August 28, 2013

Pac 12 Preview: Washington State

Last Season:
Washington State was 11-20 last season and 6-12 in Pac 12 play


The Coaching Staff:
June Daugherty returns for her 7th season with the Cougars after 10 seasons as Head Coach at the University of Washington.

Husband Mike Daugherty is the Associate Head Coach and is also in his 7th season at WSU. Mike also coached 11 years with June at Washington, and both are Ohio State grads.

Brian Holsinger returns for his 7th year.

Ashley Grover is in her 2nd year as an assistant but 6th year on the staff.


Losses:
Carly Noyes has graduated. The 6-5 Post averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per game last season. She was the 5th leading scoring and only loss among the top 9 scorers.

Katie Grad averaged 2 points per game and Ireti Amojo also averaged 2 points per game and both graduated.


Additions:
Frosh forward Ivana Kmetovska from Macedonia is the only newcomer. Ivana is 6-3 and has been on her country’s 16U, 18U and 20U national teams.


The Schedule:
Syracuse and Nebraska had RPIs of 17 and 15 last season. West VA, Dayton and Gonzaga from 28-35. Add BYU and Fresno State and this is a tough schedule. June does this but hope it pays off at some point. WSU plays the Arizona schools and the LA schools only once, so that’s probably a wash.


The Team:
The Cougars return their top 4 scorers from this past season and their top 5 rebounders. Lia Galdeira is 5-11 soph guard who lead the team in scoring at 15 points per game and rebounding at 5 per game. Lia also lead in steals with double the next player. She was the Hawaii State Player of the Year 3 times, but pretty much unheralded when she arrived at WSU.

Tia Pressley is a 5-9 Jr guard who started the first 18 games averaging 13 points before being injured. She was a starter as a frosh but ended that season with a late injury.

Sage Romberg is a 6-1 Sr forward who was 3rd in scoring at 6 points per game and 2nd in rebounding with 4 ½ per game. Sage was ranked as high as # 73 out of High School.

Mariah Cooks is a 6-0 soph forward who only averaged 12 minutes per game but scored 6 points and 3 ½ rebounds per game.

Shalie Dheensaw is a 6-4 Jr Center who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 13 minutes per game.

Hana Potter is a 6-2 Sr post player who will play both forward and center. Last season she averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
Brandi Thomas is a 6-1 Sr forward who started 16 games although just 13 minutes per game. She averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds per game. Thomas averaged almost 6 points per game 2 seasons ago.

Taylor Edmondson is a 5-11 soph guard who averaged 4 points per game.

Dawnyelle Awa is a 5-9 soph guard who led the team in assists.

Ivana Kmetovska is a 6-3 frosh post.

Alexas Williamson is a 5-8 soph guard who scored 2 points per game. Alexas was a 3 year starter for Mater Dei High School.

Whitney Tinjum is a 6-1 frosh forward who played just 26 minutes last season. Whitney was her High School league Player of the Year all 4 years.



Predictions: The Cougars have two really good guards, but lack rebounding. If their three point shooting improves they could make a run for the first division. June now likes the hockey style rotations, does that help or hinder?


2014 Recruiting:
Nike McClure from Washington is a solid 6-2 post and Ashley Bolton is a 6-0 wing from Oregon.

August 19, 2013

Pac 12 Preview: Arizona State


Last Season:
This past season ASU was 13-18 and only 5-13 in Pac 12 play.


The Coaching Staff:
After making the NCAAs in 2010-11, Stanford grad Charli Turner Thorne took a year off. Returning last season didn’t go well as the record above indicates. However Charli has made the NCAAs 6 times in her 16 years at ASU and to the post season every year but last season.

Meg Sanders returns for her 10th season and is one of two Associate Head Coaches. Sanders was the Head Coach at Northern Arizona, succeeding Charli, before coming to ASU.

Amanda Levens is the other Associate Head Coach, returning for her 2nd season. Levens was all Pac 10 in the early 2000s at ASU.

Jackie Moore is back for her 2nd season, and 18th as a college women’s basketball coach.


Losses:
Janae Fulcher started every game and the 6-3 post player graduated. Fulcher was ASU’s leading scorer at 11.5 and added 5 rebounds per game.

Micaela Pickens started all but two games at a guard position last year averaging 6.5 points per game and has graduated.

Haley Videckis averaged 21 minutes and almost 7 points per game but did not return.

