A lot to like ...

[Hawkangler]

about this 26-27 team. Definitely a better perimeter shooting team. Maryville doubled Ava early but our perimeter shooting and ability to drive the lane really opened the lane. Defense was good, hard to stay focused when up 20+. Faison surprised with her quickness and length. Whiting was defense first but better scorer than Kylie. Dani is a bucket but plays good D. Woliczko was a rebound hound and can score. Chat brings stability to the team, can do it all. Stremlow is tenacious. Ava can score at will inside and FT's looked good. Journey still not there with the perimeter game but is so solid around the rim.

Those are my top 8, not in order.

 

[QChawks]

It’s hard to not get excited after last nights performance but we do have to not forget the competition they played against. It’s too bad we don’t have a bigger test before the UConn game. That will be the true measuring stick.

Although this team seems to have upgraded last years biggest weaknesses

-Guards that drive and score
-A big that can shoot from past 8 feet
-Athleticism
-Go to perimeter player

very early indications are the coaches did their homework and filled some holes

 

[Jonesy5960]

It’s hard to not get excited after last nights performance but we do have to not forget the competition they played against. It’s too bad we don’t have a bigger test before the UConn game. That will be the true measuring stick.

Although this team seems to have upgraded last years biggest weaknesses

-Guards that drive and score
-A big that can shoot from past 8 feet
-Athleticism
-Go to perimeter player

very early indications are the coaches did their homework and filled some holes

The UConn game will be an interesting measuring stick for sure. Speaking of UConn, they scheduled the most ridiculous nonconference schedule I've ever seen maybe in any sport. They play #5 Michigan before #10 Iowa, then they play #7 Louisville, #1 South Carolina, #4 Duke, #20 Maryland, #13 Notre Dame, and #9 LSU.

 

[TheGreatDivider101]

The UConn game will be an interesting measuring stick for sure. Speaking of UConn, they scheduled the most ridiculous nonconference schedule I've ever seen maybe in any sport. They play #5 Michigan before #10 Iowa, then they play #7 Louisville, #1 South Carolina, #4 Duke, #20 Maryland, #13 Notre Dame, and #9 LSU.

They have to do that because the Big East is horrible in women's basketball.

 

[Jonesy5960]

They have to do that because the Big East is horrible in women's basketball.

It's still crazy. They're playing 6 top 10 teams, 3 from the top 5.

 

[IA79Cam]

It's still crazy. They're playing 6 top 10 teams, 3 from the top 5.

You should if you get most top recruits, and play what is essentially the MAC

 

[Scott559]

What we saw last night was fun, We got to see some skills of individual players but you really do have to keep in mind that Maryville was pretty much completely overmatched at every position.

I think there will still be growing pains as the competition level ramps up, Jan commented post game on how they really didn’t run the offense like she wanted to see (ie ball reversals) simply because there were easy pickings. They won’t get away with that vs teams like UConn or Vandy.

That said it seems obvious this team is more versatile and has a more athletic roster than last year. A lot to be excited about but I still believe it will take some time to really jell.

 

[Hawkeye1984]

This team is a huge upgrade from last years team. Dani Carnegie is the real deal.

 

[Hawkmanic23]

The UConn game will be an interesting measuring stick for sure. Speaking of UConn, they scheduled the most ridiculous nonconference schedule I've ever seen maybe in any sport. They play #5 Michigan before #10 Iowa, then they play #7 Louisville, #1 South Carolina, #4 Duke, #20 Maryland, #13 Notre Dame, and #9 LSU.

Wow…that is a tough schedule…good for UConn.

 

[NORTHSTAR]

Remembering what Tom Davis said, "identify the shooter" as in 3 pointers. And 1 game in, it's safe to say Journey's perimeter game is not there
yet?

 

[IowaCityLit]

How they play against top competition will be the barometer. Love how JJ has continued to recruit or try to recruit at a championship level. She knows to compete with the S Carolinas and UConn’s she needs to upgrade talent. Getting DC in the portal, adding good depth of talent, and moving TS to a solid role player role off the bench role all is part of the process.

