Game thread - @ URI Tuesday 12/30 6pm ESPN+

[carolinaspider]

Maggie has got to improve her ball handling and passing. This game showed our lack of depth
and height.

 

[Long Time UR Fan]

I think we are seeing just how good Budnik, Hill and Jimenez were on both offense and defense for us last year, and all 3 of them were capable ballhandlers. So far, no one has stepped into their shoes and played well on a consistent basis.

 

[Plydogg]

I’m a little concerned about the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team. When we’re on we’ll beat any A10 team by 25 but when we’re off it feels like an uphill climb in the snow.

I wasn’t all that impressed by Rhode Island. If that’s the best the A10 has to offer then this is a down year for the conference.

 

[Sections 204and5]

On this date last year we were 10-4 and 1-0 in conference - soon to be 10-5 and 1-1 in conference with the next game's loss at Fordham. And the Georgetown loss was much worse than this year's loss to Fairfield. So I think we need to keep some perspective given we are currently 11-4 and 1-1 in conference.

Having said that, we are clearly not as good as last year's team at this time. We don't have a signature win such as OK State last year. We didn't compete as well against Texas and TCU as we did last year against Texas and Alabama. And I would be extremely surprised to end the regular conference season at 17-1. I understand the concern some have but there's a lot of basketball yet to be played and I trust Roussell and the staff to successfully navigate a way through that.

 

[PittFieldDreams]

Last year the loss to Fordham seemed to jump start the team and they went on a run in the conference. I also think the group of Seniors we had last year really knew their roles and some had particular skill sets and knew how and when to step up if needed. I think as the supporting cast around the core 3 develops we will see improvements.

 

[32counter]

The graduation losses of Budnik and Hill are becoming increasingly apparent.URI looked and played bigger,quicker and with more dispatch than UR.Lack of effective depth this season.Our Reliance on Doogan in all phases of the game will surely draw the increased attention of opposition defenses.

Sorry if I am being repetitive.

 

[carolinaspider]

The graduation losses of Budnik and Hill are becoming increasingly apparent.URI looked and played bigger,quicker and with more dispatch than UR.Lack of effective depth this season.Our Reliance on Doogan in all phases of the game will surely draw the increased attention of opposition defenses.

Sorry if I am being repetitive.

Depth is weak, too many turnovers and not enough scoring from transfers, plus our rebounding is suspect

 

[PhillySpider]

There are clearly some problems. Not problems like the Men's squad, but problems we need to work on if we are to win an A-10 or get a bid.

The biggest thing I see is turnovers are a real issue. There are two related issues here. One is that we are very very dependent on Maggie to do all of our creating and putting pressure on a defense. Last year, we did a lot more of this just in system and created pressure on defenses from all over with all of our hard cutting and ball movement. This year we run a lot of stuff for Maggie to attack and we all play off her. That works great against most teams, but its so much pressure on her and when we see better teams who can better defend her straight up, she turns it over a lot because she has to really force things to try and make plays. So she turns it over a lot in the bigger games against better competition. She is great, but we rely on her so very much for so much, we might be hindering growth of others. Other turnover issue the pieces just don't fit on offense all the time. Last year, everything fit perfectly together on offense and we had enough support across all aspects that we were very tough to defend and could do lots of things to score. This year, our players simply aren't as complementary offensively. Newell can get us some easy baskets off her defense, but her skill set isn't nearly as complementary to the system as say Hill's was. Budnick was special really within our system and we just don't have anyone like her. Result is no easy baskets and more turnovers as we have to force much more action.

2nd big issue to me is perimeter defense and defense in general - - and I was worried about this before the season. Hill, Jiminez and Budnick could really defend (and could really operate great in our offensive system too) . Newell can play defense a bit ( but she is a way better off ball than on ball defender) but thats about it. Result without last years great perimeter defense is we end up in rotations etc. and give up WAY more good looks, both at the basket and at the three point line. And while she wasn't a shot blocker per se, Budnik was still a force cleaning up others mistakes.

