Hoops in the Heartland MVC tournament

The one thing that is abundantly clear about this team is it needs outside shooters. Naveah is a force in the post, and Maggie can step out. I feel Tene is the PG for us going forward. Let's hope Avery Kelly and the other signees will be big contributors.

They looked awfully tired. That's a consequence of running short handed the last few weeks. I do think the future is brighter than what we see now, assuming the bulk of the underclassmen stay. Naveah, Maggie, and Tene to be specific. Palomo and Gerke are good pieces as well. Sydney Bradley gave us some good minutes but I don't know how age fits the overall plan.

They've been short handed for several weeks. They've only had 7-8 players available. Injuries and illness decimated this team.

The women rebound flatfooted, they make lob passes into the post that are telegraphed and they try to create offense inside the lane when it's clear the defense saw it coming and collapsed around it. They don't get loose balls, their inside offense is dismal and they don't have enough outside shooters. Other than that, they are fun to watch. I won't say this team is poorly coached, but it is poorly prepared. They are fortunate to having not hung up 30 losses this year. I won't say the softball team will be as fortunate.

Truthfully, they talk a nice recruiting game on their Twitter page. Maybe another year of experience for their two or three frosh will matter. But they need an aircraft carrier in the middle. Somebody who can make 8 layups, hit 10 free throws and stand her ground. This was the most uninspiring team I've seen.

Dunno ... other than having passive interest in women's sports (yeah, I am a sexist!) it seems there are enough good players within an hour's drive of Evansville that they could find a few who could win some games. I thought Gerke, based on her video clips, could be an inside-out player and thrive in that conference. Perhaps she will. Thomas is decent-to-OK and I like Paloma/Hartwig a lot. Striversons are active on the court and seem intent on making things happen. Intent and outcomes = different results. 

But RSW came in with a plan to create a high-energy, full court game and while that might work with better ball handlers and shooters, it doesn't do s*** for defense. Transition, a term that means something far different than the "two-possession game" broadcasters use, depends on getting rebounds and running efficient routes. Most girls who come into college programs don't play that way because they don't have the teammates to pull it off. Fast-break basketball is a beautiful thing. Roaring downcourt and playing to contact is not. 

Top recruits in women's ball are generally the only good player on the team. They don't learn much. You aren't going to win without some outside snipers, but you have to get the ball first. Aces rebound like they forgot what the word means. 

I hate to be harsh about this. I get it about youth, roster turnover, maturity, injuries and all that -- but they aren't just losing 105-49 at Michigan State. They are losing 88-50 against teams like Bellarmine. Frankly, they need somebody who believes in women's sports (a lot of people claim they do) to step and throw some NIL bucks at these players. The UE situation is a lab experiment, right out there for people to see -- how to convert a national sport that has incredible trending power at the moment, into a Tri-State success story. 

The hardest part is actually believing that's possible. 

This. We simply don't play defense. I was scratching my head on why it appeared this program took a big step backwards from the progression of last year. Not really the case. Looking at last year, it was the tale of two halves. In conference, after beating Indiana State by 2 on February 1st, the team was 5-6. After that game, they proceeded to lose 10 of the last 11..with Abby and Anna. Admittedly, I believe there was some injuries. In those first 11 conference games last year, they gave up more than 80 exactly once, the first game with SIU. During those final 11 games, they gave up 80+ 6 times.

To expand on that, the 2022-23 team averaged 62.8 while giving up 73.2. This year, we again averaged 62.8 but the opponents average increased to 81.1. You aren't going to win many games giving up 81 points a game..and you certainly aren't out-gunning anyone averaging 62. Her previous programs may have been able to outrun opponents, but she has never coached against MVC-level defenses.

Simply put, for RSW or anyone for that matter to succeed here, they are going to have to develop defenses.