Jada Blackwell averaged 7 points per game in 16 minutes, playing in 18 games and did not return.


Additions:
Sophie Brunner is a 6-1 forward from Illinois ranked # 285. However she led her school to the State title as a Jr averaging 32 points per game. After her last HS game her jersey was retired.

Kelsey Moos (no relation that I could find), is a 6-0 foot forward from the state of Washington. Moos is the # 39 wing and small school Player of the year her last 3 seasons.

Breanna Burton is a 5-7 point guard and JC transfer from Texas after HS in Los Angeles. Burton averaged 12 points and 1.7 assists, low for a Point.

Quinn Dornstauder is a 6-4 frosh center from Canada. Quinn played on the Canadian 17U team that was 3rd a year ago in the world championships. She was 4th in the tournament in rebounding.

Katie Hempen is a 5-9 guard who transferred from Southern Illinois a year ago and sat out this past season. She has 3 years remaining. Hempen averaged almost 10 points per game and was the frosh player of the year in Southern Illinois league.

Deja Mann is a 5-7 Sr guard who sat out last season with a knee injury after starting 46 start games for the Sun Devils. More on Mann below.


The Schedule:
ASU had an RPI of about 100 last season so playing a team with an RPI of 50 or better makes for a tough game and ASU plays 5 of those types of teams. Miami, North Carolina, Syracuse, Texas Tech and Illinois are the tough games on the schedule. The average PRI of non- conference opponents is 105, about the same as USC. Again thanks to a UCLA fan for this.

The Team:
The return of Deja Mann will help quite a bit as the starting point guard. Two years ago she averaged 9 points and almost 4 assists per game. Mann is a cousin of 1968 400m Olympic Champ Lee Evans.

The other guard should be Promise Amukamara, a 5-8 Jr. Promise averaged 8 points per game last season, 2nd on the season. That’s not many but ASU averaged only 59 points per game as a team. Promise was a Parade All American in High School.

Joy Burke returns as the starting Center. The 6-5 Sr averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds per game.

At forward will be, well my guess, redshirt Soph, 6-0 Eliza Normen. Normen hurt her knee in the Sr season in High School and redshirted as a frosh. Last season she only scored a point per game in 13 minutes average. However she was highly ranked out of High School and I saw her play several games in High School and loved her great vision and athletic ability. She actually re-injured her knee as a frosh, so if completely healthy Normen will be a solid contributor.

I think the 5th starter could be 5-9 redshirt soph transfer Katie Hempen, discussed above.

Behind the first five, or maybe in the first 5 are four returnees and the frosh center 6-4 Quinn Dornstauder.

Arnecia Hawkins is a 5-10 soph guard who averaged 5 points per game and the top returning three point shooter with 26 at 26%.

Adrianne Thomas is a 5-9 Sr who started every game last season and at worse will be the 6th player. Thomas averaged 5 points per game and led the team in assists at 3 per game.

Isidora Pukovic is a 5-11 soph guard who played in almost every game averaging 1 point.

Nisha Barrett is a 6-1 Sr forward who didn’t play much this past season, after transferring from an Arizona JC.

Elisha Davis is a 5-3 soph guard who played every game last season averaging 2.5 points per game. Davis is from Berkeley High School and was the D1 Northern California Player of the Year as a Sr.

Transfer Burton and frosh Moos and Brunner, profiled above, will vie for playing time.


Predictions:
This is not a strong team and playing a strong pre- season. A winning record would be quite an achievement.


2014 Recruiting:
Nicole Iademarco is a 4 star guard, not ranked in the top 100, from Texas.



August 12, 2013

Pac 12 Preview: USC Trojans

Last Season:
USC was 11-20 and 7-11 in Pac 12 play. It was a very disappointing season which caused Head Coach Michael Cooper to resign.

The Coaching Staff:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke starts her first season for the Trojans as Head Coach. Cooper-Dyke, no relation to the former Head Coach, was an outstanding USC player and played in Europe until age 34 when she played in the WNBA. She has coached 8 years at lower D 1 schools with a record of 150-106. The past 7 years her teams have played post season, 2 NCAAs and 5 WNITs.

Former Stanford staffer Evan Unrau is the lone holdover coach or staffer, returning for her 2nd season at USC.

Brandy Manning was the Associate Head Coach at Arizona and begins his first season at USC. He was at Arizona for 5 seasons.

Jualeah Woods joins the staff from San Diego State. Woods was a 4 year starter at USC and spent 6 seasons at San Diego State. Woods has also coached at Cal and Oregon State.