 

[Scott559]

How they play against top competition will be the barometer. Love how JJ has continued to recruit or try to recruit at a championship level. She knows to compete with the S Carolinas and UConn’s she needs to upgrade talent. Getting DC in the portal, adding good depth of talent, and moving TS to a solid role player role off the bench role all is part of the process.

South Carolina is recruiting at a ridiculous level right now.

 

[IowaCityLit]

South Carolina is recruiting at a ridiculous level right now.

They are and will continue to do so as long as DS is there.

In some ways you can’t compete with that, but try to accumulate as much talent and perhaps play a bit different style than S Carolina.

 

[Hawkeye_Miguel]

Have we ever had a team where 4 of 5 starters on are their respective position award watchlists?

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

What we saw last night was fun, We got to see some skills of individual players but you really do have to keep in mind that Maryville was pretty much completely overmatched at every position.

I think there will still be growing pains as the competition level ramps up, Jan commented post game on how they really didn’t run the offense like she wanted to see (ie ball reversals) simply because there were easy pickings. They won’t get away with that vs teams like UConn or Vandy.

That said it seems obvious this team is more versatile and has a more athletic roster than last year. A lot to be excited about but I still believe it will take some time to really jell.

What we saw last night was fun, We got to see some skills of individual players but you really do have to keep in mind that Maryville was pretty much completely overmatched at every position.

I think there will still be growing pains as the competition level ramps up, Jan commented post game on how they really didn’t run the offense like she wanted to see (ie ball reversals) simply because there were easy pickings. They won’t get away with that vs teams like UConn or Vandy.

That said it seems obvious this team is more versatile and has a more athletic roster than last year. A lot to be excited about but I still believe it will take some time to really jell.

Its true, but supposedly they brought back most of the team that beat Mizzou in OT and lost to Illinois by 19. I realize sometimes the snowball gets rolling downhill and you just can't stop it. Comparing it to us losing to UCLA by 52 last year. There's no way they're 52 points better then Iowa, but we just couldn't stop their momentum once they got rolling.

The thing about MW as freshman was she scored posting up, driving to the rim from the three point line, and hitting a three. Pretty impressive debut.

 

[TheGreatDivider101]

South Carolina is recruiting at a ridiculous level right now.

I had a random thought that popped in my head the other day. The WNBA should offer Dawn the commissioner's gig. The players would absolutely love it but I'm sure the owners probably wouldn't go for it. Don't even know if that is something she would entertain but it would get her out of the college game.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

I had a random thought that popped in my head the other day. The WNBA should offer Dawn the commissioner's gig. The players would absolutely love it but I'm sure the owners probably wouldn't go for it. Don't even know if that is something she would entertain but it would get her out of the college game.

I had a random thought that popped in my head the other day. The WNBA should offer Dawn the commissioner's gig. The players would absolutely love it but I'm sure the owners probably wouldn't go for it. Don't even know if that is something she would entertain but it would get her out of the college game.

Not sure it would be a great idea having her or Gino as commish. Probably between the two 40-50% of the league are their former players. not counting the foreign ones.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Its true, but supposedly they brought back most of the team that beat Mizzou in OT and lost to Illinois by 19. I realize sometimes the snowball gets rolling downhill and you just can't stop it. Comparing it to us losing to UCLA by 52 last year. There's no way they're 52 points better then Iowa, but we just couldn't stop their momentum once they got rolling.

The thing about MW as freshman was she scored posting up, driving to the rim from the three point line, and hitting a three. Pretty impressive debut.

There should be very little doubling of Ava this year given the ability of MW, JH, and company to hit shots beyond 10 feet. When they do it will be incumbent upon Ava to make sure she makes a quick decision to find the open shooters. When they don't, Ava is almost impossible to stop down low with a single defender. This offense SHOULD be very difficult to stop.