In the end, we simply haven't replaced those three big complementary cogs very well yet. Hill and Jiminez added ball handling and Budnick was just a great multi-function tool. Importantly, All the pieces fit together great. This group has some pieces but they don't fit together as well. Newell is a good perimeter defender and excels in the open floor, but she isn't nearly as good a fit in the offense as Hill for example. Persichetti brings some good offensive chops and she adds some ball handling we really need and the ability to pressure the defense off the dribble or from the 3 pt line. But she is a freshman and it shows - - especially on defense some times. Simon has been a disappointment and I really think she is job 1 for Coach the rest of the season - - we need more from her at both ends and I think she has more to give - - Coach needs to figure out how to get more out of her and maybe even make some system adjustments to maximize her skill set. Lastly is the other big 3 members after Maggie. I think Sweeney is really trying to expand her game - - especially offensively and take some pressure off Maggie and create a lot more than last year and there are times she has been very successful (and some not as much). Its clear she understands we need more and different things from her than last year. She needs to keep pushing down the same path and keep getting a little bit better. Rachel on the other hand looks to really the same player as last year (but struggling with her shot a little bit). She doesn't seem to have added as much as Ally (for example I don't see her having improved her ball handling materially or attacking any more than last year). I think we need more from her to get over the hump. She needs to become 1B to MAggie's 1A and not just number 2 to Maggie's number 1.

 

[UR Fan 2]

There are clearly some problems. Not problems like the Men's squad, but problems we need to work on if we are to win an A-10 or get a bid.

The biggest thing I see is turnovers are a real issue. There are two related issues here. One is that we are very very dependent on Maggie to do all of our creating and putting pressure on a defense. Last year, we did a lot more of this just in system and created pressure on defenses from all over with all of our hard cutting and ball movement. This year we run a lot of stuff for Maggie to attack and we all play off her. That works great against most teams, but its so much pressure on her and when we see better teams who can better defend her straight up, she turns it over a lot because she has to really force things to try and make plays. So she turns it over a lot in the bigger games against better competition. She is great, but we rely on her so very much for so much, we might be hindering growth of others. Other turnover issue the pieces just don't fit on offense all the time. Last year, everything fit perfectly together on offense and we had enough support across all aspects that we were very tough to defend and could do lots of things to score. This year, our players simply aren't as complementary offensively. Newell can get us some easy baskets off her defense, but her skill set isn't nearly as complementary to the system as say Hill's was. Budnick was special really within our system and we just don't have anyone like her. Result is no easy baskets and more turnovers as we have to force much more action.

2nd big issue to me is perimeter defense and defense in general - - and I was worried about this before the season. Hill, Jiminez and Budnick could really defend (and could really operate great in our offensive system too) . Newell can play defense a bit ( but she is a way better off ball than on ball defender) but thats about it. Result without last years great perimeter defense is we end up in rotations etc. and give up WAY more good looks, both at the basket and at the three point line. And while she wasn't a shot blocker per se, Budnik was still a force cleaning up others mistakes.

In the end, we simply haven't replaced those three big complementary cogs very well yet. Hill and Jiminez added ball handling and Budnick was just a great multi-function tool. Importantly, All the pieces fit together great. This group has some pieces but they don't fit together as well. Newell is a good perimeter defender and excels in the open floor, but she isn't nearly as good a fit in the offense as Hill for example. Persichetti brings some good offensive chops and she adds some ball handling we really need and the ability to pressure the defense off the dribble or from the 3 pt line. But she is a freshman and it shows - - especially on defense some times. Simon has been a disappointment and I really think she is job 1 for Coach the rest of the season - - we need more from her at both ends and I think she has more to give - - Coach needs to figure out how to get more out of her and maybe even make some system adjustments to maximize her skill set. Lastly is the other big 3 members after Maggie. I think Sweeney is really trying to expand her game - - especially offensively and take some pressure off Maggie and create a lot more than last year and there are times she has been very successful (and some not as much). Its clear she understands we need more and different things from her than last year. She needs to keep pushing down the same path and keep getting a little bit better. Rachel on the other hand looks to really the same player as last year (but struggling with her shot a little bit). She doesn't seem to have added as much as Ally (for example I don't see her having improved her ball handling materially or attacking any more than last year). I think we need more from her to get over the hump. She needs to become 1B to MAggie's 1A and not just number 2 to Maggie's number 1.

Philly I really enjoy reading your opinions on the team. You give a lot of thought to what you are seeing and take the time to really detail it. Keep up the good work.