered by that hamstring which hopefully gets better soon...she's a solid player. Fleming's time is going down..but honestly I hadnt seen much production from her this year to account for Pardue starting her. Colleen is a hustler and athletic but can't seem to find it offensively..and they cant get Brown any looks from outside and she can't seem to knock down the free throws. What's the thoughts?? I almost feel like Fowler should look down at Rouvelas (the freshman) and just give her minutes and see what she does with them. Understandable to play your big girls against Piedmont..but come conference tourny..these ladies will need some outside scoring. One or Two solid shooters to extend a defense!! Anybody else on the bench that can do that and play the defensive end as well??

Sorry for the loss ladies...keep the heads up and make that the last one of the season!

[Big Dog]

MCSCOTSGUY,

Don't mistake honesty and  reality for your so-called negativity. We don't have good guard play and that is accentuated with average play in the post, and hence we are left to give great hustle, effort and heart. And that, my friend, is where this group is lacking. Don't worry about extending a defense when we throw it inside to 40% shooters. Bad shooting from 3 point range, mathematically, is better than throwing it into someone who can't score it from three feet. This season will soon end, and next year will bring about opportunity, a cleansing of sorts, and this program will move forward.

[mcscotsguy]

but here's the deal..i'm still into the season. You're just looking forward to the end...why? I mean they've beaten everyone in the coference except piedmont..and it was obvious in that game that they are very much capable of beating them too. It isn't the Dee Bell teams that blew out competition and ran the table in conference. I know these girls personally and the girls root for each other and they don't want to lose..they have heart. I dont know what you're looking for. I'll give you the lack of leadership with this squad tho...fleming and saxe havnt stepped into that role. (Letting mel go was a huuge mistake..but as i understand it..there was a lot to that story too) This was saxe's year and she didnt want to step into it. But from the conversations i've had with these players...this monster was created by pardue. Blame or no blame...if a team doesnt respect and want to play for their coach...the team isnt going to be a "team". So the lack of leadership came from the very top and had its trickle down effect. I personally like what Fowler has done just with the line up so far. He did somethin pardue never did..he changed it. Gave opportunities to the most efficient player (harmon), Dalton and Munday are playing their best ball of the year, Draper had a shot till she got hurt, and put the biggest whiner on the bench (saxe). That move alone had to gain him respect from his team. To be honest...the offense looks better after 3 weeks of pardue's absence than it has since the days of reed/dalton/seal! So give credit where credit is due and i can accept the harsh criticisms also.

[Big Dog]

mcscotsguy,

Trust me, I'm with you. If they could pull together for ONE MONTH they can see the NCAA Tournament. ONE MONTH. Lets see if they can do it!

Go Lady Scots!

[GottaHaveHeart]

Take away the first 4 mins of the game, where we had 4 turnovers out of 7 possessions and fell behind 11 - 2 and a 3 min stretch late, where their guard made some shots and went on a 7 - 0 run, we played pretty good. Turnovers and 3-point shooting, our weekly discussion. We shot 58% from the field minus the 3-point shooting.

I would love to see somebody, anybody, step up and take on that shooter role. Glaring difference in that game was their guards making shots. Our inside game outplayed them and will do that to most teams. We get that shooter, we good to go. Fowler is doing a good job. He has given the team game plans, if executed, that gives them a good chance to win. It's not like we taking bad 3-point shots. We wide open, we just got to stick a few. Cut down on the turnovers, make a few shots and get somebody back, we be okay. I still say its us and them in the finals.

Losing Nat to start the second half hurt. She had caught a elbow to the head in the first half and there was concern of a possible concussion. I thought Ashley did a nice job while she was in and I like the spread and Dalton on the point.

Next game is a great opportunity, this late in the season, to rest some players who have been logging big minutes and those who have injuries ( Draper, Alison, Nat). Should get alot of open looks Monday, maybe someone will gain some confidence.     

[mcscotsguy]

glad all of us are on the same page now.

Gottahaveheart:

I'm with you on your opinions. Its been this story the whole year...solid inside game and no shooters. You know #20 had 23 that game and averages 7 per game on the year!? Who knew?? I got to looking closer at the stats and piedmont only scored 50 points from the field! 23 from the free throw line...we cut down on our fouls at home and I'll predict a blowout for MC! haha..bold huh? Fowler seems to be doing a solid job with these girls and their intensity in the games i've seen looks better and better. They play hard for him and their structure on offense looks a lot better. The 4 games prior to this piedmont game the girls did a great job with their assist to turnover ratio..i remember reading that in the paper and checked it for myself. These ladies are on the right track and like big dog says...ONE MONTH...pull together and look to win the gsac and its hello ncaa tourny! How exciting would that be for this new coach and this NEW team!?? Good luck ladies and play hard!

[MCScotsFan]

Glad we all got on the same page. For a minute there I was thinking Katie Saxe was the cause of all this. geez...

I'm hoping to see some women play Monday night who do not usually get to play. And I agree with with GHH, I'm hoping someone steps up, gains confidence and we have some sweet revenge in a few weeks.

[scottiedoug]

Link to Daily Times article about Wesleyan-MC:

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20080205/SPORTS/866571392

GHH: Is Alex the long-lost outside threat?  What about the bum knee?

Coach agreed with whoever wanted him to play lots of people and see what happened.  Anybody see it?