Losses:
Christina Marinacci is the only loss. In an injury riddled season in which she missed 8 games Marinacci averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds per game. She is now in the Bay Area working for the Pac 12.

Additions:
This past weekend Kaneisha Horn transferred from Alabama to USC. She is a 6-2 forward who just graduated from Alabama, in 3 plus years, so is able to play right away. Horn averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. She missed a season with an ACL so will have two years at USC. Horn was a top 5 player out of High School but has had two knee injuries. If healthy she is a huge addition.

Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Post from Menlo High School. She was ranked # 218. However she has played for John Paye. Drew is a big strong post and some of you saw her play in the Kezar ProAm.

Courtney Jaco is a 5-8 guard from Southern California. She was ranked # 210. Jaco is a good three point shooter. The addition of Horn turns this lackluster class into far more.

Alexis Lloyd is a transfer from Virginia Tech. Lloyd is a 5-9 guard averaged 3 points in 13 minutes per game. She was ranked as the # 81 player out of High School. She will sit out this year as a transfer.

The Schedule:
In a change from the past season when Mr. Cooper had tough schedules, this one isn’t with just 3 of last’s years top 45 in RPI. The Trojans play Oklahoma State (14), South Carolina (21) and Iowa (33). They also play Fresno State and Boston College. Average RPI of their opponents is 107. Thanks to a UCLA fan for this information. USC plays the Arizona and Washington schools once each.




The Team:
Cassie Harberts is back for her final year and once again will be one of the top players in the Pac 12. Harberts is a 6-2 4/5 who averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game, leading the Trojans in both categories. She is tough inside and a great shooter from 15’

Back after her knee injury is 6-1 Point Guard Jordan Adams. Adams averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds per game in her shortened season. Adams is a 6-1 Soph and was a top 10 player out of High School. She is listed as a Soph on the roster and seems to have missed a redshirt by one game.

Kate Oliver is a 6-4 Sr 4/5 who started 15 games last season averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Oliver transferred from Marist where she averaged 8 points as a Soph. Oliver is from Australia.

Ariya Crook is a 5-7 Jr guard who averaged 13 points last season hitting 55 threes at 33%. Her 55 threes were more than twice anyone else on the team. Her goal post college is to become a detective.

These three will challenge for a lot of playing time and one or two will start:
Kiki Alofaituli is a 6-1 Jr wing who averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes last season. Kiki was ranked # 26 out of High School.

Alexyz Vaioletama is a 6-1 Jr wing who could play the 4. Alexyz averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes last season. She was a McDonalds All American in High School.

Kaneisha Horn is a 6-1 Jr transfer from Alabama was both a McD All American and a top 5 player out of High School. She already graduated from Alabama but has 2 years to play and will play immediately.

To back up the guards is 5-7 soph Brianna Barrett averaging 4 points and 3 assists while starting 21 games last season.

Deanna Calhoun is a 6-3 redshirt soph post who missed her frosh season with a knee injury and played just 11 games last season. But she’s a big strong presence in the post.

Desiree Bradley is a 6-1 Sr forward who averaged 3points per game last season but did hit 25 threes.

Destinie Gibbs is a 5-11 soph guard who started the first 9 games of the season last year.

Thaddesia Southhall is in her 4th season at USC. She is a 6-4 post who has played only 6 games due to knee injuries.

The two frosh, 6-4 post Drew Edelman and 5-8 guard Courtney Jaco appear to be backups at this point.

Predictions:
This is a very deep team with very good starters. They could well start the season with only 2 losses or less and be ranked. I see USC as a top three team with Stanford and Cal, just ahead of Washington and UCLA.

2014 Recruiting:
Chyanne Butler is a 5-4 or so guard ranked # 56. But The Trojans are in play for a number of top recruits.

August 2, 2013

Pac 12 Previews: the University of Arizona

Last Season:
The Arizona Wildcats were 12-18 and 4-14 in Pac 12 play. Quite a fall from 21 wins just two seasons before. The Wildcats are 7-29 in league play the past two years. Lack of Pac 12 type players would be the reason. I will note that they have two commits for 2014 who are quite good, so a start.

The Coaching Staff:
Niya Butts returns for her 6th season. Brady Manning left to be the Associate Head Coach at USC replaced by Sean LeBeauf who was a JC Head Coach and Athletic Director. E.C. Hill returns for her 3rd season and Calamity McIntire for her 2nd season.

