Texas center Kyla Oldacre

[FanaticHeel]

This is what I have always envision for Blanca. Neither is overly athletic but Kyla mobility and footwork is miles above where BT is right now. While Kyla is bigger, I love BT's size as she is more times than not going to be the biggest player on both teams whether it's height or girth. She hasn't learned to use that size to her advantage and create shooting space and above all be consistent putting the ball in the basket. I've seen her many time get overlooked in the post with good position and I think a lot of that has to do with trust. I think she needs to spend the whole off-season working a conditioning and agility. I would love to see BT come back next year and have a similar progression track to what happened to CT. It's crazy that I'm looking that this UT/UM game and hoping BT can find some of what KO has. The will to not allow a smaller player to even compete with her. BT show your boy that you are her next year. I can hope can't I?

 

[DSPHeel]

This is what I have always envision for Blanca. Neither is overly athletic but Kyla mobility and footwork is miles above where BT is right now. While Kyla is bigger, I love BT's size as she is more times than not going to be the biggest player on both teams whether it's height or girth. She hasn't learned to use that size to her advantage and create shooting space and above all be consistent putting the ball in the basket. I've seen her many time get overlooked in the post with good position and I think a lot of that has to do with trust. I think she needs to spend the whole off-season working a conditioning and agility. I would love to see BT come back next year and have a similar progression track to what happened to CT. It's crazy that I'm looking that this UT/UM game and hoping BT can find some of what KO has. The will to not allow a smaller player to even compete with her. BT show your boy that you are her next year. I can hope can't I?

Very good points and comparable for BT.

 

[ZinfanHeel]

I think Blanca has had a disappointing year for the most part, as evidenced by her reduced playing time.

I think you are right about the conditioning. Frankly, I thought she had put on some weight. My weightlifting buddies always say "a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat" and in her case it may have been the latter. Hard work will fix that.

 

[Gio2dahouse]

I didnt see that. Blanca is super slow footed and very gentle. Seems like a nice person but I REALLY hope we find someone in the portal that can play the post

 

[Jriv23]

Here is the bottom line. CB has already stated when she first got hired that her job is to win games and make a deep run in the NCAAT. With that being said, the next step for this team for next season is to go pass the sweet sixteen and make it to the elite 8 if we are trying to move forward. There is going to be tremendous pressure if Duke keeps making it to the elite 8 and we do not. Kara is bringing in talent every year now. She has two players that are in the McDonalds AA game tonight. Truth be told, a lot of us will not be happy if we keep getting put out in the sweet sixteen and Duke and NC State are advancing further in the ACC and in the NCAA. As I stated before, BT will be a junior next year. The expectations for this team moving forward is to at least make it to the sweet sixteen, get a double by in the ACCT, and finish in the top 4 of the conference every year now. In order to meet those standards, we must continue to bring in the best talent that we can find whether it be through the high school ranks or through the transfer portal. We cannot wait on BT anymore. We must bring in another top level 5 in order to accomplish the goals that we want as a team and in order to maintain the standard. The top four teams that are in the final four now have better talent across the board and there is a big gap between them and the rest of the teams in college as most of us have pointed out. With that in mind, we must be pressure on BT now by bringing in a 5 that is going to either take her spot or make her work for that spot. If we can find a young lady in portal like the player from Texas, then I would say go for it.

 

[3397char]

Thomas actually had great footwork last year, her one-on-one defense was pretty spot on. team defense was still a work in progress. Her offense was really bad, as in she just could not finish efficiently. That was where I thought there was the most room for growth.

She definitely had a sophomore slump. But my inclination is to take the most obvious explanation: a documented offseason injury ended up affecting up her preparedness and fitness, as opposed to saying she just stopped trying/caring. I cannot prove this but it seems like the most logical and the most supportive POV.

I think she will figure it out and be a productive upperclassman. I am not saying she will be a star player; probably a role player. I expect that her compensation and playing time will reflect that. But I am glad she is on the team.