[mcscotsguy]

That was a good game for the ladies to have. Just to lay back and have fun and shoot the ball. Everybody got equal time and most took advantage. I liked Rouvelas in that contest because she can play both ends of the floor it seems. And maybe she's got some scoring attributes they need from the guard spot. I kind of see why certain folks are sitting after seeing everyone on the floor for 10+ minutes last night. In certain players it seems like there isnt much "fire" to be on the floor....dumb fouls even against a team like wesleyn because of sloppy 'D'. Did anyone else notice that?? Walker shot it fairly well but she seemed a little slow from the speed i assumed she had...maybe the knee is still botherin her. I dont mean to be negative...how can ya be in a game like that!? Hope they are ready to play sewanee...i hear they're a pretty solid team. Good luck ladies and congrats on getting back in the W column!

[MCScotsFan]

That was a good game for the ladies to have. Just to lay back and have fun and shoot the ball. Everybody got equal time and most took advantage. I liked Rouvelas in that contest because she can play both ends of the floor it seems. And maybe she's got some scoring attributes they need from the guard spot. I kind of see why certain folks are sitting after seeing everyone on the floor for 10+ minutes last night. In certain players it seems like there isnt much "fire" to be on the floor....dumb fouls even against a team like wesleyn because of sloppy 'D'. Did anyone else notice that?? Walker shot it fairly well but she seemed a little slow from the speed i assumed she had...maybe the knee is still botherin her. I dont mean to be negative...how can ya be in a game like that!? Hope they are ready to play sewanee...i hear they're a pretty solid team. Good luck ladies and congrats on getting back in the W column!

I hear you and agree with you. Except for Alex. Not that you were saying anything bad but since we do know her knee is still bothering her, I would assume that is why she was playing as slow as it seemed. Scottie Doug, I believe Alex has always been a good three point shooter. The knee injury took her out before we go to even see what she could do.

They looked like they were having a good time. Playing a struggling team like that cannot be easy. Often you rise to your opponents ability and there was not much there I give those Wesleyan girls credit...they were out there trying and kept trying even with a score like that. Game after game after game of that must be really hard to do.

I hope Coach Pardue is doing OK.

[GottaHaveHeart]

scottiedoug:
Alex could be a asset on offense but a liability on defense. Her knee is still sore and it would effect her more on the defensive end than the offensive because she's basically a spot-up shooter. Could she help us....depends on how much she would hurt us on the defensive end. If the other team has a weaker player or we play zone, probably. Full court all out man to man press, I doubt her knee would hold up.

mcscotsguy:
Your comments were not negative. Her knee problems have affected her speed and lift on her shot. Not many come back from ACL surgery full speed the first year, even when healthy. Why is she playing? Because shes a competitor, a winner and she loves to play the game. I don't know if you ever played competitive sports, buts its mentally hard on her, having played ball from community center league all through high school, at least 6 years of AAU, and never miss a game because of injury. Now in college, she missed all of last year and not able to do what she knows shes capable of this year. She's decided to wait until after the season to get it scoped and fixed. I wish you could have seen her after the game last night. She was so happy and excited.

I appreciate your concerns.

Sewanee should be a good game, but we should prevail.   

NOTE: I would have like to seen us pull the full court press off alot earlier.

[MCScotsFan]

GHH,
I am happy she was excited . They all looked happy out there to me! As their biggest fan who isn't a parent, I love seeing them like that...makes me happy too.

[younglion52]

Solid game from PC last night at ASC.  Its good to see others step up when the outside shot isnt falling.

[Big Dog]

Any comments regarding the Lady Scots game at Sewanee. Sewanee was tied for last place in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and 8-12 overall. Was this performance one of the worst of the season, or just part of the ongoing inconsistency that has plaqued this team. Anyone who had the great misfortune to be on the hill and see this game, please post some thoughts.

[mcscotsguy]

gottahaveheart:

You just sound like a pissed off parent of a player sittin the bench...am i right?? Knockin a young coach forced into a bad situation...is that what you're reduced to now?? From your prior posts i can only assume you're alex walker's parent and figure since she was a dee bell recruit she's gotta be the big answer to all the problems. We've seen whats on the bench...Fowler even started some of them against Wesleyn and THEY COULDNT SCORE! If you're such a genius...then go talk to RDL and take over the team...get somethin out of this group that Pardue couldnt get and Fowler is struggling to get now. They looked better for a few weeks and obviously when the water gets a little rough and the score is tight this team can't handle it. As for the coaching...I listened to the game and sounded like Holder/Rouvelas got some time and from the box score he's rotating 10 players in and out getting them equal minutes. Beyond Rouvelas' raw talent/athletic ability...there's nothing else on that bench! Harrell, Hooper, Walker = SOFT! Franklin can be a spark or a turnover/foul machine...so gamble if you want. Lee is short and out of shape 4 man that gives you nothing to have her on the floor. If you get to be so honest then so do I...and truth hurts! This squad looked as though they had new life after the coaching switch but quickly reverted back to their old ways. You talk about "popularity" in reference to Fowler's tactics but you would do nothing but take more of a beating using more bench. I've watched and know these girls too and the athletes and all the talent is being used!!

As for the horrible Sewanee game...i was told they looked beat from the tip. Like they had no life in them and I personally don't understand why that would be. The commentators even mentioned it. As for the box score...getting NO production from Draper/McConnell, very little from Fleming, combined 10 turnovers from your two point guards, and only 7pts from Munday in 23 minutes?? Pounded Sewanee on the boards but only 33% from the floor. Apparently these girls weren't taught how to beat a 2-3 zone!! This team is not in sync and in ALL honesty has NOT BEEN COACHED WELL in 2 years!! So before you start in on this new young coach because your mad your daughter isnt getting her PT...take a second and think about what you're saying. You and I and everyone else knows this has been a melting pot of trouble and turmoil for 2 years and the answer isn't magically going to appear from the inexperienced, underdeveloped bench players. The "problems" of this team are deeper than that and wont be fixed this season. I am looking forward to seeing someone clean house with this program and starting over!!