The Losses:
Davelynn Whyte may be the best player in Arizona history and she has graduated. Last season she led the team in scoring at 17 per game and led the team in assists, double the next player. Whyte led the team in rebounding at 6 per game had 70 threes. Only two players had more than 15 threes.

Cheshi Poston who scored 5 per game and averaged 4 rebounds also graduated. Three others players are also gone.
Lynette Holmes transferred from Xavier but played only one game. At Xavier she averaged 12 pointed per game in two seasons. Cheylene Harper didn’t play last season and I believe graduated. The mystery departure is Simone Westbrook, who I can’t find in last year’s media guide. Westbrook was on the team at the start of last season and was one of the best HS players in Arizona.

The Schedule: Not yet released.

The Additions:
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 frosh from Texas, ranked # 87.

Breanna Workman is a 6-1 forward from Las Vegas ranked # 136.

Dejza James is a 6-1 forward from Elk Grove, CA ranked # 181.

Ashley Merrill is, a yes another, 6-1 guard from Southern California.

Arizona also added Farrin Bell a 6-0 guard transfer from SMU. Bell averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game for SMU last season as a frosh. She started 9 games and played in 30. I will assume she must sit out this coming season.

The Team:
The Wildcats had 3 players averaged 9-11 points per game returning and three who averaged 5-6 rebounds per game.
For the 2nd straight year the Wildcats do not have a true Center. Erica Barnes is a 6-2 Sr who was 5th on the team in average minutes and scored 9 points per game, 3rd on the team and had 5 rebounds per game, also 3rd. Barnes played more as a Soph averaging 11 and 7.

At the forwards should be 6-1 Sr Alli Gloyd. Gloyd averged 9 points and 6 rebounds per game. Gloyd was the Arizona JC player of the year 2 seasons ago.

Frosh LaBrittany Jones has an excellent chance to start at the 4. She is the highest ranked player out of HS on the roster and Butts describes her as a great rebounder who can really finish around the hoop and plays like she is 6-3 or 6-4.
At the 2 guard will be Kama Griffitts a 6-0 Sr and returning starter. Kama scored 11 points per game last season and hauled in 5 rebounds per. She is the only returning player with more than 15 threes having hit 60 at 31%. As a Soph at JC she hit threes at 58% scoring 22 points per game.

Carissa Crutchfield like Gloyd started every game, and should be the point guard. Last season the 5-8 Sr averaged 6 points per game and was 2nd on the team in assists. Crutchfield transferred from Oklahoma State two years ago.

Candice Warthen is a 5-5 Jr guard who sat out last season with a knee injury. Warthen averaged 12 points per game as a Soph but hurt her foot after starting the first 8 games. She missed 6 weeks then came back as a non starter. However before her injury she scored 36 in a game. She will get many minutes and probably start when healthy.
Three frosh stand out and have a great chance for early playing time.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 forward from Las Vegas described as a good rebounder and excellent passer. She looks to be a 4 for the Wildcats.

Dejaza James is a 6-1 forward from the Sacramento area. James is described as a 3 or 4 and a very good rebounder.

Ashley Merrill is a 6-1 guard from Southern California. She is described as a very good passer who can shot from outside. Merrill’s cousin is former Stanford Tight End Derek Hubbard and another cousin is former UCLA WBB player Janae Hubbard.

Layana White is a 5-8 Jr guard who started 12 games averaging 3 points last season. White has a career high of 16 points.

Keyahndra Cannon is a 5-9 Soph guard who played in all the games last season averaging 4 points per game. Cannon was her team captain all 4 of her High School years.

Nyre Harris is a 5-8 Soph guard who played a bit last season.

Shereen Sutherland is a 6-1 Soph guard who played only 83 minutes last season. Sutherland’s older sister played at Kansas.

Ferrin Bell is a 6-0 Soph and transfer from SMU. Last season as a Frosh at SMU she averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game with 9 starts. She probably must sit out this season.

Predictions:
Sadly the Wildcats will probably battle with Oregon to stay out of the Pac 12 cellar.

2014 Recruiting:
Off to a great start with 3 commits. Taryn Griffey is the daughter of baseball great Ken Jr, and granddaughter of baseball All Star Ken Sr. Griffey is a 5-6 guard, ranked # 56. Jalea Bennet is a 5-11 wing ranked # 65. Cherice Harris is a 5-8 three star guard.